A huge failure of the system : frustration at lengthy power outage panow.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from panow.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
With no definite time frame on when power will be restored, the Town of La Ronge, Northern Village of Air Ronge and all six communities of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) have submitted emergency declarations to the province.
La Ronge Mayor Colin Ratushniak said all essential services are still available and residents are not in a dire situation but the declaration opens the communities to emergency funding and puts them on a priority list for resources if needed.
“We’ve been without power for 32 hours. In households we’re seeing temperatures dip to 10 degrees and the outside temp is below zero. We’ve already had freezing rain and snow develop so our biggest concern is keeping people warm,” Ratushniak said. “On top of that, without power it makes it challenging for people to cook adequate food..and again declaring that state of emergency opens up our resources to be able to support residents in the best way we possibly can.”
La Ronge mayor and council mull salary increase
Remuneration has been frozen since 2019 when previous Mayor Ron Woytowich halted yearly increases.
Prior to that, salaries went up annually based on the rate of inflation in Saskatchewan.
Ratushniak said he welcomes a salary review so that the town will be “on par” with other municipalities.
“I just want to be on par, for our counselors and for myself, to other municipalities and inflation. It’s always nice to be able to say that we’ll keep a freeze on certain things. But if we’re not at the same standards that everyone else is, then that’s when people start feeling undervalued and that’s just not fair and equitable,” Ratushniak said.