Clement talks smack and FedNor

Opposition parties keep saying FedNor will be gutted if the Harper Conservatives are back in government. Speaking in Thunder Bay, the minister responsible, Tony Clement repeated that the program is safe and says it's the local NDP members who seem to be sending mixed messages.  He says they take credit for federal announcements in the region, but vote against those projects in the House of Commons. Clement was in the city to lend his support to candidates Moe Comuzzi-Stehmann and Richard Harvey

False Alarm

Thunder Bay Police and fire officials have confirmed a false alarm. Someone called police around 1:30 this afternoon saying they thought they saw a body floating on the Kam River near the James Street Bridge, but searchers found nothing.

Wabasse search continues

Thunder Bay Police will be conducting another ground search for Jordan Wabasse. City police spokesperson Chris Adams says even though the area of shore was previously investigated by helicopter officers will now have a chance to walk the shore lines and search in better conditions. Police will scour the area of the Kam River near the James Street Bridge where the teen may have been last. Adams says the search will take place one day next week.

Gravelle remains high on CRIBE

It's now 3 years since the province approved 25 million dollars for Thunder Bay's biomass research centre. So far there's only one project it's publicly approved, but forestry Minister Michael Gravelle says he still supports the organization.  He hails the leadership of the CRIBE board and is confident we will see some real benefit from the support the government has provided.  The organization's website says approval for 5 other projects will be announced soon.

House lottery equips cath-lab

The Regional Health Sciences Centre is receiving a huge boost thanks to the Fort William Rotary Club. President Dave Knudsen  says they donated 150 thousand dollars to the hospital so the new cath-lab can be equiped. The money is the direct result of the proceeds from the club's house lottery.  The new lab will give patients 24/7 access to emergency angioplasty.

NOACC in Kenora this week

The Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce will be holding its annual spring meeting in Kenora this week.  Chamber representitives from across the region will begin arriving in town Wednesday night.  Andy Scribilo is the president-elect of NOACC and says they have decided to hold the conference Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week.  Scribilo says chamber members from across the region will be voting on a number of resolutions this week to pass to the Ontario Chamber of Commerce later this year.

National Day of Mourning Thursday

The Lakehead Labour Council is marking Canada's Day of Mourning on Thursday.  President Melanie Kelso says the day will continue to go recognized until workplace injuries and deaths stop.  A ceremony remembering workers who were killed on the job will be held at 5:30 at the centre.

Advance Polls closed

The countdown to the May 2nd Federal election has begun.  Advance polls closed on Monday and Thunder Bay Superior North Returning Officer Bill Everitt says it was a good turn out.  Candidates in the Thunder Bay Superior North riding will face off at an all-candidates debate Wednesday night at Lakehead University.

4 Provincial Ministers attending NOMA

4 Provincial Cabinet Ministers are attending the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference in Thunder Bay.  Infrastructure Minister Bob Chiarelli will be the key note speaker at the conference.  The bear pit session on Friday will see the Ministers of Natural Resources, Northern Development and Mines, and Training, Colleges and Universities.

NOMA conference kicks off on Wednesday

Municipal leaders from across the region are in Thunder Bay this week to discuss issues impacting the Northwest.  NOMA's annual general meetings gets underway on Wednesday.  Issues to be discussed include repowering the Thunder Bay generating station and the property tax model.  The conference ends on Friday with the election of the NOMA executive.

Thumbs up to adoption changes

The changes to Ontario's adoption laws are welcomed by the local head of the Children's Aid Society. Rob Richardson says the changes will make it easier for Thunder Bay families to adopt.  Richardson says the changes could help up to 75 children under the care of the local C-A-S find permanent homes that weren't able to under the current law.

Fort Frances Flag flying over Kenora

The Fort Frances' town flag will soon be flying high over the city of Kenora.  Mayor Roy Avis says its the outcome of a bet he made with Kenora Mayor Dave Canfield during the recent Allan Cup tournament.  Kenora lost against Fort Frances in the hockey tournament so the Fort flag will be seen in Kenora.  The Thunderhawks eliminated Kenora from the tournament in a playoff game.

Police looking for cab robbery suspect

Thunder Bay Police are on the lookout for a suspect in a taxi cab robbery.  Sunday night, a man brandishing a sharp object demanded 200 dollars in cash from a cab driver on Jasper Drive.  Police called out their K9 unit, but couldn't track down the suspect.  The suspect is described as a Native Canadian wearing all dark clothing.

Wasaya expands service

Starting next week, Wasaya Airways is expanding to include flights from Thunder Bay to Geraldton and Marten Falls.   President and CEO Tom Morris says the company sees potential growth for the area as the result of the Ring of Fire mining project.

Stabbing suspect arrested

A man is in custody in connection with a weekend stabbing on North Marks Street. Police say the 26 year old man was arrested last night at a north side home. The stabbing left the victim in hospital with a wound to his chest. He is reported to be in stable condition.

Roach's driver robbed

No one is hurt after a Roach's Taxi was robbed overnight. Police say that at around midnight the cab driver had money stolen from him by a customer. The incident took place in the Jasper Drive area. No weapon was seen and police are still searching for a suspect.

Ignatieff visits Health Sciences Centre

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is vowing to work towards equality between First Nations and the rest of the Nation.  Speaking in Thunder Bay, Ignatieff says his party will improve first nation drinking water.  Atiwapiskat First Nation recently called a state of emergency because of a lack of clean drinking water.

East Side Mario's fire

The canopy of the former East Side Mario's Restaurant on Memorial Avenue caught fire over the weekend. Thunder Bay fire crews brought the blaze under control and prevented it from spreading to the rest of the building.

Hydro outage impacts 7 thousand

The power is back on for 7 thousand Thunder Bay Hydro customers.  The lights went out last night after a pole on Golf Links Road was hit by a car.  The pole has been replaced and the driver of the vehicle was sent to the hospital.

Stabbing on North Marks Street update

Thunder Bay Police are still investigating a stabbing that occurred on the 100 block of North Marks Street late Saturday night. The victim is in the hospital under stable condition with a stab wound to the lung. Police say they will attempt to speak with the victim today to collect more information. So far no suspect of the stabbing has been taken into custody and no names have been released.