Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your Tuesday.
‘I want to be out there working’: CP Rail employee work stoppage affecting Sudbury area operations
A national work stoppage by CP Rail’s unionized employees is affecting local operations, with 16 permanent staff members taking to the picket line. “I don’t want to be sitting here, I want to be out there working,” Teamsters Local 308 representative John Blyth told Sudbury.com at the picket line near Brady Street’s intersection with Lorne Street earlier today. “No one can afford to be off for any length of time.” Employees have brought a number of causes to the bargaining table, he said, which include pensions, wages and opposition to a change in the way employee rest time is allotted. As a result of work stoppage, which began at the start of Sunday, Vale operations in Levack and Glencore operations in Falconbridge are no longer being serviced. Local industries Esso, Mansour Mining Technologies and Fisher Wavy Inc. are experiencing limited service. Learn more here.
Ontario lifts mask mandates in most public spaces including schools, retail settings
Face masks are no longer be required in schools, retail settings and most other indoor public spaces in Ontario as of Monday. The change comes a few weeks after the province lifted proof-of-vaccination rules and capacity limits. Select settings such as public transit, health-care facilities, long-term care homes and congregate care settings will keep mask mandates until the end of April, when the province plans to put an end to all remaining public health rules. Provincial politicians and top health officials say public health indicators have improved enough to remove mask rules, which have also been lifted in other jurisdictions across Canada and around the world. Read the full story.
Let’s Eat: Sudburians take over Don's Pizza, preserving a childhood fave
Some adults collect hockey cards or trinkets from their youth for nostalgic purposes, while others buy restaurants. Mario Grossi and Max Massimiliano of Sudbury purchased Don’s Pizza on Lorne Street in January 2021 in an effort to buy a piece of their childhood back. “I grew up in Gatchell on this pizza as a regular,” Massimiliano said. “It had a distinctive taste. We wanted to buy it to preserve the building and the taste.” Previous owner Peter Cousineau owned the business for 37 years before turning over the keys. Massimiliano reminisces about his first visit to Don’s with Peter at the helm. Massmiliano says it was with his Italia Flyers soccer team. Read the full story.
Adanac Ski Club needs your help to win $50K for facility improvements
Adanac Ski Club is currently looking to the Sudbury community for their help in winning the Mackenzie Top Peaks Challenge – an online competition that awards $50,000 to the winning entry. The local ski club has been trying to raise money for the Adanac Ski Hill for years now. The city-owned facility currently has a number of repairs that are necessary to accommodate the growing ski racing club. The club grew from having a few dozen members to 130 members just over the past five years. Winning the jackpot of $50,000 would mean a lot towards improving the conditions of the club and the hill. Learn more here.
MPP Bisson says he is concerned that Ontario is limiting the colorectal screening process
A Northern Ontario MPP has spoken out about a concern that Ontario doctors are being told to limit the number of colonoscopies they can perform over a set time period. The Ford government’s decision to drastically limit colonoscopies for the early detection of colorectal cancer is putting the lives of Ontarians at risk, said NDP MPP Gilles Bisson (Timmins) during question period earlier this month. He said the province is trying to micromanage the work of physicians by limiting how many colorectal exams can be performed on a patient over a period of five to 10 years. “Early detection of colon cancer saves lives,” Bisson said. “By interfering with the work of physicians and specialists, and not allowing enough regular colonoscopies, this government is unnecessarily putting the lives of Ontarians at risk," he added. Why is the province trying to micro manage the work of physicians and gastroenterologists, Bisson asked. Read the full story.
Canada flight rates expected to surge as airline industry rebounds
With the testing requirements going away for vaccinated people coming into Canada, a travel agency says if you want to go away this year, get on it quick. Flight costs have remained low to average recently, but experts in the airline industry say they are starting to see things climb given many factors. Allison Wallace, with Flight Centre, says prices for flights and hotels are expected to shoot up. “A lot of supply and demand works very much in travel. So, no question that demand will be a factor, fuel cost will be a factor, and labour shortages will be a factor,” said Wallace. This week, prices to travel from Canada the U.K., for instance, have gone up. Read the full story on Sudbury.com's home page.
Tuesday weather:
Tuesday will sunny. Wind up to 15 km/h. High of 4 C. Wind chill of -13 C in the morning. UV index 4 or moderate. Tuesday night will be cloudy with a low of -7 C.
