Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Wednesday morning.
Rickford has some strong words for environmental groups: There’s no green economy without mining
Northern Development minister Greg Rickford said environmental groups that continue to target Northern Ontario's mining industry are missing the boat if they do not support the new Ontario critical minerals strategy. Rickford recently made reference to Ontario environmental policy when he announced a $1.5-million grant to the Science North Go Deeper Project. Rickford told the audience at Dynamic Earth that more mining companies and businesses are getting involved in the extraction of critical minerals for the electric vehicles market because it will make such a significant change. Rickford said this involves major and junior mining companies, agencies such as Science North and Indigenous organizations. "Because really, they want to be part of the single biggest environmental policy any jurisdiction has ever advanced the world over," Rickford said. In an interview with Sudbury.com, Rickford acknowledged that Northern Ontario mining projects are targeted by environmental groups, but he said there will be no such thing as a green economy in Ontario unless it involves the mining industry. He said the green movement has to accept that. "There is no such thing as a green economy without mining,” the minister said.
Hate symbols spray painted on Redwood Acres school in Hanmer
Residents of the neighbourhood surrounding Redwood Acres Public School were dismayed over the weekend to find hate symbols and graffiti painted onto the school, as well as several cars and street signs in the area. Greater Sudbury Police said it will be investigating the situation as a “hate-bias” incident. “It appears that the incident took place around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 2,” said Kaitlyn Dunn, GSPS communications officer. “Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to contact police and anyone in the area with video surveillance equipment is asked to review the footage for anything suspicious. If anything suspicious is captured in the footage, we would ask community members to contact police at 705-675-9171.” Nicole Charette, communications and strategic planning for Rainbow District School Board, which runs Redwood Acres school, said the police were called immediately when the graffiti was discovered.
Sudbury sommelier tapped to help judge world’s best wines
Sudbury sommelier Heather Downey’s skills have earned her an invitation to be a judge at the upcoming International Wine Challenge (IWC) in London, England. The IWC bills itself as the world’s most rigorous, impartial and influential annual wine competition. Now in its 38th year, Downey told Sudbury.com she was excited to be a part of it — especially since she had to wait out the pandemic for two years before getting her chance to judge some of the world’s best vintages. “So I actually applied in 2020 to do this and I was very eager, because I got accepted right away,” Downey said. “And then of course, COVID hits and it was cancelled. I thought my opportunity had come and gone. And then I was approached in January or February, one or the other, to join this year, because they're beginning again, post-COVID. Downey is the owner-operator of Terroir Tastings in Sudbury. She is a wine distributor and seller, and also teaches courses on wine certifications here in Sudbury.
Dynamic Earth launches $3M capital campaign to expand and renew facility
A $3 million capital campaign for Science North’s Go Deeper expansion project was launched recently at Dynamic Earth. The project represents the largest investment in mining and earth sciences experiences since Dynamic Earth’s inception in 2001. Go Deeper will provide memorable experiences that portray modern mining in a realistic way and showcase this rapidly changing and dynamic industry. The total value of the project in Sudbury and across Northern Ontario is $7.4 million. A key project component encompasses specific strategies to broaden and deepen the scope of Go Deeper across Northern Ontario. Interactive exhibits at partner attractions, portable exhibits for community events, and classroom STEM kits and programs for First Nation schools will bring educational, economic and social benefits to communities across the North. A second key project component is the next major phase of physical expansion and renewal at Dynamic Earth. Underground expansion and new experiences throughout the Centre will showcase modern mining and the future of mining – the equipment, technology, innovation and new opportunities in the industry.
U.N. report on climate change 'sobering,' says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says a new report from the United Nations' climate agency shows the oil and gas sector "cannot do business as usual" even as the government is still considering approving a massive new offshore oil production project. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change urges more aggressive cuts to greenhouse-gas emissions to limit global warming to the 1.5 C targeted in the 2015 Paris Accord. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says despite political leaders promising to take climate change seriously, their policies are on track to warm the planet more than twice that by the end of the century. The report points to the ongoing investment in fossil fuels as a major problem. Canada revealed last week a new plan to hit its emissions-reductions target for 2030, projecting its oil and gas industry must slash its carbon-related pollution by 42 per cent from current levels. The transportation sector needs to cut emissions by 23 per cent. Guilbeault calls the U.N. report "sobering," and says his government knows it must move quickly to implement new policies to cut emissions.
Events planned to mark anniversary of Laurentian ‘Black Monday’ cuts
A number of events are taking place between April 11 and 14 to mark the one-year anniversary of massive cuts to Laurentian University’s programs and staff. Those cuts took place April 12, 2021, on what has become known as “Black Monday,” as part of the insolvency restructuring at Laurentian under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA). The events marking the anniversary are being put on by the Tricultural Committee for University Education at Sudbury, Not-LU Jazz Combo and the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario (CFS-O). With the theme of “Giigidoo – Paroles – Spoken Word,” members of this provincewide coalition representing concerned community members, faculty, staff and students, are holding several events. COVID-19 protocols will be in place to keep everyone safe.
Rain, rain and more rain in the forecast
Today’s forecast is dominated by a special weather statement issued by Environment Canada for Greater Sudbury and vicinity with rainfall amounts of 20 to 30 mm possible today. The partially frozen ground will have a reduced ability to absorb this rainfall and localized flooding in low-lying areas will be possible. But before the rain starts, expect a mix of sun and cloud with periods of rain beginning late in the afternoon. Fog patches will dissipate in the morning. The wind will be out of the east at 30 km/h, gusting to 50 in the morning. Today’s high is 12. Tonight, the temperature will drop to 4 with more rain expected.
