Northern Debate in the history books

It was a showdown between the NDP and PC Leaders at the first ever Northern Debate.  Andrea Horwath and Tim Hudak tackled issues from the Ring of Fire to the Far North Act.  Horwath promises a bigger voice for the North at Queen's Park.  Hudak promises that P-C members from the North will also be heard by him.  Premier Dalton McGuinty did not participate.

Dalton's Chicken

The absence of Premier Dalton McGuinty drew criticism from hecklers outside of the Northern Ontario Leaders Debate. Kaministiqua Resident Pete Lang brought a chicken to the debate claiming it was the Premier's. 

Police in Sioux Lookout make a drug bust

Police in Sioux Lookout have made another drug bust.  Officers arrested a 30 year old man from Toronto after they found a large quantity of Oxy Contin and Cocaine worth 34 thousand dollars.

McGuinty is drawing mixed feelings for his Northern Debate no show

A few hecklers showed up to the Northern Ontario Leaders debate to send a message to the absent Premier.  One man from Kaministiquia had a very unique message to send that included some live props.

Meanwhile, Dalton McGuinty's absence from the debate makes sense according to Lakehead University Economics Professor Livio Di Matteo.  He says there wasn't much to gain by coming considering a major gaffe could hurt him in the vote rich GTA while it's likely most voters here have already made up their minds.  

Fate of local Zellers stores still unknown

The Target Corporation has now finalized the lease purchases of the 84 Canadian Zeller's stores including the ones at County Fair Plaza and the Thunder Bay Mall. However,  Target spokesperson Amy Reilly says that doesn't mean they'll be turned into Target stores.  She says up to 29 of the stores on Friday's list will potentially become Target locations, the rest will be sold to other retailers or back to the landlords.So far only the Zellers store at the Intercity Mall will definitely become a Target location.

OPSEU goes to bat for sacked part-timers

Three former part time workers at Confederation College are upset after they were let go for not crossing the picket lines during the college strike. Richard Belleau  of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union says they have tried to get the workers their jobs back.  Two of them are in Fort Frances the other in Thunder Bay.

Hobbs favours legalizing pot

Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs is being singled out after saying he favours the legalization of marijuana.  His thoughts are revealed on a blog by the Canadian band Hollerado when they visited with the mayor during their stop in the city a week ago.

Fire cause to go as undetermined

It appears that the cause of this week's fire on Sherbrooke Street may never be known. The blaze tore through a duplex causing extensive damage but no injuries.  Investigators are reported to have probed the scene without being able to narrow down what started the fire.