Rafferty thinks Pension call could be a ploy

John Rafferty thinks there could be more to a call from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation for MP's to scrap their pension plans.  The Federation says MP's should drop their lucrative plans and switch to the same plan the government is suggesting Canadians to adopt.  Rafferty says he thinks this could be a ploy to hand Conservative MP's huge payouts.

Plan Nord opens eyes

Iain Angus calls it a worthwhile exercise. The city councillor helped to organize a presentation on how well advanced Northern Quebec's economic planning is thanks to a program called Plan Nord. He says it shows they are farther ahead in the planning process than we are in Northern Ontario.   Angus says the lessons learned at the presentation will be discussed by local leaders to see what can be implemented here.

Police want drivers to slow down

Thunder Bay Police had to deal with a couple of collisions today and it led to a call for drivers to slow down.  Traffic Sergeant Glenn Porter says its disappointing how many people fail to take conditions into account, considering winter conditions happen from November to April every year.  Porter says there is no such thing as an accident, only collisions and almost always human error is to blame.

Murder trial moves along

A city murder trial continues to hear witnesses for the prosecution. On Tuesday court heard from Michael Kelly's former employer, Harold Kamphern.  He told the jury that he hired Kelly in 2000 to catch leeches in the Anders Lake area about 20 kilometres from where Judie Thibault's body was eventually found.  Also on the stand was an OPP officer who was investigating the murder.  Detective Sergeant. Jane Conway testified that when she told Kelly that Thibault's body was found, he showed little or no reaction and that during the exchange he appeared to be distracted by a TV program. 

T.Bay hosts National Curling

Canada will be watching Thunder Bay when the Fort William Curling Club hosts the National Wheelchair Curling Championships in March.  Ten teams from across Canada will compete for nine days.  Chair Dave Kawahara says they've come a long way since they first started to make the rink accessible in 2006.  The sporting event is expected to bring in revenue and tourism to the community.

Fibre experts testify at trial

More forensic evidence at the Michael Kelly murder trial.  Morning testimony on Tuesday focused on the carpet that Judie Thibault's body was found wrapped in in 2004.   The prosecution presented two forensic experts to try to draw a link between that carpet and other similar carpet samples taken from a home Thibault rented and a government building on May St.   The only conclusion by the experts was that it could have been from the same sources, but it wasn't a certainty.  Kelly is charged with First Degree Murder in Thibault's death.

SIU investigating shooting

A man is in hospital with self inflicted injuries after he barricaded himself in his truck with a gun. Tuesday, OPP were called to the Dorion cutoff to help talk him out of the vehicle when the man shot himself.  Police administered first aid and called for an ambulance.  Sergeant Shelley Garr says the Special Investigations Unit has taken over the investigation.

Residents attend Open House

Another step in the City's Official Planning process is underway.   An Open House was held at the West Thunder Community Centre on Tuesday.   Councillor Iain Angus says it's important to allow the public a say because the Official Plan should reflect the citizen's wishes.   A steady stream of people came by and it appeared to be well attended by a cross section of  groups including the Friends of Big Thunder, the Field Naturalists and a neighbourhood community group. 

Former School is now a condominium

The former Fort William Collegiate Institute is now a condo building.  Habib Architects has started selling the first phase of units in the 99 unit building of what is now called the Heritage Suites Condominiums.  People should be able to move in at the end of this year.

Its costs more to eat healthy in the North

Its more expensive to eat here than it is in Southern Ontario.  That's according to a study done by the District Health Unit.  Nutritionist Catherine Schwartz Mendez says the annual nutritious food basket survey shows its costs about 60 dollars more a month to eat healthy in the North.

Lakehead tops in application increase

Lakehead University is number one when it comes to the increase in student applications.  The school is seeing a jump of 12.6 percent in applications this year which is way above the provincial average of 2.4. 

More police testimony at trial

The Michael Kelly First Degree Murder trial is continuing in a Thunder Bay courtroom.  On the stand for much of Tuesday was Bill Wowchuk a Detective Constable with the city police who was investigating the disappearance and death of Judie Thibault.  During cross examination Wowchuk testified that prior to 2007 there was a wiretap put on Kelly while Kelly was in New Brunswick.  Wowchuk added that when he handed the case to the OPP, there was still no evidence linking Kelly to Thibault's death

Big bashes raise big $

A local charity is 41 thousand dollars richer thanks to the money raised by two local Christmas homecoming parties. John deBakker says he and Stewart Kennedy enjoyed putting on the event.  The proceeds are going to Our Kids Count.

More video evidence in court

The Michael Kelly murder trail is close to the halfway mark now.   Tuesday, court saw a video of a 40 minute interview police did with Kelly on December 4, 2000.   It was part of the ongoing probe into the disappearance of Judie Thibault.  The Jury was told that at the time, Kelly was considered a "person of interest".  Kelly is heard saying the police "keep asking the same questions over and over again".   Kelly is charged in Thibault's death last decade.

Habitat does it for the 22nd time

Another Thunder Bay family is benefiting from a new Habitat for Humanity home. Rutland Williams was able to take ownership because local residents sold out Habitat's fundraising raffle last year, a deed Williams doesn't take for granted. He says he's happy to be in his new home which is located on Johnson Avenue.

Hobbs on dropping weight

If your struggling with exercise and diet you can take solice that our own Mayor is in the same boat.  Keith Hobbs is embarking on a weight loss challenge similar to Toronto's Mayor Rob Ford. Hobbs wants to drop 15 pounds which will bring him to his goal weight of 210 pounds.

Police running out of space for evidence

City Police are running out of room for their over 27-thousand pieces of evidence.  Chief JP Levesque says they may have to find another space to hold evidence.  Levesque says if they're forced to find more storage room the cost will come out of this year's budget.

Wolf spotted in South Neebing

City Police are looking into a wolf spotting in South Neebing over the weekend.  Chief JP Levesque says it all started with a photo that was sent to City Councillor Linda Rydholm.  Levesque says they'll be looking into how they handle predators in City limits.

Deer issue won't go away

The topic of hunting deer within city limits is being brought up again.  Henry Wojack is calling on the Police to provide stats on how many motor vehicle accidents involve deer and whether speed played a role.  Wojack also suggested to the Police Service Board this morning a possible solution would be to lower the speed limit in city limits.

Police Budget increases

The Federal Government's decision to increase unemployment insurance and the Canada Pension Plan is having an impact on Thunder Bay Police.  The 2012 police services budget will cost another point three percent.  City Council still needs to approve the police budget.