Here are five stories to know today, with the focus first on Cornwall, SDG&A and Akwesasne, then on Ontario’s province-wide municipal vote and this week’s provincial fiscal update.
Cornwall votes today as mayoral hopefuls make final pitches on housing and health
Cornwall residents elect their mayor and council today, with eight polling locations open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and free Cornwall Transit and specialized transit rides to the polls for anyone showing their voter letter or ID, the City of Cornwall says. In the final days of the campaign, Mayor Justin Towndale and challengers Art Levert, Sarah Good and Nicole Spahich faced questions on homelessness, housing, health care, infrastructure and transit at a community well-being forum at St. Joseph’s Continuing Care Centre, Cornwall Seaway News reports. Towndale defended the Massey Commons project while acknowledging neighbourhood engagement could have been better, and pointed to faster permitting and a physician recruitment task force. Good said “housing is healthcare,” and proposed incentives for one- and two-bedroom apartments and higher taxes on vacant buildings. Levert called for housing infrastructure that can take people in quickly, while Spahich focused on property-tax pressure on seniors living on fixed incomes. Sources: City of Cornwall and Cornwall Seaway News.
Cornwall council town hall on November 2 will focus on post-secondary education
The City of Cornwall is inviting residents to a town hall with city council on Monday, November 2, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Adirondack Room of the Ramada Inn at 805 Brookdale Avenue. The first half of the evening is set aside for post-secondary education in Cornwall, and the second half is an open floor for any other municipal topic. Each resident will get up to three minutes to speak, with registered speakers going first and others heard on a first-come, first-served basis. The city strongly encourages advance registration through its online form, where residents can also request accessibility accommodations. Coming one week after election day, the meeting offers residents an early chance to raise local priorities directly with council. Source: City of Cornwall.
OPP investigating death at South Stormont home on Wheeler Road
The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry OPP is investigating a death in South Stormont Township, according to Cornwall Seaway News. Officers were called to a residence on Wheeler Road shortly before 6:30 p.m. on October 23, where they found a person with serious injuries who was taken to hospital and later pronounced dead. Police say preliminary information points to an isolated incident with no sign of a wider threat to the public. The investigation involves the Office of the Chief Coroner, the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service and OPP Forensic Identification Services, and residents can expect a larger police presence in the area while it continues. Anyone with information is asked to call the SD&G OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Source: Cornwall Seaway News.
Akwesasne marks Red Ribbon Week with daily drug-free themes
The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne is marking Red Ribbon Week from today, October 26, to Friday, October 30, encouraging community members to show their commitment to a drug-free lifestyle. Each day has a theme: Wear Red Day today, Super Hero Day on Tuesday, Jersey Day on Wednesday, Crazy Hair Day on Thursday and Costume Day on Friday. The themes are built around simple messages, such as teaming up against drugs on Jersey Day and saying “BOO to drugs!” on Costume Day. The week is led by the council’s Health Promotion and Prevention Program, which can be reached at [email protected]. General questions can go to the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne at 613-575-2250. Source: Mohawk Council of Akwesasne.
Nearly 11.9 million Ontarians can vote today, with a provincial fiscal update due Thursday
Cornwall and SDG are part of a province-wide municipal election today, with nearly 11.9 million Ontarians eligible to vote, according to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario as cited by CP24. About 2,800 seats are being filled by 6,670 candidates, with voters choosing mayors, councillors and school trustees. Later this week, Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy says he will table the government’s fall economic statement on Thursday, October 29, which The Canadian Press describes as taking a disciplined approach to spending. Together, the local results and the province’s fiscal plans will shape the services and costs facing Cornwall-area households in the months ahead. Sources: CP24 and The Canadian Press (via CTV News).
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