Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Saturday morning.
Remote work doesn’t suit senior management role: Lefebvre
Remote work only goes so far, Mayor Paul Lefebvre said during a media conference on Friday morning announcing the newly hired Chief Financial Officer is no longer with the city. The municipality came under fire earlier this week after it became known newly hired city director of finance and CFO Hailey Pinksen would be working remotely on a full-time basis from Alberta. She started her new role with the city on Nov. 21, and a media release issued by the city on Nov. 18 announcing as much neglected to mention any remote work accommodations. Although revoking an employment contract will likely carry financial consequences, Lefebvre said it was the right thing to do. He was unable to estimate what the financial toll might be. “I strongly believe that the successful candidate for this role, because of its importance to our success, should be located in our community, and be part of our community,” he told local media.
Critical minerals announcement: BEV future needs Sudbury
As the federal government was formally announcing Canada's new Critical Minerals Strategy, backed up by $3.8 billion in funding allocations, several Sudbury community leaders were commenting on how that program presents a host of opportunities for the local mining and mining technology sectors. Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson outlined the program in Vancouver on Dec. 9. At the same time, the importance of the program was showcased in a public announcement at Greater Sudbury city hall early Friday afternoon. Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe was joined by Nickel Belt MP Marc Serré, Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre and Economic Development Director Meredith Armstrong in outlining the opportunities Sudbury will have accessing minerals needed in the burgeoning battery electric vehicle (BEV) industry. That industry will require significant amounts of lithium, cobalt, nickel and copper, all of which can be found in Northern Ontario, with business and supply-chain links to Sudbury.
A big picture look at the opioid crisis in Greater Sudbury
In the past five years, drug overdose numbers for Sudbury show a definite spike in the number of opioid-related deaths that occurred in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. But while there was a spike in 2020, the "crisis" was building a years earlier. A recent compilation of statistics provided by the Office of the Chief Coroner in Ontario allows for a bigger picture look at the substance abuse problem in Greater Sudbury in the past four-and-a-half to five years. It was in 2018 that it became apparent that opioid use in the Sudbury area was a serious enough problem to warrant monthly statistics for fatal opioid overdoses (confirmed and probable according to the Coroner's Office). In 2018 there were 34 overdose deaths recorded in the jurisdiction of Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD).
First-period hat trick from Sobush helps Cubs sink Rapids
Greater Sudbury Cubs forward Pierson Sobush’s natural hat trick in the first period led the way as the local Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League squad squashed the French River Rapids 6-0 on Dec. 8. Not only did Sobush get the hat trick, he added a fourth marker later on in the game at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex last night. The win improves the Cubs record to 24-4-2-0, giving them 50 points on the season. The team continues to lead the NOJHL with Timmins Rock close behind with 48 points. Sobush got the Cubs going at 8:10 into the game when he tucked a backhand into the open corner as it dribbled in the crease after a shot from fellow Cub Oliver Smith popped out on the other side of the net. “The assist for Smith did extend a point streak to six consecutive outings for the Greater Sudbury captain,” the team said in a news release.
Report: First-time food bank use sees massive spike in Ontario
The annual Feed Ontario Hunger Report was released Thursday and showed there was a 64-per-cent increase in the number of first-time users at Ontario food banks since before the pandemic. In addition, the demand at food banks across Ontario is higher than it has ever been. Details of the annual report were released in Sudbury at a news conference at the Sudbury Food Bank office on Webbwood Drive. Carolyn Stewart, the executive director of Feed Ontario, told the Sudbury audience and said while the numbers in the report might be startling, they were not surprising. "Unfortunately, we're not surprised," Stewart said. "That being said, we're always concerned. For us, this is the sixth year on record that numbers continue to increase here in Ontario. They are getting worse year over year," she added.
Deadline for property tax credit for seniors fast approaching
The City of Greater Sudbury is reminding residents that the deadline to apply for the 2022 Elderly Property Tax Assistance Credit is Dec. 31. The credit is available to some senior citizens who own their own home. To qualify, the resident or spouse must meet several criteria, including being at least age 65, a resident of the city and be the owner of a residential property. Taxpayers are required to apply for the rebate annually and it is issued in the form of a cheque.
Not too bad a weekend weather wise
Expect a sunny Saturday with winds out of the east at 20 km/h. Today’s high is -7, but expect a -19 wind chill in the morning and -13 in the afternoon. The UV index today is 1, or low. Tonight, the skies will be mainly cloudy with winds at 15 km/h bringing a -15 wind chill. The overnight low is -9. For Sunday, expect cloudy skies and a high of -7, with a 40-per-cent chance of snow. For Sunday night, the skies will clear and the mercury will dip to -13.
