Latest news with #BrucePeninsula
CBC
3 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Ontario's health critic calls for details after Grey Bruce health board reps fired
Ontario's NDP health critic is asking the province for more details about why all seven municipal representatives on Grey Bruce Public Health's 11-member board of directors were fired last week, while the four provincial appointees remain in place. France Gélinas said a vaguely-worded health ministry statement in response to questions about the firings doesn't go far enough to explain such a significant change in governance. The health unit serves a wide area around the Bruce Peninsula, including the communities of Owen Sound, Walkerton and Tobermory. "We need transparency here," said Gélinas, who represents the Nickel Belt riding. "The government cannot go on making serious decisions about the governance of public health based on ... what?" Gélinas was reacting to news the board's municipal representatives each received letters last week from board chair Nick Saunders advising of them of the "termination of all municipal appointees to the board" effective Aug. 6. The health unit is governed by an 11-member board which includes seven elected municipal politicians: three from Bruce County and four from Grey County. In response to questions from CBC News about the firings, the health ministry said Ontario's chief medical officer of health launched an assessment of the health unit's operations in 2023 following "multiple complaints" about the board's operations, finances and governance. The health ministry's statement said a report that outlines the medical officer of health's findings has been sent to Saunders "and we are currently awaiting their action plan." The statement doesn't offer any specifics about why the municipal board members were removed. The report has also not been made public. The ministry's statement said the health unit continues to operate normally and the province expects all board members — including those now removed — "to work collaboratively to inform their response to the chief medical officer's report." CBC News reached out to the health ministry for more clarification, but did not receive a response on Tuesday. Gélinas said the province should at least make public the chief medical officer's report. "The government appointees got to stay but the municipal leaders .... all got fired, more or less," said Gélinas. "If this has to do with the report, prove it. Otherwise, it has to do with political manoeuvring and getting people they want in charge of public health." CBC News reached out to all the fired board members for comment. Kevin Eccles, a former board member who is also mayor of the municipality of West Grey, said in an email response he would like to speak about what's happened but said after receiving legal advice "I am not making a statement at this time." Grey Country Warden Andrea Matrosovs and Bruce County Warden Luke Charbonneau issued a joint statement Monday saying they want to work with the health ministry "on the best solutions for residents." Bruce County warden 'concerned' In an interview with CBC News on Tuesday, Charbonneau said he's not been given a clear justification about why the municipal representatives were removed. He's also not seen the report mentioned in the health ministry's statement. "The county of Bruce is concerned about the whole situation," he said. "I have not seen a reasoning that provides a justifiable reason for the letters that were sent terminating our board members." The changes at Grey Bruce Public Health follow moves by the Doug Ford government to step in and take over in cases where local politicians appear to be struggling with fiscal management, including London's largest public school board and hospital. The municipal representatives removed by last week's decision include: Grey County: Andrea Matrosovs (The Blue Mountains). Sue Carleton (Township of Georgian Bluffs). Shirley Keaveney (Municipality of Meaford). Kevin Eccles (Municipality of West Grey). Bruce County: Don Murray (Township of Huron-Kinloss). Kenneth Craig (Municipality of Kincardine). Jay Kirkland (Town of South Bruce Peninsula). The provincial appointees who remain in place are: Nick Saunders (Chair). Chad Richards (Vice-chair). Helen-Claire Tingling. Beverly Wilkins.
CTV News
21-06-2025
- CTV News
Chi-Cheemaun ferry adds third daily trip
Northern Ontario Watch The Chi-Cheemaun ferry is now boosting its daily sailings from two to three between Tobermory and Manitoulin Island for the summer. The first crossing arrives at 10:30 a.m., with the last departing at 7:45 p.m. The expanded schedule runs daily until Sept. 1. The iconic vessel is a key tourist link for the Bruce Peninsula and Manitoulin.
CBC
17-06-2025
- General
- CBC
Conservation group buys land near Tobermory giving it new Indigenous name
More land at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula has been protected as a nature reserve, with two levels of government providing funding to buy the approximately one-kilometre-long section of shoreline. Located in an area known as China Cove, Nature Conservancy Canada (NCC) said Tuesday it will take ownership of the land just west of Tobermory on Lake Huron. The 29 hectares of forest and wetland had been of interest to developers looking to build cottages but will now be accessible to naturalists and the public, the NCC's Program Director Esme Batten said. "There's only about 8 km left of unprotected and undeveloped shoreline on the northern part of the peninsula, and these habitats are so important for many species, including lake trout and lake whitefish that spawn in near the shore," Batten said Tuesday on Ontario Morning. While the NCC said many private donors contributed to buying the land, the federal government also contributed $940,000, and the Ontario government gave $300,000, both through funds earmarked for conservation. New Indigenous name The land is located near several parks, as well as one end of the Bruce Trail. The area earned its namesake, China Cove, when a ship named The China crashed near the shore in 1883. The NCC said that when it purchased the land, it invited Indigenous board members and Chippewas Of Nawash Unceded First Nation elder Miptoon to the area. "He came out to the property with us, and he heard the water crying out to him, sharing stories of the wreck. He asked that we named the property Aah Mahwi Nibi or Crying Water to honour that history," Batten said. The nature reserve is also home to other species at risk, including the midland painted turtle, the eastern massasauga rattlesnake and Hill's thistle. The NCC said it will be working on access points so that the land is accessible to hikers.
CTV News
17-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Rare peninsula lands saved from development
A 29 hectare plot of rare shoreline land along the Saugeen-Bruce Peninsula will never be developed, after being purchased by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. (Source: Esme Batten, Nature Conservancy of Canada) A rare section of the Lake Huron shoreline along the Bruce Peninsula will never be developed, thanks to a more than $3-million investment by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. 'The N.C.C.(Nature Conservancy of Canada) is in the forever business. So, we're going to be stewarding this property in perpetuity,' says Esme Batten, program director for the midwestern Ontario division of the Nature Conservancy of Canada. The 72 acre (29 hectare) property, called China Cove, is located just west of Tobermory. It's home to rare and at-risk species of several animals and plants, says Batten. It also protects nearly one kilometre of incredibly valuable Lake Huron shoreline, from development, forever. 'It really presents one of the last opportunities to protect Lake Huron shoreline on the Saugeen-Bruce Peninsula. We only have about eight kilometers left that's unprotected or not developed on the northern part of the peninsula. These undisturbed shorelines are really important for helping clean our water. But, they're also really important for many species, including fish, like lake trout and whitefish that kind of spawn in those shore waters,' says Batten. china cove A 29 hectare plot of rare shoreline land along the Saugeen-Bruce Peninsula will never be developed, after being purchased by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. (Source: Esme Batten, Nature Conservancy of Canada) The funding to buy the property came from private donors, along with the provincial and federal government. 'When I am meeting with colleagues at Queen's Park and they realize where I am from, they always recall Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound for its stunning natural beauty and heritage. I am so pleased to see community and nature come together to see China Cove be protected for generations to come. I would specifically like to recognize the donors behind this project, for whom this is certainly not possible,' says Paul Vickers, member of provincial parliament for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, which includes the now protected property. The area previously known as China Cove will be renamed Aah Mahwi Nibi or Crying Water, to remember the shipwreck, the China. china cove A 29 hectare plot of rare shoreline land along the Saugeen-Bruce Peninsula will never be developed, after being purchased by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. (Source: Esme Batten, Nature Conservancy of Canada) 'The Aah Mahwi Nibi project will permanently protect 72 acres of land on the Saugeen-Bruce Peninsula, which is about the size of 180 NHL hockey rinks. With the help of the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program and local partners across Ontario, we are providing more opportunities for people to explore the many incredible outdoor spaces and hidden gems that our province has to offer,' says Todd McCarthy, federal minister of the environment, conservation and parks. The now protected property is located near a famous shipwreck, the China, which wrecked offshore in 1883. Scuba divers will still be able to access the wreck, but the shoreline near it, will now be studied by researchers, before deciding if the property will be opened to the public, or simply protected, for decades to come. Before it's purchase by N.C.C., the 29 hectare property was slated for the construction of, as many as seven homes. 'This property actually abuts Fathom Five Marine National Park, which is really exciting. So, say you're a bird along your migration. The Peninsula acts as almost a funnel for those species kind of going to the Boreal Forest further north. So you could stop off and an N.C.C. property down in Norfolk County, and then that bird could stop at Crying Water to kind of rest and feed, and then continue along other kind of conservation land along the north shore of Lake Superior to the boreal,' says Batten.
CTV News
13-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Mix of sun and cloud to start the morning
Most of the region will see a mix of sun and cloud this morning, with a few showers in the Bruce Peninsula. Most of the region will see a mix of sun and cloud this morning, with a few showers in the Bruce Peninsula. A stationary front to the south of the region may bring rainfall and showers, although most of the heavier rain will stay south of the Great Lakes. 'And that is good news for our weekend forecast,' said CTV London Meteorologist Julie Atchison. The weekend will have a mix of sun and cloud, with rising humidity on Sunday. Here's a look at the rest of the forecast Friday: Increasing cloudiness early in the morning. 30 per cent chance of showers late in the morning and early afternoon. Wind east 20 km/h becoming light in the afternoon. High 22. UV index 4 or moderate. Saturday: Cloudy. High 22. Sunday: A mix of sun and cloud. High 25. Monday: A mix of sun and cloud. High 27. Tuesday: A mix of sun and cloud with 30 per cent chance of showers. High 28.
