Helicopter Contract helps Northwest

A Dryden based company has signed a 1.5 million dollar contract with the Ministry of Natural Resources. Superior Helicopters was awarded the two year forest fire contract and Spokesperson John Curran says they'll transport crews to forest fires and dump water on blazes.  The contract will span two fire seasons.  Curran says the new contract means they're looking to hire more staff.  Superior Helicopters is owned by Discovery Air.

Horwath turns her attention to Pellican Falls road

A Northwestern Ontario road is garnering the attention of the Province's NDP Leader. Andrea Horwath toured the Pellican Falls road after the Northern Anishinabe Education Council raised concerns about it's condition. The road falls under the jurisdiction of both the Federal and Provincial Governments.

No end in sight for Mideast unrest

There appears to be no immediate end to the wave of uprisings in the Middle East. Right now protests have been taking place in Yemen, Bahrain and Libya. Lakehead University's Laure Paquette says it's hard to predict what will happen next in those countries. Paquette says the length of any protests will depend on the diversity of support.

Hillier blames Green Energy Act

The PC party's critic for Northern Development is attacking the McGuinty Government's energy policies. The Premier won't committ to providing the region a seperate electricity price. Randy Hillier puts the blame on the Green Energy Act. Hillier says it's wreaking havoc on the north.

Bisson calls for toxic herbicide disclosure

If it happened in Northeastern Ontario, you can bet it probably occured in the Northwest as well. That's the feeling of Timmins James Bay MPP Gilles Bisson on the revelation that the MNR sprayed toxic herbicide on Crown land from the 1950s to 1970s. Bisson says forestry workers were exposed to the toxins but many others were as well. Bisson is calling for the forestry companies and MNR to release all of the information they have on the spraying program.

AbitibiBowater transactions still need approval

The NDP says it wants to know what the provincial government is going to do about the sale of the AbitibiBowater Hydro dams in Ontario. Abitibi announced the sale to an unnamed buyer last week, but the transaction still needs the approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources. Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Howard Hampton doesn't think the provincial government will try to intervene in the sale. The dams up for sale include the hydro assets in Kenora, Fort Frances and Iroquois Falls.

Wabasse search continues

City police are expected to release details about the ongoing search for Jordan Wabasse.  Officials say the Anishinabek Police are conducting a snowmobile search of the wooded area near the THP Gas Bar on City Road.  The 15 year old has been missing since February 7th.  The underwater search on the Kam river has been called off. 

One man hurt in hit and run

Thunder Bay police are looking for the driver of a vehicle involved in a hit and run with a pedestrian. Thunder Bay Traffic Sergeant Glen Porter says the collision happened yesterday morning at around 3 o'clock. Porter says the pedestrian was walking across the intersection at Royal and Pringle Streets.  He was taken to hospital with non life threatening injuries and released.

Justice Pelletier takes issue with legal rep

A routine court appearance for Christian Hernandez turned into a slap on the wrist for his former lawyer.  In court today Justice Joyce Pelletier noticed that Hernandez's Toronto Lawyer wasn't present. She also noted that a representative from Chris Watkin's office was there. Pelletier said she had some concern with that after she specifically ruled last month Watkins was to have nothing to do with the case. Pelletier said she would "let it go" for now, but left it clear she wasn't pleased. The 26 year old Hernandez is charged with impaired driving causing death. He is due back in court March 28

Mauro accepts nomination

The Premier attracted protestors to Bill Mauro's nomination meeting.  Members of the Ontario Public Service Employee Union picketed outside of the Da Vinci centre last night.  Spokesperson Sandra Snider says they're taking a stand against the Province's tax cuts.  Meanwhile, the Thunder Bay MPP defended the cuts saying they won't result in service cuts.  Mauro accepted the nomination and will carry the Liberal banner in the provincial election.

Search ends with no sign of missing teen

Police are trying to decide their next step in the search for 15 year old Jordan Wabasse.   Police spokesperson Chris Adams says the underwater search of the Kam River by the OPP dive team is over.  He says the search will continue in some form. Meantime Adams says a ball cap was found in the area of the search...it's similar to the one Jordan had on the night he disappeared.

Agent Orange revelations concern premier

Premier Dalton McGuinty is trying to reassure retired government forestry workers.  It comes after a report that says they may have been exposed to the cancer causing chemical Agent Orange during their work years.  McGuinty says the government is interested in getting information. He says if they feel their health has been affected they should contact the Ministry of Natural Resources.  Speaking in Thunder Bay Premier McGuinty says he was only recently made aware of the issue

McGuinty says talking is the answer

The Ring of Fire mining development is still causing a rift between First Nations and the Ontario government.  Natives want  guarantees they'll benefit from the proposed chromite mine. Premier Dalton McGuinty says his government won't stop talking until an agreement is reached.  He says it's important to find the goodwill to conduct what he calls a positive and constructive dialogue.

No one hurt in school fire

It's back to school as usual tomorrow for Churchill High School students as someone lit a fire in the boys washroom on the second floor over the noon hour. The school was evacuated as a result. Nobody was hurt and damage was confined to the washroom itself. Fire officials say they'll let the school deal with whomever was responsible.

Rafferty's bill to head back to House of Commons

An altered version of John Rafferty's pension bill is facing its final hurdle. The Thunder Bay Rainy River MP will see his bill head back to the House of Commons for a final vote sometime this Spring. A different version of the private members bill was already voted down once before.

Pikangikum stand off ends peacefully

OPP are reporting a peaceful ending to a stand off in Pikangikum. A man had fired his gun in his home after arguing with his partner. No one was injured. Police officials surrounded the building. After 10 hours the man came out of the house and was taken into police custody.

N-D-P calling for more Ontario food

The N-D-P is calling for more Ontario produced food to be purchased by government departments and agencies. Kenora-Rainy River M-P-P Howard Hampton says his party has put forward a private members bill that would require any government funded facilities be required to purchase at least 20 per cent of their food from local growers. The bill was given first reading last September, but has yet to be scheduled for further debate in the Legislature.

NOMA discusses important issues

The region's municipal lobbying group plans to bring up a host of issues during upcoming meetings with provincial cabinet ministers. NOMA will attend the Ontario Good Roads Conference next week in Toronto. President Ron Nelson says they've set up a meeting with the Social Services Minister. Nelson says they also plan to speak with the MNR about the caribou habitat legislation.

Hampton not happy

The McGuinty Liberals are keeping tight lipped on which forestry companies recieved part of the governments promised $500 million, and it's not sitting well with NDP Natural Resources critic Howard Hampton. In 2006, the government committed $500 million in grant and loan guarantees for the struggling forestry sector, but according to documents recently obtained through a freedom-of-information request $270 million dollars of it remains unused.

Fender Bender on Wednesday

A 23 year old Thunder Bay driver is charged with following too close after a fender bender on Wednesday. OPP investigated a two vehicle collision on Highway 61, just south of Boundary Drive. Police say an east bound vehicle was stopped behind a school bus that was stopped, when an east bound Chevrolet cavalier collided with the rear of the Ford Edge.