Plan Nord out shining the Ontario Northern Growth Plan

Ontario's Northern Growth Plan is coming up short when compared to Quebec's newly released Plan Nord.  Lakehead University Economics Professor Livio Di Matteo says Ontario appears to be a framework for future planning while Quebec's plan is a framework for future action.  Di Matteo says our plan calls for 5 million dollars for a Northern Policy Institute while Quebec's plan commits 2.1 billion dollars for various projects over the next 5 years.

Cab robbed at knife point

Thunder Bay police are looking for two men after a cab robbery.  The Cab was robbed a knife point on Pasture Road.  The driver wasn't hurt and the suspects made off on foot with some cash.

Body found in the Kam River.

A body has been found in the Kam River near the James Street Bridge.   Thunder Bay police say that it was discovered around 7 pm Tuesday night by a boater.  There is no word on whether it's the body of a man or a woman.   It's the same area that searchers have been looking for Jordan Wabasse.  The teen has been missing since February 7th.

Thunder Bay woman dies in vehicle accident

A 38 year old Thunder Bay woman is dead after an accident on the Trans Canada west of Sudbury.  An east bound vehicle crossed the centre line and hit a westbound vehicle. After the initial accident a second west bound car swerved to avoid the collision but lost control and struck a rock cut.  38 Year old Leisa Hald died at the scene of the accident.

Horwath stands up against high hydro prices

Monday's Hydro protest in Dryden has caught the attention of Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath. Horwath brought the Premier up to speed on the rally during Question Period Tuesday.  She says area residents have had enough.  Horwath says Northerners are forced to decide between paying their hydro bill or putting food on the table.

HMCS Griffon sent to Winnipeg

Thunder Bay's HMCS Griffon is sending 5 members and two inflatable boats to help with flood relief efforts in Manitoba.  Lieutenant Commander John Bell says they'll be helping to evacuate residents and bring in supplies.  The group left today but more personnel are expected to be sent within the next 24 to 48 hours.  The Thunder Bay group will be dispatched to HMCS Chippewa in Winnipeg before receiving further orders.

Rendezvous with Italy launched

Fort William Historical Park is kicking off its summer line up with a tribute to Italian culture.  June is Italian culture month in Ontario. General manager Serigo Buonocore says Thunder Bay has a large Italian population and he hopes to see everyone come out and celebrate.  Other events this summer include Retrofest and Celtic fair.

10 mile road race back for another year

The Fire Fighters 10 mile road race is back for another year.  Race Director Mark Smith says it's an ongoing May long tradition heading in to a second century.   Smith adds the race wasn't held during the World Wars but has been held every year since.  Prize money will be awarded for the fastest male and female competitor.

Atikokan Renewable Fuels looks to future

Atikokan Renewable Fuels is expected to begin production later this year.  Owner Ed Fukushima says they know that the pellets they'll be producing will become quickly out-of-date.  Fukushima says they're researching new techniques that will get higher energy out of the wood.

Gas prices go up

Its getting even more expensive to fill up your vehicle. According to the website gas buddy dot come, the price of regular has risen to a dollar 44 a litre at some stations.

Dental equipment heading to Cuba

40 thousand dollars in dental and medical equipment is heading to Cuba thanks to Confederation College.  The college no longer needed the equipment since they're receiving new equipment as part of the new REACH facility. A humanitarian group in Cuba will be getting 36 dental work stations, 8 dental chairs, 13 dental lights, sinks, stretchers and more.

Golf courses may go bye-bye

The future of City owned golf courses is up in the air.  Administration is conducting a study looking into the outcome of selling the city's golf courses.  Councillor Rebecca Johnson introduced the idea and says it's been a long time coming.  The golf courses ran a 400 thousand dollar deficit in 2010.

Pepe talks tourism in 2010

Thunder Bay's tourism economy grew modestly last year.  That's according to Tourism Manager Paul Pepe.  Pepe says they saw a decline in American visitors, with most of the visits coming in late summer and early fall. Pepe says they plan to work on getting the people who visit Thunder Bay to stay longer.

Convention Centre sites pricey

The public is going to have their say on the proposed sites for the Thunder Bay Convention Centre.  A series of public consultation sessions will be held in June.  The six locations range in price from 79-million dollars to 128-million dollars. A report was made Monday night to council detailing the proposed locations.  City administration is suggesting the project will be funded by the provincial, federal and municipal governments as well as some funding from the private sector.

BMX club wants municipal property

Thunder Bay's BMX club wants Council to help them build a new five acre BMX park.  President Maurice Poulin says their current site is plagued with vandalism and violence from teenagers who like to jump their bikes in the dirt.  Poulin wants administration to conduct a feasibility study looking into possible municipal properties that could house a BMX park. 

Hampton questions Liberal inaction on missing teens

The NDP are attacking the Liberal Government"s inaction over the disappearance of seven First Nation high school students.  Kenora Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton brought the issue up in Monday's question period.  Hampton feels that if seven students from Hamilton disappeared, there would be a different reaction by the government.  Hampton is pushing for increased attention to the conditions of First Nations youth living off of reserves.

NAN calls for increased funding

Nishnawbe Aski Nation is calling on the government to provide funding to support First Nation teens attending high school in Thunder Bay.  Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose says since 2000, seven native teens died or are missing while attending high school in the City.  Teens from remote First Nation communities are forced to travel to larger centres to attend secondary school.

OHL Draft sees Thunder Bay players picked

5 Thunder Bay hockey players were selected in this weekend's OHL priority selection.  Dylan Mascarin went highest in the draft, 93rd overall to the Plymouth Whalers. The Thunder Bay Kings also saw Riley Corbin go in the 5th round to Sudbury.  Also in the draft Thunder Bay saw Connor Sills go to Plymouth in the 9th round, Billy Exell in the 11th round to Sarnia and Jordan Larson in the 12th round to Sault Ste. Marie.

Highschool rankings released

Four of Thunder Bay's eight high schools are scoring above or at the provincial average in EQAO tests.  St. Ignatius scored 7.5 out of 10.  Hammarskjold, St. Pat's, and Westgate Collegiate all scored 6.4 out of 10. Sir Winston Churchill scored 5.6, Superior Collegiate got 5.3 and Ecole secondaire Catholique de La Verendrye came in with 4.3 out of 10.  Private school Dennis Franklin Cromarty scored zero out of 10.

No one injured in attempted robbery

No one was injured in an attempted robbery of the Polish Legion on South Court Street. Police say a woman entered the building and was involved in an altercation with one of the workers. The woman is described as a 20 year old Native Canadian with black shoulder length hair and a thin build.

New Mary JL Black Library opens

The new Mary J L Black Library has opened its doors.  Acting Chief Librarian says the new building is a huge upgrade for accessibility.  Philp says some shelving work still needs to be finished but they will be done by the June 11th Grand Opening.

Housing starts in Thunder Bay rise

Housing starts could soon be on the rise in Thunder Bay.  According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation year to date numbers are slightly behind last year's numbers but Analyst Warren Philp says there has been a sharp jump in permit sales, which should lead to an increase in starts. April saw one more start compared to the same month last year.

Free comic book day

Thunder Bay comic shop owners are calling Saturday's "Free Comic Book Day" a success. The industry promotion happens every May. Anyone can walk in a participating store and pick up free comics.

Hill City Comics owner Rob Quinn says he had hundreds of people come through the store throughout the day. He hopes the promotion gets kids interested in the medium. Hill City also raised around $400 for
Harbour Youth Services during the event by allowing customers to make a donation for extra comics. It was a busy day for Comix Plus owner Gary Gummeson as well. He says comic books have much to offer in terms of storytelling and are a great way to get kids interested in reading. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the event.

Early morning vehicle fire

Thunder Bay Fire & Rescue responded to an abandoned vehicle fire near South Court Street early this morning. The fire was quickly extinguished. There were no injuries; firefighters are unsure of what caused the blaze.

Friday drug bust

Combined Forces Organized Crime Unit says they siezed nearly $28,000 worth of cocaine and just over $6,000 in cash from a Lawrence Avenue residence. A man is facing charges in connection.

LeBlanc seeks P-C nod

The north side Tories may be looking for some star power for this October's provincial election.  Anthony LeBlanc is looking to become the Progressive Conservative candidate in the provincial riding of Thunder Bay-Superior North.   The former Research in Motion executive is the only person to file his nomination papers with the party

Law school inches toward reality

The provincial government's approval is the only thing standing in the way of a new law school at Lakehead University.   A major hurdle was cleared after the Law Society of Upper Canada voted to approve the academic program for a proposed Faculty of Law.

Mining Centre of Excellence possible for the city

Talks are quietly taking place in the city to set up a so called Mining Centre of Excellence. City Manager Tim Commisso says the centre would be a home for mining companies, related businesses and possibly even training.  He calls it a natural development for Thunder Bay given what's been happening in the mining industry.  Commisso says discussions on the concept are in the early stages with the Economic Development Corporation and an interested business partner

Multi Plex site locations to be reviewed

City Councillors will discuss the best location for a proposed Multi-Plex at tonight's meeting.  One of the sites is near the Downtown bus terminal.  Others include property near the Airport, a site near the Canada Games Complex, the Innova Business Park area, the former Pool 6 site, and the current Fort William Gardens Site.

BMX group to speak to council

Thunder Bay's BMX club wants Council to help them build a five acre BMX park.  They're speaking to councillors tonight asking that administration embark on a feasibility study.  The current BMX park does not meet the club's needs.

The LHIN finds new chair

The North West Local Health Integration Network has found a new Chair of the Board of Directors. Joy Warkentin is taking over the position from Janice Beazley whose term expires later this year. Anne Krassilowsky has been appointed the new Vice Chair of the board.

Health Sciences Centre gets provincial funding

ER wait times are being attacked at the Thunder Bay Health Science Centre.  The Provincial government is providing over 2.2 million dollars for 11 short stay beds and another just over 100 thousand to help shorten wait times in the ER.  The province also announced an additional 800 thousand dollars for the Northwest Community Care Access Centre.

Police handing out tickets at Waste and Recycling facility

Free Entry week at the Thunder Bay Waste and Recycling centre is keeping city police busy.  Officers have handed out over 100 tickets for a number of violations.  35 people have been given 160 dollar tickets for hauling unsecured loads. 

Habitat wraps up raffle

There won't be much of a profit but Habitat for Humanity in Thunder Bay will be making some money off its raffle.  CEO Diane Mitchell says the situation has improved dramatically.  A month ago it looked like Habitat was going to lose thousands on the raffle but has since hit the break even mark.  Tickets are available at the Habitat Restore until tomorrow afternoon. 

Health unit urges caution with found needles

Spring cleaning is on the mind of many Thunder Bay residents, but not everything can be simply thrown out. The Thunder Bay Health Unit is urging residents to take extra precaution if you find discarded or used needles. Always use tools when picking up used needles and store them properly in the yellow disposal units found in various locations in the city.

MNR hears residents concerns

The Ministry of Natural Resources is asking for public comment on their draft Lakehead forest management plan.  Spokesperson Leona Tarini says they've heard area residents concerns about cutting around their cottages and the impacts on the surrounding lakes and fish.  The plan will manage the forest for five years starting in 2014.

Teachers to eye kids at risk

A suicide prevention group in the city is getting 140 thousand provincial dollars to teach teachers. The program will see school teachers get information on how to spot potential suicide victims among the students they see daily. The program is run through the Thunder Bay District Health Unit.

Drug bust nets kilo of cocaine

Police are boasting about yet another drug bust.  This one netting police a kilo of cocaine with a street value of over 100 thousand dollars. They say the coke was destined for the city.  A 42 year old man from British Columbia was arrested at the Terry Fox Lookout on Highway 11-17

Local bar to face strict conditions

The owner of Dragon's Den Sports Bar is again being allowed to serve liquor. Lisa Murray of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission says a 40 day licence suspension will be lifted May 13th.  Murray says the owner will have some strict conditions to follow in order to avoid another suspension.

More heat on Liberals over Bill 151

The PC's Northern Development Critic says the McGuinty Liberals have blown through discussion on the Forest Tenure Reform bill. Randy Hillier believes the forestry industry in the province is about to take the shape of current Local Health Integration Networks.  That is, the minister would be able to back off on making wood supply decisions by using political interference as the excuse .   Hillier is also condemning the government for voting down some amendments to the legislation

May Street Mac's Mart robbed again

The May street Mac's store has been robbed again. Thunder Bay Police say the suspect made off with an undisclosed amount of cash and lottery tickets. The suspect is believed to be 30 to 40 years old, six feet tall, and wearing a red hoodie, sunglasses and red gloves.

Folino's robbed

Thunder Bay Police are looking into a robbery at Folino's Superette on South Algoma Street.  A man armed with a knife made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.  The suspect is described as a 20 to 30 year old Native Canadian, with a scar on his cheek and nose.

Firefighters train in Thunder Bay

Firefighters from across the province were in Thunder Bay this past week to train for the upcoming forest fire season.  Training Specialist Brad Diehl says they were lucky enough to teach Crew leaders in the field.  50 crew leaders took part in the 10 day training course that wraps up on Friday.

Wilson talks Bill 151 amendments

The Chamber of Commerce is cautiously optimistic about amendments being made to the Forest Tenure Reform legislation.  President Harold Wilson says there were a number of amendments that would have eased their concerns but the government voted them down.  The bill still needs to receive third reading in the Ontario legislature.

Atikokan Mayor presses Province

The provincial government is being pressed by the town of Atikokan to provide the new owners of the Atikokan Forest Products Mill with a wood supply.  Eacom Timber of Montreal has an offer to buy the idled Sapawe mill, but first wants a secure wood supply.  Mayor Dennis Brown says reopening the mill would bring back lost jobs.  A hearing on the matter is schedule for next week.

Shrine Circus is coming

The Lakehead Shrine Circus is hoping to raise around 20 thousand dollars with it's 56th circus show.  President Craig Wolverton says money raised in Thunder Bay helps local families.  10 year old Thunder Bay resident Bryce Foster will be taking part in next weekend's circus performance.  The Shrine Circus is May 13th and 14th at the Fort William Gardens.

Cops for Cancer is this weekend

Several Thunder Bay Police officers will be sporting new 'hair-less do's' after Saturday's Cops for Cancer event.  Spokesperson Maria Cabral says they'll welcome walk ins at the Intercity Mall for a donation of 25 dollars.  The Giant's Ed Lavoie will be shaving his head in support of his brother in law and Rob Brown. The local Cops for Cancer event has raised over 450-thousand dollars over the years.

Rafferty gets back to work

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty is anxious to get back to Ottawa.  The NDP member plans to focus attention on the Northern Ontario economy in the House of Commons.  Rafferty is also planning to reintroduce bills on protection pensions and severance that died with the election call. He's hoping to play a role in the NDP's shadow cabinet.

Fort Frances Military Find

A chance discovery at a Fort Frances laundry mat is helping an Edmonton woman learn more about her father. A box of items belonging to World War II vet Donald Keith Nelson was discovered in a previously unexplored basement area of Suds and Tubs. Owner Sherry Loveday says she was happy to find his daughter living in Edmonton. Loveday says some discussions locally helped locate the daughter.