Pharmacare discussion set for tonight

The Thunder Bay Health Coalition will be hosting a round table discussion about Pharmacare.  Co-Chair Sara Williamson says a panel will discuss the need and the feasibility of a national publicly funded drug plan.  The meeting starts at 7 at the Labour Centre.

Horizon Wind to hold open house

Horizon Wind is taking the necessary steps in its application to create a wind farm on the Norwester Mountains.  The company is holding two open houses in May to discuss the proposed project.  It's part of the Ministry of Environment's renewable energy application process.  The public consultation sessions are scheduled for May 17th and 18th in Neebing and Thunder Bay.

Standoff leads to mischief charges

City police are still trying to fill in the blanks in a bizarre standoff.  Police received a call from a 39 year old man at 9:30 last night where he claimed to have 3 hostages in the 300 block of Bay Street.  Staff Sergeant Frank Earley says at 11:30 police arrested the man and found no one else in the residence.  No one was hurt and Earley says at this point police have no idea why the man called in the fake hostage situation.  The 39 year old will be in court this morning.  

NOMA Skype's standing committee

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is calling on the government to change its proposed Forest Tenure Act.  Vice President Iain Angus says they don't support the legislation as it is now.   NOMA wants the bill amended before it returns to the Legislature for third reading.  NOMA provided their comments to the standing committee in Toronto via video conference.

Harper visit confirmed

It's official.  The Prime Minister will be campaigning in Thunder Bay.  Stephen Harper will be visiting with the two local Conservative candidates at the Da Vinci Centre on Monday night.  A local Conservative Party official says the rally gets underway at 7:30 in the evening.

Old Mission Mill hit by fire

Damage is minimal following a fire at the old Abitibi Mission mill on City Road during the noon hour.   Fire Service Platoon Chief Joseph Lafontaine  says the blaze was in a paper machine being dismantled and may have been started by workers who were cutting with torches. 

Gilbert weighs in on Bill 151

With Forest Tenure hearings concluding in Queen's Park, local Conservative Candidate Fred Gilbert is expressing his outrage.  Gilbert says the opposition is furious that no hearings for Bill 151 are scheduled for the north.  The opposition says the Liberals have been less than supportive in getting hearings in Thunder Bay.

NAN dislikes Bill 151

Nishnawbe Aski Nation is speaking out against the Ontario Forest Tenure Act.  First Nations residents are concerned bill 151 doesn't consult aboriginals.  Grand Chief Stan Beardy says the legislation doesn't recognize aboriginal and treaty rights.

Leaders' Debate Reaction

It doesn't appear any one political party stood out during the English speaking Leaders debate.  We hit the streets to hear what Thunder Bay residents thought.

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Fire at Abitibi Mill

City firefighters have a fire at the Abitibi Complex on Mission Island under control. Firefighters are still sorting out details but an old rubber belt seems to be the cause of the fire.  The Magic news room will have more on this story as it develops.

No injuries in accident

No one is injured following a two vehicle mishap on Memorial and Second Avenue Wednesday morning.   It was a collision between a mini-van and an SUV.   Fire, Police and Paramedics were called to the scene just before 11 o'clock.

DSSAB workers have new deal

There is labour peace at the Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board. The board and its workers have both accepted a new 3 year deal which is retroactive to January 1st, 2009. Union rep Marie Dean admits it took a while to come to this point.  The contract affects 85 workers and gives them a 5 per cent total wage increase.

WSIB under review

Chair Harry Arthurs

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is under review. Hearings are being held in Thunder Bay today to see how they can better fund it. Steve Mantis leads the local injured workers group and says the hearings are focused solely on money and should examine workers instead. Meanwhile, WSIB Funding Review Chair Harry Arthurs says finding a funding solution is going to be a daunting task. Arthurs says if all the claims that are currently in the system go through; the WSIB would be facing a 12 billion dollar bill. The WSIB Funding Review Committee is speaking with both injured workers and Northwestern Ontario companies today.

Aboriginal science program

Confederation College wants to get more First Nation residents interested in Science.  The college is holding it's second science fair designed to help engage youth in developing interest in science,

engineering and technology.  The fair will showcase many projects with Aboriginal content.

Earth Day this Saturday

People wanting to reduce their environmental footprint on the planet have something to look forward to this weekend.  In celebration of Earth Day this Saturday, the Farmers' Market will be setting up displays on ways to "live green".  The Farmers' Market will have demos on bee-keeping, soil-testing and gardening.

No students injured in school scare

Police are investigating a strange incident from this morning at a local elementary school. A grey car was seen driving on the lawn at C.D. Howe school and then drove down a public path. The students had just entered the school prior to the incident. No one was injured. 

Horwath provides platform sneak peek

The Ontario NDP is offering a sneak peak on what it plans to do to help Northern Ontario in advance to this October's Provincial Election.  Leader Andrea Horwath says her Party will also have a specific platform on how it plans to help Northern Ontario take full advantage of its assets.  Horwath adds the Liberals have already crippled families by adding 8-percent to home heating bills and filling up at the gas pumps.

More cold weather on the way

It looks as if Old Man Winter isn't done with us yet.  Despite warmer than normal temperatures over the last couple of days, the thermometer is going to be dipping later this week.  Our Meterologist Bill Laidlaw says it will be unusually cold for this time of year.  Laidlaw says there is also the slight chance of some snow flurries by the weekend, as a Colorado low moves through the upper mid-west.

PM visit possible Monday

More details are expected to come out later today or tomorrow on a possible visit to the city by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. One local Conservative party official says there are final details being worked out and that nothing has been confirmed as of yet.  Meantime the Prime Minister along with Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff and NDP leader Jack Layton are preparing for tonight's televised debates.

Police report second murder of 2011

A 63 year old Thunder Bay man is in custody this morning after what police say was the murder of his wife.  They say they went to an apartment building at 540 Oliver road where the body of a 61 year old woman was found.  Police Spokesperson Chris Adams says officers were dispatched after the man turned himself in at the Balmoral station at around 11 o'clock last night.  Adams says not many details can be released at this time but says it appears to be domestic in nature.  He is to appear in court this morning on a second degree murder charge.  No names are being released.