Long gun registry awaits final reading

There could be more pressure on Members of Parliament from Northwestern Ontario next month. A bill to abolish the federal long gun registry could go for third and final reading before the Christmas break. Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says he's not happy how two NDP members of Parliament from Thunder Bay have been treated on the issue. Rickford feels John Rafferty and Bruce Hyer should be allowed to vote the way they want, without being disciplined by their party.

4 car collision

Thunder Bay Police are investigating a 4 car collision that happened early Saturday morning on Pasteur Road. It's reported that a man was driving impaired and struck 4 parked vehicles. The man has been charged with impaired driving causing bodily harm, failing to remain and failing to stop. The passenger of the vehicle has been taken to Thunder Bay Hospital.

Gardens packed for Remembrance Day

  Around 3 thousand people packed the Ford William Gardens to pay honour to our veterans, service men and women and those who paid the ultimate price to defend our freedom. Dignitaries who laid wreaths included Mayor Keith Hobbs, MP John Rafferty and MPP Bill Mauro.  As the veterans and service men and woman marched around the arena the crowd gave them a standing ovation in a show of respect and honour.

Remembrance Day in Thunder Bay

The Past President of the Port Arthur Royal Canadian Legion is pleased with the turn out for Friday's Remembrance Day Ceremony.  Roy Lamore says it's the best he's seen at Waverly Park.  Meanwhile, 80 year old Wisconsin resident Eugene Gryskiewicz has been coming to Thunder Bay for 29 years.  Gryskiewicz  served in the Korean war as a Corporal. 

Director defends legal costs

The legal fees paid by the Lakehead Public School Board over the last year are under the microscope. Director of Education Cathi Siemieniuk defends the 390 thousand expense saying they have no control over some issues.   She says the costs can be attributed to highly sensitive personnel matters and property issues.  The year before the legal costs were 260 thousand dollars.

NAPS cruiser torched

The Nishnawbe Aski Police Service is looking for a new cruiser after one was set on fire in Eabametoong (Fort Hope).   Police say the vehicle was torched while it was parked in front of an officers home.   The cruiser was destroyed in the incident and the officer's home was slightly damaged.  No one was hurt.  Police are looking for whomever was responsible.

Mauro back as P-A

Bill Mauro's new responsibility is a job he is familiar with. The Thunder Bay MPP is now the Parlimentary Assistant to Northern Development Minister Rick Bartolucci. Mauro says he did the same job in the last decade.  Mauro says the job will again help bring him closer to the files that affect the Thunder Bay.

New NOSTA prez

There's a new president of the North of Superior Tourism Association. Greenstone's Vicki Blanchard says she looks forward to her term as the head of NOSTA saying tourism is getting some respect again and how important it is an economic driver.  Blanchard says she accepted the position because of her passion for tourism.

Port Arthur Health Centre workers have new contract

Workers at the Port Arthur Health Centre have ratified a new contract.  The more than 70 workers voted almost unanimously in favour of the contract on the evening of November 1st.  The deal includes an increase in benefits and a 2 percent wage hike each year for the 3 year term.

Officers awarded for their bravery

A handful of City Police officers are being recognized for their bravery.  The officers helped evacuate the Travelodge after a fire broke out in the Sushi Station restaurant October 22nd.  During the ordeal smashed through a class security door so they could help 5 people who were stuck on the 3rd floor of the hotel that was filling up with smoke. 

Bannon's faces OLG suspension

Bannon's Gas Bar on the Fort William First Nation has been handed a one week suspension from selling lottery tickets.  OLG Spokesman Don Pister says the business failed to comply with OLG rules.  Pister says the stores OLG ticket console will be remotely shutdown for one week starting today.  Pister declined to say which rule the store broke.

Credit counsellor gives sage advice

A local credit counsellor says now is the time for Christmas Shoppers to protect themselves from getting mired in debt. Bev Dunnill says planning ahead is critical.  She says to go with a list of people you want to buy for and how much you plan to spend on them.  Dunnill advises to go shopping when you're relaxed  and not tired, rushed or hungry.   Her words of wisdom come just ahead of Credit Education Week.

Racist vandals strike

Racism continues to raise it's ugly head in Thunder Bay. The Lakehead Region Conservation Authority says that some racist graffiti was painted on a bench at the Mission Marsh. Chair Bill Bartley says they've now covered up the offending message. Bartley says the bench was a target of convenience for someone.

Nuke waste warning

An environmental group is concerned over talk that a Northwestern Ontario community might store nuclear waste. Ontario Nature is worried what that might mean for the other communities in the region. Spokesperson Peter Rosenbluth says they want to have a strategic conversation with area Municipal leaders and tell them that their decisions impact the entire Northwest.

Remembrance Day in Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay residents are marking Remembrance Day on Friday. We spoke to people outside of City Hall about what the day means for them. 

Highway's OPEN

Area highways are reopened after being closed for most of the evening and early this morning.  Highway 17 between Marathon and Terrace Bay and Highway 11 near Longlac were closed because of snowfall last night.  OPP say the highways are now open to traffic.

Jobs in the Northwest are on the rise

Our unemployment rate went up last month but a closer look shows that we actually gained jobs in Thunder Bay.  Lakehead University Economics Professor Livio Di Matteo says our rate went up because of a large increase in the workforce.   Matteo says construction jobs likely caused the increase in job numbers.  

Kidnapping trial to resume in new year

A Thunder Bay kidnapping trial is taking a break until the new year.  35 year old Kyle Truong is charged in connection with an incident last year at a Cumberland Street motel.  Evidence presented in Superior Court of Justice this week included horrific accounts of a victim's finger being cut off.  The case will be back in court January 23rd for a judge's decision

New Solar Parks coming Thunder Bay's way

Thunder Bay seems to becoming a green energy centre in the province. GE Solar Ink has targetted our area for 3 new solar parks.  CEO Ian Rogers says he hopes to build parks on Dawson Road, Mapleward Road and Amethyst Bay.  Rogers says the parks should power between 15 and 20 thousand homes.

Aboriginal workforce targeted

Jobs for Aboriginals is the bottom line of a conference taking place in the city Wednesday. It focuses on employment, education and training. Sharon Smith-Baxter of the Thunder Bay Urban Aboriginal Strategy says it's important to provide them with the tools they need to find work since they are becoming a larger part of the city's population.