Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Friday morning.
City says encampment in Memorial Park will ‘no longer be an option’
Beyond April 1, people who are homeless in Sudbury will not be able to set up in Memorial Park. “We will be messaging very publicly that that's no longer an option going forward,” Tyler Campbell, the city’s director of children and social services, told Sudbury.com. “We will be messaging, very publicly, in regards to the use of parks.” With an increasing number of service providers reopening after the pandemic, the City of Greater Sudbury is moving forward with plans to close two hotbeds of the homelessness crisis: the 199 Larch Street Warming Centre and the encampment in Memorial Park. Both plans align with already established strategies, said city representatives, based on funding, need, and the Greater Sudbury Encampment Response Guide. On April 1st at noon, the municipal law enforcement officers will begin the planned dismantling of the Memorial Park encampment, and they will enforce the removal of those who plan to set up a tent or structure in the park. The City of Greater Sudbury posted signs in the park area on March 15 to announce the date and time, as per the encampment guide. The announcement also included the closure of the encampment on the grounds of 199 Larch St, near the warming centre.
City development charges to jump by 17.2% effective July 1
Development charges are going up by 17.2 per cent effective July 1, which will add another $3,252 onto the construction of a new single-family dwelling in Greater Sudbury. This, despite a push by Ward 11 Coun. Bill Leduc to limit this year’s increase to 4.4 per cent, which would align it with the 12-month change in the Consumer Price Index change to September 2021. The 17.2-per-cent increase is “too much for our developers, because obviously, these development charges get passed on to the homebuyer, and right now the price of homes has skyrocketed,” Leduc said. “I don’t want to see our new home construction slow down whatsoever.” In support of Leduc’s motion, Ward 5 Coun. Robert Kirwan noted that the taxes paid during the first year of new houses opening to residents would offset the reduced increase being proposed. With only Kirwan and Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyn Landry-Altmann throwing support behind Leduc’s motion it was defeated and the automatic 17.2-per-cent increase remains in play.
Laurentian program cuts violated French Language Services Act, commissioner finds
Laurentian University “neglected their obligations under the French Language Services Act during the university's financial restructuring process” the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario said today. On March 31, Commissioner Kelly Burke released the results of her investigation into potential violations by Laurentian University under the French-language Services Act. She found that not only was Laurentian in violation, but so was the Ministry of Francophone Affairs and the Ministry of Colleges and Universities. As Laurentian University became a designated French-language institute in 2014, it has obligations to adhere to under the act. The commissioner said the school failed to adhere to the French Languages Services Act even before April 12, 2021, when Laurentian announced it would cut 29 French-language programs. Burke concluded that the university “had already begun to make cuts to French-language programming leading to designated degrees prior to April 12 2021.” From the report: "The nearly 50-per-cent cuts to French-language programs announced on April 12, 2021 by Laurentian University have had a significant and detrimental impact on the university's delivery of French-language services.” Burke also found that the ministries failed to fulfill its own obligations to ensure French services at the university were protected.
Vagnini explains why he claimed 26,076 kms for council work in 2021
During his time on city council and the decades he has spent in the finance industry, Michael Vagnini said he has learned the importance of meeting with people in person. “People love to see the white of your eyes and they love to see the fact that you actually take the concern to be going over to see them because of the fact that you’re face to face,” the city councillor for Ward 2 told Sudbury.com. “With my constituents, I can tell you a good large amount of them know what I look like and I know what they look like.” Vagnini came under fire during Tuesday’s finance and administration committee meeting for claiming $13,820 in mileage last year, which the councillor was combative in addressing and stopped short of explaining how he recorded approximately 26,076 kilometres of city business. Sudbury.com reached out to Vagnini by phone on Wednesday to help fill this gap in understanding, during which the councillor highlighted his approach to dealing with people.
Lively man wins $250K with Instant Crossword
Lively resident Cody Lanovaz is celebrating after winning a $250,000 top prize with Instant Crossword Deluxe. Lanovaz said he plays the lottery about once a month. The ticket was bought at Shell on Highway 17 in Terrace Bay. “I was in disbelief when I discovered this win,” he said. “It's starting to feel a little more real now.” Lanovaz, 35, said he told his sister about his big win first. “She said, ‘Are you sure it isn't $250?;’” Cody said. He said he plans to pay down his mortgage and enjoy his win.
Residents urged to use caution along waterways as watershed statement in effect
A watershed conditions statement remains in effect for Sudbury district until Friday, April 8, said the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources. Residents in the Sudbury District, including the communities of Sudbury, Espanola, the municipalities of Markstay-Warren, French River & St. Charles, Townships of Sables-Spanish River & Baldwin, Town of Spanish and Manitoulin Island should exercise caution along local waterways. Although no flooding is anticipated based on current forecasts, special caution should be exercised around rivers and streams. Please alert and monitor any children under your care to these dangers and supervise their activities. The ministry is closely monitoring the weather and developing watershed conditions. Further updates will be issued as appropriate. A low-pressure system moved into northeastern Ontario Wednesday afternoon bringing with it mixed precipitation of snow, freezing rain and rain. Rainfall amounts over the next 24 hours are expected to be between 20-25mm. Daytime temperatures today are expected to rise to 6 C and then drop to below freezing overnight. Over the next few days, daytime temperatures are forecast to remain above freezing with evening temperatures expected to drop below freezing.
Cloudy but no rain, freezing rain or snow in the forecast today
As the chronicles of a Northern Ontario spring continue, you can expect cloudy skies and a high of -1 for your Friday. The wind will be out of the north at 20 km/h, gusting to 40, so expect a wind chill of around -13 in the morning and -7 in the afternoon. Tonight, the skies will clear and the temperature will drop to -10.
