Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to get you started on this Wednesday morning.
Province vows thorough, respectful investigation of former residential school sites
Premier Doug Ford held a press conference June 15 announcing $10 million over three years to help "identify, investigate, protect and commemorate" residential school burial sites. The move comes in the wake of the recovery of the remains of 215 children on the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C. Since that discovery, Indigenous leaders across the country are calling for all residential schools sites to be thoroughly investigated. What is of the utmost importance to many communities, as well as at least one provincial MPP, Sol Mamakwa of the Kiiwetinoong riding, is that the investigations are Indigenous-led. Ford’s announcement was held at the Manidoo Baawaatig (Kenora) campus of the Seven Generations Education Institute and attended by the premier, Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford and several Indigenous leaders from across the province, including Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh, grand chief of the First Nations in Treaty 3 territory in northwestern Ontario and Manitoba, who spoke at the event. “This is a moment to recognize the painful legacy of Canada’s residential school system and the damaging, lasting effects it has had on survivors and Indigenous communities,” said Kavanaugh. “We know the news from Kamloops has deeply impacted survivors and their families and that Indigenous communities are hurting, including here in Ontario. We’re here to support them.”
Sudbury residents lining up to get their vaccine jab at the walk-in clinics this week
With hundreds of Sudbury residents lined up around the perimeter of the parking lot at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex Tuesday morning, there seemed to be no surprise when Public Health Sudbury and District was "sold out" of their allocation of COVID-19 vaccines before noon, according to a social media posting. The clinic was scheduled to take place from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., but the first arrival for a vaccine was outside the arena door at 5:30 a.m. The elder gentleman who was first in line, a retiree who did not want his name used, said he figured it was a reasonable thing to do since he was awake early and had nothing else on the schedule Tuesday morning. He said he was first to arrive but added it wasn't long before dozens of others began arriving. Within an hour, the lineup extended well past the actual arena building and then along the parking lot perimeter. The clinic was open to everyone aged 12 and older seeking their first dose, but in most cases it appeared the people were older residents who were showing up for their second doses. It was a similar situation on Monday when the first “no-appointment-required” walk-in clinic was held. PHSD revealed on social media that more than 500 vaccinations were given out at the Carmichael arena on Monday, the first day of walk-in clinics for the health unit. Roughly 500 doses were also available at the Countryside arena on Tuesday.
Laurentian not handing out honourary doctorates this spring
As it continues to restructure its operations due to insolvency and adapt to the circumstances of the pandemic, Laurentian University opted against awarding honourary doctorates at its spring 2021 convocation ceremonies, which took place June 1-3. The program for spring convocation features a long list of past Laurentian honourary doctorate recipients going back to 1961. Global mine reclamation expert Margarete Kalin-Seidenfaden, the only person to receive an LU honourary doctorate in 2020, is the most recent name on the list. We reached out to Laurentian to ask why there are no spring 2021 honourary doctorate recipients. “Laurentian University made the decision not to award honourary doctorates this year during the ongoing pandemic that has forced all activities, including convocation, to be virtual while Laurentian navigates through its restructuring,” said a written statement from a Laurentian spokesperson. “We look forward to awarding a full slate of honourary doctorates next year, once convocation ceremonies become feasible to deliver on campus once again.”
'Stop wasting our time. Start listening to us,' says Local 6500 union president to Vale
Executives of United Steelworkers Local 6500 in Sudbury said they are disappointed and frustrated that Vale is not listening to their concerns over the status of retirement benefits for newly hired workers. They were speaking out at a news conference held at USW hall Tuesday morning, one day after the unionized workers rejected a new company offer in a bid to resolve the strike that began June 1 in Sudbury. So far, the union has rejected the company offer mainly because the company continues to press for concessions the union said will weaken health benefits for existing workers and eliminate the retiree health and medical benefit for future hires. Local 6500 president Nick Larochelle said Vale's latest offer, presented earlier this week, was rejected by the membership. Larochelle said the company is not listening to its workers. "The company refused to listen. The company doesn't listen to me. The company hasn't listened to the bargaining committee. The company hasn't listened to Kevin Boyd (Local 6500 vice-president) and the chief stewards. The company hasn't listened to Malcolm Mills and the worker health and safety reps," Larochelle continued. He said it's time for Vale to return to the table.
Council to get a look at 2 potential sites for temporary safe consumption site
Land located on Energy Court property in downtown Sudbury is being touted by city staff as the preferred site of a temporary supervised consumption site. City council is set to look at two sites for a temporary supervised consumption site while the search continues for a permanent location. A survey has identified the the west side of Energy Court lands and the extreme east end of the CP parking lot near the Bridge of Nations, stated a report headed to city council on June 15. The vacant land on Energy Court meets the criteria for a suitable location, as it is zoned M1-1(10), Business Industrial, which permits a medical office, and measures about two acres in size. Should this vacant land be considered, there would be no impact on the parking supply. Trailers could be placed on the westerly limit of the land, fronting Energy Court. The Elgin Street (CP) parking lot also meets the criteria for a suitable location. It is zoned C(6), Downtown Commercial, which permits a medical office, and measures approximately four acres in size. Trailers could be placed at the easterly limit of the lot, close to the Bridge of Nations. The parking lot is located in close proximity to the Samaritan Centre, however, if this parking lot was considered, it would reduce the parking supply by an estimated 25 spaces, said the report. This lot is currently used for monthly parking during business hours and is used for events at the Sudbury Arena, Sudbury Theatre Centre and other downtown events.
Timmins-James MP calls on federal government to stop fighting Indigenous children in court
Timmins-James Bay Charlie Angus is calling on the federal government to end court battles against Indigenous children. Today, the federal government returned to federal court to quash two Canadian Human Rights Tribunal rulings that compensate eligible victims of the child welfare system and extend eligibility for Jordan’s Principle. Jordan’s Principle is a legal rule ensuring all First Nations children living in Canada have access to services when they need them. The court hearings will be held from June 14 to June 18. Angus and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh held a brief media conference Monday voicing their concerns with the Liberal government’s decision to return to court. “The government believes they’re the wrong party here. And what we’re talking about is the lives of the children. We lose a child every three days to this rotten underfunded system,” Angus said. “And nobody at the federal level has ever given a damn or made any substantive change.”
Public Health Sudbury reports three new COVID-19 cases today, Ontario reports 296
Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD) has reported three cases of COVID-19. PHSD also reports 20 active cases being watched locally. Also, since the PHSD began tracking COVID-19 cases just over 15 months ago, there have been 2,123 total COVID-19 cases confirmed locally. PHSD also said 2,103 of those cases have now been resolved. The details were reported on the PHSD website. Public Health Ontario has reported 296 new COVID-19 cases in its latest report (June 15). Today's update also includes 645 new recoveries and 13 deaths. The deaths reported today include four people between 60 and 79 years old, and nine people over 79 years old.
Read both stories on the Sudbury.com homepage.
Pretty nice day in store for the Nickel City
It’s not a bad day in store for the Nickel City weather-wise. Expect a mostly sunny day, changing to a mix of sun and cloud for the afternoon. Today’s high is 21 with a UV index of eight, or very high. Tonight, expect a few clouds with a low of eight.
