Public gets their chance to talk budget

Council is being asked some tough questions about the upcoming budget.  The public had its chance to give input during Tuesday night's consultation meeting.  Resident Frank Armiento thinks administration is wasting money by spending money on the corporate review process.  He says the city should be able to find ways to save money themselves without hiring consultants.  Chamber of Commerce President Harold Wilson says the Chamber supports increased spending for infrastructure but savings need to be found to prevent tax increases.  Mayor Hobbs was happy to hear from residents and thinks for the most part people want to see the roads taken care of in the city but its clear people are not happy with tax increase.  Council will be back at it Wednesday night where its expected the water rate will take centre stage. 

Government minister to visit

The province's Minister of Colleges and Universities is coming to the city tomorrow.  Glen Murray is going to be at Lakehead University at 8:30 in the morning to discuss the McGuinty government's 30 per cent tuition rebate program.  A media release says he will be here to encourage more students to take advantage of the taxpayer funded initiative.

Syria: Worse before it gets better

A Lakehead University political science expert predicts the violence in Syria will continue and the body count will get higher. Laure Paquette says it's anyone's guess how it will end, but says it will go on a few more months at least. Paquette says the death count will escalate since the Syrian government has moved from bullets to artillery shells

Local doc leads LHIN program

The North West Local Health Integration Network is adding to its team.  CEO Laura Kokochinski says they've hired Dr. Richard Almond as the LHIN's Primary Care Lead. The Thunder Bay physician will work with doctors across the Region to ensure the highest level of care is being received. Almond says primary care is the backbone of any health care system and stresses he will help move the system to a more patient centred, cost effective one.

Conference bound

A major mining conference in London, England will have a Northwestern Ontario flavour to it. Rainy River Resources and Osisko Mining will be among 18-Canadian companies making presentations at the conference this month. Both are actively involved in exploration projects in this region. The conference attracts potential investors from around the world.

24 hour cardiac care

Thunder Bay's Regional Health Sciences Centre is embarking on a new way of treating cardiac patients.  They've teamed up with ORNGE ambulance, Superior North EMS and hospital staff to ensure patients can receive round the clock angioplasty care.  Cardiac Doctor Andrea McDougall says air ambulance will also help bring patients to Thunder Bay to have their arteries opened.

NAN wants more funding for schools

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation is out with a report on the critical underfunding of First Nation schools.  Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose says the current funding system is inadequate and calls it a crisis.  Waboose says the Federal Government needs to start matching education funds for First Nations at the same level the Province funds public school boards.  Waboose says education under the Indian Act has failed remote First Nation communities.

Council moves foward with Urban Forest Master Plan

The city's trees are getting some big time attention from City Council.  The Urban Forestry Master Plan first report was given approval at Monday night's meeting and Councillor Aldo Ruberto says the city can and should look at Urban Forestry as a way to make the intercity area more attractive because Memorial is "ugly."  The consultant who handled the report says Thunder Bay's Urban Forest is pretty good but there is ways it can be improved.

City calls for length restrictions on Dawson Road

Its another step in the right director according to residents of the Dawson Road area.  Over 2 thousand residents have signed a petition calling for a ban on transport traffic on the Road and Council voted unanimously on a resolution that calls for a length restriction.  Mayor Hobbs says these trucks should be using the Shabaqua extension and something has to be done to remove them from Dawson.  A draft bylaw will now be created and will then go to the province for approval. 

Jury selection complete

The jury in the Andre Wareham murder trial is now selected.   The ten women and two men will be given their instructions by Justice Platana tomorrow morning followed by the opening statements from the prosecution and the defense.  The 34 year old Wareham is charged with 2nd degree murder in the death of 29 year old William Atkins in January of 2009.

Researcher urges polar bear policies

The provincial government is being urged to protect the Cree in the Hudson Bay area from polar bears.  Lakehead University researcher Henry Lemelin says climate change could be a threat to First Nations there if more bears are forced off disappearing ice floes.  Lemelin has three suggestions...restitution for people if they, or their property are harmed by polar bears, money to tranquilize and relocate the bears and a polar bear safety program to help them manage the bears properly.

School board starts budget process

It's budget time for the Lakehead Public School Board. Spokesperson Kathy Pozihun says it's a procedure that could go into the summer before it's signed sealed and delivered to the government .   Pozihun says this year there will be  input allowed through a public meeting and by e-mail .  She says the process can even be followed on Twitter.  Last year the board approved total spending of 137 million dollars. 

Police make fraud arrest

Thunder Bay Police have arrested a 35 year old man after a couple complaints from people buying stuff on Kijiji.  Officials say two people complained after not receiving their purchases and didn't have their money returned. Officers say the two victims made the purchases without seeing the items which is risky.  The suspect is facing several fraud charges. 

Murder trial getting underway

Jury selection is underway for a Thunder Bay murder trial. 34 year old Andre Wareham is charged with second degree murder in the death of 29 year old William Atkins January 14th of 2009. Atkins died after what police say was an altercation in the common area of a Finlayson Street apartment complex. Selection got underway in front of Justice Terrance Platana after Wareham formally pleaded not guilty to the charge. Rob Kozak and Elaine Burton represent the prosecution while Steven Hinkson is Wareham's Lawyer. Two weeks have been set aside for the trial

Fire and Rescue deal with 2 fires Sunday

A family of six is safe after a candle caught their Wiley Street home's upstairs bedroom on fire.  Everyone made it out of the house safely Sunday.  Fire damage is limited to that bedroom and could cost up to 40-thousand dollars.  The Fire department also responded to an apartment blaze on Valley Street.  Officials say the fire started in the kitchen of one of the units and was out by the time crews arrived.  No one was hurt.

Dominion Curling Results

The Northern Ontario Dominion Curling Championships saw Thunder Bay's Joe Scharf, Jeff Currie and Mike Assad lose their draws.  The playdowns started Sunday in Sault Ste. Marie.  The trio are back in action this afternoon at 2.

T.Bay breaks weather record

Thunder Bay broke a warm weather record Sunday.  Our Meteorologist Bill Laidlaw says we reached a high of 4.8 degrees point seven degrees warmer than the record set in 1998.  Laidlaw adds cold air is moving in and we can expect colder temperatures for at least a week.

College welcomes Trudeau

Margaret Trudeau is paying a visit to Confederation College on Wednesday.  She'll be speaking to students about living with her bi-polar condition.  Margaret is the former wife of Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

Missing Youth Rainy River

A Rainy River youth was reported missing on January 31. The Rainy River District OPP is looking for help from the public. Belinda PAISHK, age 16 years of Off Lake Road is described as a First Nation female, 5'2" tall, 120 lbs. If you have information about Paishk's whereabouts, call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

FedNor Funding

There's a call for a regional economic development fund to help pay for municipal infrastructure upgrades.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty and the New Democrats see FEDNOR as a good source to cover the cost of small projects. Rafferty says with no stimulus money expected in the coming budget, FEDNOR funding would be a viable option.