LITTLE CURRENT—For the first time in its Little Current history, Royal Canadian Legion Branch #177 played host to an all candidates’ night for the candidates running for election in the Northeast Town and to fill the position of Manitoulin trustee for the Rainbow District School Board. While the showing of candidates for the position of councillor was low (none for Ward 3, one for Ward 4, two for Ward 1 and four for Ward 2), a fact that was noted by members of the audience, participation from the crowd was solid with many taking the time to pose questions from the floor.
In attendance, running in Ward 1, were incumbent Christina Jones and challenger Laurie Cook; Ward 2, incumbent Michael Erskine, challenger Tom Spry, incumbent Melissa Peters and challenger Debby Turner; and from Ward 4, only challenger Dan Leblanc. Neither of the candidates for Ward 3 took part in the all candidates’ night.
The first question of the evening was posed by one of the candidates themselves, Maureen Egan, who is running for the position of Rainbow District School Board trustee. As a Ward 3 taxpayer, Ms. Egan noted Little Current’s downtown core and questioned the candidates on what they had planned for retaining and attracting businesses to the main street.
Michael Erskine noted that he represents council on the Business Improvement Area and has brought “plenty of ideas” forward to that table, but what the community needs to do, “most assuredly,” is shop local. “And I think we all have a role to play in that,” he said. “We can’t just depend on tourism and we do really need to encourage the community to shop local.”
A seasonal resident of the municipality asked the candidates how much of the recycling collected at the landfill actually gets recycled “or does it just end up on the hill that’s getting bigger all the time?”
“Quite a lot of it gets recycled,” said Mr. Erskine. “And it just keeps getting better and better. The life of the landfill has been increased, and we’re now making money from recycled electronics.” Mr. Erskine agreed that there is always more that can be done.
Marnie Bond of Little Current questioned the contenders, and specifically Melissa Peters, about the new subdivision located along the Boozeneck Road. She wondered why the lots have not been selling and said the subdivision is costing taxpayers money. She wondered if the lots could be lowered in price to help them sell.
Ms. Peters said the subdivision has been in existence since before her first term on council and said council was working diligently to do more to move the lots.
Tom Spry said he would like to see the municipality spend some money on the subdivision for landscaping purposes to make the area more appealing for the buyer.
“Would you want to live there?” he asked the audience to a chorus of “no” in response.
“There are some buildings going up,” Mr. Erskine responded, adding that sales tend to start slow. “If you have an offer, bring it to the town. Price is always negotiable, but it’s a balancing act between how low do you go. None of us are happy with how slowly things are moving and have discussed it at length at the council table.”
Gary White, who lives on Morphet’s Sideroad, asked the candidates, and specifically Ward 4 candidate Dan Leblanc, why there has been no chip and tar on Morphet’s Sideroad, especially on the road’s hill and with no upgrading (other than gravel) in the last 20 years.
Mr. White encouraged Mr. Leblanc to take a drive along the road and questioned why none of the other Ward 4 candidates came to the meeting. “How accountable is that?” he asked.
Mr. Erskine noted that there is a strategic plan for roads that should see 10 kilometres of new chip and tar each year.
White’s Point resident Bill Caesar asked Ms. Egan if she had a good handle, as a Sudbury resident (Ms. Egan also owns property in Little Current), on Manitoulin’s schools and how they are running.
Ms. Egan said she did and that they are “beautiful, absolutely gorgeous,” saying she knows the administrators, having worked for the Rainbow Board for a number of years, and is excited, if elected, to work with the principals, vice principals, teachers and non-teaching staff.
Jim McMillan of Little Current posed a question to Mr. Erskine, who noted the systematic implementation of sidewalks in Little Current as a campaign platform at the start of the evening.
“When you do the sidewalks,” Mr. McMillan asked, “will they be the same standard as Blake Street (where a new sidewalk was added two years ago) or will you raise the standard?”
Mr. Erskine noted the sidewalks in front of his home located at the intersection of Campbell and Hayward Streets and said he expected all sidewalks to be built to the same standard.
Gary Green of Little Current was next to the microphone. He spoke of the petition to council he raised regarding commercial traffic on Wilson Street—a residential area. Council’s response, he said, was to place two signs, one on each highway, warning against heavy trucks.
“We’re just waiting for something to happen,” Mr. Green said. “I think it’s time for council to move. They spent a lot of money fixing the corner of Meredith Street (Highway 6 at the Hilltop Shell corner) and yet heavy trucks continue to use Wilson Street.”
“I totally agree with you, Gary,” Ms. Turner said, noting that, during a recent trip to Sudbury, she encountered a traffic-calming zone with temporary speed bumps. Such a solution in Little Current would likely stop trucks from using Wilson Street, she said.
“We’ve had many long conversations about that very issue,” Mr. Erskine said. “A lot of people talk about how eager politicians are to spend other people’s money, but you’ll never find a tighter bunch of individuals than those around the council table.”
“If you get enough push, however, they’re (council) more likely to act,” he added. “So keep pushing.”
Mr. Leblanc said he agreed with the “speed bump theory,” noting that he drives a fifth wheel trailer and that speeds bumps would definitely deter traffic.
Mr. Spry questioned why, if the municipality is paying so much for police services, are they not enforcing a bylaw for heavy traffic on Wilson Street.
Mr. Green explained that there isn’t a bylaw as council was concerned that the traffic would simply be moved one street over—to a school street. Mr. Erskine explained that the police do not enforce bylaws.
Gerry Michaels, another Wilson Street resident, said that he agreed with Mr. Green. “In terms of speed bumps, Wilson Street will soon take care of that itself,” he joked. Getting to his question, he said, “I think there should be a truck route, defined, a connecting link that would run from Harbour View Road to Highway 540 (past the public works garage). In the next five years, how would you position planning a connecting link so there are no trucks driving through residential streets?”
“It’s something that Gary (Green) has brought up, and he’s brought it up to council, but there’s always a cost involved,” Mr. Erskine said. “You’re quite right in that it needs to be done,” he added, encouraging residents to put pressure on council in order for them to move on an issue. “There’s one councillor that will be behind it.”
“And I’m behind it too,” Ms. Turner added.
Stu Harris of White’s Point said that the Northeast Town has four wards and, according to the Taxpayers’ Association, the mill rate in each ward is different with Ward 1 being the lowest. “Why?” he questioned.
Christine Jones said the mill rate has to do with the services rendered to each ward. “You pay for what you get,” she said. “A bag of garbage costs $8 in Ward 1 to get rid of. For services rendered, it’s a fair system.”
“In Ward 1, there’s no services whatsoever,” Laurie Cook answered. “To suggest raising taxes is a huge kettle of fish. Eight dollars when they are paying for the landfill? Ward 1 residents are asking the same questions.”
Ray Beaudry of Morphet’s Sideroad questioned why council is not petitioning the provincial government to reassess the McLean’s Mountain Wind Farm site to industrial, which, in his estimate, would bring in over $1.3 million in taxes which would in turn lower residents’ tax bills.
“That was a fight I lost at the council table,” said Mr. Erskine. “When you look at the value of windmills, it didn’t make sense to me that they would get out of that. I pushed for it—it only makes sense. Property assessment should be taxes on value just like everything else.”
“I don’t know why we wouldn’t,” Mr. Spry said “It doesn’t make sense to me.”
“Mike won’t be a minority,” Ms. Turner said. “I’ll back you.”
Ms. Egan questioned Ms. Turner about one of her platforms, a pool in Little Current, which she thought was a ‘“fantastic idea.”
Ms Turner explained that there is plenty of ‘healthy lifestyles’ funding available currently that the municipality could access. Economically, she said, a pool works for everyone because of the draw it would bring to the community.
“I’m not crazy about the idea of a pool,” Mr. Erskine added. “There’s a municipality near by, Espanola, which has the highest tax rate in Ontario. Am I willing to raise taxes for a pool? No. It’s not the cost of the building, it’s keeping it going—it’s going to be expensive to maintain and operate.”
“I think the pool would be an incredible service,” Ms. Cook said. “It would just be a win-win all around.”
