News From Our Neighbors

CONVENIENCE STORE OPERATORS DON’T WANT CORNWALL BORDER STATION MOVED

A recent article in the Ottawa Citizen interviewed Alex Scholten, president of the Canadian Convenience Stores Association. The article states, “A plan to relocate the Canadian border station at Cornwall on to nearby American soil will leave Canada more vulnerable to Akwesasne cigarette smugglers and organized mobsters, says the association representing the country’s convenience store operators.”

Apparently, Scholten and association executives went to Ottawa recently, calling on about 15 MPs of all parties to push the government to stop the border station relocation and do more to stem the illegal, untaxed tobacco trade with increased policing and more committed political leadership. The complaint is: as a result of smuggling and the cheap cigarettes it brings, there is significant money loss for many; furthermore, at its height smuggling caused several businesses to close.

In the article Scholten declared, “There’s no opposition to wanting to make the Cornwall border crossing more effective and efficient because it certainly is not right now. What there is opposition to is how the proposed move will increase contraband tobacco,” and further penalize legitimate cigarette sellers.

ONTARIO TAKES ACTION TO LIMIT ACCESS TO GENERIC OXYCONTIN

Ontario is proposing regulations to limit access to generic OxyContin unless it is tamper-resistant. The province believes that the cost to society of the reintroduction of the more easily abused version of OxyContin far outweighs the financial benefits of the reduced generic price. The proposed regulations will help limit access to easily-abused generic OxyContin, protecting patients and those who may be addicted to prescription narcotics.

Ontario is also ensuring that patients who legitimately need prescription drugs to manage pain will continue to have access to a wide variety of pain medications, including the more tamper-resistant OxyNeo.

The province is working with physicians and pharmacists regarding appropriate prescribing and dispensing practices to protect Ontarians.

ST. LAWERNCE COUNTY STILL DEBATING SUIT, BRASHER OPTS OUT

St. Lawrence County is still considering a suit against New York State and the Tribe for the more than $12 million in unpaid revenue to the county, Franklin County and four towns involved – Brasher, Massena, Fort Covington and Bombay. The county legislature had agreed in early August to hire the Wladis Law Firm, Syracuse, to advise the county and to represent it should it decide to sue.

The county recently invited the towns of Brasher and Massena to join the lawsuit if they opt to take legal action in their effort to get their gaming compact monies. Last night, Brasher town officials voted against joining the lawsuit. According to a Courier Observer article the resolution stated, “The town of Brasher has no desire or intent to sue our neighbors on the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation.” One of the reasons Town Supervisor James Dawson relayed would be their inability to negotiate directly with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe if a lawsuit had been filed.

Massena town officials have a similar resolution on Wednesday night’s board agenda.

NEW YORKERS CAN “LIKE” AND “FOLLOW” THE STATE POLICE ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER

The official NYS Police Facebook page will allow the public to learn more about the State Police, its specialty units and members. The State Police will also be posting important public safety information on crime prevention, traffic safety, missing persons and cold cases as well as information on how the public can help in investigations.

Superintendent Joseph D’Amico said, “Facebook and Twitter give us a chance to directly communicate and interact with the people we serve every day. Not only will we be able to get important public safety information out quickly, but New Yorkers will also get to know more about the work our Troopers do in their communities.”

With the many State Police interest groups on social media, make sure to look for “The official page of the New York State Police” while online.

Find the official page on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/nyspolice or Twitter @nyspolice.

For more information about the New York State Police, please visit http://www.troopers.ny.gov.