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$1M donation being made to the art gallery

TBNewsWatch

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This building is a terrible mistake. Blame city councillors of the past for putting their egos in front of common sense. Now, before it’s even built, taxpayers are putting up $400K a year to operate the thing. Mr. Paterson has it wrong. No one is coming. Unless you count a few hundred boat people who will stumble by it in our short summer. The paltry fund-raising to date tells you everything you need to know about community support.

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LETTER: Latest police investigation a witch hunt: former chief

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Former chief Herman is correct on one account: this is utter overkill. As to the motivation of the political leadership of the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation, this seems like its attempt at distraction from its own failures. Why has NAN left it to the taxpayers of Thunder Bay to deal with indigenous homelessness? NAN should be pushing Patty Hajdu for the resources to build a proper, secured treatment facility for its mentally ill and addicted members.

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City considering $4 million for temporary shelter village

TBNewsWatch

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Why is the “where” question not answered in this story? It’s key. I say Chippewa Park is the perfect spot. No more encampments allowed outside of this facility.

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City council ratifies $42 million indoor turf facility decision

TBNewsWatch

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Council refuses to even consider a deal with a private sector partner? All $42 million plus $9 million in interest payments paid for by local property taxpayers? Something smells. It feels like council is in the tank for a local contractor who just wants to build the thing and let taxpayers pay for it, hire a dozen new staff and underwrite half of the operating and carrying costs. These councillors have to be thrown out at the next election.

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FWFN blindsided by Kakabeka generating station redevelopment

TBNewsWatch

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Fort William First Nnation were paid a quarter of a billion ($230M) dollars to extinguish land claims in the Thunder Bay area. This is precious stuff from the chief.

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City pre-qualifies potential builders of new indoor turf facility

TBNewsWatch

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This is the least fiscally prudent council since the dark days of Keith Hobbs. A billion dollars worth of the city’s infrastructure is in ‘poor’ shape according to the city manager and this council is off to buy a shiny new toy.

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Construction compromises might be made for the art gallery

TBNewsWatch

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This is all on city council. This is their project. They pushed for it. No one else. Now it’s coming back to bight them. Building on the waterfront was a huge mistake. The art gallery should have gone in the former Eaton’s building as a downtown revitalization project. It would have cost a fraction of the cost of this disaster.

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Hours long discussion on designated encampment report at council

TBNewsWatch

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90 per cent or more of the city’s homeless are from the Far North. They will keep coming here for the services. Forget about a designated encampment. Start pressuring the federal government for serious money to build a proper facility at Chippewa Park with all the wrap-around services. Hand the land and the facility first to the DSSAB and then to an indigenous health authority. The city can then focus on creating housing for folks of low income but without the mental health and addictions issues.

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Former police chief Sylvie Hauth charged by OPP

TBNewsWatch

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Worst OPP news release ever. We have no idea what this is about. None.

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Two sites identified for 'village' for homeless people

TBNewsWatch

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There must be a quid pro quo for this investment: no more random, unauthorized encampments. The village is a reasonable, indoor alternative. The courts say if the city can provide this reasonable alternative, then there’s no reason for unauthorized encampments. Let’s hope so. One question nags, however. How long is ‘temporary’?

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LETTER: City homeless services expansion and the welfare magnet effect

TBNewsWatch

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This is the kind of nonsense that comes out of people when they’ve not a good contrarian argument. They attack the messenger. Puerile.

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Forester leaves city due to 'mismanagement'

TBNewsWatch

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City has completely got its priorities mixed up. Council claims climate emergency, but immediately turns its gaze to the next shiny object…..an indoor turf facility. Council could have gone all in on growing own trees to replace infected green ash, but didn’t. We’re still stuck buying inappropriate trees from southern growers. This is what happens when you’ve got a council dominated by ward councillors who don’t care about the big picture.

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Residents frustrated with city’s plan to turn parkettes into homes

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It is astounding that the city isn’t using provincial funds to purchase the city’s oldest and most decrepit homes to tear them down and prepare the sites for apartment buildings. The mess on Simpson Street is the most obvious example. This idea is not included in administration’s plans for spurring housing development. Small developers who don’t want to get into the tear-down business would leap at a chance to build on an infill lot that was ready for development. But city hall ain’t that smart.

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Thunder Bay Police officer charged with theft

TBNewsWatch

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This is a bad look for police. Not the alleged theft. The inability to provide the basic allegations to the news media about the nature of the theft. From a retail outlet? Walking out without paying for a meal? A private transaction? The department’s communications department seems to be full of amateurs.

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Premier to visit city on Thursday

TBNewsWatch

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Will Doug Ford agree to hand over the LPH property to the city to help the city’s housing initiative? Let’s hope so. Hope at least the mayor brings up the issue.

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City council gives homelessness action plan the green light

TBNewsWatch

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Will Marcus Powlowski and Patty Hajdu come through with some big-time cash? $12.5 million over five years is needed. This is our MP’s big chance to show they’re difference-makers. The large indigenous homeless population need help. This is the feds’ responsibility. No waiting for Ontario to pony up its share.

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City Manager is very clear about Thunder Bay's growth

TBNewsWatch

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Isn’t it curious that Mr. Collin’s priority is ‘growth’? Speaks volumes about the inattention of city council on this file. The politicians fobbed the mandate off and onto the Community Economic Development Commission to take the political heat off themselves. Look where that’s got us. On the other hand, I would have hoped that we would have seen Mr. Collin concentrate on something over which he has much more control: the size of our bloated bureaucracy at city hall.

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Unexpected discoveries delay Victoriaville demolition

TBNewsWatch

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Why wouldn’t the work, despite the discovery of “things”, have started already? The “things” involve interior renovations necessary before the roof comes off, which was the first phase of the work anyway. This sounds more like a money issue than a technical one. Are there other demands on that money that are more pressing in somebody’s eyes?

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We have an epidemic of homelessness in Thunder Bay: Krysowaty

TBNewsWatch

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If it’s a complex puzzle with no single solution, then everything must be on the table, including a federally-funded facility for indigenous, off-reserve people living with mental health issues and addictions. Also on the table should be involuntary incarceration for people who cannot manage their own lives because of their addiction and who turn for violence, intimidation and theft to sustain themselves. We also need a lot more people hired to hand-hold people on the edge until they get back on their feet. This would be a provincial responsibility. Thunder Bay should not build a single temporary unit until the other partners, including First Nations, are onboard with their commitments.

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Clocks turn back this weekend... And Thunder Bay has itself to blame

TBNewsWatch

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I like the current system. Never felt any significant effects after the change….either way. Wonderful in the summer and November, December and January are a struggle in any event. Come January, though, the sun is climbing back in the sky and all is well.

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