I think a good Member of Parliament should, whenever possible, should consult directly with the people they represent as often as possible. We can do this through mailings and correspondence, phone calls, door to door visits, private meetings, and public meetings like townhalls. The other methods are all good, but I would like to deal with townhalls this week. I view townhall meetings as a chance for us to get together as a community, to learn about the issues that affect our lives, and to w... Read Full Story

Thunder Bay, ON -- When I drive through Thunder Bay, not much has happened in the last seven months. There is the new Brick store, the new bank, Green Earth in the mall and the Metro on Arthur, but it’s all the same. It feels the same as it did when I left in September, the only difference is, I am a completely different person. I have been in Africa for seven months. Six of those months I spent in Kenya and my last month I traveled to Uganda, Rwanda and Zanzibar. I can’t believ... Read Full Story

Thunder Bay, ON -- Candrive — the Canadian Driving Research Initiative for Vehicular Safety in the Elderly — is looking to recruit volunteers for a long-term study of older drivers to determine the key factors that impact their driving safety. Study results will help in the development of a simple, objective screening tool that will assist health-care professionals to identify the characteristics of safe and unsafe older drivers, and refer those deemed at risk for further assessme... Read Full Story

Thunder Bay, ON -- Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose and students and educators from NAN First Nations will celebrate the Second Nishnawbe Aski Nation Education Awareness Week May 11-15. “Education is the key to our success as First Nations people, and educational opportunities are an mportant investment in the future of our people as we move towards greater self-sufficiency and self-reliance,” said NAN Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose, who holds the NAN... Read Full Story

Thunder Bay, ON -- Beginning May 15, many resort and cottage-area LCBO stores that normally close at 6:00 p.m. will remain open until 9:00 p.m. on Friday evenings. Select LCBO stores in these communities will also stay open later on Saturday evenings. In most cases, these extended Friday and Saturday evening hours will continue until the Labour Day weekend. All LCBO stores will be closed on Victoria Day, Monday, May 18. As with most government offices, LCBO's Toronto head office will clos... Read Full Story

Premier McGuinty and his caucus of Liberal MPPs seem determined that people in our province are not capable of acting responsibly. The Premier seems determined to act as everyone's Premier Dad to enforce his government's vision on the people of Ontario.While one might think that the real priority in Ontario would be getting our province out of 'Have-not' status. One might also think generating a manufacturing jobs strategy would top the to-do list in Ontario. Instead the Pre... Read Full Story

Thunder Bay, ON -- The Mining Act in Ontario is continuing its slow steady legislative process. The update to the legislation is now headed to the consultation phase as it heads to committee.In an international report released by Canada's Bedford Consulting Group - one of the leading executive search and recruitment firms for the mining industry - 130 mining executives from around the world reveal for the first time their economic priorities as they look toward stimulating recovery in the... Read Full Story

Washington, DC, -- Premier Dalton McGuinty will receive the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s (BIO) second annual International Leadership Award for his strong commitment to the development and growth of the biotechnology industry in Ontario, Canada. The award honours individuals who have shown a strong commitment to advancing biotechnology through policy mechanisms that facilitate and strengthen a country or region’s innovation frameworks. The award will be presented to the H... Read Full Story

Montreal, PQ -- Late Wednesday, AbitibiBowater received financing in the amount of $100 million, to continue operations as the company continues restructuring under bankrupty protection. AbitibiBowater Inc. ( AbitibiBowater or the Company ) and its Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. ( Abitibi ) subsidiary today announced that an order from the Québec Superior Court in Canada has been obtained authorizing Abitibi to enter into a loan agreement with Bank of Montreal for debtor-in-possession financing ... Read Full Story

Queen's Park, ON -- Thunder Bay Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro was up in the Ontario Legislature on Wednesday with a Member's Statement. Here is the text of the statement by Mr. Mauro: PUBLIC TRANSIT Mr. Bill Mauro: It appears that both of the opposition parties have found religion when it comes to mass transit in Ontario. Just yesterday, we heard a Conservative member tell the Legislature that he had discovered the importance to Thunder Bay of the recently announced city of Toronto contr... Read Full Story