Monthly Archives: June 2016

06.25.16
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Who is in the driver’s seat for St. Thomas Energy merger plan?

city_scope_logo-cmykIt’s true the motive behind council’s decision to start looking at potential merger opportunities for St. Thomas Energy is likely the province’s offer to waive the 33 per cent transfer tax on such a transaction.
It’s an attractive incentive.
Too bad the city’s utility may not be such an attractive merger prospect.
Its parent, Ascent Group, just held a fire sale and sold off its Ascent Solutions division to Spark Power of Oakville for an undisclosed amount.
A sum ratepayers will never be privy to because Spark Power is still chuckling at the bargain basement price it paid for Tillsonburg-based Tiltran — acquired by Ascent in 2007 — and Belleville operation Tal Trees — acquired in 2009.
So, there is little left in the Ascent cupboard except St. Thomas Energy and a debt load in excess of $20 million.
Not the most attractive package for tire kickers. Continue reading →
06.18.16
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City’s negotiations on Valleyview labour deal deemed ‘bizarre’ and ‘ludicrous’

city_scope_logo-cmykIt’s a case of “inefficiency, it’s disrespectful to the employees and it’s going to cost the city a fortune.”

Not a flattering assessment of labour negotiations between the city and Valleyview Home employees, represented by Unifor Local 27.

In fact, Unifor national representative Robert Buchanan calls the turn of events since May 25 when a settlement was reached with city administration both “bizarre” and “ludicrous.”

To recap, on June 8 about 100 City of St. Thomas employees at Valleyview voted in favour of the May 25 settlement.

The three-year deal provides for a two per cent wage increase in each year of the deal in addition to health and welfare benefit improvements.

The employees have been without a contract since Dec. 31 of last year.

The union’s bargaining team also secured a commitment from the city to maintain full-time jobs and add more staffing hours to the laundry department.

Continue reading →

06.11.16
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For the Professor, latest accessibility report would just be more of the same

city_scope_logo-cmykWhile he had become accustomed to findings similar to those contained in a report to council Monday, the Professor would be far from pleased with the latest report card.
Prior to his death in February, Ed McLachlan spent years as a member of the St. Thomas Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee and filed many reports to council  on accessibility issues in all city-owned facilities.
Lesley Buchanan is now chair of the committee and the annual site audit is on the agenda for all to see.
Here is a sampling of the ongoing barriers the handicapped face.

Continue reading →

06.04.16
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Interpreting Ascent deal through our ‘filters’

city_scope_logo-cmykThree members of council are in favour of keeping the people who elected them to office in the dark about the comings and goings at Ascent, formerly known as St. Thomas Energy.
Well actually it may only be two but we’ll get to that in a moment.
The trio, Mayor Heather Jackson and councillors Gary Clarke and Linda Stevenson sit on the Ascent board of directors which met May 26 to deal with the sale of its Ascent Solutions division to Spark Power of Oakville.
Included in the deal are Tillsonburg-based Tiltran — acquired by Ascent in 2007 — and Belleville operation Tal Trees — acquired in 2009.
This corner — and we’re sure many ratepayers — would like financial disclosure on the sale.
Guess what, that is not about to happen. Continue reading →