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THIS IS A EMERGENCY MEETING COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF ELLIOT LAKE.[Special City Council Meeting on December 30, 2021.]
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30TH 2021.AS FAR AS ROLL CALL, ALL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COUNCILLOR PEARCE AND COUNCILLOR CYR WHO SEND THEIR REGRETS.
I'D LOOK FOR A MOTION TO APPOINT.
COUNCILLOR CYR IS HERE. OK, THANK YOU.
A MOTION TO APPOINT MR. GAGNON.
[INAUDIBLE] A LITTLE DELAY THERE.
AM I THE ONLY ONE HEARING THIS? ANYONE HEARING THE [INAUDIBLE].
GOOD. ALL RIGHT. I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE THEN ALL IN FAVOR.
THAT'S CARRIED, THANK YOU, ANY OPPOSED.
NONE. ANY DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST AT THIS TIME? ONCE, TWICE, THREE TIMES, SEEING NONE.
[INAUDIBLE] BACK HERE. REPORT OF THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER RE COVID 19 RECOMMENDATION, WHEREAS THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC WITH THE OMICRON VARIANT IS AN ONGOING CONCERN, WITH TROUBLING TRENDS THEREFORE BE RESOLVED, THAT ADMINISTRATION BE DIRECTED TO CANCEL ALL NON-ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS IN ALL MUNICIPAL FACILITIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO COLLINS HALL, CENTENNIAL ARENA, AND THE MUNICIPAL POOL, AND THAT THE SERVICE LEVELS BE REVISITED AT JANUARY 10TH REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING.
CAN I HAVE A MOVER, PLEASE? MOVED BY COUNCILLOR FINAMORE.
SECOND BY COUNCILLOR MANN, THANK YOU.
MR. GAGNON, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE.
YOU KNOW, WE SENSE THE NEED FOR THIS MEETING, SO I SIMPLY DRAFTED THAT MOTION IN THAT REPORT TO GIVE COUNCIL SOMETHING TO TO DEBATE AND WORK ON AS A STARTING POINT.
WE SEE THAT THE OMICRON VARIANT IS PUSHING THE PANDEMIC TO A CERTAIN NEW STATE.
WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR CLARITY FROM THE FOUR GOVERNMENT ON THE RETURN TO SCHOOL PLAN, BUT IT MIGHT BE PRAGMATIC GIVEN THE CASE COUNTS REGIONALLY AND IN ELLIOT LAKE TO SIMPLY SORT OF PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND CANCEL EVERYTHING FOR A WEEK AND A HALF OR SO UNTIL WE CAN REGROUP OR OPEN TO ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS COUNCIL MAY HAVE.
IN LIGHT OF THE SERVICES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE ARE FOLLOWING THE FOUR GOVERNMENT'S GUIDELINES. SO THAT STILL ALLOWS FOR TRAVEL INTO THE COMMUNITY.
VARIOUS INDOOR PROGRAMS THAT BRING WITH IT SOME RISK NO MATTER HOW DILIGENT WE CAN BE WITH MASK USE AND WHATNOT.
IT'S STILL A BIT OF A CONCERN.
SO HERE WE ARE TODAY JUST LOOKING FOR SOME FEEDBACK FROM COUNCIL.
I WAS UNWILLING AND UNPREPARED TO START CLOSING FACILITIES.
OF COURSE, ON MY OWN, YOU KNOW, OVER THE HOLIDAYS.
HENCE, THE NEED TO HAVE A MEETING AND GET SOME DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL.
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE HOW YOU'VE KEPT COUNCIL APPRIZED OF THE ONGOING TRENDS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS AND ALSO MAKING CLEAR RECOMMENDATIONS KEEPING US AHEAD OF THE GAME.
IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE SEEING ANOTHER WAVE GOING THROUGH.
WE HAVE 10 CURRENT ACTIVE CASES IN ELLIOT LAKE THAT'S MORE THAN WE'VE HAD AT ONE TIME THROUGH THE WHOLE PANDEMIC.
GROH MENTIONED LAST WEEK, THAT'S JUST WHAT WE KNOW OF AT THE MOMENT, BECAUSE THE OMICRON CAN BE CARRIED BY THOSE WHO ARE VACCINATED AND FEEL JUST LIKE A LIGHT COLD.
BUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNVACCINATED, THAT CAN BE VERY, VERY DANGEROUS, VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT WE'RE SITTING HERE AGAIN. I APOLOGIZE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL FOR PULLING EVERYONE TOGETHER ON THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DISCUSS THIS AND STAY AHEAD OF IT. NOW THAT BEING SAID, ANY COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL? COUNCILLOR FINAMORE. THANK YOU YOUR WORSHIP.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR COMING TOGETHER FOR A MEETING TODAY, I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AT THIS TIME CONTINUE CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF CASES IN TOWN.
I APPRECIATE THE WAY THAT [INAUDIBLE] HAS WORDED THIS.
MY ONLY QUESTION ABOUT IT IS WHAT IS NON-ESSENTIAL.
IN MY MIND THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD BE NON-ESSENTIAL GOING ON, IT WOULD BE ANY MAINTENANCE GOING ON BY OUR STAFF AND PERHAPS THE FAMILY HEALTH TEAM USING THE COLLINS HALL TO RUN THEIR VERY IMPORTANT COVID IMMUNIZATION AND TESTING THAT NEEDS TO GO ON.
PERHAPS IN COLLINS HALL, I HEARD YESTERDAY THEY WERE LINED UP OUTSIDE ON THE STREET IN
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FRONT OF THE REXALL, TRYING TO GET VACCINATIONS YESTERDAY.I KNOW THAT SHOPPERS DRUG MART JUST ANNOUNCED A LITTLE WHILE AGO THAT THEY HAVE APPOINTMENTS TODAY FOR THE SHOTS, FOR THE 5 TO 11 YEAR OLD'S.
SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE THEM YET, PLEASE CALL THERE.
I JUST THINK IT'S PRUDENT FOR US TO PROTECT OUR STAFF AND CLOSE THE INSIDE, AND I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO CLOSE THE OUTDOOR RINKS OR THE WALKING PATHS.
I THINK THAT BYLAW CAN HANDLE MONITORING THOSE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING THE PROVINCIAL REGULATIONS OF SOCIAL DISTANCING AND STAYING APART.
AND I JUST THINK WE NEED TO AT THIS POINT, TAKE THIS STEP TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE IS A NOTICE AT THE HOSPITAL ON THE FRONT DOOR THAT SAYS THAT THE HOSPITAL IS OPERATING AT 120 PERCENT CAPACITY, WHICH MEANS WE'RE CREATING BEDS AND SPACE IN AN ALREADY OVERCAPACITY HOSPITAL, AND THAT THEY HAVE A SHORTAGE OF HEALTH CARE STAFF AND THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR JUST EMERGENT PATIENTS TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL AT THIS TIME.
SO I THINK IN AN EFFORT FOR ALL OF US TO WORK TOGETHER IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP PROTECT OUR HEALTH CARE RESOURCES AS WELL, THAT WE NEED TO JUST BUCKLE DOWN AND DO WHAT'S BEST AND MAKE THESE CHOICES TODAY THAT MIGHT HELP KIDS STAY IN SCHOOL OR GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
IF WE CAN STOP SOME OF THE OTHER GATHERINGS.
OH, THANK YOU YOUR WORSHIP I WOULD ECHO THE COMMENTS OF COUNCILLOR FINAMORE WHEN OBVIOUSLY I THINK AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO TAKE A SYSTEM APPROACH TO THIS AND WHEN THE HOSPITAL HAS A NOTICE LIKE THAT ON THEIR DOORS, AGAIN, IT BECOMES UNPRECEDENTED THAT WE'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE NUMBERS ARE CLEARLY CLIMBING.
CLEARLY, I THINK MR. GAGNON'S RESOLUTION OR RECOMMENDATION IS RATHER IS VERY APPROPRIATE.
WE'RE GOING TO REVISIT THIS ON THE 10TH.
WE'LL HAVE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY.
CLEARLY, THE PROVINCE IS MAKING ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY AT 3:00 P.M.
I'M GUESSING THAT IT'S REGARDING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT WEEK FOR STUDENTS.
BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT'S PRUDENT TO DO THIS.
I PERSONALLY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO DO THIS.
BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT'S NECESSARY CONSIDERING WHAT'S HAPPENING.
THE SYSTEM IS ALREADY AT CAPACITY.
TESTING IN THE PROVINCE IS REACHING CAPACITY, SO EVEN ATTEMPTING TO GO GET A TEST IS BECOMING ADDITIONALLY PROBLEMATIC FOR TIMELINES.
THINGS ARE GETTING STRETCHED OUT AND THOSE AREN'T GOOD THINGS.
SO I THINK WE ALL DO OUR PART.
AND FOR THAT, I WILL SUPPORT THIS PAUSE AND THEN REVISIT ON THE 10TH.
JUST CURIOUS, HAS ALGOMA PUBLIC HEALTH GIVEN US ANY GUIDANCE IN THE LAST DAY OR SO, ANYTHING THAT THEY WANT TO SEE HAPPEN, THAT'S NOT ALREADY.
THEY RARELY GIVE US ANYTHING VERY DEFINITIVE, THEY GIVE US STATS AND SUPPORT IF WE HAVE AN INITIATIVE, BUT THEY'RE NOT UNLESS SOMEBODY FROM STAFF HAS SPOKEN TO APH IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS I THINK THIS IS LARGELY A COUNCIL LOCAL GUT FEEL TYPE OF CALL AND [INAUDIBLE] WHAT WILL WE GET FROM THE APH? BUT AGAIN, OPEN TO ANY FEEDBACK FROM ANYONE ELSE WHO MIGHT BE MORE PLUGGED IN TO THE APH THAN I AM OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS.
I THINK THE ONLY ADDITIONAL COMMENT, IF I COULD ADD, WOULD BE APH AS WELL AS THE FAMILY HEALTH TEAM ARE STILL EXTREMELY FOCUSED ON THIRD DOSES, BOOSTER SHOTS.
THAT'S WHERE THEIR PRIORITY IS.
AND AS THEY GET ADDITIONAL SHOTS IN ARMS, THAT'S TRULY THEIR PRIORITY.
CLEARLY, THEY'RE DEALING WITH OUTBREAKS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE DISTRICT AND PROBLEMS. SO KEEPING THOSE PROBLEMS AT A MINIMUM, I THINK, WOULD BE SUPPORTING, I THINK, THE CURRENT MANDATE OF APH.
NOT FINISHED YET YOUR WORSHIP.
OH I'M SORRY. COUNCILLOR TURNER FOLLOW UP.
YEAH, THE NUMBER THAT YOU GAVE OUT 10 CURRENT ACTIVE CASES IN ELLIOT LAKE IS THAT ELLIOT LAKE OR ELLIOT LAKE AND AREA.
ELLIOT LAKE AND AREA IS ELLIOT LAKE.
DOESN'T STRETCH OVER TO SAGAMOK.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S STRETCHES TO SAGAMOK PART OF OUR DISTRICT.
SAGAMOK, SERPENT RIVER, ELLIOT LAKE, THERE'S SEVERAL LOCATIONS INCLUDED IN THE BREAKDOWN.
ELLIOT LAKE AN AREA COUNCILLOR TURNER.
OK. YOU KNOW, COUNCILLOR FINAMORE
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PRETTY MUCH SUMMED IT UP AS DID COUNCILLOR MANN.I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE OUTDOOR ACTIVITY, NORMAL ACTIVITY STAY IN PLACE.
WE HAVE SO MANY RESTRICTIONS ON ALREADY.
I DON'T SEE MUCH BENEFIT IN BURDENING THE PUBLIC BY CANCELING WALKING ON TRAILS OR SOMETHING. AND SPEAKING WITH AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST THE OTHER DAY, THE ODDS OF CONTRACTING SOMETHING IN THAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT ARE PRETTY, PRETTY SLIM.
THIS CURRENT VERSION OF THE VIRUS? YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH WE CAN DO, IT IS IT'S A NASTY LITTLE THING AND IT SPREADS VERY RAPIDLY. SO I TRY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET THE VACCINE SO THAT IF THEY DO GET IT, THEY DON'T GET ANYWHERE NEAR AS SICK AS THEY COULD WITHOUT IT.
SO THANK YOU. MR. PATRIE. THANK YOUR WORSHIP.
I'M STILL NOT GOING TO CHANGE MY OPINION, I DON'T THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE OUR CALL TO HAVE TO DO THIS.
IT'S DISAPPOINTING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE FOUR GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO BE MAKING AN ANNOUNCEMENT, AND IT'S. THE ANNOUNCEMENT THIS AFTERNOON IS PROBABLY ONLY GOING TO BE ABOUT THE SCHOOLS. THIS SHOULDN'T BE A MUNICIPAL ISSUE.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE COMMENT THAT THANK YOU, MR. GAGNON, FOR ACTUALLY COMING TO US BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE THIS TIME AND ASKING FOR WHAT WE DECIDE, WHATEVER COUNCILLOR DECIDES, I WILL AGREE WITH.
THE ISSUE IS WHEN YOU HAVE ONE PERCENT OF THE VACCINATED AND BOOSTED PEOPLE ACTUALLY BEING HOSPITALIZED BY GETTING THE CURRENT VARIANT.
THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO GET THE VACCINES AND GET THE BOOSTERS.
THE NON-VACCINATED PEOPLE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BECOMING VERY ILL.
AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO GET THE CHILDREN AND THE NON VACCINATED PEOPLE TO GET THEIR SHOTS AND GET THEIR BOOSTERS SO THAT THIS DOES.
YEAH. EVEN THE PRESS IS FINALLY SAYING [INAUDIBLE] COUNCILLOR PATRIE YOU ARE FROZEN.
YOU MAY HAVE [INAUDIBLE] I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M FROZEN, I CAN SEE EVERYBODY ELSE MOVING.
POTENTIALLY IT'S YOU THAT'S FROZEN, I DON'T.
OK. I DON'T KNOW WHERE I FROZE, BUT AS I SAID, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO GET EVERYBODY VACCINATED.
AND IF COUNCIL DOES DECIDE TO CLOSE ANY PART OF OUR ESTABLISHMENTS, I WOULD ASK THAT ANY STAFF AFFECTED BE LAID OFF.
OUR PAYROLL IS OVER TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND A WEEK, AND IF WE'RE GOING TO BE CLOSING FACILITIES, I WOULD LIKE TO AT LEAST HAVE THAT SAVINGS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE PROVINCE [INAUDIBLE] GOING TO BE COMING FORWARD WITH MORE FUNDING TO COVER THOSE COSTS.
SO AGAIN, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT EVERYBODY, PLEASE GO GET YOUR VACCINATIONS, GET YOUR BOOSTERS AND GET AS MANY CHILDREN AS WE CAN VACCINATED.
AND LET'S TRY AND KEEP EVERYBODY HEALTHY THAT WAY.
COUNCILLOR FINAMORE. THANK YOU, I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT DR.
GROH IS ADVOCATING ONLINE, AND I BELIEVE ELSEWHERE THAT IF ANYONE CAN GET A HOLD OF N95 MASKS, THAT THEY WEAR THEM BECAUSE THIS OMICRON IS AIRBORNE AND THAT YESTERDAY I DID SEE A RELIABLE SOURCE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT DID CHANGE THE REGULATIONS, WHICH WE DIDN'T GET A NOTICE FROM ALGOMA PUBLIC HEALTH THAT THE SECOND BOOSTER CAN BE GIVEN TO CHILDREN AGES 5 TO 11 IN THREE WEEKS NOW.
SO PEOPLE IN TOWN HAVE GOTTEN THEIR KIDS THEIR SECOND, VACCINE, NOT THE BOOSTERS, BUT THEIR SECOND VACCINES FOR 5 TO 11 YEAR OLDS.
AND PLEASE CALL THE FAMILY HEALTH TEAM OR ANY OF THE TWO PHARMACIES IN TOWN THAT ARE DOING [INAUDIBLE] AND GET THOSE KIDS DONE BECAUSE THEY NEED TWO WEEKS.
THEY SAY THEY NEED TWO WEEKS FOR FULL IMMUNITY FROM THE SHOT.
SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THOSE SHOTS IN THE ARMS AS FAST AS WE CAN, BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT WILL KEEP DIRE SICKNESS AWAY.
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THE PROVINCE IS GOING TO ANNOUNCE LATER TODAY THAT THE BREAKDOWN OF THE HOSPITALIZATIONS IN ONTARIO, BUT TODAY IT WAS OVER THIRTEEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND SEVEN CASES IN ONTARIO AND 958 HOSPITALIZATIONS, WHICH IS UP DRAMATICALLY SINCE YESTERDAY.SO THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE THE BREAKDOWN LATER ON, THEY SAID, AS TO ICU BEDS AND STUFF.
BUT THEY SAID THE HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE ON THE RISE.
THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR CYR DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? NO. OK, THANK YOU.
I QUESTIONED MR. GAGNON. I'M NOT SURE I REMEMBER LAST MONDAY WHEN WE HAD THE VIRTUAL TOWN HALL.
IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT ALGOMA DISTRICT HAD BEEN SHORTED THEIR SHIPMENT OF VACCINATIONS HAS THE SHIPMENT COME IN THIS WEEK? ARE WE STILL SEEING THE SHOTS GOING IN THE ARMS RAPIDLY AT OUR VACCINATION CLINIC AT COLLINS HALL AND I KNOW REXALL HAD A LINE UP? SHOPPERS HAD SOME, BUT IS THAT STILL CARRYING ON? UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T HAVE ANY NEW INFORMATION ON VACCINE SUPPLY.
WHAT I CAN SAY IS WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE FAMILY HEALTH TEAM AND MAKE SURE THE COLLINS HALL IS AVAILABLE AND ANYTHING THAT JUST CIRCLING BACK TO COUNCILLOR FINAMORE'S COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT NON-ESSENTIAL.
NONE OF THIS INVOLVES OUTDOOR SPACES.
THIS IS ONLY ABOUT INDOOR SPACES.
WE WILL MAINTAIN, OF COURSE, THE COLLINS HALL ABILITY FOR THE VACCINE CLINICS.
IF FAMILY HEALTH TEAM NEEDS IT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
WHAT I MEANT BY NON-ESSENTIAL IS SIMPLY CITY HALL IS STILL OPEN.
WE DISCOURAGE IN-PERSON VISITS AS GENERAL.
BUT IF SOMEBODY INSISTS ON PAYING THEIR TAXES OR DOING OTHER MUNICIPAL SERVICES AT CITY HALL, WE HAVE THE PPE AND YOU KNOW WE'RE NOT CLOSING CITY HALL.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RECREATION PROGRAMS LARGELY SO EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AS SOON AS THE MOTION GETS PASSED UNTIL JANUARY 10TH, WHICH MAY IMPACT VARIOUS USER GROUPS THE RED WINGS MINOR HOCKEY, WHEREAS NOW THEY'D BE ABLE TO PRACTICE WITH NO CONTACT NOW.
THE ARENA WILL BE COMPLETELY CLOSED, EFFECTIVE TODAY UNTIL JANUARY 10TH, WHEN COUNCIL REVIEWS, AND THEN IF THERE'S ANY CHANGES, IT WILL BE TUESDAY, JANUARY 11TH.
WE'RE DEFINITELY GLAD TO HEAR THE OUTDOOR SPACE WILL BE LEFT OPEN BECAUSE IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT NOT JUST FOR PHYSICAL HEALTH, BUT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO GO AND DO THE WALKING PATHS OR THE SKATING PATHS.
AND IT'S BEEN A BEAUTIFUL WINTER SO FAR.
SO BEING ABLE TO UTILIZE THOSE AS.
COUNCILLOR FINAMORE. JUST CURIOUS, ASK A QUESTION TO MR. DOYLE. ARE THE OUTSIDE RINKS UP AND RUNNING? MR. DOYLE. ALL RIGHT.
FROM MY KNOWLEDGE RIGHT NOW, THE OUTDOOR RINKS ARE STILL BEING WORKED ON.
OK, THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS BEFORE I CALL FOR A VOTE? OK SEEING NONE, I'LL START ROLL CALL COUNCILLOR PATRIE.
AND I'M IN FAVOR THAT'S CARRIED WE'LL RE-DISCUSS ON JANUARY 10TH.
CONFIRMATORY BYLAW BY LAW 21-102 BEING A BYLAW CONFIRMING THE PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCIL AT THE MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30TH 2021.
MOVED BY COUNCILLOR MANN SECOND BY COUNCILLOR TURNER.
AGAIN, I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL.
OK. I'M IN FAVOR THAT'S CARRIED.
MOVED BY COUNCILLOR FINAMORE SECOND BY COUNCILLOR PATRIE.
AGAIN, THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR TAKING THE TIME, AND WE'LL SEE YOU IN A BIT.
HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR'S DAY, IF YOU CAN.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.