More Flood Talk Monday Night

City Council will be creating a "Flood Relief Fund Committee" at it's weekly meeting Monday night. Councillor Joe Virdiramo says they'll be formalizing the committee and what it will look like. Virdiramo says the flood relief committee will be in charge of accepting applications from people requesting funds.

Over 12-hundred Confederation College Students Graduate

Over 12 hundred Confederation College Students are now ready for the working world. They graduated from the school today during ceremonies at the Community Auditorium. One of them is Anna Krezminski who graduated as a personal support worker.  Krezminski is from Poland and has been living in Thunder Bay for 18 years.  Kreziminski already has a job to go to at Hogarth Riverview Manor.

NDP Leader Vows To Promote T.Bay's Needs

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says she will hold the Premier's feet to the fire when it comes to rolling out relief for the City's flood victims.  Horwath says now that the City is deemed a disaster area she will still be readily available to Mayor Keith Hobbs.  Horwath toured the flood area this afternoon.

Thunder Bay Declared A Disaster Area

It is official! Minister of Municipal Affairs Kathleen Wynne has declared the City of Thunder Bay, the township of Conmee as well as the municipality of Oliver-Paipoonge Disaster Areas for the purpose of receiving funds from the Provincial Disaster Relief Assistance Fund. Minister Wynne says up to 16 million dollars from Provincial funds is coming to our area. Homeowners are eligible to have their homes, food, and major appliances replaced or restored.

Highway 11/17 Open

The Ontario Provincial Police have cancelled their Highway advisory for the Northwest region. Highway 11/17 is now open at Vibert Road and also at Hume Road. Washouts from the flood forced sections of the highway to be closed but it is now open.

Jobless Rate On The Rise

Thunder Bay's unemployment rate is on the rise. Statistics Canada says it went from 5.2 percent in April to 5.7 in May. Meanwhile, the national unemployment rate was 7.3 percent last month.

Housing Starts In May

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation is forecasting a strong year for Thunder Bay. Analyst Warren Philp says only one thing concerns him about 2012 and it's the high demand for contractors after the recent flooding. The latest figures show there were 22 single-detached starts in May, which is even with the same amount last year.

Kathleen Wynne News Conference June 8, 2012 11 AM

Live broadcasting by Ustream

N.D.P. Leader To Visit Thunder Bay

N.D.P. Leader Andrea Horwath is in the city today. Her agenda includes visiting an East End home which was devastated by the flood, a meeting with Mayor Hobbs and a tour of the Atlantic Avenue Water Treatment Plant. Horwath has been peppering Premier Dalton McGuinty during question period this week as to why it has taken so long to declare Thunder Bay a disaster area.

3 Forest Fires Started Thursday

There are 20 active forest fires in Northwestern Ontario but none in the Thunder Bay and Nipigon Districts. The Ministry of Natural Resources is reporting three new fires which started yesterday. The Sioux Lookout District has the most fires with 9, there are 5 in the Red Lake area and one each burning in the districts of Dryden, Fort Frances and Kenora. Information Officer Debbie McLean says if the rain in the forecast holds true, the fire hazard rating will drop to low for the South and Central portions of the region, but remain high to extreme in the North.

Cats Lose Again On Road

The Thunder Bay Border Cats are looking forward to a return home to Subway Field this weekend. They lost 5-3 to Mankato last night, dropping their record to 3 and 6 on the season. The Border Cats have just 1 win in 7 tries on the road this season. They also have a depleted line-up with 10 players involved in college baseball playoffs.