By Ian Campbell

Intimidation, inconsistency and long-waits for local contractors were just a few of the complaints Wednesday regarding city staff.

That from the local Chamber of Commerce who presented to council their Municipal Red Tape Report, 22 suggestions on how to improve those business relations.

“We would like all 22 to be implemented, can they be implemented in a short time frame, probably not,”says Chair Andre Dumais. “We expect in five years they could all be implemented.”

Many of those suggestions include everything from adopting a culture change that results in an improved customer service mentality, priority status for contractors in the early morning hours and more consistency when it comes to building inspections.

“We’re not here to point fingers, we’re not here to identify problems or challenges,” he says. “We’re here on behalf of our members to identify mechanisms that would allow them to do their job more simply, more easily and with greater efficiency.”

He tells reporters that the suggestions stem from a survey that was presented to their members earlier in the year and that its simply a coincidence that the panel was ready to present its findings in election time.

“They met monthly, they met every few weeks, they put in little mini-task forces to go down certain channels,” Dumais says. “And it just so happened that the results came out in early August and by the time we offered to present to council, here we are in early September.”

Councillors welcomed the suggestions, one-by-one around the table.

City officials say work is already underway on many of the suggestions already presented in the report.

To view the full report, head to the Chamber’s website at:

http://www.sudburychamber.ca/pdfs/policy_development/Municipal%20Red%20Tape%20Report%20-%20September%202010%20(2).pdf

By Angela Gemmill

Both sides are optimistic heading into four days of negotiations in an effort to end the almost seven week strike at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.

The talks will not include a provincial mediator.

On two previous occasions since the strike began on August 16th mediated talks were not successful.

The 150 support staff at the sites in Sudbury and Thunder Bay are represented by OPSEU Local 677.

By Angela Gemmill

Canadian Figure Skater, Lively native Meagan Duhamal and her new partner have landed on the right foot.

24-year-old Duhamel and her pairs partner Eric Radford took bronze at the recent Nebelhorn Trophy last weekend in Germany, their first international competition together.

They’re working towards the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Duhamel will host a seminar at the Walden Arena from 8 until 4 tomorrow (Oct 1).

By Angela Gemmill

Today is the final day to cast your ballot for the worst roads in Ontario.

The annual survey is conducted by CAA, with a final Top-10 list to be compiled soon of those streets in desperate need of repair.

Currently Vermillion Lake Road in the Sudbury region sits at number two on the top 20 list.

Several other local roads have made the list in the past, which then spurred the municipality to repair them.

The CAA also wants to know about the best roads in Ontario.

Falconbridge Road is listed at number 13.

Go to www.caaneo.ca/worstroads to cast your ballot on either the worst or best roads.

Voting ends late tonight.

By Ian Campbell

A recent ruling by an Ontario Court Justice, who struck down laws regarding sex-trade workers, is having an impact here at home.

Prostitution sweeps are up in the air following the judge’s recent ruling to make sure police are compliant.

“We want to take a look at that, but our biggest focus has always been the ‘johns’ “, says Sudbury Police Chief Frank Elsner. “And we’re going to stay with that and not let up on the gas on that.”

Elsner says these are the people that are preying on the women, and he’s hoping for further changes to the legislation.

“If there’s going to be some further changes, make it protect the workers,” he says. “And help us, give us some powers to help capture the people who are preying on these women.”

Meantime he doesn’t buy the reasoning of some who say this will make it easier for those on the streets.

“To suggest that somehow sex-trade workers will be safer because this law was struck down is foolish,” he says. “It may allow for more prostitution to occur and I’m not sure how that’s in anyone’s best interest.”

Meantime the Federal Government has announced that it will appeal the Ontario courts ruling.

It’s feared that this could set precedent across the country.

They will also be asking the Ontario Superior Court to suspend its ruling while the case works its way through the system, a procedure that some say could take years.

By Gary Beech

Marcus Foligno will be in the lineup tonight when the Sudbury Wolves visit Saginaw to start a three-game road trip.

The Buffalo Sabres sent the 19-year old back last night after a solid pro camp tryout.

Coach Trent Cull will likely insert Foligno into the top line with John McFarland and Andrey Kuchin.

This will be Foligno’s final year of junior hockey before he moves on the the NHL.

(Marcus Foligno. Photo curtesy of Sudbury Wolves)

By Ian Campbell

A warning from the Ministry of Environment and Local Health Unit tonight after blue-green algae was found in the French River.

Tests were done in the areas of Dry Pine Bay and Ranger Bay.

According to experts, visible algal blooms can produce toxins and the drinking water should be avoided.

Water should have a pea soup appearance and foul smell.

Toxins can also irritate the skin if ingested, can cause diarrhea and vomiting and at high enough levels even liver and nervous system damage.

Officials are continuing to monitor the situation.

By Gary Beech

How long are the Sabres going to keep Marcus Foligno?

That’s a question Sudbury Wolves officials would like an answer to.

On Monday the NHL club sent nine players back to their Junior teams, but Foligno wasn’t among them.

Buffalo still has 49 players in camp.

Meantime the Sudbury Wolves left this morning for their first road trip of the year.

It starts in Saginaw tomorrow night.

(Marcus Foligno. Photo curtesy of Sudbury Wolves)

By Angela Gemmill

People in Ontario are terrified to open their Hydro bill, because of the huge jump in the amount due.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath blames the skyrocketing costs on the HST or the harmonized sales tax, introduced by the McGuinty Liberals earlier this year.

She wants the tax taken off utility bills, saying it’s practical, clear and easy and doesn’t have ratepayers jumping through hoops come tax time.

Horwath was in Sudbury today encouraging residents to sign an online petition at www.HSToffHydro.com

She says Hydro bills are very different for Northern Ontario families than their southern neighbours because of the extra heat used during the winter.

Without the HST on a hydro bill, an average family with two kids could save 135-dollars a year, and they wouldn’t have to wait until tax time to get that money.

The website also allows Ontario residents to leave their horror stories of how much their utility bill jumped because of the added HST.

(Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath & Nickel Belt MPP France Gelinas in front of Greater Sudbury Hydro)

By Angela Gemmill

The Sudbury Arena will seem like a giant tee-pee this weekend during the Northern Aboriginal Festival.

The third annual event will include traditional dancing, singing, arts & crafts and cuisine.

Co-Chair Dr Sheila Cote-Meek says the festival continues to grow bigger every year.

It’s a way to help create awareness about aboriginal peoples, their history and their culture, and the festival is a way to engage the broader community and bring people in to celebrate that contribution.

The festival is a partnership between Cambrian College, Laurentian University and the City of Greater Sudbury.

College Boreal joined the partnership for the first time this year.

The theme of this year’s festival is ‘water’ and the importance of water in aboriginal culture.

There will also be a Education Day on Monday for 300 local Grade 7 and 8 students, to be held at Tom Davies Square.