Here are five stories to know today, with the focus first on Cornwall, SDG&A and Akwesasne, then on a bridge repair contract in North Glengarry and the Canada-U.S. auto tariff fight.
Cornwall delays metered water bills until 2028
Cornwall residents will stay on flat-rate water and wastewater billing through 2027, after city council pushed the start of consumption-based charges to January 1, 2028, according to Cornwall Seaway News. Staff told council they had about six months of usage data for roughly 5,000 of the city’s 17,000 water customers, which they considered too little to build a billing model. Hundreds of meters still need to be installed, many requiring curb-stop repairs that could stretch into mid-2027. Council also put off borrowing for the meter project, estimated at about $18 million, until a rate structure is approved, while an online portal for customers to track their water use is still planned for early 2027. Councillor Sarah Good asked staff to consider residents who need to use more water because of a disability or medical condition. Source: Cornwall Seaway News.
Police investigating death of 52-year-old woman on Walton Street
Cornwall police are investigating the death of a 52-year-old Cornwall woman who was pronounced dead in the 500 block of Walton Street early on Monday, October 12, according to the Cornwall Police Service. Officers were called to the scene after Cornwall SDG Paramedic Services asked for assistance, and the woman’s next of kin has been notified. Police say the case is under active investigation and residents can expect an increased police presence in the area. Anyone with information is asked to call D/Cst. Pilon at 613-933-5000, ext. 2766, or to leave an anonymous tip with Seaway Valley Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Police say more details will be released as they become available. Sources: Cornwall Police Service and Cornwall Seaway News.
Plan to consolidate care homes in Cornwall would close Alexandria’s Palace
Southbridge Care Homes has submitted a plan to Ontario’s Ministry of Long-Term Care to build a new 320-bed long-term care home in Cornwall, across from its current home at 800 Nick Kaneb Drive, according to Cornwall Seaway News. Of those beds, 248 would come from three existing homes that would close once the new one is finished: Heartwood on 11th Street in Cornwall (118 beds), Pinecrest in Plantagenet (60 beds) and The Palace on Centre Street in Alexandria (70 beds). North Glengarry Township has objected, saying losing the Palace would hurt residents, families, staff and the wider community, and it is asking residents to send their opposition by email before October 16. CTV News Ottawa has also reported that some Alexandria residents are pushing to keep long-term care in their community, since the Palace is its only long-term care home. For families in North Glengarry, the plan could mean longer trips to visit loved ones in care. Sources: Cornwall Seaway News and CTV News Ottawa.
North Glengarry awards $368,816 contract to fix McPhee Bridge
North Glengarry has hired Willis Kerr Contracting to repair the McPhee Bridge near Glen Robertson for $368,816, the lowest of four bids, according to Cornwall Seaway News. The other tenders ranged from $389,000 to $662,303. The bridge crosses the Delisle River, and Public Works Director Timothy Wright told council a 2025 inspection rated it in fair to poor condition, with rot, splintering and deformation in its timber, including the wooden deck. The work also includes graffiti removal, repairs to the curb and the approach to the bridge, and a new guide rail end. Residents who use the crossing may want to watch for construction notices once the work is scheduled. Source: Cornwall Seaway News.
Poilievre visits Detroit to push for tariff-free auto trade
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was in Detroit on Tuesday to argue for tariff-free trade in the auto sector, according to The Canadian Press. Before crossing the border, he held a news conference in Windsor, and he planned to meet representatives of General Motors and Ford plants in Michigan as well as members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. The United States currently charges a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian autos, and President Donald Trump has threatened to raise it to 50 per cent on January 1. Poilievre blamed the trade war for falling auto production on both sides of the border and said his visit ahead of the November 3 U.S. midterm vote is not meddling. Any change to these tariffs could affect Ontario workers and businesses tied to cross-border trade, including in border communities like Cornwall. Source: The Canadian Press via Lethbridge Herald.
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