Community Safety debated

Thunder Bay ranks as the 23rd most dangerous city in Canada and second highest for murder according to McLean's magazine.  That was one of the topics buzzing around the mayor's debate last night.  Keith Hobbs feels one way of making our community safer would be to restructure the police.  Lynn Peterson says the restructuring process is not in the police service board's hands.  Peterson also feels a detox centre and the crime prevention council will improve community safety.  Hobbs disagrees and feels they can play a role.  Hobbs would like to change the police officers shifts from 10 hour to 12.   Around 300 people attendend the last mayors debate before the municipal election.

Horizon lawsuit tops debate chatter

No surprise what the hot topic at council was at the final mayor's debate. Horizon Wind's 126 million dollar lawsuit was fresh on everyone's mind. Incumbant Lynn Peterson says the claim is unfounded. Meanwhile, Frank Pullia says the city did its due dilligiance. Collin Burridge called the lawsuit foolish. Keith Hobbs says he was against the turbine sites from the beginning. Jeff Irwin feels if the city was run like a business we wouldn't be facing a lawsuit. Horizon's claim has not been proven in court.

City responds to Horizon

The City is dissapointed Horizon has decided to file a lawsuit against them. In a press release, City Manager Tim Commisso says they've read the news relased issued by Horizon, but have yet to see any statement of claim. Commisso feels the lawsuit is unfounded and once they have received a statement of claim, they will respond.

Horizon Wind Sues City over Wind Farm

Horizon Wind is suing the City of Thunder Bay for 126 million dollars.  They've filed a statement of claim against the City, in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto.  Horizon feels the City has breached it's option agreement for the wind farm.  The claim has not been proven in court.

Court cases move on

On the court beat...A Manslaughter trial is underway at Ontario Superior Court of Justice on Camelot Street. 24 year old Mervin Spence is charged in connection with the death of 44 year old Scott James in December of 2007. In a separate case, a Thunder Bay woman is now committed to stand trial in connection with a fraud case involving money that went missing from the Polish Hall on Court Street. Officials say they found about 100 thousand dollars missing from their accounts over a two year period

Border Cats aren't going anywhere......yet.

The Thunder Bay Border Cats are sticking around for another season. However owner Brad Jorgenson says they need to have more fans show up next season.   They are hoping to increase average game attendance to 1 thousand from last season's average of just over 600.   Jorgenson stopped short of saying the baseball team will leave the city if the objective isn't met.

No one hurt in early morning fire

There were no injuries after an early morning blaze tore through a 3 story house this morning.  Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue officials say the fire started around 6 o'clock this morning on the fire escape of the Villa street residence.  Officers say the fire spread to the roof but luckily all the tenants of the building escaped free of harm.  Officials say the fire is being investigated but no cause has been released.

Council approves lease agreement, but four turbines need to be pushed back

City Councillors have voted in favour of signing the Horizon Wind Lease agreement, but only if four of the wind turbines are moved back.  Council passed a resolution last night just after 2:30 in the morning dealing with turbines 8, 9, 10 and 11.  Brian McKinnon feels the city is in its rights.  McKinnon says the City decided to move the four turbines because of the view.  The final vote was 8 to 4.

City approves bus contract

The City has unanimously approved the contract for the amalgamated transit union.  Councillor Frank Pullia says he's glad they settled and averted a strike.  The contract is retroactive from July 1st, 2009 to June 20th, 2012.  Employees will see a two percent wage increase in 2009, a 1.75 percent increase in 2010 and another 1.75 in 2011.

City works on being more accessible

The City of Thunder Bay continues to work towards making the community more accessible.  Council provided 120 thousand dollars towards accessibility improvements set out in the 2011 capital and operating budgets.  The accessibility committee provided an update to council last night and released the city's 8th accessibility plan.

Underground Gym no longer needs City funds

The Underground Gym is no longer looking for bridge funding from the City of Thunder Bay. The gym had asked for 15 thousand dollars from council, but has since received the funds from an anonymous sponsor. Councillor Rebecca Johnson took the time during the meeting to thank that person for their contribution to the Underground Gym.

Thunder Bay Police review complaints

Thunder Bay Police have released a quarterly review of complaints they've received from July to September of this year.  The local police force received 12 complaints over that time period.  Only 3 will continue to be investigated, seven were not accepted, and two are awaiting word from the Office of the Independent Police Review Director.  The list of complaints range from excessive force, deceit, harassment, conduct, neglect of duty and exercise of authority.   The report is being presented Tuesday morning at the Thunder Bay Police Services Board meeting.

OPP Copper Theft

Thieves continue to target copper wire as a source of easy money. OPP say that three men were arrested in connection with the theft of the metal in the region. They say a probe uncovered 14 hundred pounds of copper wire stolen from the CP Rail line east of the city.

Library launches $ campaign

The Thunder Bay Public Library is trying to raise a quarter of a million dollars in the community. The campaign is in support of the new Mary J-L Black Branch. Chief Librarian Gina La Force is confident residents will step up.  The money raised will be used to help furnish the new branch.  The Friends of the Public Library kicked the campaign off with a donation of 50 thousand dollars. 

Retired General says scandal will not taint the forces

A retired Brigadier General in Thunder Bay doesn't think the Williams scandal will shake confidence in the military. Colonel Russell Williams has pleaded guilty in a Belleville court  to killing two women, sexually assaulting two others and a string of break-ins. Thunder Bay's  John Litt admits, there will be a few who see this as a stain on the forces, but others should see the crimes committed by Colonel Williams as ones performed by an individual.   Litt doesn't agree with stories that say the incident has shaken the military to it's core.

Waste Reduction Week kicks off in Thunder Bay

The City is teaming up with EcoSuperior this week for waste reduction week. EcoSuperior Spokesperson Karen Copeland says the week will include a number of events including a bunch of talks with local school students. Copeland says its a great opportunity for people to learn more ways to reduce the amount of waste they produce.  One of the highlights is a workshop this Saturday at Intercity Mall.

New Ornge facility

Ornge Ontario unveiled a new air ambulance facility in Thunder Bay yesterday.


Ornge CEO Tom Lepine says the facility brings different parts of the organization together under one roof.

According to Lepine, Thunder Bay is the organization's busiest airport for transporting patients. He says the new facility will help Ornge deliver better patient care and cut down on response time.

The facility will also serve as an educational hub to train Ornge paramedics around the region.

YPN debate a success

The Young Professionals Network is calling last week's mayoral debate a success.


A straw poll conducted at the beginning and end of the event showed that minds were changed by the candidate's responses. Keith Hobbs had a six percent drop in support among the crowd by the end of the debate while Lynn Peterson had an 85 percent increase from where she started at the beginning of the night.

YPN says around 175 city residents attended the event.

Bruce Hyer heads to China

Bruce Hyer is going to China. The Thunder Bay-Superior North MP leaves today to be part of a joint federal-provincial trade mission to promote Canada as a tourist destination. Hyer calls China a real tourism priority and says the number of potential visitors is huge. 45 million Chinese tourists traveled abroad last year, a number that's expected to increase to 100 million by 2020.

Transit union votes in favour of contract

Last night transit workers voted to accept the contract offered by the city. The vote was 78 percent in favour, according to union president Charlie Brown. 

Transit workers retain their current benefits and gain a pay increase under the new three year contract.  While transit workers are getting a bump in pay. Brown says city transit workers are still below the provincial average.

The contract also adds protections to prevent bus surveillance cameras from being used to monitor job performance, Brown says the cameras are there for the safety of drivers and passengers and should only be used for criminal matters.

Brown voted against the contract although the union recommended a vote in favour and called the negotiation process the most "dysfunctional" he's ever seen in his time as union president.

Brown says the contract will be up for negotiation again in 18 months.