Giant Shoe Sale G%%&&(-*((*"%*%(
-' F== All Fashion Shoes
Where Chocolate Meets Fashion n
%LGIN 3T 7EST $/7.4/7. !2.02)/2 s MYCHOCOLATEFACTORY CA s /PEN $AYS A WEEK %L I 3 7
ARNPRIOR
Chronicle Guide Proudly serving Arnprior and surrounding area since 1879
132nd Year , Issue 18
May 3, 2012 | 54 Pages
www.yourottawaregion.com
Let’s make a deal, mayor urges M-B council McNab-Braeside council asked to reject user pay route Rev. Jack Lau is saying farewell after three years at Arnprior’s Galilee Centre. He has made many friends and worked on numerous projects. – Page 9, 33
It’s opening night Friday for the latest Prior Players offering. There’s no shortage of entertainment in town, with Zelda and the Zingers presenting a puppet musical this weekend. – Page 17, 55
The athletes at Arnprior District High School are in the spotlight again, with major rugby matches on Saturday and track and field in full swing. – Page 15,16
John Carter john.carter@metroland.com
EMC news – Arnprior Mayor David Reid appealed to McNab-Braeside council Tuesday to seriously consider approving the town’s service agreement offer, suggesting to do otherwise might drive a wedge between the two municipalities. In an impassioned appeal to council, Reid called the Arnprior offer to increase the levy on the township to allow its residents to use the town’s library and Nick Smith Centre “fair and reasonable.� In discussion afterwards, McNab-Braeside councillors expressed concern about rising costs, questioned the town’s figures and suggested a version of user pay might be the best option. Among the three options being considered by council is a system that would see the township reimburse residents for a portion of extra fees charged them by Arnprior for using town services. Council will make a decision after listening to what the public has to say at a meeting Monday, May 7 at 7 p.m. in Braeside (see Page 2). While some residents have already spoken out in support of continuing the library agreement, others are urging council to opt for a user pay system, said at least two councillors. Reid, who has a unique view of the issue being Mayor of Arnprior and a McNabBraeside resident, said he was once a proponent of user fees. However, he now feels they are not appropriate and
would send “the wrong messageâ€? to ratepayers. User fees can cause significant administrative costs and increase the potential for conflict, he explained. The last time user fees were implemented in this area, it “drove a wedgeâ€? between the two municipalities and affected usage, he maintained. “We want to ensure services are affordable for all residents ‌ but user fees do not enhance access,â€? he added. He said user fees also don’t take into account the importance such services have in attracting growth to both the town and township. Reid suggested other municipalities have run into problems when going the user fee route. Instead, Arnprior and McNab-Braeside should be looking at emulating agreements working well for Carleton Place and Beckwith and Laurentian Valley and Pembroke, he said. He said an agreement, while proposed for five years, can be updated annually and ended with proper notice. “No approach is perfect,â€? he told council. “But I believe our proposal is a good approach and I urge you to support it.â€? The proposal is based on the latest figures, he said, adding that despite the increases Arnprior residents will still pay twice as much as their neighbours for the Nick Smith Centre and oneand-a-half times as much for the library, he said. Reid said continuing with the agreements would build on the strong bonds the two municipalities have.
Photo by Sherry Haaima
CRAZY HAT FUN AT FIRST BAPTIST
First Baptist Church in Arnprior hosted a Crazy Hat Fest on Thursday, April 26. Young and old alike donned their finest head gear for the event - including, above, from left, Sheila Wood, Corina Dyck and Chris Juhasz. For more, see Page 30.
Stalemate has social workers primed for strike vote today Derek Dunn derek.dunn@metroland.com
EMC news – A strike vote set for today could see 1,300 people in Renfrew County lose access to government funding. Ontario Works and members of CUPE 4989 have been at a stalemate in labour negotiations. Three union members held an information picket along the Madawaska Boulevard offices, in front of Valley Roots, on April 25. They are angry the employer requested a “no board� on the first day of negotiations. That means it could change working conditions or impose a lock-out. Included in 20 Ontario Works social workers across the county are three in Arnprior. They
Arnprior’s 150 Anniversary
0503.R0011386035
th
COME AND HELP US CELEBRATE JUNE 8 – 10, 2012
Where Opportunity Flows and Adventure Grows!
Don’t miss this weekend full of events for the whole family! Robert Simpson Park will be transformed into “An Old Fashion County Fair “ with many other activities around town!
assist about 200 clients with a variety of issues: everything from supplementing utility costs to financially supporting those who flee domestic violence to providing taxi money for those with chemotherapy sessions. Some clients are on Employment Insurance, others are on medical assistance. Wages aren’t the primary sticking point at the moment, according to union spokeswoman Amy Parker. “There are a lot of outstanding issues that need to be discussed first,� she said. “They want to standardize collective agreements to the lowest common denominator. That affects short- and long-term disability.� See ABOUT 200 Page 2
s 3TEAM 4RACTOR 3HOW Full schedule of events, s 1UILT 3HOW 3ALE times and venues at s 0IE "AKING #ONTEST www.arnprior.ca s 3TRONG -AN 3HOWS Check us out s ,UMBERJACK 3HOWS on Facebook! s 4OWN #RIER s 7ILD 7EST 3HOWS s 0IONEER 6ILLAGE s 7AR #ANOE 2IDES Chronicle Guide s &ARMER S -ARKET