THUNDER BAY – City council’s March 30 meeting was, unsurprisingly, dominated by COVID-19 and the city's response.
Only a handful of councillors and staff were present at city hall in light of the pandemic, with most connecting by teleconference. Meetings are now closed to the public and the press, but can still be watched live online or on television.
Reduced transit service
Citing driver shortages, the city will reduce transit service as of April 5. Buses will run less frequently and service will stop earlier in the evening.
Some councillors expressed concerns over the move, while others asked if the city has done enough to protect drivers from the risk of contracting the coronavirus.
Read our full coverage here.
Financial relief
Looking to ease the pain for those facing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 crisis, council passed a raft of relief measures. Those include extending deadlines for upcoming municipal tax installments and waiving late-payment fees on water bills.
The package also included an emergency fund of over $200,00 for local non-profits.
Read our full coverage here.
New ambulances on the way
Council approved the purchase of four new emergency vehicles. The move extends an existing contract with Saskatoon-based Crestline Coach that has seen the city acquire four new vehicles per year since 2016.
The city will pay $560,000 for the four vehicles. An EMS representative told councillors the new ambulances will replace others that are at end-of-life after seven to ten years, all having run over 250,000 kilometres.
Council unanimously approved the purchase.
