Man Injured In Collision

A 54 year old man is recovering from minor injuries after police say he was hit by a pick up truck.   They say that the collision happened at around 8:30 Tuesday morning as the man was crossing Mary Street at Syndicate Avenue.   The driver of the truck is now charged.

XP Concerns In Thunder Bay

Computer repair companies in Thunder Bay are being swamped with calls now that Microsoft is no longer supporting the Windows XP operating system.   Jaime Gratton  of Northern Computer Innovations says they've been receiving several calls from concerned people who believe their computers will shut down. She assures them that is not the case, but that they will probably start noticing problems in the weeks or months to come.   Gratton says they are recommending upgrading to Windows 8 or getting newer computer.

Beardy Calls For Funding To Be Restored

Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy is calling for the Federal and Provincial Government to restore funding they've cut to area First Nation organizations.  Beardy feel the lack of funding is an attempt to silence the voices of First Nations.

NOSM Gets Award

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is receiving a Rural Medical Education Award.  NOSM is getting the award because they excelled at matching the most graduates to rural family medicine programs.  In 2013, 64% of NOSM’s graduating MD class were matched to a rural family medicine residency program.

Former Attawapiskat Co-Manager Charged

The former co-manager of Attawapiskat First Nation has been charged with fraud over 5-thousand dollars and theft over 5-thousand.  The charges, laid by Nishnawbe-Aski Police, come after an investigation that started in February 2013.  62-year-old Clayton Kennedy was co-manager of the northern Ontario band's finances from July 2010 until the end of the summer of 2012.  There is no word from police if the two are linked.  Kennedy will appear in court on May 28th. In his private life, Kennedy is also the partner of Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence.

Land Use Official Plan Meeting Tonight

The City wants your opinions on it's official land use plan.  An Open House to discuss the document will be held tonight at the Jackpine Community Centre from 3 until 8.   There will be another five public meetings held throughout the rest of this month.

Future Mining Jobs Report Released

A local think tank is looking into its crystal ball and forecasting the future job demands in mining.   The North Superior Workforce Planning Board released it's ten year outlook for ten area mining projects and next year they feel the companies will need to fill almost 5-thousand positions. The report goes onto say that the most in demand employment fields in the mining industry include haul truck operators and heavy duty mechanics. To view the full report click here.

Housing Starts Hit A Wall

New housing construction is slowing down to a crawl in Thunder Bay.  According to government figures from Canada Mortgage and Housing, so far this year construction has started on only two new houses.  That compares to 7 starts for the first three months of  last year.

Another Money Scam

City Police warning residents of yet another scam.  People here in town have received letters out of Montreal stating they have been chosen for a consumer research program. The letter comes with a fake cheque for a large sum of money and instructions to cash it and send some of the money back to the scammers through Western Union.  Police reminding residents that if a deal sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Young Offenders Captured

Two young offenders back in custody after bolting from the Creighton Youth Centre.  Just after 8 o'clock last night, the pair took off from the centre after attending a presentation at the Oliver Road facility.  Police arrested the two males a short time later at Lakehead University.  The two, who stay at the McGuire Youth Centre, will be in court today to answer to escape of lawful custody charges.

Solid Waste Plan Approved

City Council is allowing its staff to move forward on its 9 million dollar solid waste plan.  Council approved the multi-year garbage and recycling initiative at its meeting Monday night.  Staff will come back at a later date with details on how the City can pay for the waste plan.

Tenders Disappoint Foulds

City Councillor Andrew Foulds isn't pleased that tenders for repairing the Boulevard Lake dam have come in over budget.   Staff told Council Monday night that the bids were a million dollars over what they had originally projected.  Foulds says it's another let down for his Current River ward.  The repair is being put off by a year so the City can find the money for the project.

Mixed Reaction To Plebiscite

People for and against a ballot question on the proposed event centre spoke their minds at City Council Monday night.  John Pukila of the Citizens for the Proposed Event Centre was one of several residents who spoke against the plebiscite and said it would hinder the third phase of the project.  A group of residents who want a ballot question rallied outside of City Hall before the Monday night meeting.

Plebiscite No Go

City Council put the kibosh on an event centre question on the upcoming municipal ballot.  Councillor Linda Rydholm's plebiscite motion lost because not enough councillors supported it.  Councillor Aldo Roberto thinks the people who want a plebiscite are just upset about the location. Both people for and against the election question made their cases to Council Monday night.

New Courthouse Now Open

The new courthouse on Brodie Street is now open with the Superior Court of Justice starting operations today. The new 250 million dollar 7 story building includes 15 courtrooms and an Aboriginal Settlement Suite, the first of its kind in Ontario.  Crown Attorney Dan Mitchell is like a kid at Christmas.   He says it's a state of the art building which allows all the crown prosecutors to be under one roof for the first time in about three decades. The employees from the Ontario Court Of Justice on Arthur Street  will be moved in next week

LU Signs Mexican Agreements

There's a new era of cooperation between Lakehead University and 3 Indigenous universities in Mexico.  LU spokesperson Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux  an agreement has been signed which will see, among other things, a student and professor exchange program.   She adds, that some professors will be coming here to get their PhD's which they can't do at their universities just yet.  There will also be joint programming between the institutions which will have an Aboriginal focus.

OPP Probe Fuel Theft

The OPP are investigating a few weekend incidents.   One is the theft of 800-900 litres of fuel from various pieces of machinery  on Holland Road West.   As well they are asking for your help in trying to figure out who stole a silver Mazda van from outside a Shabandowan residence,  a vehicle which was discovered abandoned with its rear window smashed on Highway 17 near Fourway School.  And a traffic stop on Chippewa Road and Highway 61 netted police what they believe to be cocaine and crack cocaine.

NDP Critic Visits The Lakehead

The NDP's provincial Children's Services's Critic says northwestern Ontario has unique issues when it comes to helping disadvantaged young people.   Monique Taylor says while wait lists for services and funding issues are the same problems across the province she says our size makes our challenges different.  She says it becomes harder to provide services to everyone especially First Nation communities.  Taylor was here for a meeting with local parents and children's advocates.

Councillors To Debate Plebiscite

A plebiscite on the proposed downtown events centre will be pitched to council tonight.  Linda Rydholm says if approved council would have until the end of the month to act. Rydholm says at a recent public meeting the public voted unanimously to have a plebiscite held.   Meantime Mayor Keith Hobbs is repeating his opposition to any sort of vote on the event centre saying the city is already on track with the project and a plebiscite would only delay the process.

Mining Meeting This Week

Prospectors from across the Province are in Thunder Bay this week for the Ontario Mines and Minerals symposium.   Prospectors Association Executive Director Garry Clark says it's a great chance for stakeholders to mingle.  There will be representatives from the government, junior mining companies and prospectors in location.   The conference is taking place at the Valhalla Inn tomorrow and Wednesday.