Federal minister to visit Con College

For the second time this week there will be a federal cabinet minister in the city.   National Revenue Minister Keith Ashfield is going to speak at Confederation College Thursday morning.  He will be talking about the underground economy and then hold a roundtable discussion.

Loppet looks for record participation

The Sleeping Giant Loppet takes place  on March 5th.  Organizer Marianne Stewart says this year they hope to have a record number of participants in the cross country ski event.  They are shooting for 1 thousand skiers. The loppet take place at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park.

ECE's get new deal

Early Childhood Educators in the public school system have one less thing to worry about.  They have a new 2 year contract with the school board.  The board says the full and part time workers are members of the Secondary School Teachers Federation and work in teams along with Kindergarten teachers.  The union and the trustees have voted to accept the deal.

Debt Clock to roll through Thunder Bay

The national Debt Clock is coming to Thunder Bay.  At least that's the plan from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation as it takes it's anti-debt message across the country starting this week.   Spokesperson Kevin Gaudet says the counter should be here within a month or so.  The device shows Canadians how fast the federal government's debt is rising .

Mother pleads for missing son to return

A tearful plea from a distraught mother.   Bernice Jacob called out to her missing son Jordan Wabasse to come home.  He disappeared in Westfort back on February 7th, since then an extensive search has failed to find him.  His mother couldn't hide her grief as she cried for Jordan to "let us know where you are".  Police say the investigation into his disappearance will continue with the help of volunteers.          

 
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Provincial Government saying no to Hydro rate hike

The McGuinty Government isn't allowing Hydro companies to pass off court fees and fines to consumers. MPP Bill Mauro says the court made a decision to fine companies for over charging interest on late payments and the Ontario Energy Board allowing a rate increase to cover those costs is a mistake. Mauro says the Energy Minister has told electricity companies to find the costs within.

Police investigate the death of a baby

Police are investigating the death of a 6 month old girl in the Webequie First Nation.  The baby died yesterday and was taken to Winnipeg for the post mortem.  Police officials say they hope to find out the cause of death once that is complete.

Firefighters deal with morning garage fire

A garage fire kept Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue busy today. The blaze destroyed a garage at a house in the 200 block of Francis Street. Crews needed about an hour to put it out and no one was injured.

Help on the way for Seniors and people with disabilities

The Federal Government is providing almost 400 thousand to help seniors and people with disabilities in region. Minister of State for Seniors Julian Fantino made the announcement yesterday in Thunder Bay and says its an important issue that needs support. The funding is part of the 2010 Federal Budget and is being distributed through the New Horizons for Seniors Program.

City looks into low-income tax & water rebates

City council is looking for ways to help residents with low incomes. Council asked for a report last night to see if a program to provide tax and water rebates to low income residents would be a good fit for the city. The report should be completed by June.

New budget passed

The city's new budget has passed. Council voted largely in favour of the budget after some last minute attempts to make cuts fell flat during Tuesday’s council meeting.

Mayor Keith Hobbs voted against his first budget as mayor and says the 1.27% tax hike is a deal-breaker. Hobbs says that the process has been a learning experience.


Councilor Larry Hebert voted against the budget as well; the rest of council voted in favour.

Northwood Councillor Mark Betnz voted for the budget. While Bentz doesn't think the tax increase is unreasonable he wants leaders to keep the city's financial health in mind all year long and not just when it comes time to make a budget. Bentz says that given the circumstances, he feels City Manager Tim Commisso did a good job of keeping costs down.

The budget still needs to be ratified in March before it's official. 

Brown questions legislation

The McGuinty government plans to declare public transit workers in Toronto an essential service.   Thunder Bay Transit Union president Charlie Brown says apart from opposing the idea, he wonders why other parts of the province aren't included in the new legislation. It was an election promise by new Mayor Rob Ford and city council  has requested T-T-C workers be banned from striking.  The NDP is hinting it may delay the legislation.

Commisso says growth is growth

The Conference Board of Canada may not have confidence in the Thunder Bay economy, but our city manager does.  Tim Commisso says the boards prediction of slow economic growth for the city isn't the end of the world.  He says the economy of the city is growing at a stable and steady pace and is diversifying.  The board ranked the city last in it's survey of 27 Canadian cities.

NAN talks economy

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation is holding it's first ever economic summit in the city.  Deputy Grand Chief Les Louttit wants First Nations leaders to form a single voice on things like taking minerals from the ground in the Ring of Fire mining development. Louttit hopes different strategies will be developed over the course of the week.

Investigation into Beardmore blast underway

It could take weeks before the cause of the Beardmore Pipeline explosion to be known. Trans-Canada Corporation spokesperson James Millar says its a very remote area and will take a while to survey because the site is only accessible by snowmobile. Millar says two similar incidents happened in Ontario in 2009.

Libyan situation continues to escalate

It looks like the end of the line is nearing for the Libyan government. LU's Political Science Expert Laure Paquette says the escalating situation in Libya is showing no signs of stopping meaning Moammar Gadhafi has very little choice other than to resign from power. However Paquette says if it happens it is still a very long road to democracy.  Paquette says Libya's situation is making Egypt look like a cake walk.

Spring is still playing hard to get

It may seem warmer over the next couple of days but spring is still a ways away. Our Meteorologist Bill Laidlaw says some warmer air is moving into the area and will bring about 2 to 4 centimetres tomorrow but will drop again by the weekend.  Laidlaw says it'll likely be next month sometime before we see this weather pattern break.

Hundreds join Wabasse Facebook page

The search for Jordan Wabasse has made it to Facebook.  Friends and family of the missing Webequie teen have set up the page called "Help Find Jordan".   On the site, a person who identifies herself has his grandmother,  says the search will continue until Jordan is found "even if I'm the only one left."   The site has attracted over 24 hundred people.

Still no sign of Wabasse

Another weekend of searching and still no sign of Jordon Wabasse.  An Aerial search of the Kam River was conducted yesterday and it turned up nothing.  Today a meeting will be held where Thunder Bay Police will decide the next step in the search.

Fatal collision closes Trans Canada

A 51 year old Marathon man is dead after a fatal collision on Highway 17.  The collision happened Sunday morning just east of Marathon when a transport truck lost control and hit an SUV head on.  The driver of the transport has been charged with dangerous driving causing death.

High Speed Chase

Thunder Bay police were involved in a high speed chase late last night. Police were finally able to stop a 53 year old man in the South side of Thunder Bay. He was charged with impaired driving, dangerous driving and flight from an officer. He will be held in custody until his video court date later today.

Jordan Wabasse search continues

The search for Jordan Wabasse continues. The Anishinabek Police Service searched the woods near City Road with the help of volunteers on Friday. Thunder Bay Police are now focusing on the banks of the Kaministiquia River. The OPP helicopter that was going to aid the search Saturday got held up by weather during it's trip from southern Ontario. It should be in the sky this afternoon.

Urban Boutique vandalized

Police are investigating an act of vandalism that happened early Saturday morning. A window was smashed at the Urban Boutique on Memorial Avenue. Paint pellets were then fired at the store's merchandise through the broken window.

Pipeline explosion in Northwestern Ontario

A gas pipeline has exploded near Beardmore. No one was hurt in the blast. Staff-Sergeant Carl Pettigrew of the Greenstone Provincial Police says that witnesses saw a huge fireball and felt the heat of the explosion. Pettigrew says the fire is now under control. Beardmore is about 170 kilometers north of Thunder Bay.

Helicopter Contract helps Northwest

A Dryden based company has signed a 1.5 million dollar contract with the Ministry of Natural Resources. Superior Helicopters was awarded the two year forest fire contract and Spokesperson John Curran says they'll transport crews to forest fires and dump water on blazes.  The contract will span two fire seasons.  Curran says the new contract means they're looking to hire more staff.  Superior Helicopters is owned by Discovery Air.

Horwath turns her attention to Pellican Falls road

A Northwestern Ontario road is garnering the attention of the Province's NDP Leader. Andrea Horwath toured the Pellican Falls road after the Northern Anishinabe Education Council raised concerns about it's condition. The road falls under the jurisdiction of both the Federal and Provincial Governments.

No end in sight for Mideast unrest

There appears to be no immediate end to the wave of uprisings in the Middle East. Right now protests have been taking place in Yemen, Bahrain and Libya. Lakehead University's Laure Paquette says it's hard to predict what will happen next in those countries. Paquette says the length of any protests will depend on the diversity of support.

Hillier blames Green Energy Act

The PC party's critic for Northern Development is attacking the McGuinty Government's energy policies. The Premier won't committ to providing the region a seperate electricity price. Randy Hillier puts the blame on the Green Energy Act. Hillier says it's wreaking havoc on the north.

Bisson calls for toxic herbicide disclosure

If it happened in Northeastern Ontario, you can bet it probably occured in the Northwest as well. That's the feeling of Timmins James Bay MPP Gilles Bisson on the revelation that the MNR sprayed toxic herbicide on Crown land from the 1950s to 1970s. Bisson says forestry workers were exposed to the toxins but many others were as well. Bisson is calling for the forestry companies and MNR to release all of the information they have on the spraying program.

AbitibiBowater transactions still need approval

The NDP says it wants to know what the provincial government is going to do about the sale of the AbitibiBowater Hydro dams in Ontario. Abitibi announced the sale to an unnamed buyer last week, but the transaction still needs the approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources. Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Howard Hampton doesn't think the provincial government will try to intervene in the sale. The dams up for sale include the hydro assets in Kenora, Fort Frances and Iroquois Falls.

Wabasse search continues

City police are expected to release details about the ongoing search for Jordan Wabasse.  Officials say the Anishinabek Police are conducting a snowmobile search of the wooded area near the THP Gas Bar on City Road.  The 15 year old has been missing since February 7th.  The underwater search on the Kam river has been called off. 

One man hurt in hit and run

Thunder Bay police are looking for the driver of a vehicle involved in a hit and run with a pedestrian. Thunder Bay Traffic Sergeant Glen Porter says the collision happened yesterday morning at around 3 o'clock. Porter says the pedestrian was walking across the intersection at Royal and Pringle Streets.  He was taken to hospital with non life threatening injuries and released.

Justice Pelletier takes issue with legal rep

A routine court appearance for Christian Hernandez turned into a slap on the wrist for his former lawyer.  In court today Justice Joyce Pelletier noticed that Hernandez's Toronto Lawyer wasn't present. She also noted that a representative from Chris Watkin's office was there. Pelletier said she had some concern with that after she specifically ruled last month Watkins was to have nothing to do with the case. Pelletier said she would "let it go" for now, but left it clear she wasn't pleased. The 26 year old Hernandez is charged with impaired driving causing death. He is due back in court March 28

Mauro accepts nomination

The Premier attracted protestors to Bill Mauro's nomination meeting.  Members of the Ontario Public Service Employee Union picketed outside of the Da Vinci centre last night.  Spokesperson Sandra Snider says they're taking a stand against the Province's tax cuts.  Meanwhile, the Thunder Bay MPP defended the cuts saying they won't result in service cuts.  Mauro accepted the nomination and will carry the Liberal banner in the provincial election.

Search ends with no sign of missing teen

Police are trying to decide their next step in the search for 15 year old Jordan Wabasse.   Police spokesperson Chris Adams says the underwater search of the Kam River by the OPP dive team is over.  He says the search will continue in some form. Meantime Adams says a ball cap was found in the area of the search...it's similar to the one Jordan had on the night he disappeared.

Agent Orange revelations concern premier

Premier Dalton McGuinty is trying to reassure retired government forestry workers.  It comes after a report that says they may have been exposed to the cancer causing chemical Agent Orange during their work years.  McGuinty says the government is interested in getting information. He says if they feel their health has been affected they should contact the Ministry of Natural Resources.  Speaking in Thunder Bay Premier McGuinty says he was only recently made aware of the issue

McGuinty says talking is the answer

The Ring of Fire mining development is still causing a rift between First Nations and the Ontario government.  Natives want  guarantees they'll benefit from the proposed chromite mine. Premier Dalton McGuinty says his government won't stop talking until an agreement is reached.  He says it's important to find the goodwill to conduct what he calls a positive and constructive dialogue.

No one hurt in school fire

It's back to school as usual tomorrow for Churchill High School students as someone lit a fire in the boys washroom on the second floor over the noon hour. The school was evacuated as a result. Nobody was hurt and damage was confined to the washroom itself. Fire officials say they'll let the school deal with whomever was responsible.

Rafferty's bill to head back to House of Commons

An altered version of John Rafferty's pension bill is facing its final hurdle. The Thunder Bay Rainy River MP will see his bill head back to the House of Commons for a final vote sometime this Spring. A different version of the private members bill was already voted down once before.

Pikangikum stand off ends peacefully

OPP are reporting a peaceful ending to a stand off in Pikangikum. A man had fired his gun in his home after arguing with his partner. No one was injured. Police officials surrounded the building. After 10 hours the man came out of the house and was taken into police custody.

N-D-P calling for more Ontario food

The N-D-P is calling for more Ontario produced food to be purchased by government departments and agencies. Kenora-Rainy River M-P-P Howard Hampton says his party has put forward a private members bill that would require any government funded facilities be required to purchase at least 20 per cent of their food from local growers. The bill was given first reading last September, but has yet to be scheduled for further debate in the Legislature.

NOMA discusses important issues

The region's municipal lobbying group plans to bring up a host of issues during upcoming meetings with provincial cabinet ministers. NOMA will attend the Ontario Good Roads Conference next week in Toronto. President Ron Nelson says they've set up a meeting with the Social Services Minister. Nelson says they also plan to speak with the MNR about the caribou habitat legislation.

Hampton not happy

The McGuinty Liberals are keeping tight lipped on which forestry companies recieved part of the governments promised $500 million, and it's not sitting well with NDP Natural Resources critic Howard Hampton. In 2006, the government committed $500 million in grant and loan guarantees for the struggling forestry sector, but according to documents recently obtained through a freedom-of-information request $270 million dollars of it remains unused.

Fender Bender on Wednesday

A 23 year old Thunder Bay driver is charged with following too close after a fender bender on Wednesday. OPP investigated a two vehicle collision on Highway 61, just south of Boundary Drive. Police say an east bound vehicle was stopped behind a school bus that was stopped, when an east bound Chevrolet cavalier collided with the rear of the Ford Edge.

Regional curlers come to Thunder Bay

The Shoppers Home Health Care Wheelchair Curling Provincials will be taking place in Thunder Bay from February 25th-27th. Teams from across the region will be competing for a birth in the National Championships in March of this year. All of the curling action will take place at the Fort William Curling Club.

Crowe to seek NDP nod

An unsuccessful candidate in the civic election is now trying to get into provincial politics. Cindy Crowe says she is seeking the NDP nomination in the Thunder Bay-Superior North riding.  Crowe says she would like to voice the concerns of the average person.  The nomination meeting takes place April 2nd.

Police release details of Taddeo case

There is a link between two city police officers who are facing charges in connection with the way they did their jobs.  A hearing at the Balmoral Police station has heard that Inspector Dan Taddeo is facing Police Service Act charges in connection with the way he supervised Constable Toni Grann.  The 43 year old Grann is facing 12 charges which police say involved falsified local records in the Ontario Sex Offender Registry.

McGuinty visits Thunder Bay

We'll be getting a visit from the Premier today.  Dalton McGuinty is in town to speak at a chamber of commerce luncheon and will also be attending MPP Bill Mauro's nomination meeting.

OPP divers are back to work this morning

There will be another day of searching today by the OPP dive team.  Searchers were unable to locate Jordan Wabasse yesterday and again were forced to suspend the search last night due to a lack of light.

Police make small drug bust

The Thunder Bay Drug Unit has taken over 13 thousand dollars worth of drugs off the streets.  Officers searched a house on Piccadilly Avenue Tuesday and found the drugs, mainly cocaine and just under 5 thousand dollars in cash. Two men were arrested and are facing several charges.