K9 Unit Officer Passes Away

OPP and the Ministry of Labour are investigating the death of Thunder Bay Police Constable Joseph Prevett.  Police Chief JP Levesque says Prevett was participating in a K-9 training exercise in Gravenhurst. He was in the middle of a searching exercise with his dog Timber on Wednesday morning when he collapsed. He was rushed to hospital in medical distress. He died a short time later.   Prevett was 50 years old and started his policing career in 1998.

Thunder Bay Counts

Rebecca Johnson

The United Way and the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre are teaming up for a new project. Thunder Bay Counts is a new resource that will determine and act on what is important for residents well being. Rebecca Johnson will Chair the new initiative means various community groups will be able to work together on improving the City.  The Ontario Trillium Foundation provided 149-thousand dollars towards the two year project.

CEDC Speaks To Council

The head of the Community Economic Development Commission is promoting his group's recent efforts. CEO Doug Murray spoke to City Council Monday night and says Thunder Bay's economy is becoming more diverse.  Murray adds according to reports our economy is more varied than Sudbury.

Feds Provide 200K For NAN

The Federal Government is providing 200-thousand dollars over the next two years to the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.  The money will be used to promote economic development and skills training for First Nation women.   Minister of Labour and Status of Women Kellie Leitch was in Thunder Bay today to announce the cash.  NAN Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler is hoping they can continue the training program after the funding runs out.

Consolidated Courthouse Is Open

Thunder Bay's consolidated court house is officially open.  The Attorney General christened the building Wednesday. Attorney General Madeleine Meilleur says she's proud her government made the new building happen.  Members of the City, police and First Nations took part in an official ceremony yesterday.

New PC Candidate In T.Bay

Derek Parks is the PC candidate for Thunder Bay-Superior North. Although Parks was born and raised in the City he hasn't lived in Thunder Bay for sometime and brushes off the suggestion he was specifically brought in to replace ex candidate Tamara Johnson.  Parks was acclaimed at the party's nomination meeting last night. 

Mixed Reaction To Plebiscite

People for and against a ballot question on the proposed event centre spoke their minds at City Council Monday night.  John Pukila of the Citizens for the Proposed Event Centre was one of several residents who spoke against the plebiscite and said it would hinder the third phase of the project.  A group of residents who want a ballot question rallied outside of City Hall before the Monday night meeting.

Overnight Fire On South Side

One man taken to hospital after he escaped from a house fire on East Mary Street overnight.  The occupant of the home was taken to Thunder Bay Regional suffering from burns and smoke inhalation.  City fire crews were called to the scene around 1 o'clock this morning and found the single family dwelling fully involved. Twenty-three fire-fighters and seven fire units battled the blaze but the house suffered extensive damage.  The cause is under investigation.

Mercury Removal Planned

Cole Engineering is pitching several ideas on how to clean up the mercury contamination in the Thunder Bay Harbour.  Around 40 people representing a variety of environmental agencies took part in a meeting Wednesday night. Cole spokesperson Mark Bassingthwaite says one of the ideas is to pour clean material on top of the spoiled sediment.  Another idea is to physically remove the sludge and dispose of it at either the Mission Bay facility, a new confined facility or at the landfill.  The price tag of the ideas range from 30 million dollars to over 90 million. It's not known yet exactly who will pay for the remediation.

Mercury Sludge 

Good Roads Brings Good Things

Thunder Bay's delegation from the Ontario Good Roads Conference is back from Toronto.  Councillor Brian McKinnon admits they've brought forward the same issues to the Province year after year and says that's because repetition is key.  Council spoke to cabinet ministers about a variety of projects including the next phase of the Golf Links Road reconstruction and the proposed Youth Centre.  McKinnon as well as Mayor Keith Hobbs have said they feel funding will come for some of the projects they presented on during the two day conference. 

Northern Ontario Team Heading To Brier

Jeff Currie's rink is playing in the Canadian Brier in Kamloops B.C. this weekend.  The Fort William Curling Club hosted a send-off party for the Northern Ontario Curling Team last night. Currie says playing in the Brier has been a long time coming.  The tournament is running from March 1st to 9th.

Irwin Is Back

Thunder Bay's Haley Irwin is being welcomed home by 100 of her fans. She arrived back from the Sochi Olympics Tuesday night.  Irwin says it's great to see so much local support waiting for her at the airport. Irwin says she wants to play in the next winter Olympics and will start training again soon.

Minister Selling F.N. Education Act

The Federal Minister of Aboriginal Affairs is trying hard to sell his government's plan for First Nation Education. Bernard Valcourt met with the Chief of the Fort William First Nation and Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Harvey Yesno this morning in Thunder Bay. Valcourt says he's heard their concerns and feels the plan will allow adequate funding and First Nation say in the education system. Valcourt was a guest speaker at a luncheon put on by the Chamber of Commerce.

CEDC Budget Request Stays The Same

A review of the 2014 City budget continues.  Wednesday night Council reviewed the outside boards it helps fund including the Community Economic Development Commission.  CEO Doug Murray says they are asking for the same amount of money as they did last year.  The CEDC's budget sits at just over 1.1 million dollars.

Public Comments On Budget

The head of Poverty Free Thunder Bay is just one of several community groups who spoke to City Council about the 2014 budget.  Chair Terri Carter says low income families are worried about the two percent increase in child care fees. Carter also expressed concern over the fate of the Royal Edward Arms and the lack of affordable housing in the City. Other organizations to speak at Tuesday night's meeting included Friends of the Thunder Bay Conservatory, the Urban Aboriginal Strategy and the Heath Park Pool supporters.

Council Hears Waste Plan

The consultants behind the City's proposed waste strategy plan feel residents want to see a different approach to garbage and recycling.  Stantec Spokesperson Cathy Smith says residents are for a clear plastic garbage bag program. Smith says they also received positive feedback on doing away with recycling bags and moving towards a recycle box. Council will vote on the plan at a future meeting in the spring.

Council Starts Budget Process

The City is kicking off a review of the 2014 budget.  A long term financial plan was presented to Council Tuesday night.  City Treasurer Carol Pollard says they had some unexpected challenges that have had a negative impact on the 2014 budget including increases in the emergency services budget, a decrease in child care revenues and a 25 percent increase in insurance premiums. Meanwhile, Pollard says in the future they hope to put 1.5 million dollars into the infrastructure fund in 2015, another 1.75 million in 2016, and 2.25 million in 2017.  Over the next five years the projected tax levy increases will range from 2.7 percent to 4.7 percent.

No Injuries In Multi-Vehicle Collsion

Thunder Bay police say there are no injuries to report after a five vehicle smash up on Arthur Street at Mountdale  this morning just before 10 o'clock. They say 27 collisions took place from midnight until 3 o'clock this afternoon. Police say that with the colder weather road salt doesn't work and that as a result streets are slippery. 

CLE Meeting Heated

Danny Mosa is the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition's new President. Around 70 members attended Wednesday night's annual general meeting with some voicing their anger over a variety of issues including the group's bar.  Mosa says that's why they invited the media to attend their meeting to show they have nothing to hide. Ex-board member Linda Gambee was reinstated as a member but can not run for a board election until 2015.  Meanwhile, The CLE finished 2013 in the black. The audited financial records from the previous year were approved at the AGM meeting. They show that the organization finished off the year with just over 4.4 million dollars.

Pre-Apprentice Program Announced

Hydro One is giving Confederation College 750-thousand dollars to create a pre-apprentice program. Utility President Carmine Marcello says it's an investment in possible future employees.  College President Jim Madder says the inaugural class should be in the spring.  The money is for a four year program that will focus on skilled trades.