The harsh winter conditions aren't expected to affect the elk population in northwestern Ontario. Elk were released into the Cameron Lake area southeast of Kenora about 15 years ago. Murray English is the co-chair of the Elk Restoration Committee and says the animals are pretty well adapted to surviving deep snow. English says the elk population ranges between 40 to 50 animals, but they do see more calves every
The province is creating ten new jobs while upgrading a bridge near the community of Balmertown. The Nungesser River Bridge just north of Highway 125 will have its timber decking replaced with concrete panels. Work will begin this spring and is expected to wrap up by the fall.
A Thunder Bay family are now honourary citizens of Thibidaux, Louisiana. Andrea Weiss says it was to recognize them for billeting two of their baseball players while they played with the Border Cats. For two years the Weiss's hosted Philip Lyons and Tyler Duplantis and they were invited to the community for a visit. She says out of the blue they were given the citizenry recognition.
An environmental scientist from Michigan says the Great Lakes haven't been this frozen over since 1994. George Leshkavich of the Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab says, while it's nothing to be concerned about there will be both positive and negative affects to the ice cover adding, the situation is likely going to affect shipping on the Great Lakes when the locks open on March 25th and may also mean a cooler summer.
It's business as usual for Horizon Wind and its plans to build the Big Thunder Wind Park. Spokesperson Kathleen MacKenzie says that a judicial review filed by the Fort William First Nation against two government ministries has no direct effect on the company or its wind turbine project. While not publicly expressing any concern, MacKenzie says company officials don't believe the review will affect any ministry actions against their application.
The latest figures from Stats Canada says the unemployment rate in the country for the month of February stood steady at 7 per cent. Thunder Bay's jobless rate for last month stood at 5.8 per cent up from 5.7 per cent.
It's a sure sign spring is coming. Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday. It means you will have to push your clock ahead an hour when you go to bed Saturday night. Cell phones, laptops, computers will automatically update. However, don't forget to change your oven, microwave, automatic timer light or car clocks. The Thunder Bay Fire Service also encourages you to change the batteries in your smoke alarm.
The Conservative Government is considering more lenient laws against the possession of marijuana. The new law looks to allow police to ticket anyone caught with small amounts of marijuana rather than charging them criminally. Thunder Bay Police Chief JP Levesque is in favor of the proposed law, but says it is too early to comment on specifics. Levesque says loosening the law would make for less resource-intensive punishment and keep police budgets in toll.
There's more and more movement on the civic election front these days. Former Shuniah councillor J-P Fraser is hosting a Facebook page that allows candidates new and old to have a voice on the Internet. It is set up to allow candidates to state their platform and get their information out to a wider audience. Fraser says you can also get politically active on Twitter with the hashtag #nwoelections.
The Ontario Federation of Labour's Rights At Work drive is coming to Thunder Bay next month. It's a campaign that is designed to draw attention to what they believe is a plan by Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak to dismantle the union movement in the province. The gathering is happening Tuesday, April the first at the Lakehead Labour Centre form 7 until 9 pm.
Thunder Bay Fire officials are investigating a morning house fire at 436 Ryerson Crescent. Crews responded at 8am and began to fight the blaze in the basement. The fire made it into the wall and extended into the attic causing significant damages to the buildings roof and interior. No one was home at the time and nobody was injured.
Beginning today, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Board of Directors is meeting in Thunder Bay. The 75 member Board will meet to discuss important questions of how the federal government's New Building Canada Fund will help to meet local needs, and will also talk about the growing housing crisis facing Canadians. The meetings will continue from March 5-7.
A Thunder Bay man is pleading guilty to hunting-related charges. The man is being fined $625 for hunting a furbearing mammal without a license. He is also being fined $1250 for making a false statement to an MNR conservation officer after telling officers he did not have a gun in his vehicle on November 16, 2013.
The Ontario Government building on James Street is closed because of a water main break. We are told by an worker that the water main problems began late yesterday afternoon. Employees are being told to work from home.
Officials are now identifying the Thunder Bay man who died in a traffic accident on Highway 11 west of Hearst. Dead is 24 year old Patrick Quessy-Briere. Police say that he was the driver of a pick up truck that collided head on with a transport on Sunday.
Beauty and body art shops are being told to be on the alert. Health inspectors are spreading across the city conducting an inspection blitz. It's to highlight the importance of infection prevention and control practices. Those services include tattooing, piercing , hair styling and manicures.
The Ontario Nurses Association is concerned about the staffing levels at the Nipigon District Memorial Hospital. They feel workloads are unsafe and have compromised patient safety. Nurses have called for an independent assessment committee to examine their work issues. The review will be held from today until Thursday.
The Ontario Energy Board is releasing information about it's next steps in consultation with Ontarians regarding the proposed Energy East Pipeline. The $12 billion project will transport crude oil from from Western Canada through Northern Ontario to Quebec and New Brunswick. The board will hold a series of public meetings to discuss the proposed pipeline route. They will be Thunder Bay on March 26th. Separate meetings will be held during the same period with First Nation's and Metis communities to seek their views on the project.
Animal Services is temporarily suspending any dog adoptions for the time being after a Parvo Virus outbreak at their centre. Supervisor Jody Kondrat says six dogs had to be put down. Five were puppies and one was an older dog who was too weak for the treatment. Six dogs who are not vaccinated will stay at the New Hope Dog Rescue, while six healthy vaccinated dogs will stay at the animal services shelter.
The city is putting an end to the Grace Remus Evening Program pilot project as of June 30th. Councillor Ken Boshcoff says it will save the city money without leaving parents scrambling to find a program to watch over their children. The city would have been on the hook for 100-thousand dollars a year in costs if the program was picked up permanently.
City council is officially ratifying the 2014 budget. There was some opposition to the budget felt at council last night that was already approved in principal in February. The tax levy is set at 1.69 percent.
The city is responding to a provincial report that would change the assessment of grain elevators in the city. City Manager Tim Commisso says any change would result in significant financial losses for the city. The city will submit their own report in response to the Special Purpose Business Property Assessment Review to the Minister of Finance.
The city is approving funding for the reconstruction of the Court Street Bridge over McVicar Creek. The city will put 238-thousand dollars towards the project while asking for an additional 2-million from the province.
The contract for phase one of the Golf Links/Junot Road corridor is exceeding original estimates by nearly 1-million dollars. Underestimates for material are being blamed for the overage. Councillor Andrew Foulds says the 980-thousand dollar difference is simply unacceptable. The city will use over 500-thousand dollars from its Renew fund to pay for two resurfacing projects that would have been postponed because of the overage.
Council is passing a facility design standard policy that will make buildings more environmentally friendly. Manager of Construction Services Gerry Broere says the city can make some significant savings by making its building more efficient. A 2012 report found that municipal buildings in Thunder Bay were responsible for nearly half of all greenhouse gasses emitted from local government buildings.
Council is considering having the city deemed a Blue Community which would carry with it three resolutions to show its commitment proper water treatment. One of those commitments would be phasing out the sale of single use water bottles in their buildings, something Blue Planet Chair Ann McGoey says will save people money. McGoey adds that less than fifty percent of plastic water bottles are recycled after their first use.
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Nearly twenty first nations communities across the country, including three in Ontario are joining the First Nations Land Management Regime today. Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Bernard Valcourt says the program opens doors for communities. Valcourt says they now have over one hundred communities under the First Nations Land Management Regime. Long Lake 58 First Nation signed on to the agreement on Monday.
OPP are charging two people with drinking and driving related offences. It stems from two incidents on Sunday. One incident involved a woman driving her vehicle into a snowbank near the Highway 11/17 and Hodder Avenue ramp. Another involved a tip from the public about a man driving a vehicle out of a business on the Fort William First Nation.
The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is releasing its Community Based Emergency Care report that recommends having local health care training programs in place in remote First Nations. Nishnawbe Aski Nation Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler says having local health workers would improve the health and safety of those living in these communities. Nearly thirty First Nations in Northern Ontario are without access to 911 or paramedic services.
FedNor Minister Greg Rickford is announcing an investment for Northern Ontario firm Penguin Automated Systems. The investment will help develop robotics technology to be used in underground mines. During development the firm expects to hire thirty engineers and technical workers.