HNO Supports Hockey Canada

Hockey Northwestern Ontario is making some rule changes after Hockey Canada decided to eliminate body checking from Peewee hockey. HNO General Manager Trevor Hosanna says it was the right decision, allowing kids to be safer on the ice. Hosanna says the rule change is effective for the 2013-2014 season.

Flood Relief Cheque Changes

Thunder Bay's Disaster Relief Committee is making headway on negotiations with the Provincial Government over flood claims.  Today's update on the process coincides with the one year anniversary of the flood.  Chair Wayne Fletcher says originally the Province was using the cost of rebuild services in Toronto rather than in Thunder Bay.  Fletcher says residents will now notice an increase on their reimbursement cheques.

Collision At Oliver & Hill Streets

A two vehicle collision at the intersection of Oliver and Hill Street resulted in one woman being sent to the hospital.  District Fire Chief Jerry Olga says both drivers seemed fine after the crash.  A photo of the incident can be seen on our news website.

Fire Hazard Extreme

The Ministry of Natural Resources is reporting the fire hazard across northwestern Ontario is high with pockets of extreme found in the Thunder Bay area.  Rain is expected later this week but the amount of rain and where it will fall is questionable.

Oliver Paipoonge Road Closure

There's a rural road closure today in the community of Oliver Paipoonge.  Monteith Road between McCluskey and Boundary Drive is off limits from 8 am this morning until 5 tonight.  Crews are replacing a culvert during the closure.

Residential Tax Rate Going Down

The city's tax policy is changing in favour of residential property owners.   The new rate for the average city ratepayer is going down from 3 and a half per cent to and even 3 per cent much to the delight of Councillor Andrew Foulds who says residential taxpayers deserve a break. Under the new policy, the rate for business owners will go up just by point one per cent.

Whelan Building Renos Approved

The second phase of renovations to the Whelan Building are going ahead, but not all city councilors  like it.   Mark Bentz and Rebecca Johnson say spending the million dollars for renovations  will unfairly benefit a private business.  But the city's Mark Smith says  administration believes it's worth supporting and has the potential to create 240 new jobs.  In the end only Councillor Johnson voted against the renovations. 

Virdiramo Opposes Site For Expanded Program

Expanding the alcohol management program by the city's homeless shelter is not sitting well with all city councillors.   Joe Virdiramo says allowing the program to expand to the old EMS building on George Street is only going to make problems in that area of the city worse.   He says it's because there's an overabundance of social services in the area and the city may be creating a ghetto.  Shelter House officials made their case for expanding the program to the new facility, but Councillor Virdiramo says another location would be better 

Study Will Prove Program's Success

The head of the city's homeless shelter is claiming a new managed alcohol program is a success...and she plans to prove it. Speaking to city councilors last night  Patty Hajdu of Shelter House says a new  study will show how many emergency services are used by those on the street and how the program is helping to ease the problem.  Hajdu pleaded her case for additional space to help expand the program for destitute alcoholics.

Black Eye For Hospital

Dr. Gordon Porter, CEO Andree Robichaud

The Regional Health Sciences Centre is reporting a breach of patient confidentiality.  500 patient records including MRI images were shared with a doctor who had no authorization to look at them. Hospital President Andree Robichaud calls it a very serious issue and patients will be notified.  Robichaud says the doctor involved has been dealt with but wouldn't say exactly how.

Kasabonika In A State Of Emergency

There's another evacuation of First Nation residents from a northwestern Ontario community.   150 people have been taken from Kasabonika to Hearst and Greenstone because of flooding.  Emergency Management Ontario says the community is currently under a state of emergency because of the situation.

OPP Probe Suspicious Fire

OPP in Greenstone are looking into what they believe was an arson in Geraldton.  They say that an abandoned home in the community may have been torched on the weekend.  No one was hurt in the blaze and no arrests have been made.

No Driving On Closed Roads

City Police say people are not getting the message about driving on closed roads.  Police ticketed 50 people with driving in zones where they shouldn't be.  Traffic Sgt. Glenn Porter says that includes Arundel Street.  Eight drivers were also ticketed for speeding in the area of the Golf Links Road construction site.

New Drug Overdose Program

The City's Drug Strategy is launching a new overdose prevention program. Coordinator Cynthia Olsen says they'll be offering a kit that helps people with substance abuse problems spot the signs of an overdose, and includes a drug to help reverse overdoses. Overdose training will start June 5th.

Local Bees Threatened By Parasite

There's a new threat for honey bees in Thunder Bay. A deadly parasite known as the destructor mite has caused the bees to weaken during winter months. The local beekeeper association is offering to replace for free any infected hives that are destroyed to prevent their spread.

Forest Fires Over The Weekend

The forest fire hazard is moderate to high with some areas tipping up into the extreme range.  There were 4-new fires in the northwest region over the weekend.  5-fires continue to burn but no problems are anticipated.

Hunting Draw Info

Attention hunters, you can still apply for the 2013 Big Game Draws.  Ministry of Natural Resources Spokesperson Michelle Nowak says residents in Northwestern Ontario can hunt moose or antlerless deer.
Applications for moose can be made till May 31st and antlerless deer till July 2nd.   Paper applications are no longer being accepted, instead they are being done online or over the phone.

Internet Voting A Possibility

The city may be about to take the first step to allow Internet voting in the next election.   Councillor Rebecca Johnson says her colleagues  will be asked to support alternate voting methods for upcoming  elections...something she fully backs.  The other methods include voting by phone or by mail.

City Council Round Up

From tonight's City Hall agenda, one Councillor is questioning the wisdom of paying one million dollars so a private company can move into the Whelan Building.  Rebecca Johnson says the money would be for the second phase of renovations to the building.  Another 2 million dollars for the renovations would come from other government sources.  Meanwhile, Officials at Shelter House are planning to expand the fledgling  managed alcohol program.  Executive Director Patty Hajdu is to appear before city Councillors tonight with a plan to take the program into the vacant EMS building on George Street.

No Flood Costs Tonight

City council will not be dealing with the costs of last years flood at this evening's meeting.   They were going to get a report stating the total price tag for the May 28th disaster is about 44 million dollars.  However that report will now come up at next week's meeting.