Timmins Times - News From Your Neighborhood

Forget about your 'May Run' campfire

2010-05-20T22:58:00.005-04:00

(NOTE: all stories and photos are now being posted again on our regular news website: www.timminstimes.com ) CLICK ANY PHOTO TO SEE IT LARGER!

Timmins (May 20, 2010)- Well known Timmins-born comedian Derek Edwards likes to make fun of his May Run days in Timmins by joking about how he and his friends would try to jump over the camp fire.
They won't be doing that anytime soon around Timmins. There is a complete fire ban in place by the city and the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR).
The MNR Eastern Fire Region headquarters today issued a Restricted
Fire Zone order for Northeastern Ontario. That takes in everything from the French River northward to James Bay. It includes May Run campfires in the Timmins area.
"The Restricted Fire Zone will be in effect until further notice. All burning permits are suspended and all open air burning, including campfires, is prohibited. Within a Restricted Fire Zone, campers can still use portable gas or propane cook stoves for cooking and warmth but should exercise extreme caution," said the order from the MNR
There were 11 new fires confirmed in the East Fire Region on May 19. Timmins district had two fires of note. Timmins 7 west of Timmins was actioned by MNR FireRangers, and MNR waterbombers, said a statement from the MNR today. Ten MNR FireRanger crews are committed to suppressing the fire. The fire is approximately 125 hectares in size. Timmins 9, near Schumacher, is estimated at 83 hectares and required the evacuation of 10 nearby residents. The fire was responded to by both MNR and Timmins Fire Department. Four CL-415 waterbombers worked the fire until dark on the evening of May 19 and aggressive suppression will continues. There are two other fires in the Timmins district that were reported on May 19, both are less than two hectares and there are no problems anticipated said the MNR
Residents are reminded that if found responsible for a forest fire, they can be charged under the Forest Fires Prevention Act and/or be liable for the costs of suppressing the fire. This cost can easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars, said the MNR.
So far this year in the East Fire Region, there have been 136 fires burning 900 hectares.
310-FIRE (3473) is the new, toll-free emergency forest fire reporting phone number across northern Ontario. Early detection and reporting are essential to quickly managing forest fires. Having one number will make it easier and more efficient for Ontarians to report forest fire emergencies. The number will operate north of the French and Mattawa Rivers.

Timmins Nine forest fire flares up again

2010-05-20T22:38:00.007-04:00

Water tanker planes and at least one helicopter were back on the job this evening over the fire known as Timmins Nine, the forest fire east of Schumacher. Smoke and flames were spotted by Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources spotter aircraft early Thursday evening and two tankers and a helicopter began dropping water in an area near one of the hydro line corridors between Schumacher and South Porcupine.
The problem didn’t last long as the water bombing effort lasted only about an hour. At least three MNR forest fire fighting crews were on the ground in the area, also doing fire suppression.
By about 8:30 p.m., MNR crews began pulling back and the water tankers were sent back to the Timmins airport.
The helicopter returned briefly to a remote area east of Timmins where the MNR fire crews have set up a base camp.
The camp is an area where the helicopter can refuel, as can the MNR heli-attack crews who are actually camped out there, living in sleeping bags and tents.
As MNR official explained that the fire teams are kept at the base camp, on alert in case they’re needed quickly for any further outbreak of fire.
This story and the photos are also posted on our regular Timmins Times news website: www.timminstimes.com where the photo server problems experienced on May 19 have been fixed.
Please bookmark www.timminstimes.com for all your up to date Timmins news and photos.

More photos of forest fire emergency near Schumacher

2010-05-19T19:45:00.008-04:00

All photos on this Blog are copyright Len Gillis and The Timmins Times.

Timmins slammed by three forest fires

2010-05-19T19:22:00.002-04:00

The skies over Timmins were heavy with smoke Wednesday as at least three significant forest fires flared up in the middle of the afternoon and continued into the evening. The first and worst of the fires occurred just south and east of Schumacher in the heavily wooded and hilly area near the Vipond Road. It was just before 3:00 p.m. that grey white smoke could be seen rising above the trees. Twenty minutes later, the smoke was turning light brown and black as the fire began consuming more fuel in the forest.
Another fire broke out in the Kamiskotia area in the near west end of Timmins and then another fire occurred further west in the area of the Montcalm Mine Road, north of Highway 101.
The fires put a huge demand on the resources of the Timmins Fire Department as men and equipment struggled to get anywhere close to the fast moving and quickly growing fire near Schumacher. Firefighters hooked up several hundred feet of what they call forestry hoses to try to put out flames on the edge of the blaze.
For fire chief Mike Pintar who was on the front lines it quickly became apparent that manpower wasn't going to control the situation. The fire was "crowning", as flames raced from treetop to treetop.
Just before 4:00 p.m. Pintar sent an urgent request to the Ministry of Natural Resource to have flying water tankers assigned to the Schumacher fire.
Water tankers were in the region working on fires north of Sudbury and Capreol.
By 4:05 p.m. Pintar was on the line to the MNR demanding water tankers since the fire was by that time in sight of several homes along Gold Mine Road (the Back Road).
Within minutes and MNR helicopter was overhead assessing the fire and before 4:30 p.m. one Twin Otter water bomber began working the fire.
By that time, Timmins Police has closed the back road since there was heavy smoke evident, and also to make it easier for the emergency vehicles to move back and forth.
While that effort was underway, it became apparent that the two other fires were flaring up in the west and being pushed along by heavy smoke.
At the same time, when it looked as if the fire was going to cross the Hydro One power line east of Schumacher, the decision was made to cut the power. A Hydro One worker explained that fire, smoke and live high voltage lines do not mix and that it could result in live wires falling to the ground. (continued...) (Click Photos to see larger size)

There was a concern for several minutes that homeowners living along the Gold Mine Road would have to be evacuated if the wind kept blowing more southerly, than in an easterly direction. At one point, Chief Pintar notified the Goldcorp Dome Mine that if the smoke build-up were going to continue, the mine would have to be evacuated. Although preparations were made, home and mine evacuations were not carried out, according to Pintar, except for a couple of residents with pre-existing medical conditions.
Just after 5:00 p.m. it became apparent that more water tanker aircraft were assigned to Timmins. Four of the Canadair CL415 water bombers set up a carousel approach on Porcupine Lake, swooping down, scooping up six thousand litres of lake water, lifting off and heading back to the fire.
Two of the tankers were from Ontario. The other two were from Quebec. Dozens of area residents, armed with cameras, stood along the shores of Porcupine Lake snapping photos.
After an hour of regular water bombing this way, it became evident the tankers were having an effect as the smoke plume on the horizon over Schumacher diminished greatly.
The tankers kept up the effort but soon devoted their attention to the fires in the west end. Many Timmins residents admit being momentarily startled by the massive low-flying yellow aircraft.
By 6:00 p.m. it appeared that the fire was settling down, but still burning in an easterly direction. For the most part, it seems the worst of the fire is over or at least subsiding.
Timmins Fire Department, Timmins Police and the Ministry of Natural Resources have set up a joint command post on Vipond Road.
At 7:00 p.m. Chief Pintar and the MNR took to the air to check on the situation and come up with a plan of attack. Pintar has suggested the local fire crews will have to be on duty throughout the night in case the wind causes any dangerous flare-ups.

Go to TimminsTimes.com

2008-11-29T12:22:00.002-05:00

This blog is no longer active as a current news reporting medium. Please go to www.timminstimes.com and make it your local bookmark for Timmins news.

Three vehicle crash on Highway 101 in Porcupine

2008-10-24T09:54:00.005-04:00

Traffic was halted for more than an hour on Highway 101 in Porcupine Friday after a three-vehicle crash. Ontario provincial police say the crash occurred just before 8:00 a.m. The crash involved a compact car, a van and a pickup truck which was flipped over on its roof. Few details are available, but police say three persons were removed from the vehicles and brought to Timmins and District Hospita
l.

CAW Local 599 slows down Xstrata traffic

2008-10-17T11:19:00.005-04:00

Local 599 CAW in Timmins held a secondary picket line at the Xstrata parking lot at Highway 655 and Laforest Road early this morning, to slow down the effort where management workers and relief workers gather at the parking lot each morning and board buses that take them across the picket line at the Xstrata Met Site. The slow down began at about 4:30 a.m. and continued for two hours. After that, the picketers staged a motorized picket by driving nearly 200 vehicles along highway 655 to the Xstrata Kidd Mine Site where traffic was slowed to a crawl for more than an hour.

"Sylvia" will leave your ears buzzing!

2008-10-17T09:56:00.005-04:00

Rehearsals are in full swing for the bizarre dinner-theatre comedy treat “Sylvia” to be presented by Take Two Theatre of Timmins on October 23, 24 and 25 at the Porcupine Dante Club. The play is about a stray dog, Sylvia, portrayed by Natalie Geddes who comes between a middle-aged couple portrayed by Graham Reid and Liliane Lachance. The cast is rounded out by players Rick Lemieux, Lindley Morrison and Jessica Bonhomme. This is no Disneyesque-type production featuring the soft-eyed pooches from Lady and The Tramp. Once you've heard the gnashing, growling and panting from Syvlia, your ears will be buzzing and your jaw muscles will be sore from laughter. Tickets are available only the Dante Club. Incidentally, this is an adult comedy that includes adult language.

Charlie Angus Wins Again

2008-10-14T23:29:00.004-04:00

New Democrat Charlie Angus is once again the MP for Timmins-James Bay. Voters across the riding returned Angus with a strong mandate as he handily defeated Liberal challenger Paul Taillefer, Conservative Bill Greenberg and Green Party hopeful Larry Vernier. Speaking at the Porcupine Dante Club Wednesday night, shortly after being declared the winner, Angus told reporters he had a good feeling about the campaign from the beginning.
“We were confident going into this because we built a great team across Timmins-Bay and we represented all the little communities,” said Angus.
“When the writ was called I did a tour right through the riding and it felt strong right then,” he added.
By winning a third consecutive term Angus moves to an unofficial new status as a Member of Parliament who will enjoy some sense of seniority over many other MPs and caucus members.
The 46-year old writer and musician was first elected in 2004 and then re-elected in 2006.
Angus told reporters he believes his record as a hard-working MP has paid off.
“People in the north want someone who stands up, and shows up and fights for them. That’s what we’ve been doing in Timmins-James Bay. We won over more and more people in each election,” he said.
“I mean, in my first election, I won by six hundred votes,” Angus recalled. Two years later, Angus won by more than six thousand votes.
The numbers for Tuesday’s vote were not yet available, but by 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, it was clear that Angus was ahead by several thousand ballots.

Sunday morning gun call in Schumacher

2008-10-12T11:59:00.002-04:00

Traffic was blocked for several hours on Croatia Avenue this morning as Timmins Police responded to a domestic dispute involving a man with a weapon. Police were told by a witness that the weapon was a pellet gun, but police took no chances and responded with a negotiator and the Emergency Response Team. A woman was escorted from the scene. The man remained inside the home at the back of 92 Croatia Ave. No further details were available at noon. Police will be issuing a formal statement later today.

A great moment in sport... for these guys!

2008-10-10T16:00:00.006-04:00

It may not go down as one of the great moments in sports, but it was certainly a special time for a handful of amateur hockey players who like to kick the puck around on their lunch hour at the McIntyre Arena in Timmins. They didn't know that on this Friday, Canadian hockey great and goaltending legend Ken Dryden was right next door having lunch at the McIntyre Coffee Shop. Dryden was happy to drop by and watch the guys in action and then stepped on the ice to shake hands with the players and pose for an impromptu team photo. It will be a game to remember for this group.

Museum consultants announce short list

2008-10-06T20:32:00.002-04:00

Consultants for the Diamond and Schmitt architectural firm have come up with a short list for five locations for a new $12 million Timmins Arts and Heritage Centre, which is the building being suggested as the replacement for the old Timmins Museum and National Exhibition Centre.
The old museum building on Legion Drive in South Porcupine had to be closed in 2006 due to water and mould problems in the 25 year old building.
The locations on the short list for a new building include: 1 - Highway 101 by snow dump beside the Whitney Arena, 2 - on Highway 101 between the Whitney Arena and Northern College, 3 - Bruce Avenue across from the Spruce Hill Lodge, 4 - on highway 101 beside the McIntyre Arena and 5 - on Algonquin Boulevard at the old Doran’s Brewery site.
In terms of scoring the best site location by the consulting team, the McIntyre site topped the list with 36 out of a total of 40 points. Next on the list was the Doran’s site with 35 points, the Whitney snow dump with 30 points, the Whitney arena site near the college at 30 points and the Bruce Avenue site, near Spruce Hill Lodge at 25 points.
The architects have laid out plans for a 28,000 square foot building that will include room for the museum and exhibition centre, room the Timmins Symphony Orchestra as well as community spaces for numerous other arts and culture groups.
Regardless of what site council eventually chooses, the final decision on the project will be whether enough money can be raised to pay for it. As a publicly funded city-owned building, the new Timmins Arts and Heritage Centre at $12 million will likely be the most expensive City project ever undertaken.

The strike is on.

2008-10-01T01:20:00.004-04:00

Members of CAW Local 599 begin passing out the picket signs at about 20 seconds after midnight, early Wednesday morning, upon getting confirmation that no new agreement was reached between the union and Xstrata Copper Canada. Despite reaching an impasse in talks on Monday, both sides worked with a conciliator all day Tuesday, but were not able to come to an agreement.
"There wasn’t one final thing." said bargaining committee chair Ben Lefebvre when he arrived at the picket line around 1:00 a.m. (see photo below, centre-right, wearing blue jacket).
"It’s wages, benefits and basically contract language – seniority rights, skilled trades issues. They didn’t want to come very close to what our membership needs.
It’s as simple as that." he said.
"They’re adamant," Lefebvre suggested of Xstrata's corporate position.
"They want to attack the union. That’s what they’re all about," he accused.
"We hung in there right to the bitter end. We were hoping they were going to change their position, but obviously here we are," he told fellow union members.
“Three out of four, gentlemen. Three strikes out of four contracts. A very reasonable company we’re working for here,” Lefebvre said with a hint of sarcasm.

Strike at Xstrata looking likely

2008-09-29T20:52:00.001-04:00

Xstrata Copper Canada says contract talks have broken down with the bargaining committee for CAW Local 599, the union that represents workers at the Xstrata Kidd Metallurgical Site in Timmins.
"We are very disappointed that the Union Executives have turned down the company's contract offer. We truly believe that we presented a fair, competitive and responsible offer and in fact we were able to agree on many of the demands tabled by the union," stated Thompson Hickey, General Manager of the Kidd Metallurgical site.
The company gave the union a deadline of 10:00 p.m. Monday Sept. 29 to accept a new three-year contract that includes the following:
-- Year 1: 3.5% salary increase
-- Year 2: 3.25%
-- Year 3: 1% plus COLA (Cost Of Living Adjustment)
-- Signing bonus $2,000
If the bargaining committee chooses not to accept that offer, it changes by dropping the percentage increases in year-one and year-two, as follows, but it must be signed before 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday Sept. 30, the moment the current contract expires :
-- Year 1: 3% salary increase
-- Year 2: 3%
-- Year 3: 1% plus COLA
-- Signing bonus $2,000
The Canadian Auto Workers say the latest offer did make some movement toward union demands but not near enough to be considered a serious offer. It was late last week that some three-quarters of the union members voted 96 per cent in favour of taking strike action.
The unionized workers will be in a legal strike position at midnight on Tuesday. The company says it is "is finalizing contingency plans in the event the Union decides not to accept the offer."

Goldcorp reveals mining plans

2008-09-29T18:41:00.004-04:00

Goldcorp Porcupine Gold Mines has revealed that it intends to create three new open pit mining operations at the old Hollinger Gold Mine property. Goldcorp PGM's strategic project manager Dave Bucar told Timmins city council this evening(in photo at left) that his company intends to create the new mining operation entirely within the existing property and fenceline of the known Hollinger property. Bucar says this will allay any fears in the community that may exist about the creation of a super-sized open pit that would take in parts of Schumacher, the McIntyre Arena and the Shania Twain Centre.
Bucar's revelations follow the news that was released by Goldcorp in 2007 that more than four-million ounces of gold have been identified through exploration drilling in and around the former Hollinger gold mine, one of the most lucrative gold mines in the history of Timmins.
"We are now moving into a permitting phase." said Bucar "We dont have any exact timing on construction or when the mine will begin." He says the timetable will be determined according to how quickly the various branches of government give the company permission to carry out mining operations.Bucar also revealed that in order to address concerns about dust, vibrations and noise that are part of an open pit mine, the company would be creating a rock wall, or a berm, twenty metres high along the entire perimeter of the project.

Goldcorp worried that ATVers destroying tailings

2008-09-29T12:37:00.004-04:00

Goldcorp is trying to finish up the job in rejuvenating the old Delnite tailings. But there is a concern there are people in the community who are just as determined to ruin that work.
Goldcorp Porcupine Gold Mines has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the project but avid ATV riders may see its demise, according to PGM environmental engineer László Götz.
Much of the success of PGM’s rejuvenation effort is based on the plan of adding bio-solids to the tailings, thus creating a suitable base of nutrients where grasses, shrubs and trees can flourish. The company has also begun hydro-seeding the land in a high-priced effort to regreen the area.
The work has been applauded by many residents living in and around the old Delnite townsite, who complained for years about dust blowing off the top of the tailings. Controlling the dust is one of the reasons why PGM is working to rejuvenate the land.
The problem is that ATV riders and dirt-bikers are tearing up the reseeded areas by riding all over PGM’s private property.
PGM project assistant Bev Taylor says signs and barriers are being installed at all known access points to the various tailings areas, aimed at ATV and dirt-bike riders. “They don’t always pay attention,” she admits.
She says it’s not only to stop the riders from destroying new vegetation, but also for the protection of the trespassers so they don’t get in the way of the large machines.
“There’s heavy trucks everywhere out here,” she explains as one of the mammoth rock hauling machines roars along the back roads bringing another load of crushed rock that is used to stabilize the slopes of the tailings dams.
She adds that PGM is going to the expense to adding large boulders, weighing many thousands of kilograms, all along the perimeter at the top of the tailings. The idea is to keep trespassers from destroying the fragile re-vegetation area. PGM is hoping the boulders will discourage the ATV riders from trespassing.
The continued presence of the riders is frustrating for Götz, who has watched as his efforts get destroyed.
“Not only millions of dollars worth of repair work is at stake, but also the health of the nearby residents, who in the past endured dusting coming from the barred tailings surfaces, and who oh-so-loudly complained about it to the media last fall,” he said.
PGM is also in the process of cleaning up the old Aunor tailings located nearby and because of the trespassers at the Delnite, extra money, materials and manpower will be spent on those tailings as well, in an effort to keep ATVers away.

CAW calling for a strike vote at Xstrata Met Site

2008-09-24T18:24:00.003-04:00

The bargaining committee for Local 599 of the Canadian Auto Workers, which represents the unionized employees at the Xstrata Kidd Met Site in Timmins is calling for a strike vote.
Ben Lefebvre, the chair of the bargaining committee, said in a news release late Wednesday afternoon that the latest company offer “falls short of our members’ expectations.”
Lefebvre says he is calling on the membership to hold meetings on Thursday to decide on a course of action.
“On Wednesday September 24th the Company presented your Bargaining Committee with an offer of settlement that falls short of our members’ expectations. The Committee had no choice but to reject the offer and will be asking members for a strong strike mandate to back your demands.
“As a result we have scheduled membership meetings for Thursday, September 25th at 3:00 and 7:30 PM at the McIntyre Community Center.
The current contract between Xstrata and Local 599 expires at midnight on September 30. If there is no contract by then, the union will be in a strike position on Wednesday October 1.
The relationship between the company and the union has been a rocky one in the past nine years. There have been three contracts and two strikes.
The current contract came into effect at the end of October 2005, when Local 599 went on strike for 29 days to back demands for their third contract.
The Met Site workers also went on strike for 26 days back in 1999 to back demands for their first ever contract.

Boot Drive on Saturday

2008-09-17T14:07:00.002-04:00

Fill yer boots! Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus and communications director Dale Tonelli were among the first to make donations to the annual Muscular Dystrophy campaign, which firefighters across Canada have been promoting for decades. The donations were accepted by Timmins Professional Firefighter Association president Peter Osterberg. The firefighters will conduct a “boot drive” in several areas of the city on Saturday where residents can make a donation in support of medical research and Muscular Dystrophy Canada. Timmins Professional Firefighters and 600 other fire departments and associations across Canada have raised more than $61 million since the boot drive campaigns began in 1954. Firefighters will be on location at McDonald’s, Your Independent Grocers, A&P Superfresh, Wal Mart and Canadian Tire beginning at 9:00 a.m. Saturday to collect donations.

Timmins police make arrests after gas bar robbery

2008-09-16T17:11:00.001-04:00

Timmins Police Service says several arrests have been made as the result of an armed robbery that occurred at the Canadian Tire Gas Bar early Tuesday morning.
At approximately 6:19 a.m. a lone male suspect entered the gas bar brandishing a knife. The suspect punched an innocent customer and then reached over the counter removing an undisclosed amount of cash from the till, says a police news release.
Police say the suspect was seen running away northbound through the parking lot. The customer who was punched was able to identify a suspect for police, who then proceeded to a home on Fifth Avenue.
Within minutes, police knocked on the door of a Fifth Avenue home. The residents inside refused to come out, so police waited at the door until a search warrant was processed. Eventually four suspects came out of the house and were arrested by police. Police say the suspect involved in the robbery and weapons offence is being held in custody pending a bail hearing.
In the meantime, police have launched a thorough search of the Fifth Avenue home to gather more evidence.
Police say no names are being released until their investigation is completed.

Timmins car fire - dramatic photos

2008-09-15T16:13:00.004-04:00

Heavy black smoke billowed over the southern side of Timmins this afternoon, just before four oclock, when a van caught fire on Cody Avenue at Mountjoy Street. Firefighters arrived on the scene in minutes to find the vehicle enveloped in flames. It only took a few more minutes to knock down the fire. Firefighters left the scene just before 4:30 p.m. There were no reports of any injuries. The incident is under investigation.

Thanks to Timmins Firefighters

2008-09-15T15:19:00.002-04:00

Northern College said Thank You in a special way recently when it presented a handcrafted and framed copy of the Fireman’s Prayer to the Timmins Professional Firefighters Association. Local president Peter Osterberg, left, accepted the framed prayer from Judy Rantala, who runs Northern College’s School of Health Science and Emergency Services, which includes the pre-firefighter program. Rantala explained that the gesture of thanks was directed to the professional firefighters in Timmins who have gone above and beyond in working with the college and contributing to the success of the firefighter’s training program and, said Rantala, “do an excellent job of mentoring” with the students. The current class of students attended the firehall and hosted a barbecue lunch for the firefighters.

Timmins Terry Fox Run

2008-09-15T15:05:00.000-04:00

Timmins Runner Joel Picard was the first to finish the 6K road running event in the city’s annual Terry Fox Fun this year. Picard crossed the finish line with a time of 24:45.50. He was one of scores of running enthusiasts who ran the course despite the cooler temperatures and brisk winds on Sunday afternoon. The Terry Fox Run in Timmins this year had nearly one hundred participants who walked and ran the course, from Gillies Lake through the north end of the city and back.

Timmins traffic tied up

2008-09-15T14:55:00.000-04:00

Timmins Police Constable Chris Litt had to direct traffic early Monday afternoon when a logging truck knocked down the traffic light post at Burnette Road and Algonquin Boulevard. Traffic was backed up for nearly an hour as workers cleared the debris and then worked the get all the traffic signals working again. The incident is under police investigation.

Timmins students challenged for African missions

2008-09-15T14:53:00.004-04:00

Father Marco Bagnarol is challenging Catholic students in Timmins and throughout the Northeast district to help him raise money for missions in Mozambique, in south eastern Africa. Bagnarol, originally from Toronto, is now with the Consolata Missionaries who have been working in Mozambique since 1925 to children build better lives for themselves. The challenge is to all students of the Northeastern Catholic District School Board (NCDRB) students and teachers to take action to help raise $30,000 this year. The board says the call to assist others in need fits in with the current theme of Catholic education which reminds students “You are the Light of the World” and gives students the opportunity to experience and appreciate the value of helping others.

Goldcorp "suspending operations" at Pamour

2008-09-12T21:46:00.000-04:00

Goldcorp Porcupine Gold Mines announced today it is suspending operations indefinitely at the Pamour Open Pit mining operation, because of the dropping price of gold and rising price of fuel and other supplies needed to run the mine. The company says the work suspension will come in early 2009, once the current mining stage is completed.
The Pamour Open Pit was brought online two years ago, after Goldcorp spent hundreds of millions of dollars to move the move part of Three Nations Lake to access part of the historic Pamour orebody that was below the lake and under the old section of Highway 101.
In a news release, the company said “Porcupine Gold Mines operating margins have been eroded by significant commodity inflation at its open pit operation due in part to the large volumes of fuel, steel and tires it consumes. Gold prices have dropped more than 30 per cent since earlier highs, cash costs in the open pit have almost doubled in less than two years and planned ore grades have not been achieved.”
The company has not indicated anything about layoffs, but the news release indicates that Goldcorp will try to relocate the Pamour workers into other Goldcorp operations in Timmins, which includes the Hoyle Pond Mine, the Dome Mine and the Hollinger project. The company says existing ore stockpiles will continue to be sent to the Porcupine mill, also known as the Dome mill.
“There are roughly 160 employees working in conjunction with the open pit, maintenance, engineering and geology; over 80 of whom will be retained for mill maintenance and to mine ore from stockpiles. At this time we anticipate that existing openings at the Porcupine and other Goldcorp operations will allow re-deployment of an additional 30 people,” the news release stated.
“As Pamour mining activities slow down in the first half of 2009 we will continue to look for positions to re-deploy the remainder of the workforce for whom we currently do not have opportunities,” the company news release continued.
“The Porcupine mill will continue at full production by replacing Pamour open pit ore with significant ore stockpiles that have been generated over the past 14 years of open pit mining. Following the completion of mining operations the workforce will be reduced to a size commensurate with re-handling stockpiles,” the company said.
“We wanted to ensure our employees had as much notice as possible and we will take the transition time we have to look for new opportunities to retain our people. Porcupine’s other operations and projects require people and we need to focus our efforts on those operations to ensure they continue to be competitive under any market conditions.” The release was signed by Chris Cormier, Mine General Manager Porcupine Gold Mines.

Pépère Gilles!

2008-09-06T14:09:00.001-04:00

Gilles Bisson has become a pépère. The Timmins-James Bay MPP announced at the Porcupine Fall Fair Friday that his daughter Julie and her husband Chris Gardner are the proud parents of a baby boy, young Nathaniel Gilles, who was born on Wednesday. Bisson told the fair audience that he, and his wife Murielle, were both pleased and trying to outdo the other in seeing who could hold the baby the most.

Porcupine Fall Fair Fun!

2008-09-06T13:46:00.005-04:00

Nice Donkey! It’s something Shrek might say, but visiting the donkey was one of the many attractions for sight seers at the annual Porcupine Fall on the weekend. Among those who visited the live animal displays were Marissa Baril, left, and Kayla Mason. Which way is up? Jillian Nemis of Timmins might have trying to figure that out as she enjoyed a “spin” on the Gyro Scope at the Porcupine Fall Fair on the weekend. The gyro device was one of the popular ‘hair raising’ attractions at the fair set up by Climb ‘N’ Fun, a Timmins based entertainment venture. Just hanging around! Seven-year-old Bailey Whissel of the McKinnon novice hockey club was one of many youngsters who tried the endurance “hang-on” device at the Porcupine Fall Fair on the weekend. The device was set up for youngsters to try to out-do each other in how long they could simply hang onto a bar while suspended above the ground. The event was a fundraiser for the McKinnon hockey club. Cutting it close. Perry Gauthier of Sudbury showed off his model flying skills at the Porcupine Fall Fair on the weekend. Gauthier was on hand as part of the Science Timmins display at the fall fair and delighted many youngsters by flying robotic model aircraft inside the Mountjoy Arena.

Cops continue crackdown on speeders

2008-09-06T12:52:00.006-04:00

LEN GILLIS
The Timmins Times
Timmins Police Service says the Aggressive Driver Hotline is working. Aggressive drivers are being reported on by alert citizens and the number of automobile accidents in Timmins is being reduced. Details released at a news conference Thursday show that from May until September, Timmins Police had 60 calls on the hotline. “The Timmins Police Service was able to investigate and send out 31 letters to registered owners regarding aggressive drivers of these vehicles,” said traffic sergeant Bill Aird(at right). He added that the remaining 29 complaints did not have enough information for police to conduct any follow up. But even though the hotline appears to be a successful enforcement tool, Timmins Police Chief Richard Laperriere says he is “alarmed” that too many drivers continue to drive too fast in Timmins. The chief says he is sending a clear message to aggressive drivers.
“Our message today is ‘yes we will continue to be aggressive in regards to enforcement. Yes, we will be out there’,” he said
“Our goal is clear. We want to reduce motor vehicle accidents, fatalities and personal injuries,” said the chief.
SCHOOL ZONES
He says the priority for police at the moment is local school zones.
“As you all know, kids are back in school and I want to make it very clear today we are going to be very aggressive in regards to the speed limits in our school zones,” said the chief, adding that the speed limit in those zones is 40 kilometres per hour.
He adds however, that enforcement will occur in all parts of the city, day and night.
As an example of stepping up enforcement, the chief stated that at one point last week, police checked out the area of Connaught Hill and the Langmuir Road. He says police radar was on the scene for only 90 minutes and 22 vehicles were speeding. “The officer was there for an hour-and-a-half, and twenty-two vehicles speeding… that’s alarming to me,” said the chief(at right).
“I just don’t understand that. What’s the rush?” asked the chief.
He says driving over the speed limit is likely the number one concern in Timmins.
Laperriere says the news was not all bad.
“The good news is that our motor vehicle accidents are down by nine per cent,” said the chief, referring to local traffic accident numbers compared from July 2007 to July 2008.
“The hotline played a role in that. Our increased enforcement played a role in that,” he added.
Aird urges motorists to continue calling the hotline since he says it will help make Timmins a safer place to be for all drivers.
The aggressive driver hotline number is 360-8717.

Council approves paving Kamiskotia Highway

2008-09-06T12:49:00.001-04:00

Timmins city council wasted no time this week dipping into the new $4 million bag of money handed over by the province for local infrastructure improvements.
Council met for a special meeting Wednesday afternoon to approve the spending of $1.7 million to do a once-and-for-all paving job on the Kamiskotia Highway.
And even though the vote was unanimous, some city councillors were alarmed and angry at how high the cost of asphalt has risen over the summer, allegedly in response to the higher cost of oil.
Council’s decision on the roadwork followed a presentation by city engineer Luc Duval who outlined that with savings from the current road program and adding money from the new provincial grant, the city can finally do a decent paving job on the full stretch of the Kamiskotia highway all the way to Leclair Avenue.
Part of the savings will come from canceling the $100,000 paving job for Legion Drive, since a review of that job indicates it will cost far more than $100,000. At the urging of John Curley, council committed to making that a priority job for next year.
The breakdown for the Kamiskotia highway job is as follows. There was $700,000 budgeted for work on it this year. The city has $400,000 it can re-assign from savings in other roadwork this year. The city adds $600,000 to the Kamiskotia project from the provincial grant received last week. Total cost = $1.7 million. Duval explained that he wanted to get the work done while the city is able to take advantage of a five-year price deal it had with Miller Paving, to buy asphalt at $89 per tonne, but he said the city also has to pay a new surcharge.
Council was told that due to the higher price of oil, Miller Paving instituted a surcharge of roughly $26 per tonne to push the price of asphalt up to $115 per tonne.
SAUDINO ANGRY
This angered council’s financial watchdog, councillor Denis Saudino, since the invoice for the extra surcharge arrived in August, long after the asphalt had been laid down on other road jobs. The extra cost was several thousands of dollars.
Both Duval and city administrator Joe Torlone explained that even with the surcharge, the Miller price was still a bargain, since the price was negotiated five years ago. Torlone said the city was aware that a surcharge might be applied since it was part of the original contract.
Saudino said he was upset that asphalt was supplied, and roadwork was done without Miller giving any up-front notice of the price change. He said it was unfair.
He said he was also upset that city staff seemed unaware of the price change until the bill arrived and it was too late to argue the point or at least negotiate.
“I think the supplier should have given us a heads-up. They knew the price when they were laying it down. Or they should have known the price.” Saudino told The Timmins Times.
“They buy their stuff in advance, right, so they know the cost of their stuff on hand,” he said. “So I mean if there’s a difference in the cost, they should warn their customers and the city of Timmins is one of their customers,” Saudino added.
“And for us not to know the price before we receive it, I think that’s not good business,” he said.
City councillor Bill Gvozdanovic suggested the Kamiskotia paving job at the bargain price, was “a no brainer”. He also suggested that council refrain from negative comments about Miller Paving lest the price of asphalt get any higher.

Bisson fears bus cuts will continue

2008-09-06T12:45:00.001-04:00

Timmins-James Bay MPP Gilles Bisson put Northern Development minister in the hot-seat this week, over the proposed cuts to Ontario Northland’s bus service. Bisson grilled MNDM Minister Michael Gravelle during the Standing Committee on Estimates meeting at Queen’s Park.
“Reducing services will result in a reduction in ridership. That is going to lead to a downward spiral on more reductions,” Bisson told the minister.
As the NDP Critic for Transportation, Bisson said he called on Gravelle to delay service cuts. “The Union is asking for the government and the ONTC to take another look at the situation. The Union has options but needs the Minister to consult with them, communities and riders.”
Bisson even offered his support for such a process. “I am in favour of making the ONTC more productive. But reducing services doesn’t equal productivity. Improving service will mean more riders, which in turn improves productivity and the bottom line.”
Bisson says the ONTC bus service is the ‘Go Transit’ of Northern Ontario.
“It is a crown agency that operates rail, bus and train service throughout the north. Go Transit is subsidized properly so why wouldn’t the ONTC receive similar treatment?” he asked.
Bisson says savings from the proposed cuts are not that costly and he asks why not have the Province offset any extra costs with adjustments to the provincial subsidy.
He says the ONTC can then re-examine the operation to find other areas for savings. Talking with the Union and communities is the first step, he said.

Wilson Avenue crashes

2008-09-06T12:34:00.007-04:00

Paramedics, Firefighters and Timmins Police responded to two separate auto crashes on Wilson Avenue, near Preston Street, on Friday. Timmins city council has approved spending $15,000 on a traffic study to determine traffic patterns, and problems, on Wilson and nearby Cameron Street. One of the concerns voiced at a recent city council meeting is that motorists on Wilson Avenue drive at a high rate of speed.

Kidd Met Site union to begin talks with Xstrata

2008-09-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

LEN GILLIS
The Timmins Times
Bargaining begins on Monday as unionized members of the Xstrata Kidd Metallurgical Site approach the end of their current three-year contract. That contract expires at the end of this month.
The current contract came after more than 600 members of Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) local 599 went on strike on October 1, 2005. The strike ended after 29 days, when there was agreement on the new contract with the help of a government-appointed mediator.
The unionized Met Site workers also went on strike for 26 days, during July of 1999 to back demands for their first ever contract. CAW Local 599 bargaining committee chair Ben Lefebvre told The Timmins Times this week that he was happy to get the bargaining dates from the company.
“I am encouraged at the fact we have dates pre-set to the end of September, which is something that’s never happened in the last three rounds of bargaining,” said Lefebvre.
“I am hoping this is an indication that they truly want an agreement this time around as opposed to what’s happened in the last three rounds of bargaining.”
When asked by The Times if bargaining with Xstrata represents any sort of a significant change, Lefebvre replied, “only time will tell.”
“I mean locally the people who are running the show are still basically the same people that used to operate the place for Noranda, or are certainly ‘Noranda’ people that haven’t really moved away y’know after the Xstrata takeover two years ago,” said Lefebvre.
“Xstrata claims they are going to allow the local management team to make the decisions. Like I said, time will tell how true that is.” It was just last week that the company and the union exchanged documents containing each side’s formal proposals for a new contract.
Although Lefebvre says the setting of meeting dates is encouraging, he adds it was a long process to get to that point.
“We were hoping it was going to happen this spring, and hoping we could have the majority of it done even by now, but they kept stonewalling us up to the point where we finally got some dates … well actually these dates just came last week,” said Lefebvre.
“That’s when we got some firm commitments.”
The Times asked if anyone has mentioned the possibility of a strike.
“No, but let’s face it we’ve been through three rounds of bargaining so far and we’ve had two strikes,” said Lefebvre.
“Are people assuming the worst? Certainly some people are. Some people still have a bad taste in their mouth from the last couple of strikes that, from the bargaining unit perspective, were totally unnecessary,” he added.
“We’ve never gone overboard expecting more than what’s fair and equitable and affordable to the company. And so at this point in time, it’s a waiting game.”

Labour Day March in Timmins

2008-09-01T13:14:00.004-04:00

Karla Habla of Timmins, centre with the flag, led dozens of Timmins residents on the 10th annual Labour Day march around Gillies Lake this morning. Habla says the walk is a non-political and peaceful way to mark the day to honour workers rights. The march was attended by representatives of Ontario Public Service Employees Union, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, the Canadian Auto Workers, as well as Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus, MPP Gilles Bisson and mayor Tom Laughren.

"If you're not feeling well, you might see a doctor'

2008-08-29T11:08:00.003-04:00

The elderly woman who died recently at the Timmins and District Hospital (TDH) had the listeria bacteria in her body, but as yet no one can say if that was indeed the cause of death. She is the one and only known case of listeria infection, connected to the Maple Leaf Foods listeria, who was brought to TDH.
That was the crux of the news conference held in Timmins Wednesday afternoon, that essentially confirmed the front-page story published in The Timmins Times on Wednesday and in The Times news blog (www.timminstimes.blogspot.com) on Tuesday.
Hospital and health officials in Timmins have confirmed what The Timmins Times revealed on Wednesday, that the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) is investigating three cases of listeria within its jurisdiction including the case of the woman who died.
“Test results on an elderly female patient that died here at the hospital have been confirmed positive for listeria monocytongenes bacterium. Further testing by the Toronto Public Health lab has identified that his strain is the one that is linked to the Maple Leaf Foods outbreak,” said Esko Vainio, the chief executive officer of the Timmins and District Hospital.
Vainio says the patient did not develop listeria at TDH, but was sent to the hospital from a nearby community.
“As usual, our hospital’s health care team provided professional and compassionate care for this patient who was referred here from another community in our service area,” said Vainio. Neither he nor officials of the health unit would identify the patient, or what community she was from, for privacy reasons.
He added that the hospital could not say for certain that listeria was the cause of death.
“The patient had multiple health problems and obviously it’s really a clinical judgment as to what exactly caused the unfortunate demise of this elderly lady and we do not have that formal confirmation,” said Vainio
“We understand that the coroner’s office may become involved in cases such as this,” Vainio continued, “therefore we cannot comment further about this patient or where this patient is from.”
Jodie Russell, the hospital’s Coordinator of Infection Control explained that blood samples are taken at the hospital and all unusual findings are reported to the Ontario Ministry of Health and the health unit as a matter of record.
“There are designated communicable diseases that must be reported,” said Russell. All such information is entered into a provincial database.
The listeria sample from the deceased woman is the only listeria sample discovered this year at TDH. The two other listeria cases being investigated by the health unit do not involve the hospital Russell said.
EARLY WARNING
Vainio also revealed that hospitals and old age homes were notified early about the concern over tainted meats.
“Our food service staff disposed of all suspected meat products a week before the public recall, so we do not expect any problems for anything that was served here,” said Vainio.
Vainio said he had no explanation about the early warning except that it involved public health agencies and Maple Leaf Foods.
“I can’t speak to that. We’re glad that we had advance notice. I wish everybody had advance notice, but it’s not in our hands.”
In the meantime, Bob Bell the health unit’s manager of public health inspection says his team will continue to ensure that tainted meat products are removed from the public domain.
SEEING A DOCTOR
With respect to concerns about individual health, Bell said it’s a matter a personal choice.
“We do normally get calls from people regarding symptoms and our direction is to seek medical attention if somebody is not feeling well,” said Bell.(photo at right)
“As public health inspectors, we are not medical practitioners and if a person is not feeling well, they are the best judge and they should be seeking medical attention and get in contact with their family physician,” he added.
“One of the problems with food-borne illness is that the symptoms are very similar to flu-like symptoms and food-borne illnesses are truly under reported; not just in Canada, it’s a world wide thing,” said Bell.
TDH IS PREPARED
The TDH emergency department is prepared to handle any personal health concerns according to Vainio.
“And our expectation as a hospital is that probably we already have people presenting here and will have people presenting here who are concerned about their symptoms. In our emergency department, it’s a fact of life,” said Vainio.
“The hospital and the health unit jointly wish to express our sincere condolences to the family of this unfortunate lady who passed here in July,” Vainio added.

Bisson launches NDP leadership bid

2008-08-29T11:05:00.003-04:00

Timmins-James Bay MPP Gilles Bisson made it official Thursday as he launched his bid to become the next leader of Ontario’s New Democratic Party by saying it’s time the party adopted a culture of success that will put it on the path to forming government.
The well-known and outspoken 51-year-old Timmins native made the announcement to a news conference in Toronto, before moving on to make the same announcement in Sudbury.
Bisson is vying to replace the outgoing NDP leader Howard Hampton, who had led the Ontario new democrats for a dozen years, but was not able to win enough seats to form a government or become the official opposition. Hampton announced earlier this year he would be resigning the leadership in favour of spending more time with his family.
“Under my leadership we’ll adopt a positive attitude by cultivating a winning spirit and laying the foundation for a culture of success,” Bisson told gathered reporters representing all the major news organizations in Toronto Thursday morning. He said it was important to make his announcement in southern Ontario and Northern Ontario on the same day. “I am running to be the voice for all Ontarians – urban and rural, north and south – because the social, environmental and economic challenges we face together do not distinguish between where you live in our province.”
Bisson pointed out that the NDP has always been viewed as the party people trust most when it comes to protecting social programs. However, voters have been reluctant to vote for the party in great numbers as they worry the NDP does not take fiscal policy as seriously.
“You can’t build social programs without a strong economy”, said Bisson. ”Wealth creation is absolutely necessary to help create jobs and provides the funding to strengthen social programs.”
“Inside the party it’s time to debate economic issues such as how we grow a strong economy, taxation and budget management. It’s time we show Ontarians that New Democrats can manage your money, as we have successfully done in other provinces under NDP administrations.”
Building a culture of success begins with nurturing the grassroots of the party, Bisson said.
“Let’s not kid ourselves, we’ve go a lot of tough work ahead. Under my leadership I am prepared to take a fresh look at how we conduct ourselves as a party and that begins by granting more autonomy to our riding associations in terms of fundraising, candidate recruitment and developing new policy ideas.”
Should Bisson be elected leader of the NDP, he would be the first Franco-Ontarian to lead a major political party in this province.
Bisson was first elected as the provincial representative for this area on October 1 of 1990. He had held the seat successfully in every provincial election since then.

Timmins chamber continues advocacy role

2008-08-29T10:33:00.002-04:00

Timmins businessman, Rob Galloway, is looking forward to his year as the new president of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce so that the organization can continue its advocacy role, especially in the case of proposed changes to the Ontario Mining Act.
“Right now we’re working with the TEDC (Timmins Economic Development Corporation) and the city, to put together our comments on paper to the review process and we have until October 15 when that closes,” Galloway told Timmins reporters this week.
Galloway is referring to the plan by the Ontario government to overhaul the Mining Act insofar as it affects the exploration process for things such as prospecting, staking claims and carrying out diamond drill exploration work.
He added that the chamber is canvassing larger corporate members such as local mining companies to be sure their comments and concerns are included. “It’s critical for Timmins,” he said. “It’s the biggest industry we have obviously. Things are going very well at the moment and that’s good news. But we want to make sure that continues,” said Galloway.
He added that the chamber wants to be certain that any changes to the act work for the mining industry and the mining exploration industry.
“We also want it to work the for First Nations communities that we have close links with,” said Galloway.
He added that the mining concern will be more than apparent at the Chamber’s annual meeting on October 1, when Chris Hodgson, the president of the Ontario Mining Association will be a guest speaker.
That dinner will also be the final official function for outgoing chamber president Marilyn Wood, who says she is pleased with what has been accomplished in the past year. Business advocacy and information sharing are the two issues that Wood believes were the best part of her tenure as chamber president. She also conceded that the work of the chamber has raised its profile in the city.
“I think that we have definitely raised the profile because we have been able to supply very high quality information and have done a lot of research and background work,” said Wood.
“I think our businesses at the very least look to us for an opinion and that opinion always takes into account how the businesses will be impacted by various decisions at various government levels,” she added.
“Often they are opinions on political issues and so it may appear that its political but I think its more it is a response to the politics.”

Cause of death may never be known

2008-08-28T19:28:00.000-04:00

Although the woman who died at Timmins and District Hospital tested positive for the strain of listeria tied to the Maple Leaf Foods outbreak, it is possible it may never be known if that listeria was the cause of her death.
Timmins and District Hospital chief executive officer Esko Vainio told Timmins reporters Wednesday that any formal determination as to the patient’s cause of death would have to come from the coroner’s office. It was an indication that no autopsy has been performed on the deceased patient.
Ontario regional coroner Dr. David Eden told The Timmins Time he could not comment on whether an autopsy was performed because no name has been released.
“What I can tell you is, if we had received a request, we would act on it,” Eden said.
“There is a protocol for investigating infectious disease deaths. It is in the nature of infectious disease deaths that most of the diagnosis is made before death and generally when we do an autopsy in an infectious disease death, it’s because we’re not sure,” he added.
During Wednesday’s news conference, Vainio told reporters “the patient had multiple health problems” adding that no formal finding was made whether the Maple Leaf Foods strain of listeria contributed to that death.
Eden says if an autopsy is to be done, the request will have to come from a public health agency, such as the Porcupine Health Unit. “The lead role is with public health,” he said.
“To give you an example, with SARS, public health has the authority to order an autopsy, but they don’t have the authority to order it over the family’s objections.”
Eden explained that a coroner does have the right to order an autopsy over the family’s objections, but the coroner also has to weigh whether the medical knowledge learned would be beneficial.
Eden added that an autopsy that occurs after embalming and burial is not likely to reveal any new or startling information with respect to an infectious disease.
“I would think that the best information for diagnosing listeriosis is the information that was collected prior to death,” said Eden.
“Listeriosis is a condition that can be, and is, reliably diagnosed before death, so an autopsy would add very little useful information to that,” he said.
“If the most accurate test is a blood culture done during life, and you have that, why would you do a blood culture after death, which is less reliable?” he asked.

Listeria Update - Timmins and Porcupine Health Unit

2008-08-27T15:47:00.004-04:00

An elderly woman who died recently at the Timmins and District Hospital (TDH) had the listeria bacteria in her body, but as yet no one can say if that was indeed the cause of death.
That was the crux of the news conference held in Timmins Wednesday afternoon, that essentially confirmed the front-page story published in The Timmins Times on Wednesday and here, on The Times newsblog on Tuesday. (see story below)
In that story, The Times revealed the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) was investigating three cases of listeria within its jurisdiction including the case of the woman who died.
“Test results on an elderly female patient that died here at the hospital have been confirmed positive for listeria monocytongenes bacterium. Further testing by the Toronto Public Health lab has identified that his strain is the one that is linked to the Maple Leaf Foods outbreak,” said Esko Vainio, the hospitals’ executive director. (photo at right) Vainio says the patient did not develop listeria at TDH, but was sent to the hospital from a nearby community.
“As usual, our hospital’s health care team provided professional and compassionate care for this patient who was referred here from another community in our service area,” said Vainio. Neither he nor officials of the health unit would identify the patient or what community she was from.
He added that the hospital could not say for certain that listeria was the cause of death.
“The patient had multiple health problems and obviously it’s really a clinical judgment as to what exactly caused the unfortunate demise of this elderly lady and we do not have that formal confirmation,” said Vainio
Vainio says a formal post-mortem examination would be required.
“We understand that the coroner’s office may become involved in cases such as this,” Vainio continued, “therefore we cannot comment further about this patient or where this patient is from.”
Jodie Russell, the hospital’s Coordinator of Infection Control explained that blood samples are taken at the hospital and all unusual findings are reported to the Ontario Ministry of Health and the health unit as a matter of record.
“There are designated communicable diseases that must be reported,” said Russell. All such information is entered into a provincial database.
The listeria sample from the deceased woman is the only listeria sample discovered this year at TDH. The two other listeria cases being investigated by the health unit do not involve the hospital Russell said.
“The hospital and the health unit jointly wish to express our sincere condolences to the family of this unfortunate lady who passed here in July,” said Vainio.

Three local listeria cases, one death confirmed

2008-08-26T19:16:00.005-04:00

TIMMINS TIMES EXCLUSIVE:
At least one person within the jurisdiction of the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) has died and the death is linked to the current outbreak of listeria, The Timmins Times learned exclusively on Tuesday.
Bob Bell, the manager of public health inspection for the PHU, says the official cause of death has not been determined.
“We have three cases of listeria,” Bell confirmed on Tuesday. He says information is passed to the health unit from the Ontario ministry of health. The health unit then investigates all the details surrounding the disease.
The first local case, Bell says, was indeed listeria, but it was not linked to the outbreak, because it is a different “strain” of listeria than the one linked the current outbreak involving the Maple Leaf Foods plant in Toronto.
In the second case, Bell says the health unit is waiting for more test results.
“The initial test was positive for listeria. It’s going through the additional testing to determine what family grouping or strain that it falls into,” he said.
“The third is the same strain linked to the outbreak, with that third strain, that was the strain that was linked to a death in our region,” Bell told The Times.
“There was a death. It is linked to the outbreak. But we cannot say it is the cause of death,” said Bell.
He said the final word on that will have to come from a medical examiner or the coroner.
It was not revealed at press time Tuesday whether a post-mortem examination was to be carried out.
There is no official information on the identity of the deceased person. The Times has learned that she was an older woman who was brought to Timmins and District Hospital, where she died. The Timmins and District Hospital said Tuesday a formal statement will likely be issued today (Wednesday) outlining details of the next steps in the case.
Bell says inspectors from the health unit do a follow up in every case where listeria was identified, to try to find out what foods where eaten, where the food was purchased and whether the patient is involved in a job where food-handling is part of the work.
Bell admits that it is a long and tedious process, considering that the incubation period for listeria can be as long as 70 days. Symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and a persistent fever according to information on the Health Canada website.
He says health unit inspectors are also working hand in hand with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and other health agencies to ensure they remove any and all samples of tainted meats identified with the Maple Leaf Foods outbreak that was revealed one week ago.
Bell says the health unit has joined with other agencies in urging consumers not to consume any meats that they’re not sure of. “If you’re in doubt, you throw it out,” he said.
He says an easy way to determine the safety of the meat is to look for the batch number involved in the Maple Leaf Foods case. There will be a meat inspection stamp with a crown on the package, with a number. The number is 97B. Bell says consumers can also check the “best before” date, which will also have a batch indicator.
“There will be the best before date and the word ‘Est’, short for establishment and there will be a number there. And 97B is the identifying number for the plant where that product was produced,” said Bell.
Bell says consumers may choose to bring any meats back to the store where they bought it or simply toss the meat in the garbage. Bell admitted in some cases, it may mean losing a few dollars worth of groceries but it is nowhere near the value of one’s continued good health.

Fire call on Feldman Road

2008-08-22T18:49:00.002-04:00

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene of the Verville Enterprises lumber yard on Feldman Road just after six oclock this evening after numerous 9-1-1 reports of smoke and flames. Firefighters from Timmins and Mountjoy halls arrived to find a garage-type structure fully involved with smoke and flames. No other buildings were nearby. The cause of the fire is as yet not revealed. There does not appear to be any injuries.

City's mistakes cost millions says developer

2008-08-22T08:58:00.003-04:00

Timmins development consultant Lionel Bonhomme told city council this week he is concerned the city is spending millions of dollars for “remedial work” on the sewer system in the west end.
In a 10-minute presentation before council, Bonhomme said the West-End sewer system was only supposed to be applied to the Canadian Tire – Home Depot development.
Since that time, several other developments have occurred along Riverside Drive that are overloading the sewer system and Bonhomme says the city is struggling to find a solution. He says Timmins taxpayers will pay dearly for it.
Bonhomme asked several tough questions. But he doesn’t yet have the answers he wants. Mayor Tom Laughren committed to having answers for the Sept. 8 council meeting, but Laughren had to back out of that when he learned there could be legal issues.
Bonhomme says he wants answers on how and why the city has allowed extra development to occur in the West-End when there is every indication that there is not enough sewage capacity, and he’s asking who is responsible for the spending millions of tax dollars to correct a problem that could have been prevented.
“As a taxpayer, I am concerned about the source of funding for this remedial work, particularly given the history of this development, and the concerns raised by the city’s engineering department, since at least January of 2006, that appear to have fallen on deaf ears.”
CRUCIAL QUESTIONS
Bonhomme says there are several crucial questions:
-When did the city know that there was a capacity problem with sewers in the West-End?
-Was this before or after the city issued building permits for Home Depot and Canadian Tire?
-How accurate were the two engineering studies the city paid for in 2006, that were supposed to outline sewage capacity requirements?
-Did the city administration ignore the engineering reports in favour of pushing ahead with development in the West End?
-Why won’t city administrator Joe Torlone release those reports if the Ministry of The Environment says the reports are public documents?
-Why are Timmins taxpayers paying for remedial work on the overloaded sewage system when the responsibility may lie with others?
-Will the city go ahead and take over the “private” sewage system on the Canadian Tire – Home Depot property, knowing that it is not up to standard?
TENDERS TOO HIGH
Bonhomme says he is further concerned that the city budgeted roughly $2 million for the remedial work, but the tenders for that work came back at more than $7 million.
To back up his claims, Bonhomme referred to city hall minutes of the city’s Community Development Committee over the past two years.
“In July of 2008, last month, tenders sent out for remedial work on the west end, closed, Bids came in over the budget approved the by city” Bonhomme said.
Mayor Laughren alluded to the sewer line project Monday night, saying: “That project will be going back out for re-tender because it did come in high and they’re going to change the scope of the work so that will probably not be available until some time in September.”
Bonhomme says the 2006 engineering reports must be made public to see who is responsible for the high costs.
“I have requested that the city provide me with a copy of the engineering studies prepared by Martin (B.H. Martin) and Richards (J.L.Richards) and have been advised by the Ministry of the Environment that these studies are considered to be public documents. The CAO has indicated he has no obligation to provide these studies,” said Bonhomme.
City councillor Denis Saudino said he hoped that Bonhomme would get answers. He said the city has to be open and transparent.
“I think it has to be accountable to the public, that’s our duty, that’s our responsibility as councillors and that’s our responsibility as a city,” said Saudino. “I don’t want any innuendos out there.”
“I want to clear it up. I want the public to be assured their water bill and the sewer bill that they’re paying is to pay for the services and not for something that’s inappropriate, shall we say, and I’ll leave it that because we don’t know anything else at this point,” Saudino continued.
Bonhomme told council he hopes to get answers about the engineering report and suggested he would be willing to have his lawyer accept the reports “in confidence”
At that point, city administrator Joe Torlone interrupted.
“My advice to council would be not to commit to that,” said Torlone. “This is a legal matter,” he said to Bonhomme. “You’ve drawn in aspects that involve a legal action . Before we even submit the report to council, I will have it vetted by our lawyer,” said Torlone.
Bonhomme told The Timmins Times he is worried that serious errors in judgement may have been made at city hall.
“I don’t know the answers until I see the (engineering) reports and the administration answers me.”
Asked by The Times if he had “axes to grind” with city hall, Bonhomme said:
“I am doing this as a taxpayer. Yes, I do have axes to grind with the city, but this deputation was strictly related to the west end development and I went there as a taxpayer. Should we, the taxpayers, be subsidizing development?”

Timmins wants a break on fuel costs

2008-08-22T08:55:00.000-04:00

Timmins city councillor Pat Bamford is going on the premise that you’ll never know unless you ask.
City council has endorsed Bamford’s idea of approaching the higher levels of government for some financial assistance on the price of fuel. The city is expected to pass a formal resolution on September 8.
Bamford mentioned the idea this week as city council was discussing how the price of fuel is affecting all city operations that use fuel, such as public works and the city transit system.
“The cost of gas at the pumps has probably gone up somewhere by 30 or 40 per cent in this budget year,” Bamford told council.
“The senior governments are reaping a windfall and the municipalities are hurting, and it’s patently unfair,” he added.
“I’m just wondering if its worth our while to request other municipalities to support a resolution from us to these senior governments to ask for one-time relief. I suspect gas will continue going up. I can’t imagine it going up at that rapid rate. This is a unique situation and it think it calls for a request for one-time assistance to offset some of the costs,” said Bamford.
Mayor Tom Laughren endorsed the idea and suggested that Timmins council pass a resolution and distribute it to all other Ontario municipalities in a bid to seek united support.
Laughren noted that in a discussion with the city treasurer on Monday it was revealed the city had been paying 82-cents a litre for gasoline back in January of 2007. The mayor admitted the city is struggling with the higher cost of fuel and pleading the case to higher government is certainly worth the try.
“It’s a huge challenge for sure,” said the mayor.

Timmins approves $15,000 for traffic study

2008-08-22T08:53:00.001-04:00

City council has approved putting out a $15,000 RFP (request for proposal) to have a formal traffic study done for the area of the Wilson Avenue and Cameron Street intersection in Timmins.
Council’s action follows a report this week from city engineer Luc Duval, who said a preliminary informal study of the intersection shows there is indeed a traffic congestion problem.
His report comes after a suggestion made earlier this summer by city councillor Mike Doody who said the Cameron-Wilson intersection presented a serious problem.
Duval says more and more motorists are using Wilson Avenue because it has no traffic lights or stop signs.
Westbound motorists then use Cameron Street to move over to Algonquin Boulevard if they want to go farther west along Algonquin, or north along Theriault Boulevard.
Duval told council that the study could explore several options for the intersection including a four-way stop, which he admitted was a cheap and easy solution.
The downside to that, said his report, was that it would severely disrupt the traffic flow and volume of traffic moving west and north as peak times. Duval also indicated that a four-way stop would create excessively long line-ups on Wilson, “depending on driver reaction times.”
The study will also consider making Cameron Street a one-way street northbound, which would also be low-cost and have the advantage of moving a larger volume of cars off Wilson and onto Algonquin. The downside to that would be a severe restriction for Algonquin traffic wanting to move south or east along Wilson.
Duval told council he had money within his budget for consultants’ work that had not yet been tapped into and he would be able to absorb the cost of the study.
Councillor Bill Gvozdanovic was against the idea of hiring a consultant.
“I really don’t agree with paying somebody $15,000 to come here and all they’re gonna do is go stand down there….” said Gvozdanovic, adding that traffic counts and experimenting with traffic light times is something that could be done by the city’s engineering staff.
Councillor Mike Doody spoke in favour of the study idea saying he had received several reactions from the coffee-shop crowd
“You have no idea how many ‘traffic consultants’ have talked to me since the last council meeting,” councillor Mike Doody joked, adding that the overall reaction has been positive that council is taking a serious look at the traffic situation.
Doody suggested the city might also look at the length of times of the various traffic lights and advanced-turning lights on Algonquin Boulevard.
Council voted in favour of spending the money to hire a consultant for $15,000. Gvozdanovic was alone in voting against the move.

Hazardous waste event in the fall

2008-08-20T09:24:00.001-04:00

Timmins residents will be able to get rid of their hazardous household waste products, likely in September or October. A firm date has not yet been determined.
City council this week authorized its waste management department to set up a one-day hazardous waste collection event in the fall.
The Municipal Hazardous Special Waste (MSHW) program will accept such things as paint, pesticides, household solvents, waste oil and gasoline, old oil filters, auto batteries, household batteries, prescription medicines, pool chemicals, wood preservatives, oven cleaners and aerosal containers.
“We currently have no diversion program in place,” public works supervisor Chris Bazinet told city council this week.
He admitted that many hazardous wastes are being illegally dumped at the Deloro landfill or poured down toilets and drains.
Bazinet explained that a waste disposal company, specially equipped and licensed to handle hazardous wastes would come into the city and set up at a central location, such as a large arena or parking lot.
“Residents will be able to bring their MSHW at no charge,” said Bazinet, who added that similar events are held in towns and cities across the province.
“We are one of the last remaining communities in Ontario not hosting this event,” he said.
The cost of the program is roughly $70,000 to bring in a licenced hazardous waste company to accept the products. The cost of the program will be offset by the province by 60 percent through a program called Stewardship Ontario, said Bazinet. That means the city’s contribution is $28,000.
“Should the event prove to be successful we would like to review the possibility of a year-round program at the Deloro landfill,” he added.
Bazinet said the program is well-worth the money is the sense that it will keep hazardous wastes out of the landfill and raise awareness among the public about the need to dispose of hazardous wastes in a proper manner.
Mayor Tom Laughren noted that disposal of hazardous waste is something he is approached about by city residents on a regular basis. “This program is long overdue.”

Parking Rates Changing Downtown

2008-08-20T09:22:00.002-04:00

The city and the Downtown Timmins BIA are working together on a new plan to improve parking in the downtown core and in the perimeter area that surrounds the downtown.
The city has passed changes to the parking bylaw to allow for an increase in the time people can park at downtown on-street meters, along with an increase in the cost of parking at the downtown on-street meters.
The new rate for most downtown on-street meters will go from 50-cents per hour to 75-cents per hour. The meters will allow the user to buy time in 15-minute increments.
Downtown meters will have a new two-hour time limit.
In cases were meters are not located in the immediate downtown core, the price of parking will remain the same at 50-cents per hour.
For those who like to purchase monthly passes, there is something of a bargain for the city parking lot at Knox Street and Kirby Avenue, just south of the TeleTech parking lot.
The monthly parking fee of $40 per month at that lot only, has been reduced to $10 per month. Monthly parking passes are other lots, which may be purchased on a lot by lot basis, are still at $40.
Changes to the parking bylaw also allow that those wth proper handicapped parking permits may park for two hours free at all meters and municipal parking lots.

City coping with rising fuel costs

2008-08-20T09:12:00.001-04:00

Spending at Timmins City hall is on track at the halfway point through the year, but city treasurer Bernie Christian told city council this week that fuel prices could be $300,000 to $400,000 over budget -- but that the cost overruns could be absorbed. That news didn’t go over as well as it might.
City councillor Bill Gvozdanovic said he found the treasurer’s report surprising and confusing.
“I can’t understand how we can say we can be in line with the budget when we anticipate our fuel costs are going to be three to four hundred thousand dollars over… that’s a one per cent tax increase.”
He then asked Christian how it could be possible to find room to have that increase absorbed into various city budgets.
“All departments are cutting back,” Christian explained. “ Some items, maybe they can do without until next year…they’re going to make do.”
Gvozdanovic said he was concerned that so much money was being cut by administration without input from members of city council.
“If there’s items being cut by administration then that has to come back to council,” Gvozdanovic declared.
“We approved the budget for 2008 and we spent all that time in budget meetings, okay, and then all of a sudden we’re talking about a three or four hundred thousand dollar increase in fuel, and you guys turn around and say ‘we’ll be okay’,” he said.
“To me it sends a message that there’s three or four hundred thousand dollars that’s either been cut somewhere that we don’t know about,” Gvozdanovic added.
Mayor Tom Laughren suggested that the city’s administration was merely letting council there was a problem with fuel costs and was taking steps to adjust for it.
“And I would think that’s the prudent thing to do,” the mayor said.
“Well you know what your worship, I disagree 100 per cent with that,” said Gvozdanovic.
City administrator Joe Torlone told council that the savings of $300,000 to $400,000 is not coming from one or two major projects.
“We shave a little bit here, we shave a little be there,” Torlone told the councillors.
“It could be the sum of a hundred different initiatives,” Torlone explained, adding that if council wishes, he can bring in every last dollar-saving document.
He added that each department was looking at savings, but no important items or programs were being cut. “It might be one less trip for training, or something like that,” Torlone said.
City engineer Luc Duval explained that the city’s road paving budget will allow his department to save upwards of $200,000 because the roads budget was big enough it had a bit of “cushion” in it to absorb extra costs.
Duval said the intention of his department was to apply any leftover funds to major road patching work such as the Kamiskotia Highway. He added that public works employees have contributed to many costs savings. As an example, Duval said city workers who go to work in the Kamiskotia area can now take advantage of portable toilets, so they don’t have to come back to the shop for lunch.
That statement surprised some city councillors.
“I can’t understand that if you’re working at Kamiskotia and you have to go to the washroom, or for lunch, that people would drive all the way back to the shop… is that because there’s no washroom facility out there?” asked Gvozdanovic.
Public works supervisor Chris Bazinet admitted that was the situation “at one time”.
“Okay, so at one point in time when they started the job and they were working at Kamiskotia, all the trucks would come back for lunch?,” asked Gvozdanovic.
“Yes,” said Bazinet.
“That’s like a half an hour drive here, half an hour for lunch…you’re losing two hours of production…”
“That was past practice, yes,” said Bazinet.
Bazinet said once the issue was identified as a problem, the issue was resolved.
“The employees at public works know when they’re wasting money… and they don’t necessarily like it,” said Bazinet adding that when changes are brought in to make things better, “you really get a positive response.”
City councillor Denis Saudino was also surprised at the information about Kamiskotia…
“My one question is on this thing about coming back for lunch from Kamiskotia, can you believe, what… what took so long?” asked Saudino.
“Sorry, if I may interject, I don’t believe that was standard practice all the time,” said city administrator Joe Torlone.
“I think we’re carrying this a bit too far, I don’t think it’s an everyday occurrence,” said Torlone.
City Engineer Luc Duval suggested that of the hundreds of activities carried out by public works, most are done well, and that the Kamiskotia lunch break was mentioned only to show that things are being improved on.
Among other spending considerations at the halfway point in the city’s budget, hydro costs are at 56.5 per cent. This is a drop from the same time last year, when hydro costs were at 59.8 per cent.
Natural gas costs at the halfway mark were at 60.1 per cent, which compares with 68.2 per cent at the same time last year.
Wages and benefits for city workers were pegged at 48.7 per cent of the budget, even though 50 per cent of the payroll had been processed.

OPP seize truck and give it away

2008-08-18T15:15:00.003-04:00

For the first time ever in Ontario, or Canada for that matter, the government has seized the personal vehicle of a repeat drunk driver and forfeited it to a community interest group.
Timmins was the first location in the country where Ontario Attorney General Chris Bentley was able to seize and then forfeit that vehicle.
The event took place at the South Porcupine Ontario Provincial Police detachment in Timmins, Monday. The vehicle, a GMC 2500SL pickup truck, was seized from an Iroquois Falls man, who has had three impaired driving convictions in the past ten years. Bentley gave the keys of the vehicle to Anne Leonard, the Executive Director of the Ontario Community Council on Impaired Driving.
The action follows the Ontario government’s new civil forfeiture law, which is part of the Safer Roads for a Safer Ontario Act.
“This is the first time that the vehicles owned by repeat drinking drivers are being seized by the government under civil forfeiture laws. It is a very strong and very powerful message to those who think they can do what they like , who think they can repeatedly drink and drive,” said Bentley.
“But if you drink and drive, you’re gonna lose your ride,” he added.
Bentley explained that a conviction is not necessary. He said the new law may be applied in the case of anyone who has “been suspended for a drinking and driving offence two or more times in the previous ten years, you can be subject to having your vehicle and seized and lost forever”, Bentley told reporters.
The move was applauded by Anne Leonard, (below) the executive director of the Ontario Community Council on Impaired Driving, which runs Ontario’s well-known Arrive Alive-Drive Sober campaign.
“We are glad to see it off the road and not being driven by a repeat drunk driver,” she said, holding up the ownership papers for the truck. She added that the vehicle will be used to raise awareness among high school students about the many downsides of drinking and driving.

Through the wall at the mall!

2008-08-15T13:48:00.002-04:00

It wasn’t a door crasher sale at the Porcupine Mall today that caused a car to smash through a wall there. Witnesses said the driver told police that the brakes failed on this Lumina Sedan during the lunch hour today. The front part of the car went through the brick wall and into the gift shop inside the mall. There was extensive damage inside the store, and although the staff was surprised, no one was hurt.

Fuel Poverty

2008-08-15T12:17:00.002-04:00

Fuel poverty is a term many Canadians haven’t heard before(it came from Europe), but Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus says it’s going to become part of the language. Angus told a news conference in Timmins this morning he is concerned that the rising price of fuel oil and other fossil fuels will soon force many Northerners into poverty.
“It will be heat or eat,” said Angus referring to the fact that home heating oil will soon cost so much money that senior citizens and low-income earners will be forced to make a choice this coming winter between heating fuel or buying groceries.
Angus says long term solutions are needed to get Canadians into alternative heating solutions such as pellet stoves or geo-thermal heat.

Albert Lepic laid to rest

2008-08-15T09:45:00.005-04:00

Funeral services were held Thursday for well-known former Timmins Police chief Albert Lepic, who died Sunday at the age of 92, Lepic served with Timmins Police for more than 40 years as well as being chief of the force from 1946 to 1953. Lepic was also a long time member of the Royal Canadian Legion. He was pre-deceased by his wife Beatrice in 1994. He is survived by three children, Dan, Chuck and Tina and five grandchildren. Interment was at the Timmins Memorial Cemetery.

Northern College $8 million expansion

2008-08-15T09:43:00.003-04:00

The Ontario government gave Northern College a significant financial gift this week to help deal with the shortage of skilled-trades workers in the province.
It was an $8 million gift announced by Training, Colleges and Universities Minister John Milroy.
“We’re announcing today eight million dollars for a new technology centre here at the Porcupine campus as well as a satellite centre in Moosonee,” said Millroy. The provincial contribution will cover nearly 60 per cent of the cost of the new centre.
Millroy’s announcement was greeted with an extended round of applause from the gathered educators, industry leaders and community leaders.
“I hope you see this as signifying our confidence in the excellent work you do here,” Milloy told college officials.
Milloy had high praise for the college’s ability to form partnerships with industry and aboriginals communities.
“I think it’s so important that community colleges work closely with the business community to fulfill their training needs,” said Milloy.
“I also want to congratulate you for your special focus on First Nations,” he added.
Milloy also commented that Ontario is faced with global competition from such “low-wage economies” as those in China, India and Brazil.
“The only way Ontario can compete and the only way Ontario can prosper is if we have the most highly educated and highly trained workforce,” he said.
College President Michael Hill (in photo, on the left) commented on how pleased the college was to move forward on the new Nor Tech Centre for Trades and Technology. “Never have I seen a better match between a government agenda and what a college is meant to do,” he told the minister. Hill added that strong metal prices are fuelling the provincial economy “and this needs to be supported
“There is a convergence of circumstances that make this capital contribution to build a centre of excellence for skills, trades and technology at Northern College, just the right thing at just the right time,” said Hill.
Timmins city councillor Michael Doody, who was also a former chair of the college’s board of governors, congratulated the college on behalf of the city. Doody reminded the minister that Northern College has some challenges to overcome with respect to providing education over great distances, but said the North is entitled to the same quality of education that can be found anywhere in Ontario.
Tom Ormsby, the manager of public and corporate affairs for De Beers Canada Victor Project spoke on behalf of the many industries that hire Northern College graduates.
“Thank you for making this tool available where we need it,” said Ormsby.
He added that he was quoting a colleague when he said “If we can employ those people who live within the shadow of the land, we know that they will give us a stable workforce.”
Ormsby added that the success of the college’s technical programs would be key to the success of the resource industries in the north that employ those workers.
He also credited Northern College and its education partners with contributing to the success of De Beers’ newly opened Victor Mine.
Porcupine campus student council president Laura Gagain commented that the announcement of the new centre will help provide students with the skills, training and education to be able to find good jobs - - “Jobs that not only pay well,” said Gagain, “but provide us with satisfaction after a good day at work.”
She added that she expects that more students will be able to fill the needs for skilled trades workers that so many local industries need.
“We will be able to learn, and then work, in our own communities,” she said.
The total cost of the college’s new Nor Tech Centre is projected at $13.75 million and is expected to create 130 jobs. Construction is expected to be completed by September of 2010 and will add roughly 35,000 square feet of learning space to the college’s Porcupine Campus.
Earlier in the week, Milloy announced $3.5 million funding toward the construction of facilities for l’Université de Hearst at the new Collège Boréal campus in Timmins, which is under construction on Theriault Boulevard.

Crash on Pine South, driver collapses

2008-08-14T15:11:00.002-04:00

Paramedics, firefighters and Timmins police rushed to give first-aid to a man who collapsed on the road after two pickup trucks were involved in a minor crash at Pine Street and Moneta avenue this afternoon. Witnesses told police the man said he was having chest pains. The man was transported by ambulance to Timmins and District Hospital at about 2:45 p.m.

Another crash on Algonquin

2008-08-13T17:17:00.005-04:00

Traffic was slowed to a crawl on Algonquin Boulevard again today when a crash involving a scooter and a van occurred near Fogg Street. Paramedics and firefighters arrived on the scene at about 5:00 p.m. to find a young woman laying on the roadway next to the blue Yamaha scooter-style motorbike. The woman was transported to Timmins and District Hospital. Timmins Police Service is investigating. (click on any photo in this blog to see it full size)

Car crashes into pole

2008-08-13T13:12:00.004-04:00

Traffic on the main artery in Timmins was blocked for roughly half an hour at noon today when a car crashed into a utility pole on Algonquin Boulevard, just west of Balsam Street. Police believe the driver of the car suffered some sort of medical problem just before the crash. The driver was transported to Timmins and District Hospital.
Car Crash Update at 3:00 p.m. - - Timmins Police says a crash on Algonquin Boulevard today denmonstrates the value of seat belts. Police say a 17-year old-male driver suffered a seizure today, crashed his car into a telephone pole which snapped off. The car then continued westbound along Algonquin, went up on the sidewalk, then crossed into the eastbound lane and then hit a building at Algonquin and Maple. Police say the driver suffered only minor injuries which would have been worse, had he not been wearing his seatbelt.

Norman Street fire update - arson charges

2008-08-13T09:36:00.001-04:00

Timmins Police Services says three youths have been arrested in connection with the warehouse fire at 961 Norman Street on Tuesday. Police says the arrests come after information was provided from witnesses in the area of the fire. All three youths are each charged with one count of Arson, Damage to Property. A court date has been set for November. Police credit members of the public for taking the action to provide information to the police.

Mining Act changes too rushed say prospectors

2008-08-13T09:17:00.000-04:00

The Goldrush Room at the Howard Johnson Inn in Timmins was crowded Monday night by mine exploration people who fear that with proposed changes to Ontario’s Mining Act, they may never see another gold rush ever again.
In a three-hour public session, stakeholders from across the North and even Eastern Ontario, took part in the first of a series of public meetings initiated by the provincial government aimed at changing the rules for mining exploration. The province says it’s “a modernization process.”
Officials from the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) presented a 20-page discussion paper. The room then broke up into small discussion groups to consider the changes, for nearly an hour.
As the groups came back to present their findings, some common threads emerged. The main one seemed to focus on the timing of the changes. Many complaints were voiced that the discussion paper was released on the same day of the first workshop with the result there was no time to study the document before discussing it.
The other concern is that the Ontario government appears to be moving uncharacteristically fast to get the changes to the Mining Act passed, according to many participants in the discussions.
That message came through when acting mayor Mike Doody presented a letter of welcome from the city to the ministry, where the ministry was invited to bring the consultations back to Timmins before any changes are passed into law.
“I am making this request because of the short time period we have had to review these very critical policy issues,” said Doody.
“Mining is the raison d’être of our city. It has contributed to the sustained economic life of our community for many years and we hope for many more,” Doody said.
“Your government’s review of the Ontario Mining Act will have a profound effect on our city and for this reason I feel an extensive amount of consultation is required,” he reminded the provincial officials.
The city’s letter also noted that the investment climate in Ontario has decreased dramatically in the past five years and the letter expressed concern about Ontario’s weakening economy.
“We cannot allow Ontario’s strength in mining to crumble,” said the letter.
The government’s rush on the issue was also a concern to veteran Timmins prospector Don McKinnon.
“This certainly was rushed,” said McKinnon, who added that he needed more time to fully analyze the document. He also commented on the concern for equal treatment by all stakeholders.
“We’re not looking for any concessions or special treatment. We want to be on par with everybody else,” said McKinnon.
Another concern was over what is called the “free entry” system that allows a prospector to enter and stake the land without prior consultation with the landowners. While the free entry system appears to bother some landowners and stakeholders, the prospectors made it clear that confidentiality and competitive secrecy have always been a part of mining exploration.
One part of the MNDM discussion paper said that aboriginal groups wanted to know beforehand where claims would be staked, so that they might decide whether the staking encroaches on their lands.
Several tables suggested that the mining industry does not have a problem with respecting aboriginal lands, but that there appears to be no firm rules about where prospectors can and cannot go.
One group suggested that a formal map of aboriginal “traditional lands” versus aboriginal “sacred lands” has to be defined. One prospector suggested that sacred lands, where ancestors might be buried, would be considered off-limits. But he said traditional lands, where there is hunting and fishing, should be open for prospecting.
It was suggested that aboriginal community has to make a decision on what lands are open and available to development and what lands are not.
“As far as Aboriginal rights, there seems to be a common thread; we need to know who to talk to and we need to know what the protocols are,” said geologist Bob Calhoun of the Timmins Economic Development Corporation.
Calhoun also defended mining exploration as an industry.
“The statement that is made fairly often that exploration companies run amok on the land is totally unfounded,” declared Calhoun. He said the industry has a host of regulatory agencies that are watching every step of the way.
“Mining is a business of rules, and we will follow the rules, but we really need to know what they are,” said Calhoun .
Calhoun added that the First Nations need to have some sort of formal land use planning in place.
“Those plans have to be developed by the First Nations, for the First Nations and the government has to be there to support them in that process.”
That concern was echoed by engineer and prospector Bruce Staines, who traveled all the way from Wawa to take part in the meeting.
“When we start to talk about traditional native lands, unless there are clear boundaries as to where those lands are, it is hard to engage in discussions and negotiations with people unless the boundaries and the limits are defined,” said Staines.
“When it comes to sharing the benefits of the mineral industry with First Nations, my concern is out of whose pocket does it come, does it come out of the government’s royalty portion or is it another dip into the profits of the company.”
“I think anytime you’re going to change an Act that has worked for many years, it’s an area of concern, because generally speaking this is not in favour of the mining industry,” he added.
“The mining industry is on a roll and anything that is going to dampen that is a negative for the province, and for Canada,” said Staines.

Murphy Road is closed!

2008-08-13T09:11:00.007-04:00

Murphy Road, a gravel road that runs across the north end of Timmins, is closed. The road, which is popular with berry-pickers, ATVers and even dirt bikers, now has a locked gate at the western approach to the road, at Highway 655. A sign posted at the gate says Villeneuve Construction, Laforet Pit, No Trespassing. Villeneuve Construction, is a Hearst company. Company spokesman Mario Villeneuve told The Times this week “we own the property.” The company’s website says Villeneuve Construction has numerous aggregate resources between North Bay and Thunder Bay. “This important construction resource enables us to undertake construction contracts throughout Northern Ontario. We have access to a portable crusher, therefore we can provide aggregate resources wherever they are needed,” says the website. (click on any photo in this blog to see it full size)

Fire calls in Timmins

2008-08-12T18:17:00.008-04:00

Firefighters in Timmins have been having a busy day. There was a car fire on Sunset road today that is being treated as a car theft and arson. That happened at mid-afternoon. Just before the supper hour, firefighters were called out to a warehouse fire on Norman Drive, just south of the Cedar Meadows property. The building is part of the old Ukrainian picnic grounds and was being used to store furniture. Police and fire investigators are treating that fire as arson as well.

Algonquin Reg't goes to the Arctic

2008-08-11T12:05:00.003-04:00

A group of reservists from the Algonquin Regiment in Timmins will be part of a national military exercise to show Canada’s sovereignty in the Arctic.
Eight members of Bravo Company of the Algonquins will be heading north next week to the community of Iqaluit on Baffin Island in Nunavut, says Sergeant James Vogl of Timmins(at left). “The Algonquins will be providing a section of soldiers from this location, along with our company in North Bay, to a landforce infantry company and contributing to that operation,” said Vogl.
“It will be a sovereignty exercise not only in Iqaluit, which is the capital, but elements of our company will be dispersed to other local communities around Baffin Island,” Vogl explained.
He says the exercise will not be a war games type scenario, but instead an exercise in demonstrating that Canadian Forces can be deployed where ever they’re needed in Canada’s North.
“It’s going to be patrolling, seeing the land, showing our presence up in the North,” he said.
Vogl added that scenarios will be played out “to keep the troops on their toes.
A Canadian Forces news release says Operation Nanook will include exercise scenarios that simulate maritime emergencies, such as the evacuation of a ship in distress and an oil spill.
Vogl says the exercise with involve all elements of the Canadian Forces including the army, the navy, the air force and the Canadian Rangers, which is the Aboriginal element that carries on regular patrol duties in the far north.

Goldcorp cleaning up Delnite

2008-08-11T12:03:00.001-04:00

Goldcorp Porcupine Gold Mines brought welcome news to residents of the Delnite townsite this week.
In response to concerns raised about the condition of old mine tailings, Goldcorp has moved up its schedule to rehabilitate the abandoned tailings. Work has already begun.
Goldcorp environmental engineer Laszlo Götz (wearing vest in photo) outlined the new plans to several members of the Delnite community this week while on a brief walking tour of the tailings area.
Many local residents became concerned last summer when Goldcorp carried out exploration diamond drilling on the old Delnite mine property. The mine had been closed since the 1960s and residents were concerned that with the increasing price of gold, new mining work might begin at the mine.
Since the mine closed, many residents bought homes in the old town site, as they were attracted by the peace and quiet of the wilderness setting. Residents had also expressed concern about the condition of the old tailings, which were abandoned in 1964.
Götz said the tailings, which were covered with old lumber and other debris, were unsightly and posed a safety hazard to area children who might wander into the area.
He said the other problem was the increasing usage of ATVs and dirt bikes on the tailings, which stirred up the dust.
“It has been determined that the dust was a direct result of unauthorized vehicle traffic on the tailings,” said Götz.
That was just one part of the problem according to one area resident.
“The dust was one thing, the unsightliness of it, and worrying about pets because it was a playground for ATVs and dirt bikes and whatnot, there was a hell of a racket going on,” explained Delnite resident Steve Eley.
“We hope we can re-educate the population to keep away from these areas,” said Götz.
He explained that in order for the land reclamation and vegetation effort to work properly, no one will be allowed on the tailings. Götz says a fence will be installed around the tailings area to keep trespassers away.
He added that the steep sidewalls of the tailings dam would be re-sloped to a four-to-one gradient so as to make it less likely for the tailings dam wall to erode.
The tailings area itself, which encompasses several hectares, will be covered with a biomass mixture made up of pulp sludge from the AbitibiBowater mill in Iroquois Falls.
The company says the reclamation plan will be similar to the successful land reclamation project carried out on the old Coniaurum tailings, northeast of Schumacher.
As part of the reclamation project, Laurentian University botanical studies students are planting corn and canola crops in a test plot at the Delnite to see which soil type is best to put on top of the tailings.
Area residents who took part in the walking tour this week said they were happy to get the news.
“I am pleased. I’m pleased it’s being done. I went to one of the meetings they had and it looked like it was going to be put on the backburner, but now it’s going ahead, so I’m happy this is taking place,” said Eley.
As for the exploration-drilling program, residents were told back in February that Goldcorp has not ruled out future drilling.
“The Delnite Mine and area is still an exploration target, it just does not rank highly on our current exploration target list,” the company said in a letter to residents.

Police nab suspect in liquor store break-in

2008-08-07T08:29:00.002-04:00

Value of stolen booze - $300
Total damage to LCBO - $3,500
Getting caught at 2:00 a.m.
with a texas mickey - Priceless!

At least one Timmins man is not likely a regular viewer of CSI on television. Timmins police arrested a break-in suspect Thursday after blood and a piece of clothing were left at the scene of the crime.
Police say the break-in occurred early Thursday morning at the LCBO store in the Hollinger Court when a rock was used to smash a window.
Police officers arriving on the scene, saw blood and a piece of clothing outside the smashed window. The police K-9 unit was called out at 1:34 a.m. and a suspect was tracked to the front of a house on nearby Borden Avenue.
At that time, police also seized a large bottle of liquor, often referred to as a Texas Mickey.
Police say a 29-year old man was arrested and charged with break, enter and theft, possession of stolen goods, mischief and six counts of breaching probation.
Police are seeking a second suspect in the break in. The total value of the stolen alcohol was roughly $300. The damage done to the window and a cash register was $3,500.

Xstrata expands Kidd Mine

2008-08-06T15:33:00.004-04:00

Xstrata Copper today announced it will spend more than C$120 million to extend the life of the Kidd Mine in Timmins.
The Kidd Mine, which is already the world's deepest copper and zinc mine, will be extended from 9,100 feet to 9,500 feet. It will allow the company to extract an additional 3.4 million tonnes of ore and extend the life of mine by roughly one year, to 2017. The expansion will allow for the creation of 75 new full-time jobs for the duration of the construction project.
In a news release, Xstrata Copper Canada Chief Operating Officer Claude Ferron said of the investment:
"The investment approval reflects Xstrata Copper's commitment to the sustainability of Kidd Mine and the Timmins community and its business strategy to continually implement improvements to enhance the value of its operations. Our ability to mine safely and efficiently at the current 8,800 level, the commitment of our employees and support of the community were fundamental factors in obtaining the necessary approvals."
"We continue to study the potential to add more reserves at the mine and to further extend its operational life" said Ferron.
Construction is already underway and scheduled for completion by mid 2010.
In 2007, approval was given to extend the mining zone to 9,100 feet and in June 2008 to 9,500 feet for a combined additional investment of C$148 million.
The Kidd Mine, which began operations in 1966, was developed by Texasgulf.
It now forms part of the Xstrata Copper Canada division, one of five operating divisions of Xstrata Copper. Together with the Kidd Metallurgical complex, it employs close to 2,200 employees and contractors. In a news release, Xstrata says the Mine D expansion project was completed in 2006 at a capital cost of C$664 million .

House fire in Porcupine

2008-08-06T14:07:00.005-04:00

Firefighters from Whitney and South Porcupine responded to a house fire call on Highway 101 in Porcupine Tuesday. No one was at home at the time of the fire which is believed to have started in the kitchen, where a pot was left on the stove.

Lake Shore Gold moving towards production

2008-08-06T08:18:00.002-04:00

Lake Shore Gold Corp. (LSG) in Timmins says it’s well on it’s way to becoming North America’s next significant “mid-tier” gold producer.
Company president Tony Makuch told reporters in Timmins Tuesday that he is confident his company’s Timmins West project will eventually push the company into the big leagues.
When asked to define mid-tier, Makuch said, “ We expect to fill the marketplace between the junior and the senior producers. We’re something above a junior company and something below the Barricks and Newmonts of this world.”
Makuch said Lake Shore Gold is different from a lot of other smaller gold companies. “We already have 1.2 million ounces in reserves in the ground,” said Makuch. “So that gives us the foundation to start with and to build upon. We have sufficient gold reserves right now here at Timmins West for at least 11 years.”
The company held a family day Tuesday to show off all the work that has been at the Timmins West site in the past year and to bring the local media up to date on the status of the project, which so far has seen a local investment of roughly $26 million.
“We are on track, we are well on track with what we said we were going to do here,” said Makuch, who is also a Timmins native.
“We expect to be producing ore by 2009 from Timmins West,” said Makuch adding that he expects the company to produce about 30,000 ounces of gold in that first year.
“It’s a good time for Timmins, and definitely a good time for Lake Shore Gold and a good time for Northeastern Ontario,” he declared.
The shaft sinking process has just begun. Operations vice-president Chris Stewart says the new 18-foot diameter circular concrete and steel shaft is currently sunk to 35 metres, but will eventually reach 650 metres.
Makuch says production at the mine is expected to eventually reach 150,000 ounces per year. Once production begins, LSG will be shipping its ore, by truck, to the Bell Creek mill in Porcupine.
Stewart says the job of refurbishing the mill is “progressing very well’ and he expects it will be done by the end of the year and will be able to begin processing ore in the first quarter of 2009.
“The mill was put away well,” said Stewart referring to the fact that the Bell Creek property shut down several years ago. It was purchased by LSG last year. Stewart said an inspection of the mill showed that of 50 electric motors inside the plant, only two needed serious repairs.
In September, the company will also drive a ramp at the Timmins West mine. As part of process of developing the ramp, Makuch says the company will also be able to begin extracting ore as the ramp moves through the ore zones.
Makuch says for all the that the new mine has to offer in the way of reserves and brand new equipment and facilities, “ the real main asset we have is people.”
He says Lake Shore is working towards international standards in terms of health and safety. as well as the environment. Makuch says the company’s goal is “zero harm” to the people who work at the mine and to the community that surrounds it.
Currently there are roughly 160 staff and contractor workers employed at the mine. Makuch says he expects that will reach 230 by the end of this year and 300 employees in 2009-10 when the mine goes into full production.

Bob Izumi coming to Timmins

2008-08-06T08:14:00.005-04:00

One of Canada’s best known outdoors ambassadors, Bob Izumi, is coming to Timmins this week. The public has a chance to meet the man on Friday.
Izumi, who is known across North America as the enthusiastic host of The Real Fishing Show, will be appearing at Krazy Krazy Audiotronics at 1330 Riverside Drive.
The store is celebrating it’s 20th anniversary and Izumi will drop by Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. to help draw attention to an in-store fishing promotion. Izumi has been to Timmins previously to promote fishing and to videotape segments for his television show, while visiting fishing lodges in the region.
Aside from being a successful TV host, Izumi is an avid angler first and foremost. He has won more than 50 professional fishing tournaments in Canada. In 1995 he became Canada’s only triple-crown fishing winner, capturing the Canadian Open bass tournament, the GM Pro Bass Classic and GM Pro Bass Angler of the Year Award.
In 1998 Izumi founded Fishing Forever, a non-profit organization committed to preserving and enhancing Ontario's fisheries. He has acted as Chairman of the organization since its inception.
Izumi, who is now 50, became Canada’s first ever full-time fishing pro in 1978. The native of Chatham, Ontario was an avid angler long before that. Izumi won his first fishing derby when he was eight years old.
Photo Credit: Bob Izumi’s Real Fishing Show.

Racer runs red, loses car

2008-08-01T10:54:00.001-04:00

A driver who tried to outrun local police after getting four flat tires, has had his car, and the flat tires, impounded by police for seven days.
Police say the car, a ’97 Pontiace Grand Prix was clocked at 50 kilometres in excess of the speed limit on Highway 101 in the Schumacher area on Wednesday. According to police, the driver refused to pull over, tried to evade police, was involved in a collsion and left the scene of that collision.
As a result, police say 20-year-old Ronald Hansen of Schumacher is charged with racing, failing to stop for a red light, failing to stop for police and failing to remain at the scene of a collsion.
Police say Hansen has also had his driving privileges suspended for seven days.

Hollinger open pit project moves forward

2008-07-31T19:55:00.000-04:00

The Goldcorp Hollinger open pit project is moving forward to the next step of seeking permits, it was revealed in an e-mail to shareholders in Timmins and across Canada on Thursday along with the company’s financial update.
“At the Hollinger project, the company has identified high potential underground targets at both ends of the Hollinger – McIntyre trend. Additional exploration drilling will be focused on these areas, while permitting will begin on an open pit development located within the historic Hollinger area. Mining operations ceased in this area in 1968,” said the e-mail.
Dave Bucar Strategic Development Manager for Porcupine Gold Mines in Timmins confirmed Thursday that the project is moving ahead in the sense that the company is ready to begin the process of revitalizing and mining the Hollinger property, provided it gets approval permits.
But Bucar says this does not automatically mean that a new open pit mine will happen right away.
“Not necessarily. It means we have a pre-feasibility study that’s complete. And the next step is to see if we can get permits to see if we can do further work on our project to develop it,” Bucar told The Timmins Times.
“My planned next steps are to go to the community with our update, and that will kick us off into our next steps, which is permitting, which is asking for permission to do everything that we want to do,” Bucar said.
The steps in that process includes getting permission from the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, as well as permission from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. Several other government agencies will also be consulted over a period of several months.
Bucar confirmed that exploration diamond drilling will continue, so as to help company geologists get a better idea of the full size and scope of the Hollinger ore zone.
As part of the research into the project, Porcupine Gold Mines has been studying the effects that dust, vibration and noise that such an open pit mining operation would have in an urban setting.
Bucar says more information on the project will be forthcoming within a matter of weeks. He is hoping to be able to release more news before the end of the month.
“My planned next steps are to go to the community with our update, and that will kick us off into our next steps, which is permitting, which is asking for permission to do everything that we want to do,” he said.

Car and bike crash

2008-07-30T14:12:00.004-04:00

A Timmins woman suffered what police termed as "minor scrapes and bruises" after the bicycle she was riding was in a minor crash with a car at the intersection of Balsam Street and Sixth Avenue Tuesday evening. Paramedics, police and firefighters responded to the call.

Landmark fireplace

2008-07-30T13:12:00.005-04:00

As odd as it sounds, this massive stone fireplace has become something of a landmark in Timmins. It's one of the few things left from the first ten years of the city's history. There are many legends and stories about it. Few people know where to find it. The full story, the true story, on how and where the fireplace came to be will be in Diane Armstrong's Over The Hill column in Friday's street edition of The Timmins Times.

Timmins makes its mark on De Beers

2008-07-29T17:19:00.002-04:00

The official opening of the De Beers Victor diamond mine on the weekend seemed to be as much an event for Timmins as it was for the world’s best-known diamond mining company.
The impact the De Beers mine has had on Timmins, and vice versa, is apparent the moment a visitor embarks on the journey north. Air Creebec, which has a significant base in Timmins, has the contract to ferry employees to and from the mine site, located approximately 550 kilometres north of Timmins.
There are several flights each day from the Victor Power Airport to the Victor project airstrip.
Passengers are quickly processed and boarded for the flight, which takes one hour, 20 minutes. Many of the mine employees are based in Timmins and are rotated on a schedule of two weeks in, two weeks out. There are exceptions, but a company spokesperson said the two-week rotation was the one that appealed to most of the workers.
Arriving at the site, visitors are hustled aboard a company bus and the safety factor comes into the play as the driver instructs every passenger to buckle their seat belt.
After a short drive from the airstrip to the administration building, passengers are processed through security and orientation and issued with safety gear; vest, hardhat, gloves, glasses and steel-toed boots.
As visitors are escorted around the property, there is something familiar about it all that is hard to place, until one realizes that many of the faces one sees, are those of Timmins residents.
Whether it’s a heavy equipment operator, a maintenance person, a manager or a kitchen staffer, Timmins residents are everywhere at the Victor project.
De Beers has also hired workers from across the north, from such communities as Cochrane, Kapuskasing, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and numerous First Nations communities. Corporate and public affairs manager Tom Ormsby says more than 40 per cent of the employees are aboriginals.
As part of the official opening ceremonies Saturday, Timmins city councillor, and acting mayor Steve Adams, was called to the podium.
“The city of Timmins is honoured to be here,” said Adams.
“This is very important to our city. This is very important to all the cities along Highway 11 and throughout Northern Ontario.”
Adams says many communities are learning that a new mining discovery does not necessarily have to be within their local city boundaries, in order for business to benefit.
“Our people have learned to be suppliers to mines, so for the next mining discovery we’ll be ready. And it’s sure to come, whether it’s diamonds or copper or whatever, we are ready,” said Adams.
Adams presented a plaque from the city to congratulate the diamond company on its success.
“It has been an honour to work with Timmins,” said mine general manager Peter Mah as he accepted the plaque. He congratulated city leaders for supporting the De Beers project right from the beginning.
“It has been a tremendous effort and I thank you,” said Mah.
Dave McGirr, president of the Timmins Economic Development Corporation, also attended.
“I think the De Beers Victor Mine is a classic example of a the strong economic development opportunities that do exist in the North and what we’ve seen today is, in my mind, the eighth wonder of the world,” McGirr enthused.
McGirr also predicted the project would have a profound socio-economic benefit for the communities and people of the James Bay Coast.
The event was also attended by many Timmins business leaders who have provided goods and services to the project. Timmins Chamber of Commerce president Marilyn Wood was in attendance, as was renowned Timmins photographer Graeme Oxby. Former Timmins mayor Vic Power attended as did well known local prospector John Larche.
The opening ceremonies and celebrations continue this evening in Timmins, as De Beers will host a civic reception for invited guests and community leaders.

Brad's Pit officially opened

2008-07-26T23:35:00.003-04:00

ATTAWAPISKAT, ON - Quite literally, it’s a jewel in the wilderness. The new De Beers diamond mine and processing plant was “officially” opened Saturday on a 15 hectare tract of land the aboriginals call mushkego. Many southerners might know it as muskeg.
The Victor Mine is 1200 kilometres north of Toronto. Many Ontario residents, unaware of the vast size of the province, might be surprised to learn that as the raven flies Fredericton, New Brunswick is closer to Toronto than the mine, which is roughly 90 kilometres inland from the saltwater shores of James Bay.
What makes the operation unique is not only that its Ontario’s first diamond mine, it’s also one of the remotest mining operations in the province.
An indication of that came Saturday morning as several planeloads of VIPs were being flown into the site for the day long celebration. A lone caribou that wandered onto the gravel airstrip was responsible for holding up one of the incoming flights. After waiting patiently for several minutes, the caribou was “coaxed” into leaving the airstrip by an employee in a slow moving truck.
That was the exception to the rule.
“Wildlife has the right-of-way here,” said Tom Ormsby, the manager of Corporate and Public Affairs for De Beers Victor Project. He explained that it’s all part of the company’s corporate attitude to leave as small a footprint as possible on the delicate ecosystem of the James Bay lowlands.
The attitude was echoed by mine manager Peter Mah who expressed delight that his engineers were able to find a quarry of limestone nearby. The limestone, which has a benign effect on the environment, is used for road building and creating the numerous berms and moats surrounding the mine property. Mah also outlined how the muskeg, a dark peaty material, was stripped from the surface of the pit and has been stockpiled so that it can be returned the land at some point 15 or 20 years in the future. The other unique aspect of the Victor operation is that the diamonds are unusually high quality. Simon O’Brien, De Beers’ diamond liaison manager explained that most diamond mining operations produce a wide spectrum of diamond qualities. That’s not the case at Victor. He says nearly all the stones at classed as VS-1, which he says indicates brilliant gem quality.
“It only produces diamonds of very nice quality,” said O’Brien.. In lots of other mines we produce diamonds of a similar quality but we also produce diamonds of a very, very low quality,” said O’Brien.
“It’s phenomenal really. It’s absolutely phenomenal that this mine only produces these wonderful gem-quality stones.”
O’Brien says the Victor mine is not a large volume mining operation, but it is the quality of the diamonds that made it economical for the mine to proceed. De Beers has invested nearly $1 billion getting the open pit mine and processing plant into production.
The life of the mine is estimated at 12 years, producing 600,000 carats a year. But mine manager Peter Mah is optimistic it could be longer. There are several other kimberlite pipes located nearby and he says exploration for more diamonds is a priority.
Brad Wood, the company’s technical services manager at the mine is especially pleased to see the mine going into production.
Wood was a geology student back in 1978 as part of a De Beers field exploration crew was working in the area. That was the summer Wood volunteered to look after the camp one weekend so he could spend time with fishing with his dad, who flew in from Burlington.
“We weren’t having a lot of luck with the fishing,” Wood recalls. Being a keen geology student, he noticed some rocks along the shore of the Attawapiskat River.
“We picked up a lot of rocks, but there was this particular one that was different and unique,” he said.
“Some of the senior people from South Africa were visiting,” he said. Once they examined the rock, “it caused quite a bit of excitement.” It caused enough excitement to convince them to intensify their search in the area. The rest is history. Wood smiles as he reminded by co-workers that the massive open pit is referred to as “Brad’s Pit.”
Michael Gravelle, Ontario’s minister of Northern Development and Mines, also attended the opening. Gravelle says the recent announcement by Premier Dalton McGuinty aimed at “protecting” the far north from future resource development, does not mean there cannot be future projects such as the Victor Mine.
“We are very excited about the premier’s far northern announcement about protecting fifty per cent of the far north,” said Gravelle.
“But what’s important for everyone to understand, particularly those in southern Ontario, it’s a huge massive piece of land up here and fifty per cent will still be open for development.”
The company says it’s mine also stands as an example of cooperation with aboriginals. Ormsby explained that extraordinary steps were taken to consult with the nearby Attawapiskat First Nation on the planning and development of the mine. De Beers has signed three separate Impact Benefit Agreements with First Nations on the James Bay coast. This has included employment agreements where more than forty per cent of the workers at the mine are aboriginal. Despite that, the Attawapiskat First Nation issued a news release Friday saying it was boycotting the opening ceremony, citing “numerous items of concern were present regarding current and future operations” at the mine.

Motorcycle crash

2008-07-25T13:54:00.004-04:00

Timmins paramedics, firefighters and police responded to a crash involving a motorcycle at Airport Road and Riverpark drive, just after one oclock this afternoon. The motorcycle driver suffered minor injuries and was tended to at the scene by the paramedics. Timmins Police Service is investigating.

Moose Cree make homeland declaration

2008-07-25T09:03:00.000-04:00

“We are the Moose Cree People, the original people of this land…”
With those words, Chief Patricia Faries-Akiwenzie made a declaration Thursday that outlined nearly 6 million hectares of land as belonging to the Moose Cree First Nation.
The parcel of land stretches from north of Moosonee to an area near the Chapleau Crown Game Preserve. It does not include Timmins, but it does include Kapuskasing, Mattice, Val Rita and Moonbeam.
Before a gathering of Timmins media representatives, Faries-Akiwenzie said, “the time has come” to let everyone know who the owners of the land are.
“When our forefathers signed the treaty, we made it clear we were not giving up our land,” said Faries-Akiwenzie.
The chief, who is also a lawyer with a practice in Moose Factory, says the declaration is not meant to tie up the courts.
We are not opposed to development but you must get our consent prior to any development occurring within our homeland.
She said the intent of the declaration is not to create conflict, but instead foster a new climate of cooperation since the land and her people are being faced with so many new challenges involving mining, forestry, hydro-electric developments and even wind energy.
“We are saying you need our consent. We need to be a part of the whole development aspect,” said the chief.
Faries-Akiwenzie says the declaration is not in response to any urgent matter or development. She says the project to define the traditional land has been underway for several years and has involved extensive research with families and elders who have lived on the land. She adds the declaration is not involved with the announcement last week by Premier Dalton McGuinty that northern lands need to be protected.
“We were not involved in the premier’s plan to declare any of it protected,” Faries-Akiwenzie told reporters.
“This is one of the approaches Ontario has always had in the way they deal with First Nations. They don’t involve us in their planning or anything like that.”
She adds however, now that the declaration has been made, northern communities are being put on notice that from this point forward, the Moose Cree First Nation will be protecting it’s interests.
“The Moose Cree are a sovereign nation and we will control our own destiny,” said the chief.

Timmins man missing for one year now

2008-07-24T16:38:00.001-04:00

It was one year ago today that 79-year-old Luciano Trinaistich of Porcupine was last seen. He had left home early in the afternoon of July 24 to go berry picking. When he did not return home that evening, police were notified and a search was launched.
Trinaistich’s Jeep Grand Cherokee was discovered on a narrow bush road in Murphy Township, an area that was thick with blueberries and raspberries. Ontario Provincial Police, Timmins Police, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Timmins Search and Rescue and Porcupine Search and Rescue carried out an extensive search and found no clue to the man’s disappearance. Several theories were put forward, such as the man was attacked by a bear or fell down an old mining hole. All theories were fully investigated, and nothing was found. Even though Trinaistich was a smoker, searchers did not even find cigarette butts. Ontario Provincial Police have indicated that the file will remain active but there is no official plan to restart the search unless there is some compelling evidence that comes forward.

Ministry of Labour issues order to Hoyle Pond

2008-07-24T16:34:00.001-04:00

This ambulance carrying a seriously injured miner, rushed away from the mine gate at Hoyle Pond last Friday morning. The Ontario Ministry of Labour says a miner trying to clear pre-blasted holes was seriously injured last Friday when a secondary explosion occurred at the Hoyle Pond Mine. The ministry says the miner suffered serious injuries, was transported to Timmins and District Hospital and from there to a hospital in Ottawa. The ministry says Goldcorp Porcupine Gold Mines has been ordered to provide information to its workers on the dangers of using steel or iron tools in any hole that contains an explosive. The investigation continues.

Mully made it happen?

2008-07-23T16:59:00.002-04:00

We're not sure, but Timmins Times columnist Mike Mulryan was on a rant last week about the poor condition of the road lines on Highway 101 West. Mulryan argued it was a valid safety concern. Today we noticed that the road crews were out on the scene just west of the Grant and Tembec plants, painting new lines on the road. Way to go Mully!

Miner's mother maintains vigil

2008-07-23T16:36:00.004-04:00

Cheryl Dufoe maintained a vigil on HIghway 655 outside the Xstrata Copper Kidd Mine in Timmins today. It was where her son, Lyle Dufoe, 25, died one year ago when the scooptram he was driving, went over the edge of an excavation and crashed into a stope. Mrs. Dufoe and her husband Ephraim travelled to Timmins this week to seek signatures on a petition to change the mining section of the occupational health and safety act in such a way they say will make it safer for all miners in Ontario. Xstrata has been charged by the Ministry of Labour in connection with the death of Lyle Dufoe.

Diamonds make their mark on Timmins

2008-07-23T12:45:00.000-04:00

“This is a good news announcement,” declared Timmins mayor Tom Laughren as he officially proclaimed this week as De Beers Diamond Mine Week in recognition of the impact the De Beers project has had on the city best known for gold mining.
“You know some people may find this a little strange that the city of Timmins is proclaiming De Beers Victor diamond mine week because its 700 kilometres away from here,” admitted mayor Tom Laughren.
“But I think when you look at the impact for one that De Beers has had on our community, when you look at the people from this community now working at De Beers on a fulltime basis, the many people from Timmins who worked up there on a construction basis, as well as companies from Timmins that worked up there, it has had a huge economic impact on our community,” the mayor stated.
“It’s something we are proud of, not only from a City of Timmins perspective, but from economic development perspective as well as a chamber of commerce perspective, because we all lobbied very, very hard for some of the challenges and hurdles De Beers has had and will we continue to do that going forward for any challenges and hurdles going forward,” he added.
The mayor was thanked for the proclamation by Rachel Pineault, the director of human resources and aboriginal affairs for the Victor Project. She said the city of Timmins and the First Nations communities on the James Bay coast have made a significant contribution to the success of the Victor project.
“We’d like to thank the City of Timmins for recognizing the hard work of all our team members, our employees and our partners for bringing us Ontario’s first diamond mine into production,” Pineault said.
“The Victor mine is completing its ramp-up to full production and we are pleased to say that we have been meeting our timelines and targets along the way. In the next couple of weeks we will be celebrating that success with our partners and all of our employees,” said Pineault.
The new Victor mine is located just west of Attawapiskat in the James Bay lowlands where there was the discovery of a huge concentration of kimberlite rock formations more than twenty years ago.
The company will mark the official opening of the mine on Saturday by flying in hundreds of workers and dignitaries for a day-long celebration at the mine site. There is another celebration planned for Timmins next week on July 30.

Robbery Update. It was staged, police say.

2008-07-22T09:12:00.001-04:00

Timmins Police say the Saturday night incident at the Mac’s Convenience store at Algonquin and Mountjoy was not a robbery after all. On Saturday night, police were told that a young woman entered the store with a knife and demanded cash and cigarettes and then fled in a vehicle.
After an extensive investigation, police say the incident was a "staged theft" involving three persons, including a store employee. As a result, police say two female youths and one male youth have been arrested and charged with several offences that include theft under $5000, committing public mischief, possession of stolen property, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, disguise with intent to commit an offence and breach of probation.
One of the female youths was held in custody pending the outcome of a bail hearing. The two other youths were released from police custody and will attend First Appearance Court on September 1, 2008.

Car - Truck Crash

2008-07-21T20:36:00.003-04:00

One woman was taken to hospital with possible head and neck injuries after a car-truck crash at the intersection of Cedar Street and Eighth Avenue, shortly before eight oclock this evening.PHOTO: Firefighters and paramedics tended to the patient moments before she was transported by ambulance to Timmins and District Hospital. Timmins police are investigating.

Summerfest Fun photos

2008-07-21T09:41:00.006-04:00

Another robbery at Mac's

2008-07-20T15:19:00.001-04:00

Timmins Police responded to another robbery at the Mac’s Mart convenience store at Algonquin and Mountjoy Saturday night. The offence occurred at about 10:45 p.m. when a woman described at medium build and medium height, with long dark hair, held out a knife and demanded cash and cigarettes. Police say the woman was wearing a grey sweater and grey sweat pants. Police were prepared to set up a containment area for the K9 unit with a tracking dog, but that was called off when witnesses told police the woman fled in a vehicle. Police say anyone with information on the offence may call Crime Stoppers at 268-8477.

Miner injured at Hoyle Pond

2008-07-18T10:23:00.005-04:00

The Ontario Ministry of Labour is investigating an incident where a miner was injured underground at Goldcorp’s Hoyle Pond Mine this morning. Paramedics and firefighters were dispatched to the mine site just before nine oclock in response to reports that a man was seriously injured and bleeding heavily. First-aiders and mine rescue workers tended to the man at the scene of the accident and as he was being transported up the ramp, to the waiting ambulance. An ambulance sped away from the mine gate at approximately 9:30 a.m. to bring the patient to Timmins and District Hospital. No other information has been released.

Timmins DSSAB confusion

2008-07-18T10:16:00.001-04:00

The Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB) has voted to move out of the 101 Mall and it’s Third Avenue offices into a brand new structure to be built at 500 Algonquin Boulevard East, the site of the old Royal Canadian Legion Hall.
The board decided one month ago, on June 19, to explore the idea of amalgamating all its Timmins based services into one building.
There is some confusion however on what the board has agreed to do, based on comments from board members.
“The board made a decision to enter into a 25-year agreement and I just felt we didn’t have enough information at this time to go into an agreement,” said councillor Denis Saudino, who sits as a board member. “I was the only one who voted against it,” he said.
Saudino says he doesn’t like the idea of the board signing a long-term deal until it explores more options.
DSSAB chair councillor Gary Scripnick views the issue differently.
Scripnick says no deal has been signed.
“I haven’t signed any document and I am the chair.”
“We are looking in that direction, but it could fall through,” Scripnick said Thursday.
Timmins Mayor Tom Laughren, also a member of the board, indicated that plans were firmer.
“Well the agreement is kind of a two-phase agreement. One is that there will be a new building built, that will house not only the ‘social services’ portion of the DSSAB, which is at the 101 Mall, it will also house ‘housing and ambulance’,” said the mayor.
“The old legion building will be torn down as part of this proposal, the footprint of the new building will be roughly the same location and the same size as the existing building,” Laughren continued.
“Completion date is scheduled for sometime next summer. I am going to say August 1st. I don’t think it was ever finalized,” he said.
PREMATURE COMMENT
“I think it’s premature for the mayor to say that,” Scripnick told The Timmins Times.
“The DSSAB is looking for a new location where it could put all of it’s people together,” said Scripnick.
“And we are seriously looking at different proposals,” he said.
“The lease we have in the 101 Mall is about to end next year, so were looking for a new building. There is nothing official. We are looking at some proposals. But that’s about where it sits,” Scripnick told The Times.
No one was able to say what the cost of the new building would be. Saudino, however, says he is convinced that construction and purchase of a new building would be just as cost effective as leasing.
“The savings from amalgamating into one building would basically pay for you know a new building.”
Saudino also stated he was not totally in favour of the old Legion building and would be more comfortable having it located in the downtown area.
But Laughren says he believes the costs of the agreement are reasonable.
“I think when you look at what we are presently paying on various leasehold agreements, this will be very close in line with that,” said Laughren.
The CDSSAB has a $52 million budget. The member municipalities pay $22.1 million.
According to the board minutes, the City of Timmins pays 53 per cent or $12.6 million out of a that municipal budget of $22.1 million. The nearest other municipality in terms on financial contribution is the Town of Kapuskasing, which is responsible for 9.84 per cent of the budget at $2.1 million.
Members of the DSSAB Board include Chair councillor Gary Scripnick, mayor Tom Laughren, Timmins councillors Pat Bamford, Mike Doody, Jack Slattery and Denis Saudino. The other six members of the group are from the other member municipalities.

Moose and car crash on Highway 101

2008-07-17T00:46:00.005-04:00

The driver of this late model Chevy compact was transported to Timmins and District hospital, just after midnight Thursday (today), after the the vehicle was in collision with a moose on Highway 101 just west of the Bruce Street turnoff to South Porcupine. Witnesses say two moose were crossing the road at the time. One hit the car. The other continued on, in to the bush. Information on the the extent of the driver's injuries was not available, but the injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

Timmins Retiree Registry created

2008-07-16T10:05:00.002-04:00

Timmins city council has endorsed a plan by the Timmins Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) to recruit retirees who may like the idea of going back to work… for a few hours a week, or a few days a month. The plan was outlined at the city hall this week by Cathy Ellis, the director of community economic development for the TEDC.
“The TEDC has officially launched a retiree registry,” Ellis told council. She said this came from consultations with business owners and community leaders
“Employers need people from every walk of life to provide skills to help them grow and prosper,” said Ellis.
She quoted a Statistics Canada report, which estimates that one-fifth of Canadian retirees after 2002 have returned to work.
Ellis says more and more retirees are taking “official retirement” at a younger age and find it easier to return to the workplace on an occasional basis.
She says TEDC is creating a database of retirees who wish to return to work to bridge the “knowledge and skills gap” that exists in the local workforce.
Councillor Gary Scripnick commented there are many businesses in the city that can make use of “mature staff” at busier times of the year. Scripnick said he was confident there are many retirees looking “for something to do” before or after golf season.
Mayor Tom Laughren said he was pleased to see the initiative saying he speaks to a lot of men and women in their fifties and sixties who “have a lot of skills they can bring to the table.”

McGuinty's mining manifesto mystifies mayor

2008-07-15T18:08:00.000-04:00

Timmins Mayor Tom Laughren says Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty’s “out of the blue” announcement about changes to the Mining Act, will present “huge challenges” to Northern Ontario.
On Monday, Premier McGuinty announced a plan to set aside roughly 225,000 sqaure kilometres of the boreal forest for permanent “protection” from such things as forestry and mining.
The land area is defined as the part of Ontario that is north of the 51st line of latitude. The De Beers new Victor Project diamond mine would fall into that area.
Laughren says he is not convinced it’s the best move for economic development of the north and is concerned that municipalities were not consulted.
“The premier is talking an awfully large area, especially an area that has a lot of potential for growth right now,” said Laughren.
“I haven’t seen his rationale for doing it other than I know there was a lobby group that has been lobbying for this,” he added.
In the announcement on Monday, McGuinty said there is a need to do things right. "Although the Northern Boreal region has remained virtually undisturbed since the retreat of the glaciers, change is inevitably coming to these lands. We need to prepare for development and plan for it. It's our responsibility as global citizens to get this right, and to act now," said the premier.
“This came right out of the blue. We had talked about the Mining Act and I was kind of led to believe through comments, I believe from the MNDM (Ministry of Northern Development and Mines) minister that this was not going to be opened,” Laughren recalled.
“You know creating this large tract of land in the boreal forest for carbon credits and that kind of stuff I think we have not had a lot of input from municipalities, from forestry companies, from mining companies, so I was a little bit taken aback today by it, sure.”
Laughren says it’s wrong to assume that land-use laws in the south can just as easily be applied in the North.
“There have been situations in the south where companies have gone in a destroyed the land, and of course, that upsets people. We seem to have a working relationship with companies in the North,” said the mayor. “To put us as the same as the south is going to have a huge challenge on Northern Ontario.”
Laughren says he has speaking with mayors of other large municipalities in the North such as Sudbury, North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie and a meeting is planned for the first week of August and he says the premier’s plan will be on the agenda.

Timmins Police urge internet vigilance

2008-07-15T18:06:00.000-04:00

The Timmins Police Service reports more complaints have surfaced with respect to the internet scam involving fraudulent bank drafts.
The scam involves the sale of items over the net, where the purchaser “mistakenly” sends a bank draft for too much money to the seller. The purchaser then e-mails the seller asking for a refund of the so-called overpayment on the bank draft.
By the time the refund is sent, it becomes obvious that the original bank draft was bogus and the bank refuses to honour that original amount. It means the local seller is left with no money from the sale, as well as losing whatever money was sent back as a refund.
The Timmins Police Service is advising that it does not believe that the persons who are responsible for this scam are from the Timmins area or the names that they are using are real.
Online buyers and sellers are urged to be vigilant with online transactions and to be certain that all bank drafts and deposits are legitimate.

Timmins taxi rates go up

2008-07-15T18:05:00.001-04:00

Taxi rates in Timmins are going up so that local cab companies can stay profitable in view of the increasing price of gasoline.
Timmins city council this week ratified the recommendation from the Timmins Police Service Board to increase both the drop-rate and the per-kilometre rate.
The drop-rate, which is when the driver starts the meter, is going up from $3.25 to $3.60. That’s a monetary increase of 35-cents; a percentage increase of 11.1 per cent. The kilometre rate is going up from $1.50 per kilometre to $1.75 per kilometre.
Senior citizens, aged 60 and over, qualify for a ten per cent discount. The flat rate to the airport from downtown Timmins is set at $25.00.
The highest flat rate, from Kamiskotia Lake to the airport, is set at $60.00. From downtown Timmins to the Kidd met site, the rate is $35.00. The rate to the Kidd minesite is $40.00.
While council was discussing the taxi rates, councillor John Curley expressed concern that too many cab drivers still smoke in their vehicles, which he says is wrong because the smell of the nicotine lingers inside the car.
The rate was set following meetings held with Vet’s Taxi, Beal Taxi and A1 Taxi and the Timmins Police Services Board.
City councillor Mike Doody, who is also a member of the police board, defended the rate hike. Doody said with the cost of insurance, licencing and fuel, none of the three cab companies in Timmins “is going to get overly wealthy” and that the rate hike will only help the local companies stay in business.

Timmins people forget about money in the bank

2008-07-15T10:53:00.001-04:00

Every now and then it’s a treat to find loonies or twoonies you didn’t expect. Pull out a jacket that has been in the closet since last fall, and you might find a ten or twenty dollar bill you forgot about.
It’s even more of a treat if you’re one of the thousands of Canadians who have forgotten about money sitting in an old bank account.
Internet users can find out easily thanks to a Bank of Canada (BoC) website that lists hundreds of thousands of balances left sitting in old bank accounts.
The BoC website describes it as “a Canadian-dollar deposit or negotiable instrument, issued or held by a federally regulated bank or trust company. It can be in the form of a deposit account, bank draft, certified cheque, deposit receipt, money order, GIC, term deposit, credit card balance, or traveller's cheque.”
“When there has been no owner activity in relation to the balance for a period of 10 years, and the owner cannot be contacted by the institution holding it, the balance is turned over to the Bank of Canada, which acts as custodian on behalf of the owner.”
A search of the word “Timmins” turned up more than 20 entries. Travel Hos Timmins, which despite the unusual spelling, may refer to the old Travel Host Hotel, has an unclaimed balance of $853.09. The account has not been touched since 1978.
Timmins Furniture Market, address unknown, has a balance of $1,179.38 listed at the ScotiaBank on Pine South. The Timmins Sexual Assault Centre of a balance of $4.68. Timmins Motorama has an unclaimed balance of $36.95 at the downtown CIBC.
The Timmins Lodge No. 459 of the IOOF has a balance of $737.50, that hasn’t been touched in 12 years.
South Porcupine Kinsmen have $472.11 in an account that hasn’t been touched in 10 years.
At the end of December 2007, approximately 938,000 unclaimed balances, worth some $320 million, were on the Bank's books. Over 86% of these were under $500, representing 19% of the total value outstanding. The oldest balance dates back to 1900. Money is often left when people change banks, move to a new address or change jobs.
To find out if your name is listed, log on to the Bank of Canada website at http://www.bank-banque-canada.ca.
Click on “services” and then click on “unclaimed balances”.
Enter your last name and see what you might have. There are also instructions on how to recover any money in your name.

Deadman's Point

2008-07-11T10:24:00.002-04:00

Deadman’s point is the final resting place for many of the victim’s of the Great Porcupine Fire that happened on this day, July 11, back in 1911. It’s known that 77 residents of the Porcupine, South Porcupine and Golden City lost their lives in a horrible forest fire that day, but there are estimates that more than 200 lives were lost, counting the many prospectors and homesteaders who lived nearby. The monument to the dead was erected by the Northern Ontario Fire Relief Committee of the Toronto board of trade.

This aint no fairy tale!

2008-07-10T17:28:00.000-04:00

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is issuing a warning about a black bears in the areas of Schumacher, Gold Centre and Gold Mine Road.
The MNR says sightings of a mama bear and three little cubs have been reported several times. The ministry is asking area residents to “take the necessary steps to prevent bear problems in their neighborhood.”
In a news release, the MNR says “most of the calls stem from non-natural food sources attracting the bears such as garbage. MNR asks residents to make certain that their garbage is secured in such a fashion that these bears are unable to break into the containers.”
The ministry also advises home owners to:
-Clean up and properly store garbage
-Clean barbecues
-Don’t leave pet food outside
-Remove birdfeeders

Boom stays on the river

2008-07-10T09:42:00.001-04:00

The city of Timmins says the containment boom installed on the Mattagami River Tuesday will stay in place until Monday.
The boom was set up in response to a report from a city resident that some sort of oily substance or sheen could be seen on the river, in the area of the water filtration plant.
Timmins firefighters responded, but no one from that department, or the city, was able to determine what might be the problem. It was raining heavily at the time.
Fire chief Mike Pintar says the deployment of the containment boom was a precautionary measure given the importance of community safety and the city’s water supply.
Ontario Ministry of the Environment staff took water samples to determine whether there are any contaminants. The city says its water supply was not, and is not, in any danger.

Xstrata named in lawsuit - Times Exclusive

2008-07-09T14:42:00.003-04:00

By LEN GILLIS ~ The Timmins Times
The Timmins Times has learned that Xstrata Copper Canada is the target of a $3 million lawsuit by Opawica Explorations of Vancouver over the access to mining lands near the Kidd mine in Timmins.
Opawica says “it has commenced an action in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice against Xstrata Copper Canada” so that Opawica can carry on with drilling a parcel of land outlined in a joint venture between Opawica and Xstrata’s predecessor, Falconbridge Limited. Opawica president Dan Clark told The Timmins Times this week that his company had rights to drill as parcel of land about two kilometres northwest of the Kidd mine.
“There are a few remaining drill targets we would like to drill before the closure of the Kidd Creek Mine,” said Clark.
“Basically we had proposed a ten-hole in-fill drill program under our joint venture agreement,” he said.
“We had stopped drilling there in 2003 looking for deep ore zones and we felt we had probably exhausted some of the larger target areas where you might find three to eight million tonne or greater ore zone.”
REFUSING ACCESS
However, he believes there is still a worthwhile zinc, silver and lead deposit that hasn’t been fully explored. Clark says Xstrata has taken the position that the deposit is not worth the effort and is denying his company access to that land.
“I’ve been in this business 25 years and I’ve never seen such a position taken, by a junior company let alone a major mining company,” Clark said.
“They’ve told us you can’t access the land. You cannot drill. We will not provide you the database. We will never allow you access to that property. We have environmental concerns on the property. We have safety concerns,” Clark said.
“We asked ‘can you please advise us what they are. No we will not be talking to you anymore. Have a nice life!” Clark went on.
The Times asked Clark if he felt the concerns raised by Xstrata about environmental and safety were valid concerns.
“No. Absolutely not. We think that’s a purposeful misrepresentation by Xstrata. That’s our opinion.
“I’ve never seen such a position taken by a corporation. Especially one that has just come into Canada,” Clark continued.
“I mean I’m a longtime Canadian kinda guy you know. I love commerce. I love international commerce, but this entity Xstrata is owned by Swiss bankers and I don’t know what their mandate is, but it certainly isn’t to engender positive relationships as their annual report says, let me tell you that.”
Clark says the lawsuit was a last resort because he fully expected to work out an arrangement to access the property.
“There are areas where we can access the property by road, where we do not have to pass through the footprint of the mine, but once again they have told us they will not allow any access, they will not allow any exploration to be conducted,” he said, adding that Xstrata has indicated it is not interested in pursuing more work.
“They’re standing very firm that they don’t believe the orebody is economic, nor do they think there’s anymore drill targets. Clearly that’s not the case,” Clark said.
“We’ve commenced an action. We now have to make a case for damages,” Clark told The Times.
“We’re looking for $1 million in punitive damages. And we want $2.2 million in recovery of the monies we’ve spent on the property to date if access is actually denied.
So we’re looking for 3.2 million,” he said.
Emily Russell, a communications official with Xstrata Copper’s corporate office has confirmed the company was notified of the lawsuit and says Xstrata intends to defend itself. No other comment was offered.

Timmins police continue ATV crackdown

2008-07-09T09:32:00.001-04:00

Timmins Police are continuing a crackdown on the use of ATVs (All Terrain Vehicles), quads, and dirt-bike style motorcycles in city parks and nature trails.
ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY
There will be a zero tolerance approach to any offenders caught riding their ATVs and dirt bikes in local parks and conservation areas says Timmins Police Service Sergeant Bill Aird.
Aird says the vehicles present a danger to the many hikers and families who use the parks.
“The City of Timmins as well as many area non-profit groups spends a lot of time and money to keep these parks open for residents to enjoy. Persons operating off road vehicles in the parks cause damage and are a danger to people enjoying the benefits of the park,” he said.
“A zero tolerance approach by the Timmins Police Service will be taken as well when persons are drinking alcohol in our parks, causing mischief or having fires,” Aird said. “The City parks are not for consuming alcohol, causing mischief and having fires. Persons in contravention to this will be charged,” he added.
POLICE PATROL PARKS & TRAILS
Police have initiated their own ATV patrols throughout the city to enforce the laws pertaining to ATVs.
Aird says patrols will include all parks from Bannerman Park in Porcupine to the White Water Park in South Porcupine. Schumacher Lions Park, Hollinger Park, as well as all other obvious parks, conservation areas and nature trails in the Timmins area.
Earlier this year, Timmins Police issued an advisory that the streets of the city are off limits to ATVs and other off-road vehicles.
Police say ATV’s cannot be operated on any city street, even if the user is heading out to the nearest bush trail. ATV users must trailer their machine to a remote bush area where they can then be offloaded for riding.
ONLY ON CROWN LAND
ATVs are allowed on crown land in remote bush areas, but riders must carry appropriate documents wsith respect to licencing, ownership and insurance.
Aird says anyone witnessing off-road vehicles in the parks or on the nature trails should contact police at 264-1201“for immediate action.”

Oil spill by Mattagami River

2008-07-08T12:29:00.006-04:00

Firefighters and Timmins city workers set up a floating boom on the Mattagami River this morning, in response to some sort of oily substance spill at the Timmins Water Treatment Plant. The boom was set out to contain whatever substance might flow into the river. No further information was available at Noon today. (click photo for full size)

Timmins man injured in ATV crash

2008-07-07T16:49:00.004-04:00

A Timmins man was transported to Timmins and District Hospital this afternoon after he was in a crash with his ATV machine in one of the gravel pits near Highway 655. A witness told The Times the man came over the edge of the pit, hit a rock and flipped his machine. A companion with a cell phone notified emergency services. Timmins police are investigating the crash.

Brush fire season

2008-07-06T23:15:00.005-04:00

Timmins Firefighters joined the Ministry of Natural Resources this evening to put down a brush fire in Murphy Township,just north of the city. An MNR helicopter with a 250 gallon water bucket was also involved in the fight. The blaze was brought under control in less than an hour.

Heart of Gold Triathlon

2008-07-06T22:54:00.004-04:00

Scores of athletes gathered on the beach at Gillies Lake in Timmins today for the annual Heart of Gold Triathlon in support of KidSport. The first photo shows the participants just seconds before the starting horn. The second photo shows them just a second afterwards.

Robbery Suspects

2008-07-04T10:11:00.001-04:00

Timmins Police Service has arrested two local residents in connection with a robbery that occurred at the Canadian Tire gas bar on Waterloo Road back in March. Police say Stephanie Hardy-Souckey, 26, and Michael Joseph Soukey, 29, both of Timmins are both charged with robbery. In addition, police say the man is charged with possession of a weapon and wearing a disguise with intent to commit an offence.