The Laurentian Review

Drummond report recommends axing full-day kindergarten

But finance minister says Ontario will keep program

Dateline:

Ottawa

Lianne Lahaie

Full-day kindergarten has received mixed reviews since it became a reality, with many parents loving it and critics viewing it as free all-day babysitting.

Now, the fate of the program might be up in the air with last week's release of the Drummond report. It was prepared by Don Drummond, a former TD bank economist hired by the province to find ways of reigning in the government's whopping $16-billion deficit and $220-billion accumulated debt.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

2011 census shows population growth is centered in western portion of counties

Dateline:

Ottawa

Lianne Lahaie

According to the 2011 census growth results, the western portion of the counties is exploding in population while the eastern portion appears to be experiencing a slight decline.

As a whole, the United Counties of Prescott-Russell has seen a population increase of 6.5 per cent since 2006, jumping from a total population of 80,184 in 2006 to 85,381 in 2011.

The population in The Nation grew from 10,662 in 2006 to 11,668 in 2011, which represents an increase of 9.4 per cent, while Casselman's population increased by 10.7 per cent from 3,275 to 3,626.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Landowners, groups concerned of western crude passing through local region

Dateline:

GLEN ROBERTSON

Justin Bromberg

Landowners in eastern Ontario and western Quebec who thought oilsands development only concerns those in western Canada's backyard might soon be thinking again.

Enbridge Inc. has filed an application with the National Energy Board (NEB) to allow it to move Alberta oilsands crude to eastern Canada's refineries by reversing the east-west flow of its existing Line 9 pipeline, which runs from Sarnia to Montreal, at a cost of $17 million.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Local MPs on opposing sides of gun-registry debate

Dateline:

OTTAWA

Justin Bromberg

Though the long-gun registry - or the debate surrounding its value to Canadians - met its demise in Parliament earlier this week, federal politicians in the local region continued to exchange blows on the issue right until the very last momemt.

A lengthy debate was held in the House of Commons last Tuesday, February 7, which ended with the Conservatives winning a motion late that evening to limit further discussion to one day at the report stage and two days at the bill's third and final reading.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Orica employees return to work following temporary shutdown

Dateline:

BROWNSBURG

Tara Kirkpatrick

Nearly two weeks have passed since an incident on the Orica assembly line shut down the plant in Brownsburg-Chatham and led to an emergency evacuation of staff, but the situation was resolved last week.

After several days of securing the affected department, conducting safety risk assessments and investigating the root cause of the incident, a specialized team was sent to correct the problem.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Driver killed in crash on County Road 17

Dateline:

CHUTE-A-BLONDEAU

The driver of a compact car was killed after colliding with a tractor trailer along County Road 17 on Thursday, February 16.

Ontario Provincial Police officers responded to the scene, about two kilometres east of Tupper Street, at 11:55 a.m.

The initial investigation suggests the driver of a small Kia Rio died on impact. The driver of the tractor trailer was not injured.

Paramedics with Prescott-Russell Emergency Services, firefighters from the East Hawkesbury Fire Department, an OPP technical traffic collision investigator and a coroner were on scene Thursday.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Tune in and listen to the Digital Town Hall Forum

Dateline:

VANKLEEK HILL

Tune in and listen to the Digital Town Hall Forum on February 24 starting at 7 p.m.

On Friday, February 24, the New Media Interns will be presenting a Digital Town Hall Forum on Teenage Suicide Prevention. This event will take place on line at 7 p.m. at The Review’s website at: thereview.ca

Moderating this hour-long forum will be Alyssa McIntyre, a member of the New Media Interns.

Friday, February 17, 2012

‘You don’t have to know what to say, just listen’

Dateline:

HAWKESBURY

Lianne Lahaie

There is no question that suicide, particularly among youth, is a major issue in the Prescott-Russell region and beyond.

According to Dr. Suzanne Filion, manager and clinical supervisor at the Royal Comtois Centre, statistics are alarming and tell us something we cannot afford to dismiss - that young people in the region are struggling with mental health issues and many feel suicide is the only answer.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Teen depression: parents just don’t understand

Dateline:

VANKLEEK HILL

It's a rainy night on September 3, 2010.

For some, it's a boring evening in, watching a rerun of a favourite show; for others, it's a night out to take in the last bit of summer before returning back to school in the fall.

For one girl, it's the night her life will change forever.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Marc Chénier leaves economic development post for Gatineau

Dateline:

HAWKESBURY

Lianne Lahaie

After a little more than a year on the job, Hawkesbury's economic development director Marc Chénier is ready to try something new.

Chénier confirmed he accepted a job as director general of an accounting firm in Gatineau during an interview last week. His last day at town hall is this Friday, February 17.

Thursday, February 16, 2012