News

 

Media Release

On March 27th, Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry MPP Jim McDonell entered the provincial budget lock-up, expecting to see a plan for creating jobs and ensuring economic growth.

McDonell could not hide his disappointment with this year’s budget which has spending up over $1.8 billion and no appreciable reduction in last year’s horrendous deficit of $15.3 billion.

“How could this Liberal government be pleased to promote a deficit for 2012 that’s three times the combined deficits of all the other provinces and ten times larger than that of Quebec’s, who are in second place!”

“We’ve had plenty of tough talk, but no tough decisions. To make things worse, many of the budget’s predictions are best-case scenarios, and rely on either public sector union’s good will or Dalton McGuinty’s spine.”

“Spending is up in most ministries and we are heading towards, what Liberal economist Don Drummond warned against, a 30 billion dollar deficit and 411 billion dollars in total debt by 2017. That equates to a debt of 30,000 dollars for every man, woman and child in Ontario.”

“The National Post predicts that there will be 30,000 less jobs in the province due to the job-killing tax policies outlined in the budget.”

McDonell had unflattering words for the budget’s lack of a clear jobs plan. “The Minister of

Finance stood in the Chamber and told 600,000 unemployed Ontarians ‘We’ll talk about it’.”

“The Jobs and Prosperity Council proposal is as empty as it is upsetting. Those unemployed Ontarians who want to see strong action on job creation don’t need more hot air and appointees patting each other on the back.”

“Look around the province; it’s the small businesses that drive development and employment. They need help to create jobs by reducing their fiscal burden and scrapping bad energy policies as a start.”

The need for austerity has been highlighted well in advance of this year’s budget by numerous stakeholders, economists, the Auditor General and Government Commissions such as the Drummond Commission.

There was a clear shared message of getting spending under control. McDonell commented: “The sheer amount of data and proposals on the table, including our own from the PC Caucus, could have enabled the government to make this budget a turning point in Ontario’s history. Instead, this budget doesn’t reduce spending, takes no tough action and has no vision for long-term job creation. I will join the PC Caucus in not supporting it. Ontarians deserve better”

[…]

 

South Dundas manager of public works Hugh Garlough submitted the department’s monthly activity summary for the March 20th South Dundas council meeting.

In the summary, he reported that “Robinson Consultants have been asked to give us a life expectancy for both landfills.” 

The current South Dundas landfill sites are the Church Road Landfill and the Matilda Landfill.

During the March 5th budget meeting, Garlough introduced the landfill life expectancy into the discussion. It was suggested that a new garbage policy may be necessary depending upon the “life” left in each of the landfills.

On March 27th, Garlough reported that Robinson Consultants Inc. are currently “completing the 2011 year-end report. In that report, we will get a projected life expectancy for each of the two landfills.”

“The residents will be affected as we will have to transport our household and any other garbage to an approved landfill site, as well as a tipping fee.”

“The planning will begin when we know for sure what our life expectancy numbers are,” continued Garlough. “Options we have already considered are having our household garbage contractor dispose of the garbage as part of the contract.”

“More options will be considered as we get closer to the end of landfill site life,” he added.

Chief administrative officer Stephen McDonald reported that another possible solution to a short landfill life expectancy is a “100,000 cubic meter expansion in Matilda.”

He said, “we don’t have any other sites once those are filled to capacity.” In that case, McDonald pointed out that the township would have to look outside South Dundas for disposal options.

Once the Robinson report is in, McDonald said the township will have “a better handle on where we need to go in terms of restrictions.” Until then the garbage policy remains the same.

[…]

 

On March 31st, SD&G OPP officers had occasion to conduct a traffic stop on Highway 401, South Dundas Township.

The stop resulted in the seizure of approximately 14 kilograms of suspected marihuana.

The 28 year old male driver was arrested and faces charges of: Possession for the Purpose Schedule II; Possession Schedule II Cannabis resin; and, Possession Schedule II Cannabis Marihuana.

He was held in custody pending an appearance in Cornwall court.

The approximate street value of the seized drugs is $70,000.

[…]

 

At the March 20th South Dundas council meeting, economic development officer Nicole Sullivan recommended “that council retain the services of McSweeney & Associates to complete an update to the 2005 South Dundas Strategic Economic Development Plan for a cost of $10,000.”

As reported earlier this year, Sullivan, with permission from council, submitted a completed application to the Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP) for funding to complete the project to update the 2005 economic plan.

“As part of that application,” she said, “we were required to have two quotes with it.”

“Quotes were obtained from Dillon Consulting and McSweeney & Associates whose services were retained to complete the South Dundas Community Strategic Plan and the SD&G Strategic Economic Development Action Plan respectively.”

Project objectives include:

• “Provide a realistic and strategic approach to economic development for the next five years;

• Align local economic development efforts with those of the community and region, identifying complementary and mutually supportive activities; and,

• Encourage advancement and accountability in local economic development.”

Sullivan’s recommendation for McSweeney & Associates was based on a group decision following a review and discussion period. The group included mayor Steven Byvelds, chief administrative officer Stephen  McDonald, chair of the economic development advisory committee Mark Prost, and Sullivan herself.

Following Sullivan’s recommendation and council’s approval, mayor Steven Byvelds said, “McSweeney & Associates can certainly bring us some useful information.”

“Funding was allocated under the 2012 capital budget,” reported Sullivan, “if our application to the EODP is successful that will offset our costs.”

[…]

 

Media Release

On March 22nd, the Upper Canada District School Board approved the following policy – Fees for Learning Materials and Activities.

Every student, regardless of economic circumstance, has the right to attend school without payment of fees for learning materials, supplies, activities and textbooks. 

While no student should be excluded from participating in any school activity based upon the ability to pay, some school activities, enhanced programming and materials, and optional programs may require a fee for participation. 

[…]

A by-law was passed at the March 20th South Dundas council meeting to accept the operational and capital budget plan for 2012.

During the discussion, Treasurer Shannon Geraghty introduced council to the possibility of sending out information sheets to taxpayers.

Geraghty informed council that it is a “double-sided document, something we’ll probably send out in the tax bills to show tax payers their money isn’t being spent foolishly.”

Mayor  Steven Byvelds said, “it certainly is a lot more information than we’ve put out in the past.”

Deputy-Mayor Jim Locke added, “that’s good. The more information, the better.”

“I think,” said Councillor Jim Graham, “it’s certainly a step forward on communicating with ratepayers on where their dollars are spent.”

Members of council were given copies of the proposed document to consider and comment on before distribution. 

If all goes well, it looks like, according to Byvelds, that the information sheet will be included with the final tax bill at the end of May.

[…]

“Sixty people who live and work in Dundas County gathered at the Christian Reformed Church in Williamsburg on November 18, 2011, to map out some strategies and concrete steps to make our communities more resilient in the face of increasing poverty, and to create a sustainable future for all of us in Dundas County.”

This is the first paragraph in a report made by representatives of the House of Lazarus Community Outreach Mission Linking Hands Project, initiators of the forum.

As a result of the forum, six working groups were set up, each with a coordinator and a first meeting date.

On March 20th, the working group for “Access to Basic Health Care Needs,” coordinated by Lynn Richards, met in Winchester. 

Invited speaker, Muriel Milne, secretary for the United Senior Citizens of Ontario, talked about the advocacy work her organization is involved in, specifically on access to basic health care.

Going forward, this working group plans to show the film “Poor No More.” In addition, they intend to continue gathering information on where Dundas County might have gaps in terms of access to basic health care needs.

On March 22nd, the working group for “Community Connectivity,” coordinated by Cathy Ashby, took place in Morrisburg.

They discussed business from their last meeting, refined their Terms of Reference, and made plans going forward.

Discussion revolved around information databases in terms of what’s out there now and what still needs to be done. The group discussed creating a new ‘database’ versus working with what is currently out there.

The group was keen to promote “211”. According to their website at www.211ontario.ca, “211 is a three-digit phone number and website that provides information and referral to community and social services in Ontario.”

 Going forward, the group hopes to work with the two municipalities, North and South Dundas, to link both “211” and the Linking Hands website to the township websites. 

In addition, they’re hoping to have the online community calendar for each township website refined and updated with information for residents.

A follow-up meeting was set for mid-May following the Homelessness Maze event in Iroquois on May 9th.

The “Strategies for Increasing Participation in Physical Activities” working group, coordinated by Lynn Richards met for a second time on March 27th in Williamsburg where they heard from the developers of the South Dundas Charter for Active Living, Stephanie Caissie of the Eastern Ontario Health Unit and Ben Macpherson, Recreation Program Coordinator for South Dundas.

The “Access to Transportation” working group, coordinated by Nanda Wubs, met initially on February 24th where they welcomed Robert Dupuis and Harry Gow, both of whom had experience creating and running non-profit transportation services for rural communities.

Following the meeting, Wubs said the group’s next step is to “continue investigating other models of transportation networks, send out a survey to agencies to determine current transportation ‘stock’ and to the community to do a transportation needs assessment.” 

The two remaining working groups will meet in May. 

The “Access to Safe, Nutritious, Primarily Local Food” group, coordinated by Dana Kittle, will hold their meeting on May 11th at the South Nation Conservation Authority in Finch. 

The “Economic and Entrepreneurial Development and Training” group, coordinated by Ed DiZazza, will also meet in May, but at the South Mountain Library Resource Centre. 

The group is currently working on a website for the project. The address is www.linkinghandsdundas.ca. 

[…]

Media Release

On Palm Sunday, April 1st, you are invited to attend a Harmony Church Celebration service at Timothy Christian School in Williamsburg at 10:30 a.m. 

What is Not new: Harmony Community Church is an evangelical church that has been serving the Lord in Dundas County since 1885. 

What is New: We will be hosting three Sunday morning celebration services at Timothy Christian School on the first Sunday for the months of April, May and June.

Our plan is to offer a satellite service in South Dundas (Williamsburg) that will be a complete sample of Harmony Church’s style of worship and preaching simultaneously with our North Dundas location on Ormond Road.

The purpose is fourfold:

•First, to give our existing South Dundas families an opportunity to worship closer to home and thereby “bring Harmony home” to their family, friends and community. This will save them time and gas by having a local celebration and increasing opportunities for them to get to know each other better. Sometimes “smaller is better” and the larger Sunday service doesn’t always allow you to get to know people as well. We have so much musical and preaching talent that it takes more than one service to allow people to use their God given gifts.

•Second, to re-enforce the message that the “Church” is not a building with an address but it is the people of God wherever they may meet.

•Third, to proclaim the Full Gospel of Jesus Christ as Saviour, Healer and coming King in South Dundas thus giving opportunities for those who have heard of Harmony but find distance an obstacle to be able to “come and see what we are about”.

•Fourth, because we just like to worship God all over the place.

For more information, call 613-774-5170 or visit the website at www.harmony-church.org.

[…]

The issue of who will operate the Iroquois Beach Canteen this summer was raised at the March 20th South Dundas council meeting.

Clerk Brenda Brunt recommended “that council authorize the Iroquois-Matilda Lions Club to operate the Iroquois Beach Canteen for 2012.”

According to Brunt, the Lions Club has already received approval for a provincial grant to hire student workers. 

“It’s the same idea as last year, they’ll keep it clean,” she said.

The recommendation was accepted and Mayor Steven Byvelds closed the deal, saying, “we wish them good luck.”

[…]

Welcome to Care Close to Home – written by the people who are at the heart of Winchester District Memorial Hospital (WDMH). This ‘inside view’ is designed to help our communities get to know the WDMH team – in their own words. This month, we hear from Cindy Kerkhof – a member of the Pharmacy team.

I was born at WDMH and have lived in Winchester all my life. I have worked as a Pharmacy Technician in the community for last 31 years, with the last nine at WDMH.

I have a passion for WDMH and our patients. I love helping people and making a positive difference in someone’s life.  I include this philosophy in all my pharmaceutical tasks right down to smiling to the patients and making them feel special and appreciated. My main goal when I start each and every day is patient safety. In fact, in January, I received my designation from the Ontario College of Pharmacists as a Registered Pharmacy Technician after two years of study.

As a Registered Pharmacy Technician, my days are busy and fast paced. The tasks include filling prescriptions for the patients. This is not a task that I take lightly.  There are a number of checks to consider: Do I have the correct patient? Are there any allergies? Are there any interactions? Is this the correct dose? Do I have the correct drug? Is the patient on similar therapy?  I work closely with our pharmacists to ensure accuracy and timeliness for everything we dispense. Medication safety is key in all my daily functions.

The same attention to detail goes into preparing chemotherapy and the safe management of cytotoxic drugs.  I also make other medications such as intravenous mixtures, syringes, and eye drops. 

Over the years, I have taught many students. This is one of my favorite tasks. I teach them to take pride in their profession and tell them to make every product as if they were making it for a loved one. 

As a professional at WDMH, I am grateful to help each and every patient and hope to make a difference in their lives.  It gives me the opportunity to provide care that is important to me.

[…]