Six Michipicoten Island Wolves To Be Relocated

Half a dozen wolves could soon be removed from Michipicoten Island - destined for another Lake Superior island in Michigan.

The Duluth News Tribute is reporting the National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation has provided a $50,000 grant to help the US National Parks Service move six wolves from Michipicoten Island to Isle Royale - and to cover ongoing monitoring after that.

They'll join three Minnesota wolves brought to the island in western Lake Superior last fall, part of efforts to boost its native wolf population, which had dropped to a single male and a single female, unable to successfully mate due to inbreeding and genetic deformities.

Reviving that wolf population is also part of efforts to restore a level of predator-prey balance, as Isle Royale has about 2000 moose with no other predators.

Speaking with JJAM FM News, a representative of Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry confirmed the MNRF is working with the U-S parks service for the "translocation" of some wolves - hoping to do so this week, if weather co-operates - but declined to comment further.

The National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation is also offering the US Interior Department $55,000 to cover any National Park Service costs for ongoing island research conducted every winter since 1959 by Michigan Technological University researchers.

More Time For Input on Renaming Local Lakes

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is giving more time for input as it considers naming a few local lakes after Canadian Armed Forces members who died in service.

A questionnaire posted on the MNRF website originally gave until January 23, 2018 for comment - that was later clarified as a mistake, and that the date should have been January 30th, 2019, though the site now shows the deadline is February 6th.

At the centre of the discussion are seven lakes "south of Negwazu Lake in the District of Algoma" that the Ontario Geographic Names Board does not believe have names - two are in the "Geographic Township of Bernst", two in the "Geographic Township of Ashley", and the other three clustered in the "Geographic Township of Alanen".

Proposed names: "Singh Lake", for Royal Canadian Infantry Private Bukan Singh, who died during the First World War; "Gibbs Lake", for Royal Canadian Air Force Navigator Reginald Cuthbert Gibbs, who died during the Second World War; "Perrier" and "Pitt" Lakes, for Royal Canadian Navy seamen who died after a fire on the HMCS Nipigon in 1965; and "Stringer", "Galloway", and "Hardy" Lakes for three Royal Canadian Navy seamen who died after an explosion on the HMCS Kootenay in 1969.

Superior East OPP Suggest Precautions in Extreme Cold

Local police are recommending important safety measures during the extreme cold.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police warn drivers who start their vehicle to warm it up before travelling to be mindful of criminals who target idling vehicles, and - if possible - keep doors locked while the vehicle warms up.

Emphasizing a buildup of snow or an iced over or foggy windshield or windows can drastically reduce visibility while driving, OPP warn drivers to ensure your vehicle's clear of snow with good visibility in all directions - or face Highway Traffic Act charges.

If your vehicle goes off the road or gets stuck in deep snow, police urge you to clear the area around the exhaust pipe to keep fumes away from your vehicle, and keep a window slightly open if your vehicle's still running, as fumes can still get into your vehicle from a clear tailpipe.

Police also recommend bringing extra warm winter clothing and providing a trip itinerary to a friend or family member so they can call for assistance if you don't arrive at scheduled destinations, particularly if you're out snowmobiling.

Chapleau Man Charged After His Vehicle Illegally Drives By School Bus

A Chapleau man's been charged after his vehicle failed to stop for a school bus late last week.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers received a complaint around 3:35 Thursday afternoon that a pickup truck had driven by a school bus that had its overhead red signal lights flashing and its "STOP" arm extended on Highway 129.

Officers located the vehicle and owner shortly after, charging the 30-year-old Chapleau man with fail to stop for school bus - owner.

OPP remind that vehicle owners can be charged for failing to stop for a school bus even if you weren't driving the vehicle at the time, with fines ranging from $490 to $2000 plus six demerit points for a first offence, or $1000 to $4000, six demerit points, and up to six months jail time for a subsequent offence.

It is illegal to pass a stopped school bus that has its overhead red signal lights flashing - whether or not its "STOP" arm is extended - and your vehicle must remain stopped until the bus moves or the signal lights stop flashing.

Wawa Ice Fishing Derby Seeking Volunteers

Just over a month ahead of Wawa's annual ice fishing derby, organizers are putting out the call for more people to help with the event.

Speaking with JJAM FM News ahead of the January 15th early bird deadline, Derby Chairperson Scott Popert noted a need for support.

Popert encourages anyone interested in volunteering to contact him.

The 28th annual Wawa Ice Fishing Derby will be held March 1st through 3rd.

Info Sought About Missing Teams From Wawa Bonspiel Trophy

Wawa residents are being asked to help honour a couple moments in local curling history.

While reviewing the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 429 President's Trophy - given out for the annual bonspiel - Andy Stevens discovered it is missing a few teams between 1954 and 1993: the 1971 team's shield fell off the trophy, while there is no record for 1987, 1988, or 1989.

Anyone with information for about the 1971, 1987, 1988, or 1989 bonspiel winners is encouraged to contact Andy Stevens.

Argonaut Gold Responds to Magino Project Clearing Federal Environmental Assessment

The Canadian mining company proposing a new gold mine near Dubreuilville is focusing on needed approvals after clearing a federal environmental assessment.

Argonaut Gold says it's "pleased" Federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna's given a positive decision statement for the Magino project, though it notes plans for the rest of the year include the provincial environmental assessment - expected to conclude later in the first half of this year - and subsequent authorizations next year.

While McKenna announced the proposal is "not likely to cause significant adverse environment effects when mitigation measures are taken into account", she did set out 120 conditions to protect fish and fish habitat, migratory birds, human health, the current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes, and species at risk, along with mitigation measures and requirements for a follow-up program.

Located about 14 kilometres southeast of Dubreuilville, the Magino Gold Project's a proposed open pit gold mine with an onsite metal mill - McKenna's release says it's valued at $427-million, and could create up to 550 jobs during construction and 350 during operations over the life of the project.

Local English Public School Board Launches Online Payment Program

A local school board's looking to go "cashless" at its schools.

The Algoma District School Board's launched "School Cash Online", touting it as an "easy to use, safe, and convenient way for parents and guardians to pay online for school activities, such as field trips, lunches, fundraisers, milk programs, and yearbooks".

According to the board, the program will make it easier for parents and guardians to perform regular administrative tasks, manage and track payments, avoid missing information or payments, and even approve permission forms online, while providing more security for paying fees and reducing teacher and administrative time spent on managing money.

A link to the service is available on the board's website.

ADSB's not the first local board to implement SchoolCashOnline, as the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board announced it was doing so back in October.

New Names Proposed for Wawa-Area Lakes

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is considering naming a few local lakes after Canadian Armed Forces members who died while serving.

The Ontario Geographic Names Board has identified seven lakes it does not believe have names - all seven are described as "south of Negwazu Lake in the District of Algoma", two are in the "Geographic Township of Bernst", two in the "Geographic Township of Ashley", and the other three are clustered in the "Geographic Township of Alanen".

Proposed names: "Singh Lake", for Royal Canadian Infantry 20th Battalion Private Bukan Singh, who it says died during World War I, on August 27, 1919; "Gibbs Lake", for Royal Canadian Air Force Flying Officer Navigator Reginald Cuthbert Gibbs, who died during the Second World War on September 21, 1944; "Perrier" and "Pitt" Lakes, for Royal Canadian Navy seamen Patrick Allen Perrier and Thomas Stewart Pitt who died after a fire on the HMCS Nipigon in 1965; and "Stringer", "Galloway", and "Hardy" Lakes for Royal Canadian Navy seamen Lewis John Stringer, Nelson Murray Galloway, and Michael Alan hardy, all of whom died after an explosion on the HMCS Kootenay in 1969.

A questionnaire about the proposed names has been posted on the MNRF website.

Ontario Government Backs Liquid Natural Gas Plant in North

Efforts to bring natural gas to the region have received a major boost.

Ontario Infrastructure Minister Monte McNaughton's announced $27-million for a new liquefied natural gas plant in Nipigon - the facility would convert natural gas into a liquid form so it could be trucked to consumers.

A government release expects the plant to help replace costlier fuel sources to more than 550 businesses and 5000 homes - saving residents an estimated $181.3-million and businesses $65.3-million on energy bills over 40 years - while creating 700 to 2800 jobs in the region.

It's actually part of a multi-year effort by a few communities in the region, including Manitouwadge, Marathon, Schreiber, Terrace Bay, and Wawa - in fact, a second phase of the project would see the liquid natural gas provided to the communities - the government expects the expansion to contribute $73-million to the province's GDP.

Ontario's Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation is providing an additional $3.4-million to support the second phase, particularly developing engineering and design plans, as well as addressing permits, regulatory approvals, and licencing requirements to bring natural gas to residential, commercial, and institutional users in the region.

Update at 4:35 pm: JJAM FM News has received these official comments from Minister Monte McNaughton:

Proposed Magino Gold Project Clears Major Hurdle

A proposed local gold mine has cleared a major hurdle.

Federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna's announced that the Magino Gold Project is "not likely to cause significant adverse environment effects when mitigation measures are taken into account", clearing the environmental assessment process for the proposed mine near Dubreuilville.

McKenna's decision statement does set out 120 conditions to protect fish and fish habitat, migratory birds, human health, the current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes, and species at risk, along with mitigation measures and requirements for a follow-up program the proponent, Prodigy Gold Incorporated, must fulfill.

Prodigy - or its parent company, Argonaut Gold - will still need to obtain authorizations and permits from federal departments, as normal.

Located about 14 kilometres southeast of Dubreuilville, the Magino Gold Project's a proposed open pit gold mine with an onsite metal mill - McKenna's release says it's valued at $427-million, and could create up to 550 jobs during construction and 350 during operations over the life of the project.

Candidates Set for Michipicoten First Nation Elections

Candidates are set for the upcoming Michipicoten First Nation elections.

A release from Michipicoten First Nation confirms the candidates, with two in the running for chief: current Chief Pat Tangie and former chief Joe Buckell.

There are fifteen candidates for five councillor roles, including current councillors John-Paul Chalykoff, Janet Demary, Don Humphries, Evelyn Stone, and William - or Bill - Swanson Sr., as well as: Irene Armstrong; Daniel Beaupre; Sandra Donney-Fraser; Diedre Dupuis, or Boissoneau; Dan Perreault; Linda Peterson; Agnes Stone; Ida Swanson; Myrtle Swanson; and William Swanson Jr.

Roberta Day had been nominated for councillor, but withdrew.

The election will be held March 23rd.

Municipality of Wawa Parts Ways With CAO

Wawa's longtime CAO is no longer employed by the Municipality.

A short release issued by the Municipality of Wawa late Thursday but dated Wednesday, January 23rd states that "effective today, Mr. Chris Wray and the Municipality of Wawa have ended their employment relationship", adding that "the search for a CAO shall commence immediately".

It gives no reason for the move, and JJAM FM's attempts to reach out to Mayor Ron Rody for comment have not been returned.

This does come after 58-year-old Wray was arrested by Greater Sudbury Police in July, charged with sexual assault and criminal harassment stemming from a complaint made by a woman to Superior East OPP at the end of May - that complaint alleged an assault happened in Greater Sudbury in November 2016, and that the involved parties were known to each other.

At the time, a release from the Municipality on behalf of Mayor Rody expressed "grave concern" over the criminal allegations, adding the municipality "takes seriously its obligation to create and maintain a safe workplace environment, free from discrimination and harassment of any kind", further pledging to "cooperate fully with the relevant authorities" and to "continue to provide outstanding community service to the citizens of Wawa".

Wray had been Wawa's CAO/Clerk-Treasurer since 1999 - aside from a stint working for Muskoka Lakes from 2012 to 2014 - and also sat on the rural caucus of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, was also chair of the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre, and was president of the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks, and Treasurers of Ontario.

Wawa Waterfront Project to Continue In Spring

Despite failing to meet goals for last year's construction, Wawa's waterfront project is expected to get going again later this year.

During this week's Corporate Planning and Policy Manual Committee meeting, Community Services and Tourism Director Alex Patterson told Municipal Council that the project fell short of its planned schedule of construction and is paused due to current weather conditions, but - while speaking to JJAM FM News - remained confident the work will be done.

Patterson expects a "proper timeline" will be determined soon - in terms of what work will be done and when - with the second phase of work to include "the fun stuff", like play and recreational equipment, as well as "the visual things that make it look really nice and tie the whole project together".

Also added to that will be some repairs to the swales after damaging storms in the fall - shortly after construction - and Patterson says it may meed modifications to the plans.

Another design change is also planned: bridges over the swales, an idea that was in the original "Lapointe" plan but was dropped for this iteration, though Patterson now says they will be added to address complaints that the swales prevent people from walking straight down the beach - he adds that the extra cost will be covered in the funded contingency, and because other parts of the project have come in under budget.

Further community outreach is also intended, to help explain the project to residents.

Wawa Council Discussion on THMs Turns Heated

Wawa Municipal Council's Corporate Planning and Policy Manual Committee meeting briefly turned heated during discussion of efforts to reduce THMs in the water.

Infrastructure Services Director Cory Stainthorpe was outlining efforts to treat THMs, noting that aeration or adding a coagulant were the two main possibilities: aeration did reduce THMs, but also reduced chlorine, which meant more chlorine doses and higher costs.

The focus turned to "flash-mixing" coagulants, with Stainthorpe stating the most effective seemed to be a poly-aluminum chloride - Councillor Bill Chiasson questioned the wisdom of using a chemical to treat THMs, retorting that staff should just "clean the damn well and get it done", and - when urged to calm by Mayor Ron Rody - questioned whether the mayor cares for "your people".

Stainthorpe replied that testing of the raw water from the lake near the intake and just before treatment showed the same amount of carbon, ruling out organics in the intake as a cause for the problem.

THMs are a by-product of organic material reacting with chlorine used to treat the water.

Appearing to become increasingly frustrated, Chiasson stated he didn't believe the readings - Mayor Rody cautioned him not to get personal, though Chiasson rose from his seat and went to the nearby door, stating "add chemicals, go ahead, kill your people" before leaving Council Chambers.

Discussion continued, with Rody stating that "if we don't add chemicals to our water, we'll never have clean water", and Stainthorpe assuring chemicals added would "attach" to the carbon and be removed by a filtration membrane - no decision was made, and the study is continuing.

Chiasson returned just after the discussion finished, and - at the end of the meeting - apologized to Stainthorpe for his outburst.

Algoma Public Health placed Wawa under an advisory in November 2014, due to THM levels exceeding Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards: based on an average calculated from quarterly testing, THMs shouldn't exceed 100 micrograms per liter.

Stainthorpe says the average is now below that mark, but still high - highest in warm weather - and the advisory's remaining in place for now.

When issuing the advisory, the health unit emphasized there's only a risk from chronic, long-term exposure - drinking "a gallon a day every day for 35 years" - which would mean a "slight increase" to risk of bladder cancer.

Wawa Council Discusses Water Meters and Mission Water Billing

Water was a big focus of the January 22nd Corporate Planning and Policy Manual Committee meeting, with discussion about water meters and billing for water services in the Mission starting off the night.

Resident George Fedoruk made a delegation to Council, questioning first when the Municipality planned to switch to water meter-based billing, with Mayor Ron Rody replying that it would certainly not be this year, as staffing issues have delayed the process and he's waiting for KPMG to re-send data used for its rate study, in order to set the new rates.

Rody did note the rates would be a mix of fixed and variable costs - KPMG had recommended to Council that the fixed component initially cover 75% of water and wastewater costs, with the variable - the meter-based component - to cover the remaining 25%, though it also recommended phasing that to a 50/50 ratio after three years, which would benefit lower consumers, who would start seeing their bills drop sizeably.

Fedoruk - and fellow Mission resident Nick Veldt - then discussed the current billing system for that part of the community, as it appears to be based on estimated usage, though it was unclear where the estimated amount actually comes from - Fedoruk in particularly stated that his billed rate since the installation of the new water meters is far higher than he believes possible.

Suggesting he believed the Mission was billed on a flat rate like the rest of the community, Infrastructure Services Director Cory Stainthorpe stated he'd need to discuss that with the Finance Department, as billing isn't under his purview and there were no finance representatives at the meeting.

Mayor Rody promised staff would look into the situation.

Chapleau Hospital No Longer Dealing With IT Issues

Service is back to normal for Services de Sante de Chapleau Health Services.

Speaking with JJAM FM News, interim CEO Natasha Comte's confirmed that the IT issues which hit Northeastern Ontario hospitals last Wednesday are no longer causing any change in service at the local hospital, and delays are no longer expected, though they are still working through the backlog built up during the disruption.

Wawa's Lady Dunn Health Centre's similarly confirmed that Laboratory and Diagnostic Imaging services are "back to regular hours of operation", after they were closed to outpatients due to the computer issues.

HSCDSB Touts Support For Special Olympics Athletes

The local English Catholic school board's touting support for several athletes at the upcoming Ontario Special Olympics Winter Games.

The Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board says its schools have adopted seventeen athletes for the upcoming games, including one jointly sponsored by the board's four northern schools: St. Joseph French Immersion in Wawa, Our Lady of Fatima in Chapleau, St. Basil's in White River, and Holy Name of Jesus in Hornepayne.

Staff at the board office and trustees also jointly adopted an athlete.

Board representatives presented the Special Olympics organizing committee with a cheque for $8517 on Tuesday, January 22nd.

The Ontario Special Olympics Winter Games will be held in Sault Ste. Marie January 31st to February 3rd.

Chapleau Town Council Discusses Smoking By-Law Update

Revisions are on the way for Chapleau's smoking by-law.

Town Council was presented with correspondence from Public Health Sudbury and Districts during Monday's meeting, but Mayor Michael Levesque says some of the information provided by the local health unit ended up being rather surprising.

Chapleau's acting clerk is expected to present an amended smoking by-law in March.

Chapleau Council Approves Funding Agreement For Civic Centre Remodel

Chapleau Town Council's approved a funding agreement for some work at the Civic Centre.

Mayor Michael Levesque explains the 50/50 funding agreement with the federal government's Enabling Accessibility Fund will help with some general remodeling.

Mayor Levesque expects the work to be done in the spring or summer.