Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to get you started on this Friday morning.
Province confirms early move to Step Two reopening on June 30
As public health and health indicators continue to improve in Ontario, the premier's office confirmed this morning the government is moving to Step Two of the reopening process next week. A news release said the province will ease pandemic restrictions beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, June 30, two days ahead of schedule and just in time for the Canada Day statutory holiday. Step Two of the Roadmap focuses on the resumption of more outdoor activities and limited indoor services with small numbers of people where face coverings are worn, with other restrictions in place. This includes, but is not limited to outdoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 25 people, indoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 5 people, essential and other select retail permitted at 50-per-cent capacity, non-essential retail permitted at 25-per-cent capacity, personal care services such as haircuts where face coverings can be worn at all times, and indoor religious services at 25-per-cent capacity.
Steelworkers preparing for next round of negotiations, says union president
The president of United Steelworkers Local 6500 said the union is preparing for the next bargaining session with Vale after rejecting the company’s offer on June 14. In a June 22 post on the union’s website, he commended striking members of the union, who have been on the picket line since the beginning of June after rejecting Vale’s first offer. Nick Larochelle said he was asked by Vale’s bargaining committee to come back with solutions for the next round of negotiations. “I responded, you have our proposal — we delivered it on June 2, and once again on June 10. No changes to post retiree benefits for new hires, improvements to our wages, pension increases and better benefits for current active members.” On June 14, the membership rejected Vale’s latest “concessionary” offer with a majority vote of 87 per cent. Larochelle said to justify attacking workers’ benefits, Vale continues to raise the “red herring” that “the ore bodies of yesterday are gone.” He said rich reserves of nickel, copper, gold and ultra-valuable precious metals remain in existing mines and untapped ore bodies throughout the Sudbury Basin. “These ore bodies will continue to produce for generations to come solely based on their composition,” said Larochelle.
Video: Local 6500 supporters rally on The Kingsway
Friends, loved ones and supportive members of the public gathered in the intersection of Barrydowne Road and The Kingsway this morning to show their support for striking Steelworkers Local 6500 members. The strike, which began June 1, has seen union members rejected two contract offers from the company. Read more details on that here. On June 14, the membership rejected Vale’s latest “concessionary” offer with a majority vote of 87 per cent. On hand this morning was Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas and Sudbury MPP Jamie West. Gélinas said it is a difficult time to strike, particularly during a pandemic, but the issues are important and the rights of workers are important, she said. Sudbury.com new media reporter Eden Suh was on the scene with her camera this morning for this report.
Law Society reserves judgment against Sudbury lawyer facing sexual assault charges
Sudbury lawyer Adam Castonguay will have to wait several days before he finds out if his licence to practise is suspended or restricted following a two-day hearing with the Law Society of Ontario. Castonguay, 28, appeared before a three-member tribunal panel this month that will determine whether or not to suspend and/or restrict his licence “on the basis that there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is a significant risk of harm to members of the public, or to the public interest in the administration of justice, if the order is not made and that making the order is likely to reduce the risk.” Castonguay, a partner with the law firm of Conroy Scott LLP, was charged in January with sexual assault causing bodily harm and sexual assault - chokes, suffocates or strangles from an alleged incident that happened in December 2020. That matter will be heading to trial, although a date has not yet been set.
Trial dates still not confirmed in 45-count fraud case against Sudbury contractor
The fraud trial against Ecolife Home Improvements owner David Murray was set to continue July 20, but that date has now been vacated with a new date to be confirmed in the next few weeks. Murray’s lawyer, Antoine-Rene Fabris, appeared via Zoom on Wednesday. He asked the court to vacate the July 20 date and set new dates for the middle of October. Those dates will have to be confirmed with Crown counsel with the Serious Fraud Office. Trial continuation dates are also set for August and September, but have not been confirmed. Murray faces 45 charges with more than 30 witnesses testifying against the business owner. The fraud trial has already gone on for 15 days, with five days left scheduled. Dozens of witnesses have taken the stand, each detailing their interactions with Murray and his business, Ecolife Home Improvements. Each witness told the court they have lost a substantial amount of money waiting for work to be done, work that has yet to be done even now.
Read the full story, including a timeline on the case, here.
Looming thunderstorms prompt water safety statement from Conservation Sudbury
In light of the possibility of heavy thunderstorms, Conservation Sudbury has issued a water safety statement for all watersheds in the Sudbury District. The warning takes effect at 5 p.m. today (Thursday June 24) in view of the fact that excess rain and runoff could cause areas of high water to occur. "There is a risk of thunderstorms developing Thursday night and again on Friday morning bringing heavy precipitation on Friday. Sudbury-area watersheds could receive precipitation of 50 millimetres or more over the next three days if the forecasted rain is received," said the statement. The safety statement went on to say that water levels and flows are below the normal summer range in all Greater Sudbury watersheds at present. "If the forecast amount of rain is received, water levels will rise quickly and the runoff will result in faster-flowing waters. The inundation of low-lying areas, adjacent to watercourses with a history of flooding, may occur," the statement said.
Public Health Sudbury reports six new cases of COVID-19 for June 24, Ontario reports 296
Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD) has reported six new cases of COVID-19. This is the second day in a row that six cases were reported. PHSD also reported 37 active cases being watched locally. Also, since the PHSD began tracking COVID-19 cases just over 15 months ago, there have been 2,159 total COVID-19 cases confirmed locally. PHSD also said 2,122 of those cases have now been resolved. No new deaths were reported on Thursday. The details were outlined on the PHSD website. With respect to where the cases might have occurred, PHSD reported that four cases occurred in Greater Sudbury and two new cases in the rural Sudbury District. Public Health Ontario has reported 296 new COVID-19 cases in its latest report (June 24). Today's update also includes 384 new recoveries and six deaths. The deaths reported include three people between 40 and 59 years old, two people between 60 and 79 years old, and one person over 79 years old. Since yesterday's report, there have been 31 new hospitalizations and seven patients admitted to intensive care units for COVID-related illness.
Up to 20 mm of rain, possible thunderstorms in the forecast today
Well, it’s not shaping up to be a weekend to spend outside. Today is going to be a rainy one, with up to 20 mm possible and a risk of a thunderstorm in the morning and again early in the afternoon. Starting late in the morning, winds will be from the southwest at 30 km/h The temperature will remain steady at 18 for much of the day. The UV index will be three or moderate. This evening there will be periods of rain and a further five to 10 mm is expected to fall. The temperature will dip slightly to 16 for the overnight.
