McGuinty Government Supporting Local Economy, Creating Jobs
by Scott A. Sumner
Ontario is helping the Thunder Bay Port Authority acquire a new crane to handle more cargo and create three new jobs in addition to the 20 workers already employed.
With the province's support, the Port Authority will have a new crane which will increase the port's capacity, attract new business and boost the local economy. The crane will reinforce the port's long standing as the shipping gateway to western Canada.Making infrastructure improvements in Northern Ontario communities is a key component of the plan laid out in Ontario's 2011 Budget - Turning the Corner, to create and support 10,000 new and existing jobs for Ontario families and to strengthen local economies. Ontario is providing $1 million to this project through the NOHFC's Infrastructure and Community Development Program.
“ We have never had a dedicated crane like this that will help us attract more diversified cargo to the port. It will increase our profile as a port. The goal is to bring a full loaded ship to Thunder
Bay with cargo and send it back loaded with grain. This crane will help us entice more business,” said Tim Heney, CEO Thunder Bay Port Authority. “ We are acquiring a mobile harbour crane, a machine designed specifically to unload vessels which will be versitile to do
bulk cargo like steel or wind turbine components. It will be the most versatile machine we can acquire. There is no machine like this at the head of the great lakes right now. It will allow us to unload ships that don’t have cranes already on them. This will open the market to more ships.”
The Thunder Bay Port Authority hope to have the crane here by the fall. It will be cost about $ 3 million. The port’s own funds will finance the rest of the crane. “ We are encouraged to have Ontario support the Port. Our project cargo business we started 6 years ago has been growing to Western Canada. We need the inboard cargo to provide the ships for grain on the back haul. The growing cargo of wind turbines seems to be going no where but up. The availability of capacity in the sea way is becoming enticing for people in the west.” said Heney.
Heney is also happy to see the investment in the lake fleet vessels of $400 million with the ships being built in China. There are currently 10 ships being built with 2 of those to be owned by the wheat board and western farmers which has never happened in history according to Heney.
“ This project business is the most labour intensive part of the port. Each ship that comes in we see an impact in the community of $150,000 in wages and support services. Eventually we would like to see a secondary manufacturing facility here as well,” said Tim Heney. “ They are predicting growth in grain for the next few years. The biggest increase in consumption of grain is in Africa which is good for us as they are served by the seaway. The Asian market is expected to remain the same. Each year there are 70 million more people in the world to feed so grain is important. As people move to cities the urbanization caused more consumption of grain. If you live in the country you grow your own food while in the city you consume more grains. Everyone has to eat.”
“ I am very excited that the NOHF was able to support to the tune of $1 million a cargo crane for the Thunder Bay Port Authority. The port has worked very hard to diversify the kinds of cargo that come to the Port and one of the things lacking was a permanent cargo crane. Our board members realized an opportunity to increase jobs and the capacity of the port. This is great news,” said Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry. “ One of the first actions under the Norther Ontario Growth Plan we have announced is to bring
together multi modal transportation strategies- roads , rail, air and marine. This will bring in more economic activity to the region.”
