Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your weekend.
$99M investment in transportation infrastructure in Greater Sudbury:
Electric buses, new bike lanes and more sidewalks connecting riders to routes are some of the investments Greater Sudbury could be making in public transit system over the next 10 years, reporters at a media conference Friday were told. Gathered at the Greater Sudbury Transit and Fleet Centre on Lorne Street, city, provincial and federal leaders announced a combined $99 million fund spread out over the next decade. The feds are providing $39 million in infrastructure funds, the province $33 million, and the city providing the remainder. Find the full story and video from this morning's announcement here.
No avoiding more hospital budget cuts: Giroux
Dominic Giroux does not equivocate when asked if he is confident Health Sciences North can make the deep cuts to slash in half a current deficit of $10 million or more to $4.9 million in 2018-2019. “It has to be done and it will,” said Giroux in an interview with Sudbury.com Friday. The president and chief executive officer of HSN said he is encouraged the hospital’s 5,000 front-line health workers and medical staff can do it because they are smart, engaged and committed to the care of patients, and they want HSN to continue to be successful. In a blog to employees, medical staff, hospital board members and others this week, Giroux said the hospital “was in trouble” because it has been living beyond its means for five years. More on this story can be found here.
GSPS: Have a fun and safe St. Patrick's Day:
The Greater Sudbury Police is asking anyone taking part in St. Patrick's Day festivities this weekend to do so responsibly. "St. Patrick’s Day is a well-known day of celebration in our community and this year it falls on Saturday, March 17, 2018, meaning that the majority of the community will be more inclined to participate in day-long festivities," said a GSPS news release. "We would like to take this opportunity to remind community members that your safety and the safety of our community is our top priority." Party-goers taking part in St. Patrick’s Day festivities are asked to do so inside of licensed establishments or residences. Consuming alcohol on city streets is an offence and individuals doing so, can be issued a provincial offence ticket and/or arrested and charged under the Liquor Licence Act. "Please make sure you plan ahead, have a designated driver, use public transit, call a taxi or stay the night. We want everyone to have a blarney good time."
The Debaters take the stage Saturday night in Sudbury:
If you're a fan of the show "The Debaters", you have a chance to see it in person on Saturday, March 17 as part of the LOL Sudbury Comedy Festival, when “The Debaters Live on Tour” visits the Fraser Auditorium starting at 7:30 p.m. Sudbury is actually the last stop on the show's swing through Northern Ontario, with shows in North Bay March 3 and Sault Ste. Marie March 4. This special live event features Steve Patterson, a veteran Canadian comedian, as host, as well as fellow Canadian comedians Dave Hemstad and Kate Davis, performing stand-up and two hilarious debates. Tickets to The Debaters Live on Tour cost $49 plus tax.
'We're close': Union fights for more staff to care for residents in LTC homes:
The president of Mine Mill Local 598/Unifor said a deal is close to being reached that will see minimum staffing standards established in the province's long-term care homes. The union represents a number of employees at Villa St. Gabriel in Chelmsford and the Elizabeth Centre in Val Caron. Members spent much of Friday protesting outside those two facilities. Anne Marie MacInnis said the idea is to apply pressure to the province. “We've never been this close,” she said. At issue is the fact personal support workers have only an average of six minutes per resident to get them ready in the morning, MacInnis said. "Everyone knows this is going on, from the managers to the owners of these facilities,” she said. The union is seeking four hours per day per resident. Be sure to check back with Sudbury.com for more on this story later today.
Watoto Children's Choir returns to Sudbury March 18:
The Watoto Children's Choir returns to Greater Sudbury March 18 for two performances at local churches. They'll be performing at New Sudbury Pentecostal Church at 10:30 a.m. and Glad Tidings Church at 6 p.m. that day. Watoto Children’s Choirs have travelled extensively since 1994, sharing a message of hope for Africa’s orphans and widows. To date, the choir has toured six continents and performed to audiences in schools, retirement homes, churches, parliaments, state houses and royal palaces. Each child in the Watoto Children’s Choir has suffered the loss of one or both parents and now lives in a Watoto village. The experience of travelling on a choir helps the children to develop confidence and boldness, as well as broadening their worldview, said a press release. Accompanied by a team of adults, the choir presents Watoto’s vision and mission by sharing personal stories, music and dance.
