Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.
A London, Ont., plumber is warning people not to flush used syringes down toilets or kick them into catch basins, saying that while it seems safer than leaving them in the street, they can present a danger to those who work with the city's plumbing. The opioid crisis has been a simmering problem for at least a decade in the city, with recent figures putting the number of deaths from apparent overdoses at an average of eight a month since the pandemic.
Durham Region’s Committee of the Whole is in favour of repealing a controversial series of amendments that change how the region maintains and repairs the sewer pipes outside your home. In recent weeks, homeowners received letters in the mail, advertising a private insurance program for sewer pipes. The program was endorsed by the region, and the letters featured the region’s logo. The committee voted Wednesday to recommend undoing some of the changes, citing complaints and concerns by community members.
Manitoba is looking to build disaster resilience by supporting a series of municipal projects. The province announced it will contribute more than $186,700 to help fund 12 projects under the Mitigation and Preparedness Program (MPP) to prepare for future natural disasters. “Manitoba is taking a new approach to dealing with natural disasters such as floods and fires by encouraging prevention, rather than recovery,” said Eileen Clarke, municipal relations minister, in a statement. “This provincial support will help municipalities target locally important projects including improving drainage, purchasing new equipment and building up reserve funds for projects that mitigate against natural disasters. This work will build resiliency in their communities and help reduce costs in the long term.”
The health and safety of Canadians are top priorities for all levels of government. Investments in local infrastructure during this extraordinary time provide an opportunity to create jobs, economic growth, and make our communities more sustainable and resilient. Today, René Arseneault, Member of Parliament for Madawaska-Restigouche, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and His Worship Guy Chiasson, Mayor of the Village of Balmoral, announced funding to improve the roadway and service infrastructure on Marcoux Street in Balmoral.
