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Thunder Bay Art Gallery opening changed to

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How does a project of this magnitude even start construction without funding in place? It's so unfortunate that this project received any govt funding at all when there are so many greater needs in our City. The present location was perfectly adequate. I hope they don't come to Council again with hat in hand......we have a growing infrastructure deficit that is more deserving of funding than this project. That's great that they're reaching out to donors from far and wide!

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Op-Ed: Powlowski: shelter village sites unfair

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Thanks to MP Dr. Powlowski for this well reasoned response. More work is certainly needed to come up with solutions to this crisis. The suggestion of temporary housing by the Kam River was certainly a poor one, with the cool winds off the lake and danger of falling into the river. It seems the criteria was more strongly weighted towards "land the City owns" instead of what would be the best for the residents and the area.

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Councillors say yes in final decision on shelter village site

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Why are we giving up a City park which we paid millions to create to end up looking like the many encampment sites around our city? The more we allow, the more will come. It's evident that the encampment sites can't be "managed" as anyone who has driven by can see. That explains why people don't want an encampment site near them, as much as people may have empathy for what the residents there are experiencing. A few perhaps, spoil it for the others.We know from the Prince Arthur's Landing experience that the railway "won't budge" so this is NOT the site to choose.The whole idea of city-provided housing "for 5 years" needs a rethink as this is a situation that is only going to continue, unfortunately.

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City looking to hit 'new modern records' says city staff

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Could journalist provide link To list of projects? What would be of interest, is which projects lead to jobs and growth "beyond the short-term construction". The PROJECT which is suspected to be a "Costco" will only take sales from existing TB retailers. So while many will appreciate potential cost savings of "bulk purchases" it doesn't bring much beyond more low-paying retail jobs for students. V'Ville demolition also doesn't extend any benefit beyond construction jobs, in my opinion. What we need is "new money" in form of "new businesses" to our City which will provide well-paying employment. But yes, the new housing units are needed. and the hospital construction will bring new high-paying jobs in medical field, no doubt. But really, the City is excited, far too soon. IT's interesting that lack of development charges is seen as "a plus". Cities use those funds to help with servicing costs to new areas, and it is a widely used practice. Why do we not use it?

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Councillors say yes in final decision on shelter village site

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So of all the "site criteria" City staff used, getting permission from the railway wasn't included?This brings us back to the whole development of Prince Arthur's Landing at Marina Park. The Park was designed with the "grand entrance" coming into the park at the foot of Red River Road and entering the park in front of the "Baggage Building". Yet, the City hadn't sought permission from the railway. Negotiations continued with the railway on this entrance, with an offer to "give up" the entrance closer to the Festival area, which didn't and shouldn't happen. So here we are again, with the cart before the horse; a site is designated without proper approvals in place.

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NWMO made the right choice: Oliver

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Can Oliver provide us with the City of Thunder Bay's opinion on this matter? Does she speak, for the City? Leaving aside whether it is "good or bad" to store the nuclear waste of the whole country in NWO, it is "the process" that is concerting. If it was going to be so good for us, why the millions in financial incentives paid to communities from NWMO? What's the word for that?? why were just those two communities allow to decide for all of NWO??

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Bayshore staff walk off the job in hopes of better conditions

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I am full supportive of home care workers getting an appropriate wage for the work they do. They rush from home to home, having to "short the time" with one client in order to reach the next client. What shouldn't be happening is for the government to be subsidizing the wages. The "for profit" employer should be responsible for paying a good wage to workers providing this valuable service to people so in need of care. Not the taxpayers of Ontario.

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Website aims to track accident hotspots on northern highways

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At a Town Hall held by NDP members in Thunder Bay NDP house leader John Vanthof said that MTO tracks locations of road accidents as I recall. He said the worst area was in his riding, Timiskaming-Cochrane, and Shabaqua area was the 2nd worst for accidents in the province. A woman who survived being hit by a transport which ran the stop sign at Shabaqua corner said there are apparently 7 different warnings of the approaching STOP sign and that "the road ends" (in a "T" intersection with highway 11/17). So how is it that drivers are missing the requirement to "stop"? Perhaps Reb Beckett can contact MTO and MPP Vanthof and share how we can use this "dangerous highway info" to advocate for more measures to make highways safer. And perhaps it can start with MTO requiring and overseeing proper training and licencing of truck drivers, done by the province, NOT private operators.

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'Backed into a corner': Councillors object to shelter village decision process

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Councillor Ch'ng hit the nail on the head with comment "There's no one around this table talking about what the service providers wanted. The service providers haven't had input on this site."Any chosen site has to work for those it intends to house, PLUS the neighbouring community. It's a real dilemma for sure. Pressure from City Manager regarding "risk of losing funding" is not a reason to just choose a site that hasn't been properly vetted with the neighbouring community. From all my reading, services need to be "where the people are". Look at the new transitional housing for Aboriginal youth. The plan there is for housing and services, all in one location. The City needs to go back to Square 1 on this whole idea. Individual units will be costly to service, heat and cool. Perhaps a residence of some sort, NOT run by the City, is a preferred option.

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City identifies a new site for shelter village

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I'm sure people are looking hard for a vacant piece of land that is "close to amenities" that people might need, but is close to the river and across from the LCBO a wise choice? There have been many unfortunate accidents that have occurred from people being too close to rivers.Have the agencies who assist these folks been consulted on a desirable location? I still feel that individual "home units" is not a good choice as it will be difficult (and costly to taxpayers) to heat and cool each unit individually. But I also know it is important to "have one's own space" to feel safe and to have your belongings protected. Have "job site" type trailers been considered, I wonder.What is the long-term plan to help these folks come to a point where they can be self-sufficient? Are the services that are needed to move towards that goal able to be provided in that location? Lots of considerations.

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Council ratifies encampment action plan and temporary village

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A previous article on this subject stated the City hoped to Replenish the funds spent from Renew Thunder Bay, with future anticipated funding from the Housing Accelerator Fund. Now those funds are in jeopardy, as Polieve says he will cut that funding, should he become Prime Minister. Is this the proper use of funds in the Renew Thunder Bay fund? Who are all those in need of housing? Does not the annual count determine their place of origin, and what type of services they are in need of? More answers need to be supplied to Council to start a project that will be hard to get out of, in the future.

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'Backed into a corner': Councillors object to shelter village decision process

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It has been the City Manager who has been applying pressure on Council with the "risk of losing funding". Then new information came that funding deadline could be extended. Admin should be working with the province/Feds to deal with a situation that is not really up to our City to take on, to the magnitude that it has become. How many of those unhoused really need help with mental health or addictions issues? That's where the help is needed from Social Services, not City. Additional funding to ready vacant DSSAB units is also needed. And changes in Tenancy rules to allow DSSAB to expel tenants not adhering to rules.

Rainstorm left a blockage at the floodway diversion structure on the Neebing River

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I do paddle occasionally on our urban rivers. I have contacted the LRCA before and let them know about the many trees that were down into the various rivers......but didn't see much action in removing them. Being proactive is better than reactive, especially when these buildings could well lead to flooding.

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Business advocate holds out hope for south core

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Also let's use some of that Housing initiative money to demolish vacant Simpson Street properties and get some new multi-unit housing there, INSTEAD OF continuing to let the city sprawl which only increases the need for expanded city services.The City yields to developer demand for large developments, but those houses aren't the "missing middle" for people who need reasonably priced housing, close to public transit and city services. Infill vacant unused properties with low-rise housing.

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City launches new parking zones

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The City is making this way too complicated. I may just want to stop for a quick coffee, and don't really want this APP on my phone. Just to remind Parking Authority, lots of people don't have a cellphone . This whole file seems mismanaged. If the Parking Authority needs revenue to pay for costly upcoming repairs at Victoriaville Parkade especially, then they should increase the parking rates there to build up a reserve. As for North Side parkade, how many spots are used by St. Joseph's Care Group at a low rate of $5/day, or far less if a monthly pass is purchased. The cost to park should reflect the cost to maintain the structure.

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Council nixes bid to relocate library to Intercity Shopping Centre

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I recently walked to my neighbourhood MJLB library on a Saturday, and it was humming with activity! Parents choosing books with their children, a children's activity in the back room, folks reading by the fireplace, others at the tables reading or researching. Not a seat to be had! Libraries are more than a place to just "take out books", they are a community gathering place. Libraries need to be in neighbourhoods, where possible.

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Thunder Bay outdoor skating rinks set to close this week

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As we continue to experience these up and down temps year after year, City should do continuing analysis of rink use. Have fewer rinks, but maintain them better. Perhaps convert some rinks to a concert surface that will hold the ice better, and be used for other activities in summer. Would be great to have "open skating" at all indoor rinks for the March break!

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'Incredibly alarming' case of impaired driving reported by police

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TBP continue to be alarmed....but what more can they do?Are the maximum actions being taken as far as impounding the vehicle, person charged spending a night in jail on day of the incident, whatever CAN be done, before the charges go to court?Can TBP cooperate with local media to follow up with some of the more serious cases? But, I must acknowledge that every case of impaired driving has the potential to be serious; one stop sign or red light run through could change someone else's life forever, or end it, on the spot. Does “naming and shaming” work? I recall being at a Christmas party at a local banquet facility, and TBP officers walked through, handing out slips advising of the "Red Nose" or taxi option. But really, this is a personal and legal responsibility to take care of.Is TBPS also advocating to the province for harsher penalties? Do people convicted actually spend any time incarcerated? The two people I know of who were convicted, did not.

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Public response to survey on city's operating budget 'statistically not significant'

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The fact that the Budget was ratified..... before receiving the public input tells you everything you need to know about how City Hall feels about public input. What the public thinks, doesn't matter.The Budget was “set” months ago. What opportunity did the public have to state what their priorities were? If you asked people “should we give money towards an art gallery/turf facility, etc or put that money towards our rapidly deteriorating infrastructure”, I think you would have received some good solid answers. The former Citizen Satisfaction Survey allowed citizens to very clearly rank their priorities. In 2017 for example, 96% agreed or strongly agreed that ongoing infrastructure renewal was important. But that opinion was ignored, and the infrastructure deficit, continues to grow.

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City delays launch of 'green bin' recycling program

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The concept of using mechanical arms to retrieve garbage/recycle bins seems good on paper, but not feasible in all areas, and seasons. We have snowbanks to deal with at least 4 months of the year, making it difficult for tucks to move in close enough to load the bins. Many neighbourhoods have on-street parking which makes it near impossible for the mechanical arm system to be viable. Yet the story says the plans is for "all homes" to use the automated system, in time.The new equipment costs are in the millions with the 8 new trucks costs about $5 million. How much is really saved in labour costs, in comparison?Collecting of organic matter in green bins will be reduced for the two reasons above. I would gladly bring organic matter to the present recycling depots if that option were available. Yard composting has unfortunately attracted rats, so we have discontinued.Didn't the City re-allocate some of the reserve funding set aside for Solid Waste & Recycling, elsewhere in budget?

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