Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Wednesday morning.
Doug Ford suspends electricity export surcharge in response to trade meeting
Premier Doug Ford has agreed to suspend Ontario’s 25-per-cent surcharge on electricity exports following a discussion with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. The news came in a joint statement posted to social media on Tuesday. According to the statement, Lutnick agreed to meet with Ford in Washington Thursday “alongside the United States Trade Representative to discuss a renewed USMCA ahead of the April 2 reciprocal tariff deadline.” “In response, Ontario agreed to suspend its 25 per cent surcharge on exports of electricity to Michigan, New York and Minnesota,” the statement said. Hours earlier U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to double steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada in response to Ontario’s new electricity export surcharge, warning he will soon “declare a national emergency on electricity.”
City maps path toward fully electric bus fleet by 2035
It appears as though this year’s purchase of six diesel buses will be the city’s last. They’re expected to go the all-electric route. In a report by city Transit Services acting director Laura Gilbert, the city proposes to replace its entire 59-vehicle fleet with battery-electric buses by 2035. Diesel buses carry an estimated lifespan of 12 years. GOVA Transit doesn’t currently have any electric buses. The city’s GOVA Transit electrification plan is in keeping with the Community Energy and Emissions Plan city council adopted in 2019 after declaring a climate emergency, which sets the goal for a 100-per-cent electric fleet by 2035.
Pedestrian suffers life-threatening injuries in MR 80 crash
A pedestrian in her 30s is in hospital in critical condition after suffering life-threatening injuries after being struck by a vehicle on MR80 on March 10. Greater Sudbury police, fire and paramedics were dispatched to the scene at around 9:05 p.m. last night to a serious collision involving a pedestrian on MR80, south of MacKenzie Street. “The individual, believed to be in her 30s, was transported to hospital by paramedics, where she remains in critical condition,” Greater Sudbury Police said in a news release. “The identity of the pedestrian is unknown at this time as emergency responders were unable to locate any identification at the time of the collision.” Police said the preliminary investigation indicates the pedestrian was walking in the turning lane of MR80 when she stepped into the northbound lane and was struck by the vehicle. The driver and vehicle involved in the collision remained on scene, police said.
Police: Downtown enforcement leads to charges for 61 people
Greater Sudbury Police said today that a campaign of targeted enforcement in downtown Sudbury, officers seized a considerable quantity of illegal drugs and made dozens of arrests. Between Feb. 24 and March 7, officers with the GSPS Integrated Crime Section and Community Response Unit conducted “targeted enforcement” in the downtown core. The efforts were focused on individuals “believed to be trafficking illicit drugs, bail compliance and those wanted on outstanding arrest warrants,” GSPS said in a news release. The campaign bore fruit, GSPS said. Officers executed 57 arrest warrants, arrested 61 people on new and outstanding charges, laid 52 Crime Code of Canada and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) charges and seized $76,800 worth of illicit drugs.
Sudbury People’s Party candidate not afraid to offend
The People’s Party of Canada has a platform which doesn’t skirt controversy, taking a hard line in dismissing such things as transgender people and human-caused climate change. They also have a Sudbury candidate who is not going to be watering this platform down. “I’m not running to be politically correct. I know I offend a lot of people, but I’m here to speak the truth,” Sudbury People’s Party of Canada candidate Nicholas Bonderoff told Sudbury.com at the end of an hour-long interview at the bed and breakfast he owns and operates. “I don’t think the conversations I’m having are outlandish. They’re the same conversations people are having at the dinner table or the smoke pit with their co-workers.” The People’s Party of Canada, Bonderoff said, is “just defending common sense and fighting for Canadian people.”
Sudbury woman who led McIntyre Powder fight honoured by Ontario
Janice Hobbs Martell, the Sudbury woman who led the campaign to have McIntyre Powder recognized as contributing to industrial disease, was awarded an Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship on Monday. The medal is regarded as the second highest civilian honour that can be given to Ontario residents. It was presented to Martell and 10 others by Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario on Monday. The highest award is the Order of Ontario, said a news release from the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism (MCM). “The Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship shines a light on those who put others first. I am happy to celebrate these outstanding Ontarians and real difference they have made in communities across the province,” said Dumont. Martell was honoured for her advocacy in having aluminum dust recognized for contributing to the incidence of Parkinson's Disease among hardrock miners in Northern Ontario. The dust was used by the McIntyre Mine in Timmins, from 1943 to 1979, where it was mandatory for miners to inhale it before going on shift. Over the years, the treatment was adopted by other mines in Timmins and Elliot Lake.
