Yesterday, Mayor Boileau had the opportunity to sit down with The Honourable Mona Fortier, President of the Treasury Board, to talk about housing, healthcare, and funding for homelessness prevention.
“We talked about the permanency of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) and how it benefits rural communities by providing access to skilled foreign workers. Timmins was one of only 11 communities chosen across Canada to participate in RNIP. We’re urging the federal government to make this a permanent program.
“We talked about healthcare in Timmins and access to primary care, particularly for First Nation communities. With better access to health care available to our Indigenous partners, the capacity of our regional hospital will be supported. There is funding the federal government can provide now that will help our health care providers upgrade, enhance, and expand health services in Timmins.
“We talked about Canada’s current homelessness strategy and how it works with the national housing strategy; specifically, how the federal government can support our community’s need to increase affordable housing. We know that industry plans, particularly in the mining sector, will require more skilled labour. We also need support with homelessness prevention, and that starts with having a place to call home.
“We joined a discussion with the Timmins Chamber of Commerce where we talked about federal support for businesses transitioning to a green economy and Canada’s goal of being net-zero by 2050. Sustainable and prosperous economies require investment, and our local businesses need assistance making this transition and achieving this milestone. The City of Timmins supports measures to mitigate climate change. Our own efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through mindful operations has been successful.
“I want to thank Mona Fortier for giving me the opportunity to talk openly about what our community needs. Conversations are happening – that have to happen – to help Timmins thrive.” ~ Mayor Michelle Boileau
Housing, the economy, and the environment are all council priorities for this term of council. Learn more at: https://www.timmins.ca/our_services/city_hall/mayor_and_council/council_actions_and_initiatives
Amanda Dyer
The City of Timmins Environmental Services & Public Utilities department wish to advise the public of an emergency sanitary sewer main repair along Third Ave.
Third Ave. will be closed to traffic effective immediately between Birch St. S. and Mountjoy St. S. Contractors are mobilizing now and repairs are expected to be completed by late this evening.
There will be no disruption to water services.
City staff would like to thank residents for their patience and cooperation while we complete necessary repairs.
Amanda Dyer
The City of Timmins Environmental Services & Public Utilities department wishes to advise the public of an emergency water infrastructure repair affecting water quality for Patricia Blvd. between Brousseau Ave. to Ross Ave. Repairs are scheduled for Thursday July 13, 2023 from 8:00 am to approximately 6:00 pm.
All homes and businesses in the affected area could be without water for a few hours as well colored water and lower than normal water pressures.
Homeowners in that area may experience brown or rust-colored water during the schedule water maintenance. It is recommended not to drink or wash laundry with the discolored water. While it is not harmful to your health, it can stain laundry. Should this occur, it is advised to turn on the COLD water tap closest to the source (usually your laundry tub tap) and let it run for approximately 15-20 minutes or until the water color has returned to normal.
City staff would like to thank residents for their patience and cooperation during this work.
Amanda Dyer
Earlier this week, Mayor Michelle Boileau and Councillor Cory Robin had the opportunity to tour the Côté Gold mining project, located 125 km’s southwest of Timmins near Gogama.
During Mining Week in June, Mayor Boileau had commented that, while Timmins’ 110-year history of mining is well-documented, we can still confidently say that Timmins’ future is mining … and the future is now at Côté Gold.
The latest in autonomous mining technology is being incorporated into one of the most advanced open-pit gold mines, which will be the first in Canada with a fully-automated fleet. Not to mention, the second largest open-pit mine in the country.
Here’s what we discovered:
- There are currently 6 autonomous CAT 793 haul trucks moving mining ore and waste to support commissioning later this year.
- Autonomous mining is technology driven to improve mine safety, improve efficiency, improve productivity and operations.
- The projected mine life is 18+ years with gold production anticipated to start in early 2024.
- The mine will require a direct workforce of 500+ by the end of the year, supported by the opening of the Côté Gold Timmins bus terminal to shuttle employees back and forth to the mine site.
Côté Gold provides economic benefit to the Timmins’ area through direct and indirect labour development (there are currently 1800+ contractors and 261 full-time employees); is committed to supporting the community and engaging with our Indigenous partners; is environmentally responsible; and, works to maintain a high-level of health and safety standards.
There is unmined potential and opportunity in our city and region. We are ready.
Learn more about how your City Council is working to diversify and strengthen Timmins’ economy, and work with partner organizations to bolster and grow the current labour force: City Council Priorities 2023-26.
Amanda Dyer
Mattagami Water Pollution Control Plant Secondary Bypass Report
Address: 551 Airport Road
Start date: July 5, 2023
Start time: 8:45 pm
End date: July 5, 2023
End time: 10:00pm
Volume by-passed: 742 m3
Amanda Dyer
City contractors working on Algonquin Blvd. are almost ready to wrap up Segment 6 and move forward on Segment 7 of the Connecting Link. Once crews have Mountjoy St. intersection reopened to traffic, work will progress up Algonquin Blvd. towards Cedar St. Motorists are being asked to divert down Brunette Rd. to Second Ave. back to Mountjoy St. S. to avoid construction. Mountjoy St. intersection could be open as early as Friday, but will most likely see traffic on Monday.
The new detour will move vehicles south of Algonquin Blvd., along one route that is designed to move traffic efficiently around a downtown construction area that is short on space. This is the second year of construction on a three-year plan that will replace crucial and aging infrastructure below the road surface.
“Segment 7 of the Connecting Link runs east of the Mountjoy intersection to just west of Cedar St.,” says Scott Tam Director of Growth and Infrastructure. “The work area is narrow and requires full-depth reconstruction of the roadway, replacement of underground services like water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer, and pole relocation. We’ve simplified the necessary detour to one route and optimized traffic control staging to keep vehicles moving.”
Contractors have added a temporary traffic light at Brunette Rd. and Second Ave. to allow more vehicles to make the left turn onto Brunette when heading east. The stop signs at Spruce St. S. and Second Ave. and at Balsam St. S. and Second Ave. will also be temporarily removed to prioritize traffic moving east and west.
“We will also review and adjust light timing at Cedar St. and Pine St. along Second Ave. if necessary,” adds Tam.
The City and contractors are working with Timmins Police Service to issue traffic advisories for the new detour route and temporary traffic controls. Once Mountjoy St. intersection is open, the temporary 4-way stop at Vimy Ave. and Theriault Blvd. will be removed. The 3-way stop at Vimy Ave. and Mountjoy St. N. will stay in place, now that a permanent stop for that intersection has been approved by City Council.
For more information on Connecting Link construction and to subscribe for Connecting Link updates, visit www.timmins.ca/connecting_link.
Amanda Dyer
The City of Timmins has determined that culverts on Denise St., MacLean Dr., and at the Terry Fox Trail are at end of life and will require replacement. The existing corrugated steel pipe culverts within the roadway will be replaced with concrete box culverts; the culvert on the Terry Fox Trail will be replaced with a corrugated steel pipe culvert.
Contractors will begin work on the Denise St. replacement on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. To complete work, road closures will be in place just north of Morandin Ave. with no through traffic. Work is expected to continue until early-August. In
the event of inclement weather or unfavourable site conditions, the work may be extended as required.
Timmins Transit Disruption:
Route 38 will proceed from Lamminen Ave. to Suzanne St., Martin Ave., and resume regular route on Denise St.
Route 37 will proceed from Denise St. to Martin Ave, Suzanne St., and resume regular route on Lamminen Ave.
Two stops will be affected at Denise St. - Shub Ave. and Denise St. - Morandin Ave.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. For more information on this year’s capital works projects, visit: https://www.timmins.ca/our_services/engineering/capital_works/2023_capital_works
Amanda Dyer
The City of Timmins Engineering Dept. wishes to advise residents that contractors will have McBride St. (north and south) closed at Riverside Dr. on Wednesday, July 5 and Thursday, July 6, 2023.
This is part of Connecting Link construction, to facilitate the installation of concrete encased ducts. By completing installation of both north and south ducts, it will eliminate further disruptions and expedite work.
McBride St. N. can be accessed from St. Jean Ave. with no exit onto Riverside Dr. McBride St. S. can be accessed through Bonaventure Dr. with no exit onto Riverside Dr.
Thank you for you continued cooperation as we work to improve the City’s roadways and infrastructure.
Amanda Dyer
City Council has approved Pads K9 Protection and Detection Services to lead a one-year pilot project for security patrols across the city. The goal is to provide an additional level of safety overnight and to help prevent unwanted vandalism and crime.
The $100,336 cost is being recovered from the City’s portion of the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT), which is money collected by local hotels on overnight stays. For the next 12 months, private security will be conducting foot and drive-by patrols between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., seven days a week. Council had previously approved the expense as part of the 2023 City budget.
“It is not ideal to have to add security patrols to bolster community safety,” says Mayor Michelle Boileau. “Council did not arrive at this decision lightly, but we have residents and business owners who are asking for help now to feel safe. This is one idea that can be implemented immediately, without burdening our tax base. By next month, we will have a mobile security patrol on the street to identify anything out of place and report it immediately to Timmins Police Service.”
Council’s recent town hall on community safety was attended by over 1,200 residents concerned with high incidents of crime, break and enters, theft of property, and trespassing.
“We are optimistic that the added presence of private security will serve as a crime deterrent and help reduce unwanted property crime and theft,” adds Boileau. “This is a pilot project and we need to review the results to see if this will work for Timmins, but it’s an answer today when asked, “What is City Council doing now to improve safety.”
Amanda Dyer
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