Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Ontario's COVID-19 Science Table report appears to criticize recent provincial actions:
In what might be seen as an effort to bolster its independence from the government, Ontario's Science Table today published a full report on what it says are the best ways to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the solutions being suggested are not in line with Ontario government policy. The Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table is a group of scientific experts and health care leaders who evaluate and report on emerging evidence relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic to keep government leaders informed. The Science Table provides weekly summaries using updated information from science organizations, universities, health agencies and the best available global evidence. The table also reported that all its information is transparent, is public and not in any way influenced by the government. In its latest report published on Tuesday, the Science Table wrote, "One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario is now facing the most challenging health crisis of our time. Our case counts are at an all-time high. Our hospitals are buckling. Younger people are getting sicker. The disease is ripping through whole families. The variants of concern that now dominate COVID-19 in Ontario are, in many ways, a new pandemic. And Ontario needs stronger measures to control the pandemic." Find the full story here.
Drug dealer convicted of manslaughter in opioid overdose death back in court:
A Sudbury drug dealer who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the spring of 2020 in connection to a 2019 opioid overdose death is back in court today and looking for bail. In August 2020, David Stefanczuk was given pre-trial custody credit of 17-and-a-half months, received a time-served penalty, along with a two-year probation order, and was released upon his sentencing. Stefanczuk was convicted following an investigation into the Feb. 1, 2019, death of a city man. Police didn’t release the victim’s name. Stefanczuk was arrested again April 1 this year after Greater Sudbury Police officers were called in relation to an unresponsive man behind the wheel of a vehicle on Frood Road. Upon arrival, paramedics and officers were able to wake up the man, who showed signs of impairment, and officers could see a bag of what appeared to be white powder residue on the front seat of the vehicle, said GSPS spokesperson Kaitlyn Dunn in an email. The man was placed under arrest and transported to headquarters where a drug recognition expert completed a drug recognition evaluation, determining that he was impaired by drugs. He was arrested, and officers searched the man and the vehicle, locating a quantity of drugs believed to be crystal meth, heroin and fentanyl, as well as a substantial amount of cash. The value of the drugs seized was approximately $2,500 and the total amount of cash seized was almost $18,000. He was charged with impaired operation by drug, two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and failing to comply with a probation order.
Sudbury man faces numerous charges in kidnapping, robbery and forcible confinement:
A Sudbury man is one of two arrested following a kidnapping and forcible confinement with a firearm on April 19 that led to a foot chase near Lasalle Boulevard, said Greater Sudbury Police. On April 19, two men attended a residence on Lasalle Boulevard, held the resident at gunpoint and forced him into a vehicle, said police. GSPS reported the three men then attended a residence on Northway Avenue, where the two men forced their way into the residential unit and demanded money from the woman inside while displaying the firearm. Another resident of the building contacted police and the two men fled the scene in the vehicle in which they had arrived. The 25-year-old man who had been forced into the vehicle and the 26-year-old woman did not sustain any injuries as a result of the interactions. “This is believed to be an isolated incident as the involved individuals are known to each other,” said GSPS in a news release. Through the investigation, police said officers located the vehicle used in the incident outside of a residential building on Lasalle Boulevard. Members of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) conducted a high-risk traffic stop on the vehicle and took the two men inside the vehicle into custody without incident. Get the full story here.
Ten new cases of COVID-19 reported by Public Health Sudbury for Tuesday April 20:
Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD) has reported 10 new cases of COVID-19 for Tuesday, April 20. Public Health also said there are now 158 active cases being monitored. Also, since the PHSD began tracking COVID-19 cases just over 13 months ago, there have been 1,855 total COVID-19 cases confirmed locally. PHSD also said 1,697 of those cases have been resolved. With respect to where the newest COVID-19 cases might have occurred, the Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD) daily update page reported that 10 cases were found to have occurred within the Greater Sudbury Area. In terms of possible causes of the new cases, PHSD reported one case associated with outbreak, six new cases linked to close contact of a confirmed case, and three cases are under investigation. On the provincial COVID-19 register Tuesday, the Ontario government daily website reported 3,469 new confirmed COVID-19 cases across the province.
University of Sudbury also fighting termination of federation agreement with Laurentian in court:
Another federated university operating on Laurentian University’s campus has gone to court to fight Laurentian’s plan to terminate the more than 60-year-old federation agreement going back to the university’s creation. The University of Sudbury filed a notice of motion opposing Laurentian’s move with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on April 14. The federation agreement is between Laurentian and the three federated universities operating on the university’s campus — the University of Sudbury, Thorneloe University and Huntington University. The entities are affiliated through a variety of historical relationships and contractual agreements. Each of the federated universities are separate legal entities and are each governed by a board of governors independent of Laurentian. They own certain buildings on land that is owned by Laurentian and is leased to the federated university by Laurentian. The federated universities do not recruit or register their own students, nor do they grant their own degrees. All federated university programs and courses are offered through Laurentian. Find more on this story here.
Northern Lights Festival announces cancellation for 2nd year in a row:
For the second year in a row, Northern Lights Festival Boréal has announced the cancellation of the traditional outdoor festival in Bell Park, which was scheduled for July 8-11 this year. The festival’s staff and board of directors made the announcement “with great sadness” April 20. “This decision has been made due to the continuously evolving health and safety concerns in our community,” said the press release. In the months that have passed, NLFB has sought expert advice from a variety of sources, including the Public Health Sudbury & Districts, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the Canadian Live Music Association, the press release said. Its top priority is the health and safety of its participants, volunteers, artists, staff, crew, patrons, and guests. “Despite the challenges, the organization remains committed to presenting high quality music & art experiences to its loyal supporters,” said the press release. More on this story here.
University of Sudbury offers best hope for a French university in Northern Ontario, supporters say:
Some of the strongest Francophone voices in Northern Ontario are continuing their call this week for a “renewed, independent and fully francophone University of Sudbury.” And those voices, if you support their call, want you to add your voice to theirs. Regroupement des professeurs(es) francophones de l'Université Laurentienne (RPF), an independent organization that represents more than 110 Francophone and Francophile professors and lecturers, are encouraging supporters of French-language post-secondary education in Ontario to sign a petition calling for the establishment of a Francophone university in Northern Ontario. You can find a link to the petition at the end of the article. RFP also issued a statement discussing a resolution that was adopted at a meeting on April 16, rallying behind what they called the “long-standing dream” of a French-language university. “For a university by and for the Francophone community of the Moyen-Nord (Middle North) in all its diversity,” read the statement, “the resolution adopted unanimously on this occasion states that the University of Sudbury project is the most credible way to realize this long-standing dream.” The statement then lists the actions the group asks of the “Ontario government,” and echoes the call that has moved across the city since the events of ‘Black Monday,’ April 12. Get the full story here.
Wednesday Weather:
More cool weather on the way for Wednesday. A mix of sun and cloud today with the high sitting at zero. Wind chill will feel like -12 this morning. Partly cloudy into the evening with the temperature dropping to -6. Overnight low will feel like -10 with the wind chill. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
