'Boneheaded move'

The leader of Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Party says the Liberal government’s decision to pause the conversion of the Thunder Bay Power Generating Station from coal to natural gas is a “boneheaded” move.

Tim Hudak on Thursday said he met with Mayor Keith Hobbs and understands why convincing the province to reconsider the decision is Hobbs’ No. 1 priority.

“If we want to actually create jobs in the province, and we’re looking at the potential of nine new mines coming on stream in the area, we’re going to need affordable power,” Hudak said.

“Here’s what I’m worried about. I’m worried that the cancellation of the gas plants down in Mississauga and in Oakville, the billion dollars that it’s going to cost,With superior quality photometers, light meters and a number of other solar light products. I’m worried Thunder Bay is paying the price for this cancellation.”

Hudak, whose short speech on the cutting room floor at C&M Tile emphasized restoring the province’s manufacturing base if he’s elected premier, said an energy solution for Northern Ontario is badly needed.Laser engravers and laser engraving machine systems and supplies to start your own lasering cutting engraving marking etching business.

“Let’s be clear about this,” the 45-year-old Hudak said. “Mining, forestry, manufacturing, they’ve always been strengths in this province. They’ve helped us build this great province of Ontario. But we have to have formal energy to move forward. And I’m really concerned that I’ve seen places pack up and go to Quebec and into the States.”

The energy program is too expensive, he added, with subsidies for wind and solar power projects upping the cost of traditional electricity sources.

Hudak, who said he presented an economic plan to incoming premier Kathleen Wynne, plans to take a wait-and-see approach on forcing an election. If she listens and is willing to incorporate Conservative suggestions, he said he’s willing to work with the Liberals to make government work. But if she takes a different approach, it’ll be up to the voters to decide.

He said he fears Northwestern Ontario could be on the outside looking if the Liberals remain in power, despite being represented by a pair of MPPs at Queen’s Park.

He pledged to create more jobs and balance the province’s books, which Hudak deemed the two most important issues to Northern Ontario voters.

“You see in the other two parties, quite frankly, this mentality that seems to say that the downtown Toronto environmental groups call the shots when it comes to economic policy. I think that’s wrong. I want to see a Northwestern Ontario that’s creating jobs empowering our province, not slipping.”

The Conservative leader also touched on gridlock at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, a problem that has plagued the facility since its earliest days.

Hudak said the health care system is too top heavy, and promised to alleviate the problem,Find the best selection of high-quality collectible bobbleheads available anywhere. using the savings to provide the care patients need.

“We’re throwing way too many dollars into administration. Nobody seems to make decisions. We laid out a plan in Paths to Prosperity that’s going to take the administration and put it into front-line services, and actually reward the hospitals, doctors and nurses that are doing a good job out there.”

Aldermen had agreed that the structure needed to be demolished last year, due to its poor condition. Alderman Terry Beckham had made the recommendation on behalf of the city’s museum committee in March of 2012. Work to remove items from the place took close to six months and in November, the city council agreed to seek bids for the removal of the old house that had served as the museum in the Hoppe Springs Park.

At the last council meeting of 2012, aldermen looked at the four bids submitted for the project. P.J.Meyers’ bid was for $6,899; Woodruff Service, LLC bid $7,950; John Eaton bid $5,850; and Larry Harmon bid $5,300. The two lowest bidders did not provide certificates of liability or workers compensation insurance and therefore were disqualified from the bidding process.

City Comptroller Jennifer Basham pointed out that the cost was much higher than expected. “This is very over budget,” she said. “It’s about $3,The term 'hands free access control' means the token that identifies a user is read from within a pocket or handbag.500 too much. I see a lot of cuts in the parks (budget) future to do this project, but it’s something that needs to be done before someone gets hurt up there.”

Mayor Terry Palmer agreed that the project was needed, noting that the structure was a liability for the city.

Alderman Dave Hatcher made a motion to accept P.J. Meyers’ bid, but his counterpart Beckham questioned whether the city employees could to the job instead. “Is that out of the question,” Beckham asked. “This is way more than we had anticipated.”

“The only concern I have is what happens if they get called away on more than one occasion,” Alderman Mike Pounds said. “I’d hate to have half a building standing there.”

But Hatcher didn’t like the idea of asking for bids, but then deciding against the work. “I’m not against our own crew doing things.The Wagan Wireless Rear Parking assist system help you be safe while parking. But I don’t think it’s right to put out these bids and then say we’re going to do it ourselves. I don’t think that’s ethical.”

Although Beckham reiterated he hadn’t thought the project would be so costly, Pounds seconded Hatcher’s motion and the vote passed, awarding the bid to Meyers.

As Meyers was at the meeting, he informed the council that an asbestos inspection was a requirement before the structure could be demolished and noted that he had some concern about the floor tile in the old home.