Fifty North Bay and area landlords have revived the Near North Landlords Association in response to the province's new standard lease form, which takes effect in April, and the legalization of marijuana later this year Landlords are concerned that, as of April 1, they won't be able to refuse a tenant who has a dog, explains group member John Wilson of North Bay. "If there is a fourth-floor apartment available for rent and the person who wants the place has a German shepherd and the building isn't pet-friendly we can no longer refuse him," he says. [continues 155 words]
Organization recognizes officer of the year North Bay police Const. Mitch Thomas is surprised how many people still get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. Thomas arrested six people for impaired in 2017 and was recognized during Tuesday's monthly police services board meeting as the Mothers Against Drunk Driving officer of the year. Thomas, who has been an officer for the past three years, said he still remembers the first motorist he charged with impaired. "It was a gentleman from out of town. We got the call just after the bar rush," Thomas said. [continues 213 words]
Charges against two men dismissed over unlawful strip searches by North Bay police Drug charges were dismissed against two men after a Superior Court judge criticized North Bay police officers for their "blatant disregard for Charter rights." Ontario Superior Court Justice Norman Karam presided over the pre-trial application last month that was brought forward by the accused - Ryan Fray and Raymond Oppong. Karam said the accused were unlawfully detained and strip searched, breaching their Charter rights, following an invalid arrest. [continues 810 words]
Losing needle exchange program will be 'devastating' Losing the city's largest needle exchange program will put the public and police at risk, North Bay Police Chief Shawn Devine said Tuesday at the monthly police board meeting. Devine said the closure of the Nipissing Detoxification and Substance Abuse Program on King Street July 31, as it prepares to shut down in September, will impact community safety and well-being on many levels. "Losing the services is going to be devastating and will only lead to unsafe situations for the general public and our front-line officers," he said in his report to the board. [continues 240 words]
Activity driving up overtime costs, says police chief North Bay is seeing an increased amount of violence among people involved in the drug trade, forcing front-line officers into overtime, says Police Chief Shawn Devine. "We see a trend of a lot more violence between people within the drug culture that wasn't there before, whether it's because of the nature of drugs being used or whether the dollars involved are more substantial." Devine said violence related to the drug trade has escalated from physical harm to the use of weapons. The number of stabbings, for example, has increased over the past six months. [continues 244 words]
High school students in North Bay are vaping marijuana juice and crushed Oxycontin before and during school. The startling news came in March when Almaguin Highlands Secondary School principal Donna Breault made a presentation to the Near North District School Board about vaping and its dangers. Board chairman David Thompson says parents need to be aware of what their kids are doing. "I think parents would be shocked," Thompson says. "Students are vaping marijuana juice, crushed Oxycontin and sharing filters, which is putting them at risk of some serious health concerns like hepatitis." [continues 386 words]
Students vaping marijuana juice, crushed Oxycontin, says principal High school students are vaping marijuana juice and crushed Oxycontin before and during school. The startling news came in March when Almaguin Highlands Secondary School principal Donna Breault made a presentation to the Near North District School Board about vaping and its dangers. Board chairman David Thompson says parents need to be aware of what their kids are doing. "I think parents would be shocked," Thompson says. "Students are vaping marijuana juice, crushed Oxycontin and sharing filters, which is putting them at risk of some serious health concerns like hepatitis." [continues 386 words]
'We'd rather take our time and do it right than rush into something and regret it later' Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota expects to see legislation this spring to legalize marijuana. The challenge, Rota says, is "making sure we get it right. "We need to make sure we have it dispensed to places children can't get to, making sure that only adults can get to it and people of age," he said Tuesday. "That is what is taking the most time right now. I was talking to Bill Blair (parliamentary secretary to Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould) and he was saying we're likely to have something this spring. "We'd rather take our time and do it right than rush into something and regret it later. It comes down to how we regulate it and how we regulate the distribution" [continues 322 words]
Officer-Led Program Emphasizes Good Decision Making Knowledge is power. and Emily Hind feels powerful after graduating from the North Bay Police Service's dare (drug abuse resistance education) program Tuesday morning. Emily, 10, said she will use the knowledge she gained when facing peer pressure. Emily, a Grade 5 student at J.W. Trusler, is one of about 25 who have spent the past 10 weeks learning about drugs and alcohol, the harmful effects of tobacco, the importance of making good choices and confident speaking. [continues 180 words]
It's A 'Win-Win Situation' For Mother and Child They're coming into this world shaking and trembling, irritable and having a difficult time settling. Babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome are some of the North Bay Regional Health Centre's smallest and most vulnerable patients. But a new treatment plan is proving to be positive for both mother and baby. Kim Carter, manager of women and children programming at the health centre, said most of the patients who have babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) suffer from chronic pain or have been diagnosed with chronic illnesses. [continues 265 words]
SOCIAL SERVICES: CAS has 300 kids in care The Children's Aid Society is sounding alarm bells. The number of children in care combined with an in ux of babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome is exhausting local resources. Executive director Gisele Hebert said the number of babies born with addictions is unprecedented. In 2012, she said, there were 22 babies born to a mother addicted to cocaine, crack,marijuana, morphine, methadone or Oxycontin. In 2014-15, that number jumped to 48. [continues 287 words]
Drug dealers from Ottawa and southern Ontario continue to target North Bay, viewing it as a lucrative market. Cocaine, crack cocaine, magic mushrooms, heroine, Percocets and Molly (methylenedioxymethamphetamine), more commonly referred to as MDMA - the active ingredient in the party drug ecstasy - are encountered by police. And while the number of drug busts is down, the size of the seizures is growing, Deputy Police Chief Shawn Devine reported this week to the North Bay Police Service's Board. Devine said in a recent bust police seized almost 20 kilograms of marijuana. [continues 268 words]
West Nipissing Debate Draws 200 People STURGEON FALLS - West Nipissing has come a long way, but is the municipality ready for a pot bar? Judging by the response of the audience taking in a mayoral debate Wednesday night, marijuana isn't high among the priorities - well below employment and industry, taxes and concerns from the community's youth. The highlight of the night was the stark contrast in opinions between the three candidates - most notably between incumbent Joanne Savage and marijuana advocate Michel Ethier. [continues 480 words]
Local News - North Bay police will resume laying charges for possession of even small amounts of marijuana, following a court ruling Tuesday. The Court of Appeal for Ontario sealed a legal loophole opened in January that had rendered Canada's marijuana-possession laws virtually unenforceable. For the past few months, police across Canada have not been charging people for possessing small amounts of marijuana because the law didn't exist. "On a personal level I'm really happy that the law was reinstated, especially when it comes to addressing impaired driving," said North Bay Police Chief George Berrigan. [continues 227 words]
