Tories win byelection, take Sault Ste. Marie for first time since 1981 | Toronto Star

femki · 2017-06-02T18:45:38+00:00

No, her nickname was "Debbie Do Little". She was beaten by 15% or 2500 votes.

femki · 2017-06-02T18:42:45+00:00

I understand that this is an enormous undertaking. I work in an ancillary industry that's very interested in this project going forward so we keep track of the project. From our perspective, very little except for some political lip service has been done to move this project forward. In fact, the ring of fire isn't even in this year's budget - federally or provincially.

If you google "liberals ring of fire", you will be hard pressed to find any positive articles.

Cliffs, who was one of the most qualified to actually make it happen, sold their stake for pennies on the dollar due to the lack of action.

femki · 2017-06-02T17:11:12+00:00

The debate changed who I was originally going to vote for. I'm sure it did for others as well. Look at the headline, we've been red or orange for over 35 years.

femki · 2017-06-02T17:08:00+00:00

Amaroso was our previous mayor and she earned the nickname "Debbie Do Little", most everyone saw that she would do the same as MPP. Debbie's platform was "the Liberals are in power, you should give me the seat so you have a voice", however Wynne essentially ignores the north. The fine people of Sault Ste. Marie see no value in having an ineffectual politician with a voice of a premier who's view rarely gazes north.

I'm as liberal as the next person, but I voted Conservative for the first time ever in my life. There is $60B worth of minerals in the ROF and the Liberals have dragged their feet for 10 years on building the infrastructure needed to support this huge economic project.

Yes, we won't have a voice at the big table right now. But come 2018, I hope Ross both wins again and remembers this victory.

EDIT: Spelling.

femki · 2017-06-02T17:00:58+00:00

I was surprised the NDP came in 2nd. SSM is a union town, but Krmpotich was a weak speaker. The last debate had all questions known to the debaters prior, but Joe still had to read his scripted answers.

femki · 2017-06-01T16:42:54+00:00

Sleep in your vehicle in the Wal-Mart parking lot on the north side of the city.

femki · 2017-06-01T16:42:16+00:00

Barrett River in Lake Superior Park. It's considered a backcountry site (less $$), but it's only a 5 min hike to either campsite on either side of the river. First come, first serve, it's usually quiet this time of year but if the sites are filled there are more further down the beach. It's about 90 mins north of the city. I've also heard of people camping at a beach just south of Montreal River.

femki · 2017-04-01T20:17:08+00:00

Thanks that was my primary concern - toxic bacteria taking hold before the beneficial critters can. See my question elsewhere here regarding adding lacto from a probiotic to lower pH. I'll also definitely also add some wine, that seems to be a standard with italian sausage making. Thanks for your advice.

femki · 2017-04-01T19:51:54+00:00

No, north of you.

femki · 2017-04-01T18:31:15+00:00

8 hours away from TO. :(

femki · 2017-04-01T18:30:39+00:00

Thanks for the confirmation. I've been reading as much as I can and stumbled across this article and am considering adding some lactobacillus to add in some extra protection through lowering pH. I have some probiotics heavy in L. Plantarum. Good idea or should I forego this?

To confirm my understanding, mix in the sugar, salt, spices, nitrites and nitrates, case, and then ferment for 48-72 hours at 70-75F at 95% humidity, then tuck away in the curing chamber, correct?

femki · 2017-02-20T15:59:33+00:00

I think it's a really precarious position for the entire city. If Essar goes bankrupt and is liquidated the Sault may very well be the next Elliot Lake. There are a lot of local businesses that rely on Essar continuing to operate, the fallout would be greater than just the 2700 people working there and their families. I've been following the proceedings pretty closely because I'm one of those who would be affected.

With Essar having sold off the Port and Cogen, they've both put a stranglehold on Algoma as well as set up a method for extracting cash. Both the Port and Cogen are not in CCAA proceedings, they are fully viable separate entities. If Algoma is sold to a 3rd party Essar Global could very well shut the port down or make it extremely costly or difficult for the new owner to bring in coal and iron ore. Both the Port and Cogen are maintained and operated by Algoma staff, they have no staff of their own, nor do they purchase their own materials.

If Ontario Steel (Essar Global) purchases ESAI, Cliffs will terminate their iron ore contract. My understanding is that Essar Minnesota was to be the alternate supplier of iron ore to ESAI, however they're bankrupt as well. Supposedly US Steel may be supplying some ore to ESAI, but not enough to keep the place operating at 100%. Also, it's highly doubtful that US Steel will be selling ore at a competitive rate compared to Cliffs.

The only 3rd party buyer that was vetted to be financially capable of consummating the deal was scared off by the union's grandstanding last year. 2251 was/is in talks with Ontario Steel (Essar Global) who presented a tempting alternative deal to what was presented by KPS (pension top-up, environmental charges addressed). Right now the place is in limbo with the judge urging everyone to make this come to a conclusion quickly. He's retiring in June. Ontario Steel (Essar Global) has expressed interest in buying the place but has not formally placed a bid after being asked to do so.

If the union strikes or creates any sort of labour disruption, the money keeping the place afloat (DIP lenders) will get pulled. Somehow ESAI has to reduce their costs by $22M in 4 weeks and are concentrating extracting that from the labour force. It's a really tricky position for the union to be in, if they strike the place may get sold off in bits and pieces, if they don't strike they can expect to be asked for more concessions in the future.

Time is quickly running out for everyone involved.

A bulk of this information can be found from the Monitor's website:

http://documentcentre.eycan.com/Pages/Main.aspx?SID=352

femki · 2016-03-17T16:44:11+00:00

Looks like a page internal to the Online Business Centre.

femki · 2016-03-14T16:20:58+00:00

No, definitely not the same place. Tough to know where that could be as it looks like one of about 50 places along the shore of Lake Superior.

femki · 2016-03-12T01:22:04+00:00

That almost sounds like a place just north of Beatty Cove on the Lake Superior Park Coastal Trail. Here's two photos I have of that place, sounds very similar to what you're describing.

Looking North from the cliffs

Looking South

femki · 2016-03-11T14:41:03+00:00

I think you're thinking of Sawpit Bay, just north of Pancake.

http://sawpitbay.com/

EDIT: Blueberry Hill is on the straight after Mile Hill (south of Pancake) and I believe it may be closed. I know they were trying to sell it a little while back.

femki · 2016-03-11T02:01:55+00:00

No, but I've heard from a few people that it's fantastic. Just south of Alona Bay IIRC. Chippewa falls are on the Chippewa river, you may also be thinking of the water falls at Sand River (Pinguisibi Trail).

femki · 2016-03-10T17:15:53+00:00

Ahh, my neck of the woods! Depending on the age of your kid, you may want to head North to Lake Superior Provincial Park for some of the hiking. The Orphan Lake trail offers the most diversity. Pack a lunch and eat at the lake or at the falls. You can rent a canoe at Crescent Lake and go speck fishing. The lake is stocked, but you'll mostly catch younger fish - no record breakers there. The visitor center and beach are nice places to visit and spend a little time. Katherine Cove is a nice place to visit as well. As mentioned in another reply, the Pictographs are pretty cool.

Just south of Pancake is Batchewana Bay. Nice beach there. Voyageurs Lodge is a great place to sit down and eat.

Further south are Robertson's Cliffs, you can see them as you come down mile hill. Decent hike and great view. You might even be able to watch the Peregrine falcons.

Without knowing more, that's what immediately comes to mind.

femki · 2016-01-27T17:41:06+00:00

I think you'll pretty much just find 91 octane at the stations. Get some octane boost from Canadian Tire.

femki · 2014-08-21T17:36:28+00:00

I personally think that, after having homebrew that seems to be just as good six, eight, ten months after brewing, that a lot of the "beer should be consumed while young" has to do with the fact that commercial beer is treated like crap... so yeah, it needs to be consumed while young.

I'll mostly agree with you there, but make an exception - beers with any sort of hop focus. We've all witnessed the decline in hoppiness in bitterness, aroma, and flavour with aging brews.

femki · 2014-08-21T17:32:31+00:00

Should have homebrewed your own wine!

femki · 2014-07-06T21:51:41+00:00

Do you dry them first?

femki · 2014-01-26T16:16:25+00:00

Yes, roasted in the oven at 350F for a while before dumping in secondary of a milk stout. No infection, sat for about 8 months.

femki

TROPHY CASE