Prescott-Russell, ON

While most municipalities in the United Counties of Prescott-Russell agree that clear cutting lands should be controlled, regional mayors are not willing to "go to war" with farmers over the controversial practice.

Earlier this summer, the Township of Alfred-Plantagenet put forward a resolution asking the counties to consider introducing new policies for the use and management of forest lands in the counties.

Glengarry-Prescott-Russell MP Pierre Lemieux defended the Conservative government's decision to scrap the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) during a recent debate in the House of Commons.

Lemieux, also the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture, said farmers already make marketing decisions for a large majority of their crops and want the same marketing freedom for wheat and barley.

Carole Faubert knows how hard it can be to feed her growing family of five.

When money is scarce, Faubert takes great comfort in knowing she and her husband have managed to stockpile their freezer full of moose, deer and goose meat so that when times are tough, the family doesn't have to worry about not having good food to eat.

"We have a limited income and we've both had hours scaled back at work," she told The Review during an interview last week. "My husband is a hunter and he always has been."

A private group of Catholic parents is worried Ontario's proposed anti-bullying legislation, Bill 13, will force the religious schools their children attend to change fundamental church teachings on homosexual behaviour.

"Our concern is that this anti-bullying legislation is meant to bring a change in the Catholic curriculum," said Teresa Pierre, director of Ontario Catholic Parent Advocates, which wants to see Bill 13 dropped. "We are concerned about the potential erosion of Catholic principles.

The province's energy minister, Chris Bentley, says the forthcoming price review of the feed-in tariff (FIT) program for renewable energy is necessary to maintain Ontario's status as a green-energy leader.

"People do need power and they expect it when they need it, in the way they need it," he said during a phone-in press conference last Thursday, December 1. "We made a commitment eight years ago to get out of coal, and we want our energy system to be supportive of jobs. There's a lot going on."

The Nation Mayor Francois St. Amour will be the next warden for the United Counties of Prescott-Russell.

Nominations for the counties' highest position officially closed on Monday, November 21 and St. Amour's was the only name up for consideration.

"I announced my intention to run for the position and all the mayors seemed to be on board and very supportive," he said. "All that is missing now a signature."

There was an air of excitement in the council chamber on Tuesday morning as regional mayors and staff officially adopted the United Counties of Prescott-Russell's (UCPR) 2012 budget.

During the regular meeting of counties' council, mayors voted unanimously in favour of adopting the 2012 budget, something that isn't typically done until early spring.

Chief administrative officer (CAO) Stéphane Parisien was hoping council would adopt the budget in December and said he was "very pleased" the process took less time than he expected.

For the first time in its history, the United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR) is working to have its budget approved before the New Year even begins.

At the committee of the whole meeting held Tuesday, October 8, staff presented the preliminary 2012 budget to regional mayors.

According to chief administrative officer (CAO) Stéphane Parisien, if council adopts the budget in December as recommended by staff, this will be the first time in UCPR's history that the budget has been approved before April.

Three-hundred and sixty-three residents in the five eastern counties are among the patients who will be receiving registered letters following the investigation into a private Ottawa-area medical clinic.

During the investigation, it was discovered that the clinic did not always follow some infection prevention and cleaning protocols. As a precaution, letters are being sent to approximately 6,800 patients who underwent endoscopic procedures at the clinic between April 2002 and June 2011.