Helicopter contract benefits Northwest

A Dryden based company has signed a 1.5 million dollar contract with the Ministry of Natural Resources. Superior Helicopters was awarded the two year forest fire contract and Spokesperson John Curran says they'll transport crews to forest fires and dump water on blazes.  The contract will span two fire seasons.  Curran says the new contract means they're looking to hire more staff.  Superior Helicopters is owned by Discovery Air.

Horwath turns her attention to Pellican Falls road

A Northwestern Ontario road is garnering the attention of the Province's NDP Leader. Andrea Horwath toured the Pellican Falls road after the Northern Anishinabe Education Council raised concerns about it's condition. The road falls under the jurisdiction of both the Federal and Provincial Governments.

No end in sight for Mideast unrest

There appears to be no immediate end to the wave of uprisings in the Middle East. Right now protests have been taking place in Yemen, Bahrain and Libya. Lakehead University's Laure Paquette says it's hard to predict what will happen next in those countries. Paquette says the length of any protests will depend on the diversity of support.

Hillier blames Green Energy Act

The PC party's critic for Northern Development is attacking the McGuinty Government's energy policies. The Premier won't committ to providing the region a seperate electricity price. Randy Hillier puts the blame on the Green Energy Act. Hillier says it's wreaking havoc on the north.

Bisson calls for toxic herbicide disclosure

If it happened in Northeastern Ontario, you can bet it probably occured in the Northwest as well. That's the feeling of Timmins James Bay MPP Gilles Bisson on the revelation that the MNR sprayed toxic herbicide on Crown land from the 1950s to 1970s. Bisson says forestry workers were exposed to the toxins but many others were as well. Bisson is calling for the forestry companies and MNR to release all of the information they have on the spraying program.

AbitibiBowater transactions still need approval

The NDP says it wants to know what the provincial government is going to do about the sale of the AbitibiBowater Hydro dams in Ontario. Abitibi announced the sale to an unnamed buyer last week, but the transaction still needs the approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources. Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Howard Hampton doesn't think the provincial government will try to intervene in the sale. The dams up for sale include the hydro assets in Kenora, Fort Frances and Iroquois Falls.

Wabasse search continues

City police are expected to release details about the ongoing search for Jordan Wabasse.  Officials say the Anishinabek Police are conducting a snowmobile search of the wooded area near the THP Gas Bar on City Road.  The 15 year old has been missing since February 7th.  The underwater search on the Kam river has been called off.

Justice Pelletier takes issue with legal rep

A routine court appearance for Christian Hernandez turned into a slap on the wrist for his former lawyer. In court today Justice Joyce Pelletier noticed that Hernandez's Toronto Lawyer wasn't present. She also noted that a representative from Chris Watkins' office was there. Pelletier said she had some concern with that after she specifically ruled last month Watkins was to have nothing to do with the case. Pelletier said she would "let it go" for now, but left it clear she wasn't pleased. The 26 year old Hernandez is charged with impaired driving causing death. He is due back in court March 28.

One man hurt in hit and run

Thunder Bay police are looking for the driver of a vehicle involved in a hit and run with a pedestrian. Thunder Bay Traffic Sergeant Glen Porter says the collision happened yesterday morning at around 3 o'clock. Porter says the pedestrian was walking across the intersection at Royal and Pringle Streets.  He was taken to hospital with non life threatening injuries and released.