Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Local OSSTF pres on one-day strike: 'All options on the table' to further ramp up job action:
While the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) would much rather quickly reach a negotiated settlement, “all options are on the table” in terms of ramping up job action, said the union's local president. OSSTF District 3 President Eric Laberge made the comments Dec. 4 when asked about the possibility of a full strike during a visit to a picket line at Chelmsford Valley District Composite School. OSSTF members across the province took part in a one-day strike Wednesday after the Ontario government and the union failed to reach a contract deal. “We're trying to minimize the impact to the students and parents while still trying to apply pressure,” said Laberge, who represents 600 English public secondary school teachers, as well as educational support staff. “So we're trying to strike that balance. But those decisions will be up to our central leadership in Toronto in terms of where we go to next. Ultimately we'd much prefer the two sides getting back to the table and having a negotiated settlement in the next few days.” Get the full story here.
City approves 4.8% hike in water/sewer rates:
City councillors approved a 4.8 per cent increase in water and sewer rates Tuesday evening, part of a 20-year plan to have users pay the full cost of operating and maintaining the system. While the increase may seem high, it's lower than the 7.4 per cent council has approved in previous years, which would have bridged the gap much sooner. The province requires all municipalities to file plans detailing how they will get the system to pay for itself. Councillors have historically rejected the bigger increases, which decades ago were pegged at three per cent, but most recently in 2011 at 7.4 per cent after a study by KPMG. More on this story here.
Council switches course, reverses funding cut to Social Planning Council:
The proposed property tax hike for the 2020 budget is a little higher today – 3.55 per cent rather than 3.5 per cent – after city council voted Tuesday not to end funding for the Social Planning Council of Sudbury. While not well known to the public, the group does a lot of work away from the spotlight helping vulnerable communities. Ward 9 Coun. Fern Cormier moved the motion to keep funding the SPC, saying they have done a lot of good work in his ward, as well as others in the community. He said the Fair Food Market is an example, an initiative launched through SPC “to bring affordable, nutritious and healthy food to those who most need it.” News of the funding cut caught the group by surprise, Cormier said, leaving them little time to find alternatives. The money from the city pays for expenses such as rent and insurance, while the group gets most of its funds from upper levels of government. Cormier moved to continue funding them for at least for another year to give them time to find other sources.
GSPS conduct dog track after Mackenzie St. home invasion:
There was heavy police presence reported in the area of Mackenzie Street late Tuesday night in response to what is being described as an "isolated" home invasion. Greater Sudbury Police said on Twitter they received reports four suspects had attempted to break into a home in the area while carrying a baton. No injuries have been reported. A dog track was issued in response, which ultimately led to an abandoned jacket where suspects left the scene in a vehicle. Further investigation has led police to believe this to be an isolated incident, with no safety concerns for the greater public. No further information has been released by police. Anyone with information is asked to contact Greater Sudbury Police at 705-675-9171 or Crime Stoppers at 705-222-TIPS (8477) or www.sudburycrimestoppers.com.
Wanted Wednesday: Police searching for man charged with human trafficking and assault:
Crime Stoppers and the Greater Sudbury Police Service need help locating 35-year-old Emanuel Makonen Taitt. On Nov. 19, Taitt failed to comply with court-ordered conditions. Emanuel Makonen Taitt does have some serious charges before the courts that include human trafficking, drugs, assaults and sexual offences. He is believed to be in Ontario and is wanted for fail to attend court. He's described as 6-3, 254 lbs. with black hair and brown eyes. If you know the whereabouts of this person you are urged to contact Police. If you wish to remain anonymous contact Crime Stoppers at 705-222-TIPS (8477) or www.sudburycrimestoppers.com.
Illegal bear hunting in Sudbury proves costly:
Two Southern Ontario men caught hunting bears illegally in September have been fined, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry announced Wednesday. In a news release, the MNRF reminded hunters it is illegal to reuse tags and hunt without a licence. The ministry received a tip Sept. 7 about a group of bear hunters off the Tilton Lake Road in Sudbury. Conservation officers responded and stopped a vehicle leaving the area with a freshly killed bear. “An investigation determined that the day before, Ronald Hicks of St. Mary's harvested a bear while party hunting with Ryan Hicks of Granton,” the release said. “Ronald had previously used his bear tag during the spring bear hunt and was hunting under the other man's tag. “Following the harvest of the bear, the men decided not to tag it so that Ryan could continue to hunt the following day. The next day Ryan Hicks returned to bear hunt, harvested a bear and used his tag at that time.” Both men pleaded guilty Nov. 8 to a number of charges under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act in Sudbury Provincial Offences Court, before Justice of the Peace Monique Seguin. Ronald Hicks was fined $1,500 for failing to invalidate the tag after harvest and $200 for failing to carry documentation while hunting. Ryan Hicks was fined $500 for failing to invalidate the tag after harvest and $1,000 for hunting bear without a licence.
This 'Northern Gurl' just released her first Christmas album:
Greater Sudbury recording artist JoPo has released her first Christmas album, “A Northern Christmas with JoPo and Friends.” The CD features 11 of JoPo’s favorite Christmas classics, an original song “Northurn Gurl” (radio version) and a fun twist on beloved hits of the season. “I’ve wanted to record a Christmas album for years now, so I decided to start pre-production this past June at my family camp,” JoPo said. “I then started the recording sessions in September at Jack-Indie-Box-Studios with engineer Jacques Grylls. It’s a full length album that I put a whole lot of heart and soul into and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.” The Christmas album features some of Sudbury’s top musicians, including Jamie Dupuis, Johnny Williams, Guy Coutu, Jacques Grylls, Zach Clement, PJ Larabie Greg Mihajic, Peter Larabie, Josh Turnbull, JP Gignac, Jess Crowe, Cindy-Lee Thornton, Angel Scott, Ben Wardo and Toronto based singer Chris Ludlow. A Northern Christmas with JoPo and Friends (hard copy CDs) are now available in stores at Sunrise Records, Guitar Clinic, The Refinery, One Sky and Salute Coffee Company (downtown and South End locations). They will soon be available online on 25 different for downloadable sites worldwide on iTunes, CD Baby, Spotify, Google Play, Apple Music, etc.
Thursday Weather:
Mainly cloudy again today with chances of snow this evening. Thursday's high will only get up to -5, feeling like -15. Cloudy skies into the evening with a 60 per cent chance of snow overnight. Low will get down to -10, feeling like -13 with the wind chill. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
