Continued from “Year in Review – Part 10 – October” (https://thestandardnewspaper.ca/year-in-review-part-10-october/)
Brock to continue using security company BROCK: After much discussion, the Township of Brock has decided to keep employing a private security company to enforce the proof of vaccination requirement at local arenas.At a meeting on Monday, November 8th, councillors saw a report from Public Works Director Paul Lagrandeur, which recom-mended the township extend their contract with Taccom Security to provide services for the Foster Hewitt Memorial Community Centre and the Sunderland Arena. However, Ward 2 Councillor Claire Doble made a motion to provide the company with 30 days’ notice to discontinue the contract and instead to have arena staff provide these services. Councillor Doble later withdrew her motion, and council voted instead to extend the security contract.
Minimum wage increase proposed DURHAM/KAWARTHA: The Ontario government is introducing legislation to increase the minimum wage in Ontario to $15 per hour. The announcement was made on Tuesday, November 2nd. If passed, this new minimum wage would come into effect on January 1st. The current minimum wage in Ontario is $14.35 per hour.
Fenelon Falls crossing options KAWARTHA LAKES: The City of Kawartha Lakes is moving forward with investigating a number of measures to help ease traffic flow in Fenelon Falls. Council voted to: move “forward with getting more information on [a] By-Pass option at the Somerville 3rd Concession” over Burnt River. To look at installing “better signage at County Road 121 and Highway 35”. To have staff “review restricting left turns on Lindsay Street and Colborne Street, Fenelon Falls, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving”. To investigate implementing a no parking restriction on Colborne Street during the above times. To look at possibly adding “an advanced left turn signal in and out of the Sobey’s entrance” and to “improve signage for Mitchell’s Bridge.
Remembrance Day in person NORTH DURHAM/KAWARTHA: The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor visited and layed a wreath at the Port Perry Cenotaph. Both Lindsay and Uxbridge had parades and fair size crowds.
KLPS officer dies KAWARTHA LAKES: The Kawartha Lakes Police Service (KLPS) and the family of an officer who recently died received a flood of compassionate online messages from the community. On Saturday, November 6th, KLPS announced one of their members had died. “Constable Mike Broderick joined the Police Service in April 2009 and was currently working in the uniform division. He leaves behind a wife and daughter,” a KLPS press release stated.
Jamie Schmale in shadow cabinet KAWARTHA LAKES: Erin O’Toole recently announced who will hold the Conservative Party’s critic roles on their shadow cabinet. Among those chosen for the shadow cabinet was Kawartha Lakes MP Jamie Schmale, who will be the Shadow Minister for Indigenous Services. Some of the other politicians named to the shadow cabinet include Michelle Ferreri as Shadow Minister for Tourism, former leader Andrew Scheer as Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Communities, Michelle Rempel Garner as Shadow Minister for Natural Resources and Pierre Poilievre as Shadow Minister for Finance and Middle-Class Prosperity.
Port Perry parade gets road parade approval SCUGOG: The Port Perry Santa Claus parade is switching back to its normal format. Originally, parade organizers had planned to hold a reverse-parade, at the Port Perry Fairgrounds. In this format, residents could walk or drive through the fairgrounds and see the floats, Christmas trees and hear live music. However, on Tuesday, November 16th, the Scugog Chamber announced a change to the way the parade would be held. “Due to changes in regulations from the Province, we have been given the go-ahead to change the format of the parade to a traditional road parade! Please join us Saturday, December 4th, as we celebrate the return of Santa Claus to Scugog,” read a Facebook post from the Scugog Chamber of Commerce.
Kawartha Lakes proposed budget KAWARTHA LAKES: Kawartha Lakes councillors were presented with a 2022 budget totalling $295.9 million on Thursday, November 18th.
Kawartha Lakes endorses more ATV routes KAWARTHA LAKES: While councillors heard from a number of residents opposed to expanding All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) use on local roads, they instead decided to approve several new ATV routes on rural roads. At a Special Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday, November 16th, Kawartha Lakes councillors endorsed new ATV routes in Pontypool, Omemee, Janetville and Cameron.
Jason Ward running for Mayor KAWARTHA LAKES: Longtime Lindsay lawyer Jason Ward is going to be running for Mayor of Kawartha Lakes in the next municipal election. Mr. Ward owns Wards Lawyers PC, a firm based in Lindsay, and practices civil litigation.
SIU receives FBI results KAWARTHA LAKES: The Ontario Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has provided a little update on where their investigation stands, into an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) shootout incident in Kawartha Lakes, where a one-year-old boy died. “The Special Investigations Unit has received testing results, from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in relation to the incident involving the deaths of a one-year-old boy and his father in Kawartha Lakes nearly one year ago,” a recent SIU press release stated. However, the SIU has not yet provided any conclusions from those results.
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women BROCK: The Township of Brock marked November 25th’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women with a proclamation from the Township. At a meeting on Wednesday, November 24th, Council received a request, from the Violence Prevention Coordinating Council of Durham (VPCC), for support for the 2021 Wrapped in Courage Campaign, and to proclaim November 25th as International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Without any discussion on the matter, councillors voted to approve the proclamation and to “urge all citizens to recognize this day, by taking action to support survivors of gender-based violence and [becoming] part of Ontario-wide efforts to end gender-based violence.”