Rafferty On Omnibus Bill

New Democrats won't be supporting the massive federal budget bill introduced last week. Thunder Bay-Rainy River's John Rafferty says the Harper government is once again contradicting itself by introducing a bill that includes changes to several act that should be dealt separately. Rafferty expects limited debate on the bill as the Conservatives push for implementation as quickly as possible.

T.Bay Business Gets Provincial Cash

Two Thunder Bay businesses are on the receiving end of funding from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.  Aviation InterTec Services is getting 98-thousand dollars towards upgrading their computer software.  NWO Golf Development & Fitting Centre will use 25-thousand dollars.

Multiplex Plebescite Meeting

A group of concerned taxpayers want to see the location of the proposed Multiplex brought to a vote.  Chair Ray Smith says it's only right for the City to allow its tax base a vote in the decision making process.  A public meeting on the multiplex will be held at the Waverly Resource Library tonight from 7 until 9.

LU Career Expo

Lakehead University will be holding a Career and Job Expo this week from 10 until 3.  The workshops will provide a excellent opportunity for students to explore career choices.  Career Employment Specialist Christina Buzzi says there will be chances to meet industry professionals and employers.  Companies taking part include the hospital, and the OPP.

House Explosion Treated As "Suspicious"

Police say they are treating last week's explosion on St. Claire Avenue as suspicious. The Police are working hand in hand with the Ontario Fire Marshal's office on the case. Meantime the 57 year old victim of that blast is now in Toronto being treated for serious injuries. Police say the probe is expected to take some time to complete.

Detectives To Face Punishment

Two Thunder Bay Police detectives will find out their punishment Tuesday at a Police Services Act Hearing set for 12:30 p.m. at police headquarters.  An adjudicator who found Detective William Wowchuck and Detective Constable Brad Bernst guilty of Unlawful Use of Authority in connection with a drug arrest last year, has had time to ponder his decision regarding punishment.  Both sides recently argued their case regarding an internal reprimand and the adjudicator is set to make an announcement later today.  Neither Wowchuck or Bernst will face criminal charges in connection with the incident.

Liberal Convention In Three Months

The Ontario Liberal party is holding its leadership convention January 25th.  That's only three months away...something that Thunder Bay MPP Bill Mauro admits is kind of fast, because it will leave candidates with little time to go out and drum up support.   Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle calls it a very short time frame that will favour candidates with a higher profile.

Thunderwolves Round-up

Modest success for the Lakehead University Thunderwolves on the road this weekend. The hockey team split a pair of games losing to Waterloo on Friday and beating Laurier on Saturday. They host Western next weekend. The men's basketball team went 2-1 at a tournament in Saskatchewan, as did the women's team in a tournament in Winnipeg. Meanwhile the women's volleyball team dropped to 0-3 to start the year with three straight losses.

Inspectors Back On St. Claire Avenue

There is still no cause to report for the house explosion on St. Claire Avenue on Thursday morning which sent one man to hospital. Yesterday, fire inspectors made the property safe to inspect and Brian Fisher of the Ontario Fire Marshal's Office says it's still too early to determine why the blast occurred. Fisher says it may take some time before they come up with a cause.

Lindstrom Gets 10 years

A Thunder Bay man is going to prison for 10 years after being convicted in the 2009 death of Richard Quimet. Eric Lindstrom received his sentence in a city courtroom today. Lindstrom is the last of the two men charged in connection to the incident to be sentenced to prison. Earlier in the process Chistopher Gregorchuk was given a 10 year term for his part in the slaying. Court was told that Quimet was beaten to death and his body was taken to a remote area up highway 527 and burned.

Council Looks At Sir John A

The City is looking at the vacant Sir John A MacDonald site at it's meeting Monday night. Staff is asking council to turn down a request to turn the school into a technical office.

LU Athletics Weighs In On Multi Plex

Lakehead University Athletics is interested in becoming an anchor tenant in the new proposed event centre that the city is considering building.  The 57-hundred seat venue has certainly peaked the interest of Athletic director Tom Warden. Warden says talks between the city and Lakehead University would need to happen but he sees it as a chance for the university and Thunder Bay to host future national events.

Gichigami Express Coming To Grand Marais

Organizers with a new 3 day dog sled race in the States are hoping Thunder Bay residents will cross the border to watch.  Beth Drost is the Coordinator of the Gichigami Express that will take place in Grand Portage on January 6th.  Drost explains the history behind the name.  Drost says Grand Marais and Grand Portage have a long history of mushers.

Be A Fan Thursday

Local law enforcement will be sporting red shoe laces in support of the local chapter of the Special Olympics.  Constable Julie Tilbury says you can help support local athletes as well by buying a pair of red shoe laces from a variety of area stores.  A flag raising ceremony at City Hall will be held on "Be A Fan Day" which is Thursday.

Hobbs On Police Services Board Replacement

There's at least several City Councillors interested in replacing Mayor Keith Hobbs on the Police Service Board.  Hobbs says council will consider who is the best person for the job.  One of the names being tossed around informally includes Councillor Brian McKinnon.

Local Comic Reaches 150th

"Welcome To Hereafter" is the title of an on-line comic book publication by a Thunder Bay man.  The comic is about to celebrate a milestone. It's 150th edition will be published Monday.  Creator Bry Kotyk says he hopes to see more local artists dive in.  Click here to visit Welcome to Hereafter. 

Court Street Closed Sunday

Drivers beware of sections of Court Street Sunday.  A stretch of roadway between River and Elgin Streets and Harrington Avenue will be off limits while crews install a new watermain connection.  Work starts at 8 Sunday and will continue until work is complete.

Liberal MP Tries To Save ELA

The vice-chair of Fisheries and Oceans is fighting to keep Northwestern Ontario's Experimental Lakes Area open.  Liberal MP Lawrence MacAulay has put a motion through the House of Commons to keep the ELA open.  He says the closing costs outweigh the annual operating cost.  The government is facing public and political pressure to continue funding the ELA.

International Blues Fest

The Thunder Bay Blues Society is bringing the funk to the city Friday and Saturday night.  An International Blues Challenge is taking place tonight which will see competitors vie for a trip to Memphis. Vice President Murray Armstrong says it's a wonderful opportunity for local artists.  The event is taking place at the Apollo.

Military at East Dog Lake

Training will be taking place in East Dog Lake area this weekend for the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment.  The soldiers will be practicing land & water training.  Captain George Romic says there will be blank ammunition fired while troops cross the river.  Romic adds, don't be surprised if you see military vehicles travelling in the Dog Lake area.

Warden Avoids Scherban Talk

The fallout continues for Lakehead University's hockey program as they continue to answer questions as to why Head Coach Joel Scherban was fired yesterday.  Speculation has players refusing to play for Scherban despite getting off to a 3-and-1 start.  Athletic Director Tom Warden has named Mike Busniuk as Interim Head as the team plays on the road tonight in Waterloo.  Warden won't comment on the firing but does hold Scherban in the highest regard.  Jeremy Adduono and Colin Zulianello have also stepped in to help Busniuk as Assistant Coaches.

Inflation Rate Goes Down

The cost of living in Thunder Bay has gone down. The inflation rate went from  0.3 percent in August to negative point one in September.  Meanwhile, Canada's inflation rate last month stayed the same.

Strat Plan For TBRI

The research arm of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is out with its four year strategic plan.   CEO Michael Wood says the top priority is to focus on advances in medical imaging like MRIs, X-Rays and PET scans.

OLG Casino Makes Payment

The OLG Casino is paying the city it's latest share in slot machine revenue.  This time around the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission is providing just over 609-thousand dollars to Thunder Bay.

TSB Still Investigating Fatal Accident

The Transportation Safety Board is still working on the early stages of its investigation into a fatal plane crash in Pickle Lake.  Peter Hildebrand says crews are still trying to get through the heavily dense wooded area and get the plane upright.  He says that's when the true investigation can begin.  Three men from Quebec died in the crash.

Talk4Healing Live

Aboriginal women in Northern Ontario can now access a new help line. Talk4Healing Coordinator Robin Haliuk says it's often hard for these women to get support services.  The hotline is open 24 hours a day; 7 days a week and offers service to Northern Ontario women.  The help line is being funded by the Ontario Native Women's Association for the next 3 years.

Text HOPE

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation is teaming up with Tbaytel on a new fundraising initiative.   A 10 dollar donation can be made for breast cancer research by texting the word "Hope" to the number 20222.  Foundation President and CEO Glenn Craig says the donation will appear on your next cell phone bill.

Aboriginal Business Day

The Entrepreneur Centre wants aboriginal business to expand.  They're celebrating aboriginal business day today by bringing in a slew of guest speakers.  Spokesperson Ron Humphreys hopes more people will inquire about their services.  To check out the guest speakers including CBC's Wab Kinew you can stop by the Victoria Inn.

Jasper Place Anniversary

Seniors home Jasper Place is celebrating it's 20th anniversary today.  Spokesperson Donna Ostram says their facility is one of a kind.  Jasper Place is home to over 100 seniors.

Food For Thought

The city is receiving 100 thousand dollars in provincial tax money towards a study on the local food system. The city's Leslie McEachern is co-ordinating the research project which will see if its possible to supply locally grown food to city institutions.  The study will be completed early in the new year.

Woman Runs Red Light

A 42 year old Brampton woman is charged with driving through a red light after a collision at the intersection of the Harbour Expressway and Highway 11/17. Two vehicles were at the intersection when the left turn signal for west bound traffic turned green. A driver across the road going southbound, then ran the red light and collided with the west bound vehicle. No one was hurt.

Scherban Sacked

Officials with the Lakehead University Thunderwolves Hockey program have fired Joel Scherban as Head Coach. Wolves’ Assistant Coach Mike Busniuk has been named as the team’s Interim Head Coach, effective immediately. The team's Board of Directors decided that a change was necessary if the team was to achieve its goals for this season..

Wequedon Lodge Grand Opening

The Wequedon Lodge is now open to area First Nation patients visiting Thunder Bay for doctors appointments.  The Lodge's new 110 bed facility was officially christened Thursday.  Executive Director Charles Morris says the new building has been 12 years in the making.  The Lodge sees an average of 140 clients each week.

Police Look Into Naked Teen Pics

Thunder Bay Police are looking into reports of nude photos of teens being sent to fellow teens in the city.  Police are working with school officials to deal with this issue appropriately. Lakehead Public School Board Spokesperson Charlie Bishop calls the incident troubling.  Officers say any nude image of anyone under the age of 18 years is considered to be child pornography.

Explosion Update

The investigation is underway to find out what may have caused a huge explosion that ripped apart a house on the 800 block of St. Claire Avenue this morning. One person was hurt and is in stable condition in hospital. Fire inspector Eric Nordlund says it's a scene like he has never witnessed before. Nordlund says there's windows and doors lying on neighbouring properties. Nordlund says the explosion was likely caused by what he calls a huge expansion of gas, but whether it was a natural gas blast, he couldn't say.

O.P.P. Release Names In Fatal Plane Crash

O.P.P. are releasing the names of three people who died in a small plane crash Tuesday night near Pickle Lake. All three people were residents of Trois Rivières, Québec. Dead is the 57 year old pilot Michel Nadeau, 54 year old passenger Bernard Mailloux and 27 year old passenger Yanick Fournier. A 53 year old male passenger also of Trois Rivières, Québec remains in a Winnipeg-area hospital in stable condition.

Boaters Rescued From Breakwall

Two sailboaters are witnesses to the quick response of the Coast Guard. They were called just after 7:30 p.m. last night to a report of a sailboat that had run aground on the breakwall near the entrance to the Kaministiquia River. Two people were rescued from the vessell with no major injuries and brought back to the coast guard station. The sailboat was left for the time being and will be recovered later. 

House Explodes On St. Claire Ave.

Police and fire crews are currenly at the scene of a house fire on the 800 block of St. Claire Avenue. Police say they received a call about a house exploding just after 4:00 o'clock this morning. One man has been taken to hospital with unknown injuries. Four pumper trucks, a ladder unit and a platoon chief were all called to the scene.  Police say they will be on the scene for several hours as they look into the cause of the blast.

Steel Pre-Fab Homes To Be Built

A contracting company, a Chinese business and Wasaya Group are teaming up to provide affordable housing for First Nations and Mining Companies. Dowland Contracting Spokesperson Don Wing says the agreement means they'll build pre-fabricated homes. A formal signing ceremony was held Wednesday afternoon at the Fort William Historical Park.

Gravelle Open To Being Leader

Michael Gravelle says he is not ruling out a run for the top job of the Ontario Liberal Party.  The Natural Resources Minister says he would first like to see who decides to take a run at replacing Dalton McGuinty.  Gravelle says if no candidates show any passion for the north, he will consider his options.

Terrace Bay Pulp Charged

Terrace Bay Pulp is in trouble with the Ministry of Labour after last years fatal accident at the mill. An employee from Schreiber died when a tank used to cook wood chips exploded. Ministry spokesperson Matt Blajer says the company will be appearing in court next month.

Council of Canadians ELA Poll

73 percent of Canadians want to see the Experimental Lakes Area near Vermillion Bay stay open.  The results come from a poll done by the Council of Canadians which also shows that 60 percent of  Conservative voters oppose the cancellation of the ELA.  Earlier in the year, the Harper government decided it would stop funding the research facility.

Health Unit Says There's A Bed Bug Problem

The Health Unit calls a bed bug problem at the Royal Edward Arms an infestation. Public Health Inspector Abby Mackie says the pests have become a problem. Mackie says tenants need to keep their apartments clean and the landlord needs to treat the infected area as soon as possible. The Health Unit says the District Social Services Board has been taking care of any complaints they've received.

Tbay Tel Gives Money To Catholic Board

The Catholic School Board is on the receiving end of a 100 thousand dollar partnership with Tbay Tel.  Director of Education Joan Powell says it's a 5 year funding program.  The money will be used to buy laptops, iPads, and other technology.

Joint Meeting Tonight

A joint meeting is being held between Fort William First Nation and City Council tonight.  The two communities will discuss how they can better work together.  Tonight's meeting starts at 5 and will be held at the Current River Recreation Association.

Police Honour Their Own At Awards Ceremony

A number of members of the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service will be honored at their 5th "Honours and Awards Ceremony" tonight in Thunder Bay. They will be recognised by their peers and the Chief of Police, Claude Chum. Officer of the Year honours will go to Constable Robert McPhail, and a diamond jubilee medal will be presented to Constable Marc Beaparland for his work with the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program. Retired Sgt. Bob Baxter will also receive a jubilee medal for his work with victims.

Mining Readiness Winning Awards

The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission is celebrating two prestigious awards. A conference in Denver, Colorado has honoured The Ring of Fire and Northwestern Ontario with the Strategic Project of the Year award and also the Job Creation of the Year award. More than 500 executives from the public and private sector are in attendance at the 4th annual North American Strategic Infrastructure Leadership Forum.

3 Dead After Plane Crash

OPP and the Transportation Safety Board are investigating a fatal plane crash last night near Pickle Lake.  Police responded to a report that an aircraft went down in a densely wooded area east of the Pickle Lake airport.  Three of the plane's occupants are dead, one survivor was airlifted to hospital in Winnipeg for treatment of minor injuries.  The names of the dead won't be released until the next of kin is notified.

Quality Market Union Meeting With Staff

The union representing workers at Thunder Bay's two Quality Market stores is speaking out. United Food & Commercial Workers Rep Colby Flank says they were shocked to hear that the two stores will close. Flank says the closure will impact 80 to 90 people. A meeting between the union and its members will be held next Wednesday to discuss employment insurance and the possibility of finding work in other grocery stores in the City. The owners of Quality Market have declined to comment on the closure notice.

Man Caught In Nipigon

A 50 year old man from Barrie, Ontario is now charged with fleeing from police, theft over $5,000 and breaking and entering. O.P.P. in Nipigon received a tip from an alert citizen and along with help from the Emergency Response Team and Canine unit, were able to arrest the man. He was the subject of a search following an incident on October 11th when police reported a vehicle had failed to stop for them and was later found abandoned in Nipigon. The man will make a video court appearance today.