Headlines for 23 June 2010

Batchewana First Nation blockades rail line

On Monday morning, the citizens of Batchewana First Nation gave their support to have a blockade initiated on the rail line that passes through their land.

Located in northern Ontario, the Batchewana Nation is blocking trains running between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury.

The federal and Ontario governments have agreed to give the province's First Nations point-of-sale exemption from the blended sales tax that begins July 1.

But the exemption won't be in place until September, and talks are underway on how to deal with the HST in July and August.

Batchewana Chief Dean Sayers says there's no reason the exemption can't take effect July 1.  Other first nations had planned protests over the HST but cancelled the demonstrations after the exemption plan was announced last week.

Anti-G20 wheatpasters held overnight

On Monday two men in London, Ontario men were arrested and held overnight for putting up posters that “promote disruption” at the G8 and G20 summits in Toronto, police said.

The two men were wheatpasting posters onto Canada Post mail boxes and utility boxes.

“Gluing is a form of graffiti,” said Const. Amy Phillipo.

“The officers discovered the negative message with content relating to the disruption and resistance to the G8 and G20 on the posters and continued a prudent investigation of the intent of the two accused males," Phillipo said.

"To fully investigate whether the individuals are a threat to community safety, they were held in custody for a court appearance.”

The damage to the boxes is about $700.  The two men were charged with seven counts each of mischief.

Katz to re-examine mosquito policy

Last Wednesday during an executive policy committee meeting, the mayor said that he was  open to the idea of replacing the pesticide malathion with permethrin, surmising that the federal government may outlaw malathion in the future.

Meanwhile, Councillor Gord Steeves wants to research a 1982 Clean Environment Commission decision that resulted in buffer zones, as he wonders whether they are too large.