Detox housing strategy coming to council

The Crime Prevention Council is throwing its support behind the idea of creating more detox beds.  Administration is bringing a resolution to council on Monday night calling for a short term housing strategy for those people who are addicted to alcohol or drugs.  City Manager Tim Commisso says they're going to ask council for 30-thousand dollars.  The District Social Services Board has already put 30 thousand towards the project.  Deputy Police Chief JP Levesque says police will be freed up to do more work on the street if there's more substance use beds in the City.

Youth Study launched

The needs of homeless youth in Thunder Bay are not being met.  That's the belief of the Children's Aid Society.  Spokesperson Michelle Vibert says they're conducting a study to assess the services available to street kids.  The C.A.S. is conducting focus groups with youth who are living on the street and those kids who have moved onto a better life.

Hebert set to announce intentions

It appears Larry Hebert has made up his mind. The city councillor is being courted by the Progressive Conservative Party to run for the party's nomination in the provincial riding of Thunder Bay-Atikokan. Hebert says he hopes to announce his decision on Friday. Former Lakehead University President Fred Gilbert says he 's going after the nomination which will be taking place on March 20th

Second Crime Council meeting held

The second meeting of the Crime Prevention Council covered a lot of ground.  Mayor Keith Hobbs introduced the idea of creating a community safety award.  Meanwhile, the Children's Aid Society announced they are launching a study of services available to "street" and homeless youth. 

Gravelle walking a fine line

Michael Gravelle says he's working to find a compromise in an area tourist outfitters dispute. The Northern Development Minister says he understands how upset some of the outfitters are over increased government fees, especially since it was their own association that recommended them.  Gravelle hopes to find a solution that will be agreeable to all sides

Drug strategy up for review

The city is one step away from having a new drug strategy. It has over 100 recommendations which are designed to help reduce the use of drugs in the community. However Councillor Rebecca Johnson says it'll have to be done without taxpayers money. She says organizations and individuals should be able to implement some of the recommendation by allocating their dollars more efficiently. The strategy goes to councillors for a vote in April.

Tourist Outfitters upset with NOTO

NOTO has become the Ministry of Natural Resources lap dog. That's the thought of Paul Boucher the owner of Ogoki Frontier. Boucher says many camps feel betrayed after their land use permit fees went up 800 percent. Rental fees went from 125 dollars to around 800. Boucher says they didn't receive proper warning of the change.

NOTO stands by its decision

NOTO doesn't agree with angry tourist outfitters upset with increases to their land rental fees.  The organization that looks after tourist outfitters is standing by its decision to move to a market value rent system.  Executive Director Doug Reynolds says they warned outfitters that the changes were coming.  Reynolds says they negotiated the best deal they could and feels it's unfair to say they sold the industry out. Tourist outfitters used to pay a 125 dollar administration fee and now pay 825 dollars in rent.

NAPS makes deal with RCMP

Changes are in store for a remote island near Attawapiskat. 12 Nishnawbe Aski Police officers were recently appointed as special RCMP Constables. Sgt. Jackie George says it's because it was getting hard to provide service to a nearby island. The move means NAPS can provide service to the island which falls under RCMP jurisdiction. In the past any service calls to the island had to be followed up by RCMP in Nunavut.

Local lab helps solve Winnipeg cold case

A Thunder Bay DNA lab has helped Winnipeg police make an arrest from a death back in the 80's. Warnex PRO DNA was used to test some hair samples from the case of a girl who was found tied up and frozen to death in a shed in 1984. A 47 year old man has been charged with 1st degree murder in the case.

City still looking for arbitration

The City is taking another run at moving the Horizon Wind Farm Lawsuit to arbitration.  A city official has confirmed with our newsroom that the City will be appealing the Superior Courts decision to reject Thunder Bay's bid for arbitration.  A date for the appeal has not been set.

Water rates going up

City administration is calling for a 14.3 percent increase to water rates for 2011. Environment Manager Kerri Marshall says water and sewer rates are still affordable. Based on the consumption of 200 cubic meters; the average customer will see an extra $8.07 on their monthly bill. The annual cost would be $774.10.  Councillor Mark Bentz raised the point that the Province is no longer allowing municipalities to put of maintenance upgrades due to health and safety concerns over drinking water.

City behind on infrastructure spending

The City of Thunder Bay is behind on investing in its infrastructure.  Administration told councillors Tuesday night they have a 15 million dollar infrastructure shortfall.  Pavement rehabilitation is behind four million; road network improvements are down 3 million and storm sewers are in need of 1.8 million dollars in upgrades.  City Councillor Mark Bentz says they need to start spending more on these types of projects noting its a safety concern.  The 2011 budget proposes putting an extra million dollars towards roads bringing the total amount of infrastructure spending this year to 10.1 million.

Future Property Taxes Projected

The City of Thunder Bay is looking into the future.  Administration is forecasting the 2012 property tax increase to be between 2.8 percent and 4.1 percent for the average residential property.  Treasurer Carol Busch says the city needs to decrease costs, increase revenues and grow the assessment base through economic development in order to bring the 2012 tax rate down.

City releases debt figures

The City of Thunder Bay is 179 million dollars in debt. That's one of the figures found in the 2011 budget overview. Borrowing money for capital projects accounts for 68 million dollars of the city's total debt. Water and Wastewater loans for the treatment plants is 96.9 million; and the remainder of the debt is from debentures made for TBayTel. For every dollar the City has in its reserve funds it has a dollar ninety in debt. Municipal credit rating agencies recommend having a debt to reserve ratio of a dollar for dollar.

First budget meeting held

City Councillor's are getting an earful on the 2011 budget.  Administration provided a budget overview Tuesday night.  The Health Unit, H.A.G.I. Transit, Parking Authority, Library and Victoriaville Centre are just some of the boards and agencies that are asking for more money from the city. City staff also found 7.8 million dollars in cost savings in department budgets, and the District Social Services Board levy.  Budget meetings are being held throughout this month.

Law School gets boost

A Law School for Lakehead University got a huge boost. The Ad Hoc Committee on the Approval of New Canadian Law Degree Programs recently made a recommendation to the Council of the Federation of the Law Societies of Canada to approve Lakehead University's proposal for a new law degree program.

Rafferty urges rejection of CRTC decision

Thunder Bay MP John Rafferty says the government must reject a CRTC decision allowing Internet Service Providers to charge more money. The broadcast regulator says it's okay for ISP's to put a cap on data downloads. Rafferty says the move is on to get the government to reverse the policy. Rafferty says such a policy will be disastrous for people in northern Ontario who rely on the Internet for business and entertainment

Hyer ready if budget triggers vote

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says the federal budget will be brought down next month. It's a budget that is expected by many to trigger an election this year. Thunder Bay MP Bruce Hyer says...bring it on.   He says while not "dying for an election" he's ready for one.  Hyer won't make any prediction's on how he feels the whole scene might play out.

NWO still not heart smart

Northwestern Ontario is getting a poor grade when it comes to our opionion of our heart health. If you think you are healthy, eat enough vegetables and are active enough, chances are your sadly mistaken. A new survey done by the Heart and Stroke foundation shows 90 percent of Canadians think they are healthy but the same number live with at least one heart disease risk factor. Northern Hearts President Doctor Christopher Lai says Thunder Bay is one of the least active communities in the province.