Another stone was cast in the ongoing smoking controversy when Emo council last week also voted to ask the Northwestern Health Unit to dismiss Dr. Pete Sarsfield as its medical officer of health.
A recorded vote was taken at the Jan. 9 meeting of Emo council on a resolution forwarded by Alberton council, which had passed the same motion the previous night.
Emo council passed it by a 3-2 margin, with Couns. Ken Fisher, Gary Judson, and Harriet Sheloff in favour and Reeve Russ Fortier and Coun. Geoff Pierce against.
Dr. Sarsfield has generated controversy and debate in the area since vowing to take legal action against all businesses which refuse to comply with his no-smoking edict.
The architect of the original resolution was Alberton Coun. Bill Morrison, who claims the dangers of second-hand smoke are vastly overrated.
“I’ve checked with several health officials and to my knowledge, there has been only one documented case of a death caused by second-hand smoke in the workplace,” said Coun. Morrison.
“Drunk drivers kill people all the time,” he added. “I wonder if he [Sarsfield] wants to bring back prohibition, too.”
Coun. Morrison maintains this is not as much a health issue as it is a political one.
“It’s not even a health issue at all as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “It’s a matter of choice and choice is a fundamental aspect of freedom. We are so quick to give up our freedoms in this country.”
Municipal politicians from across the region will have the freedom to share their views on this and other matters at the annual meeting of the Northern Ontario Municipal Association later this month.
Dr. Sarsfield has been invited to attend and has indicated he intends to do so.
The meeting is set for Jan. 25 in Morley (Stratton), in part to commemorate that township’s centennial. It begins at 9 a.m. and is scheduled to run most of the day.
In other news, the dispute between Emo council and T.W. Judson concerning the Echo Lake Estates sub-division there continues.
The dispute began when Judson, the prime contractor for the development, was faced with an unanticipated expense after the provincial government insisted on changes to the original plan in order to comply with provincial environmental laws.
At issue is whether the contractor or the municipality should absorb the additional costs.
Reeve Fortier said the matter is now headed to court since no agreement has been reached yet.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
