Expect Border Lineups

Expect some lineups this weekend at border crossings across northwestern Ontario. Border officials are anticipating heavy traffic due to the Thanksgiving long weekend and those looking to head up to do some hunting. If you have to travel through any of the area's points of entry, try doing so at no-peak times. You can check border wait times on both the Canadian Border Services and U.S. Customs and Protection websites.

Jobless Rate Up

The unemployment rate in Thunder Bay for the month of September stands at 6.4 per cent.   According to Statistics Canada that's an increase from the August rate of 6.1 per cent.  Across Canada the rate dropped slightly to 6.9 per cent as fewer young people searched for work.

OPP Launch Operation Impact

Expect to see a few more OPP cruisers on area roads this long weekend. Police are taking part in Operation Impact, a campaign that will crackdown on impaired, distracted, and aggressive driving as well as seatbelt compliance. Provincial Police say the big four driving behaviours are responsible for more than 200 deaths on Ontario roads so far this year.

Ear Falls Mayor Elated

The Mayor of the northwestern Ontario township of Ear Falls is excited that EACOM Timber will be starting up the idled sawmill in the community. Kevin Kahoot says this is welcome news for everyone who lives there. Kahoot says when the Mill was running 5-years ago, it helped local businesses, recreational programs and service clubs. The scheduled start-up date is next Spring.

Police Meeting In Thunder Bay

Police Services Boards from across Northwestern Ontario are discussing the costs of having OPP service their communities.  Speaking in Thunder Bay, OPP Deputy Commissioner Vince Hawkes says they'll be introducing a new costing model.  Hawkes says the model should help even out the costs for small northern communities.

Cancer Society Likes Tan Ban

A new Ontario law is prohibiting those under 18-years-old from using tanning beds is a long time coming. That message coming from the Canadian Cancer Society Northwest Branch.  Manager Maria Cabral says it's always been on the forefront for them.  Cabral says the next step is prevention and education on the dangers of tanning beds.

Court Fines Local Man

The Canada Revenue Agency says a Thunder Bay man is guilty of 18 counts of failing to file personal and corporate income tax returns. Pasquale Stilla was fined 54 thousand dollars on Tuesday in the Ontario Court of Justice.

City Trumpets Insurance Report On Flood

The City is playing up an insurance report that says they have no liability or responsibility for any property losses as the result of last year's massive May 28th flood.  S-C-S Insurance Adjusters added that the city acted appropriately during what the report calls an unprecedented storm. The city sent out letter saying it wasn't their fault to almost 2-thousand property owners who were impacted by the flood.

City Left Out of Regulator's Orders

The city is off the hook for June's gas leak on Red River Road that caused the evacuation of homes in the Mariday Park area.  City spokesperson Leif Andersen says the province's safety regulator ordered Union Gas and a contractor to change the way they mark where underground gas lines are located,  effectively  giving the city a pass.   Andersen says city officials were always confident they did everything according to the book on that day.

Jury Committee Meets In T.Bay

Irwin Glasberg

A Provincial Committee continues to work on implementing a set of recommendations aimed at getting more aboriginal  representation on jury rolls.  They met in Thunder Bay on Thursday. Co-Chair Assistant Deputy Attorney General Irwin Glasberg says they spoke with a remote First Nation woman who told them she received a letter for jury duty but she ignored it.  Co-Chair and Nishnawbe Aski Nation Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler says they heard of some cases where entire communities have been left out of jury duty.

Commissioner Blasts MNR Budget Cuts

Ontario's environmental commissioner is critical of the provincial government's and what it calls a transformation of the Ministry of Natural  Resources. Gord Miller accuses the Liberal government of deliberately dismantling environmental protection. In his annual report, Miller says changes to the MNR "cast doubt on the ministry's ability to properly manage and protect Ontario's natural environment." Miller says budget cuts and regulatory changes have reduced the Ministry's effectiveness.

Airport Fees Going Up

Starting in the new year prices at the Thunder Bay airport are going up for aircraft that use the terminal   Manager Scott McFadden says that includes aircraft landing and parking fees.  McFadden can't say if the higher costs will be passed on to travellers or not.   McFadden says the increase will be three per cent across the board and is mainly to keep up with inflation.

Tim Horton's Gets Through Security

 Air travellers waiting in the Thunder Bay airport's departure lounge will soon get to have a coffee and a snack while waiting to board their flight.  Manager Scott McFadden says Tim Horton's is putting in a new coffee shop which he hopes will be up and running in the next week or so.  McFadden says security issues had to be settled before the company was given permission to set up shop.

New Cancer Fundraising Goal Set

Thunder Bay's Hospital is looking to raise just under 6 million dollars for their four year cancer plan.  The Exceptional Cancer Care campaign's goal is to raise money for research and state of the art equipment. Spokesperson Joanne Lacourciere says they're nearly half way there with 3 million dollars raised already. The Fort William Rotary Club is pledging 500-thousand dollars through their house lottery over the next five years.

More Cell Phone Violators Nabbed

City police are using a new method of trying to catch people who are using their cell phones while driving.   Officers hopped on city transit buses Wednesday and watched drivers from their elevated perches and radioed to police ahead of them to nab any violators. Officials are still working on providing the final numbers from the exercise.

KWG Not Sweating Appeal

It's business as usual for KWG Resources.  Cliffs Natural Resources filed a court appeal of a decision by the Province's Mining Commissioner that bans them from building a road on KWG mine claims.   KWG Spokesperson Moe Lavigne says they're not surprised.  Lavigne says the appeal isn't impacting them at the moment.

Plant Conversion

The conversion of Thunder Bay's generating station from coal to gas may be delayed. Yesterday's release of the auditor's estimate has costs at over 675-million dollars for cancelling the Oakville power plant. Ontario's NDP leader Andrea Horwath feels Thunder Bay may have to wait for a Liberal election platform before a decision is made.

Repairs Expected To Be Complete Tonight

Repairs to a 12 inch water main at the intersection of James and Victoria are expected to be fixed by tonight. The Health Unit is issuing a localized Boil Water Advisory for the homes and school that were affected until water is tested and can be restored. 10 homes in the area and the Edgewater School were without water for most of the today.

Warm Weather Staying For The Week

The warm weather will continue for a few more days.....we're already in the low 20s today and in the high teens tomorrow and Friday.    Environment Canada Meterologist Geoff Coulson  says that cooler temperatures will move back into the Thunder Bay area during Sunday and Monday of the Thanksgiving long weekend.

Gas Plants Dominate Talks

At Question Period this afternoon...the cancellation of the Oakville Gas Plant continued to be raised by the opposition parties.  Premier Kathleen Wynne says it's difficult to get accurate estimates on the cancellation of the Oakville gas plant. Leader of the Ontario NDP Andrea Horwath disagrees and feels the auditor's estimate is accurate. Cancellation of the Oakville gas plant is expected to cost between 675-815 million dollars.