Letter to the Editor-Mtwdge Community Channel
Electoral Candidate Natalie Labbee
LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
RE: Shaw Community Channel Clarification
Dear Editor:
As a result of questions posed at the Candidates Night last week, I would like to take this opportunity to dispell any confusion regarding the status of the Shaw Community Channel, originally posed to myself, answered by myself and consequently Phil Minty ( a former Committee Member with the non-profit TV Club). The question posed was “how do I feel about re-instating the Shaw Community Channel and what is the status of this?”
My answer was and is simply this: I believe that there were many people who relied on Channel 5/22 for information on a daily basis. From water main shut offs, to special events, and hours of operation, this channel served many purposes; all of which were beneficial to the community. Marathon still has their channel. Currently, we see video of Lake Superior, news from the Sault, and scrolling down the bottom of the page at 5pm is a few lines in very small font about Manitouwadge lasting about 2 minutes.
I spoke with Mr. Minty afterwards, and he acknowledged that he had misunderstood the question. Yes, there was a TV committee in place several years ago. Yes, it disbanded for several reasons; finances and lack of volunteers among some of them, however that has been done for several years, and has nothing to do with the Cable 5/22 channel being removed this past spring.
I took it upon myself to get come clearer answers and went directly to Shaw. According to a representative familiar with the Manitouwadge situation, a local Shaw employee was receiving complaints (many) about the level of service that the Township was providing regarding the Community Channel notices,and was getting blamed for it, when in actuality, it had been left to the Township to operate. The Township, in turn, apparently decided that it was not a service they wished to put time into and did not want to support it any longer.
Coincidently, I also spoke to a former “TV Committee” member and he informed me that their Club was offering televised Council meetings and they were getting paid (minimally) for this service, and the Township was also charging them for their services to be set up in Council chambers. This Committee also took care of televising and providing sound equipment services for special cases of Provincial Court as well. One Judge even commended their efficiency and professionalism, citing that the service and quality recieved in Manitouwadge was better than he experienced in Thunder Bay. To me, that says alot. This Committee Member also told me that he felt the club was “pushed out” by some of the Township employees and Council which made several of the volunteers question thier value, resulting in not feeling appreciated for thier efforts and not wanting to give of thier time any longer. What an unnecessary domino effect….
It is unacceptable to me that a service such as this was taken away from residents without a proper notice. Enough with the rumors. Enough with the excuses and scapegoating. Where was the communication to residents about this? There was no notice provided by Shaw nor from the Township, who was responsible for updating the information, who in my opinion did an excellent job at updating the information and keeping good records of notices. Personally, I went in almost weekly to post notices of events and it was all done quickly and efficiently (thank you Danielle Cooke!). When it was first “taken away”, many people called the Township to inquire, and maybe they didn’t talk to the “right people”, but whomever they spoke with told people it was temporary and knew nothing more.
Clearly, from several questions on this topic that were asked at the Candidate’s Night, people are concerned with the communication plan (or lack thereof) from the Township/Council to the Public.
Another question posed was “what methods of communication would Council be willing to implement in the next four years to keep residents better informed”? Other than using the local newspaper, no other ideas came forward, but in all fairness, only one person was permitted to answer that question. There are several ways that Council can communicate with residents including a monthly newsletter, updating the Township website, videotaping council meetings (which ONN is looking into the feasibility of), and having the Mayor/Council contact the media such as the Echo, OntarioNewsNorth.com and CFNO with updates of what is going on in our town. When I check out these regional media outlets, they are full with information provided to them about all the other communities in the region. We all know what is going on in White River, Marathon, Terrace Bay, Schreiber, Greenstone and Nipigon…but scarce is the information about Manitouwadge. This needs to change and must be made a priority so we can keep people interested and informed about what we are doing here. I remember living in Wawa from 2002-2006 and heard Darrel Chisolm on JJAM FM radio all the time, giving updates on behalf of the Northeast Superior Mayors Group. But in the last four years, save for the past year (which consequently is an election year), (& if it wasn’t for the efforts of our EDO, Dave Raymond) we would be hard pressed to have much mention about Manitouwadge in the news.
Certainly the town has “bigger fish to fry” but this issue is one that has plagued many and thier availability to access information, and certainly there has got to be “someone” who can clarify the details to us as a community. I am looking into getting an official letter from Shaw regarding this and will be bringing it forward to Administration as to the real reasons it is gone and what we can do to get it back.
Natalie Labbee
Candidate for Councillor & Concerned Resident
