CJRO News October 30 to November 5, 2023

Hello, bonjour, and welcome to CJRO News on CJRO Radio. I’m Candice Vetter, reporting from Embrun.

Lots of news this week and as one of the last news outlets still standing we’ll get right to it.

This Thursday, November 2nd a special council meeting will start at 6 p.m. at Russell Township Hall, on the topic of the proposed recreation complex. There will be an update on the concept, information about soil improvements at the location, followed by a closed session on ongoing negotiations. The meeting can be watched in person or online on the Township’s YouTube page.

Following up on the Ontario government’s walk back of urbanizing rural lands, including some in rural Ottawa, it was unclear if the recent cancellation of the City of Ottawa’s approved official plan will affect the controversial Tewin subdivision off Piperville Road, which was added to the City’s Official Plan by the City in spite of objections by City staff. When announcing the walk back last week MMAH minister Paul Calandra had said, “Municipalities have 45 days to update ministry staff to ‘submit changes and updates’ to what was approved by council prior to Ontario's involvement. That could allow newly elected councillors, who were not part of initial deliberations, to weigh in.” This opens the door to the current Ottawa Council to re-examine decisions made by the previous council if enough councillors request a review. The chair of the Tewin Community Advisory Committee said he had been told that the Tewin project lands are not part of this recall. When asked by CJRO to clarify the statement the minister’s office referred to his public statement which said, “…we will be asking impacted municipalities to submit changes and updates to those plans to ministry staff…including information on projects that are already underway.” Calandra is conducting an investigation, started after investigations were launched by the Integrity Commissioner, the Auditor General, and the RCMP. Residents with concerns can write their municipal governments to ask that they request changes.

Also on the subject of Tewin, on October 20th Don Herweyer, the City of Ottawa’s General Manager of Planning, Real Estate and Economic Development, sent a memo to the mayor and council regarding the cutting of 75 hectares of forest without a permit by a company hired by Taggart, the principal Tewin partner. The memo said, “…the City, the ownership group and the parties working on site continue to communicate and ensure the activities adhere to the farming exemption under the Tree Protection By-law. Through onsite monitoring, Staff have observed that the site is being actively prepared for farming use.” The memo also said, “…the farming exemption under the Tree Protection By-law stands, and there was no enforcement required. Staff are currently working on an amendment to the Tree Protection By-law in response to the outstanding Council Motion and Direction on the normal farm practices exemption.”

The OPP are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying suspects in a robbery in Limoges. Between September 10 and September 18 two unknown men stole over $3,500 worth of goods from a business on Limoges Road. The first male is described as Caucasian, between 25 and 35 years-old, medium build, dirty blond beard and hair, wearing a black t-shirt with white writing on it, a grey long sleeve shirt under the t-shirt, black pants with red stripes, and blue Adidas running shoes. The second male is described as Caucasian, between 50 and 60 years-old, medium build, and wearing a blue t-shirt, black pants, and grey shoes. Photos are available on our website. Anyone who may know these individuals is asked to contact the Russell County OPP at 613-443-4499 or OPP Communication Centre at 1-888-310-1122, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Photos Courtesy OPP

The provincial government has confirmed funding for northern, rural and small municipalities through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund, which will again provide funding of $500 million for next year. The unconditional funding will be distributed to 390 municipalities across the province to help local priorities and specific community needs. Ontario also announced it will restore provincial annual base funding of $47 million for public health units in 2024.

To dispose of pumpkins, straw bales and corn stalks bring them to 141 Sunset Crescent in Russell. The residents make drop offs to a dozen farmers in the area, who use these to feed cows, pigs, chickens, goats, sheep and horses. If that doesn’t suit you, there will be a garden waste collection on Saturday November 11th. Have garden waste placed by the curbside by 7 a.m. for pickup, or bring it to the GFL Transfer Station for free at 211 Corduroy Road, Vars during their opening hours.

Photo Candice Vetter

After two months of construction, the roundabout on St-Guillaume Road between Route 300 and Notre-Dame Street is complete and the road is now open to traffic. The United Counties of Prescott and Russell reminds drivers to exercise caution and pay special attention, as there is still work being completed there. This is the third roundabout built on St-Guillaume, which has been identified as one of the busiest roads in the United Counties.

For those following the Piperville transformer story, Hydro Ottawa provided CJRO with a response. It confirmed its intention to construct a new 27.6 kilovolt municipal transformer station at the intersection of Piperville Road and Farmers Way on a four-acre parcel. The station will connect to Hydro One's existing 230 kilovolt transmission line. Hydro said a draft Environmental Study Report, including a noise study, will be shared soon for public review and comment, followed by a second community information session to discuss its findings. Hydro said electric utilities have municipal transformer stations in neighbourhoods across their service territories, and they are commonplace and generally do not cause noise concerns. Buffers and tree screening will be incorporated into the design. The Piperville transformer serves the entire southeast Ottawa region. Its purpose is to eliminate overloading conditions on the existing transformer stations and improve reliability, then support projected growth in the coming years. The existing Hydro Ottawa stations in the area don't have the capacity to supply anticipated future demand. For more information listen to my interview with next door resident Raynald Lavigne on Local First.

November Christmas markets are starting. The Maple Leaf – Almrausch Club at 3820 Farmer’s Way, Carlsbad Springs is hosting a three-day market starting the evening of November 17, and during the days on November 18 and 19.

Speaking of Christmas it’s time to register floats in local Santa Claus parades. The Embrun parade is Saturday, November 25 at 6:30 p.m. and Russell’s is the next day, Sunday, November 26, at 1:00 p.m. To register in the Embrun parade, contact efdparade@outlook.com. To register in the Russell parade, contact rfdlionschristmasparade@hotmail.com.

Aubrey Callan, District G Veteran’s Service Chair of the Royal Canadian Legion, will discuss services and support for veterans at the Russell Village Women’s Institute talk on Tuesday, November 14th, at 7 p.m. at Russell Meadows Retirement Home. RSVP to Ina Henry at 613-889-7053 or ina.henry@hotmail.com.

Check our website for spooky Hallowe’en photos taken in Russell last week. Send the News you want included in this weekly report to newscjro@gmail.com by Monday mornings. Don’t forget Meta may not allow Canadian News, but we’re all about it. Get the local news that matters to you anytime on cjroradio.com, tune in to 107.7 or 107.9 FM, or listen on the Tune-In and Radio Player Canada apps. I’m Candice Vetter for CJRO News. CJRO, last on the dial, first for local news.