NAN Reserves Comment On Act

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation will not be commenting on the Harper governments attempt to change the First Nations Education Act until Monday.  The new Act includes a promise of one and a quarter billion dollars for First Nations schools across Canada starting in 2 years along with a promise of half a billion dollars for new infrastructure over 7 years beginning in next year.  It also pledges to give First Nations control of their education system along with funding for language and culture programming.  A NAN spokesperson wouldn't give a reason for the delay in reacting to the legislation.

No Pride Flag At City Hall

The rainbow flag is not flying at our City hall as it is in other Canadian cities..   The flag is associated with the gay and lesbian community and is being flown in places like Toronto , Ottawa and Calgary during the winter games in Sochi  to protest the Russian government's anti gay propaganda law.   There is no word if Thunder Bay plans to join in the protest.

Tbaytel Outage

Tbaytel customers in the Thunder Bay Airport area are without landline and high speed internet service. A contractor working in the area cut through the wrong cable. Crews with Tbaytel are on scene with services expected to be fully restored by midnight.

NDP Set To Choose Local Rep

The NDP will choose a representative for the Thunder Bay-Atikokan riding this weekend. Running for election are Mary Kozorys who has run provincially in the past and former Schreiber Mayor Madge Richardson. Riding Association President Robin Rickards says both would make strong leaders. Elections will take place in Atikokan Saturday between 1-3pm and at the same time Sunday, in Thunder Bay at the Lakehead Labour Centre.

Resolute FP Chosen For Talks

With contract talks set to begin next month, Resolute Forest Products has been selected by Unifor as the company that will lead the negotiations in the forestry sector this year. The contract that is hammered out with the lead company normally sets the pattern for negotiations with other firms in the industry.  Union President Jerry Dias tells our newsroom that northwestern Ontario issues will play prominently in the talks especially the machine shutdowns in Fort Frances

Police Seek Truck Driver

Thunder Bay police are looking for the driver of a red pick up truck following a traffic mishap on the city's north side.   They say the man's truck collided with an SUV at Clarkson and Windsor Streets on Thursday afternoon.  Police say that while the driver stopped,  he didn't leave his name or other contact information so police could file a proper report.

Students Take Part In Environmental Talks

Brad Doff

Around 130 students from Lakehead University, Confederation College and Churchill High School are taking the opportunity today to share their environmental concerns with one another and members of city council. The Future Visionaries Session is running from 10-3pm at the Community Auditorium. Acting Sustainability Coordinator Brad Doff says it's important for the city's youth to have the chance to speak with councillors and Mayor Keith Hobbs. There will be an open house this evening from 4:30-7:00 at the auditorium where the draft Earthcare Sustainability Plan 2014-2020 will be presented.

Fedeli Looks For Answers

Ontario Conservatives are using the Freedom of Information Act to find out how much winter road maintenance contractors have been fined. The province says three companies working in northwestern Ontario have been penalized. Tory Finance Critic Vic Fedeli says he's not opposed to private contractors doing the work, but standards have to be met.  Fedeli says they want to find out if the contractors are facing significant fines, or just a slap on the wrist.

City Jobless Rate Drops

Some positive news on the jobless front.   Statistics Canada says Thunder Bay's jobless rate for January fell to 5.7 per cent from 5.8 in December.   Nationally, the unemployment rate dropped in December to 7.0 percent.  That's down from 7.2 percent the month previous.   Stats Can says over 29 thousand new jobs were created last month, many of those fulltime.

Police Probe Westfort Robbery

Thunder Bay Police searching for a male suspect following a robbery last night at the Movie Network on Brown Street.  The man entered the Westfort location just before 9 o'clock and demanded money with a verbal threat.  The thief, who was not armed with a weapon, got away with an undisclosed amount of cash.  The investigation continues and the suspect is known to Police.