Provincial Election June 12th

We are heading to the polls June 12th. Premier Kathleen Wynne has confirmed that she will call an election for that date.  Thunder Bay Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro thinks the Liberals are in good shape heading into the election.  Mauro will face the NDP's Mary Kozorys and the PCs Harold Wilson.  Meanwhile,  Thunder Bay Superior North MPP Michael Gravelle says he's eager and ready to go. Gravelle will face the NDP's Andrew Foulds, and the PC's Derek Parks.

Mauro & Gravelle React To Horwath

Local MPPs are reacting to the defeat of the provincial budget by the NDP.   Mines Minister Michael Gravelle says the rejection of the budget hurts northern Ontario. Gravelle says he's prepared for a summer election. Meanwhile, Thunder Bay Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro says he wasn't surprised Horwath didn't support the budget he's just disappointed. 

Chamber Reacts To Budget Rejection

Now that the NDP have rejected the new Ontario budget, Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce President Charla Robinson is talking Ring of Fire.  She is hoping that during the election campaign all parties commit to infrastructure funding for the giant mining project.  In the budget, the Liberals promised 1 billion dollars toward's the Ring of Fire

Budget Rejected

Andrea Horwath

The provincial budget has been shot down by the  NDP. The budget was tabled yesterday at Queen's Park, but needed NDP support in order to pass. Speaking in Toronto today, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says the budget is not a solid plan for the future. It is now likely that an election will be held in the province.

Thunder Bay Counts

Rebecca Johnson

The United Way and the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre are teaming up for a new project. Thunder Bay Counts is a new resource that will determine and act on what is important for residents well being. Rebecca Johnson will Chair the new initiative means various community groups will be able to work together on improving the City.  The Ontario Trillium Foundation provided 149-thousand dollars towards the two year project.

Kinghorn Trail Closer To Reality

The local Kinghorn Project is seeing progress. The proposal to keep the abandoned Canadian National Railway Line as a recreational trail is closer to development after its governing group received 25 thousand dollars towards the project. The township of Nipigon has been discussing the possible trail since March 2007. 

Blessings In A Backpack

A new program is providing food for over a 100 kids at three local schools.  It's the Blessings in a backpack program and local organizer Amina Abu Bakare says she would like to expand it to another two schools on the City's north side. Currently kids at Ogden, McKellar and Sherbrooke receive backpacks full of food every Friday for the weekend.

Hydro Bills Going Down

Thunder Bay Hydro is going to lower their bills. They will charge slightly less for local delivery of electricity used, with the residential customer charge going down by 1.5 percent or about 36 cents on a monthly bill.Small business customer charges from Thunder Bay Hydro will decrease by just over 15-percent which amounts to about 9 dollars and 72 cents on a typical bill.

Harbour Is Hopping

Tim Heney

Its a busy time of year for the Thunder Bay Harbour. Chief Executive Officer Tim Heney says the break of ice has created a larger amount of ships in the harbour than usual. Heney says they will see another group of ships in on the weekend.

Beardy Calls For National Meeting

Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy is calling on the Assembly of First Nations to hold an emergency meeting on the Federal Government's first nation education bill. Beardy feels the issue warrants a national discussion. Beardy wants the meeting to be held as soon as possible this month.

Cycling Tool Kit Launched

Thunder Bay is launching a National Cycling Education Toolkit. It's a partnership between the Ontario Trillium Foundation, City, Health Unit, and Eco Superior.  Active Transportation Coodrinator Adam Krupper says it's a chance for other communities to learn from Thunder Bay. The tool kit took in 4 years of information collected in Thunder Bay as they developed bike lanes and cycling program.

86-K Raised

A local fundraiser is donating 86-thousand dollars to the Regional Health Sciences Centre.  The 40 in 40 fundraiser set out to raise 40-thousand dollars in 40 days, to fight head and neck cancer.  Fundraising coordinator Michael Muia says so far, there are no plans for an event next year.  All money will be donated to the Regional Health Sciences Centre Exceptional Cancer Care campaign.

Drug Drop Off Launched

They can be dropped off at any of the 60-plus detachment locations across Ontario on Saturday, May 10th.  Ontario Provincial Police are holding a prescription drug collection service this weekend. Prescription Drug Drop Off Day will allow people across the province to safely dispose of old or unused medications.