THUNDER BAY – City council voted to look more closely at concerns from citizen groups over the potential transportation of nuclear waste on Monday, in a move welcomed by anti-nuclear protesters who gathered at city hall before the meeting.
It was a sobering update on challenges facing the region’s EMS service, however, that dominated the discussion in chambers. Council also received updates on the city’s climate strategy and corporate safety on Monday.
Council is set to meet again on Monday, Nov. 6.
Consultation ordered on nuclear waste
In a win for anti-nuclear groups, council ordered further consultation before deciding whether to take a position on the potential transport of nuclear waste through the area.
Council’s intergovernmental affairs committee had recommended against endorsing the “proximity principle,” as campaigners with We the Nuclear Free North and Environment North have asked.
Facing criticism the committee heard only from the nuclear industry before making a decision, council sent the recommendation back with direction to consult those groups.
EMS facing strains
Superior North EMS Chief Shane Muir outlined serious challenges facing the service in an update to council.
Muir highlighted struggles to recruit paramedics for regional service, and the impact of offload delays at hospital that he said are hurting response times and paramedic mental health.
On controversial plans to consolidate regional EMS bases, the service is awaiting proposals from municipalities for a new consolidated Red Rock/Nipigon base, and now reviewing proposals for a consolidated Schreiber/Terrace Bay base.
City tracks climate progress
A second annual report card showed mixed results on the city’s climate goals, embodied in its net zero strategy.
The update showed 71 per cent of actions identified in the plan are at least in progress, up from 66 per cent last year.
However, it also showed only six of 21 actions meant to be accomplished by 2023 have so far been completed.
Incomplete goals include assigning full-time staff to implement the net zero strategy, developing a “climate lens” tool to review city policies, and identifying financing for net zero implementation.
Actions for 2024 include designing a home energy loan program and creating a roadmap to electrify the city’s vehicle fleet.
Corporate safety update
A mid-year corporate safety update offered an overview of workplace safety incidents and initiatives for city staff.
Of around 350 reported incidents recorded from January to July 2023, nearly one-third involved exposure/stress, with many of those in EMS and fire services. Slips and falls, strain, and other physical accidents made up most of the rest of reported incidents.
The update highlighted the work of the city’s Employee Safety Task Force, launched last year to confront rising concerns over employee mental health and encounters with violence and trauma in the workplace.
