Council green lights waterfront

Thunder Bay City Council is not happy with administration over the waterfront project's unexpected costs. That's according to Councillor Rebecca Johnson; she was just one of many who voiced their concerns at last night's meeting. City Manager Tim Commisso says they were too optomistic when they told council they were on budget in the fall. Council voted to take the dollars needed to complete this part of the project from Phase 2.

No name for the hotel yet

There's still no name attached to the 4 star hotel that's supposed to set up on the newly developed waterfront.  City Manager Tim Commisso says talks are continuing and work is expected to get started in June.  Commisso adds that the hotel's ownership group wants to hold off on announcing the name until all contracts are finalized.

Council supports Pride Week

Thunder Bay City Council has thrown it's support behind "Thunder Pride" week. Councillor Andrew Foulds says we should be embracing these type of initiatives because it helps the lives of teens and adults living alternative lifestyles.  The week long event will celebrate gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people.  Mayor Keith Hobbs says he's proud to support the initiative and notes the community needs to embrace the LGBT community.  Hobbs says one city councillor has received nasty comments over the Pride week.  The celebrations are scheduled for June.

1 man protest at City Hall

The waterfront project cost overruns lead to a one man protest at Monday's City Council meeting.  Ray Smith says he feels council is wasting tax payer money and calls the project a get rich scheme benefitting a select few.  Smith adds the City should have let residents vote on whether or not they wanted the waterfront development.

Local investment expert not surprised by review

Industry Minister Tony Clement says his department will review the proposed merger of the operators of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. Thunder Bay investment expert Blake Cameron says he's not surprised by the move.  He says it has the potential to be a political issue in the same way that the sale of the Saskatchewan Potash Corporation became.  This review too, will determine if the deal would be a net benefit to Canada.

Verdict hits raw nerve with victim's family

It's not guilty for a young Lakehead University student. Judge Helen Pierce dismissed a dangerous driving charge against 21 year old Thomas Charlton. It's in connection with the 2008 traffic death of 14 year old Spencer Bjorklund. Charlton's Lawyer Peter Mrowiec says it was a fair judgement.  When the verdict was read, family and friends of Spencer stormed from the courtroom cursing and yelling out that the process was a fraud.  Spencer's mother Mary-Ann Anderson called the judgement appalling

Walk remembers murder victims

A walk to remember missing and murdered aboriginal woman took place over the noon hour.  It started at Simpson and Victoria and wound it's way to the Lakehead Labour Centre. It was put on by the Full Moon Memory Walk.  

Regional has a valentine for heart patients

The Regional Health Sciences Centre has a new short term care area for Cardiac Patients. The unit was officially opened Monday and will serve patients who need to spend the night after surgery. Doctor Marc Henderson says this will enhance patient recovery. The next step in the hospital's renovations will be the completion of the second Cath Lab next month.

Outfitters jack up the pressure

Angry Northwestern Ontario tourist outfitters are hoping for action from the Natural Resources Minister. They've fired off a letter to Linda Jeffery demanding that a 700 per cent increase in land fee permits be reversed. Their point man is Paul Boucher of the Ogoki lodge who says the message to Jeffery is..."talk to us." Boucher says these are desperate times for outfitters and they don't need such a hefty increase

Underwater search to begin Tuesday

It'll be Tuesday before divers can begin their search of the Kam River.    City police inspector Andy Hay says it's part of the investigation into the disappearance of 15 year Jordan Wabasse.  Hay says the dive team is driving in from Orillia.   He says they have some specific equipment required for such investigations.  The search is being conducted near the James Street swing bridge where some footprints were found near some open water.