Thompson Engages Vale Stakeholders

Thompson is now three days into Vale’s recent announcement to phase out the smelting and refining operations in our community by 2015.  The initial ‘shock and awe’ at the reported loss of 500 good jobs is still hovering; however Thompson City Council continues to engage stakeholders at all levels to sit down and discuss the best possible options for our community.

All this, and here I am 2,900 km away in Ottawa for a Federation of Canadian Municipalities Board Meeting!

When I first heard the news, I was ready to hop on the next plane heading back home.  However, this announcement by Vale will affect more communities than just Thompson.  I made the difficult decision to remain in Ottawa and help raise our profile, both among municipal leaders from across Canada and Members of Parliament on the Hill.

Vale’s $10 billion spending plan in Canada is not a good news story because it leaves Manitoba workers at a loss.  Shifting jobs from Manitoba to other parts of Canada is not a net benefit and I worry that it’s Manitoba today, and some other Province or Territory tomorrow.

Further, the impact this business decision will have on our northern community of 14,000 is worrisome.  The proposed changes mean losing the economic diversity of a fully integrated mining complex and our Provincial manufacturing ability to add value to an important resource.  My heart goes out to my community, as I know people worry about their property values, their children’s schools and the profits of our small business owners.  I want to ensure the residents of Thompson that your City Council is working diligently to get all the stakeholders to the table so we can focus on community-based solutions and remain a viable and sustainable community in our northern environment.

The City of Thompson is committed to working with Vale, the Steelworkers, the Province of Manitoba and the Federal Government to find solutions to this situation and to protect our residents from any potentially negative fallout.  We are a mining community, and those that have built their lives here have experienced the booms and busts before.  However, our community’s future is as a service centre for Northern Manitoba.  Thompsonites are resilient and passionate people, we’ll be around for a long time – no matter what challenge is thrown in our direction!

I’ve spent the past week in Ottawa lobbying Member’s of Parliament for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.  At the same time, I’ve also had the opportunity to meet with over a dozen different MPs from coast to coast to coast and raise the profile of the City of Thompson.  Our community cannot be a bad news story for Canada.  

I will be returning home this Sunday afternoon and I encourage all of our residents to attend the Community Forum this Sunday night at 7:00pm at the Letkeman Theatre to learn more about our current situation with Vale.

To view the City of Thompson media releases, click on the links below:

http://issuu.com/bullmarketconsulting.com/docs/press_release_vale?viewMode=magazine 

http://issuu.com/bullmarketconsulting.com/docs/press_release-2vale?viewMode=magazine

Inaugural Meeting of Council

Thompson City Council held it's inaugural meeting on Wednesday, November 3rd.  Joined by family and friends I was proud to take the oath of office, promising to truly, faithfully and impartially, to the best of my knowledge and ability, execute the duties of office.

I am looking forward to working with the new council, and to the challenges and opportunities that are sure to come over the next four years.  My primary goal will be to ensure our collective vision is looking well down the road and working to build a sustainable future in northern Manitoba.

And, as the newly named Chair of Recreation and Community Services, I'm more than ready to get to work on creating conditions of opportunity to work, play and live in our great City.

Thanks Thompson - It's going to be a great four years!

Signing on the dotted line

Taking the oath in Council Chambers

Thompson City Council 2010-2014

GLACIER Inc. Grand Opening

We're looking a total investment of $43 million

It’s been a while since my last entry, and that is entirely reflective of the fact that I've been launched headfirst into a renewed term and my calendar is quickly filling up.  Only two days after the election Mayor, Council and Council-Elect were invited to the grand opening ceremony of The Global Aerospace Centre for Icing and Environmental Research (GLACIER) Inc., a joint venture between Pratt & Whitney Canada and Rolls-Royce Canada.

On October 29^th this state-of-the-art cold weather testing and research facility for aircraft engines officially opened.  This facility is the most advanced of its kind in the world.  It specializes in ice tests for aerospace engine certification programs.  It will also play a leading role in cold weather research for the benefit of the entire aviation industry, and offer unique education opportunities through partnerships with schools and universities.  GLACIER Inc. will work with the Canadian Environmental Test Research and Education Centre (EnviroTREC), a non-profit organization created to develop and maintain research, human resources and education programs in support of GLACIER activities.

Senior Executives from Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whiteny were in attendance, along with Hon. Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, Hon. Peter Bjornson, Minister of Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade and Hon. Steve Ashton, Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation.

The icing tunnel (NOT a giant moose caller)

The facility was constructed by MDS based in Ottawa

Rolls-Royce Engine ready to go

One of the best parts about the whole event was the validation it provided to our northern community.  Although it was a beautiful, sunny late-October day in Thompson, the biting arctic wind had many of our guests shivering and tugging on their toques. The press release states that “sub-arctic temperatures make [Thompson] an ideal location to conduct ice tests using natural weather conditions.”  If this is how our City takes lemons and makes lemonade, I’d say we’re on the right track!