NDHN CEO Speaks Out

The CEO of the Northern Diabetes Health Network says the Ontario Auditor General's report needs to include more context over allegations her agency spent provincial dollars where it shouldn't have. CEO Susan Griffis says the report took issue with the 40 thousand dollars in travel expenses. The report also says the organization spent money in ways that contradicts the rules for public sector expenses. Griffis says as soon as the Ministry of Health alerted them of this fact they made immediate changes.

Northern Industrial Rate Extended

The Provincial Government is extending it's Northern Industrial Electricity Rate.  The program will now be available for another three years and will provide a lower costing electricity rate to mining and forest industry companies.  Resolute Forest Products Spokesperson Roger Barber says things would be grim for his company if the Province didn't decide to extend the program.  The province is putting 360 million dollars into the three year program.

FWHP Welcomes New Observatory

The Fort William Historical Park is now home to a new Observatory. Park General Manager Sergio Buonocore says the observatory is open every night from 7:30 to 9. Buonocore adds the new attraction will boost tourism to the park and the city.

Rafferty Makes Motion For Legions

A Northwestern Ontario MP wants to give the Royal Canadian Legion easier access to funds for repairs to their buildings.  Thunder Bay-Rainy River's John Rafferty is proposing the federal government set up an infrastructure renewal fund that would match whatever dollars the Legion's can raise for upgrades.  Rafferty made his request in a motion put forward in the House of Commons earlier this week.

NOTO Restructuring

The executive director of Nature and Outdoor Tourism in Ontario is stepping down. Doug Reynolds says that the outdoor tourism industry is taking quite a hit, and that NOTO is going through a restructuring process. Reynolds adds that times are tough. Reynolds will remain as director until the end of January.

Hospital Moves Up In The Rankings

A year after making their first appearance on the list for Top 40 Research Hospitals in Canada, Thunder Bay's Health Sciences Centre has moved up in the rankings.  Last year was the first time the hospital appeared on the list, at #40.   This year, it moves up to #37.

Bombardier Getting Back To Full Employment

The labour news is good coming from the local Bombardier plant. Union spokesperson Dominic Pasqualino says that the company should be operating with a full workforce of 14 hundred now that recent issues have been settled.  He says probationary workers should be back in the job early in the new year.   He says all laid off workers should get a notice in the mail from the company in the next day or two to confirm their status..  Supply problems and a labour dispute in Quebec forced the company to layoff the workers

More Teacher Walkouts In NWO

Elementary teachers in the Rainy River district are the last of the northwestern Ontario teachers to hold a one day strike. They will be off the job on Monday. They are protesting protesting Bill 115, which allows the province to impose a contract on them and stop them from striking.

Armed Robbery At Cumberland Mac's

Another Mac's Robbery in the city while you slept. Just after 3 this morning police say 2 young people with their faces covered entered the Mac's location at 185 Cumberland each armed with a knife.  No one is hurt and the young thugs got away with an undisclosed amount of cash.