NDP's Michael Mantha Re-Elected in Algoma-Manitoulin

New Democrat Michael Mantha will represent the Algoma-Manitoulin riding for a fourth consecutive term.

Unofficial results from Elections Ontario show Mantha with approximately 46% of votes cast in the riding - below the roughly 58% he saw in 2018 - and he says he's "humbled, excited, over the top" with the result.

Mantha concedes the NDP will need to look at what did and did not work in the campaign.

As for the new term, Mantha says his priorities will be what he heard on doorsteps.

Progressive Conservative Cheryl Fort was the closest to Mantha - receiving about 35% of ballots cast, an increase from the PCs' roughly 25% in 2018 - a turnout she's touting.

Fort was followed by Liberal Tim Vine, who finished with just shy of 9% - slightly above the party's 2018 result - and Vine does express disappointment.

After Vine was New Blue candidate Ron Koski with more than 5%, Green Party candidate Maria Legault with just over 3%, and Ontario Party candidate Frederick Weening, who received less than 1.5%.

Election Day in Ontario, 6 Candidates Vying for Algoma-Manitoulin

It's Election Day in Ontario.

Voters are heading to the polls in the 43rd Ontario General Election, with Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford seeking a second term as premier with a PC majority, while NDP Leader Andrea Horwath's hoping to transition from Opposition Leader to the first NDP government since 1995, and Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca - a former cabinet minister chosen to head the party in 2020 - is hoping for a substantial rebound from the party's devastating performance in 2018, eyeing a return to government.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has loomed over the election - with health and long-term care both major issues for all parties - affordability has been a major focus, with Ford accusing other parties of wanting to raise taxes and make things more expensive, while the other parties dispute the claim and suggest Ford will make substantial cuts to services.

Locally, New Democrat Michael Mantha is seeking a fourth term representing Algoma-Manitoulin, opposed by PC candidate - and current Hornepayne Mayor - Cheryl Fort, Liberal candidate - and Manitoulin hospital executive - Tim Vine, New Blue Party candidate Ron Koski, Green Party candidate Maria Legault, and Ontario Party candidate Frederick Weening.

Jo Langham - Elections Ontario manager of media and public engagement - reminds voters who are not on the voter's list can still be added today.

Langham also reminds voters to bring ID.

Polls are open from 9 am to 9 pm today, locally located at Wawa's Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre, Chapleau's Municipal Office, Dubreuilville's Municipal Complex and Social Centre, and White River's Mountain View Complex - check your voter's card or the Elections Ontario website to confirm where to go.

Below are interviews with four of the six candidates for the local Algoma-Manitoulin riding:

Efforts were made to reach out to the other two candidates, Maria Legault (Green Party) and Frederick Weening (Ontario Party), but they did not respond and so arrangements could not be made for interviews.

Mischief Charge Over Damage to Chapleau Business

A mischief charge has been laid over damage to a Chapleau business.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the reported damage to a Pine Street business Monday morning, with investigation leading to the arrest of a 22-year-old from Chapleau on a charge of mischief.

They've been released from custody, set to appear in Chapleau's Ontario Court of Justice in July.

Wawa Man Charged in Connection to March BnE

A Wawa man's been charged in connection to a break-and-enter back in March.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they were notified about a break-and-enter to a business on Tremblay Road on March 24th - with several items reported stolen - with their investigation leading to the arrest of a 26-year-old from Wawa on May 19th.

Charged with two counts of possession of property obtained by crime, the man's been released from custody with a July date in Wawa's Ontario Court of Justice.

APH Reports 57th COVID-19 Death, More Cases for PHSD

Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in the region.

Algoma Public Health's giving no details about its 57th death linked to the illness - the 36th this year - it last reported a death on Monday.

The health unit's also added eleven cases - nine in the Sault Ste. Marie area, one in Central and East Algoma, and another in the Elliot Lake area - leaving it with 64 known "active" cases, with five in hospital, one in an ICU.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts has added 26 cases since Monday - nineteen in Greater Sudbury, six in the Sudbury District, and another in the Manitoulin District - leaving it with 99 "active" - one in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) - with 22 in hospital, five in ICUs.

PHSD Confirms Human Case of Lyme Disease

A local health unit's warning to beware ticks as it's confirmed a human case of Lyme disease.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts says laboratory results confirmed an adult from the Manitoulin District contracted the disease - which can cause serious complications to the heart, joints, and nervous system - noting blacklegged ticks infected with the bacteria have been found in the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts in past years, and are commonly found in rural areas along the north shores of Lakes Erie, Ontario, and Superior, as well as the St. Lawrence River, and the Rainy River area of northwestern Ontario.

It recommends measures to protect yourself from ticks, including: avoiding walking in tall grass; clearing debris and overgrown vegetation, grass, bushes, and trees from yards; keeping wood piles or bird feeders away from homes; and wearing long-sleeved, light-coloured clothes with closed-toe shoes, as well as Health Canada-approved insect repellants.

Signs of Lyme disease include a red bull's eye-shaped rash around the bite area, as well as symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, stiff neck, and swollen glands.

Chapleau Council Confirms Plans for Electronic Voting in Municipal Election

Chapleau residents will cast ballots differently this year.

While Chapleau Town Council had decided more than a month ago to switch to electronic voting for this year's municipal election, the decision was confirmed this week, with Council provided additional information on how the process will work.

Mayor Michael Levesque explains local voters will receive information ahead of the voting period.

Chapleau's following the lead of Wawa, which switched to electronic voting starting in 2018.

Nominations are now open for municipal elections across Ontario - closing August 19th - with Election Day October 24th.

APH Reports New COVID-19 Cases

A few more COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.

Algoma Public Health's reporting three in the Sault Ste. Marie area and two in Central and East Algoma, leaving the health unit with 59 known "active" cases, seven in hospital, one in an ICU.

It's showing only two "active" outbreaks, both in Sault Ste. Marie: in Extendicare Maple View's Ranger Lake unit and in the Ontario Finnish Resthome's Unit B.

Chapleau Council Considering Updates to Pool & ATV By-Laws

Chapleau Town Council's considering changes for a couple by-laws.

Mayor Michael Levesque explains there was discussion about an update to the pool by-law in Monday's meeting.

As Council only received the information shortly before the meeting, the item was tabled for a future meeting.

While Councillor Jason Rioux raised a potential update to the ATV by-law, Mayor Levesque says that's still being looked at.

Levesque expects the by-law revisions to come back up in the next Council meeting, scheduled for June 13th.

Participaction Community Better Challenge Returns

Wawa residents are being challenged to join in Participaction's "Community Better Challenge" this month.

Noting Wawa came in fourth in Ontario and 24th in Canada in last year's challenge, Municipal Recreation Coordinator Stacey White explains it's meant to encourage fitness and physical activity, starting today and running all month.

White notes that includes a Family Color Run along the waterfront from 10 am to noon Saturday, put on by the Superior Children's Centre and EarlyON Centre - coinciding with the Youth Makers Market at the Goose Nests on Saturday - with a calendar of the challenge-related events heading to residents' mailboxes, though more information will be available on the Wawa Recreation Facebook and Instagram pages.

To participate in the challenge, sign up and track physical activity with the Participaction app or website - for help, simply contact the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre.

Final Day of Early Voting in Ontario Election

Time is running out to cast a ballot in the Ontario election ahead of Election Day.

While advance polls have closed, special ballots can still be cast locally through Elections Ontario's satellite office at 3 Maple Street in Wawa, though only until 6 pm today.

Election Day is tomorrow, with polls to be open from 9 am to 9 pm, locally located at Wawa's Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre, Chapleau's Municipal Office, Dubreuilville's Municipal Complex and Social Centre, and White River's Mountain View Complex.

APH Reports 56th COVID-19 Death, PHSD Sees New - But Declining - Cases

Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in the region.

Algoma Public Health's giving no details about its 56th death linked to the illness - the 35th this year - it last reported a death on May 18th.

The health unit's also added seventeen cases since Friday - twelve in the Sault Ste. Marie area, three in Central and East Algoma, and two in the Elliot Lake area - though the number of known "active" cases is down to 58, with twelve in hospital, two in ICUs.

It's showing three "active" outbreaks, all in Sault Ste. Marie: at Extendicare Maple View, the Ontario Finnish Resthome, and Transition Home.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts has added 33 cases since Friday - 28 in Greater Sudbury, three in the Sudbury District, and two in the Manitoulin District - though the number "active" is down to 94, with 32 in hospital, five in ICUs.

It's no longer showing any "active" cases in the northern Sudbury District, which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations.

The health unit's showing five "active" outbreaks: two in Espanola, three in Greater Sudbury.

Marathon OPP Recover 2nd Stolen Vehicle From GTA

Another stolen vehicle's been recovered in the Marathon area.

Marathon OPP say they were tipped off about another stolen vehicle making its way into their jurisdiction from the Toronto area, with officers finding the vehicle stopped at a business on Highway 17, leading to the arrest of the suspect without incident - the 31-year-old from North York was charged with possession of stolen property over $5000, and held in custody with a court date next week.

They say the accused was known to a 25-year-old from Etobicoke who was arrested the day before, after Marathon officers used a spikebelt to stop another vehicle taken from a Greater Toronto Area business.

Police ask anyone with information call the OPP or Crime Stoppers.

Superior East OPP Lay Dozens of Speeding Charges Over Canada Road Safety Week

Dozens of speeding charges were laid by local police over the recent Canada Road Safety Week.

Superior East OPP say 66 speeding charges were laid as part of the initiative - which ended on Victoria Day - with four other seatbelt-related charges, and charges for careless and distracted driving.

Ontario Provincial Police say 8020 speeding charges were laid province-wide, with 138 for stunt driving or racing, while 632 were laid for no seatbelt, 216 for impaired driving, 177 for distracted driving, and 151 for careless driving.

The OPP also responded to 935 collisions across Ontario - three fatal - over the one-week initiative, with the police service noting the majority of the collisions were "preventable".

Chapleau Council Preparing for Fall Municipal Election

Chapleau Town Council will discuss preparations for the fall municipal election as they end the month with a meeting.

The agenda for tonight's regular meeting includes a resolution to approve plans for e-voting in the municipal election, and discussion about accessibility for the election and the "restricted acts" - or "lame duck" - rules for Council, as well as a by-law to amend the current pool regulation by-law and discussion on an ATV by-law revision.

The meeting will be held in Civic Centre Council Chambers at 6:30 pm tonight.

Marathon OPP Catch Stolen Vehicle Spotted Near Wawa

Charges have been laid after a stolen vehicle noticed in the Wawa area was intercepted near Marathon.

Ontario Provincial Police say they were notified of a vehicle taken from a business in the Greater Toronto Area spotted travelling through the Wawa area around 1:15 pm Wednesday afternoon, with a tire deflation device - a spikebelt - used to bring it to a stop on Highway 17 at mile marker 848 in Pik Township.

The driver and passenger were arrested, with the driver - a 25-year-old from Etobicoke - charged with possession of stolen property over $5000 and held in custody, though the passenger was released unconditionally.

Police ask anyone with information call the OPP or Crime Stoppers.

Extended Deadline Nears for LDHCF's Seedlings for Support

Time's almost up for a fundraising campaign supporting the Wawa hospital.

While the "Seedlings for Support" campaign was extended, it is set to wrap up this Saturday, so Foundation Intern Thea Desgagne reminds it's easy to place an order.

The "drive-by pickup" of the seedlings will be Sunday, June 5th, at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre.

Funds raised support the hospital's Medi-Tech expansion.

Early Voting Still Option in Wawa Ahead of Ontario Election Day

With the Ontario election date days away, advance polls are closed - but early votes can still be cast in Wawa.

As Elections Ontario's set up a satellite office at 3 Maple Street in Wawa, special ballots can be cast there until 6 pm Wednesday, the day before Election Day.

Jo Langham - manager of media and public engagement - reminds voters to check Elections Ontario's website to ensure they're on the voters list - you are if you received a voter card - and to bring ID to vote.

Elections Ontario is still accepting applications for election officials to work on Election Day - the deadline is tomorrow, with applications available on the agency's website.

Election Day is this Thursday, June 2nd, with polls open from 9 am to 9 pm - polls will be located at Wawa's Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre, Chapleau's Municipal Office, Dubreuilville's Municipal Complex and Social Centre, and White River's Mountain View Complex.

Nominations Nearing Close for Chapleau Volunteer Award

Time's running out to nominate Chapleau residents for the local volunteer award.

As nominations have been open for weeks, Mayor Michael Levesque reminds the annual "Buddy" Swanson Volunteer Recognition Award is meant to show thanks for certain residents.

Nomination forms can be found at the Civic Centre or the Municipal website, and must be submitted by 4 pm this Friday, June 3rd.

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