Hospital thankful to Bombardier

Officials at the Regional Hospital are thankful to the Bombardier Foundation. Hospital foundation CEO Glenn Craig says it's because of a half million dollar contribution to the hospital's second catherization lab.  He says that's in addition to the 3 quarter million dollar grant made when the campaign first began. The second lab is named after the Bombardier Foundation

Please water your trees

The hot weather this summer has prompted the City to ask residents to water trees in their yard and along the street.  They're reminding the public to only water on days of the month that are associated with your house number.

Next on the list....heart surgery

No sooner has the Regional Hospital cut the ribbon on it's second catherization lab, now the talk is about making heart surgery available here. One of the hospital's senior administrators, Lori Marshall, calls it a work in progress.  She says they are working on a proposal right now which will be submitted to the Ministry of Health in the fall. Marshall adds having 2 cath labs here gives the hospital credibility when applying for the surgery unit.

Health Unit expands vaccine program

Starting this week the health unit is offering two new vaccines to kids.  Spokesperson Darlene Binette says they'll be available during their Wednesday immunization clinics.  The two new vaccines include rotavirus and a combined measles-mumps-rubella program.  The health unit is also expanding two other vaccine programs.

Clement in Thunder Bay Thursday

FedNor Minister Tony Clement is in Thunder Bay this morning to make a funding announcement in support of the region's economic development.  He'll be at the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund at 11, and later at Marina Park for a tour of the waterfront.

Roofer involved in accident

A Thunder Bay worker is in hospital with unknown injuries after a roofing accident today in the city. Matt Blajer of the Ministry of Labour says an investigation is underway into the incident on Willow Park Drive.

City sets up bug traps

Thunder Bay continues to take action against the Emerald Ash Borer. The bug was recently found in Ottawa and Urban Forester Rena Viehbeck says it's just a matter of time before it arrives on our door step. The city is setting up traps in ash trees to detect when the pest first arrives. The bug is being spread by the transportation of firewood.

Collision in construction zone

No serious injuries to report from a traffic accident at the highway construction zone near the Terry Fox Lookout at about 8 o'clock this morning.  OPP say a pick up truck and a dump truck collided on a closed section of the new highway.  Two of the people in the pick up were taken to hospital to be checked over.

Economic turmoil should boost Thunder Bay housing market

The real estate market in Thunder Bay will remain hot thanks in part to the current economic turmoil south of the border.  LU economics Professor Livio Di Matteo says the US Federal Reserve Bank vowing to keep interest rates low, will likely mean the Bank of Canada will follow suit.  He says lower interest rates will make it easier for people to get a mortgage and will keep our housing market rocking for the foreseeable future. 

Contract talks continue

Efforts are underway to end the strike by 700 Bombardier employees.  Contract talks resumed at the Best Western Norwester this morning.  At issue are pensions, wages, and benefits.

More fire fighters on the way

Two days of showers has brought some relief to firefighters battling 110-wildfires across Northwestern Ontario.  100-new fire rangers from B.C. will be arriving Friday while 200-out of province staff will be released by the end of the week. Yesterday was the first day since June 10th that no new fires were reported.

New Hepatitis C Treatment

Northwestern Ontario Hepatitis C patients will soon be able to access a new treatment. Health Canada recently green lighted a new drug program. It targets a specific type of Hepatitis C that's the hardest to treat. The treatment will be available in Thunder Bay by the new year.

Kenora sues Province

The City of Kenora is talking legal action to get the provincial government to help pay for much needed repairs to a couple of local bridges. The price tag to fix up the Keewatin Channel and the Winnipeg River West Branch Bridges is into the millions. Kenora Mayor Dave Canfield says a lawsuit is one way of forcing the government's hand. The bridges were downloaded onto the municipality 14 years ago, and Canfield suggests some of the problems predate the transfer. He plans to bring the issue up as his number one priority at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario convention in London later this month.

Strike is on

Thunder Bay's 700 Bombardier Plant employees are walking the picket line.  Company Spokesperson Marc Lefebvre says they were unable to reach a deal.  Union Spokesperson Dominique Pasqualino is hoping for a very short strike.

Pukaskwa Park Bear may be dead

The Ministry of Natural Resources thinks it may have killed the bear that attacked a Pukaskwa Park visitor. The bear matches the physical and behavioural description provided by the victim.  Tests are being conducted to determine if the DNA of the killed bear match evidence collected from the scene.

Great Lakes getting warmer

The Great Lakes are getting warmer.  Over the past thirty years the water temperature has increased 1.5 degrees.  That's going to impact Lake Superior's fish population according to Dr. John Casselman.  Rock bass, and Sunfish will increase while Lake Trout populations will decline.  Casselman says all we can do to help our fish population is adapt to change.

Horwath makes mining and forestry promises

The NDP are promising to scrap the current wood allocation process in the north if they form the next government at Queen's Park.   In unveiling a part of its northern election platform in Thunder Bay,  leader Andrea Horwath also says the NDP would force mining companies to process the minerals they mine in Ontario.

Bombardier contract talks continue

We are just hours away from a possible Bombardier Strike. A source tells our newsroom the company and the Canadian Auto Workers Union negotiated throughout the night and are continuing ahead of today's 4pm deadline. Company Spokesperson Marc Lefebvre says they're hoping for a resolution to be reached by this afternoon. The Union has said workers will strike if a deal is reached by then.

Firefighters hopeful for rain

Ministry of Natural Resources fire managers are nervous as a low pressure system treks across Northwestern Ontario. They are hoping for rain but may get more lightning as the storm passes over the region. Successful initial attacks by fire crews and aircraft have kept new fires small and easier to extinguish. More than 2-thousand fire personnel and 100 aircraft continue to work on forest fires in the area.

Service cuts in Thunder Bay are not out of the question

Could Thunder Bay follow in Toronto's foot steps in cutting operating costs?  According to our Mayor everything is on the table.  Mayor Keith Hobbs says he wants to make the City leaner and no option is out of the realm of possibility.  Hobbs says at this time he thinks cut backs to the public library system isn't an option.