THUNDER BAY – Delegates from municipalities across the District of Thunder Bay are meeting in the city today as part of the Thunder Bay District Municipal League meetings. The TBDML meetings will cover a wide range of topics, including waste management, an update on Superior EMS, issues with cemeteries and a report from the OPP on Guns and Gangs on Friday.
The meetings will continue on Saturday.
One of the issues that are of concern is the growing problem with addiction which is resulting in the growth with southern Ontario gangs bringing their violence and drugs north to the region.
Thunder Bay Mayor Bill Mauro says that to date the City of Thunder Bay has not had any success gaining access to any of the guns and gangs funding from the Ontario government.
Speaking at the Thunder Bay District Municipal League meeting, the Mayor said this is an issue across the region. The mayor is counting on the possibility of direct funding to flow directly from the federal government.
Bill 108 may not be as significant Mauro says. This may not impact smaller communities, but the official plans approvals at the local level can be overridden by the provincial government.
Brett Lawson, a director with BBL Energy Inc presented a project that is designed to reduce plastics going into landfill sites. This technology greatly reduces the work for businesses and consumers in dealing with plastics.
Lawson explained that using their program there is no sorting of plastics like in the current blue box programs.
Change is Possible – Ecosuperior
Continuing on the environmental theme, Shannon Costigan from EcoSuperior presented Achieving Community Environmental Outcomes on preventing plastic pollution.
Showing images of plastic on Lake Superior, Costigan says while many people feel that the issue of plastics in the ocean is an “Over There” problem, the fact is it is a “Right Here” problem.
Creating single-use plastics that last up to 500 years, items like the plastic ring to hold beer cans together, or disposable diapers, the impact on our environment is massive.
In 2016, Canada only re-cycled 9% of the plastics we used. Of the 3.2 million metric tonnes of plastic, 86% actually ended up in landfill sites.
Costigan concluded saying “We can change the world”.
Superior EMS Presentation
Wayne Gates of Superior EMS presented an update on the tasks that face Superior EMS.
Gates says that one of the serious issues is the EMS Dispatch system.
The new AMPDS – Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch System will help greatly as it will help qualify the level of response needed.
The meetings kicked off today in Thunder Bay at the Prince Arthur Hotel and continue on Saturday. On Saturday the TBDML will hear from MPPs and MPs as well as a presentation on Ergonomics and the Ministry of Labour.
