Akwesasne Grand Chief Abram Benedict. (Newswatch Group/Bill Kingston, File)
The following is an open letter from Akwesasne Grand Chief Abram Benedict to “our neighbours” in the City of Cornwall on Friday, Jan. 16, 2021:
On behalf of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, we hope that our neighbours are in good health and staying safe.
It has come to our attention that Akwesasne community members have received harassing messages left on their vehicles when shopping outside of our community. Therefore, we offer this clarification on our rights, to promote further awareness amongst our neighbours.
The Akwesasne Mohawk Territory is situated directly on the US-Canada border, as our community was settled in this area prior to the line being drawn. The borders that have been put in place dissected Akwesasne into three jurisdictions (from a map or government perspective), and the result is that Mohawks of Akwesasne reside within Ontario (Cornwall Island), Quebec (Snye and St. Regis) and Ne
This historic home at 23 Moulinette Road has been added to the municipality s heritage register, meaning it will receive some limited protection should someone want to tear it down. South Stormont council approved the entire register including this an 18 other properties in the township at its December meeting. (Newswatch Group/Bill Kingston, File)
LONG SAULT – A historically significant home in Long Sault has been officially added to South Stormont’s heritage register as part of a development deal.
The home at 23 Moulinette Road was added to the Municipal Heritage Register at last month’s council meeting as councillors approved the entire register, which includes 18 other locations in the township like Quinn’s Inn and the former Cornwall Township Hall.
In this April 2019, file photo, an agricultural burn got out of control at a farm on Eligh-Beckstead Road in South Stormont. The township is more than doubling the fee for an open burn permit in order to cover the township s cost to respond to complaints like this fire. (Newswatch Group/Bill Kingston, File)
LONG SAULT – Landowners and farmers in South Stormont planning for a controlled burn this year will face a sharp increase in the cost to do it.
The township council approved a new fee structure which will see the one-year permit fee go from $12 to $25 – a 108 per cent increase.
CORNWALL – A city councillor wants to impose a special property tax to “motivate” owners to rent out their buildings.
Coun. Syd Gardiner will ask city administration to look into whether Cornwall can put a Vacant Properties Tax in place, similar to what Vancouver has and Toronto and Ottawa are looking at putting in place.
Vancouver’s Empty Homes Tax charges owners 1.25 per cent on a property’s assessed value. For example, a building worth $200,000 would face a $2,500 bill if it wasn’t rented out at least six months during the year. The money collected is put towards building more affordable housing.
In this February 2017, file photo, Locomotive #17 sits in a green space near Ninth Street and Brookdale Avenue in Cornwall, Ont. (Newswatch Group/Bill Kingston, File)
CORNWALL – A city councillor is reigniting debate on donating Cornwall’s historic locomotive to an Eastern Ontario railway museum instead of restoring it.
In a new business motion for tonight’s council meeting, Coun. Elaine MacDonald says Locomotive #17 has “languished” at the corner of Brookdale Avenue and Ninth Street and no council has “made the commitment to refurbish the car or relocate it in a more accessible pedestrian-friendly location.”
In February 2019, council voted 7-4 against a motion trying to sell or donate the locomotive before scrapping it.