Businesses Hurt Over Bridge Loss

Fort William First Nation businesses are losing money every day the James Street Swing Bridge remains closed.  A public meeting on how the closure is impacting both the City and First Nation brought out around 100 people Monday night.  Jessie Bannon is the owner of Bannon's Gas Bar and says they've lost about 50 percent of their customers.  Bannon says no one wants to travel the extra distance to the community and notes many feel the road isn't very safe.  Chief Georjann Morriseau says they've waited long enough and they want the bridge open now.  The concerns collected from Monday night's meeting will be sent to both levels of government and CN Rail.

Bio-Mess: City Turns Up The Heat On Chiarelli

The political battle continues between the city and the province's energy minister over the amount of biomass that will be needed to fuel the Thunder Bay Generating Station.   Mayor Keith Hobbs says both sides remain far apart on how much advanced biomass will be needed once the station is converted.  He says the next move is a meeting with Bob Chiarelli at the Ontario Good Roads convention at the end of the month.  Hobbs says if there is no change in the government's position the city will make the the problem an election issue.

Gambee Charged With Fraud

A shocker from city police.   The former chair of the Christmas Cheer Fund is facing a fraud charge.   Police say it's alleged that 60 year old Linda Gambee had defrauded the Christmas Cheer Fund of approximately 22 thousand dollars  while she was the Chairperson of the local charity. Police say their investigation began after the Christmas Cheers Fund committee made a complaint of financial concerns.
She will be appearing in court March 4th.

NAN Disappointed With New Act

NAN Grand Chief
Harvey Yesno

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation is  complaining about the Harper government's proposed changes to the First Nations Education Act.   The act would give them control over student schooling and sink almost 2 billion  dollars into infrastructure and education. NAN Grand Chief Harvey Yesno is saying, among other things, he's disappointed they have to wait for the education funding.   Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy is cautious about the federal government's announcement calling it slim on details.

New CFO @ Tbaytel

There's a new chief financial officer at Tbaytel.    Michael Coffey is responsible for leading the city run phone company's financial and accounting divisions.   He comes to the utility after holding similar positions in the private sector.

Housing Starts Slow

The new construction season for houses is off to a sluggish start with only 2 new homes started in the city last month.  While January is normally a slower month for house building in the city last month was a drop from the 4 starts recorded in January of 2013.   The figures come from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.  

South Side Fire

There were no injuries after firefighters battled a stubborn blaze on Vanguard Avenue off of Arthur Street last night.  Just after 8 o'clock crews arrived and found a shed on fire in the back of the property. Three pumper trucks and a total of 14 firefighters helped bring the fire under control quickly and the cause is still under investigation.  

Thief Caught In Act

City Police say a man faces several charges including breach of probation after he was caught red handed during a break in.  A passerby noticed a man inside the Esso Station on Simpson Street just before 8 o'clock last night and called Police.  When the man failed to come out of the building, officers went in and made the arrest.

Kozorys Gets NDP Nod

The NDP are going with a familiar face to challenge Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro if a provincial election were to happen.  After two days of voting Mary Kozorys was elected as the NDP's candidate for the riding. Kozorys ran against Mauro in the last election and lost by under five-hundred votes.  Provincial NDP Leader Andrea Horwath was also in attendance.

Courthouse Operational In April

The new consolidated courthouse in Thunder Bay is just weeks away from opening. A spokesperson for the Attorney General's office says the new facility on Miles Street is substantially completed and it will be operational in April.   The new 250 million dollar 7 story building will include 15 courtrooms and an Aboriginal Settlement Suite, the first of its kind in Ontario.

Police Shooting At Red Lake

OPP in Red Lake have filed a report with the provinces Special Investigations Unit following an incident at Red Lake. Police responded to a noise complaint twice Saturday evening. The second time they showed up they were stopped at the door by a woman. They then found out she had taken an unknown amount of medication and forced their way in. An altercation ensued between police and the woman resulting in gun shots from the police. The woman has been airlifted to a Winnipeg hospital, two police were also treated in hospital.

Finance Critic Tours Province

Provincial Conservative Finance Critic Vic Fedeli is bringing regional issues to Queen's Park. Fedeli was in the north-west this week for pre-budget consultations. Fedeli says while touring the province and listening to concerns of communities three issues consistently popped up: red tape, high hydro rates and high taxes.

Highway 11 Closure

Highway 11 has been closed just east of Picnic Point Road while officials extinguish a tractor trailer fire. OPP made the closure around six o'clock this morning. The highway will remain closed until the fire is put out.

Double Robbery

Thunder Bay Police are asking for your help in identifying two suspects involved in two separate Mac's Milk robberies. Police say the incidents took place at the South James Street location and on Arthur Street. A man walked into the store on South James Street with a knife and demanded cash before fleeing. On Arthur a man dressed in a black sweatshirt walked in and demanded cash before leaving. Anyone with information is being urged to contact Crimestoppers.

TBSO Award

The Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra is receiving twelve and a half thousand dollars as part of the RBC's Emerging Artists Award. RBC will also be sponsoring the orchestra's annual gala ball.

Hobbs Impressed By Youth Involvement

Mayor Keith Hobbs says having the city's youth involved in talks concerning the environment is very promising. Hobbs attended a Future Visionaries Session held at the Community Auditorium yesterday where over one-hundred students from Lakehead University, Confederation College and Churchill High School voiced their concerns on the environment. Hobbs also addressed the Great Lakes Initiative.

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.