Tuesday, April 19, 2011

New nurse contract at CCAC

Wages remain an issue for nurses with the Northwest Community Care Access Centre.  The members of the Ontario Nurses Association recently accepted a new contract, but President Linda Haslam-Stroud says salaries aren't where they should be.  Haslam-Stroud says the new deal does follow some wage scales of another northern C-C-A-C.

Electricity rates go up May 1st

Expect your electricity bills to jump slightly on May 1st.  May 1st marks the start of the Ontario Energy Board's summer electricity rates.  Thunder Bay Hydro's Tim Wilson says the increase is about six dollars extra on your monthly bill. 

Opposition Day in Legislature Wednesday

Northwestern Ontario concerns are being highlighted in the Ontario Legislature Wednesday.  NDP leader Andrea Horwath is using her turn on Opposition Day to bring them up.  Top on Horwath's list is the forest tenure hearings.

Citizen Satisfaction Survey released

It looks like 90 percent of the city is happy with the Thunder Bay Police according to the Citizen Satisfaction Survey.  The results from the annual survey were released Tuesday and one of the weak points for city police was crime prevention.  Adams says over one thousand surveys were sent out, but only 178 were returned.

PM announces Brain Research Fund

A re-elected Conservative government would invest 100 million dollars for a Brain Research Fund. At the Regional Health Sciences Centre this morning Prime Minister Harper said such research is necessary to better understand the causes of such brain diseases like Lou Gehrig's, MS and Alzheimer's that rob too many Canadians and their loved ones of their quality of life.  Harper says the fund will match private contributions.

Police deal with fake hostage situation again

For the second time in two weeks city police had to deal with a standoff.  Police Spokesperson Chris Adams says police received a call last night just before midnight about a person holding a hostage at a house on High Street.  After a standoff a 34 year old Thunder Bay man was arrested and is facing a number of charges.

PM's security included Bomb sniffing dog

The Prime Minister's security is beefed up for his campaign tour.  The RCMP contingent looking after his security has come equipped with a bomb sniffing dog.  Nash was used to screen local reporters who were covering Harper's visit.  She'll be retiring after her farewell tour.

OPP find missing family

They are hungry but safe. OPP in Dryden have found three people who were reported missing north of Dryden. The three got stuck while driving on a logging road but were not injured.

600-thousand dollars in remuneration

Almost 600 thousand dollars in tax payer money went towards council expenses and compensation last year. The former Mayor Lynn Peterson spent the most at 112-thousand dollars.  Lynda Rydholm came in second with 45-thousand, followed by Trevor Giertuga.  The financial figures were included in Monday night's council package.

Local Labour group encouraging strategic voting

Thunder Bay's Liberal Candidates are getting a boost.  The Northwestern Building and Construction Council is endorsing Candidates Ken Boshcoff and Yves Fricot.  President Gord Milliard says they are encouraging people to vote Liberal to prevent a Tory majority. Milliard says the Conservatives have nothing to offer workers.