Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Wednesday morning
‘Mixed precipitation’ expected over next few days
Conservation Sudbury is maintaining its water safety statement for the Greater Sudbury watersheds effective 3p.m. today. Conservation Sudbury issued the statement last week. This statement will remain in effect until 10 a.m. on March 29. Over the next few days, Northeastern Ontario is forecast to receive mixed precipitation (rain, freezing rain, snow) equivalent to 10–25 mm of rain. This will be combined with temperatures hovering around the freezing mark. The upper reaches of our watersheds still have a significant to moderate snowpack that has matured, making it less capable of absorbing rainfall. Rain will further melt the snowpack, and this can result in localized ponding in low-lying areas.
Electric buses could be part of GOVA Transit as early as next year
Taking their first steps toward the electrification of GOVA Transit services, the City of Greater Sudbury has set its sights on having the entire fleet of 59 diesel buses electric by 2035. “We’re very hopeful to achieve that goal and are excited about that opportunity,” city director of transit services Brendan Adair told Sudbury.com. “It’s exciting to be talking about this, when you think about the growth of transit and where we can be in as short as 13 years.” Pending the results of a needs study to be completed by a consultant this year, which city council approved during 2022 budget deliberations in December, Adair hopes to see the city “dip our toe into electrification” with the purchase of at least one electric bus by next year. That is, pending the results of the study and city council approval.
Liberals, NDP reach tentative deal to keep government in power until 2025
The Liberals and New Democrats have reached a tentative deal to keep the Liberal minority government in power through to 2025, media reports say. The CBC is reporting the leadership of both parties reached an agreement that would see the NDP support the Liberals on confidence votes. The report says the deal would see the Liberals acting on national pharmacare and dental care, which are key priorities for the NDP. Reports by the CBC and the Globe and Mail, citing unnamed sources, say that New Democrat members of Parliament still need to approve the deal. The reports say Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the Liberal cabinet on Monday, which was unannounced, and then with the Liberal caucus. Sources confirmed to The Canadian Press that a Liberal caucus meeting was taking place Monday night, but would not comment on the reports. The CBC is reporting the tentative deal is what is known as a "confidence and supply" agreement, and not a formal coalition.
Province lags in Highway 69 commitment: Serré
The province has been dragging its feet on completing the four-laning of Highway 69, Nickel Belt Liberal MP Marc Serré said this week. “The Highway 69 (federal) funding was approved in January 2019 and was announced in May of 2019 is lagging from provincial counterparts,” a press release issued by the MP stated. “There is yet to be any official Request for Proposals announced, which is paramount to get these projects moving; despite the fact that financial commitments are already in place. Highway safety and increased flow of goods and services to the North can’t wait any longer as it has been over three years.” This assertion follows a rundown in the media release of federal contributions to various area infrastructure projects over the past few years, which includes $169 million for Highway 69, more than $30 million for the Maley Drive extension, $13 million for Place des Arts and $40 million for the Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator. Last year, the province completed another 14 kilometres of the four-laning of Highway 69, which leaves 68 kilometres remaining to be four-laned from French River to Parry Sound.
Founder of Northern Ontario mining group to receive local accolade
Dick DeStefano, the founding executive director of the Sudbury Area Mining Supply and Service Association (SAMSSA – now known as MineConnect), will be inducted as an Honorary Life Member of Science North in January. The Sudbury science centre’s board of trustees established the Honorary Life Member Award program in 1984. Among the criteria for induction, individuals will have made outstanding contributions to science or the popularization of science, had an impact on the geographic area served by the science centre, and made a sustained effort in inspiring an appreciation of science and technology. Fifty people have received the honour since the program’s inception.
Sudbury’s Lucie Lessard wins $1M in lottery
Saying “yes” to Encore paid off for Lucie Lessard of Sudbury. She matched all seven Encore numbers in exact order in the Feb. 8 Lotto Max draw to win $1 million. Lessard said she discovered her big win while sitting in her car waiting for it to warm up. “I was talking to my sister on the phone at the same time and saw the Big Winner screen appear,” she said. “I said to my sister, ‘Oh my gosh, I think I just won a million dollars! I ran into the house to wake up my husband. He said all he saw was my huge smile.” Lessard plans to accelerate her retirement so she can spend more time with her grandchildren and focus on her art. “This win will do more than make up for the way my family was impacted by the pandemic, and I plan to celebrate with some travel,” she said. “This experience has been surreal.” The winning ticket was purchased at Mini Mart on Falconbridge Highway in Garson.
Curling events in Sudbury get financial injection from the province
As Greater Sudbury gets set to host two substantial curling championships next year, the organizing committee is praising the province’s Sport Hosting program, which is providing $38,000 to help cover the costs. Both the 2023 Nickel City Curling Championship and the 2023 Canadian Curling Mixed Doubles Championship will be hosted in Greater Sudbury. The news was part of an announcement Tuesday at the Gerry McCrory Sportsplex, during which the province revealed it had earmarked just shy of $1.5 million through the Sport Hosting program to support 15 national and five international amateur sport events in Ontario. These events will help boost local economies, increase tourism and help athletes train and develop their skills right here at home. Lisa MacLeod, minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, made the announcement in person. She said the pandemic has “really, really rocked the core” of those sectors.
Snow, ice pellets and freezing rain in the forecast
Expect cloudy skies and a high of 0 for today. Periods of snow or ice pellets are also expected to begin in the afternoon, with a risk of freezing rain late in the afternoon. The wind will be blowing at 30 km/h with gusts up to 50 so anticipate a wind chill of -12 this morning. Tonight, the temperature will drop to -2 with periods of snow expected.
