Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Saturday morning.
Worker injured at Flour Mill silos has a ‘long road ahead’
The man critically injured on the job at the Flour Mill silos property on Notre Dame Avenue remains on the road to recovery in the hospital, his family has reported. On Wednesday, Cameron Stone’s mother, Line Stone, noted that they’re “in for a long road for his recovery.” By mid-day today, a family member told Sudbury.com that there was no further update at that time. In Line’s update, which was shared on a GoFundMe campaign set up for Cameron, it’s noted that the 27-year-old “basically has most of the bones in his body broken.” “Multiple vertebrates which we are waiting on his surgery to try and stabilize. A lot of his ribs are also broken. He will need thoracic surgery for this seeing as it ruptured his thoracic duct which is part of the lymphatic system,” she added. The GoFundMe fundraiser organized by cousin Alora Violet-Marie Kerr has raised $18,315 against a goal of $10,000, while a GoFundMe fundraiser by friend Breanne Ross has raised $5,130, bringing to the total amount raised to $23,445.
HSN to continue masking after mandates lift
While masking mandates are being lifted in some additional settings this weekend across Ontario, Health Sciences North (HSN), like many Ontario hospitals, will continue to require universal masking for patients, designated care partners and staff. As well, Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD) have now launched a COVID-19 risk index, which will be updated weekly and “incorporates the most current and relevant data about the status of COVID-19 in the community.” It’s a visual representation of the overall risk of disease transmission in the community, said PHSD. “The risk level is determined using seven separate indicators related to community transmission, the impact on our health care system capacity, and severe health outcomes,” reads their website. “The Index has four risk levels—low, moderate, high, very high—and each level has corresponding recommended public health guidance for COVID-safe practices.”
City of Greater Sudbury’s credit rating bumped up to AA+
The City of Greater Sudbury’s long-standing credit rating of AA has been upgraded to AA+ with a “stable outcome” from Standard and Poor Global Ratings. “I am proud that we have earned an improved credit rating of AA+,” Mayor Brian Bigger said in a media release issued by the city. “This is reflective of the commitment made by our city council to implement forward-thinking policies that make the best of our resources in a way that allows us to be resilient, strategic and deliver positive results for our residents.” The credit rating is an assessment of the municipality’s financial health based on factors such as historical financial performance, policies, economic growth and long-term plans, according to the media release. “It provides a signal to lenders of the city’s capacity to meet its financial obligations, and influences the interest rate paid on any future debt the city takes on to fund investments in new or replacement assets that support growth and economic activity throughout the municipality.”
Bank of Canada says economy can handle higher rates despite household debt risks
High household debt and elevated housing prices have become bigger vulnerabilities in the past year, but the economy can still handle the rising interest rates needed to tame inflation, Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem said Thursday. "We think the economy needs higher interest rates, and it can certainly handle higher interest rates," he told a news conference in Ottawa discussing the central bank's latest financial system review. The review notes high debts and home prices have increased the downside risks to overall economic growth, as rising rates meant to counter inflation increase the chance of households having to divert consumption towards debt repayments. However, Macklem emphasized the overall financial health of Canadian households, as the average net worth increased by about $230,000 during the pandemic, and the focus of the central bank on reducing inflation over concerns of how higher rates may affect the housing market.
Celebrate Pride Month with Queer North Film Festival
After two years of pandemic disruptions, Queer North Film Festival returns to Sudbury Indie Cinema, June 16-19. Billed as “four days of the world’s best queer cinema,” the festival is back to its traditional time slot in June, which is Pride Month. Festival programmer Beth Mairs said COVID-19 cancelled the event outright in 2020, but the festival was able to be held in August last summer, once pandemic restrictions had lifted somewhat. She said she’s thrilled that Queer North is back in full force for its sixth edition. Mairs said ticket sales for Queer North have been pretty robust for the pandemic era. The festival attracts members of 2SLGBTQ+ communities, friends and allies from across the region, as well as farther afield, including visitors from southern Ontario and United States border towns, said a press release.
Read the full story on the Sudbury.com homepage.
City still waiting on funds for the twin pad complex in Hanmer
So far so bad when it comes to the City of Greater Sudbury seeking funding from senior levels of government for the Valley East Twin Pad Multipurpose Sports Complex in Hanmer. With the halfway point of 2022 already passing, this doesn’t bode well for the city moving forward on the $29.2-million project this year, particularly given how the city budgeted for it. Although city council approved funding for the project during 2022 budget talks, it was contingent on senior levels of government pledging $20 million. Several letters were sent to various ministers and their offices requesting guidance on any funding that might be available, but the city had “no luck whatsoever,” Ward 6 Coun. Rene Lapierre told Sudbury.com. Local Liberal MPs Marc Serre (Nickel Belt) and Viviane Lapointe (Sudbury) have indicated that unless there’s buy-in from the province to cost-share the project, there isn’t any room for the federal government to join in with funding, Lapierre added.
Read the full story on the Sudbury.com homepage.
Sunny Saturday, cloudy Sunday in the forecast
Expect a high of 22 today under sunny skies. Fog patches will dissipate over the morning. The wind will blow from the southwest at 20 km/h early in the afternoon. Today’s UV index is seven, or high. Tonight, there are showers in the forecast, with up to 15 mm of rain possible. The wind will be out of the south at 20 km/h and the temperature will dip to 12. For Sunday, expect cloudy skies and a high of 20. There is a 60-per-cent chance of showers. Sunday night, the skies will clear and the temperature will drop to 12.
