OCAP & Ontario Work On Framework

The pressure is on to establish a Framework agreement with the Ontario Coalition of Aboriginal Peoples and the Province.  OCAP President Brad Maggrah says it's one of the topics he will bring up at their Annual General Assembly on Sunday.  Maggrah says they have 9-districts across Ontario, and is calling on folks to write to their MP's regarding issues facing off-reserve aboriginals.

Sharp Brings Cup Back

Thunder Bay is getting another visit from Lord Stanley's legacy. The Stanley Cup is in the City Friday and is being brought here by Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Sharp.  The cup and Sharp will be at the Fort William Gardens from 12 until 2 tomorrow.  The last time Sharp brought the cup to the City was July 2010.

Debt Clock In T.Bay Friday

Photo supplied 

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is kicking off their 28 day Debt Clock tour in Thunder Bay tomorrow.  The province-wide tour will showcase the provincial government's debt that is set to reach 272 billion dollars by the end of the year.  The clock will be set up at the Thunder Bay Tourist Pagoda on Water Street and Red River Road.

NOSM Gives Out Grants

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is doling out cash to future MD students.  16 students are getting 6-thousand dollars each in grant money.  The med school doubled the amount of grants awarded this year from 8 to 16 to provide more opportunities to potential students.

Charges Laid In Algoma/Clavet Collision

Police are charging a 48 year old woman after two vehicles collided at the intersection of Algoma and Clavet Street on Wednesday afternoon.  Traffic Sgt. Glenn Porter says a red Dodge sedan was eastbound on Clavet St and collided with a southbound black Ford pick-up truck in the intersection.  The driver of the sedan has been charged with a stop sign related violation.

Ciao Festa Italiana

The annual Festa Italiana takes place this weekend.  It's a chance to experience that country's culture and food.  Organizer Benny Melchiorre (Mel-Chore-ee) says the popularity of the event continues to grow.  This year's event includes Pino Gioia from Italy and they'll be drawing for a trip for two to Italy on Monday at 10 pm.  The Italian Society of Port Arthur event is on this Sunday and Monday at the Italian Cultural Centre on Algoma. 

Pricey Hydro One Project

Hydro One is set to spend 25-million dollars on the construction of a new transformer station for the Rainy River district.  The station, to be located in Barwick, will replace an existing and aging one in Fort Frances.  Spokesperson Tiziana Baccega Rosa says they have all of the approvals in place to start work.  She says the station will improve the electricity capacity for the area between Fort Frances and Rainy River.

Low Fire Hazard

Not much work lately for Ministry of Natural Resources fire crews in northwestern Ontario.  The cool and damp weather has knocked down the fire hazard to low across the region.  There are 33-active fires in Northwestern Ontario.  30 of the blazes are being monitored and 3 are under control.

Dryden Meeting With Concerned Businesses

The concerns of a group of business owners are being taken seriously by Dryden Council.  Council has formed a so-called "working group" to meet with the business group.  Mayor Nuttall doesn't believe the City is opening "Pandoras Box" and giving this group special priviledges.  Nuttall notes Council is open to suggestions from everyone.

Jury Makes Recommendations

The jury in a coroner's inquest into the death of Gustavo Argueta is back with a list of recommendations to prevent similar deaths.  The 24 year old was killed in June 2011 while inspecting a bridge over the Mackenzie River. They deliberated yesterday and are recommending the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities develop and implement a standardized, mandatory training program for people working on elevated platforms.  The jury is asking the Ministry of Labour to develop regulations that require people already certified on those platforms be retrained and recertifed after a certain period of time.  The Construction Industry is also being asked to hold daily meetings that discuss the day's specific workplace objectives in order to address safety concerns.

Argueta Inquest Jury Deliberating

The jury in a coroner's inquest into the death of Gustavo Argueta is in deliberations.  The 24 year old was killed while inspecting a bridge over the Mackenzie River.  The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths.

Hospital Looking To Fill Positions

Thunder Bay's Health Sciences Centre continues to work towards filling the roles of two key executives who left the facility recently.   CEO Andree Robichaud says they hope to fill Scott Pott's corporate services position by the fall. The job posting closes on Friday and interviews are expected to take place shortly after.  Robichaud adds that Lori Marshall's previous job has been brought under the umbrella of another hospital department and a new position is being created to deal with communications and aboriginal affairs.

Collision At Algoma & Clavet

City Police are on the scene of a two vehicle collision at the intersection of Algoma and Clavet.  They say one person was sent to the hospital.  Officers have Algoma blocked off from Clavet and Monroe and expect it to be open by two today.  

NWO Resident On Species At Risk Panel

Added responsibility for Wabigoon's Brad Maggrah.  Maggrah has been apointed to the National Aboriginal Committee on Species at Risk.  The Committee was created with the mandate to provide the Minister of Environment with advice on the handling of the Species at Risk Act.  His term will last 3-years.  Maggrah is the current President of the Ontario Coalition of Aboriginal People.

More ELA Speculation

A report in the Globe and Mail says the Ontario government will pay to keep the Experimental Lakes Area operating in the long term.  The province and the federal government continue to negotiate the transfer of the research station to the Winnipeg-based International Institute for Sustainable Development.  There have been concerns that the provincial involvement would only be one-time funding.  Ontario Natural Resources Mininster David Orazietti tells the Globe and Mail that the money will be below 2-million dollars but isn't commenting on a specific number.  The exact funding formula hasn't been determined.  A tentative transfer agreement expires at the end of August.

Hospital Looking To Rent More Space

Thunder Bay's Hospital is considering renting out the fourth floor of the former McKellar Hospital to ease overcrowding.  Spokesperson Dr. Mark Henderson says before that can happen they have to formally ask the local health authority and Provincial Government for support.  Henderson says the hospital is overcrowded and the extra rooms at McKellar would house patients who know longer need emergency care but can't go back to their homes.

ELA Fate Still Up In The Air

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says the Liberals are all talk, no action.  Speaking specifically about the Experimental Lakes Area, west of Vermilion Bay, Campbell says there's been no word as to what the next step is.  Campbell says once she heads back to Queens Park in September, she is going to ask Premier Kathleen Wynne herself where things are at.

OPP Investigating Infant Death

Provincial Police are investigating the sudden death of a six-week-old baby girl in Big Trout Lake.  Officers were called to the nursing station Monday morning, and the child was pronounced dead.  Police say the deceased is Shantelle Sainnawap.  A post mortem is being done in Toronto.

Fire Crews Busy With 2 Fires

City firefighters were called to the scene of a house fire at 937 Home Avenue around 8-o'clock last night.  Crews had cut open portions of the roof to get at the fire that may have started in the attic. There were no injuruies and the investigation continues.  Meanwhile...there was heavy smoke damage after a small fire at an apartment on McTavish Street.  The blaze appeared to have started in the kitchen when boxes were left on a stove that was accidently turned on. There were no injuries.  

Collision At Expressway

Commuters late yesterday afternoon had to deal with delays at the intersection of the Thunder Bay and Harbour Expressways. A transport truck tipped over spilling part of its load which may have shifted causing the unit to roll.  The driver of the rig was not injured.