Long Term Care Public Input

A task force seeking input into abuse and neglect in the province's long-term care homes won't be holding public meetings.  Instead, it's set up a website to gather that input.  Chair Gail Donner says they're working on some tight deadlines to get its recommendations into the government.  The deadline to comment for the http://www.longtermcaretaskforce.ca/ is this Monday.

DSSAB's come together

The agencies responsible for the delivery of social services programs in Northwestern Ontario have joined as one in a call for more funding.  Representatives from the Kenora, Thunder Bay and Rainy River District Services Boards presented a united front in a recent meeting with the Province. Spokesperson Deb Ewald says it was the first time all three have come together. The lack of funding for social housing was among concerns expressed.

Campbell calls for Matthews visit

Residents in Rainy River are being urged to keep up the pressure on Ontario's Health Minister to help resolve their doctor shortage.  Their MPP Sarah Campbell says assurances from Deb Matthews that the community's emergency room won't close when the lone doctor leaves is not a complete fix.  Campbell says a letter writing campaign started by residents in Rainy River needs to continue to bring more long-term solutions.

Warm weather records broken

Four Northwestern Ontario communities set record high temperatures yesterday. The hot spot was Fort Frances at 12.6-degrees, just edging past the old mark of 12.5 set in 1995. Thunder Bay reached 12.2, blowing away the previous high of 9.4. Atikokan hit 11.4 and Ear Falls 11.1 degrees.

Rickford on Air Canada strike

Kenora MP Greg Rickford is defending legislation that will prevent Air Canada ground workers from going on strike.  The government legislation was passed in the House of Commons early this morning, and is expected to get an easy ride in the Senate.  Rickford says it's a busy time of year in the airline industry and it would be unfair to travellers if they got stranded because of a strike or lock-out.  The union representing Air Canada ground crews says Labour Minister Lisa Raitt's decision to send its dispute to arbitration undermines bargaining.

Business owner releases break-in video

A Thunder Bay business owner is using the Internet to try to capture the people responsible for last weeks break in at his business. Angelo Petta of the Urban Boutique on Memorial Avenue,  says he has posted the surveillence video on the company Facebook page and says it's been yielding results.  The video shows a couple of thugs breaking the store window and going inside.

Third arrest made in Mac's robbery

City police now have a third suspect in custody in connection with the latest Mac's Convenience Store robbery on North Edward Street.   Police say they nabbed a 16 year old boy at a north side home this afternoon.  Two others in that incident were captured immediately following the robbery.  

Charges laid in rooming house cases

289 Park Ave.

The owner of two rooming houses in the city is facing charges.  The city formally laid the charges of operating a lodging house without a licence, against Robert Silvester in Provincial Offences Court today.  It's in relation to his facilities  at 130 South May Street and 289 Park Avenue.   The charges follow inspections by the Thunder Bay First Service.  The case will be back in court March 28th.

Police targeting speeding near hospital

Thunder Bay Police are busy trying to cut down speeding near the Health Sciences Centre.  An officer handed out 15 tickets on Oliver Road in front of the hospital during a 4 hour period yesterday afternoon.  One person was clocked going 100 in the 50 zone and had his car impounded. 

Bust nets Oxys

The illegal flow of prescription drugs continues into remote First Nation communities in the northwest.   The Nishnawbe Aski Police say they seized over 60 thousand dollars in Oxycontin pills recently in Deer Lake and in Webequie.  A total of four people are charged in connection with both drug busts.

Mac's launches social network crime campaign

Mac's Convenience Stores are adding a social media campaign to its crime prevention tactics in Thunder Bay. Mac's will now post security cam photos on their Facebook and Twitter pages. Ontario's Security Manager for Mac's Sean Sportun hopes the new approach will resolve unsolved crimes at their stores.

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Hobbs puts heat on police over robberies

Thunder Bay's Mayor says the buck stops with the city police when it comes to preventing the Mac's Convenience Store robberies. Keith Hobbs says with four robberies in the last two nights, citizens are demanding an end to them adding, the Police Services Board and Police Chief have to "get on this in a big way."  Hobbs says the public is frustrated and so is he.

Head of security in the west weighs in

The head of security for Mac's Convenience stores in Western Canada is weighing in on the rash of robberies in Thunder Bay. Doug Hartl says they have a standard security package for all of their stores across Canada. He says robberies come in cycles and each community often sees high and low periods and Thunder Bay is no different. Hartl toured the Thunder Bay stores in the fall with Ontario's security manager. 

Rafferty on host of issues

John Rafferty is ready for the NDP leadership vote. The Thunder Bay MP says he's going to support Thomas Mulcair for leader of the New Democrats. Rafferty says Mulcair has proven to be a great believer in Northern Ontario.  Meanwhile, As the robocall scandal continues to unfold the NDP remains on the government's heels.  Our local NDP member says he's happy to see the Harper Conservatives support his party's request to give Elections Canada more powers to investigate.  Rafferty is also bringing a private members bill on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder to the House of Commons.  The Thunder Bay MP would like to see warning labels on alcohol bottles to create awareness of the problem.

Public outrage over Mac's Mart robberies

People are outraged over the recent string of Mac's Mart robberies.  Here's what callers to our radio station had to say.

Two Mac's Mart robberies overnight

Thunder Bay Police are looking for suspects in a rash of four Mac's Mart robberies over the last two days.  Spokesperson Chris Adams says they're doing everything in their power when it comes to dealing with these hold ups.  A man robbed the May Street store just before 7:30 last night armed with a needle and a pen. Police say the suspect in that case is linked to the two robberies on Sunday.  Meanwhile, Police are investigating a robbery of the North Edward Street Mac's where three men demanded cash from the clerk. One of the suspects had a large knife and cut the clerk's chest.  Three youths are now in police custody.

Osisko Mining update

Osisko Mining continues to work towards a feasibility study on its planned gold mine near Atikokan.  The company held open houses in Atikokan and Fort Frances on the weekend.  Spokesperson Alexander Drapack says part of study is to determine the socio-economic impacts.  A feasibility study is expected by the end of the year.

Graffiti Plan approved by council

The City is now required to remove offensive Graffiti within 48 hours.  That's part of the new Graffiti Plan that was approved by our elected officials at Monday nights meeting. The plan has 3 main components prevention, reporting and removal.  It will create time frames for removal and will also include a subsidy to help certain groups in removal.  Councillor Paul Pugh says tackling this issue will take a lot of time and effort but this is a very important first step.

May Street Mac's Mart robbed again

Thunder Bay Police are investigating another robbery at a Mac's Mart store on May Street. Officials say one man robbed the store just before 7:30 Monday Evening armed with a needle and a pen. No one was hurt and the suspect made off with some cash. The K9 unit was brought in to try to find the suspect.

Council sees Event Centre Presentation

The Consulting Team for the proposed Events Centre gave an initial report to City Council Monday night.  Conrad Boychuck of CEI Architecture and Ron Bidulka of Price Waterhouse Coopers gave an overview of where the team is in regards to the feasibility and design process.  Boychuck says during the February 29 open house, they found that the biggest issue for the public seems to be location.  Boychuck says results from a survey done at the meeting showed that the economic impact for the City and Region was the most important aspect for the location.  Bidulka says he is working on developing the business plan for each location and assess potential impacts on the surrounding area.  The team will hold another open house April 11th at the Da Vinci Centre.