The rumors appear to have originated on social media, gaining traction after a post from @CDNprojections, an independent Canadian election modeler and projections account on X (formerly Twitter). The account claimed that “multiple sources” informed them Bélanger would become the third Conservative MP to defect to Mark Carney’s Liberals. The post was shared hundreds of times and reached over 160,000.

As a longtime Liberal supporter, Bélanger sought the party’s nomination in Nickel Belt back in 2015. At the time, he was quoted expressing enthusiasm for being part of “Team Trudeau.” However, after failing to secure the Liberal nod—which went to Marc Serré—Bélanger switched allegiances to the Conservatives ahead of the 2025 election.

In his video, Bélanger not only debunked the rumors but also wished constituents a Merry Christmas, shifting focus back to holiday cheer amid the political noise.

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Since retiring seven years ago and settling in West Nipissing, my wife and I have centered our lives around our children. Their busy schedules and passion for pursuing their dreams made this tough decision to move much easier. We’re excited for what lies ahead but bittersweet about leaving this community.

As a non-resident of West Nipissing, I no longer feel equipped to cover local issues with the dedication and insight they deserve. This blog has always aimed to ask tough questions and highlight matters purposely overlooked by mainstream local media, which tends to avoid all controversial topics

I hope others will step up to fill this gap, continuing to shine a light on important local issues and hold those in power accountable. A community thrives when its voices are bold and unafraid.

That’s it for now,

Réjean Venne

The island, legally identified as PCL 12774 SEC NIP, comes with a municipal assessment value of $470,000, but the minimum tender amount is just $38,033.74—offering a steep potential discount for the right buyer.

The municipal documents indicate that some seasonal structures including bunkies and boathouses are on the island.

Tenders must be submitted to the Municipal Office at 225 Holditch Street, Sturgeon Falls before the July 9th deadline. Bids will be opened publicly and streamed live on the Municipality's website the same day.

More details and instructions on how to participate in the tender process are available via the Municipality of West Nipissing’s website or by contacting their office directly.

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A new resolution—tabled for discussion at tonight’s (June 3rd) Council meeting—calls for the review of Resolution 2025/178, which had authorized the removal of Canadian flags at five municipal locations throughout June in observance of Pride Month. Those locations include River Valley, Field, Verner, North Monetville, and Cache Bay.

The reconsideration comes amid growing public attention and debate over the symbolic move. Some residents voiced concern that removing the national flag, even temporarily, sends the wrong message.

The motion to revisit the flag decision invokes Section 15.11 of West Nipissing's Procedural By-Law No. 2023/27, which stipulates that no resolution may be reconsidered within a year unless supported by a two-thirds majority of councillors present at the meeting. If that threshold is met, the original motion will be reopened for debate and could be amended or rescinded.

Resolution 2023/27 also authorized the payment of $458 for the replacement of Canadian flags for Pride flags. The reconsideration vote does not yet reverse the decision—it merely opens the door to discussion and a possible new outcome.

Pride President Apologizes

Following the public reaction, Luc Charles, President of West Nipissing Pride, issued an apology on Facebook. "I want to sincerely apologize to the entire West Nipissing community for the situation with the Canadian flag," he wrote.

While the committee's resolution specifically called for the removal of Canadian flags, Charles clarified that there was a misunderstanding about the regulations governing the placement of the national flag.

Tonight’s meeting is being held at city hall at 6:30PM and can be viewed on Youtube.

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In previous years, council authorized the Pride flag to be flown at Minnehaha Bay on a separate pole from the Canadian flag.

Last year, council agreed that a formal flag policy should be developed, in response to flag-related debates in several nearby municipalities. However, a finalized policy has not yet been adopted.

In East Ferris last year, the municipal council voted 3–2 against flying the Pride flag at town hall. The local group initially requested that the flag be flown for the entire month of June, then revised the request to just one day (June 1). In both cases, council rejected the motions.

The town of Powassan also experienced public debate in 2023 after the local library chose to fly the Pride flag. Some residents and councillors voiced opposition, prompting Powassan’s council to begin work on a clearer flag policy to help guide future decisions.

The issue gained wider attention in the Simcoe region when Canadian flags at area schools were temporarily replaced with Pride flags. That move sparked a student-led petition calling for the Canadian flags to be reinstated.

With growing public discussions around national symbols and inclusion, the decision in West Nipissing may generate debate within the community.

The five Canadian flags set to be temporarily removed are located in River Valley, Field, Verner, North Monetville, and Cache Bay. Council unanimously approved the motion at its May 20 meeting which also requested that the municipality pay $458 for the five additional flags being raised.

Ceremonies to mark the flag replacements are scheduled for today.

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The Proposal

The project, initiated by 2569189 Ontario Inc., would see a single-storey, 26-unit apartment building constructed at the corner of Dovercourt Road and Cache Bay Road. The land, previously vacant, spans roughly 1.45 acres and is currently zoned Residential Two (R2) and Residential Three (R3). The requested rezoning to Residential Four (R4) would allow for a higher density residential use, in line with West Nipissing’s 2023 Housing Strategy and the 2024 Provincial Planning Statement.

Planning Committee Approval Sparks Legal Action

The West Nipissing Planning Committee approved the rezoning application during its April 8, 2025, meeting. However, shortly after that decision, a coalition of approximately 57 residents, led by Ray Routhier, retained a North Bay law firm to formally challenge the proposed development.

Following pressure from the community and legal counsel, the matter has been delayed and is now expected to appear before Municipal Council on May 6, 2025.

Residents' Core Concerns

The coalition has identified several key concerns:

• Structural Risk from Blasting: Some homes in the immediate area are built on bedrock, and residents fear blasting for foundation work could cause significant damage. They argue that insurance assurances from the developer’s blasting company offer little peace of mind.

• Property Devaluation: Residents have commissioned professional appraisers to assess the potential impact of the project on nearby property values. While this falls outside the Planning Advisory Committee’s mandate, it remains a pressing issue for homeowners.

• Low-Income Housing Concerns: The residents have expressed unease about the potential for the development to include low-income or geared-to-income housing. Although the developer has clarified that this is not the intended purpose of the project, concerns persist that such a shift could occur in the future. Staff however have noted that regardless, the intent of the Zoning By-law is to regulate the use of the property, not the user.

• Insufficient Notice and Procedural Fairness: Many residents say they were not given adequate notice about the rezoning application or the opportunity to participate in the municipal process. The petition organizer noted that only seven days' notice was provided before the application appeared on the Council’s agenda—despite municipal by-laws requiring written submissions at least ten days in advance to speak at meetings. This timeline, residents argue, effectively barred them from voicing their concerns and undermines the transparency of the rezoning process.

Next Steps

The future of the project now hinges on the upcoming Municipal Council meeting on May 6, 2025. As the coalition readies legal and community-based arguments, the municipality must balance its housing targets with mounting pressure from constituents.

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This potential move comes as the province transitions residential Blue Box recycling to a producer responsibility model. As of July, a producer responsibility organization (PRO) will take over residential recycling services currently managed by West Nipissing Environmental Services (WNES). This shift provides an opportunity for WNES to repurpose resources and pivot operations to enhance waste collection across the municipality.

Currently, WNES uses a 2020 Freightliner truck to collect household recycling. With the transition of recycling responsibilities to the PRO, this vehicle could be reassigned to collect household solid waste. The proposed expansion would add approximately 550 homes in River Valley and Kipling to the curbside collection network, which already includes Sturgeon Falls, Cache Bay, Verner, Field, Crystal Falls, and North Monetville.

The expansion would require two days per week of additional service and is projected to cost $60,100 for the initial six-month period from July to December 2025 (likely $120,000 annualized beginning in 2026).

The memo highlights an additional benefit: homes receiving solid waste collection will also receive curbside recycling at no cost to the municipality, thanks to the new provincial system.

Not expanding curbside service presents a heightened risk of illegal dumping. Starting in January, residents without curbside pickup will no longer have access to recycling at local landfills, as the municipality will cease handling recycled materials under the new provincial system.

If successful, this pilot expansion could set the stage for broader service delivery improvements across other currently unserved areas in West Nipissing.

Council is expected to review the recommendation at this week’s meeting.

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The implementation of these powers has sparked debate across the province. In Orillia, for instance, the mayor utilized the strong mayor authority to terminate the employment of the incoming CAO just before their official start date, leading to public controversy and discussions about the concentration of power in municipal governance.

In West Nipissing, the timing of these new powers coincides with an upcoming leadership transition. Current CAO Jay Barbeau, who has served the municipality for 25 years, announced his intention to retire earlier this year. While the new CAO would typically be chosen by council as a whole, the new powers will allow Mayor Kathleen Thorne-Rochon to ultimately make this decision alone.

As West Nipissing prepares to navigate this period of change, residents and council members will be observing how the mayor utilizes these new authorities, especially in the context of the forthcoming CAO appointment. The balance between efficient decision-making and maintaining collaborative governance will be crucial in addressing the community's needs and priorities.

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Liberals: Marc Serré

Incumbent Marc Serré is seeking to win his fourth straight election. After stumbling in the polls over the last year, his new party leader, Mark Carney, has given his local campaign renewed momentum. Serré has faced significant criticism locally over the past year for his support of the controversial firearms legislation Bill C-21, the federal carbon tax, and, more recently, for the revocation of his Indigenous status.

Share of votes in 2021: 31.9%

Conservatives: Jim Bélanger

The local Conservatives held a tight nomination race earlier this year to choose their 2025 candidate. Himmal Hossain, vetted by the Conservative Party of Canada and campaigning since last year, was challenged by a late entrant—local businessman Jim Bélanger. Bélanger edged out Hossain and has since led a campaign light on personal details, instead focusing on party leader Pierre Poilievre’s national messages and targeting Carney’s Liberal past.

Bélanger previously ran politically when he sought the Liberal nomination against Serré. He told Sudbury.com last month that his main reason for switching parties now was the Liberals’ carbon tax—a key promise from Serré, himself and the party during the 2015 campaign.

The Conservatives hope to build on their second-place finish in the last election, when Charles Humphrey represented them.

Share of votes in 2021 (Charles Humphrey): 27.2%

Greens: Himmal Hossain

Trying to mimic the apparent CPC strategy, the Greens are also going with someone from the other side of the political spectrum. After failing to secure the Conservative nomination, Himmal Hossain successfully sought the Green Party’s candidacy.

During his 2024 Conservative campaign, Hossain emphasized public safety, immigration reform, individual responsibility, and abolishing the carbon tax. As a Green Party candidate, his platform has shifted to focus primarily on reducing fossil fuel dependency.

Share of votes in 2021 (Craig Gravelle): 1.7%

People’s Party of Canada (PPC): Shari St-Louis

The PPC is looking to build on its momentum from the 2021 campaign, when it secured 9.1% of the vote. Frequently scrutinized by the media for its stance on COVID-era mandates, 'wokeism,' and immigration, the PPC has recruited a prominent influencer to lead its local campaign."

Shari St-Louis, who recently settled in the French River area, is the former president of the Canadian chapter of Children’s Health Defence, an organization founded by U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The group advocates for eliminating toxic exposure in order to end childhood health epidemics.

Share of votes in 2021 (David Hobbs): 9.1%

NDP: Andréane Chenier

Andréane Chenier will once again represent the NDP in the riding. A national representative for CUPE, Chenier was a last-minute candidate in 2021 but has had a head start this time, launching her campaign in January. She hopes to turn the region orange once more—the NDP held Nickel Belt from 2008 to 2015 and from 1984 to 1993.

Share of votes in 2021: 26.6%

The Canadian federal elections are being held April 28th.

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“Their pay has been the same for 25 years.” - CTV NEWS

“The last time council’s pay went up was over 25 years ago.” - BayToday/Nugget

Next week, West Nipissing council will officially pass a motion enacting a 27% salary increase for themselves. This has been a much talked about issue locally over the last month. In March council received a consultant’s report outlining comparable municipalities that could help justify increasing their salaries by 27-37%. The consultant did not use any neighbouring municipalities like Markstay-Warren or French River which face many of the same issues and obligations.

Still, it could be argued that to attract better politicians, we need more competitive salaries. But this debate must be based on facts.

When this topic was first discussed, councillor Rolly Larabie stated multiple times that councillors have not received a raise in 25 years. His justification for implementing a raise was the cost of living.

Then, this week, councillor Daniel Gagné repeated the same lines. He stated that council has not received a raise in 20 years and that due to the rising cost of living, it was “overdue”.

Why does this matter? Because these are outright lies. First, council has received raises every single year since 1999 based on the annual CPI (Consumer Price Index). In 2023, council’s raise was 6.1%. Since 2022, council’s salaries have gone up 15%.

Second, if Larabie and Gagné simply meant to state that council has not received raises, other than cost of living increases, then why continue to reference inflation as a justification for the raise?

Media Publishes the Lies

In the following weeks, local journalists took Larabie and Gagné’s word and published these lies. CTV News led their news article and their 6 o’clock segment with “Their pay has been the same for 25 years”. BayToday and the North Bay Nugget both wrote “The last time council’s pay went up was over 25 years ago.” In both instances, readers or listeners are given absolutely no indication that councillors have indeed received annual increases.

I reached out to one of these reporters and asked about this omission. His response was that he was unaware that the council policy gave them CPI increases every year. He stated that he took the “no raise in 25 years” comment from Larabie’s remarks and said he would now look into it. Unsurprisingly these news articles have not been corrected or retracted.

So the average taxpayer is left with a completely misleading narrative and a lie.

In any other context, the media or the average reader would interpret a 6% annual increase as a raise regardless of if it was a CPI adjustment. The average West Nipissing resident has not received a 15% raise since 2022, so how can council claim that their salaries have not gone up?

Pattern of Lies

Unfortunately some councillors have become a little too comfortable lying to the public. When council was approving a 4.6% tax increase a few months ago, councillor Gagné told the public another outright lie. He claimed that council had only been increasing taxes by the bare minimum and needed a bigger increase for 2025.

But…the 2024 tax increase was 4.67% and the 2023 increase was 4.75%. So his claim that 2025 4.6% was needed to make up for the prior lower increases was incredibly misleading.

How Council Should Justify a Wage Increase

In order to justify a wage increase beyond the rising cost of living, council would have to justify that the job has significantly changed or that their performance merits it.

Since 1999, this municipality’s population has barely changed. The level of municipal services has not changed either. Council has always had two (non mandatory) meetings each month. The only difference is that in 2025, councillors now have the option to attend any number of meetings via Zoom allowing them to not even leave their homes.

The one thing Gagné was right about was, “We’re not doing much new stuff in West Nipissing.”

On the merits, it’s very difficult to justify why the councillor of 2025 deserves a higher wage (adjusted for inflation) than the one who took the job in 1999. Their biggest duty is to make sure our tax dollars are well spent. Although the municipality has not changed much in size or level of service, somehow this municipality collects significantly more (even adjusted for inflation) than it did 5, 10, or 20 years ago.

Is there any profession or business where the employees would merit a raise based on their ability to increase costs without increasing sales, services or revenue? Is there any profession or business that would be allowed to vote themselves a 27% raise without any negotiating party on the other side of the table?

Solution

There is an easy solution to this dilemma. As was proposed by three councillors at the last meeting, why not make any wage increase effective the next term? This would easily eliminate any conflict of interest and would save the municipality $75,000, which could be used on basketball courts or pickleball courts.

But regardless of what this council decides, debates (which the media relies on for facts), need to be grounded in truth. Last week, we heard that taxpayers spent over $5,000 investigating innocent social media comments by councillors. I believe that knowingly lying to the public (“we have never received a raise”) is a much bigger violation of the councillor code of conduct.

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“With cost of living going up, it’s way overdue” - Councillor Daniel Gagne

“When I came in, I knew what I was getting into. I’m not even in favour of (the raise). That’s a 27% raise. Who gets that?” - Councillor Fern Pellerin

“We signed up for this. Knowing it was until 2026. Stick to our salaries for the next 18 months. It’s the most democratic and most transparent way to do this.” - Councillor Georges Pharand

“Council honorarium is increased yearly as per CPI (Consumer Price Index). Example, in 2023 it was increased by 6.1% with additional increased adjustments for every subsequent year” - Former Mayor, Joanne Savage

When council finalized a proposal this week to increase their salaries, the most contentious issue was not the amount but rather the timing.

Last month, an outside consultant had provided council with comparable municipalities to justify an increase to their salaries. Although no neighbouring municipalities were used, the recommendation was to implement 27% or 37% raises for both councillors and the mayor based on situating this council among the 50th and 60th percentile of the chosen comparables. These raises would be in addition to annual cost of living increases.

Council decided to defer the item because they wanted to consider options for adding health benefits to their compensation package. At Tuesday’s meeting, staff proposed some medical benefit options totalling approximately $3,200 per councillor.

Most councillors were opposed to this idea arguing that it was not necessary. But when it came to the pay increase, most believed it was warranted.

While the salary structure of members of council has not changed, councillors have received annual increases every year since West Nipissing was amalgamated. As pointed out by long-time mayor, Joanne Savage, “council honorarium is increased yearly as per CPI (Consumer Price Index)”. In a social media post Savage added “Example, in 2023 it was increased by 6.1% with additional increased adjustments for every subsequent year”.

Savage also noted that councillors don’t lose any salary for missing meetings for personal reasons and also receive additional compensation for the multiple boards they each sit on, (as an example the honorarium to sit on the DNSSAB board is more than $5,000).

27% Increase Chosen

While councillor Rolland Larabie and Daniel Gagne wanted to opt for a 37% raise, most opposed the idea. Gagne argued “With cost of living going up, it’s way overdue”.

Councillor Kris Rivard, did not support approving the higher increase and argued that the consultant’s report may not paint the entire picture. He pointed out that the compensation calculations did not take into account the car allowance that the mayor receives ($6,960 per year) which most other comparable municipalities did not offer. Adding this to the equation, said Rivard “puts the mayor’s job at over the 75th percentile.”

Councillor Fern Pellerin chimed in “When I came in, I knew what I was getting into. I’m not even in favour of (the raise). That’s a 27% raise. Who get’s that?”

Ultimately council agreed to go forward with the lower proposed increase of 27%.

Effective Immediately

Councillor Kaitlynn Nicol was the first to propose that any increase should only take effect for the next term. Councillor George Pharand supported the idea stating “We signed up for this. Knowing it was until 2026. Stick to our salaries for the next 18 months.” He added “It’s the most democratic and most transparent way to do this.”

When it came time to vote on the motion, councillors voted 5 to 4 to take the pay raise effective the next meeting with deputy mayor, Jamie Restoule who chaired the meeting awkwardly casting the deciding vote.

Implementing this raise now will result in approximately an extra $7,200 for each councillor and an extra $14,000 for the mayor to finish the term. The new salaries will add $52,451 to the municipal budget annually.

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Councillor Pharand’s Case

Morrison’s first complaint concerned a Facebook comment made by Pharand in August 2024, when many local residents were upset about the condition of Leclair Road in Verner following municipal roadwork. According to the Integrity Commissioner, the work had been carried out by Morrison’s company.

Pharand stated that he frequently used the road and agreed with residents that its condition was unacceptable. Pharand did not mention any individuals, businesses or indicated who was to blame, but he told residents he was following up with municipal staff.

Morrison claimed this comment was derogatory toward his company’s work and violated the municipal Code of Conduct. Cassan’s report, however, does not specify which part of the Code the comment allegedly violated.

Pharand defended his actions, stating that he was simply bringing a safety concern to the attention of municipal staff, referencing the absence of bump signs and deep cuts in the roadway. Such actions appear to align with a councillor’s responsibilities.

The six-month investigation involved multiple interviews, but ultimately, the Integrity Commissioner found no breach and closed the case.

Councillor Pellerin’s Case

The second investigation, also initiated by Morrison, related to the same Leclair Road project. Morrison alleged that Pellerin told two residents to “turn to social media” to voice their concerns about the project.

Pellerin denied these allegations, stating that he has only ever advised residents to file complaints through official municipal channels.

Even if Pellerin had encouraged residents to raise concerns online, it is unclear how this would constitute a Code of Conduct violation. Councillors routinely encourage their constituents to advocate for change through formal processes and social media, provided it is done respectfully.

The Integrity Commissioner’s five-page report concluded that no breach had occurred.

The Cost to Taxpayers

While both investigations concluded without penalties, they add to West Nipissing’s history of Integrity Commissioner expenses, raising concerns about the financial burden on taxpayers. In 2020-2021, the municipality spent $24,030 on such services, nearly double the $12,306 from the prior year, according to a 2021 report by then-Commissioner Patrice Cormier. Costs can escalate quickly—Elliot Lake, for instance, reportedly spent $858,000 over four years on similar probes. In 2023, a prolonged Integrity Commissioner investigation in North Bay over a single comment cost taxpayers $36,000.

Though exact costs for the Pharand and Pellerin investigations are not detailed in Cassan’s reports, the process involves legal fees, interviews, and report preparation, all billed hourly by professionals like Cassan, a senior partner at Wishart Law Firm LLP. Critics argue that frequent complaints, even when dismissed, strain municipal budgets and divert funds from infrastructure and essential services.

Council will receive and discuss the investigator’s reports at tomorrow night’s meeting.

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West Nipissing last discussed the PFAS question on April 16, 2024, when Councillor Fern Pellerin proposed a $1,000 test to screen the municipality’s drinking water. Pellerin highlighted the region’s vulnerability due to its industrial legacy, notably the massive corrugated paper mill that operated along the Sturgeon River until 2002, less than a kilometer from the current water treatment plant in Sturgeon Falls. Despite this, council declined the request after the Water & Sewer Manager deemed it "not necessary”.

PFAS Risks Specific to West Nipissing

PFAS, used in products like firefighting foam, paper coatings, and stain-resistant fabrics, are notorious for their environmental persistence and health risks, including links to liver damage, immune system disruption, and certain cancers. While North Bay’s PFAS issues stem largely from firefighting foam used at its airport and military base—a contamination hotspot identified by the Department of National Defence since 2017—West Nipissing faces its own unique threats.

The former paper mill, a cornerstone of the local economy for decades, is a prime suspect. Paper manufacturing historically relied on PFAS for grease- and water-resistant coatings, and runoff from the mill site could have seeped into the Sturgeon River, which feeds the municipality’s water treatment plant. This proximity raises alarms, as such industrial legacies often leave lasting chemical footprints.

Unlike North Bay, where Trout Lake tests showed PFAS levels nearly double Health Canada’s proposed 200 nanograms per liter limit for PFOS, West Nipissing has no public data on its water quality regarding PFAS. The Health Unit’s acknowledgment of PFAS in Lake Nipissing, downstream of the Sturgeon River, further fuels speculation that the regional water table might already be compromised.

North Bay’s Cautionary Tale

North Bay’s experience offers a stark warning. After detecting PFAS in its drinking water source, the city committed $20 million to rehabilitation efforts around its airport, yet residents on private wells have been advised to use bottled water since 2017. A North Bay resident on the Echo Essentials Podcast noted that PFAS in well water rendered even farm-fresh eggs unsafe, illustrating the chemicals’ pervasive reach. With over 100 attendees at a recent North Bay community meeting on PFAS, public anxiety is palpable, and West Nipissing cannot afford to assume immunity.

Council’s Next Move

As opposed to when it was brought up in 2024, Pellerin’s topic is now officially on the agenda and should spark an interesting debate among councillors.

Pellerin seeks authorization for a $1,000 test to measure PFAS levels, arguing it’s essential before the municipality invests millions to connect Verner residents to the Sturgeon water source in coming years.

In a memo, Elizabeth Henning, Director of Infrastructure, confirms the test’s feasibility at $1,000 but advises against it, noting it’s not provincially mandated.

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The outrage from politicians over the so-called "Trump Tariffs" is deeply hypocritical, yet the mainstream media and political figures seem to be ignoring this contradiction.

Many politicians are now acting as if they are personally insulted on behalf of Canadians, using tough rhetoric about standing up for citizens. They declare, "We won’t take this!" and ensure we know just how patriotic they are. They insist they would never allow Canadians to be harmed by the policies of the big, bad Donald Trump. They frame tariffs on certain industries as an attack on all Canadians, vowing they won’t stand for it.

Yet not long ago, these same politicians implemented policies that were far more harmful to a subset of Canadian citizens. COVID-19 mandates were significantly harsher on Canadian businesses and workers than Trump’s tariffs could ever be. These politicians themselves attacked livelihoods, shutting down businesses and declaring certain jobs "non-essential," preventing many from working altogether.

I disagree with Trump’s tariffs. I believe tariffs are counterproductive and ultimately hurt everyday citizens. Government interventions like these usually do more harm than good.

However, a 25% tariff on goods doesn’t compare to firing someone for choosing not to get vaccinated. It doesn’t compare to deeming a person’s job unworthy of existence. Which is worse—a 10% or 25% tax on certain products or a 100% tax on a citizen’s paycheck? Because that’s exactly what COVID-19 mandates did: they "tariffed" entire paychecks at 100% by preventing people from earning a living.

Where were these outraged politicians when Canadians lost their incomes entirely? Oh, that’s right—many of them were the ones enforcing these policies. Doug Ford and Justin Trudeau, both in power at the time, imposed these "100% COVID tariffs" on Canadian paychecks. They were the ones playing the role of "Donald Trump, the bad guy." Locally, Marc Serré endorsed these extreme measures against his own constituents. Yet now, he wants you to believe he’s fighting for you against the Trump tariffs. The reality is that Marc Serré’s actions were far more damaging to Canadians than anything Trump has done with tariffs.

This blatant hypocrisy highlights a bigger problem: a lack of political leaders with integrity and principle. Too many politicians make decisions based on popularity rather than on what is right, and this is harmful to our country. As citizens, we must recognize this hypocrisy and demand better from our leaders.

By pointing this out, I hope more people will see through the political theater and vote differently in the next election. We must vote with integrity and principle rather than simply following what is popular. Our voting decisions should be guided by rational thought and morality, not the theatre of political trends.

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West Nipissing municipal council is reviewing a proposed pay increase following a compensation study. Last year, council approved hiring an external consultant to assess their salaries.

The recommendation: increase the mayor’s salary to $44,877 (from $35,482) and councillors’ salaries to $22,532 (from $17,748).

However, the proposal has sparked debate among councillors, with some arguing that the raise is necessary to reflect the workload and costs associated with the role, while others believe it is unnecessary or should be deferred to the next term.

Several councillors supported the proposed increase, emphasizing the need for fair compensation that reflects the responsibilities of the position. Councillor Rolland Larabie was the strongest supporter, arguing that for the last 20 years, councillor salaries have only been adjusted for inflation. Councillor Dan Gagné echoed these concerns, adding that better compensation could attract more people to run for office.

On the other side was Councillor Fern Pellerin, who was firmly against the raise, arguing that he knew the salary when he took office and that council service should not be about money. He also questioned whether the consultants selectively chose data to justify an increase. “It seems they're picking and choosing where they want to go. They're not going to come back and say: "No, no, you guys are... you're making too much!”

The consultant did not take into account most neighbouring municipalities, which hold a similar number of meetings and face similar issues. For example, in 2024 Markstay-Warren paid its mayor $12,169 and councillors received $8,424. In French River, the mayor gets $19,211, and councillors receive $10,292.

Pellerin added “I'm satisfied with what we make right now”.

Councillor Kaitlynn Nicol suggested that if an increase is approved, it should only take effect in the next term to avoid any conflict of interest or the appearance that councillors were giving themselves a raise.

After lengthy debate, council deferred the decision to consider the full compensation package, including potential health benefits. Some believe that if benefits are introduced, it could offset the need for a salary increase.

Council will review these details before making a final decision on their salary increase.

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The race saw Ontario Progressive Conservative (PC) candidate Tory Delaurier, the mayor of Iroquois Falls, take second place with 9,632 votes, or 37.8% of the vote. This result mirrors the PCs’ 2022 performance, when they garnered 35.5%, showing a modest gain but not enough to unseat Vanthof.

Interestingly, the election defied expectations of low participation typical of a winter vote. Timiskaming-Cochrane saw a voter turnout of 51.76%, a significant jump from the 42.6% recorded in 2022.

Reflecting the outcome at the provincial level, the local Liberals did not get the results they wanted, finishing with just 9.69% of the vote.

Meanwhile, the Green Party’s Kris Rivard, the most active candidate in West Nipissing, unfortunately was not able to gain momentum finishing with 5.37% of the vote—a decline from his 6.2% in 2022. While only joining the campaign at the last minute, the New Blue Party’s Stephen MacLeod finished 5th while capturing 3.08% of the votes.

Province-wide, the PCs secured a very similar majority as they did in 2022. With 43% of the popular vote they captured 80 seats (63 required for a majority). With only 18.5% of the vote, the NDP will remain the official opposition with 27 seats (down from 31 in 2022). While the Liberals were able to get 30% of the popular vote, they only secured 14 seats.

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In February 2024, the organization—then newly incorporated as a non-profit—requested $10,000 in financial assistance to establish an office space and expand its services. At that time, the majority of council members voted against the request, arguing that municipal funds could not support every non-profit in the community. Some also believed that homelessness services should remain under the jurisdiction of the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB), which allocates funding for shelters and homelessness initiatives across the region.

While last year’s debate centered on whether No More Tears was “filling a gap” in services or duplicating existing ones, this year’s approval acknowledges the group’s impact on the community. The organization has continued assisting homeless individuals in West Nipissing despite lacking municipal or DNSSAB funding.

With homelessness remaining a growing concern in West Nipissing, this funding is welcome news for the group’s volunteers.

2024 was a banner year for No More Tears. The organization expanded its services, strengthened community partnerships, and established a dedicated safe space for homeless individuals. In a year-end review, the group highlighted several achievements, including successfully housing multiple individuals, hosting monthly soup kitchens, and organizing regular “talk circles” to support the community.

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In her summary, she highlighted that she met with the Minister of Infrastructure Kinga Surma to discuss a new avenue to fund the necessary work to address Verner’s water quality issues.

In her meeting, Thorne-Rochon was made aware of new grants through the Health and Safety Water Stream of the province’s Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (MHIP). The new grants will target rural and first nation communities that lack safe drinking water or reliable wastewater services.

Thorne-Rochon told the West Nipissing Tribune last week that this latest funding stream falls more in line with the current situation. She added that Verner’s problem is not about capacity to build more houses but “We need clean and clear water for our residents. We’re hopeful that our funding application will be well-received...”

While this announcement has certainly led to optimism for Verner residents, it has also reinforced some of the ongoing fears of the local population.

Verner has dealt with dangerously high levels of manganese in their water for several years. But while residents have routinely dealt with very discoloured water, municipal officials have always maintained that there are no safety concerns and that the water has been safe to drink.

Historically, the municipality has stated that high levels of manganese in the water source are just an aesthetic problem. However, new research has indicated there may be serious health risks.

The proposed long-term solution to address this issue was planned by the previous council back in 2021. The plan was to connect Verner to the main water line in Sturgeon Falls at an estimated cost of $10M. At the time, the municipality had indicated that the new line would be in service within a “couple years”.

However, four years later, there are still no plans to undertake this project. This has been attributed to the lack of funds in the city coffers for such a substantial project.

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For voters in West Nipissing, these may seem like the only two options available. As in 2022, the Liberals and PCs are not making much of an effort locally. The parties recently announced that Troy Delaurier and Rick Ellsmere would be representing them however the Liberals and PCs have not indicated if these individuals will be allowed to participate in local debates.

But earlier this week, the New Blue Party announced their pick locally: Stephen MacLeod. MacLeod has already had success locally in politics. Representing the People’s Party of Canada (PPC) in the last federal elections, MacLeod surprised many by capturing over 13% of the vote.

Since the third-place Liberals only secured 6.8% of the vote in the last provincial election, MacLeod’s candidacy could shake up the race.

MacLeod, 45, lives just outside of New Liskeard with his wife and two children, where they manage a small homestead. His background in trucking gives him firsthand experience with issues affecting Northern Ontario’s highways, a topic he says will be a priority if elected. MacLeod is entering the race with a platform focused on highway safety, tax reduction, and opposing what he calls "woke activism" in Ontario schools.

"Mr. Vanthof has done a lot of work over the past few years in raising awareness of the issues in training commercial drivers and the dangers on our northern highways," MacLeod said, referring to incumbent NDP MPP John Vanthof. "My goal is to take what he's done so far and kick things into motion by creating a task force to work with the MTO and various communities to create and implement solutions in an expedient way."

MacLeod also emphasized his willingness to collaborate with MPPs from other parties, stating that his primary focus is improving the riding, not partisan politics. "I will gladly work with the other elected MPPs regardless of the party they represent because I firmly believe the goal we all share is that we want the best for each of our ridings."

New Blue Party

The New Blue Party was established by Jim and Belinda Karahalios in 2020. Belinda is a former PC MPP who was removed from Ford’s government in 2020 for opposing his emergency measures during the COVID lockdowns. Jim is a former Conservative Party of Canada member who was one of the first to campaign on “axing the carbon tax” in 2017.

In 2020, Jim and Belinda formed New Blue Party as a socially conservative party. It advocates for policies such as tax cuts and opposition to "woke" activism, including the removal of critical race theory and gender identity education from schools, while promoting small businesses, places of worship, and democratic integrity.

In only its second election as a party, the New Blue Party once again has candidates in almost every riding in the province.

The Ontario elections are February 27th.

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The issue, which previously generated significant public opposition, was brought back to the table during this week’s meeting. The proposed bylaw aims to introduce a licensing system to track the number and locations of trailers being used or stored in West Nipissing.

The policy drafted by staff will require anyone who uses or keeps a trailer on any property to purchase an annual licence (other than those in designated camping establishments or those kept in storage).

No specific details on the requirements or fees for this license have been released yet. The bylaw will also allow officers to inspect any property licensed under the bylaw to make sure that proper building code requirements and environmental standards are met.

Licensing vs. Regulation

Council debated whether the bylaw should strictly focus on licensing for record-keeping purposes or extend into full regulation of trailer usage, including zoning restrictions and enforcement. Some councillors noted that the licensing system alone would not prevent unauthorized trailer use unless tied to zoning updates.

“The last council walked away from this issue because of public opposition,” noted CAO, Jay Barbeau. “If we move forward now, we need to be clear on the rules and how they will be enforced.”

The push in the past for a bylaw has been linked to problem properties that have multiple trailers and don’t properly abide by environmental laws. But councillor Georges Pharand asked why existing bylaws could not be enforced. He also opined that the municipality doesn’t seem to consistently enforce existing bylaws.

“I think we have a problem in this municipality where we don’t enforce bylaws unless there is a complaint. Which means people don’t respect our bylaws because most people don’t complain about their neighbours. They figure it’s our job to enforce bylaws, not theirs”, noted Pharand. He added that unless they are going to start being more proactive on existing bylaws, he would not be in favour of creating a new one.

Public Consultation Likely

Given the strong reactions from previous discussions, some councillors suggested holding a public consultation before implementing the bylaw. Others proposed aligning trailer regulations with the ongoing Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw review to ensure consistency across municipal policies.

Council agreed to conduct public consultation, but a heated debate arose over how many sessions would take place. Mayor Kathleen Thorne-Rochon wanted to limit it to two sessions but Councillor Rolland Larabie insisted that consultations in each ward should occur. He noted that during the prior term, sessions in Field and River Valley were both full.

Staff are to come back to council at a future meeting with a proposed plan for these consultations.

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