MNR wraps up training

The Ministry of Natural Resources has wrapped up a comprehensive training program for some of its key members.  Response and Operations Manager Dave Cleavely says the forum was geared towards staff from across Northwestern Ontario.  Cleavely says a lot of the information was a refresher, however he notes new safety guidelines are in place to ensure the safety of workers before they do any task.

Male survivor help line

For the first time in Canada, male survivors of sexual abuse will have access to services and support to help them recover.  Agencies are being established in Fort Frances, Thunder Bay, Schreiber and Nishnawbe-Aski First Nations.  Staff will provide specialized services including peer support, counselling and residential services.  The Agencies will also offer telephone and e-counselling.

New youth plan launched

The Thunder Bay Youth Strategy Committee is looking to improve the overall quality of life for youth. A new youth strategy is geared towards people aged 13-24. The youth committee will be holding a conference to get feedback from youth. The committee is looking to develop several areas such as employment and housing.

Di Matteo suggests fair book pricing

A local economics expert is suggesting Canadian bookstores wise up to the rising loonie. Livio Di Matteo says consumers know many books from the States are unfairly priced higher in this country. In some cases they are going online to buy those same books cheaper and having them delivered to their door. Di Matteo says it's up to retailers to price U-S goods to reflect value of the loonie compared to the American buck.

Student housing upsets some

One Thunder Bay resident isn't happy with the city's enforcement of student housing by-laws. Peter Keddie lives on Darwin Crescent and is making a presentation to council on Monday night. Keddie feels his street is over run with students and landlords that don't care about the families that live on the street. Keddie says every weekend there's a party with loud music, doors slamming and cars and Taxi's coming and going at all hours of the night.

AbitibiBowater modernizing sawmill

The AbitibiBowater sawmill in Thunder Bay is getting a facelift. The company is investing 8 million dollars to upgrade the facility. Spokesperson Pierre Choquette says it will mean 50 added jobs in the sawmill and 100 direct jobs in the woodlands. The upgrades will be completed by January 2013.

Residents urged to become organ donors

The push is on to get more people in Thunder Bay to become organ donors. The Trillium Gift of Life Network is asking people to register online. Gary Cooper is a local liver transplant recipient and says the Network was a lifesaver for him saying if it weren't for the network there wouldn't be the number of donors in the province that there are.   You can register as a donor by going here

Sewage by-pass in Fort Frances

The amount of groundwater in the sewage system continues to be a problem for the town of Fort Frances.  Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says the town was forced to by-pass its sewage treatment plant Sunday of nearly 37-hundred cubic metres of partly-treated waste water as a result.  Brown says the town continues to study the reasons behind why the town is treating more water than being produced.

Youth Curfew up for debate

It doesn't appear there's much support for a proposed youth curfew.  Administration is against the idea of developing a curfew for a one year trial period.  Crime Prevention Coordinator Amy Siciliano says the report will help guide the city.  City staff are recommending that council include strategies to keep youth safe in their strategic plan.  In December council asked administration to conduct a feasibility study on youth curfews.

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.