Latest news with #Poligon
CBC
12-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
How a 'simple structure' in Elliot Lake, Ont., is raising questions about buying Canadian
Social Sharing Plans to build a new shade structure at a waterfront park in Elliot Lake, Ont., were made more complicated by an ongoing trade war between Canada and the United States. After a lengthy debate on Monday night, the city's council decided to go with a design from an American company called Poligon for the $205,000 structure. But it was not without some pushback. "I don't want to get into the trade war stuff, but I know a lot of places are getting away from going with this, buying stuff from the States," said Elliot Lake Coun. Rick Bull. Coun. Helen Lefebvre responded that the work to build the structure would be sub-contracted to a company called ABC Recreation, based in Paris, Ont. "They're from southern Ontario. A small community as well," Lefebvre said. "So we are supporting another small community in Ontario." Like many small municipalities in Ontario, Elliot Lake uses a procurement system from the Canoe Procurement Group of Canada which acts as a one-stop shop for different builds and contracts municipalities might need. Coun. Merrill Seidel wondered why the city didn't put forward its own request for proposals on the project. I'm disappointed, you know, and I'm almost ashamed to be a citizen of Elliot Lake, considering what they just did. - Richard Montegani "Part of the public input was why we did not consult with local contractors to look at such a simple structure," he said. A city staff member said that if Elliot Lake were to go with its own request for proposals on the project it would be a more lengthy and expensive process, and would require a design from an engineer. Elliot Lake resident Richard Montegani said it was shortsighted for the city not to open the door to local options while Canada is in a trade war with the U.S. "I'm disappointed, you know, and I'm almost ashamed to be a citizen of Elliot Lake, considering what they just did," he said. "They're not thinking about being Canadian. "It's really shameful." Ultimately, Elliot Lake city council decided it would submit a separate tender for a $100,000 concrete pad needed to support the waterfront shade structure. That would go out to local suppliers. Danny Whalen, the president of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM), said the "vast majority" of the 110 municipalities he represents are reviewing their current purchase agreements to buy Canadian as much as possible. But Whalen, who also sits on Temiskaming Shores council, added it's a difficult process, especially for smaller municipalities. "Lots of the municipalities we represent are 3,000 and under population. So they don't really have the resources and the staff resources to do a detailed review of all of their accounts," he said. The Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands, for example, passed a motion earlier this month to buy Canadian first whenever possible. On March 18, Greater Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre is expected to provide an update on the city's procurement process. Two American companies — ASM Global and Global Spectrum Facility Management — have responded to a request for proposals to manage the city's new arena and event centre.
South China Morning Post
09-03-2025
- South China Morning Post
Hiking through the remote world of the Ifugao mountain people of the Philippines
For Joy Poligon, life is simple, if harsh. 'If I don't go to our rice field every day, we will have nothing to eat.' Advertisement It takes her an hour for a return trip. Poligon is a rice farmer, mother of two, and an Ifugao, indigenous mountain people that live in the Philippines in the north of Luzon island. Almost 400 square kilometres (154 square miles) of rice terraces, which they have been cultivating for 2,000 years, are spread across the landscape. Unesco declared it a World Heritage site in 1995, calling it an expression of 'the harmony between people and their environment'. The small town of Banaue is the starting point for organised multi-day hiking tours. The income these raise directly benefits guides, tuk-tuk drivers for transfers and the hosts who take guests into their homes. A small levy is used to maintain the landscape. Advertisement Ifugao guide Michael Codimo starts the three-day trip at the market in Banaue, where he buys betel nuts and dried tobacco leaves as gifts to distribute along the way. The 61-year-old chews betel nut himself and occasionally spits out a torrent of red juice.
