Express_2015_12_04

ACTUAL I TÉ • NEWS

Campagne contre les textos au volant

du Bureau de santé de l’est de l’Ontario. Le message est simple, lorsque vous conduisez… Yeux devant! Laissez de côté le cellulaire. « On a fait beaucoup d’inter- ventions auprès des conducteurs qui par- laient au cellulaire, mais pour les textos c’est plus difficile, parce que les automobilistes le cachent entre leurs jambes et peuvent dire qu’ils ne textaient pas. Et comme nous ne pouvons pas toujours fournir de preuves, il s’avère parfois difficile d’émettre des constats, même si c’est évident que le problème est là », a commenté l’agent de la Police provinciale de l’Ontario (OPP), Mario Gratton. La campagne, qui se poursuivra jusqu’en décembre prochain, comprend la distri- bution de 10 000 cartes postales avec un autocollant à apposer sur la vitre arrière de l’automobile. Les membres de la coalition encouragent les automobilistes à apposer cet autocollant à titre de rappel de ne pas texter au volant. Pour en savoir davantage sur les statis- tiques et la campagne, les intéressés peuvent consulter la page Facebook de C.A.R.S. Pres- cott, afin d’avoir de plus amples détails sur

ALEXANDRA MONTMINY alexandra.montminy@eap.on.ca

« Plus de 90% des Ontariens âgés entre 16 et 24 ans savent qu’il est interdit de texter au volant dans la province. Malgré cela, 55 % d’entre eux ont indiqué qu’ils lisaient des textos et 44% en envoyaient pendant qu’ils étaient au volant ». C’est ce qu’affirme la Santé publique de l’Ontario. En effet, le nombre d’accidents de la route reliés à l’utilisation du téléphone cellulaire pour les textos est en hausse. C’est pourquoi le Comité d’action régional pour la sécurité, également surnommé la coalition C.A.R.S. a reçu, encore cette année, des fonds du pro- gramme de partenariats communautaires pour la sécurité routière du ministère des Transports de l’Ontario afin demaintenir sa campagne de sensibilisation Yeux devant . « Les textos au volant sont une cause sé- rieuse d’accidents de la route et demortalité enOntario. C.A.R.S. c’est le regroupement de neuf agences et une bénévole qui se mobi- lisent pour sensibiliser la communauté de Prescott », a indiqué Véronique Berthiaume

la coalition. Il est également possible de trouver des statistiques, un rapport com- plet et de l’information provenant de Santé

publique Ontario à l’adresse www.publi- chealthontario.ca/fr/.

Francis Drouin swears in

SNC to launch GeoPasseports

South Nation Conservation’s (SNC) partnership with the regional geoca- ching community continues to grow, with more than 1,600 geocaches now hidden throughout the 4,300 square kilometre jurisdiction. “The relationship has been beneficial for both parties,” said long-time geocacher Ian Mitchell, chair of SNC’s Communications Committee. “Geocachers have been wel- comed to a large territory and gained free meeting space, while SNC has benefited from positive public relations and greater appreciation for the natural resources in the area.” SNC hosts monthlymeetings for Geoca- chers of Eastern Ontario at its Finch office, with a large attendance. Special events are also held in SNC conference rooms, inclu- ding a public viewing of the Geocaching International FilmFestival, with some videos featuring “extreme geocaching” adventures. For the uninitiated, geocaching is a networked technology-based scavenger hunt that occurs around the world. Hid- den caches are rated according to the ter- rain and difficulty to locate. SNC became

involved about five years ago, Mitchell noted. In conjunction with area geocachers, the authority has organized several “Cache-in, Trash-out” cleanups and offers aWatershed GeoPassport which guides participants through a series of 20 caches hidden across the jurisdiction. Hundreds of residents and visitors take part every year. “The passport introduces users to locations of interest and to the work done by SNC, including bringing them through the Conservation areas,” said John Mesman, SNC Communications specia- list. Early in 2016, a new GeoPassport will be launched, noted Mesman. It will have a heritage theme and will guide users through various sites where they’ll gain an education on regional history. Unlike previous tours, this passport in- cludes a hard-copy historical guidebook, which is being produced thanks to support from the Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund.Those who successfully complete the tour will be awarded a collectable SNCGeo- coin… another way the authority promotes geocaching in the region.

Swearing in for Francis Drouin took place November 26 in the Centre Block of Parliament Buildings on Parliament Hill. Seen here is Yves Drouin, Nicole Drouin, Francis Drouin, Noah Drouin, Kathryn Forrest, Anik and Mathieu Drouin

OPP billing a concern to Champlain Township In August 2013, the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services (MCSCS) developed a new, simplified billing model for OPP municipal police services. «The new billing formula is pleasing to about 15 per cent,” said Mayor Gary Barton. «And it cheesed off the other 85 per cent.” The new billing model did not include examination or review of expenditures in order to reduce the costs of OPP services per household. The new model was implemented in 2015 and will be phased in over the next three years. As such, the Champlain Township OPP services invoice was increased by $167,249, and will be increased another $196,769 bringing the bill to a total of $1,584,534. The township is requesting the MCSCS review and reconsider the new billing model and implement a more equitable formula. The council voted almost unanimously to request the review. Normand Rio- pel did not vote as he was not in attendance at the council meeting November 11. – Diane Hunter

Bridge memorial proposed for OPP officer A memorial plaque and dedication is proposed for a highway bridge in Champlain Township in memory of a local OPP officer who died in the line of duty. Const. Peter J. Kirk was stationed with the Hawkesbury OPP detachment in June 1968 when he died while on duty as a result of a motor vehicle accident on County Road 17 between L’Orignal in Champlain Township and Alfred in Alfred- Plantagenet Township. The Hawkesbury OPP detachment is seeking support for its application to a provincial transportation ministry bridge dedication program to have the bridge at the intersection of County Road 17 and Highway 34 dedicated in memory of Const. Kirk. The detachment now has support from Champlain Township, the United Counties of Prescott-Russell, and Glengarry-Prescott- Russell MPP Grant Crack for the application. – Gregg Chamberlain

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