RRDMA defeats bear hunt resolution

Ken Johnston
Editor

Things were a bit “bearish” at the annual fall meeting of the Rainy River District Municipal Association, held in Rainy River last Wednesday.
As the meeting was tailing off, Rick Nielson, of Stratton, introduced a resolution the support the continued ban of the spring bear hunt, citing that baiting them as being part of the problem in that it creates nuisance bears.
Bill Clink of Chapple said, “While I don’t like hunting of animals in the spring, I need more information before I could vote on this issue.”
George Heyens of Stratton said, “There is less chance of orphaning cubs in the spring as the cubs stay close to the mother.”
In the end the resolution was defeated.
Other business
•Rick Nielson reported that no communities in the district have adopted the Gold Standard smoking bylaw put forward by the Northwestern Health Unit. He noted that the idea of having a standardized bylaw across the district was met with cool response at best.
•Rob Anderson of Municipal Affairs gave RRDMA members information on a new program that could see municipalities create Tax Incentive Zones to attract business or industry. The province is looking for communities to serve as pilot projects.
Anderson also spoke to them about Opportunity Bonds that could see communities finance local infrastructure projects at a much lower interest rate by collectively soliciting buyers of the bonds.
•As for further developments on area wide flooding that took place in the spring, Anderson said the government is continuing to look at ways to help improve the region’s infrastructure to prevent future flooding. “We have a long way to go in understanding the needs of the district,” said Anderson.
He encouraged them to set up a committee to identify those needs and to keep in contact with him.
•A committee was struck to look at the possibility of establishing a medical bursary to encourage doctors to study and practise in the region.
•The next meeting of the RRDMA, the 12th annual, will be held in Stratton at Millennium Hall.