Board vice-chair defends tuition hike

With increased tuition fees at Lakehead University now set in stone, the vice chair of the Board of Governors is defending the move. Cam Clark says it was necessary because the institution is facing rising costs.  He says the board tried to find a balance between affordable education for those students with few resources and a fiscally responsible budget.  Clark suggests the increase was regrettable but necessary

Mayor says list shows need for fewer staff

The latest list of city workers that made 100 thousand dollars last year has the mayor on alert. Keith Hobbs says he's working to cut the overall budget for salaries. The mayor says he and other councillors are serious about starting the staff reduction process through attrition. The Sunshine List from the province shows that 80 members of the police and fire services are on it. Hobbs attributes that to the "terrible shift" that they work and he hopes to change that to reduce overtime rates.

Hampton: No substance to "stunted growth plan"

Provincial NDP leader Howard Hampton says the McGuinty government's Northern Growth plan is void of any substance.  He says there is no action plan in the document what-so-ever, and that after 4 years of study all there is, is  more study, more talk and more delay. Hampton says the plan shows that the government is out of touch with the realities of life in the north.

Porter to increase flights to T-Dot

Porter Airlines is expanding it's Thunder Bay to Toronto service.   The company says the new schedule takes effect on May 25th.  It will see an increase to five daily round trips during the weekday from the current three.  Porter says Thunder Bay has been a good fit with planes frequently loaded to capacity.  Thunder Bay Airport Manager Scott McFadden calls it welcome news. 

New policy institute cornerstone of growth plan

The Northern Ontario Growth Plan has finally been released. The controversial document has been in the works for over 3 years and included thousands of hours of consultations. Minister of Northern Development Michael Gravelle says now the plan can be implemented.  One the first iniatives in the 25 year plan will be the creation of a Northern Policy Institute. Gravelle says the institute is a direct response to northern residents who want a greater say in policy decisions affecting the region.

Police HQ broken into

Talk about gutsy. OPP in Sioux Lookout say that someone broke into the Nishnawbe Aski Police headquarters building in that community. Police didn't indicate if anything was taken only to say that they haven't arrested anyone

Commisso calls for change to Sunshine List

Thunder Bay's City Manager thinks it's time the province increase the amount used to make up it's Sunshine List. Right now the list includes public workers who make more than 100 thousand dollars a year. Tim Commisso thinks that number is getting stale given that it was created in 1996. He believes a better threshold would be about 140 thousand dollars. Last year 115 workers on the city payroll made over 100 thousand dollars.

Man spooks girl in Current River

City police are looking for a man in his mid twenties after an incident in Current River yesterday morning.   They say that at around 8:30 a man approached a 13 year old girl walking on Dacre Street near Leslie Avenue.  The girl tells police the man made inappropriate comments to her.  She was not harmed.   He's described as white, 5-8 and thin with short dark hair.

Hay admits Sunshine List will cause talk

City Fire Chief John Hay says the fact 31 firefighters made more than 100 thousand dollars last year is going to cause controversy. He says his hands are tied because of an arbitration award that gave them 7 years of back pay. However, public perception is a different story, admitting that there will be questions asked. Hay says that same award will play into this years Sunshine List as well.

Students protest increased tuition

The student union at Lakehead University is livid over a decision by the University Board of Governors to jack up tuition  fees by 5 per cent. President Mike Snodden says about 120 chanting protesters were on hand as the governors entered Thursday's meeting where the increase was approved. He says the increase will mean students will pay an average of 280 dollars more for next years classes, engineering students will pay and extra 460 dollars. He says a protest rally is planned for next week as well as an e-mail blitz.

Ring of Fire blockade underway

Marten Falls First Nation has commenced its blockade of an airstrip used by companies for Ring of Fire mining exploration. The community is protesting what they see as a lack of involvement in decisions about their future.

The catalyst for the blockade is a mining camp on Koper Lake that Marten Falls leaders say was constructed without permission.

The  leaders see the camp as part of a larger trend where the community is shut out of the decision making process and are concerned they might lose out on benefits in the long term by not being able to help guide development.

Besides having more say in plans for the area, Chief Eli Moonias says Marten Falls would like to see new infrastructure put in place like winter roads that could lead to transport jobs. Other items such as funding to hire experts to help with negotiations and reimbursement for last years blockade are also on his wish list. Moonias feels the First Nation was forced into last years blockade by the decisions of others and shouldn't be on the hook for the cost.

NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy visited the protest camp on Koper lake today and participated in a ceremony to mark the beginning of the blockade. Beardy says First Nation communities in the region aren't against development; they just want to make sure they share in the Ring of Fire's success and are treated fairly.

Municipal League meets

You can bet the Northern Growth Plan will be a hot topic at this weekend's annual Thunder Bay District Municipal League meeting. Past president Gwen Garbutt says the league members had a say in the plan, which is being released Friday morning by Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle. Garbutt says if there's something in the plan they don't like, Gravelle will hear from them. The meeting gets under way Friday as well.

Developer's expansion plans halted

The city isn't too keen on making changes to some of the projects at Prince Arthur's Landing.   The Committee of Adjustment has nixed plans by the developers of the hotel to add a storey to the building and move some parking from the waterfront to the downtown north core.   However city administration was a bit skittish about the plan because there hasn't been a parking study done.

Hospital working on new strategic plan

All aspects of health care are being encourage to take part in the creation of a new strategic plan for the Regional Health Sciences Centre. CEO Andree Robichaud says they hope to have representatives from all health care stake holders take part in the planning.  Robichaud says they will focus on patient needs and hope to have a draft plan in place by June.

City firefighters make sunshine list

A total of 115 people on the City of Thunder Bay payroll are on the province's Sunshine List. It gives the names of civil servants and other government officials who made more than 100 thousand dollars last year. City Manager Tim Commisso says a recent arbitration decision for city firefighters put 32 of them on that list. 50 people in the Police Service are also made more than a 100K in 2010

Herman takes issue with proposed booze law

Police Chief Bob Herman has joined the chorus of concerns over proposed new liquor laws in Ontario. Herman says while the laws may need updating he is wondering if allowing people to wander with booze at outdoor events is a wise move. He says they've seen from events in Thunder Bay that when that happens there is a tendancy for minors to be given alcohol and for people to sneak it in.  Herman says the Police Chiefs Association will bring their concerns to the McGuinty government

Donation for library

The Northern Credit Union has donated 5 thousand dollars to the new Mary J.L. Black Branch Library. The money will support the Children’s Reading Garden at the new facility. Fundraising Chairman, Patrick Morash and Thunder Bay Public Library Acting Chief Librarian, Barb Philp, were at the Northern Credit Union Westfort Branch on Frederica Street to accept the gift.

Buddy Guy and GFR highlight bluesfest lineup

They're coming to our town to party it down.  Grand Funk Railroad is one of the acts that will be part of this years Blues Festival.  Also on the list are Chicago Blues man Buddy Guy, Blue Rodeo and Wild T and the Spirit.  the Bluesfest takes place at Marina Park July 8th to the 10th.

City Transit is developing a master plan

The city wants to know what residents think about transit services. Transit Manager Brad Loroff says they are looking for public input to help in the development of a Master Plan. Loroff says the plan should point out what needs Thunder Bay residents have.  Loroff says there will be a survey available from March 7 to April 17th and a public meeting March 31st.

No one hurt in apartment fire

No injuries in a North side fire. The Blaze happened just after 9 o'clock last night in the 500 block of North Cumberland.  When crews arrived they found one unit completely engulfed in flames.  The cause is under investigation.