NOMA reacts to extension

The Acting President of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is applauding both levels of Government for extending the deadline to complete key infrastructure projects. Dennis Brown says reaching the March 31st deadline was just not possible because of the region's short construction season.  Brown believes Municipal lobbying efforts played an essential role in having the date changed to the end of October.

RN helps Paramedics

A registered Nurse is now working along side the Superior North Emergency Medical Services team. Chief Norm Gale says the nurse will ease pressure for paramedics. The nurse will take EMS patients from paramedics, so they can deal with other calls instead of waiting for a doctor to take the patients. Gale says the nurse will be on call eight hours a day, seven days a week, up until March 31st of 2011. The position was funded by the Ministry of Health.

Hampton talks property taxes

Northerners living in the unorganized area received a shock in the mail when they received their final property tax bills on November 30th. The bills included a due date of December 3rd for the first instalment and December 17th for the second instalment.  Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton blames the office in Thunder Bay, which was given the contract to look after all of the bills.  Hampton is asking for the deadline to be extended into the New Year without penalty to homeowners.  The deadline has since been extended to the end of the month.

Council meetings now on the Internet

Watching city council meetings will now be as close as a click of a mouse. City Clerk John Hannam says starting Monday, council meetings will be streamed live on the city website.  They'll also be archived so you can watch any meeting at your leisure.  The live stream can be viewed at thunderbay.ca/councillive  

OPSEU protests tax cuts

Members of Ontario Public Service Employees Union in Thunder Bay have a complaint against MPP Bill Mauro. They claim his government is giving tax breaks to big corporations at the expense of government workers.  The members protested in front of Mauro's office over the lunch hour Friday

Wasaya deal postponed

Wasaya Group is delaying the launch of its new Helicopter Charter Company.  An announcement was to be made Friday morning, but officials put it off until January stating that they are finalizing some legal details.  The multi million dollar deal was to be signed with V. Kelner Aviation but Spokesperson Joe Moses says it's unclear who the major parter will be. President Tom Kamenawatemin says he can't confirm or deny it's because they are finalizing partnerships.  The company would provide helicopter services for the mining, construction, geophysical, environmental, and tourism industries in Northern Ontario.

Big sigh from City Hall

There are no more worries at city hall about completing the waterfront project by March 31st.   The Harper government has extended the completion deadline for that and other stimulus projects in Canada. The deadline is now October 31st.  The new Mary J-L Black Library is the other local stimulus project.

Exhibit targets racism

There's an anti-racism exhibit on display at City Hall. Our city is one stop on a seven city Canadian tour. The Mathieu Da Costa Challenge Exhibit is made up of twenty six works. The pictures and stories are on display for about another week.

Bombardier keeps lawyers at bay

Bombardier says it's just an observer for now .   Company spokesperson Marc Laforge says comments by the Toronto mayor that he'll scrap the company's billion dollar TTC contract are strictly political. He says the company wants to stay out of it.  Laforge says it's premature to talk about a lawsuit involving the Thunder Bay plant.

Gas price skyrockets

Gas prices are up in the city....Stations have jacked up the price of regular gas to about 1 dollar 22 a litre. The price of regular had been hovering in the dollar 7 to dollar 11 mark for months.

Kaszycki updates Thunder Bay on Ring of Fire

Thunder Bay will soon have an office for the Ring of Fire project.  Coordinator Christine Kaszycki says they recently posted a director's position in Thunder Bay.  They hope to have an office set up and someone in the position by January.  Kaszycki was in the city on Wednesday to give an update on the Ring of Fire.

Pugh meeting in T.O.

Thunder Bay's incoming City Councillor is already hard at work. Paul Pugh is in Toronto meeting with a variety of organizations about the Bombardier TTC contract. Pugh says he plans to speak with city councillors. Pugh says he's going to express to Toronto council that canceling the contract will mean millions of dollars in fees. Pugh adds there's no point in talking to Ford because it's a waste of time.

Chum plans to crack down on drugs

The Nishinawbe-Aski Nation will welome a new Police Chief in January. Claude Chum is the incoming Chief and says he wants to work on community policing initiatives. Chum adds he plans to continue to crack down on illegal prescription drug use.

Jeffery wants proof of favouritism

Show me the proof says Natural Resources Minister Linda Jeffery.    The NDP's Gilles Bisson claims road access to some remote lakes in the north is being cut off in favour of tourist outfitters.  Jeffery says Bisson has yet to provide her with any details.  Meantime Jeffery knows First Nations still struggle with accepting her Far North Act.  However she's pleading with them to give it time.   She suggests there are many who secretly support it.  

Di Novo thinks Wynne needs to use clout

Another NDP MPP is wondering why the McGuinty Government isn't doing anything about the Bombardier TTC contract.  Cheri Di Novo says Transportation Minister Kathleen Wynne needs to use her clout to pursuade Toronto council to continue with the project.  Di Novo says Wynne has taken a stand back approach and needs to be more forceful.  Toronto's new Mayor Rob Ford announced on Wednesday that he plans to cut the TTC light rail contract.

Wilson doesn't believe TTC deal is doomed

The president of the Chamber of Commerce is saying don't panic. Harold Wilson says he understands there are concerns about Bombardier's TTC contract being torn up by the new mayor of Toronto. However Wilson says it doesn't mean it'll happen.   He says that Rob Ford has only one vote on a city council that has over 40 members.   Wilson believes local decision makers should have a unified voice on the issue

Graduate Retention Report Released

Northwestern Ontario's labour force has a hard time retaining post secondary graduates.  That's one of the findings in a report created by the North Superior Workforce Planning Board.  Author Livio Di Mateo says the first step is to create a graduate survey.  The report also recommends retention incentive programs and employer surveys.

Alarm bells go off over TTC deal

There's a lot of concern that Bombardier's contract to build light rail cars may be torn up by the new mayor of Toronto. A report from Toronto says that Rob Ford wants the Toronto Transit Commission to put the brakes on the LRT plan. Premier Dalton McGuinty says he plans to meet with Ford to find some common ground on the issue. It's widely believed if the 1.8 million dollar contract is torn up there will be a penalty to pay. Our mayor-elect Keith Hobbs says he wants to meet with Ford to tell him how important that contract is to the economy of Thunder Bay

Trillium Foundation gives money

The Ontario Trillium Foundation has awarded 820-thousand dollars in grants to 19 not-for profit organizations across Northwestern Ontario.  Sandy Lake First Nation is getting 72-grand to purchase equipment and hire professional artists to deliver a youth media outreach project. 50-grand is going to Muskrat Dam to study the possible construction of a bridge over the Severn River. The Chimera Project is getting 74-thousand dollars to hire artistic and program staff to create contemporary dance opportunities in Sioux Lookout. Ignace is welcoming nearly 14-grand to install a walkway and benches in the downtown core. The Red Lake Indian Friendship Centre will use 15-thousand dollars to purchase canoes, paddles, a trailer and life jackets.

OPG Atikokan project underway

Ontario Power Generation says work to convert the coal-fired plant in Atikokan is well underway.  It's to burn biomass fuel by 2013.  CEO Don Mitchell says part of the work includes developing an energy supply agreement and seeking pricing bids for fuel.  Mitchell says a number of bids were received in their call for bids.

Local MS Society weighs in on treatment

A Thunder Bay MS Society official understands the desperation of some MS patients. However, Board Chair Linda Adamson says the Government should hold off on putting money on the table for the controversial Liberation treatment. Adamson feels it would be in everyone's best interest to wait for the results of research on the treatment to be released. The NDP is calling on the Liberal Government to commit funds and the exact amounts for the treatment.

Bearskin deal takes time

It may be another month before the acquistion of Bearskin Airlines is completed.  Winnipeg-based Exchange Income announced its intentions to purchase the Northwestern Ontario airline back in September.  President Michael Pyle says the deal is moving along but notes it may be another 30-days until its finalized.  Pyle notes they are waiting on a number of things to happen, including Government approvals, but he doesn't anticipate any problems. Airline officials were hoping to have the deal completed the first week of December.

NAPS new boss

Claude Chum is the new Chief of the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service.  Chum has been in policing for over 21-years, starting his career as a constable under the First Nations program with the Ontario Provincial Police.  The Moose Cree First Nation native has also served with the Canadian Armed Forces and Navy.  Chum takes over as Chief on January first and says he's looking forward to working with NAN First Nations.

Port Authority has new member

Winnipeg's Greg Arason is the newest member of the Thunder Bay Port Authority board.  The Federal government appointed Arason to a three year term that starts January 1st.

LU Prof weighs in on by-election

A local political science teacher is weighing in on the most recent Federal By-elections. The Conservatives gained two new MPs and the Liberals just one in the Winnipeg North riding. Gary Munro is the Chair of the Political Science Department at Lakehead University and says it's interesting to see Julian Fantino elected. Munro notes Fantino was heavily involved in policing which ties into the Conservative Government's crime platform. Fantino claimed a former Liberal riding, and the Liberals knocked off an NDP incumbent.

Weight loss surgery only a matter of time

The Health Science's Centre is one step closer to being able to perform weigh loss operations. The hospital hopes a new counselling centre will allow for surgery on obese people in the future. The hospital's Brent Maranzan  believes it's only a matter of time now.  He says the facility has the expert surgeons, they now have to prove they take care of the before and after.  Maranzan says having the surgery done here will save thousands in health care costs.

Ca$h rolling in for library

Fundraising is off to a good start for the new Mary J-L Black Library.    Organizer Patrick Morash says a month into the campaign they've raised a quarter of the 200 thousand dollar goal.  The latest corporate donation is 5 thousand dollars from Westfort Foods

Motors and Muscles Raffle launched

Get your motors running....and buy a ticket for the Motors and Muscles Raffle. 600 tickets are being sold at a 100 dollars a piece.  Fundraising Chair John Trevisanutto says the draw will be made in August for a 2011 Harley Davidson Road King Classic Motorcycle. The draw has been sold out over the past six years and typically brings in over 30 thousand dollars for the Diabetes Association.

Kakabeka Falls not happy with proposed highway extension

Kakabeka Falls is ready to fight a proposed new extension of Highway 17 that would bypass the community.  The ministry of Transportation has released 4 proposed routes for the extension from the Shabaqua Corners to Kakabeka falls and all include a bypass.  There will be a public information meeting held tonight at 7 at the Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Drug bust at bus terminal

Narcotics police are reporting a drug bust at the Greyhound bus terminal Tuesday.  They say that a man from Quebec was found with cocaine, oxycodone, heroin and marijuana.   Total value of the drugs seized is almost 35 thousand dollars.

Oxy bust at airport

More oxycodone pills destined for First Nations territories has been confiscated by police. This time two men from Toronto have been charged by police after they were stopped at the Thunder Bay airport on Monday. Officers say they seized 440 tablets concealed in a body cavity. They say while the drugs would fetch 44 thousand dollars on the street in Thunder Bay, in remote First Nations communities they'd be worth 175 thousand dollars.

Highway 11 open again

Highway 11 near Beardmore is now open to traffic.  It was closed for several hours because a tractor trailer carrying a load of cars completely caught fire...that included all the cars that were in the load.  Police say there were about five of them, none new.    No one is hurt.

Missing teens found

City Police say two missing 17 year olds are safe. They say that Courtney Kwiah was found in the company of Chrisopther Suganaqueb. They were apparently hiding from police and family.

North B-I-A goes for image change

The Heart of the Harbour B-I-A is no more. It's been renamed the Waterfront District and chair Suzan Cooper-Rochon says the re-branding helps to connect the area to the new Prince Arthur's Landing project. The logo incorporates the north downtown skyline with a stylized Sleeping Giant.  The new logo was designed by Firedog Communications.

Hobbs says TBaytel belongs in city's hands...for now

Mayor Elect Keith Hobbs says in the right situation he would support selling TBaytel to the private sector. . Hobbs says right now it's a very good asset but when the time comes a sale might be something he would favour.  He says if the asset starts to become less viable then looking at a possible sale to the private sector should be looked at.  Meanwhile Hobbs is very supportive of the company's move into the television market.

Support seen for reviving boating group

There may be a new beginning for an old group that used to promote boating on Lake Superior.   A move is on to resurrect the North of Superior Marine and Marketing Association.   Thunder Bay Tourism Manager Paul Pepe says there was a fact finding meeting on Monday night where interested groups from Wawa to Thunder Bay gathered.  He believes the revival plan has broad support

TBaytel launches TV service

Shaw Cable and Satellite TV providers have new competition in town.  TBaytel has finally launched its highly touted digital TV service.  It was unveiled over the weekend almost 2 years after receiving CRTC approval.

Lang talks with MPs

Confederation College President Pat Lang is returning from a quick visit to Ottawa.  Lang took part in meetings on Monday with Cabinet Ministers and MPs. Lang adds they spoke about aboriginal education and applied research.  The meeting was part of the Association of Canadian Community Colleges.

McLeod launches first kids book

A Thunder Bay woman launched her first children's book over the weekend.  Kiss Me! I'm a Prince was written by Heather McLeod while she was on maternity leave with her son.  The book launch took place at Chapters and included a reading, and interactive kids activities.

Winter Roads Funding announced

The Provincial Government has rolled out this year's funding for the Northern Ontario winter road network.  Minister of Northern Development Michael Gravelle says they've boosted this year's allotment by 300 thousand dollars.  The total budget comes in at 4.5 million.  The winter roads link 31 communities together and spans over 3 thousand kilometres.

Bisson looking into exclusivity reports

The NDP are concerned about reports of tourist outfitters being given exclusive access to Northern lakes and crown land. People have been contacting Natural Resources Critic Gilles Bisson stating signs have been posted saying only Tourist Outfitters can access the lake.  Bisson says he's raised the issue with Minister Linda Jeffrey, but he isn't happy with her answers to date.  Bisson says most of the closed off lakes are in the Wawa area but notes it's probably happening in the rest of the Northwest as well.

Search on for TBSO general manager

The Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra is looking for a new general manager. It's because Leanne Atkinson is not coming back from maternity leave in February as planned. Advertising for the position will start this week. Clint Kuschak has agreed to stay on as acting GM until March.

Arson arrest made

One person is facing an arson  charge in connection with last weeks fire on Georgina Bay.  A vacant townhouse unit was badly damaged.  Police say the person charged is a 19 year old woman from Landsdown House.

Photos released of Robbery Suspect

Thunder Bay Police have released photos of the suspect involved in Friday's robbery of the Apple Credit Union. A man armed with a hand gun ran off with an undisclosed amount of cash last Friday afternoon. Photos of the suspect can be seen around this story.

Dryden hospital decides against smoking ban

The board of directors of the Dryden Regional Health Centre have decided not to pursue a smoking ban. The hospital's CEO Wade Petranik says the board decided against the ban to respect patient rights and because of concerns about the enforcement of the ban. The decision runs contrary to the hospital's advisory board recommendation in favour of a ban. Petranik says the hospital will continue to encourage individuals to stop smoking through various programs. Currently, smoking is allowed in a outdoor courtyard at the hospital.

Two area residents recognized for life saving efforts

A Minnesota woman was is in town Friday to present an award to a couple of area residents who saved her life by administering CPR.

Judith Taylor was attending the Red Rock Folk Festival's closing ceremonies in 2009 when she went into cardiac arrest. Nipigon Mayor Richard Harvey and visiting nurse Wendy Houston acted quickly by administering CPR and saved Taylor's life

Taylor, who had a heart condition at the time, says she feels lucky to have been at the festival when she collapsed because individuals trained in first aid were on hand to help.

Harvey says it was fortunate he and Houston could help and adds that learning CPR and first aid is much easier than many people think.

The award was presented at a Superior North Emergency Medical Services dinner on Friday.

West Victoria Avenue crash

There was a head on collison yesterday on West Victoria Avenue. A pick up truck and a car collided around nine in the morning. Police say the driver of the car was taken to the Regional Health Science Centre by ambulance. The driver of the truck had minor injuries. The traffic unit is investigating the crash.