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Ontario Northland Buses Set To Hit Highway 11 Communities

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Ontario Northland bus service is being expanded in northwestern Ontario.

Starting on Labour Day, the buses will be running on the Highway 11 corridor with stops in Atikokan, Fort Frances and Emo.

Eastbound service to Thunder Bay will occur every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Westbound service to Winnipeg is scheduled for every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The addition will also increase service in the City of Kenora from two to six, one-day trips per week.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP and Minister of Northern Development Greg Rickford says “Our government is proud to deliver safe and reliable passenger transportation to the hardworking people in Northwestern Ontario. Expanding bus service will connect residents to health and retail services, and better connect friends and family across our vast region.”

Ontario Northland introduced service to communities on Highway 17 including Ignace, Dryden, Vermilion Bay and Kenora earlier this summer.

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‘Ice Jacking’ Blamed For Winter Derailment In Emo

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A build-up of ice and snow under the tracks is being blamed for a CN train derailment that occurred in Emo in February.

A total of 33 rail cars left the track February 18 at a crossing on Highway 602.

Six cars spilled over 319-thousand litres of petroleum crude oil.

The Transportation Safety Board says the build-up of ice and snow caused the rail to separate from the tie plates and spread under the weight of the train.

The board says rail companies are aware of this phenomenon known as ‘ice jacking’ which can be difficult to detect even through visual inspections because of the snow.

The TSB notes that CN had inspected that rail just two days before the crash.

Video from a train that passed the crossing earlier in the day revealed snow covering the build-up.

Image from the forward-facing video from CN train 118 (Source: Transportation Safety Board/Canadian National Railway Company)

The Board found no fault with the crew, noting “the locomotive event recorder data determined that the train was handled in accordance with all regulatory and company requirements, with no operating anomalies noted.”

Here is the TSB’s final report in full.

Rail Transportation Safety … by Randy Thoms on Scribd

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Hundreds Flood Emo For Pride Rally

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A couple hundred people converged on Emo Saturday to protest the decision from township leaders not to recognize June as Pride Month.

Borderland Pride co-chair Douglas Judson says they’re blown away by the support.

“The opposition we were experiencing from leaders in the community didn’t reflect the community itself,” says Judson, “I think that that was borne out by the numbers we saw and the enthusiasm of the participants.”

He tells us that they received lots of push back ahead of time to the ‘Emo Ambush’, but that anyone would be hard-pressed to say anything negative of what actually took place.

When it comes to the makeup of those who came out, Judson, who serves on Fort Frances Town Council, explains that they came from all over the northwest including Dryden, Kenora and Thunder Bay.

Borderland Pride co-chair Douglas Judson speaks to Acadia News following the group’s ‘Emo Ambush’ protest.

“They wanted to be part of sending a strong message that our communities in the northwest are places where LGBT people can have a home for themselves…can move and be accepted (for who they are).”

He says that in the end their protest may not sway political decision, but that they might have just help the community.

“I hope that for young people in the community they look at this and they feel emboldened and empowered and have identified that there are allies and organizations and labour unions and community leaders around them that want them to thrive and be successful and cared for.”

He adds that he hopes it reminds people that we don’t need to take things we find unacceptable lying down thanks to the democratic society that we live in.

With files from Colin Redston.

(Provided, Borderland Pride)

(Provided, Borderland Pride)

(Provided, Borderland Pride)

(Provided, Borderland Pride)

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Audio: Discrimination Complaint Filed Against Emo

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A discrimination complaint has been filed over the Township of Emo’s refusal to recognize Pride Month.

Borderland Pride Co-chair Douglas Judson says the filing with the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal isn’t really about this particular municipality.

“It’s about asserting the expectations and the role of government in inclusion for all the communities where no one is asking these questions and no one is putting these resolution requests or trying to organize Pride events. It’s about sending that signal to young people.

Judson adds “We think it’s important to set the expectations for institutions and public officials and how they approach issues of equity and inclusion, especially in smaller communities.”

Judson says the complaint alleges discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, family status, and religion, which are all grounds protected by Ontario’s Human Rights Code.

Among other things, it seeks an order from the Tribunal requiring an apology from the municipality and that the mayor and two councillors undertake training at their own expense on diversity, inclusion and humans rights, with a focus on LGBTQ2 issues.

A financial award, if ordered, will be used to fund Pride and LGBTQ2 inclusion programming in the Emo area.

In addition to the municipality, the complaint is brought against Mayor Harold McQuaker, Councillor Harrold Boven, and Councillor Warren Toles.

The Northern Ontario Pride Network is involved in the filing.

Judson says “The municipality was given a copy of what was filed as a courtesy last week. But formally they won’t be served until the Tribunal vets the material and that should take probably a month or a little bit longer.”

He stresses “Certainly we remain open to reaching a resolution on some of these issues and we’ve signalled that in our material. So there’s an opportunity for the parties to pursue mediation.”

To hear more from Douglas Judson, visit the Audio link below.

https://www.facebook.com/BorderlandPride/posts/1558065247704556

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Dryden Joins Call For Complete Cell Service On Highway 502

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Dryden Council is supporting a resolution drafted by the Township of Emo calling on the provincial government to “swiftly and aggressively” close the gap in cell coverage along Highway 502.

The resolution asks the government to work with area mobility providers and key stakeholders to develop the infrastructure needed to cover the entire length of the highway.

Michelle Price, who is also a local business owner, says there is no harm in voicing their support.

“There’s good reason to try and get better coverage throughout that area. Every day I have suppliers that do that route on a monthly basis. One in particular has hit a deer twice and no cell coverage and having to sit by the road and wait.”

Mayor Greg Wilson says “There are some dead spots on a number of sections on that highway and if you have accidents and people are calling for an ambulance, just for that safety perspective it’s something that could be very helpful in situations like that.”

The resolution is being sent to Minister of Northern Development Greg Rickford, Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Infrastructure Laurie Scott as well as the CEO’s of Tbaytel and Bell Canada.

Wednesday the province announced $150-million will be spent to improve cellular and broadband service in rural, remote and underserviced areas of the province.

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Emo Doesn’t Change Mind On Pride Month

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Borderland Pride says Emo Mayor Harold McQuaker, Councillor Harrold Boven, and Councillor Warren Toles have once again declined to show leadership on diversity and inclusion.

Emo Council denied a request Tuesday night to reconsider a previous decision to not declare June as Pride Month.

Referring to Roberts Rules of Order, none of those who rejected the initial motion wished to bring it back to the floor.

The issue came up again after Borderland Pride presented a 1,739 signature petition to Council.

Co-chair Doug Judson says he’s profoundly disappointed that certain individuals failed to live up to their community and their legal obligations to equity-seeking groups like LGBTQ2 people.

Judson adds “We are not second-class citizens and Borderland Pride will pursue all options to assert and affirm the legal entitlement of LGBTQ2 people to be treated without discrimination in small northern communities like this one.”

He says they’ve spoken with an eminent Canadian human rights lawyer to determine next steps.

Mayor Harold McQuaker stated at the meeting “I don’t think anybody is being discriminated against here. I just feel that the majority rules and that’s the way it is.”

Councillor Lincoln Dunn says refusing to support Pride Month, Council is legitimizing the bigoted homophobes in the community.

(With files from Randy Thoms. Acadia News Fort Frances)

 

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Emo Man Charged In Lengthy Fraud Investigation

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A lengthy fraud investigation in Emo has come to an end with the arrest of a 47 year old man.

Provincial Police launched the probe in June of 2018 and uncovered the fraudulent use of over $90,000 by an individual associated with a not for profit organization in Emo.

OPP say the illegal activity took place between 2014 and 2018.

Police say Jason Lilley faces a total of seven charges.

-Fraud over $5,000 contrary to section 380(1) (a) CC.
-Theft over $5,000 contrary to section 334(a) CC.
-Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000 contrary to section 354(1) (a) CC.
-Criminal Breach of Trust contrary to section 336 CC.
-Obtaining by False Pretence contrary to section 362(1)(a) CC.
-Forgery contrary to section 366(1) CC.
-Use, deals, acts on forged document contrary to section 368(1)(a) CC.

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Emo Walleye Classic Cancelled

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The status of major fishing tournaments across northwestern Ontario remains up in the air due to the coronavirus.

However, the line has been cut on one of the first events of the year.

The Emo Walleye Classic won’t be held this year.

It was scheduled for the end of May.

In a Facebook post, organizers say it was a very hard decision to make, but felt the safety of the community was more important.

https://www.facebook.com/emowalleye/posts/10157461263439751

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Concerns Raised Over Rail Tracks

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The MP for Thunder Bay-Rainy River is demanding answers regarding the state of the rail tracks between Fort Frances and Rainy River.

Liberal Marcus Powlowski says area residents have a right to be worried about this week’s train derailment and oil spill in Emo.

Powlowski says there is concern that this is the third derailment reported on that stretch of railway in recent years.

Powlowski notes federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau is fully aware of this latest incident.

He’s hoping for some real answers, noting politicians are doing their best for the people of Emo.

 

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CN Trains Moving Again In Emo Area

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CN trains are now moving again through the derailment area in Emo.

Town council held a special meeting Thursday night with CN and Hydro One officials to get an update.

Trains began moving late Thursday night, but are moving slower than usual, so motorists are asked to be patient for increased wait times at crossings and plan their routes accordingly.

Hydro One says home owners living to the east side of the derailment may experience some power outages throughout Friday morning, so they are asked to reduce usage as much as possible.

Highway 602 remains closed in both directions.

 

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