Layton talks jobs in Thunder Bay

The rest of the Country needs to follow Thunder Bay's lead and elect NDP MPs.  That was the rallying cry of Jack Layton at last night's town hall that drew around 400 people.  Layton answered several questions about the region's economy and says the NDP would create a forestry strategy.  He says they would put their foot down and ensure natural resources are put to work in the area they are harvested from.  Layton says it was the Conservatives blocked the kinds of initiatives that would help the Northwest.

Ignatieff visits Thunder Bay

Another party leader will be visiting the city. Liberal leader Micheal Ignatieff will be making an appearance in Thunder Bay on Monday. Local Liberal officials say the final details of the visit are still being confirmed.

Twinning between Winnipeg and Kenora

If your heading west this summer, don't expect any work to take place this Summer on the twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway west of Kenora. An environmental assessment is still being carried out on the project. Kenora MP Greg Rickford is confident that work can begin before the end of this year. Funding for the 100-million dollar project was announced almost 2-years ago

Flavour Gone NWO

The Flavour Gone campaign to eliminate flavoured tobacco is back in Northwestern Ontario.  Spokesperson Roberta Lappage says they are concerned because big tobacco companies are continuing to produce flavoured products, despite new Legislation passed by the Federal Government.  Lappage says they're looking for support from Members of Parliament and local communities in their continued battle against flavoured tobacco.

Dew Drop Inn Easter dinner

Hungry men, women and children will be able to enjoy a hot meal this Easter weekend.  The St. Andrew's Dew Drop Inn is expecting 300 people for their Easter dinner on Easter Sunday.  Spokesperson Paul Deighton says many families come to the Drop Inn on festive holidays. Turkey, ham and vegetables will be on the menu on Sunday.

Actlabs brings business to Northwest

Actlabs in Dryden will be bringing some business to Thunder Bay.  The lab offers mineral sample preparation and uses 3-crushers and 3-pulverizers.  After sample prep is complete, the samples are shipped to Thunder Bay.

Motorcycle Ride For Dad

The annual fundraiser Motorcycle Ride for Dad is back. This year's fundraising goal is 78 thousand dollars.  Money raised goes towards prostate cancer research. The event will be held on June 18th.  Over 300 motorcycles are expected to take part.

Child Porn seizure in Couchiching

A Couchiching First Nation man has been charged with various child pornography offences following an on-line investigation.  Police searched a home on Tuesday and officers seized 4-computers, an external hard drive, discs and printed material.  OPP say the items contained images of child sexual abuse.

Boys conference talks violence

The future generation of men in the City are being educated about equality between boys and girls.  The Lakehead Elementary Teachers held a boys conference along side the public and private school boards.  President Ellen Chambers says they wanted to talk to the kids about violence against women.  The students learned to identify violence in music lyrics, television and video games.  The students who took part were in Grades six, seven and eight.

580 thousand dollars in slots revenue

Thunder Bay is set to receive the latest payment from the OLG Casino. 580-thousand dollars is the city's fourth quarter share of slots revenue from January to March. That's slightly less than the last payment they received.

NOSM gets in Royal Wedding spirit

Royal Wedding fever is hitting Thunder Bay next week. The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is hosting a lunch at the Travellodge Airlane on April 29th as part of a fundraiser. Organizer Gail Brescia says they'll be broadcasting the entire Royal Wedding and will educate people on what NOSM is all about.   The 40 dollar event is also being held in Sudbury.

New nurse contract at CCAC

Wages remain an issue for nurses with the Northwest Community Care Access Centre.  The members of the Ontario Nurses Association recently accepted a new contract, but President Linda Haslam-Stroud says salaries aren't where they should be.  Haslam-Stroud says the new deal does follow some wage scales of another northern C-C-A-C.

Electricity rates go up May 1st

Expect your electricity bills to jump slightly on May 1st.  May 1st marks the start of the Ontario Energy Board's summer electricity rates.  Thunder Bay Hydro's Tim Wilson says the increase is about six dollars extra on your monthly bill. 

Opposition Day in Legislature Wednesday

Northwestern Ontario concerns are being highlighted in the Ontario Legislature Wednesday.  NDP leader Andrea Horwath is using her turn on Opposition Day to bring them up.  Top on Horwath's list is the forest tenure hearings.

Citizen Satisfaction Survey released

It looks like 90 percent of the city is happy with the Thunder Bay Police according to the Citizen Satisfaction Survey.  The results from the annual survey were released Tuesday and one of the weak points for city police was crime prevention.  Adams says over one thousand surveys were sent out, but only 178 were returned.

PM announces Brain Research Fund

A re-elected Conservative government would invest 100 million dollars for a Brain Research Fund. At the Regional Health Sciences Centre this morning Prime Minister Harper said such research is necessary to better understand the causes of such brain diseases like Lou Gehrig's, MS and Alzheimer's that rob too many Canadians and their loved ones of their quality of life.  Harper says the fund will match private contributions.

Police deal with fake hostage situation again

For the second time in two weeks city police had to deal with a standoff.  Police Spokesperson Chris Adams says police received a call last night just before midnight about a person holding a hostage at a house on High Street.  After a standoff a 34 year old Thunder Bay man was arrested and is facing a number of charges.

PM's security included Bomb sniffing dog

The Prime Minister's security is beefed up for his campaign tour.  The RCMP contingent looking after his security has come equipped with a bomb sniffing dog.  Nash was used to screen local reporters who were covering Harper's visit.  She'll be retiring after her farewell tour.

OPP find missing family

They are hungry but safe. OPP in Dryden have found three people who were reported missing north of Dryden. The three got stuck while driving on a logging road but were not injured.

600-thousand dollars in remuneration

Almost 600 thousand dollars in tax payer money went towards council expenses and compensation last year. The former Mayor Lynn Peterson spent the most at 112-thousand dollars.  Lynda Rydholm came in second with 45-thousand, followed by Trevor Giertuga.  The financial figures were included in Monday night's council package.