Fort Frances Times

AND RAINY LAKE HERALD

$1.19 plus 6 GST, $1.25 U.S.
email: info@fortfrances.com

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2009

www.fortfrances.com

Printed in Canada Volume 116 Number 32

ISSN 0834-6283 PAP No. 07429

FACS turns to credit line for finances

By Peggy Revell Staff writer

INSIDE

Facing a $604,000 deficit, Family & Childrens Services of the District of Rainy River has had to tap into its $450,000 line of credit as it struggles to make it to the end of its financial year. The decision to access this line of credit came after a lengthy discussion by the board of directors, explained its president, Bob

McGreevy. We have a line of credit that we use for normal business transactions because cash is always coming and going, but weve never used our line of credit to actually pay foster parents or pay salaries or to pay rent, he noted. At the ministrys request, we have decided we would use our line of credit so that we could continue to operate as long as we could, so we have gone ahead and

done that. The impact of using this line of credit means the agency now is borrowing from the bank, which means it will have to find a way to pay the money back, along with interest payments which we dont want, McGreevy said. As first reported by the Fort Frances Times earlier this fall, the $604,000 deficit arose due to several reasons, including declining provincial revenue and fund-

ing, ministry-imposed caps on infrastructure which affect smaller agencies, and because this year FACS has in their care children who require expensive, intensive care in an institution, according to McGreevy. FACS currently is waiting for a response from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services after filing a Section 14 appeal, McGreevy noted. This appeals process is one where

an agency can make its case to the ministry for funding adjustments if it feels it is operating under extraordinary circumstances and isnt being funded, he explained. We went through that process in the beginning of November, and we hope to hear a response within a week or two of the most, McGreevy said, adding this appeal process might mean enough money from the ministry for FACS to Please see FACS, A5

Class learns all about giving

After reading books about helping others and giving to those in need, students in Hue Eldridges Grade 2/3 at Robert Moore School here decided they wanted to make a difference for a local family this holiday season by sponsoring one through the Salvation Army.

Council eyeing 2% hike for most user fees

By Duane Hicks Staff writer While the 2010 user fee schedule will not be voted on until a Dec. 21 meeting, town council agreed Monday that most user fees likely will see a two percent jump. The two percent hike affects 400-plus services provided by the town, ranging from building permits and marriage licences to taxi cab licences and public hall rentals. Treasurer Laurie Witherspoon explained the two percent increase is based on the Consumer Price Index, which increased 1.8 percent between October, 2008 and October, 2009. I think a two percent raise across the board is reasonable and logical, said Coun. Andrew Hallikas, adding that while user fees only make up a small amount of corporate revenue (three-five percent), they are a fairer form of taxation than property tax increases. He noted that by keeping up with the CPI, the town isnt devaluating its services. If the town didnt raise user fees from time to time, theyd get behind the eight ball, he argued. Coun. Sharon Tibbs agreed to the two percent, as did Coun. Paul Ryan, who said the two percent increase is probably the thing to do and it does fall in line with the CPI. Coun. Rick Wiedenhoeft also said he agreed with the two percent hike, especially if it means not having to cut services and keeping down a general tax increase. Coun. John Albanese said he didnt see why taxpayers had to be punished with higher user fees, but that if they have to be increased, two percent is the upper limit. Coun. Ken Perry said two percent was okay, but nothing above that. Mayor Roy Avis said user fee increases should be two percent for all fees. If the new schedule becomes a bylaw, most user fees will kick in Jan. 1 although some others, such as those for the Memorial Sports Centre, wont come into effect until June 1 because ice rental fees, for example, already have been contracted out for the 2009-10 hockey season. But user fees that currently include the GST (such as ice surface and pool rentals, auditorium rentals, boat slips, cemetery-related fees, airport fuel, etc.) will go up another eight percent come July 1 when the new HST is implemented. If a user fee does not currently include the GST, it will not have the HST added to it, noted Witherspoon. For example, an annual pool/ fitness centre membership for an Please see Council, A5

See story on A2

Holly Daze deemed success

It may have been the change in the weather or perhaps the sudden realization that Christmas is almost here. Whatever the reason, people from across the district turned out in great numbers last Friday and Saturday to celebrate the annual Holly Daze festivities in Emo.

See story on B1

Retailers pleased with local shopping

By Heather Latter Staff writer Despite the struggling economy this holiday season, along with the lure of big city shopping and the convenience of online buying, it seems many residents are making their Christmas purchases right here at home and supporting local businesses. Although its difficult to gauge just how much local shopping has taken place so far this year, business owners are pleased with the traffic and sales in their stores. And people only have to look down Scott Street to see the hustle and bustle of busy shoppers. Weve been having lots of people in the store, noted Richard Boileau of McTaggarts. Weve seen lots of new faces in this year, too. And lots of people are telling us that they want to support local jobs. Being that jobs are tough this year, everyone knows the more they shop at home, the more they help local jobs, Boileau added. Seems like the weather has got people rollinga little bit of snow does wonders, enthused Ken Manty at Howarths Home Centre. Its been pretty steady. . . . In comparison to last year, I would say theres probably more local shopping going on, Manty added. Boileau noted some of the hot items this season at McTaggarts are childrens animal hats and holiday dresses for youngsters. But jeans, hoodies, and purses also have been selling well. Meanwhile, Manty said flat-panel televisions, along with Blu-ray and DVD players, are popular electronic gifts this year. Over at Northwoods Gallery & Gifts, Connie Cuthbertson noted candles and handbags as some of the seasons hot sellers. I would say [the local shopping] has been about average for us, but average these days is way ahead of the curve, I guess, she remarked. The people that are coming in the store are thrilled to see all the different items we have here . . . and were just doing our best to offer as much as possible. All we ask is you just give us a chance, she added. Cuthbertson said shes had calls from Thunder Bay and Winnipeg to ship products because they cant get them in the city. Its kind of ironic that people Please see Retailers, A5

On Santas knee
Ten-month-old Erick Burns seemed to enjoy visiting with jolly St. Nick during the annual Cookies and Cocoa with Santa event Saturday at the Fort Frances Museum. Children not only were able to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus but also took part in stringing popcorn, decorating treats, and playing games to get into the Christmas spirit. Heather Latter photo

THawks plagued by slow starts

The Fort Frances Thunderhawks cant seem to wake up and smell the coffee wafting through the air. Perhaps an industrial strength fan blasting the aroma of caffeine into their dressing room would do the trick. The Thawks have been plagued by slow starts in their three games so far this season.

Pay raise likely for next council

By Duane Hicks Staff writer With the 2010 election coming up in October, the next term for mayor and council likely will see them get better pay than the current one. This and other details were discussed last Thursday morning when the remuneration and travel policy committee met to review an updated policy for both town staff and members of council. The proposal includes an increase to remuneration to the positions of mayor and council which, if approved, will come into effect Dec. 1, 2010 to coincide with the installation of the 2010-14 council. The draft policy recommends the position of mayor be paid $23,000 per year, instead of $22,322 as it is now, while councillor remuneration will increase to $12,000 from $10,507. The deputy mayor also will see an increase from $10,507 to $13,500. The committee pointed out the increase to pay is small, adding the last time the salary structure was revised was in 2003, at which time the pay for mayor and council actually went down when the benefits package they used to receive was cutreducing total salaries by about $4,000. The benefits package continues to be offered as an option council members can buy into at their own expense if they so choose. For example, the change in the mayors salary only represents a three percent increase over seven years (2003-10) while the pay hike for councillors only amounts to a Please see Pay, A5

See story on C1

Mobility Time Plans

starting from

Blackberry, Samsung, Motorola, Kycera... Choose your phone - Choose your plan.

All you can eat

Many available FREE*

*With two months free access.

1995

Go Hands Free with a Bluetooth Headset! The largest selection in the district.

BUFFET Served Mon. - Sat.

Chinese Restaurant
216 Scott St. Fort Frances 274-3722 Excellent Chinese & Canadian Cuisine
Open 7 days a week 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Lunch 11 - 2 ...$799 Dinner 4 - 8 ...$999 Children ...$599 Seniors 10% Off

290 Scott St. Fort Frances 274-6671

Pick up orders 10% Off FREE DELIVERY Some restrictions apply VISA Mastercard Interac American Express REGULAR MENU, TAKE OUT & DELIVERY AVAILABLE

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

FORT FRANCES TIMES A5

FACS turns to credit line for finances

More from A1 make it to March 31, which marks the end of its fiscal year. Right now, our cash flow projections indicate we should be able to continue to operate to the end of February to the first week of March, he indicated. And after that, Im not sure what well do if we havent been given any extra support. Because the ministry was the one to request that FACS use a line of credit, McGreevy reasoned that by following their request, the FACS board hopes the ministry will be more willing to give them additional funding support following the Section 14 appeal. Which they may or may not dowe took a chance, he admitted. In the meantime, FACS has been implementing various cost-saving measures. Were trying very hard to stretch all of our dollars, and to continue to provide service for families and kids who need help and need support and need protection, McGreevy stressed. Thats the key for us. Looking for all kinds of way to save money, cutbacks at FACS so far include a no-travel restriction on staff and no non-essential training, said McGreevy, noting there are several positions at FACS which have become vacant and not filled. We havent laid off any of our child protection staff because our staffing levels are already so small that we felt, as a board, that we would be compromising our obligations to guarantee protection if we laid off child protection staff, he explained. So we havent done that, and I dont see us doing that, but its still going to be a cash crunch as we get to March of next year, he warned. Across Ontario, 49 Childrens Aid Societies are facing an overall funding shortfall of $67 million, according to the Ontario Association of Childrens Aid Societies, which also noted agencies in Northern Ontario have received some of the largest cutbacks and are facing a collective shortfall of $16.9 million. More than three dozen Childrens Aid Societies, including FACS, have filed for Section 14 reviews, and many already have been making cutbacks to staffing and programs. The Childrens Aid Society in York Region, for instance, laid off 18 workers while the WindsorEssex Childrens Aid Society has cut certain programs and will be laying off 12 people in February. Having already cut 7.5 staff positions, the Peel Childrens Aid Society estimated it will have to cut 24 more to eliminate its 2.1-million deficit. Along with reviewing these Section 14 appeals, the Ministry of Children and Youth Services announced the formation of The Commission to Promote Sustainable Child Welfare back in June to work in partnership with Childrens Aid Societies and the government to find the most efficient ways to improve outcomes for children and youth in care. Appointments of who would sit on the commission were made in November, with Ene Underwood, Barry Lewis, and Dr. Wendy Thomson selected. But both NDP and Conservative MPPs have continued to slam the Ontario governments actions during question period at Queens Park when it comes to the funding of Childrens Aid Societies across the province. The children of this province do not need another commission, argued Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath. They need their Childrens Aid Societies to be there for them when they need them. The only pathway this government is preparing is a pathway to bankruptcy and closure of Childrens Aid Societies, she charged.

Bear-y generous fans

The Muskie girls exhibition game against the International Falls Broncos here last night had to be halted while players collected teddy bears chucked onto the ice by fans. The plush toys came raining down from the stands after Danielle Jeans goal as part of the teams annual Teddy Bear Toss for the local Salvation Army. Unfortunately for the blackand-gold, it was all the only offence they could muster in dropping a 2-1 decision to the visitors. Dan Falloon photo

New health services plan for northwest unveiled

Press release The North West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) has a new Integrated Health Services Plan, which identifies the priorities for health system improvements in Northwestern Ontario over the next three years (2010-13) and the plans to address them. The IHSP, released Nov. 30, builds on the findings and progress made on the priorities in the LHINs plan for 2007-10. The plan was developed using the information gathered through significant engagement and discussion with local health-care providers, communities, health-care workers, and the public throughout the region. The priorities in the new IHSP are focused in three primary areas: access to and integration of services, enablers, and people of Northwestern Ontario. The priorities include, by focus area: 1. Access to and integration of services Department wait times and alternate level of care; Primary care; Specialty care and diagnostic services; Chronic disease prevention and management; Long-term care services; and Mental health and addictions services 2. Enablers Health human resources; eHealth; and Integration of services along the continuum of care 3. People of Northwestern Ontario Aboriginal health services; and French language health services We thank the numerous residents and health-care professionals of Northwestern Ontario who met with the LHIN since 2007, said Janice Beazley, chair of the North West LHIN board of directors. We believe the health system is best shaped by the people who use and work within it, she noted. Their input ensures that our plan will build a better health care system over the next three years. The IHSP is the result of efforts of many people, and it will guide our decision-making and funding decisions for the next three years, echoed North West LHIN CEO Gwen DuBois-Wing. It provides overall direction and opportunities for alignment of health services and providers in the northwest. The IHSP is an action plan that the North West LHIN will carry out together with our health-service providers, partners, and communities, DuBois-Wing added. Thunder Bay-Superior North MPP Michael Gravelle applauded the three-year plan. Once again, the North West LHIN is taking an innovative and integrated approach to delivering health-care services to our vast region, reaching out to ensure people in all our communities can access the health care they need, he said. Thats an enormous challenge, but this plan includes input from the people who matter mostthe people of Northwestern Ontario and also addresses the priorities for health care outlined by the Government of Ontario, Gravelle noted. Thunder Bay and district continues to see major advancements in the provision of health-care services, said Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro. This Integrated Health Services Plan will help guide decision-makers over the next three years, and reflects the priorities of stakeholders in our area, he remarked. Each of the 14 LHINs review and revise their IHSP every three years to ensure local priorities are on track and reflect the current needs of residents and service providers. The IHSP was created using information gained from extensive engagement. In 2007/08, the LHIN hosted more than 150 sessions, including forums, roundtable discussions, meetings, workshops, and training for some 2,500 participants. This activity was doubled in 2008/09, with more than 5,435 individuals engaged at 331 sessions across the northwest. The largest single engagement initiative was the Share Your Story, Shape Your Care project, which collected input from more than 800 people. The North West LHIN 2010-13 IHSP has 11 priorities for change to the health-care system in Northwestern Ontario. It is available at www.northwestlhin.on.ca under the IHSP tab.

Council eyeing 2% hike for most user fees in 2010

More from A1 adult (resident) currently costs $424.52 (not including GST). With a two percent increase, it will cost $433.01 (not including GST). With GST added, it will cost $454.67. But after July 1, 2010, it will cost $489.31 because of the HST. I just hope people dont blame us for the HST when they go to rent a boat slip and its $100 bucks more than last year, said Coun. Ryan. Its something we have no control over, he stressed. Meanwhile, user fees that will go up more than two percent are a couple related to waste management. This is to make up for decreasing revenues at the landfill and the increasing cost of recycling. Bag tags will go up from $1.75 to $2 (a 12.5 percent increase) while the minimum charge for tipping at the landfill will jump from $15 to $16 (a six percent increase). Other tipping fees, like the rate per tonne, only will go up two percent. A staunch opponent of bag tags from the start, Coun. Perry said that if they are going up in price, it only should be two percent just like everything else. Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown noted $2 is the same amount Dryden and Kenora charges for bag tags. He added there has been a $58,000 increase in operating costs for waste management services this year. And if council doesnt want to put it directly on the taxpayers, it has to be made up through user fees. Brown noted in passing that many municipalities do not give their residents a free receptacle like Fort Frances does. But Coun. Perry responded that people are going to recycle more and more in the future, use composting, and otherwise reduce waste, and so the town has to do something if this is going to drive up the price of bag tags. We have got to find a way to make money or sponsor this recycling thing, he stressed. To charge the people more and more money to pick up their garbage isnt going to do it, he argued, adding that if the landfill site needs to be funded, it should be through general taxation and not bag tags. Mayor Avis noted the town has to be cautious with increasing the cost of bag tags, and cant see council raising the price over $2 next year. He added that increasing the price of bag tags hurts families the most because theyre the ones who use more than the one free bag the town allows. The user fee schedule also will receive fine-tuning between now and the Dec. 21 meeting. Mayor Avis, for instance, has asked the Administration and Finance executive committee to look at why photocopier rates are not the same at the town hall, museum, and library, as well as having separate rates for low back and high back curbing. Water and sewer rates for 2010 are not a part of the user fee schedule and will be discussed separately during the budget process.

Pay raise likely for new council next year

More from A1 14 percent increase over that same span. In the revised policy, the benefits package option will remain status quo. Another change is that per diem rates will be increased from $120/ full day to $150/full day (five or more hours) or $74/half-day (less than five hours). Mayor Roy Avis said a change has to be made to more fairly compensate councillors who sit on any number of the 30-plus town committees. For example, unless a councillor is retired or independently wealthy, they often are expected to take several hoursor sometimes even daysoff work to attend meetings in and out of town. The per diem should help compensate them for having to miss work, the mayor said. On the same note, when per diem rates are applicable will be clarified. Right now, members of council are eligible to get paid for basically any meeting that takes place out of town. The revised policy indicates that mayor and council only will get paid per diems to attend meetings when so authorized by a resolution of council. These resolutions would come forward when, for instance, council states its intent for mayor and/or councillors to attend a certain conference, like the multi-day Northwestern Ontario Municipal Associations annual general meeting, or appoint one of its members to a body, like the Rainy River District Municipal Association. Mayor Avis said making the council resolution a per diem stipulation not only will clarify when per diems are to be claimed, but provides transparency to the

Retailers pleased with shopping

More from A1 think bigger is better, but thats not necessarily the case, she noted. Paul Sunstrum of Canadian Tire here also feels people are shopping locally this season. Sales have been strong, he remarked, noting the store recently offered a 20 times Canadian Tire money promotion. It was both to encourage sales and thank customers for supporting us. Sunstrum noted its always a busy time of year, and that they are doing the best they can to keep the shelves full and to provide a good value for shoppers. Fort Frances has everything you need, stressed Chamber of Commerce manager Anthony Mason. There really is no need for people to be going out of town to do their Christmas shopping. The prices arent that much different, and you spend money on gas and usually a hotel, he reasoned. He indicated the Chamber is promoting local shopping through Shop Local signs in store windows and a draw, in conjunction with B93, for Chamber gift certificates. Every dollar spent at home is a dollar used at home, Mason stressed. We want people to shop at home and support the local businesses so they are here in the future, he added.

Can we get this, Mom?

Aiden Wielinga eyed up a plate of goodies for sale at the Riverside Foundation for Health Cares Bake Sale Extravaganza fundraiser Sunday afternoon at the Little Beaver Snow Park lodge here. The event raised about $2,000 for district health care. Duane Hicks photo

public. The draft policy also clarifies what is inside and outside Northwestern Ontario for the purposes of adjusting meal allowances and other expenses. Sudbury and everything west (including Manitoba) are considered inside while locations east and south of Sudbury are considered outside. Mayor Avis noted the travel policy is the same for town employees and members of council. With regards to the use of town vehicles and personal vehicles, the mayor clarified the town van is used for travel most of the time. If anybody elects to use their own vehicle, they dont get paid for mileage but strictly for fuel costs. They also have to sign a waiver regarding using the insurance on their own vehicle while on town business. Committee members also agreed mileage should be aligned with that paid by the Canada Revenue Agency (as the City of Thunder Bay does), and that mileage, food, and other expenses should be reviewed annually. The draft policy now will be forwarded to the Administration and Finance executive committee for review at its Dec. 15 meeting. It, in turn, will make its recommendation to council regarding the policy at a future council meeting. The remuneration and travel policy committee was struck earlier this year upon request of Mayor Avis. The committee consisted of Mayor Avis, Couns. John Albanese, Ken Perry, and Rick Wiedenhoeft, clerk Glenn Treftlin, deputy treasurer Debbie Scofield, and human resources manager Christine Ruppenstein.