Hobbs Says Last Resort T.Bay Buys Plant

Thunder Bay's Mayor Keith Hobbs is confident a local delegation has swayed the mind of Energy Minister Chris Bentley.  Hobbs, Councillor Joe Virdiramo and NOMA President Ron Nelson were in Toronto Tuesday to discuss the possible closure of the Mission Island power plant.  Hobbs says they aren't opposed to purchasing the plant themselves if the Province decides to mothball the facility.   Hobbs says he thinks they made a pretty strong case to keep the plant alive.

Bisson Weighs In On Power Plant

The Provincial New Democrats are weighing in on the Provincial Government's decision to possibly close the Mission Island Power Plant.  NDP Critic Gilles Bisson says the situation adds up to election seat saving. Bisson's comments are in reaction to a recent meeting with a Thunder Bay delegation and Energy Minister Chris Bentley.

ELA Concerns Not Over

The Coalition to save the ELA is concerned about the possible sale of the Experimental Lakes Area to an unknown buyer.  Diane Orihel is the director of the coalition and says the government is striking down motions to save the ELA behind closed doors.  Orihel adds that the government has seemingly ignored 25 thousand signatures on a petition to save the ELA from being sold.

Sarah In The Hall

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell has a new bike.  It's the bone-bike used by the Kids in the Hall in their 2010 series "Death Comes to Town."  It was given to Campbell after the Kids wanted a place to store it.  The bike is now on display at Campbell's Queen's Park office.

T-Wolves Drop One In Rankings

In hockey news...the Lakehead University Thunderwolves are now ranked number 8 in the country.  That's a drop of one spot in the CIS rankings from last week.  The T-Wolves are tied for first place in the OUA's West Division with the Windsor Lancers.   They'll be on the road this weekend for games with the Brock Badgers and Laurier Golden Hawks.

City Drives Message Home To Energy Minister

The City's delegation feels they drove their message home to Energy Minister Chris Bentley this morning.  Mayor Keith Hobbs, Councillor Joe Virdiramo and NOMA President Ron Nelson met in Toronto this morning with the energy Minister to discuss the possible mothballing of the Mission Island power plant.  Virdiramo says the Minister never said the plant will close he just implied they will put the project on hold while they collect more information.  Virdiramo says they let the Minister know they want to see the plant continue to operate.  The City held a news conference this morning via teleconference.

City Delegation Meets With Minister

The meeting is over and now the waiting begins. A Thunder Bay delegation, led by MPP Bill Mauro, met in Toronto this morning with energy Minister Chris Bentley to discuss the possible mothballing of the Mission Island power plant. Mauro believes the minister heard city concerns loud and clear. Mauro now wants to scrutinize the numbers from the Ontario Power Authority which claims the closure of the plant could save the province 400 million dollars in energy costs.

Dilico & CAS Sign Deal

Dilico Anishinabek Family Care is taking over child welfare services for Aboriginal children and families in Thunder Bay.  Dilico and the Children's Aid Society signed a formal agreement this morning on the Fort William First Nation.  Dilico Executive Director Michael Hardy says the agreement lays out jurisdictions for the two organizations.  CAS Executive Director Rob Richardson says they've always been supportive of Aboriginal children receiving child protection services from an Aboriginal agency.

Province Wide Bargaining Begins

With another round of bargaining underway, provincial government workers in Thunder Bay are holding an information picket today outside mini-Queens Park. Their union spokesperson Neil MacDonald says it's to mark the start of contract talks between the public service union and the province. MacDonald says 38 hundred government workers in the northwest are affected by the talks.

Fatal Crash Near Kenora

Two people are dead following a two-vehicle collision on Highway 17 east of Kenora. Police say their vehicle crossed the centre line and ran into a minivan around 7:00 o'clock last night. A 75 year old man and a 71 year old female companion died in the crash. The Highway was closed for over seven hours while the wreckage was cleared and the OPP conducted their investigation of the crash scene.