Wawa Speeding Up Tax Collection Process With Revised Policy

The Municipality of Wawa's speeding up its tax collection process.

Wawa Municipal Council's approved a new Property Tax Billing and Collections policy, which alters the timeline for sending arrears to collections and putting liens on the property, leading to potential tax sale: the previous policy sent accounts to collections after 2 years and moved toward a lien after 3, but the new policy cuts that down to 1 and 2 years respectively, aligning with Ontario's Municipal Act.

Discussing the policy in this week's Council meeting, Treasurer Manuela Batovanja expressed hope this'll improve tax collections, noting a large number of accounts in arrears tend to pay once contacted by collections or warned of potential tax sale.

Impaired Driving Charge After Collision on Highway 519 Near Highway 17

Impaired driving charges have been laid after a single vehicle collision near Dubreuilville.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the collision on Highway 519 - near the junction with Highway 17 - shortly after 10 o'clock Monday night, with investigation determining the driver had consumed alcoholic beverages.

The Sault Ste. Marie 26-year-old was charged with operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs and operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus), then released with a June court date, though he was also issued a 90-day Administrative Driver's Licence Suspension and the vehicle's impounded for seven days.

Local MP Carol Hughes Responds to 2024 Federal Budget

Local MP Carol Hughes is optimistic about the Liberal government's new budget - but giving most of the credit for positive moves to her party.

The Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing New Democrat is taking credit for many measures in the budget tabled Tuesday.

Hughes particularly highlights the inclusion of a national pharmacare framework covering contraceptives and diabetes medication.

Hughes also points to recently announced plans for a national school food program, the doubling of the firefighter and search and rescue volunteer tax credit, support for a "Red Dress Alert" system similar to the Amber Alert system but for missing Indigenous women, efforts to address the legacy of residential schools, and efforts to address the housing crisis - which she says started under the previous Conservative government and is such a large problem it can't be solved tomorrow - including the ability for non-profits to buy social housing.

Despite that, Hughes says it's "by no means an NDP budget", as it lacks certain things the party would like - pointing especially to corporate tax rates.

Hughes says the budget also falls short on funding for First Nations housing and infrastructure or to address the funding gap under "Jordan's Principle", but she is fairly positive about the document in early assessment.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's focused his criticism on the general idea of deficit spending, blaming government deficits for problems such as high mortgage rates, rents, and homelessness, while Liberal Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland issued a grim warning about Conservative "austerity".

Wawa Council to Hold 3 Meetings Tonight

Wawa Municipal Council's holding a trio of meetings tonight.

First up is a public meeting under the Planning Act, where a temporary Zoning By-Law amendment will be considered to permit Red Pine Exploration's temporary work camps.

That'll be followed by a Committee of the Whole meeting featuring a delegation from Gordon Draper on Community Living Awareness Month, as well as monthly reports from department heads, and discussion on the Goose Nest and Broadway Avenue murals, vehicular traffic control in the Michipicoten River Village, a draft fire prevention policy, the tax billing collection policy, and RFP results for the new marina washroom.

The latter item will come back up in tonight's regular Council meeting, which also includes a resolution to appoint two members of the Wawa Age-Friendly Committee and by-laws to continue an agreement with the Lady Dunn Health Centre for financial support for medical professional recruitment and retention, to set this year's schedule of fees, and to implement a licensing system for Short-Term Rental Accommodations.

CAO/Clerk Maury O'Neill explains the licensing system will include conditions to ensure short-term accommodations operate according to the Building Code, Fire Code, and other health and safety regulations.

The meetings will be held back-to-back-to-back, starting at 6:30 pm tonight in Council Chambers - they'll also be livestreamed through the Municipality's YouTube channel.

Threats Charge in Chapleau

A threats charge has been laid in Chapleau.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers responded to a threats occurrence on Martel Road shortly before 11 pm Tuesday night, with subsequent investigation leading to the arrest of a 24-year-old man from Brunswick House First Nation on a charge of uttering threats to cause bodily harm.

He's been released from custody, with a May court date in Chapleau.

Wawa Council Holds Special Meeting for Early Budget Discussions

Wawa Municipal Council's continuing early budget discussions.

Three months after passing this year's budget, a special meeting will be held tonight, with a single item on the agenda: a budget presentation, relating to asset management.

The public is able to attend the meeting, which will be held in Council Chambers at 6:30 pm, and broadcast on the Municipality's YouTube channel.

Assault Charges Over Wawa Domestic Dispute

Assault charges have been laid over a Wawa domestic dispute.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to a disturbance on Mission Road shortly after 4 am on March 29th, with investigation leading to the arrest of a Sudbury 28-year-old on a charge of spousal assault and another of assault.

The accused - who will not be identified due to the domestic nature of the incident, to protect the victim - was released from custody, with a May court date in Wawa.

Mischief, Threats & Other Charges After Dubreuilville Traffic Complaint

Several charges have been laid after a Dubreuilville traffic complaint.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say a possible impaired driver was reported on Rue Des Pins shortly after 1 pm March 30th, with officers locating and stopping the vehicle, speaking with the driver, determining they were not impaired but finding they'd breached court-ordered release conditions by attending an ex-partner's residence and threatening them, then began to drive in a dangerous manner near the ex-partner's property.

The 44-year-old from Pickle Lake - who will not be identified due to the domestic nature of the incident, to protect the victim - was charged with domestic mischief, mischief over $5000, uttering threats to damage property, dangerous operation, drive motor vehicle and perform stunt, and three counts of failure to comply with undertaking - they were held for a bail hearing, then released.

Local Charges In Connection to Stolen Property Investigation

Charges have been laid in connection to a stolen property investigation.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say members of the Community Street Crime Unit and other officers executed a search warrant at a Churchill Avenue residence shortly before 2 pm last Wednesday, finding two items that had been reported stolen by their owner.

Police arrested a 48-year-old from Wawa on charges of possession of property obtained by crime over and under $5000, then released him with a May court date in Wawa.

Wawa Finishes Installation of New MMCC Sportsfield Track

Wawa's sportsfield has a new running track.

The Municipality of Wawa's announced installation of the track has now been finalized, shy of a year after it announced the Ontario Trillium Fund would provide a $130,000 grant, covering all of the project costs.

At that time, Community Services and Tourism Director Alex Patterson assured plans were for a track similar to the degraded old one.

J. Provost Contracting installed the four-lane, 400-metre track, which is made of crushed rock over a base of gravel.

1st Wawa & Sault Ste. Marie District Wildland Fires of 2024 Season

This region's seen its first forest fires of the season.

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says "Wawa 1" and "Wawa 2" were both located east of Highway 614 and north of Eric Lake - each measuring a tenth of a hectare in size - while "Sault Ste. Marie 1" - also a tenth of a hectare in size - was located north of Red Rock Road in the community of Red Rock.

All three have since been called out.

Wildland fire season officially began April 1st.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered After Wawa Area Traffic Stop

Local police have recovered a stolen vehicle after a traffic stop near Wawa.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers were conducting general patrol on Highway 17 shortly before 9 am March 29th, when their Automated Licence Plate Recognition system alerted them to a plate that had been reported stolen - officers stopped the vehicle, with investigation confirming the plates were stolen and did not belong to the stopped vehicle, which had also been reported stolen.

The driver was also found to be driving with a suspended licence.

The Mississauga 36-year-old's been charged with: possession of property obtained by crime, both over and under $5000; fail to comply with probation order; Class G1 licence holder unaccompanied by qualified driver; and two counts of driving while under suspension.

They've been released with a May court date in Wawa.

Drug & Firearm Charges Laid After Last Week's Fatal Collision South of Wawa

Numerous charges have been laid after last week's fatal collision south of Wawa.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the "serious" two-vehicle collision on Highway 17 about 30 kilometres south of town shortly before 10 o'clock last Thursday morning, with a 19-year-old from North York confirmed deceased as a result of the collision.

Police say their investigation found one of the other people in the same vehicle as the deceased was in possession of a loaded handgun, with a subsequent search of the vehicle uncovering a large amount of suspected fentanyl (valued over $28,000), prompting a total of 41 criminal charges for the five occupants of the vehicle - a 17-year-old from Etobicoke, an 18-year-old from Scarborough, a 21-year-old from Toronto, and two 21-year-olds from North York - with the charges ranging from possession of loaded prohibited firearm to possession of a Schedule I opioid for the purpose of trafficking to failing to comply with probation orders.

The Toronto resident was released from custody with a May court date, while the other four were remanded into custody for bail hearings, remaining in custody at this time.

Gogama's Côté Gold Mine Marks 1st Gold Pour

A mine in the region is celebrating a major milestone.

IAMGOLD's reporting its Côté Gold Mine near Gogama achieved its first gold pour on Easter Sunday, with IAMGOLD now shifting to ramp up production by the third quarter, hoping to reach a 90% throughput rate by the end of this year.

It's currently forecasting gold production ranging from 220,000 to 290,000 ounces, so long as it meets remaining milestones.

Employment's expected to grow to more than 500 people on site, in addition to support staff and contractors.

The mine's currently expected to have a life of 18 years, with projections annual production could reach about 370,000 ounces over that time, which would make it one of the largest operating gold mines in Canada.

Superior East OPP to Watch for Seatbelt Use Over Easter Weekend

Local police will be watching for proper seatbelt use over the Easter weekend.

While she says proper seatbelt use is a priority at all times of the year, Superior East Ontario Provincial Police Constable Ashley Nickle explains the local detachment's joining in a province-wide seatbelt safety campaign.

Nickle reminds seatbelts must be worn by all vehicle occupants.

Constable Nickle emphasizes seatbelts should be worn at all times, noting no matter how careful you are, you never know when you might encounter a distracted, impaired, or aggressive driver on the road.

Nickle also warns lack of - or improper - seatbelt use is one of the leading causes of traffic deaths in Ontario.

The Easter Long Weekend Seatbelt Campaign runs from Good Friday through Easter Monday.

Alamos Gold Announces Friendly Buyout of Argonaut Gold

A major deal in the mining industry with substantial ripples locally.

Alamos Gold and Argonaut Gold have announced a definitive agreement for Alamos to acquire all of Argonaut's issued and outstanding shares, which will see Alamos acquire Argonaut's Magino Mine near Dubreuilville, adjacent to Alamos' Island Gold Mine (which Alamos acquired when it bought Richmont in 2017).

Integration of the two operations is expected to create one of the largest and lowest cost gold mines in Canada, a move Alamos expects "to unlock significant value with immediate and long-term synergies expected to total approximately $515-million US", increasing Alamos' combined gold production to over 600,000 ounces per year, with longer-term production potential over 900,000 ounces a year.

Island Gold's been in production since October 2007 - producing over 1-million ounces of gold since - while Magino only began producing gold last June and achieved commercial production at the start of November.

Toronto-based Alamos won't be acquiring Argonaut's operations in the US and Mexico, however, instead spinning those out to Argonaut's existing shareholders as a new junior gold producer dubbed "SpinCo".

The deal still requires court, regulatory, and shareholder approvals, though both boards have given their approval and Argonaut's is recommending shareholders vote in favour.

Memorial Mass & Celebration of Life for Chris Simon

Family, friends, and others are saying goodbye to local NHL hockey pro Chris Simon, who died at the age of 52 last week.

A memorial mass will be held at Wawa's St. Monica's Catholic Church at 11 o'clock this morning, though attendance is limited to invite only, with additional seating instead available at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre, where the mass will be live-streamed - it will also be streamed online, available to view for the next four months.

Following this morning's mass, a celebration of Simon's life will be held at the MMCC, which is located on Chris Simon Drive, named for the hockey star.

An obituary notes Simon - who was originally enrolled with Wiikwemikong Unceded Territory before joining Michipicoten First Nation - was proud to be Ojibwe and a proud member of the Anishinabek Nation, but also "equally proud to be from Wawa", where he was born and raised, and called "home".

Simon was drafted by the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers in 1990, playing for a number of NHL clubs from 1992 until 2008, when he joined Russia's KHL, ending his professional career in 2013 - his greatest career moment was winning the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996, bringing the famed trophy back to Wawa.

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