Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Bed crisis at HSN cancels surgeries:
Health Sciences North was pushed to cancel several surgeries on Feb. 13 and in the days that followed due to the ongoing bed crisis and overcapacity issues in the Emergency Department and Inpatient Units. According to an inter-office memo circulated on Feb. 13, Health Sciences North senior management has been working closely with the LHIN and community partners to alleviate some of the ongoing pressures. Management has reached out to long-term care homes as well as other hospitals within the region. St. Joseph's Continuing Care has agreed to open additional temporary beds and other hospitals have agree to repatriate patients more quickly than the usual 48-hour wait period. Health Sciences North had to cancel a number of surgeries when a computer virus grounded their IT systems to a halt on Jan. 16. The latest run of cancelled surgeries is linked to capacity issues which are being caused largely by the flu season, according to Jason Turnbull, corporate communications at HSN. "We are trying to get the message out there that we are dealing with extremes right now," said Turnbull. The hospital is experiencing extremely high patient volumes in all departments at this time, and staff anticipate this will continue with flu season in effect. "With this significant surge, patients coming to our Emergency Department can expect longer than usual wait times. Please be patient with us," said a public service announcement from HSN.
Lawyer for accused Sweeney killer responds to child porn charge:
Robert Steven Wright, who stands accused of the murder of Renée Sweeney 20 years ago, now faces one charge of possessing child pornography. Wright is already scheduled to have a three-day hearing Feb. 19-21 to determine whether he will receive bail as he awaits trial for first-degree murder. His bail hearing for the child porn charges will take place Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. After news of the additional charge emerged Friday, his lawyers, Berk Keaney and Michael J. Venturi, issued a statement that said when Wright was arrested, police found no images or videos in his residence connected to the new charges. "This charge is based on a single typed document," the release said. "Police have decided to lay this charge on the eve of his bail hearing. We have no doubt this charge will be withdrawn." A publication ban has been imposed on the case. Wright is currently being held at Sudbury Jail after being arrested Dec. 11. He was arrested at the North Bay Regional Health Centre, where he worked as a laboratory technician.
Sudbury parents raise concerns over government's autism funding plans:
A group of Sudburians numbering in the dozens gathered Friday afternoon, despite the inclement weather, to express their disapproval with the Ford government's new autism funding model. The changes announced Wednesday, Feb. 6 by Children, Community and Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod include giving funding for treatment directly to families instead of regional service providers, dependent on age, with up to $140,000 for a child in treatment from the ages of two to 18. Shifting the funding model away from needs-based to age-based stuck out as a particular sore spot for those who spoke at the rally in front of Sudbury MPP Jamie West's office on Barrydowne Road on Feb. 15, including rally organizer Sean Staddon. Sean's daughter, June, was diagnosed on the autism spectrum in 2017, and has been on a waiting list for funding ever since. "The announcement to the funding changes announced by the Ford government prompted me to bring some parents together here in Sudbury," said Staddon. "Bringing back age-based funding instead of needs based means any child over the age of six receives significantly less funding that anyone under that age. The Liberal plan before was bad, it made huge wait lists but at least every kid got what they needed." The Ontario government's decision to change the funding model was done with the intention of eliminating a wait list of 23,000 children in the province, including Staddon's daughter. Full story here.
Laurentian University names new president:
Late Friday afternoon, Laurentian University's board of governors announced it has hired Dr. Robert Haché as the school’s 11th president and vice-chancellor. Haché is currently vice-president of research and innovation at York University, and has experience in leading university research and innovation activities, LU said in a news release. He's also the former associate vice-president of research at the University of Calgary and vice-dean of research for the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. “He will assume the position on July 1, 2019, for a five-year renewable term, succeeding Dr. Pierre Zundel who has been serving in this capacity on an interim basis since August 2017,” the news release said.
Councillor: Kingsway battle hamstrings plans for art gallery, library:
As the battle over the Kingsway Entertainment District drags on and on, one city councillor is trying to make sure plans for a new art gallery and library don't become collateral damage. Ward 10 Coun. Fern Cormier, whose ward includes downtown Sudbury, is bringing a motion to the Feb. 19 finance meeting calling for staff to look at whether alternate sites for the project would be feasible. The original plan was to build the $42 million art gallery/library and a $65 million convention centre on the Elgin Street land currently home to Sudbury Arena. But that was assuming the arena was moving to the Kingsway alongside a new casino and hotel. But with the legal fight underway, it's unclear when – or if – the arena will be available for the project. Cormier says the uncertainty is harming efforts to attract funding from upper levels of government, as well as private-sector partners.
Ten snow days so far this school year, the most in recent memory:
Thanks to a couple of snowstorms, school buses were cancelled twice more this week by the Sudbury Student Services Consortium, meaning we've officially had more snow days this winter than any in recent memory. The consortium recently provided Sudbury.com with school bus cancellation statistics from past school years going back to 2011-2012. The 2012-2013 school year, which previously had the most cancellations, saw a total of 10 school bus cancellations in the local consortium's service area, which includes Greater Sudbury, Espanola, Massey and Manitoulin Island. There were eight school bus cancellations that affected Greater Sudbury in 2012-2013. But the 2018-2019 school year, which has seen extreme cold, freezing rain and several snowstorms, has already surpassed those numbers, and the winter is by no means over yet. A look at the consortium's Twitter site shows there's been 12 days so far this school year when school buses have been cancelled in its service area. Ten of those snow days have affected Greater Sudbury and two of this year's snow days affected Manitoulin Island only.
Red light cameras could be coming to Greater Sudbury by the end of the year:
If backed by city council in the municipal budget, red light cameras could arrive in Greater Sudbury by the end of the year, says a staff report headed to the finance committee Feb. 19. The city is looking at putting cameras at six intersections: Paris Street at Cedar Street; Regent Street at Algonquin Road; and, Municipal Road 80 at Dominion Drive, with three intersections to be determined later. If approved by council, the cameras will be ready in either late 2019 or early 2020. A 2018 staff report said red light camera fine revenue will likely be higher than the cost to run the program. However, revenue will drop over time, as drivers adjust to the cameras and run red lights less often.
Ski, swim and skate on the cheap in Sudbury on Family Day:
Take part in affordable fun on Family Day, Monday, Feb. 18. Municipal ski hills, pools, arenas and outdoor rinks will offer reduced rates or free outdoor recreation opportunities during the day. Ski or snowboard at Adanac and Lively ski hills for a special Family Day price on February 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Get the schedule and prices here.
