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CJ Goater

About CJ Goater

CJ Goater is a graduate of Fanshawe College's broadcast journalism program. He is based in Thunder Bay and covers stories across northwestern Ontario, with a passion for politics, sports and crime. Contact CJ at goaterc@radioabl.ca.

Posts by CJ Goater:

Lac des Iles Mine

New life for Lac des Iles Mine

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Impala Canada’s Lac Des Iles Mine is going to remain open longer than anticipated.

In a message to employees of the mine on Thursday, CEO Tim Hill announced that the recent increases in the price of palladium have enabled Impala to extend mine production until the summer of 2027.

The mine closure was initially announced by Hill in July.

The initial plan was to close the Lac Des Iles facility at the end of May 2026.

“This one-year extension is not our end goal; it is a window of opportunity,” said Hill in the internal message. ” We will use this time to advance our work toward a long-term tailings solution for LDI in order to extend mine life for years to come.”

“Our success continues to depend on the palladium price, our production rates, and our cost structure, today and going forward. But I am confident in our team at LDI; you have remained professional and dedicated during a difficult period. Your commitment to safety, production, and cost control has placed our business in a position of strength.”

The facility which mines palladium employs roughly 800 people.

The organization says a prolonged period of low palladium prices led to the decision.

The mine is located approximately 90 minutes northwest of Thunder Bay.

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Thunder Bay post-secondary institutions receiving funding to train more students

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Both Confederation College and Lakehead University (LU) have received money from the provincial government to help the organizations train more students.

The college is receiving the bulk of the funding, a total of $2,238,925, to train up to 267 additional students in construction programs.

“Between the multiple (construction) programs, the demand is huge. There’s obviously major construction that’s happening in northwestern Ontario, and these programs help to support that work,” said Confederation College President Michelle Salo.

“There’s definitely domestic student demand. That’s what we saw this past fall with the intake, so we’re hoping it will continue.”

The programs are also available to eligible international students.

According to the college, most of the students stay in the north to continue their careers.

An additional $800,320 is being delivered to Lakehead to expand enrollment in nursing programs at the university.

“Absolutely wonderful news for Lakehead and for our nursing program, but more importantly for the city of Thunder Bay in the region of Northwestern,” said the President and Vice Chancellor of Lakehead University, Dr. Gillian Siddall.

“Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system, and I think particularly so in the north and in more rural and remote regions of the north, so it’s just fantastic news.”

LU was unable to provide information on how many more students will be able to enter a nursing program with the funding.

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Thunder Bay Chamber and CEDC want VIA Rail cars built at Thunder Bay Alstom plant

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Thunder Bay’s Chamber of Commerce and Community Economic Development Commission want to see Via Rail’s new rail cars being built in Canada.

The organizations have sent a joint letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney advocating for Canadian content in VIA Rail’s ongoing $3 billion rail car procurement.

The letter also highlights the potential economic benefits of awarding the contract to Alstom Canada’s Thunder Bay facility, which could generate hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, while revitalizing local manufacturing.

The organizations stressed that having the train cars built in Canada is the goal.

“At this point, it’s our understanding that there aren’t actually any Canadian content requirements in the procurement process,” explained Thunder Bay Chamber President Charla Robinson.

“We know that the federal government is in the process of developing a buy Canadian policy and legislation that would apply to these types of procurements moving forward, but that is not the law yet, and so we want to make sure that this project doesn’t get missed and that, even though the legislation isn’t in place, we want to make sure that those similar rules will be in in place for this Via Rail purchase.”

“We do not want that work to go out of country.”

Via Rail last awarded a contract to build new train cars in 2018 to Siemens, a subsidiary of a German company.

However, the train cars were built in the United States.

The United States has a Buy American requirement for buses, subways, and other mass transit projects.

It states that 70 per cent of the project, as well as final assembly, must occur in the U.S.

“Amid a damaging trade dispute with the United States and aggressive Buy American policies that exclude Canadian suppliers, ensuring high Canadian content in the VIA Rail contract is essential to protect Canadian jobs and strengthen domestic manufacturing,” added Robinson.

“That’s the message that we want to make sure that not only our elected officials get, but also the folks at Via Rail, this is not an ordinary time, and this would be very negative for there not to be a buy Canadian approach to this $3 billion of taxpayers’ money. I mean, that’s a lot of money.”

The entire letter can be found by clicking here.

a person in a red shirt and white gloves

Health unit hosting vaccine clinics for high-risk residents

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The Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU) is hosting vaccine clinics for individuals at a higher risk of getting COVID-19 or RSV through November.

Vaccine appointments are available for upcoming clinics in the CLE Heritage Building on Monday and on November 24.

Those eligible for COVID-19 (6 months and older) or RSV (ages 75 and older) vaccines at these clinics will also be offered a flu shot and may be eligible for a pneumococcal vaccine.

Children under two cannot get their flu shot at a pharmacy.

Parents and guardians must book an appointment with TBDHU or a health care provider.

You can find more information on booking appointments by clicking here.

Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige

Anishinabek Nation renews State of Emergency declaration over safety, crime concerns

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The Anishinabek Nation Chiefs-in-Assembly have renewed their territories’ State of Emergency declaration.

According to the First Nation organization, the declaration was made in response to the continual inequitable funding for policing, citing an escalating public safety crisis that continues to threaten the well-being of citizens of the 39 Anishinabek Nation member First Nations.

“Our Anishinabek citizens are not second-class citizens; they deserve the same level of safety and security as every other person in Canada. Our citizens deserve equitable resources and support, which can be achieved by supporting adequate policing services to ensure the security and justice our citizens need,” said Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige.

“We will not suffer in silence. The Chiefs-in-Assembly stand united in defence of our people, rights, and future. The federal and provincial governments must address the existing systemic barriers and discriminatory practices that continue to hinder the safety and well-being of our citizens.”

Some of the concerns highlighted in the declaration include:

  • Widespread drug trafficking and organized crime activity
  • Rising violence and threats targeting community members, elders, and youth
  • Chronic underfunding of First Nations policing services
  • A growing mental health and addictions emergency

The State of Emergency was first declared in the summer of 2023.

The Anishinabek Nation is calling on the federal government to:

  • Immediately begin negotiations with First Nation police services administration to ensure adequate funding models to address current drug trafficking, organized crime activity
  • Support the co-development of a community-led Anishinabek Nation Police Public Safety Strategy
  • Begin the process of recognition of First Nation policing as an essential service
  • Bring an immediate resolution to the Human Rights Complaint involving First Nations and police services
Conservation Officer Truck

Two Ministry of Natural Resource investigations lead to multiple fines in Thunder Bay area

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Two hunting-related investigations in the Thunder Bay area have led to fines.

On October 16, 2023, an individual from Bowmanville was hunting moose along Marline Lake Road in Hippel Township, approximately 100 kilometres north of Nipigon.

An investigation revealed that the hunter shot their high-powered rifle across and down a roadway toward a pair of moose.

He later fired toward a moose on top of a hill without a safe backstop, posing a risk to public safety.

Justice of the Peace Nancy Tulloch heard the case remotely in the Ontario Court of Justice of Thunder Bay, on February 24.

As a result, Nickolas Caravan has been fined $7,000 and has been issued a five-year hunting ban.

He is also required to successfully complete both the Ontario Hunter Education Course and the Canadian Firearms Safety Course before reapplying for any hunting licences.

On October 17, 2023, conservation officers with the Thunder Bay Enforcement Unit conducted a traffic stop on Highway 11/17 near Kakabeka Falls.

Officers inspected a cow moose that was harvested in Wildlife Management Unit 15B.

Officers conducted interviews and determined that the moose was harvested without following party hunting rules.

Through an investigation, officers confirmed one of the hunters lacked immediate and reliable communication with the other hunters when the moose was harvested.

Justice of the Peace Jerry M. Woods Jr. heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice in Thunder Bay, on May 7.

As a result, the following individuals are facing fines:

  • Carlos DeSousa from Toronto has pleaded guilty to unlawfully hunting cow moose without a licence and was fined $5,000
  • Calvin Fors of Thunder Bay has pleaded guilty to possessing illegally killed wildlife and was fined $1,500
  • Larry Moore of Thunder Bay has pleaded guilty to possessing illegally killed wildlife and was fined $1,000
  • Ben Nurmela of Thunder Bay has pleaded guilty to unlawfully invalidating a tag on a killed animal and was fined $500
sioux-lookout-logo

Emergency power interruption expected in Sioux Lookout

Sioux Lookout Hydro is warning all of its customers that it is shutting off the power for infrastructure repairs.

The utility company announced this week that an emergency power interruption is taking place on Wednesday, starting around 11:30 a.m.

Repairs are needed at the Sam Lake Distribution Station as a result of an insulator failure.

The repair work is expected to last roughly three hours.

Updates on the repairs can be found by clicking here.

Synergy North Outage Map

Update: Power restored at Hammarskjold High School and C.D. Howe Public School amid Synergy North outage

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Synergy North is working to restore power to a few areas in Thunder Bay.

The utility company reported on Wednesday morning that just over 600 customers have been impacted by the outage affecting the areas of Red River Road, Whalen Street, Dublin Avenue, Blucher Avenue, Dawson Street and Robinson Drive.

Around 12:00 p.m., Synergy North announced that power has been restored to all areas other than Volunteer Pool.

Hammarskjold High School and C.D. Howe Public School were both without power for some time due to the outage.

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Ontario completes Highway 11/17 expansion between Thunder Bay and Nipigon

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A major construction project widening Highway 11 and 17 between Thunder Bay and Nipigon has been completed.

Crews have widened the roadway to two lanes in both directions from Coughlin Road to Highway 582 and from Highway 587 to Pearl Lake.

The work is part of a $6.5 billion provincial investment to build, repair and expand highways, roads and bridges in northern Ontario.

“The expansion of Highway 11/17 is important for northwestern Ontario,” said MPP for Thunder Bay–Atikokan, Kevin Holland.

“By improving safety, increasing capacity and strengthening this vital trade corridor, we’re ensuring that people and goods can move efficiently across our region and the country. This investment supports our northern communities, drives economic growth and builds a stronger, more connected Ontario and Canada.”

According to the province, more than $45.3 billion in goods travels through this section of roadway every year.

Preliminary design work is underway to widen Highway 11/17 from Highway 582 to the Dorion East Loop Road, and detail design is underway for the stretch of highway from Pearl Lake to west of Ouimet.

“These routes are lifelines for our communities,” added Executive Vice-President of NOMA, Fred Mota.

“With the anticipated transportation of low-grade nuclear fuel to the proposed Revell Site near Ignace, the need for immediate and coordinated improvements to the Trans-Canada Highway 11/17 corridor cannot be overstated. We must see the same level of urgency and commitment applied to the west side of Thunder Bay and across the entire Northwestern network. Continued, sustained investment will ensure that no community is left behind.”

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium

Thunder Bay offering another opportunity to discuss Community Safety and Well-Being Plan

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Thunder Bay is hosting another event to give residents a chance to provide feedback and discuss the city’s Community Safety and Well-Being Plan.

The Community Safety and Well-Being Forum is taking place on Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium.

“Our role is to help connect the dots, bringing people and organizations together to align efforts and take collective action,” said Vice Chair of the Community Safety & Well-Being Advisory Committee, Geoff Abthorpe. “The forum is an opportunity to share thoughts and feedback and strengthen the foundation for change.”

Community participation is an important step in shaping the next Community Safety & Well-Being Plan, which is a community-based plan built from local experiences, ideas, and priorities.

“The forum is about creating space for honest conversation and shared understanding,” said Manager, Community Safety & Well-Being, Louisa Costanzo. “It’s one way we can come together to listen, learn, and rebuild a sense of connection across our community.”

The forum will also feature the Respect and Safety Awards, recognizing individuals, organizations, and businesses that show model inclusion, respect, and care for others in Thunder Bay.

Residents are encouraged to attend the forum and complete the survey about the plan, which will be open until December 15.

More information about the event can be found by clicking here.

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