Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day.
‘In limbo’: Protesters demand equal rights for all migrants
In a plea to ensure equal rights for all migrants in Canada, members of the Sudbury Workers Education and Advocacy Centre held a rally August 15 in front of Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe’s office in downtown Sudbury. The event, which attracted several people who do not have permanent resident status, along with supporters, called on the federal government to give full immigration status to migrant workers, refugees and international students. Without the protections that this status offers those working to make a home in Canada, workers are denied rights such as health care or safe work environments. Tt Scott of the Sudbury Workers’ Centre said many are at risk of death, especially during the pandemic. “Canadian immigration policy has failed workers,” Scott said at the rally. “Most migrants to Canada are coming under temporary permits, such as work and study permits, rather than as permanent residents, and they are denied things like health care and education, and they are tied to an employer in order to be able to stay here.” If someone on a work permit loses their job, they can be deported. That also means that workers are liable to endure poor treatment or conditions at a workplace in order to remain in the country. She said not only does that mean those workers who do not have status are limited in opportunities, but also, they’re ripe for labour exploitation. Read the full story.
Spruce St. murder: Woman killed in ‘domestic homicide’
Greater Sudbury Police have provided a few more details regarding a murder on Spruce Street last week. Officers attended an address on Spruce Street in Sudbury at 6:43 a.m. Aug. 11, where they located a deceased woman in the home. GSPS detectives have arrested a man, 34-year-old Hatinder Sharma of Greater Sudbury, for first-degree murder as a result of an investigation. Police say the woman was killed in a “domestic homicide.” The victim’s name is not being released out of respect for her family’s wishes, said a Greater Sudbury Police spokesperson in an email Monday. However, the spokesperson did say she was 27 years old. A post-mortem was conducted on Aug. 12. The preliminary cause of death has been determined by the Coroner’s Office, said the GSPS spokesperson. However, Greater Sudbury Police say a publication ban has been issued in relation to this matter, which prohibits the police service from providing the preliminary cause of death, as it is part of the ongoing investigation. “The publication ban prohibits us from providing any further details related to the investigation,” said the police spokesperson, in an email. Police extended condolences to the victim’s family and friends. Anyone with information is asked to contact Greater Sudbury Police at 705-675-9171 or Crime Stoppers at 705-222-TIPS (8477) or www.sudburycrimestoppers.com.
There’s a full slate of municipal candidates in Greater Sudbury
With Jordan Derro registering as a candidate in Ward 1 earlier this month, there’s now at least one candidate in every of the City of Greater Sudbury’s 12 wards. Derro is a general practice lawyer with volunteer experience in the local arts community whose campaign will focus on the homelessness/opioid crises and downtown revitalization.“I’m waiting to hear from voters as to what their concerns are and I’m addressing each of them as they’ve come up,” he told Sudbury.com, adding he has already heard about the quality of snow removal and the impacts of Laurentian University’s financial woes. A few days after Derro registered as the lone candidate in Ward 1, incumbent Mark Signoretti filed his papers with the city. This leaves Ward 9 as the only municipal jurisdiction with a lone candidate, where incumbent Deb McIntosh is seeking re-election. Signoretti told Sudbury.com his campaign would again focus on what he said he’s been “advocating for all along, which is fiscal responsibility.” “Making sure we spend our dollars wisely and look at ways to find efficiencies,” he said. “It’s about getting growth in our community.” With a candidate now running against him, Signoretti said Oct. 24 will serve as a “performance appraisal” for not only him but also a strong majority of his colleagues. “I like to think I can stand behind the things I’ve done and advocated for.” A full slate of candidates is but one of the latest developments in the Oct. 24 civic election to take place in the past several days, during which a seventh mayoral candidate, Mila Wong, also registered. Learn more here.
Sudbury welcomes 28th family from Ukraine
Upon welcoming the 28th family from Ukraine, Sudbury Liberal MP Viviane Lapointe issued a media release touting Canada’s “unwavering” support for the embattled European country. “Grateful is the word I most frequently hear when I’m meeting with families,” she said. “They are grateful to be here and they are grateful their children are safe. They are also grateful to have a place to stay.” Two more families are slated to arrive from Ukraine this month, with Canada “unwavering in its support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” according to Lapointe’s release, which also toutes Sudbury as a leader in Northern Ontario in welcoming Ukrainians. The City of Greater Sudbury is co-ordinating the arrival of families to Sudbury alongside members of the local Ukrainian community. Read the full story on Sudbury.com's home page.
Let’s Eat: Fresh and Easy service caters to seniors and the ill
Little did Sarah Tabele know that the meal planning and food preparation she did for her elderly grandparents two years ago would evolve into a business that would help feed so many residents in Greater Sudbury. Tabele was the primary caregiver to her grandparents while on maternity leave caring for her own kids. That spurred a client base of people recovering at home from injuries, surgeries and for seniors struggling to meal plan on their own under the name Fresh and Easy. “When my grandparents needed help with food, support staff could only come and push microwave buttons for them,” she said. “I wanted a service that offered healthy meals and choice. They lost a lot of independence when they needed daily help and they just wanted choice in what they put in their mouths.” Tabele works with social workers at rehabilitation centres for Alzheimer, Parkinson and arthritis patients to educate them about her nutritious meal-making and delivery service. She says seniors love the meals like Salisbury steak, lasagna, cobb salads and fish dinner. Learn more here.
Last day for bus stop changes is Aug. 17, says consortium
We hate to break it to you, folks, but it’s time to start thinking about the kids going back to school, including their transportation arrangements. Sudbury Student Services Consortium has sent out a notice saying that Wednesday, Aug. 17 is the last day for parents to request school bus stop changes. “We need to send completed routes to our school bus operators for drivers to complete practice runs before the first day of school,” said the notice from the consortium, which has already reached out to parents on the matter with automated phone calls. Any changes requiring new stops received Aug. 17 won’t be processed until after Sept. 19, the consortium said. Contact the consortium at 705-521-1234 or visit the parent portal at www.businfo.ca.
Tuesday weather:
Tuesday will be mainly sunny. Increasing cloudiness in the morning then 40 per cent chance of showers in the afternoon. Wind becoming northeast 20 km/h late in the morning. High of 25 C. Humidex of 29 C. UV index 6 or high. Tuesday night will be clear with a low of 14 C.