Clinton News Record, 2015-01-21, Page 5Wednesday, January 21, 2015 • News Record 5
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Open letter from MPP Thompson on Walkerton bail court
Dear Minister Meilleur:
I am writing to you
today with regard to an
ongoing issue involving
the Walkerton Bail Court.
Regional Senior Justice of
the Peace Bridget Forster
issued a memo during the
first week of January stat-
ing that, as of January 19,
2015, all Judicial Interim
Release matters for Walk-
erton would be heard by
the Justice of the Peace at
the Owen Sound Court-
house. The reason cited
for this change of venue
was that there are insuffi-
cient courtrooms to meet
the needs of the various
court sittings at the Walk-
erton Courthouse.
This matter is causing a
great deal of concern
amongst members of the
legal community and I
have been contacted by
several constituents upset
about the consequences
of this decision.
Small municipalities are
already struggling with
policing costs, and this
new directive will result in
serious financial impacts,
as the police have been
able to transport arrested
individuals to Walkerton
for bail hearings with on -
duty officers already
scheduled to attend court
business. This transfer to
Owen Sound will likely
increase the amount of
overtime paid out to offic-
ers for bail hearings.
In addition, it appears
that there was little to no
consultation with mem-
bers of the judiciary,
police or associated court
staff, who were caught off
guard by this notice. It is
my understanding that
the Grey County Criminal
Defence Lawyers Associa-
tion and the Bruce County
Criminal Defence Bar
have requested that this
decision be postponed
until after a consultation
process, during which all
of the affected parties will
have an opportunity to
raise their concerns.
From a personal stand-
point, I feel that this
move will result in hard-
ship for the lawyers,
Crown Attorneys, bail
surety agents and fami-
lies of the accused, who
will have to travel to
Owen Sound for these
hearings. Due to the fre-
quent winter storms and
road closures that we
experience in this area,
hearings will necessarily
have to be rescheduled
on a regular basis due to
the inclement weather,
thus causing backups in
the system and accused
individuals to remain in
custody for a longer
period. Another consid-
eration is the question of
transportation arrange-
ments for individuals
brought from custody in
Penetanguishene and
released in Owen Sound.
A decision which holds
such wide-ranging impli-
cations should not be
made without consulta-
tion and due considera-
tion of community con-
cerns. Minister, could
you please outline what
assistance your Ministry
can provide to facilitate a
comment period for local
stakeholders, in order to
examine the adverse
impacts of this change
and to accommodate a
mutually agreeable
arrangement? It is essen-
tial that meaningful pub-
lic consultation take
place in a timely fashion,
so I would respectfully
request that this process
be initiated by January
23, 2015.
I look forward to your
response.
Sincerely,
Lisa Thompson, MPP
Huron -Bruce
EARLY FILES
January 25, 1968
The Protestant Chapel Guild held its
first meeting of the New Year on Mon-
day, January 15 in the Chapel Annex.
Mrs. Hilda Hilbert, President, welcomed
the ladies present, and commented on
the good turnout of members in spite of
the inclement weather. The Devotional
was conducted by Mrs. Sandra Sinker
and Mrs. Kathy Johnston played the
organ during the singing of several
hymns. Members of the new executive
are: Honorary President, Mrs. Betty
DeLong; President, Mrs. Kathy Cook;
Vice -President, Mrs. Mary Cournoyer;
Secretary, Mrs. Rita Ryan; Treasurer,
Mrs. Tena Cooke; Hospitality, Mrs. Joyce
Hatten; Group Leaders, Mrs. Doris
Groves, Mrs. Helen Beale, and Mrs.
Muriel Aitken; Publicity, Mrs. Sandra
Sinker.
January 27, 1977
Diane Durnin, a 27 -year-old Goderich
native and Vanastra resident, was
named the new manager of the Vanastra
Recreation Centre by Tuckersmith
Township Council last Wednesday, Jan-
uary 19. No stranger to the centre, Mrs.
Durnin has been with the complex since
its opening in June 1975. She has been
acting manager since the resignation of
Renee Brochu at the end of December.
Her letter of application was one of 12
received for the position. As the Centre's
former recreation director, Mrs. Durnin
will combine the duties of a recreation
director with her position as manager.
January 20, 1982
Clinton will have a new dog bylaw
within the next two weeks, but that
revised law will not place limitations
on the number of dogs that a Clinton
resident can own. Mayor Chester
Archibald, who had earlier proposed
that dog numbers be limited to one per
household, said at council's January
18th meeting that he wouldn't push for
this regulation in the new bylaw. He
explained that he had heard from
many people and many responsible
dog owners, who opposed the limita-
tion, and had few people voice their
support for his proposal.
January 24, 1996
Continued excellent services will be
expected of the Ontario Provincial
Police (OPP) with their take over of
policing for the town. This was a mes-
sage that came through loud and clear
on Monday night at the Clinton Town
Hall at a special ceremony during
which members of the former Clinton
Police Service were sworn in as mem-
bers of the OPP.
Speakers representing both the town
and the OPP addressed the large num-
ber of people in attendance for the cer-
emony, and the first speaker was Clin-
ton Mayor Case Buffinga.
Stating that the Clinton Police Ser-
vice was "something to be proud of,"
Buffinga thanked acting chief OPP Ser-
geant Frank Young for his guidance
over the past two years.
January 22, 2003
The students in the area had a snow
day, Monday, Jan. 13, due to white-
outs. The Brucefield area has not had
as much snow as the region north of
us. Saturday was very cold and very
windy, the white snow turned brown
with the earth blown off the fields. One
person remarked, "the flower beds
should do well this year with all the
extra soil blown into the village." The
regular 10 a.m. Brucefield United
Church Service was held on Jan. 19
with Dan Dowling officiating.
glertlin
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