Legality of
spending
policy
questioned
nouvelles@eap.on.ca
H AWKESBURY
Does Hawkesbury’s expense policy
breakthe lawbyindirectlyusingtaxpayers’
money to support political parties?
The question has been raised by
Councillor Michel Thibodeau, a former
town treasurer,whohas challengedcertain
clauses of the rules governing
reimbursement of expenses to members.
To date, his colleagues have not yet
File Photo
concurred with his assertion that the
guidelines ought to be revised.
Councillor Michel Thibodeau
Thibodeau related at a recent meeting
suggests Hawkesbury amend its
thatanOntarioMinistryofMunicipalAffairs
reimbursement rules.
official had advised him that the town’s
practices did not adhere to provincial law.
inorder to, amongother things, better reflect
This official suggested that the town seek a
the costs incurred by members. Allocations
legal opinion on the matter.
forconventions,forexample,havedecreased
However, althoughadoptionof anewset
since he was last on council in 1994.
ofguidelineshasbeendelayed,townofficials
This year, Mayor René Berthiaume will
have not yet seen fit to amend the sections
be paida basic salaryof $31,405while the six
doubted by Thibodeau.
councillorswill receive basic pay of $16,322.
“It is not acceptable for apolitical party to
Last year, the seven members received
accept adonationfromamunicipality,”says
$151,597 in salaries and reimbursements,
Thibodeau.
compared to $159,389 in 2009.
However, for several years, council
members have attended partisan political
Quigley’s Corner Plaque
events and have been later reimbursed by
The unveiling of the “Quigley’s Corner”
PlaquenearDalkeithwasheldTuesday.The
the town.
Submitted photo
marker has beenerectedonCountyRoad21
A clause in the policy states that the
SouthNationConservationstaffmemberNaomiLanglois-Andersonisshownharvesting
just west of the intersection with Old
reimbursement of political contributions is
wild rice in late August on the South Nation River just upstream of Crysler.
Military/Macmillan Road. Historian Dane
notpermitted.However,thecostofanelected
Lanken spoke on the establishment of this
member’s participation in a political event,
hamlet later known as Lochiel. John and
even if a part of that cost is a contribution to
Wild rice makes a comeback
Mariette Quigley, of British Columbia,
a party, can be reimbursed, the policy
benefactorsoftheDalkeithHistoricalSociety
stipulates.
and the commemoration Project, were to be
Thibodeau also questions the clause that
newsroom@eap.on.ca
in attendance. Bill Gilsdorf was the Master
Yield has
pays members one-third of their salaries in
F INCH
of Ceremonies.
January of each year, the reasoning being
Art Auction
that members need this sum to pay their
increased
TheDalkeithHistoricalSocietyisholding
expenses. This sum is not taxable. The
South Nation Conservation continues
an art auction as part of a fund-raising drive
councillor contends that the one-third up-
this fall with a project to restore water
aimed at acquiring St. Paul’s Chapel as its
greatly
front payment is not necessary if members
quality and wildlife habitat-regenerating
new home. Bids on works by Michael
are also to be reimbursed expenses they
wild rice fields to portions of its 4,000-
Cartwright, Maggie Dean Tillett and Susan
incur in the performance of their duties.
square-kilometre watershed.
because of good
Jephcott can be made until November 5 at
Council has sporadically debated the
Volunteersarealwayswelcome,saidSNC
www.acorn2011.com.
expense issue over the past year.
Senior Forestry Technician Chris Craig.
weather
Meanwhile, Councillor Alain Fraser
Theycanhelpsowthe rice inareas chosen
CINÉMA
believes that the policy ought to be
in the watershed.
thoroughly thrashed out a special meeting.
Not only has wild rice traditionally been
plants into canoes; in order to replant the
Hebelieves that the rulesought tobe revised
an important food source to First Nations
rice, grain is kept wet by storing it in bags in
and to migratory waterfowl, but the fields
the river so that embryos remain viable for
enhance habitat for other bird species and
Grenville (Qc) 819-242-3131
LAURENTIAN
germination.
for fish, said Craig, a member of the
CINEMA
InlateOctoberorearlyNovember,canoes
Algonquins of Pikwakanagin.
are used to sow it, including walking in the
En français L’INSTINCT DE LA MORT ROY DUPUIS MOVIES START OCT. 28
Potential volunteers can reach him at 1-
shallows and hand-spreading seed which
877-984-2948,
extension
234
or
settles over thewinter and begins to grow in
ccraig@nation.on.ca.
the spring.
He noted that expanding the fields will
Craig explained that twodistinct types of
Don’t be Trashy. Recycle.
also improve water quality and help limit
wild rice grow in the SNC watershed, the
the spread of invasive plant and fish species
northern and the southern varieties.
such as purple loosestrife and carp.
Both are sensitive to environmental
Highly impactedby increasedwater flow
alterations and can change form, shifting
andfluctuations,traditionalwildricegrasses
fromeasytoharvesttoimpossibletoharvest.
have been lost in some measure because of
He urged volunteers to come out for an
dammingandshorelinedevelopment,Craig
interesting day or two in the marshes while
FILM QUEBEÇOIS
said.
learning about wildlife conservation and
In recent years, SNC has teamed up with
VEN. ET SAM. À 6:30 ET 8H30
management techniques.
Ducks Unlimited and Plenty Canada to
DIM ET SUR SEM À 7:00 DIM. MATINÉE À 1H:30
SPECTACLES POUR ADULTES Suzie du jeudi 27 octobre au dim. 30 octobre 2011 de 14 h à la fermeture
initiate wild rice restoration after an
independentstudysuggestedlackofsuitable
habitat cover along the South Nation River
ALL Electronic waste & electrical equipment can be dropped off Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., at: Recycle Action, 1588 Aberdeen St., Hawkesbury, ON 613.632.8508 extension #3 AL Electronic waste & electrical i t r ff Monday to Friday, 8:30 a. . ., at: Recycle Actio , 1301 Spence St., Hawkesbury, ON 613 632-8508
anditstributariesasaninhibitortowaterfowl
usage.
This space provided through a partnership between industry and Ontario municipalities to support
Last year, 40 pounds of wild rice were
Keep
Keep
harvested from the Payne River tributary.
Clean & Green!
Clean & Green!
This year, the harvest rose to 100 pounds,
www.cinemaclock.com Quebec Grenville FRI. & SAT. AT 6:30 & 8:45 SUN. & WEEKDAYS 7:00 SUNDAY MATINÉE AT 1:30
thanks in part to more favourable weather
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conditions.
Harvesting is conductedtheage-oldway,
using special sticks to knock grain from the
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