THUNDER BAY -- After four years the latest term of city council will meet on Monday night for the final time.
While 11 members will return as part of the new council on Dec. 1, Northwood Coun. Mark Bentz and at-large Coun. Ken Boshcoff will sit at the table for the final time.
Bentz was usurped by challenger Shelby Ch’ng in his ward race while Boschoff placed second to Keith Hobbs in his mayoral bid. Familiar face Frank Pullia, who has served multiple terms in the past, will replace Boshcoff.
One item on the agenda is a motion brought forward by Coun. Larry Hebert to urge federal Transportation Minister Lisa Raitt to expand the newly created Sudbury-White River VIA Rail line to include Thunder Bay.
Passenger rail service to the city was cancelled in 1989 and in a memorandum distributed as part of the agenda Hebert says restoring Thunder Bay as a stop would be a significant boost to the local tourism industry.
The city could be serviced by using the existing Canadian Pacific Trans Continental Line.
Hebert also suggests it would create an alternative mode of transportation in the event of winter road closures.
