Government

Someone is asleep at the switch.

That's how United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR) chief administrative officer (CAO) Stéphane Parisien summed up his report on how the OPP costing proposal is proceeding.

"Honestly, I am very frustrated," he told The Review. "It's taking forever and I really don't understand. All we're asking for is numbers and we keep getting put off. At this rate, I won't even be able to put forward a recommendation until late this fall or early this winter."

The ongoing tension at the Hawkesbury council table has taken a toll on Mayor René Berthiaume's patience.

Following a number of contentious debates at recent meetings, Berthiaume made it clear he won't tolerate any further disrespect around the council table.

"My job as mayor is to ensure council meetings run smoothly," he said during the meeting held on Monday, March 25. "That has not been the case, particularly at the last council meeting."

For a list that's supposed to be getting smaller, more people were added to this year's so-called Sunshine List.
Almost 10,000 more public sector workers in Ontario have crossed the $100,000-a-year salary threshold to land on the province's "sunshine list" - which grew 11 per cent last year.

The list was released to the public on Thursday, March 28.
The increase comes despite a push by the cash-strapped provincial government, which is working hard to erase an $11.9 billion deficit, for two years of voluntary pay freezes in the public sector.

At its most recent council meeting, Champlain Township has approved a 1.9 per cent increase in the tax rate. The move came after several budget meetings, at which council determined that this tax rate increase would generate about $75,000 in additional revenues which will be earmarked as township reserves.

Municipalities collect school taxes and taxes for the United Counties of Prescott-Russell.

Because not all parents will be able to keep their children home this Friday, January 11, the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) plans to keep schools open as teachers stage another one-day walk-out.

In a controversial move, the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) says it will keep elementary schools open when teachers stage one-day walkouts to protest Bill 115 this Thursday, December 20.

Director of education David Thomas announced Monday, December 17 that The Upper Canada Local of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) said it will hold the one-day strike, meaning picket lines will be set up outside some schools in the jurisdiction.

A 56-year-old Vankleek Hill woman is facing several criminal charges in connection with more than $187,000 that was taken from the Youth Justice Committee.

The Hawkesbury OPP received a complaint in February 2012 concerning a possible fraud or theft of money at the Prescott-Russell Glengarry and Cornwall Community Correction Services.

The not-for-profit corporation has been running in the area for the last four years and is better known as the Youth Justice Committee.

A 25-year-old Gatineau man is in hospital with severe injuries, after running his car into a semi-trailer on November 13, while he was attempting to evade police pursuit.

 

According to Sûreté du Quebec spokesman Gino Paré, an SQ patrol car began to pursue the suspect when he was seen speeding on the Highway 50, near Grenville.

Champlain Township council has agreed to pay the Town of Hawkesbury an eight per cent increase for emergency dispatch services next year but council will be looking at other options, in light of looming increases.

The Town of Hawkesbury is in negotiations with dispatchers at this time, Champlain Township Mayor Gary Barton told fellow-councillors at Champlain Township's most recent regular meeting.

Even with the contracts for dispatch services with other municipalities, operating the service still cost the Town of Hawkesbury $290,000, Barton said.