May 2012
Wayne Toyota Dealership Expands To Serve Customers Better! See Pages 9-12!
2011/2012 Construction Projects In Thunder Bay We Highlited Condo’s & Hotel Move One Step Closer at Prince Arthur’s Landing Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources In Thunder Bay Northwestern Ontario Mines and Minerals Symposium Continues to Grow The Long Weekend by Norm Foster at Magnus Theatre TYCON CONSTRUCTION INC.-READY FOR MINING SITE DEVELOPMENT!
Condo’s & Hotel Move One Step Closer at Prince Arthur’s Landing See Page 4
Northwestern Ontario Mines and Minerals Symposium Continues to Grow See Page 2
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2012
Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources In Thunder Bay “ The global economy remains fragile. Canada can face the challenge with a considerable position of strength. Canadian entrepreneurs have proven up to the task time and time again. Our economic action will provide all the opportunity to succeed. Our key measures are investments in science and technology, modernizing Canada’s regulatory system, opening markets and encouraging international trade, improving the infrastructure, connecting unemployed Canadians more quickly to jobs, supporting First Nations education with schools, attracting immigrants with skills needed in our economy and achieving savings on federal spending.”
BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
Thunder Bay BUSINESS Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources for Canada was in Thunder Bay to speak at an informal luncheon. His presentation was an outline of Budget 2012 and Canada’s need for responsible resource development. Minister Oliver underscored the importance of the country’s natural resources to the economy, with a spot light on Ontario and talked about Canada’s tremendous growth opportunity to capitalize on natural resource development to stimulate jobs and growth.
Northwestern Ontario Mines and Minerals Symposium Continues to Grow BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
Thunder Bay BUSINESS Each spring geologists and others involved in the mining business come together in Thunder Bay to talk about their industry.
This year’s event reflected the buoyant feel for the mining industry in NW Ontario. “ The show is bigger again this year. We had 440 preregistered for the show, the most ever, which includes exhibitors as well as walk in crowd. There are 96 booths and
32 speakers. We have people here from all over Canada and the US as well as a couple from Australia. Our show is similar to how the Toronto show started in the 40’s or 50’s. These regional shows are really focused on the smaller area while Toronto focuses on the world.” said Gary Clarke Executive Director of the Ontario Prospectors Association, and a graduate geologist from Lakehead University. A major topic area of NW Ontario mining is the Ring of Fire and the other is there has been a lot of gold mineralization defined in the area according to Clarke. “ The gold has been known but now defined. The price of commodities has a lot to do with that as we can look at lower grade gold deposits and spend more money looking. The more you spend on exploration the more you find. There are greater than 25 million ozs of gold defined now. Gold is priced extremely high compared to a few years ago.” said Clarke. Given all this interest in mining in NW Ontario can we expect mines to grow in number. “ I think you will see all these mining projects move forward - the Atikokan, Dryden, Rainy River, Beardmore and Geraldton areas will all move ahead and see if they are economic. The Ring of Fire just seems to keep moving along. It will take a
Side: Gary Clarke Executive Director of the Ontario Prospectors Association while but they are still spending lots of money there. Musselwhite continues to go. Lac Des Illes keeps expanding and we are going to add some more. The project out of Marathon, Stillwater, is continuing to get going and it looks like they have secured some financing so it looks good,” said Clarke. “ This will create a lot of activity in NW Ontario with a real focus on Thunder Bay as a jump off point for the contractors, suppliers and employees who may be based here. In my eyes it is similar to the Steep Rock development in the past at Atikokan. It was huge then, a world class deposit and a world class engineering feat to get at the ore.” An interesting exhibitor at the Northwestern Ontario Mines and Minerals Symposium was Photonic Knowledge from Rosemere, Quebec This high tech company offers a new approach on site to reviewing drilling results. “ We take any kind of mineralization and offer analysis of to 1500 meters of core per day, giving the results on site to the client. It is hyperspectral technology,” said Yves Jodoin, Director of Sales & Operations. “ The geologist uses the service because we have very fast and accurate results on site. Time is money so it helps them to make faster decisions as well as plan their next hole. It will also help them in choosing the right samples to send to the assay lab and helps taking subjectivity out of logging. They want to make sure the next hole hits and this will give them rapidly a fast view in a 3D model. Drilling a hole will cost between $100 to $200 per meter and you want to get good results. The holes range from 50 to 2000 meters in depth but average 200 to 400 meters. The results at the lab can take 4 weeks to 3 months. We offer speed and accuracy with our mobile laboratory.”
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2012
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2011/2012 Construction Projects In Thunder Bay We Highlited Thunder Bay has seen lots of positive activity in the last 12 months since our construction issue of May 2011. I think the next year will bring many more exciting projects coming on stream!
Northern Credit Union New Branch
Braun Building Renovations RBC Royal Bank Branch Arthur & Ford Dr Ash Mohkatari Dentist Queen Elizabeth Public School Apartment Project Touch Unwired New Location
Isabella Retirement Living Avenue Dental On Victoria Global Sticks
CIBC Branch Renovations Memorial
Mongo’s Grill Confederation College Reach Building
District Of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board Building
TBRHSC Second Cardiac Catheterization Lab
EMS Building
Lakehead University
Wequedong Lodge
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2012
2011/2012 Construction Projects In Thunder Bay We Highlited Dr Ash Mohkatari Dentist Queen Elizabeth Public School Apartment Project Touch Unwired New Location Avenue Dental On Victoria
CIBC Branch Renovations Memorial
District Of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board Building EMS Building Wequedong Lodge
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2012
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2011/2012 Construction Projects In Thunder Bay We Highlited Fairness Transparency and Good Faith in Tendering © 2012 Brian Babcock Fairness and transparency remain the hallmarks of construction tendering or public procurement. However, courts remain reluctant to push the boundaries of these concepts to recognize a general “duty to bargain in good faith” especially in the private sector. The tendering process replaces negotiation with competition. This competition is fair only if the owner is required NOT to accept a non-compliant bid. From there, judges have generalized that an obligation to treat all bidders fairly and equally is necessary to protect and promote the integrity of the bidding process. This benefits all participants involved, by making the bidding process effective and efficient. Some confusion about this was created by
a 2010 Supreme Court of Canada decision dealing with a highway project which appeared to blur the line between tenders and requests for proposals. Subsequent decisions however have focussed on the importance of the particular facts, especially the bid documents, and the intention of the parties. The course of dealings and
Legal Matters the documents, not from the after the fact positions asserted by the parties are where judges look to determine the intention. Whatever the title on the bid documents, it is the process that matters in determining rights. “Fairness” and “transparency” are not magic words which disappointed bid-
ders can use to get a do over. A duty of good faith, or other contract remedies, requires that there be a contract. In tendering law, the usual indications that there is a duty of fair dealing include: • A formal bidding process • A requirement that bids be irrevocable for a period of time • A requirement of bid security • The request for tender document sets out specific terms of the request and a procedure for assessment of bids Where a contractual obligation is not found, an unsuccessful bidder may still find a remedy if there is a misrepresentation, deceit or fraud. So, if a company is asked for a price and told that it will be the sole supplier, and their price is really being used to negotiate with another sup-
plier, damages may be ordered. This is another route by which courts can protect bidders, and maintain fairness in the bid process. Weilers has a 65 year tradition of drafting tenders, advising owners, bidders or consultants and, when necessary, litigating about procurement issues. If you have questions about your situation, maybe we can help.
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2012
2011/2012 Construction Projects In Thunder Bay We Highlited TYCON CONSTRUCTION INC.-READY FOR MINING SITE DEVELOPMENT! By Sherry Aalto With all the industrial activity that is now only commencing in Northwestern Ontario and region for mining development, Shannon Campbell, owner and president of TYCON CONSTRUCTION INC. Thunder Bay, Ontario, has readied his business in preparation for what we all seem to have come to accept as inevitable- that is, mining is going to be the next big industry in Northwestern Ontario. As the mining industry ‘start-ups’ are just around the corner, preparation for actual mining operations, require land site development, which involves road construction, tailing ponds, digging for the installation of water lines and hydro poles and many
other site preparations that are mandatory for safety and efficiency for operations. Heavy equipment, skill, knowledge and manpower are the main components for a successful site development construction company to possess. “We are ready with the best in heavy equipment and operators and have successfully constructed site development to spec, on time and on budget!” says Shannon Campbell, president of the construction company. The construction company, which has been around for many years, saw the growing need for mining site development long before activity for this industry was really becoming noticeable. Mr. Campbell, who grew up in the con-
struction industry with his father, has for many years, owned his own company and knows the business of construction for land site development very well. Having lived and worked in Northern Ontario all of his life, doing everything from installing driveways to working and living in logging camps, this can only lend an authentic understanding of the raw landscape and the environment involving materials and equipment required for each land site development. As Mr. Campbell states, “No two jobs are ever the same, nor should they be treated as such!” Construction of everything from road building into mining camp sites for developers road for municipalities, digging and
capping tailing ponds, tailings rehabilitation project, environmental rehabilitation projects, which is a big concern these days and involving millions of dollars, demolition and demolition clean-up, to private residential projects, Mr. Campbell, TYCON CONSTRUCTION INC. has delivered! Excavators, tri-axle dump trucks, floats, bulldozers, backhoes, packers, screen plants are just some of the equipment and inventory Mr. Campbell has to have at his disposal. “In any business, if you want to stay competitive, you always have to have the right tools for the job ready to go,!” and TYCON CONSTRUCTION INC. seems to be holding true to that old adage. Road building and land site development for mining is the focus of the company right now that will help the company and the industry grow, but everyone else, no matter it be commercial or residential is equally important and as Mr. Campbell says, “We are happy to provide anyone we can with service they deserve!” The company has formulated effective divisions of operation...Heavy Civil/Commercial, Residential and Concrete Installation. Mr. Tyler Campbell (son) will head up Residential and Light Commercial Projects and Mr. Shannon Campbell (owner) will head up Heavy Civil/Commercial and Industrial Projects. TYCON CONSTRUCTION INC. diversely offers - property development, backhoe service, weeping tile, septic installation and service, landscaping, snow plowing, top soil, sand and gravel, road construction, site development, driveways, asphalt and concrete removal, demolition, tree stump removal, basement leak repair. CALL NOW FOR TO DISCUSS THE DETAILS OF YOUR PROJECT. FIRST RATE QUALITY/COMPETITIVE PRICING
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2012
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Wayne Toyota Dealership Expands To Serve Customers Better Continued From Previous Page “ We have the full line up with Toyota as a full-scale manufacturer from sub compact to full sized trucks. We have a vehicle for every purpose,” said Wayne Marostica who has been a director of the Ontario Dealers Association for the last 6 years and knows the overall automobile industry well. “ I think the Toyota brand is great and we have a great customer base. Thunder Bay itself has gone through struggles but I think it is coming back quite nicely with the medical area, mining and education. The Ring of Fire is bringing in money to the economy. Thunder Bay is definitely not shrinking and we will be strong as we move forward,” said Michael Marostica. “ At Wayne Toyota we will have now have more inventory which will allow us to sell more vehicles. I think the experience people will feel when they come into the new dealership will help sales as we more forward and service our customers. That is the most important thing. You are only here because of your cus-
Above: Wayne Marostica, Michael Marostica and Jodie Krupa of Wayne Toyota
tomers. We built a facility to help with that.”
design for Toyota in 2012 that allows you to instantly recognize them as a
tomers. We are doing it for the customers but we couldn’t have done it with out
Toyota dealer. “ It is all done for our cus-
them. We are moving forward because of our faith the community is going to grow and our faith in our customers.” said Wayne Marostica.
The new Wayne Toyota is a state of the
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2012
Wayne Toyota Dealership Expands To Serve Customers Better BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
Thunder Bay BUSINESS It took several years for the Wayne Toyota dealership expansion to take
place with a lot of planning. Cory Stechyshyn is a partner with Form Architecture Engineering and worked on the design of the new Wayne Toyota. “ Wayne Toyota basically out grew
their space and needed to conform to the global imaging of Toyota. Omni Plan from down east is an automotive planning company that developed the corporate image for the facility and then we took that image and amended it to work with the site and the existing building to allow them to make their services work
as they would like,” said Cory Stechyshyn. “ Wayne Marostica is extremely aware of energy efficiency and we over insulated the building above what the code required which is good and they should feel it with reduced energy costs for heating and cooling. The envelope of a building is very important with energy costs today,” said Stechyshyn. “ The new building is very well positioned on the lot in their location and Wayne Toyota are here to stay for a long time bringing themselves up to date if not ahead of the times for dealerships today. They were even able to include some new tiles and other products just being approved by Toyota for their look,” said Cory. “ Wayne and Jody were involved for 2 years prior to us. We took the original plan from Omni Plan and shaped it to the site and then Toyota reviewed it. We did some material changes to make a more northern statement by adding some stone around the base to give it more durability and to stand up to the weather.” “ The builder, Les Fairall, is very reliable and knowledgeable and resolved everything with the trades with less of our involvement. He was able to move the trades around to allow Wayne Toyota to remain open, dealing with the public during the construction,” said Cory. “ We are proud of the work. It was a great project to be involved with and turned out really well.”