Rafferty re-elected in Thunder Bay Rainy River

Thunder Bay Rainy River MP John Rafferty is looking forward to returning to his job in Ottawa.  The NDP Member of Parliament was re-elected Monday night and was excited to hear his party is forming the official Opposition Party.  Rafferty says the one dark moment on election night was the Conservatives winning a Majority Government.  Conservative Moe Comuzzi-Stehmann was the runner up in unofficial results, with Liberal Ken Boshcoff coming in third.

Harper majority, locals re-elect NDP

Stephen Harper is going to form a majority government in Canada...but Thunder Bay's two ridings will be represented in the official opposition.  Harper and his Conservatives have won a  majority with about 165 seats in parliament and the NDP rocketed into the official opposition with about 105 seats...the Liberals now rank in third with about 30 seats. Locally Bruce Hyer in Thunder Bay-Superior North and John Rafferty in Thunder Bay-Rainy River both have won their ridings for the NDP again with about 50 per cent of the votes while the Kenora riding stays Conservative with Greg Rickford holding the seat.

Council upset over heritage building repairs

Some City Councillors were shocked to find they would have to pay to repair the exterior of the Whalen Building.  The city is on the hook for repairing the Terra Cotta exterior because they own the heritage building.  Councillor Rebecca Johnson doesn't think they should restore the building when there's other more important projects.  Council approved a million dollar contract with KGS Group Consulting Engineers dealing with the Whalen Building's repairs.

CEDC provides update to City Council

Thunder Bay's Economic Development Commission is taking credit for creating several jobs within the City. CEO Steve Demmings says they created 133 direct jobs and 55 indirect jobs.  The CEDC told council Monday night that their goal for this year is to foster the mining industry.  The CEDC also plans to announce in six weeks time who will be hired as the City's Mining Coordinator.

Grand Marais station to open soon

Boaters take note.    The American inspection station at Grand Marais will be open in less than two weeks.   The station will open May 15th and remain open 7 days a week until September 30th from 9 until 5 pm Central Time.

Election day is finally here!

It's election day and the polls in Thunder Bay will be open until 9:30 tonight.   There are close to 60 thousand eligible voters in both area ridings, Thunder Bay-Superior North and Thunder Bay-Rainy River.   There are over 420 polls in both ridings.    The Giant will have news reports on election results after the polls are closed.

Company takes new FORM

A well known Thunder Bay architectural company is changing it's name. Kuch Stephenson Gibson Malo are announcing FORM Architecture Engineering as their new name. Among other buildings, they are most noted for the construction of La Verendrye High School and the George Jeffrey Children's Centre.

No election break for councillors

It's business as usual at city hall tonight.   In spite of the federal election, city councillors will be holding a regular meeting this evening.   One of the items on the agenda is the contract for sidewalk and street lighting worth 1.3 million dollars. As well a decision is expected on some exterior work on the ceramic facing of the Whalen Building on Cumberland Street, the home of Thunder Bay Hydro.

Man and woman busted for cocaine

Two 23 year olds in the city are due back in court May 25th on drug charges. Police say that the man and woman were arrested over the weekend on outstanding warrants. As part of the arrest they seized close to 58 thousand dollars worth of cocaine. They face possession and trafficking charges.

Bombardier says talks continue over streetcar contract

There is no indication from Bombardier Transportation that a contract that involves the Toronto Transit Commission will have to be delayed.   A report says that the TTC is requesting Bombardier put off the production of the new streetcars at the Thunder Bay plant.  However Bombardier spokesperson Marc Laforge says the work has not started and says the terms of the contract with  Metrolinx, the province's transportation arm, are still being negotiated. 

New OMA President from Thunder Bay

A Thunder Bay Doctor is now the leader of the Ontario Medical Association.  Doctor Stewart Kennedy was chosen as the 130th president of the OMA.  Kennedy has been a family Physician in Thunder Bay for more than 25 years.

Cazabon speaks out on native languages

A Canadian filmmaker wants to see more schools offering courses in native language. Andre Cazabon was in Fort Frances yesterday for the Native studies conference. Cazabon says schools have a good opportunity to preserve the language by turning to native elders for support. Cazabon found in her latest project "Third World Canada," that many young aboriginals are already unable to speak the native language of their grandparents.

Budget Finalized

Atikokan town councillors have finalized a budget that will include a 2-point-four per cent tax increase. Mayor Dennis Brown says it amounts to about a 30 dollar increase to the average homeowners tax bill. The township will spend just over 8-million dollars over the next year.

Brown Street Fire

A late night blaze left a garage in shambles on Brown Street. It took 21 firefighters about an hour to put out the fire. No injuries were reported. Platoon Chief Val Fontaine says garage fires can be dangerous. The reason being flammable liquids are often present.

Wabasse search to resume Wednesday

The city police confirm that the ground search for Jordan Wabasse will resume on Wednesday.   They'll be searching the banks of the Kam River near the James Street bridge for the missing teen

More wood allocations announced

Two more companies in northwestern Ontario have accepted wood supply offers from the provincial government.  Domtar will use its wood supply for full-time softwood pulp production at its mill in Dryden. Wagner Forest Management Limited has indicated that it will use its wood fiber to build a pellet  manufacturing plant in Ignace.  The business is expected to be up and running by October of 2013 and employ 20 new jobs.   Minister Michael Gravelle made the announcement at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference.

Milloy annonces literacy cash

83 sites in Northern Ontario will be offering literacy training thanks to the Provincial Government.  Minister of Training and Colleges John Milloy says they'll be offering basic skills training.  2 million dollars will go towards local programs.  Milloy made the announcement at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference.

Bearskin adds plane

A Thunder Bay based airline is expanding its fleet.  Bearskin Airlines has introduced a new Saab turbo prop 34 seat plane which is being used for its flights between Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.

Gas creeps toward record levels

Get ready to cry when you fill up next.  Gas prices have spiked again and now sit at just under a buck 40 a litre at many Thunder Bay gas stations.  That's according to the website gasbuddy.com.

45 year old mosiac graces new library

The new Mary J. L. Black Library isn't open yet, but it already has some vivid artwork to display.   The Public Library has re-introduced a mosaic by Ruby Owen called Thunderbird.   It is comprised of 27,000 tiles made out coloured glass, ceramics and rocks, and took over a year and a half to complete