Wawa Council Approves 2021 Operating Budget

Wawa Municipal Council's approved this year's operating budget.

In their meeting this week, Council approved a series of by-laws to implement the budget presented exactly one month ago, which CAO/Treasurer Maury O'Neill says is roughly in line with past years.

She had warned when the budget was presented that it will become more difficult to maintain low levy increases in coming years amid rising costs - such as municipal insurance premiums, employees salaries and benefits, materials, and equipment replacement costs - while provincial grants are decreasing, though - before the budget was passed - O'Neill noted there appears to be an $850,000 surplus from 2020 - audit confirmation's still pending - with plans to use about $306,000 of that to help fund infrastructure projects this year, to avoid an additional tax burden.

Council approved the capital budget three months ago.

Wawa Council Discusses Physician Recruitment

Physician recruitment efforts are underway in Wawa.

Following the departure of two doctors earlier this month, Wawa Municipal Council discussed physician recruitment in their meeting this week - CAO/Treasurer Maury O'Neill noted a conditional reserve fund was set up for medical recruitment in 2010 with $113,645 in the fund, with the Lady Dunn Health Centre requesting use of $22,500 a year to address recruitment and retention costs.

O'Neill noted a future by-law's expected to outline membership of a recruitment committee - the hospital currently leads one with Mayor Ron Rody as a member, but it's been suggested it should expand to include neighbouring communities that also rely on the hospital - and it would also outline terms and conditions for use of the funds.

Mayor Rody noted support for the recruitment efforts - saying professional recruiters may be used - adding the hospital will be getting locum support to help cover service but there may still be some potential issues - and he warned the locum funding will only last about six months.

Wawa's St. Joseph French Immersion Being Renamed St. Augustine

Wawa's St. Joseph French Immersion Catholic School will have a new name in the next school year.

Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board trustees have voted to change the school's name to "St. Augustine French Immersion Catholic Elementary School" starting September 1st.

A committee of staff, students, parents, clergy, community members, and trustees charged with looking into the name change chose St. Augustine because of the saint's connection to St. Monica - the parish the school partners with - as Augustine was Monica's son, a theologian who had "profound impact on Christian thought" recognized as a Catholic Doctor of the Church.

The process to create a new logo is now underway.

APH, PHSD Report More COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 cases are rising in the region.

Algoma Public Health's reporting five in the Sault Ste. Marie area and another in the Elliot Lake area, bringing the health unit to 310, with 49 "active" - two in hospital - plus another case of a "non-resident temporarily in Algoma".

It's also reporting another case screened positive for a variant of concern, bringing the total to 32.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts - meanwhile - is reporting nine cases in Greater Sudbury and four in unspecified Sudbury District communities, bringing the health unit to 1868, though the number "active" has dropped to 149.

It's also reporting eleven more cases screened positive for a variant of concern, bringing that total to 666.

There is some good news: 58,911 people in the health unit's region have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with 7175 fully vaccinated.

APH & PHSD Report New COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 cases are rising in the region.

Algoma Public Health's reporting five new cases - all in the Sault Ste. Marie area - bringing it to 304, with 45 "active" - three in hospital - plus another case of a "non-resident temporarily in Algoma", while the number of cases that have screened positive for a variant of concern ticked up to 31.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting ten new cases - all in Greater Sudbury - bringing the health unit to 1855, though the number "active" has dropped to 158.

It's also reporting five more cases screened positive for a variant of concern, bringing that total to 655.

Wawa Council to Consider Passing 2021 Budget, Other Items

Wawa Municipal Council will look at passing its operating budget during a pair of meetings tonight.

First up is a Corporate Planning Committee meeting which will include CAO reports on 2021 budgets and medical recruitment - as two physicians have now left the community - as well as a request from the Royal Canadian Legion for handicap parking space.

That'll be followed by a regular Council meeting, which includes multiple by-laws to implement the operating budget presented to Council last month, as well as two "in-camera" items - both relating to legal issues about the sale or purchase of land - with a pair of by-laws following that: one to authorize the sale and purchase of land with Algoma Ferrous Inc., the other to amend a 2019 by-law, amending terms and conditions of the sale of land to Algoma Ferrous.

Aside from the "in-camera" portion, tonight's meetings will be broadcast on the Municipality's YouTube channel starting at 6:30.

APH, PHSD Report New COVID-19 Cases

More COVID-19 cases are being reported in the region.

Algoma Public Health's reporting two in the Elliot Lake area and another in the Sault Ste. Marie area, bringing the health unit to 299 - 42 "active", two in hospital - with another case of a non-resident temporarily in Algoma.

The health unit's also started showing a count of cases that have screened positive for a variant of concern - it currently shows 29.

Meanwhile, Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting seven cases - all in Greater Sudbury - bringing the health unit to 1845, though the number "active" has fallen to 171.

It's also reporting 27 more screened positive for a variant of concern, bringing that to 650.

The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's reporting a case in the Timmins area and four in the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls area, bringing the health unit to 503 - 99 currently "active", including two in hospital.

Eligibility Expanding for North Algoma COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics

North Algoma's COVID-19 vaccination clinics are expanding.

Organizers say appointments are now being booked for organ transplant recipients - including patients waitlisted for a transplant - as well as certain stem cell transplan recipients, people with certain neurological diseases in which respiratory function may be compromised, hematological malignancy diagnosed less than a year ago, certain kidney disease, and essential caregivers for anyone of those categories.

The clinics are set to expand to cover those 65 to 69 years old tomorrow, and to those 60 to 64 starting May 5th.

Appointments are already open for adults 70 and older, health care workers, faith leaders, adult chronic home care recipients, Indigenous adults and their household members, education workers who provide support to students with special education needs, and staff and caregivers in long-term care, retirement homes, and other congregate care settings.

To book an appointment, call Wawa's central appointment line at 705-914-0464, the Dubreuilville Medical Centre, or White River's Northern Neighbours Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic.

Wawa & Chapleau Clarify Park Closures

Local municipalities are clarifying closures stemming from the province's tightened stay-at-home order.

The Township of Chapleau says all outdoor playgrounds are closed while the Municipality of Wawa says revised provincial guidance allows the reopening of play structures, benches, and parklands whereever two metres distance can be maintained, though sports fields, basketball courts, picnic tables and areas, park shelters, and tennis/pickleball courts.

The Harry McCluskie Municipal Marina is also closed, though the municipality notes the boat launch is still open and marinas are allowed to be open for the repairing and servicing of watercraft, placing watercraft in the water to be secured until the marina's open, or other services enabling people to access their residence or property.

TBDHU Reports 59th COVID-19 Death, More Cases for APH & PHSD

COVID-19 cases are rising across the region - with another death in the area.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's giving no further details about its 59th COVID-related death, though it is reporting six new cases in the Thunder Bay area and two more in unspecified First Nation communities, bringing the health unit to 3012 while the number "active" has declined to 49, twelve in hospital, four in an ICU.

Meanwhile, Algoma Public Health's reporting five cases in the Sault Ste. Marie area, bringing the health unit to 296, 49 "active" - including one in hospital - plus one more case of a non-resident temporarily in Algoma.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts has added fourteen cases - ten in Greater Sudbury, three in unspecified Sudbury District communities, and the last isn't specified - bringing the health unit to 1838, though the number "active" dropped to 182.

The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's reporting eleven more in the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls area plus seven in the Timmins area, bringing its total to 498 - 95 currently "active" - while one more screened positive for a variant of concern, and the health unit's declared an outbreak at McEwen Mining's Black Fox Mine in Matheson, as three employees are confirmed cases.

COVID-19 Cases Reported by APH, PHSD, Neighbouring Regions

COVID-19 cases are rising across the region.

Algoma Public Health confirmed three over the weekend - one each for the Sault Ste. Marie, Elliot Lake, and Central and East Algoma areas - bringing it to 291, 44 "active" including one in hospital.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts added 28 - all in Greater Sudbury - bringing it to 1824, though the number "active" dropped to 184 - it's also reporting 32 more screened positive for a variant of concern, bringing that total to 623.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit added only four cases - all in the Thunder Bay area - bringing it to 3004, though the number "active" has declined to 56, nine in hospital, three in an ICU.

The Porcupine Health Unit - meanwhile - confirmed one case in the Timmins area and four in the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls area, bringing its total to 480 - 89 "active" - while seven more screened positive for a variant of concern.

It's also warning of possible exposure on an Air Canada flight from Toronto to Timmins April 13th.

Chapleau Council Considers CHS 100th Reunion Requests

Chapleau Council's considering new requests to support the upcoming Chapleau High School 100th reunion.

While Council previously issued a statement explaining its position on support for the reunion - noting financial difficulties - a trio of requests from the reunion committee were heard in a recent Council meeting: that the committee be able to use the Recreation Centre for the event; that Council help with liability insurance; and that Township staff help sell tickets.

Mayor Michael Levesque says Council's considering two of those, but has rejected the other.

Mayor Levesque notes Council's more hesitant to provide the Recreation Centre for free after spending $2.5-million for upgrades to the facility, while the Township's insurance policy has jumped by $17,000 a year.

As for ticket sales, he says technology-based options have been suggested.

COVID-19 Cases Reported Across Region, Outbreak at Timmins Mine

COVID-19 cases are rising across the region - with more deaths.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reporting two new deaths - bringing its death toll to 58 - but it's giving no further details.

This comes as it's reporting six cases in the Thunder Bay area, one in an unspecified district community, and another in an unspecified First Nation community, bringing it to an even 3000, though the number "active" has declined to 57, twelve in hospital, four in an ICU.

Algoma Public Health's confirmed two cases in the Sault Ste. Marie area and another in Central and East Algoma, bringing the health unit to 288, 47 "active" - including one in hospital - plus one "non-resident case temporarily in Algoma", also in hospital.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts has confirmed twenty in Greater Sudbury and three more in unspecified Sudbury District communities, bringing its total to 1796 - though the number "active" declined to 206 - while one more screened positive for a variant of concern, totalling 591.

The Porcupine Health Unit - meanwhile - is reporting 35 cases in the Timmins area, sixteen in the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls area, and one more in the Hearst and Hornepayne area - bringing its total to 475, 84 "active" - while seven more have screened positive for a variant of concern.

It's also reporting at least three recent cases are employees of Glencore's Kidd Operations in Timmins - all linked to the workplace - prompting an outbreak declaration for the mine.

APH Reports COVID-19 Vaccination Figures While Moving Into Phase 2

Algoma Public Health's reporting strong vaccination figures as it moves into Phase Two of its vaccine rollout.

The health unit's reporting that - so far - about 82% of Algoma adults 80 or older have received at least one dose while about 78% of adults 75 to 79 have.

Meanwhile, about 95% of long-term care residents are fully immunized and about 84% of long-term care staff have received at least one dose.

That means about 29.9% of eligible adults sixteen or older - or 25.3% of the entire Algoma population - have received at least one dose.

Chapleau Council Extends Contract for CAO Services

An outside firm will continue offering Chapleau CAO and Clerk services, as the Township continues searching for a new top administrator.

Mayor Michael Levesque explains an agreement with E4M - in place for several months - has been renewed.

The Township's been searching for a new CAO since October, with the latest round of submissions closing earlier this week.

Chapleau to Celebrate Canada Day Virtually With Fireworks

Chapleau will celebrate Canada Day virtually this year.

Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Michael Levesque says Council's agreed to another virtual celebration, but scaled up from last year with a social media page and some big events.

Levesque explains the fishing tournament - meant to get people outdoors in a safe manner - will be similar to the recent Ontario Ice Fishing Challenge, held virtually from June 25th to July 4th, with a number of prizes.

Algoma Public Health Reports New COVID-19 Cases, TBDHU Reports More

COVID-19 cases are rising across the region.

Algoma Public Health's confirmed six - all in the Sault Ste. Marie area - bringing the health unit to 285, 47 "active" - including one in hospital - plus one "non-resident case temporarily in Algoma", also in hospital.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reporting four more - all in the Thunder Bay area - bringing the health unit to 2992, though the number "active" has declined to 61, ten in hospital, five in an I-C-U.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts - which has reported two deaths over the last two days - currently has 215 "active", the Porcupine Health Unit 39.

Chapleau Council Holds Off on Updated Fire By-Law

Chapleau Town Council's putting off an updated fire by-law.

While the by-law prescribing times and precautions to be taken for setting a fire was up for consideration this week, Mayor Michael Levesque says Council had some questions.

Mayor Levesque notes some concerns about municipal liability if such precautions aren't specified, with the discussion expected to continue next meeting.

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