Troy Shantz A local union leader is being investigated for alleged wrongdoing, The Journal has learned. Mike Maitland, business manger of LiUNA, Local 1089 in Sarnia, was the subject of a supervision hearing conducted by the Central and Eastern Regional Office via Zoom on May 29 and June 5. The hearing was held to adjudicate… Read more »
Journal Staff Local health-care workers not receiving Ontario’s $4-an-hour pandemic pay premium held a rally at Bluewater Health Wednesday to protest their exclusion. “All of our hospital professionals are working side-by-side with everyone that is in receipt of the pandemic pay,” said organizer and pharmacy technician June Weiss. “They are definitely front line. They’re all… Read more »
Cathy Dobson A new “one-stop” job-posting site is now available to help people find work in Sarnia-Lambton. The ‘Work In Sarnia Lambton’ (WISL) tool kit was launched June 1 by the Sarnia Lambton Workforce Development Board and currently has about 700 individual job postings, says the SLWDB’s Mikelle Bryson-Campbell. The site at https://www.slwdb.org/was in the… Read more »
Troy Shantz & George Mathewson Lambton’s medical officer of health says the Ontario government needs to explain why Sarnia-Lambton wasn’t included in its second stage reopening of the economy. Twenty-four of Ontario’s 34 public health units will be allowed to reopen malls, restaurant patios, pools, beaches, hair salons and other amenities starting Friday. But Sarnia-Lambton,… Read more »
Troy Shantz Sarnia has made additional moves to help balance its books during the pandemic. Council has partially reinstated bus fares, slashed all but essential staff travel and training, and postponed renovations and dog new licensing software. CAO Chris Carter said the latest mitigation measures would add almost $200,000 to the bottom line. They follow… Read more »
Troy Shantz Sarnia backed off on a proposal this week to withhold $10 million in tax levy to Lambton County, but the move did little to quell simmering city-county tensions. Sarnia, which provides 48% of Lambton’s budget, doesn’t believe the county is doing enough to curtail spending during the COVID-19 crisis. “I don’t think the… Read more »
Troy Shantz Some city councillors are crying foul after a decision they approved was reversed suddenly and without a vote two days later. In a 5-3 vote Monday, council agreed to ask Bluewater Power to reduce its operating costs by cutting staff travel, advertising and promotions until 2022. Sarnia is the largest shareholder of the… Read more »
Cathy Dobson A stop work order from the Ministry of Labour has abruptly suspended long-awaited demolition work at the former Holmes Foundry site. “This is beyond frustrating for us,” says Point Edward Mayor Bev Hand. “It’s disheartening. It feels like there’s a black cloud hanging over that property.” Village council has for decades been hoping… Read more »
Troy Shantz It’s last call for residents to weigh in on an environmental assessment of Sarnia’s plan to extend the Rapids Parkway over what’s now the Howard Watson Nature Trail. The feedback is part of a process to choose a final design for the road and trail, which will share space beneath the Highway 402… Read more »
George Mathewson Although our lives have been turned upside down by the pandemic, many local residents are finding flashes of joy and relief from the news in nature. Local parks and trails are busy places these days, with families and hikers literally stopping to smell the flowers. There isn’t more wildlife activity going on out… Read more »
