College Float Plane Program Moved

A program originally based east of Atikokan is moving west. Confederation College Aviation Chair Paul De Oude says the school's float plane training program will now be based on the Kenora Harbourfront. De Oude says training will start as soon as possible.  He notes the partnership is with River Air and community support provides the long term foundation needed to run the highly successful program.

Resolute Fires Back @ Greenpeace

Resolute Forest Products is responding after Greenpeace unfurled banners in Montreal to denounce the company's forestry practices in the boreal forest. In a release, the company says Greenpeace's actions are consistent with those its taken since withdrawing from the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement a year ago.  Resolute also calls Greenpeace's allegations untrue, noting all of its woodlands are independently certified to one or more internationally-recognized standards. And it adds that only point 2 per cent of boreal forest is actually harvested with 40 per cent of the forest off limits to forest companies.

Rickford Named Natural Resources Minister

A major promotion for Kenora MP Greg Rickford. Rickford has been named Minister of Natural Resources in a Prime Minister Stephen Harper cabinet shuffle.   He says he's grateful for the confidence the prime minister is showing in him.   Rickford replaces Joe Oliver who replaces Jim Flaherty as Finance Minister.   He retains responsibility of FedNor and the Ring of Fire but gives up his Minister of Science and Technology portfolio.

Woman Injured In Rollover

A woman is in hospital after her vehicle rolled over in the ditch on Highway 61 between Arthur Street  and the Harbour Expressway just after 8:30 this morning.  Thunder Bay fire Captain Craig Venables says they used to the jaws of life to extricate the unconscious victim from her vehicle.   Police and paramedics were there as well.  Police say the victim suffered serious injuries and her immediate condition is not known.

OPP Report Several Collisions

In addition to the serious traffic mishap on Highway 61 today, the OPP are reporting a number of vehicle collisions this morning during our snow squall.    They say that at Around 7:45 on Mapleward Road a woman in her Nissan SUV ended up in the ditch.  She was taken to hospital but her injuries aren't considered life threatening.  And at 10:45 on Highway 527, the road to Armstrong, two trucks collided, but there were no injuries.

Thunder Bay MP's Voice Concern

Bruce Hyer

Bruce Hyer is voicing concern for the appointment of Kenora MP Greg Rickford as new federal Natural Resources Minister. Despite believing he has the intelligence for the job, Hyer says that Rickford's priorities concern him. Rickford replaces Joe Oliver who moves into the Finance Minister position.  Thunder Bay MP John Rafferty says Rickford has big issues to deal with involving major oil pipelines, but looks forward to working with him.

John Rafferty

Car Destroyed By Overnight Fire

A car is a total write off after an overnight fire.  Firefighters responded to the vehicle blaze around 4 o'clock this morning in the 900 block of Mountdale Avenue.  The car was parked in the driveway and there was some exterior smoke damage to the house.  Fire officials aren't sure of the cause of the blaze, but have ruled out foul play.  There were no injuries.  

Thief Hit By Vehicle

A 48-year old man is in Regional Hospital with non-life threatening injuries after being struck on a bicycle at the corner of May and Finlayson Street.  City Police report the incident took place just after 9 o'clock last night. Ironically, it turned out the victim had been seen moments earlier smashing a window to break into a vehicle on the CLE Grounds.  Witnesses stated the thief then took off on a bike.  A tool box was recovered at the accident scene.  The man has been charged with possession of stolen property, mischief and failing to yield under the Highway Traffic Act.