Foulds To Seek Provincial NDP Nomination

City Councillor Andrew Foulds is seeking the Provincial NDP nomination in the Thunder Bay-Superior North riding.  Foulds says if he is succesful in winning the position, he'll be ready to take on current MPP Michael Gravelle.  He adds he wants to be Thunder Bay's Queen's Park champion.  The nomination meeting will be held March 14th. 

Minnesota Street Fire

Thunder Bay Fire Crews are working on a fire at a home on Minnesota Street.   Spokesperson Les Newman says the fire is in the back of the house.  The fire has moved into part of the attic and crews believe it started in an electrical panel.  The power has been turned off as a precaution.  Newman says there wasn't anyone home at the time the fire started.

Council To Consider Solar Project Support

City Council is going to hear from a solar company at it's Monday night meeting.  GTE Solar will be talking about their proposed solar facility on Dawson Road.  They'll be asking for Council's support in the Provincial Power Authority approval process.  Other topics up for discussion include continued support for the Urban Aboriginal Strategy. 

Confederation College Gives Out Bursaries

Confederation College is helping out 360 existing students.  An awards recognition ceremony is being held tonight and will see over 142-thousand dollars in scholarships and bursaries doled out.  The money is to be used during the upcoming school year and came from donors to the college foundation.

RBC Innovation Awards

The RBC Innovation Awards are back for another year.  This year's winners include Hero of the Year Dr. Mathew Leitch and Company of the year KBM Resources Group.  The awards were handed out Thursday afternoon.

Campbell Talks NDP Budget Demands

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says the N-D-P has a number of demands for the upcoming budget.  Campbell says their demands come from people throughout the province.  Some of the priorities include ending corporate tax loopholes, and changes to auto insurance.

Meetings With 3 Cabinet Ministers

The Mayor is leading a contingent to Toronto this week for the annual Good Roads Association conference.  So far, they are meeting with three Provincial Cabinet Ministers.  Keith Hobbs says first up is new Energy Minister Bob Chiraelli.  They'll also meet with Health Minister Deb Mattews and Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Glenn Murray.

More ELA Support

Thunder Bay MP Bruce Hyer is putting the pressure on Kenora MP Greg Rickford.  Hyer says Rickford isn't talking about the Experimental Lakes Area inside parliament.  Last week during a question period Hyer brought forward talks about petitions given to Rickford that have not been mentioned.  Meanwhile, more high level support for the Experimental Lakes area.  The ELA was on the minds of the delegates at the annual meeting of a World wide Oceanography organization in New Orleans yesterday.  A number of delegates showed up wearing t-shirts supporting the ELA.

Business District Closer To A Strat Plan

Now the real work begins for the Fort William Business District. A series of public meetings on the future of the area are now completed. Spokesperson JP Fraser says there were several common themes that came from the gatherings. He says the top concerns included safety, parking, and more shopping variety. The results of the meetings will be reviewed and may be included in the area's strategic plan which will then be incorporated into the city's Official Plan.

Foulds Set To Make An Announcement

Political pundits in Thunder Bay are abuzz over what Andrew Foulds might announce this afternoon. The city councillor has close ties with the NDP and the thinking is he might take his political ambitions to a new level with a shot at the provincial scene.