Ring of Fire development to cost big bucks

How much will it cost Cliffs Natural Resources to develop a mine in the Ring of Fire?  Well according to the company's 2012 Capital investment plan it will be over 2 billion dollars.  The company estimates mine development to come in around 150 million dollars, 800 million for a concentrating plant and 1.8 billion for a processing plant.  The company is in a pre-feasibility stage of development and doesn't anticipate any capital investment until 2014.

James Street bridge closed for repairs

The northbound lane of the James Street Swing Bridge is closed for the rest of the day.  Thunder Bay Police say a collision caused some damage to the bridge and CP is on scene conducting repairs.  Officers say the repairs will last for at least the rest of the day and maybe into tomorrow.

Accountability on Wall Street is rising

A Thunder Bay born Investment Banker on a quest to bring transparency to Wall Street is encouraged with some signs of progress.  Keith McCullough says up until recently a lot of deals on Wall Street were done behind closed doors and without transparency.  McCullough says yesterday's arrest of 4 high profile investors on Wall Street points towards increased accountability.

Cancer Prevelancy rates are on the rise

The rate of people living with Cancer is on the rise in Canada and it is no different here.  Cancer Centre Vice President Michael Power says Northwestern Ontario is in the same boat.  He says the good news is people are living longer with cancer, but the bad news is cancer rates are also rising.

Angus steps aside

Iain Angus says 5 years is enough. He's decided not to seek re-election as chair of the District Social Services Administration Board, but will continue to sit as a board member.   Angus says he's overseen a number of changes while he was chair.  He says his proudest accomplishment is overseeing the establishment of a new strategic plan for social housing. The new chair is Bob Katajamaki. 

HIV program good to go

The District Health Unit's anonymous HIV testing program is operating for another year. Spokesperson Maureen Twig says the budget is a modest 57 thousand dollars, unchanged from last year.  Twig says the board's approval is essentially a rubber stamp.

Former Greenstone Mayor passes away

Former Mayor of Greenstone Michael Power has passed away.  Power was a champion for Northwestern Ontario and was a main stay in the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association.  Funeral arrangements are still pending.

Dewar visiting Thunder Bay

NDP Leadership hopeful Paul Dewar is in the City Friday.  MP Bruce Hyer says Dewar is one of the candidates he likes for the top NDP job.  Dewar is at Lakehead University at 12:30 and at Ruby Moon at 4.

Hyer on MP pensions underfunded

The C-D Howe Institute says the pension plan for members of Parliament and Senators is underfunded to the tune of one-billion dollars.  MP Bruce Hyer says that doesn't surprise him.  The C-D Howe report says the MP pension plan has no assets set aside to pay for those future benefits.

Winter road money rolled out

The Provincial Government is spending 4.7-million dollars on the winter road network in the Far North this year.  Minister of Northern Development and Mines Rick Bartolucci says over 3-thousand kilometres of road will connect 29-First Nation communities.  Individuals and businesses will be able to use the roads until the Spring thaw, usually in mid-March.

UNESCO bid for forest near Kenora

A vast wilderness area northwest of Kenora is a step closer to becoming a UNESCO World Site.  The application was sent off to Paris yesterday.  Gord Jones is the project manager and says this a significant area.  The Pikangikum First Nation and the Whitefeather Forest Management Corporation are two of the partners involved in the process to have the wilderness area designated a UNESCO World Site.

OPP cracking down on highway safety

Provincial Police across Northwestern Ontario are set to increase enforcement on local Highways.  OPP have investigated 1-fatal collision and 1-pedestrian fatality in the Region since January 1st.  17-people have tragically lost their lives in crashes Province-wide compared to 8-during the same period in 2011.