See page 28, Globetrotters
See page 23, Pink Floyd Experience
Volume XXLII, Issue 12
march 10, 2015
Saving those who save us Connor Pringle The Chronicle
School Cup Challenge
Derek Dolstra
(Left to right) Students Nancy Bathh, Nimmi Dalwadi, and Kamalpreet Kaur crowd around the School Cup Trophy with DC Crew members Naeema Daif, Heidi St. Jean, and Patrick Testa. To see the full story turn to page 16.
Oshawa MPP Jennifer French wants the provincial government to regulate the private safety training industry following the death of two people while doing a training exercise at Herschel Rescue, a private training company. Durham College firefighting student Adam Brunt died Feb. 8 after falling through the ice on the Saugeen River in Hanover while taking the ice water certification course with Herschel Rescue as an extra course outside of Durham College’s program. A similar incident occurred January, 2010 when Point Edward volunteer firefighter Gary Kendall died while on course with Herschel. French says she’s calling for a regulation to assist with the health and safety of participants. “Firefighters dedicate their lives to our safety,” she says. “Health and safety is everyone’s concern.”
MPP Jennifer French If the courses are regulated, everything will be standardized. Students can ensure the instructors have the proper qualifications and expertise, French says. She adds nothing is standardized yet. The owner of Herschel Rescue, Terry Harrison supports the idea but thinks it will be hard to do so. “If being regulated would make technical rescue response by emergency personnel more safe and efficient, more funds for researching better methods, and better equipment for all types of rescue, I am definitely in favour,” says Terry Harrison owner of Herschel Rescue.
See Regulating page 2
Union president says workers key to GM’s future Frank Thickett The Chronicle GM in Oshawa may not be at risk as much as feared. Despite reports and predictions that the Oshawa plant could close down as early as 2016, the president of Unifor Local 222, Ron Svajlenko, the union representing approximately 3,500 employees of the plant, is optimistic about negotiations to bring in new product. “We have a talented work
force with a lot of good workers,” Svajlenko said, “There’s a lot we can do that other places can’t replicate. If there’s a crisis you’ll know.” The Oshawa GM plant will no longer be producing the Camaro once production of the next model year begins and forecasts for the Cadillac XTS and Buick Regal, may be out of production in Oshawa by 2017. “You know the media,” Svajlenko said, “bad news sells better than good. Everyone’s trying to be the guy who calls it.”
Svajlenko says that these car movements are part of the process. “Buick and Cadillac production will eventually end,” he said, “but we’re already discussing replacements. What we build is less of a concern compared to our volume and product allocations.” General Motors’ consolidated line, which produces the Chevorlet Impala and Equinox, may stop production as early as August 2016, adding to concerns over the future of factory.
“They’ve given us notice about consolidated shutting down as far back as 2005 but right now our priority is on the flex plant and bringing in new products,” Svajlenko explained. According to Svajlenko, the Oshawa plant is in the best geographical location due to proximity to the Canada-U.S. border, industry partners, and railines. Svajlenko stressed the Oshawa plant produces more cars and is more efficient than most others. Most plants can pro-
duce 4,000 cars per week and Oshawa produces 11,000. Oshawa mayor John Henry says every effort is being made to keep the factory running but is optimistic about other industry in Oshawa. New construction keeps Oshawa afloat when people worry about GM. “We’re watching, we’re listening, we’ve raised the issue with both the provincial and federal governments,” Henry said, “The auto industry is an issue throughout Canada, not just in Oshawa.”