Auto-Pedestrian Collision Near City Hall

Thunder Bay Police are investigating a collision between a car and a pedestrian. It happened just after 10:30 a.m. this morning at the intersection of Archibald and Donald Street. 2 city buses were indirectly involved and are parked at the scene while police investigate further. No other information is being released at this time.

Police Begin Ground Search For Missing Woman

Twenty city police officers are on foot patrolling the area surrounding the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Police are conducting the ground search for 42 year old Pauline Kireto who was last seen on October 15th. Efforts by her family and police to locate her have been unsuccessful. Kireto is described as 5-foot-1 with a medium build and short dark hair. She does require medication and has been without them since the time of her disapearance. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Pauline Kireto is asked to call city police or crimestoppers.

Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett In T.Bay

Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett is holding a roundtable event at Lakehead University tonight.  The Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Critic will be speaking with Confederation College and LU students about aboriginal issues.  The event gets underway at 4:45 tonight.

NAN Talks Funding Cuts

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation is taking action against the Federal Government's funding cuts to First Nation organizations.  A series of funding cuts have been made and will be fully implemented by 2014.  NAN Grand Chief Harvey Yesno says if they have less money to work with they won't be able to hold as many conferences.  Yesno brought up the federal funding issue at the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Special Chiefs Assembly currently running at the DaVinci.

Noront Stays The Course

Noront Resources remains confident production of its Ring of Fire mining project in northern Ontario will begin on time.   President Wes Hanson says even though Cliffs Natural Resources has delayed the start up date for it's own mining project by a year, Noront still has its sights set on starting production at the Eagle's Nest site in 2016 or 2017.  Hanson says however  that still hinges on the search for cash.  While not mentioning a possible financial partner, Hanson says they're optimistic they can  assemble a package which will meet their start up target.

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.

NAN Chiefs Meeting In Thunder Bay

Forty Nine Nishanwbe Aski Nation Chiefs and other leaders are converging on Thunder Bay starting Tuesday. They are here for a Special Chiefs Assembly that takes place at the Da Vinci Centre. Topics being discussed range from winter roads to prescription drug abuse to resource development.

Local Teachers Protest

Public high school teachers in Thunder Bay are joining teachers in the rest of the province in labour action in their protest against the McGuinty government.  Locally teachers are showing how angry they are at legislation that imposed a two year wage freeze on most of them by refusing to, among other things, attend after hours meeting. Caccamo says extra curricular activities like school sports will not be affected.

Toronto Bound

It's off to Toronto Tuesday morning for city officials who have a meeting scheduled with Energy Minister Chris Bentley.  MPP Bill Mauro says he arranged the gathering so they can express their concerns to the minister first hand about the possible mothballing of the Mission Island power plant

Methadone "Killing Our People":Social Worker

A social worker from Toronto says the overuse of Methadone is doing serious harm to First Nations people across Northwestern Ontario. Bridget Perrier says the use of the drug, which helps addicts kick drugs like oxycontin, is only causing a more serious problems because it's simply transfering one addiction for another. Perrier says "it's killing our people".

First Nations Partnership Formed

The Grand Council of Treaty 3 and the Anishinabek Nation have formed a unity to work together on common issues. Chiefs from both communities have agreed to share knowledge on traditional law making processes that are within the traditional Anishnabe law. Treaty 3 spokesperson Dale Morrisseau says one of the main issues they will work together on is protection of treaty rights. Morrisseau says both communities have been working on the same processes so it makes sense to come together and share ideas.