Wind Park Review Update on Monday night

The city expert reviewing the wind park project will provide an update to city council Monday night. Dillon Consulting will be speaking about the status of its review of the proposed Big Thunder Wind Farm on city lands.  Council wants to know how much it would cost to move the turbines to a new location.

New Chair for LU Board of Governors

Newspaper publisher Colin Bruce is the new Chair of the Lakehead University Board of Governors. Bruce says the board has several challenges facing it in the next year. He says on the top of that list will be meeting and delivering a balanced budget.   Bruce calls the appointment one of the greatest honours he's ever had

LU students to vote on bottled water

Lakehead University Students will be asked to take an environmental stand on bottled water. Student Union President Mike Snodden says a referendum will ask students to recommend that bottled water not be sold on campus.   He says there are two reasons for the move, one is that water is a basic need and we shouldn't have to pay for it, and secondly, we need to break our addiction to plastic.   The referendum will take place next month.

LU President plans activites for swearing-in

The new President of Lakehead University is making sure his installation day next month is an event. Brian Stevenson says it will include a series of activities surrounding his swearing in. One is a conference on the role of the University in the economic development of Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario. The second is a breakfast meeting with Lloyd Axeworthy who will discuss First Nations, Metis and Inuit in higher education. The so called "24 hours of activities" takes place November 4th and 5th.

NOMA conference wraps up

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association has wrapped up its fall conference in Thunder Bay. President Anne Krassilowski says she was pleased with the Premier's attendance, and feels he heard their concerns about the Far North Act and future economic opportunities in the area.  Krassilowski feels the conference was a success and delegates left with new economic development ideas.

NOMA hears from panelists

How does Northwestern Ontario get their voices heard at Queen's Park?  That was the topic of a panel discussion at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association conference. Director of Ontario Chambers of Commerce Ian McCormick, Columnist Christina Blizzard and Past President of the Ontario Associated Community Futures Development Corporation Bill Spinney were panelists.  All three of them said NOMA needs to focus on one or two issues, solve them and then move on. The 2 day fall conference wrapped up on Friday afternoon.

McGuinty leaves hospital crisis to locals to solve

Premier McGuinty isn't making any promises to help dig the Regional Hospital out of it's gridlock crisis. Speaking in Thunder Bay on the issue, McGuinty is satisfied the situation is under control, with the Local Health Integration Network being "all over this".  McGuinty says the government is providing all local agencies with the policies and funding to see the problem through.

Howarth brings HST fight back to the Lakehead

The Provincial government is getting more heat about the HST. NDP leader Andrea Horwath was in Thunder Bay today visiting with a local family who is worried about the HST's impact on their living expenses. Horwath met with Fred and Carol St Jean and says its a similar story for many across the province.  Horwath says removing the HST from Hydro will save Ontarians hundreds of dollars each year.

Organizations join to help prevent child abuse

It's Child Abuse Prevention month. The Children's Aid Society is one organization which sees a lot of abused kids. Executive Director Rob Richardson hopes people will be on the watch for children who may be victims.  Dilico Anishinabek Family Care is also taking part in this months campaign. Director Susan Verill says its a problem

New hospital prez takes over during crisis

The new president of the Regional Health Sciences Centre has her work cut out for her. Andre Robichaud is dealing with a hospital in gridlock because it can't free up needed beds. She notes most of the work to try to solve the problem is already underway. She says all she can do now is to support the partners and make sure there is a long term plan to address the crisis.   Robichaud says she dealt with similar problems while working in New Brunswick.