Thunder Bay Business October 2012

October 2012

Thunder Bay Port Authority Puts New Crane Into Service See Page 2

Aditya Birla Group And Pays Plat First nation Sign First Wood Harvesting Contract Expansion Completed on Highway 11/17 Near Thunder Bay PROVINCE LAUNCHES NORTHERN POLICY INSTITUTE

First Nations Special Section See Pages 6 & 7

PROVINCE LAUNCHES NORTHERN POLICY INSTITUTE See Page 4

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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS OCTOBER 2012

Thunder Bay Port Authority Puts New Crane Into Service

BY SCOTT A. SUMNER

Thunder Bay BUSINESS It was the opportunity to celebrate the placement into service of the largest purchase of equipment at the Thunder Bay Port Authority ever. The Liebherr LHM 320 Mobile Harbour Crane will give the port even more capabilities to serve its customers. “ It is the largest single piece of equipment that the port has ever acquired at a cost of over $3 million. The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund assisted to the tune of $1 million, which is a great help.

It is an excellent deal, “ said Fred Stille, Chair of the Board of the Thunder Bay Port Authority. “ Our staff lead by Tim Heney found it on the internet sitting on a dock 70 miles inland from the sea at Stockton California, near San Francisco.

It had never been assembled and operated. The salt water had no negative effect on it, everything is brand new. It also came with a lot of additional accessories.

You can move it up and down the dock on its tires. It will lift 104 tones, which is a lot, like 25 Cadillac’s. It will help us with the windmill components and heavy equipment to the oil sands and other mining equipment. The manufacturer

Liebherr helped train us on the crane. It is the largest crane west of Montreal until the west coast or in Prince Rupert.”

The Thunder Bay Port is having a good year according to Stille. “ There is a period of uncertainly because the wheat board monopoly was cancelled and a local grain operation sold to a international company. We are not sure of the impact on the port but I think there are lots of positives. The operator can now load a ship anyway and any time they want so it may be more efficient for them.,” said Stille.

Tim Heney CEO of the Thunder Bay Port Authority was a happy man watch-

ing the new crane lift a heavy forklift as a demonstration of capabilities. “ It is a huge day for us. It is a beautiful crane and really performing well. We have already done one ship and it is exceeding our expectations,” said Heney. “ We were looking at a new crane, researching them on the web and we found this one in Stockton, California some 75 mile inland which is away from salt water which is good. I had never been to Stockton but it is like a desert there. It was on the dock for 4 years there and never assembled.

The recession caught them in the lerch I think.” “ The crane new is worth $ 4.6 million and we got it for $2.6 million and then of course it was about $ 1million to get it here and have it set up. This is the biggest crane on the lakes. There is a couple in Montreal and many others all over the world. The machine is well known in the world as very efficient in the loading and unloading ships and all types of cargo,” said Heney. “ It will help us with new cargo like wind towers that were 55 tons and it picked them up easily. In the past we would bring in a crane from Toronto at a cost of $250,000 just to unload one ship. It is designed to last a lifetime and can move around on the dock and in the yard.”

Things are going well for the port this year especially in new cargo. “ We have had another record year in project cargo.

The grain is interesting as it has been slow in the summer as they transition to the new marketing scheme. It has been a great crop in Canada this year so we are looking forward to a strong fall. Also we are seeing more interest in grain storage which is great because Thunder Bay is the best at that in North America.”

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS OCTOBER 2012

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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS OCTOBER 2012

Harvey Yesno Is Newly Elected Grand Chief Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo offered congratulations to newly elected Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Harvey Yesno, elected recently at NAN’s 31st Keewaywin Chiefs Assembly held this year in Kashechewan First Nation.

“I offer congratulations to newly elected Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief

Harvey Yesno and look forward to working with him, the NAN executive and NAN leadership to address priority areas in Treaty 9 and Treaty 5 territory,” said AFN National Chief Shawn Atleo. “I commend the commitment and dedication of Stan Beardy who has served as Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief since 2000, and who recently joined the national executive as AFN Regional Chief for Ontario.”

Grand Chief Harvey Yesno is from

Eabametoong (Fort Hope) First Nation, where he served as Chief for five terms, councillor for one term and senior project management from 1977 to 1991. Guided by the objective of creating sustainable business and economic development sec-

Chiefs of Ontario/Ontario First Nation Limited Partnership and the Assembly of First Nations. Also elected were Deputy Grand Chiefs Alvin Fiddler, Les Louttit and Goyce Kakegamic who will join Grand Chief Yesno on the NAN executive council, advocating on behalf of 49 First Nation communities in Ontario.

NAN Chiefs, representing the Ojibway, Cree and Ojicree of Treaty 9 and Treaty 5 territory. For more information visit www.nan.on.ca.

Picture Courtesy of NAN tors in the Aboriginal community, and the development of regional and community institutions to achieve self-determination, Grand Chief Yesno has worked in a number of different capacities at Nishnawbe Aski Nation/Grand Council Treaty 9,

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada. Follow @AFN_Updates, @AFN_Comms.

Yesno is one of the founding leaders of NAN when the organization began 35 years ago. He left his job in the province's Ring of Fire mining secretariat to run for the position of Grand Chief.

Pays Platt First Nation Gets Trillium Support

BY SCOTT A. SUMNER

Thunder Bay BUSINESS The Pays Platt First Nation located on Lake Superior near Rossport has always been a natural steward of the lands near their community. Their job just got easier with the purchase of boat and motor to help them visit the Wilson Islands.

some 47,000 acres just off the coast of Rossport,” said Michael Gravelle, Minister of Natural Resources for Ontario. “ The Pays Platt people are protecting the Wilson Island archipelago. As Minister it

“ Today is the celebration of a tremendous partnership between the Nature Conservatory of Canada -NCC one of the great stewards of land in Ontario and Canada and Pays Plat First Nation. They purchased the 8 pristine islands totaling

is wonderful to be here and to thank the Ontario Trillium Foundation that provided funds for the NCC and Pays Platt to buy a boat so the resident biologist can do his work on the islands. We really can’t do enough to protect the islands and beautiful Lake Superior that we have here. Today we are at the beautiful Spirit Garden In Thunder Bay, a great place to celebrate this event.” “ We have always done this work as natural stewards of the islands around here.

The NCC helps us and we help them. It is a good partnership. The area is rich with wildlife and an amazing place to spend some time,” said Xavier Thompson, Chief of Pays Platt. “ We are doing really well at Pays Platt with a firewood operation that employs people; our band office and we do fishing almost everyday. This partnership gives us an opportunity to document what is out there and then protect it. “

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS AUGUST 2012

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Aditya Birla Group And Pays Plat First Nation Sign First Wood Harvesting Contract

BY SCOTT A. SUMNER

Thunder Bay BUSINESS DP Modani is the Aditya Birla Jt. President Commercial Pulp Strategy and was on hand to sign an agreement to supply wood to the Terrace Bay mill. This is the third mill in Canada for the Aditya Birla company. They already have two in New Brunswick, one plant in India, one in Sweden and one more in Laos, Cambodia. The group does about $ 40 billion in annual sales world wide with 125,000 employees and is headquartered in Bombay, India. “ We produce textile materials and need pulp to make this material. Canada is a competitive source on a long term sustainable basis and that is the reason why we are here. It is spun into yarn and one can make fabrics out of it and other applications,” said Modani who is a chartered accountant by training and sec-

retary and an officer of the company. “ I am working out of Thunder Bay now because of the requirement to concentrate on the supply of wood.We want to ensure the wood supply for the Terrace bay operation and there is a lot of government and First Nations involvement. It has been a good experience in Canada.

People deliver and are very professional.” “ It is a great day for Pays Plat,” said Raymond Goodchild who is a councillor in the Pays Plat First Nation. “ I am very excited to work with the Minister and the company on this project. We want to build a great relationship. We hope to continue the work with Birla and our community , the north shore and the whole area from Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay will benefit.” “ It is a wonderful opportunity now that the mill is reopened and we enjoy working in the community. I am happy with

the work that is being done here and the partnerships. Our ministry is happy to work with the Birla group. This is the first of a number of initiatives. It is

important to celebrate this agreement with Pays Plat First Nation.” said Michael Gravelle, Minister of Forestry.

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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS AUGUST 2012

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS OCTOBER 2012

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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS OCTOBER 2012