CAW holding conference in Thunder Bay

Delegates from the Canadian Autoworkers Union are calling for political mobilization at a weekend conference in the City. Union members are learning how to become effective lobbyists during the lead up to the provincial election. National CAW President Ken Lewenza will be speaking Friday.

Eric Brown excited about being drafted

Thunder Bay's Eric Brown is still pinching himself. The 22 year old pitcher is now a part of the Toronto Blue Jays organization after being drafted this week.  Brown expects to be playing for the Vancouver Canadians this year.

Confederation College goes "green"

Confederation College is trying to be more green.  Sustainability Intern Courtney Korbyck says they're going to start small with a student campaign.  Korbyck says they'll encourage students to recycle, use public transit and cut back on using paper products. The college launched its five year environmental action plan Thursday.

Postal pickets up on Alloy Dr.

Rotating strikes by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers are affecting Thunder Bay today. Local union boss Wendy Johnston says just over 200 CUP-W members are affected.  She says they went out on the picket line at 11:30 on Wednesday night and will return to work at 11:30 Thursday.  Pickets are set up outside the Canada Post building on Alloy Drive

I owe Michael Antcliffe 10 dollars

A 36 year old Thunder Bay man who is dying from Melanoma is raising awareness about his cancer through social networking sites. The Northern Cancer Fund will benefit from money raised through the "I owe Michael Antcliffe 10 dollars" Facebook page.  Antcliffe says he would like to have 100-thousand friends on facebook.  The hospital is hoping to use the money raised to rename a patient waiting room after Antcliffe.  Antcliffe is hoping to tour parts of Canada starting on the East Coast this July. 

Immigration? There's an app for that

Northwestern Ontario's Immigration website is getting an upgrade.  Cathy Woodbeck is with the Multicultural Association and says the site now offers 15 languages and can be viewed on smart phones.
Woodbeck says they take several phone calls from people seriously considering moving to the Northwest.  The website has received over a thousand hits. 

Horwath promising price cap on gas

Thunder Bay's high gas prices are getting the attention of NDP leader Andrea Horwath. If elected premier, not only is she promising to cap prices in the province, she would take a look at transportation costs to Northwestern Ontario. Under Horwath's plan the Ontario Energy Board would be responsible for setting weekly price caps.

Former LU employee goes to jail

Guilty is the verdict against a former Lakehead University employee on charges of fraud and theft.   In court this week Toni Lynn Powers was sentenced to 9 months in jail in connection with the disappearance of nearly 150 thousand dollars from the university bookstore over an 8 year period.

Thunder Bay is rotating postal strike site

Expect to see less mail delivered to your doors.  Canada Post is trimming staff levels at mail sorting plants. And, starting next week, it's ordering letter carriers to deliver letters only three days a week -Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Spokesman Jon Hamilton says it's because mail volumes have dropped by half since last Thursday, when postal workers began a series of rotating strikes.  Rotating walkouts hit 13 communities today, including Thunder Bay.

Hudak paying Thunder Bay return visit

The Province's Election Day is still months away but that isn't stopping Party Leaders from visiting Thunder Bay.  Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak will be speaking to the Chamber of Commerce next Friday.  He'll be outlining what he would do to improve Northern Ontario's businesses and families.

OCHU tours NWO

The Provincial Government is putting patients at risk by closing hospital beds.  That's one message being brought to Thunder Bay, Sioux Lookout, Kenora and Fort Frances by the union representing hospital workers. Sharon Richer is the Northern rep for CUPE and says super-bugs, like c-difficile, are becoming a real concern.  She says they also want hospitals to report on their web-sites, how many people have died due to infections they acquired in their facility.