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Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Report: City budget already $7.3M in the red for 2019:
It's only August, but Greater Sudbury's $593-million city budget is already bleeding $7.4 million in red ink. A report headed to the city's finance committee Tuesday details the shortfall, which is headlined by the winter snow removal and maintenance budget. It is already $4.2 million over budget estimates — and $300,000 higher than the $3.9 million deficit estimated in June. “This is largely due to snow accumulation and infrequent thaw events,” says a staff report on the state of the 2019 budget. “The city received 259 cm of snow (8.5 feet) to date in 2019, compared to the 30-year average of 164 cm, or 5.4 feet.” Additional street sweeping and pothole repairs accounted for the additional $300K. Full story can be found here.
Seven people from Sudbury arrested as part big outlaw biker bust:
A Greater Sudbury man faces 59 charges related to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Criminal Code of Canada and the Cannabis Act following the completion of a 14-month investigation named Project Skylark. The 33-year-old man is one of seven people from Greater Sudbury arrested and charged in Project Skylark. In total, 15 people have been arrested in a joint-forces operation working in collaboration with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Biker Enforcement Unit (B.E.U.), the Niagara Police Service and the Ottawa Police Service. Greater Sudbury Police Service Integrated Crime Team (I.C.T.) was part of the investigation, related to drug trafficking involving the Hells Angels Nomads, Red Devils Motorcycle Club and the Hooligans Motorcycle Club. Around 6 a.m., on Aug. 1, 2019, detectives from Greater Sudbury Police Service's ICT with assistance from the tactical unit, the Barrie Police Service Tactical Support Unit and Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Emergency Services Unit, as well as the OPP Emergency Response Team (ERT) and Tactical Response Unit (TRU) executed five search warrants at various locations across Greater Sudbury. Full story here.
Staff urging council to borrow now for big projects like KED to save millions on interest:
By securing funding now on international bond markets, taxpayers could save $21 million in interest costs for the new arena over the next 30 years, says a report headed to the finance committee Tuesday. That's because interest rates for a 30-year bond are currently at 2.83 per cent, significantly lower than the four per cent estimated when city council approved the Kingsway Entertainment District last year. At 2.83 per cent, the annual debt repayment for the arena would be $4.5 million – $700,000 a year less than the original forecast, the report said. However, as the legal battle over the KED drags on, the risk of interest rates increasing grows, the report said, meaning taxpayers would have to pay more, or some projects couldn't proceed. It's not just the KED that's at risk, the report says. The city will also have to borrow to build the new library and art gallery, the new convention centre, funds for the Place des Arts, four-laning MR35 and various bridge and culvert projects. More on this story here.
Minister coming to Sudbury to talk autism with parents:
The Northern Ontario Autism Alliance is bringing Children, Community and Social Services Minister Todd Smith to Sudbury on Thursday to speak with parents of kids with autism. Smith is coming to hear from local families in an effort to shape the future of the Ontario Autism Program. The event runs form 6-7:30 p.m. at Cambrian College's eDome. There are about 10,365 children currently in service in the Ontario Autism Program, while 24,924 children are waiting for service. With an expanded range of services under the new Ontario Autism Program, more families are expected to seek support. In addition, About $4.4 million has flowed to 260 families who have come off the waitlist and are now receiving childhood budgets.
EcoLife owner's matters moving forward slowly:
EcoLife Home Improvements owner David Murray was back in court on Aug. 7 to have a pair of matters spoken to.Murray is facing charges of theft and trafficking of stolen property, along with more than 20 charges of fraud. Lawyer George Fournier is representing Murray on the theft and trafficking charges, but not on the fraud charges for which Murray is still seeking legal aid. Fournier requested that the theft and trafficking of stolen property charges be held over to Aug. 14 - the same day as Murray's hearing committee meeting related to his business license being revoked - in order to schedule a judicial pre-trial. While Fournier has not been retained by Murray as a defense attorney on the fraud charges, he did act as agent for the embattled contractor on Aug. 7 when speaking to the more than 20 charges of fraud. The court granted Murray three weeks to get his matters with legal aid straightened out and he is scheduled to appear in court for the fraud charges on Aug. 28 at 1:30 p.m. The theft and trafficking of stolen property charges will be spoken to in order to schedule a judicial pre-trial next Wednesday, Aug. 14 at 10 a.m.
Doctor facing child porn charges returns to court Aug. 21:
Ian MacDonald, the Sudbury doctor who faces child pornography charges, will return to court Aug. 21 in Courtroom E. MacDonald is charged with seven counts of accessing child pornography and two counts of possessing child pornography. He was released on bail in May, and in June, a second surety, his wife, also pledged $2,500, meaning he is allowed to stay in Greater Sudbury. He is being represented by lawyer Michael Lacy.
Case against teen accused of posting 'kill list' adjourned to Aug. 28:
The court date for the teen who posted an alleged kill list to Instagram several months ago has been adjourned to Aug. 28. Zachary Pilon, who is being represented by Sudbury lawyer Glenn Sandberg, was arrested March 20 after he allegedly posted on social media in March his plans to commit violence against the students at his school, Collège Notre-Dame. A post had circulated on Instagram warning that, on “Friday March 22nd, everyone will finally know my name… Look out CND.” He was charged with criminal harassment and uttering threats, and released on bail March 21 with a strict set of bail conditions.
World's largest ore chute created in Sudbury:
A manufacturing shop in Greater Sudbury has created the largest ore chute in the world that will soon be shipped out and installed in one of the largest copper and gold mining operations in the world, the Rio Tinto Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia. The massive steel chute, as big as a house and with built-in safety features, was manufactured at Variant Mining Technologies in Lively. It is the prototype for several other chutes that will be installed at the mine in the coming months and years. An ore chute is a device that allows chunks of rock (muck) to be transported by force of gravity from one level of the mine to another level. The chute is used to control the flow of muck, or waste rock, so that haulage equipment such as scooptrams, ore trucks or even underground rail cars can be loaded quickly and safely. More on this story here.
Thursday Weather:
A few rain showers expected early Thursday ending in the morning. Mix of sun and cloud with 40 per cent chance of showers. There is a risk of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon. Today's high will get up to 24, feeling like 26. Partly cloudy tonight with 40 per cent chance of showers with risk of a thunderstorm. Overnight low will be 11. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
