THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay’s city council signed onto a climate pledge setting new targets to green its transit fleet and city buildings Monday, as well as new rules meant to discourage long-haul truckers from using the County Fair Plaza as an unofficial truck stop.
Coun. Mark Bentz also reopened a discussion on the city’s role in addressing issues of poverty and homelessness, with councillors supporting his call for a report examining how the municipal government could ramp up its efforts.
Truck restrictions approved
Council voted unanimously to bar heavy trucks from residential streets around the County Fair Plaza, hoping to curb the mall’s use as a makeshift truck stop. Residents in the area have complained of constant noise, fumes, and vibrations from the transports.
City administration warned further measures will likely be needed to solve the problem, however.
Joining the Race to Zero
The City of Thunder Bay committed to new milestones to move toward emissions-free city buses and municipal buildings. The move comes as part of a global pledge encouraging cities to take action, as world leaders gather for the COP26 climate summit.
Councillors voted unanimously to join the UN-backed Cities Race to Zero campaign, after hearing its goals align with the Net Zero Strategy council approved earlier this year, targeting a carbon neutral future by 2050.
Bentz pushes for homelessness strategy
Council supported a motion from Coun. Mark Bentz's calling for the city to develop a more cohesive strategy on homelessness and poverty.
Some councillors argued the city should be wary of further spending on those issues, saying the city already does more than many other local governments to address what amount to provincial and federal problems.
Bentz said the city could do more, including targeted spending and greater advocacy for action from upper levels of government.
City administration is directed to report back by Dec. 20 “with options for a multi- faceted approach to finance, leverage and influence solutions to address homelessness and poverty in Thunder Bay.”
ICIP dollars pave way for waterfront trail
Council officially approved an agreement for $1.6 million in Investing in Canada Infrastructure
Program (ICIP) funds to support construction on sections of the planned waterfront trail, as well as other multi-use trail work around the city.
That work still marks first steps in larger plans for a unified waterfront trail that are estimated to cost the city over $20 million and take over a decade to complete.
The ICIP dollars are funded 80 per cent federally and 20 per cent provincially.
