Forty-eight-year-old Martin Fabian Achneepineskum was stabbed to death Dec.2 at 229 McIntyre Street. Police charged a 32-year-old man with second-degree murder and two counts of breach of probation in the incident. They say the two were known to each other and that alcohol was a factor.
Lakehead Public School elementary teachers walked off the job for 24 hours in protest to the Ontario government’s controversial Bill 115 on Dec. 12. Members of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario picketed outside of a number of Thunder Bay schools, as well as the James Street government building. Parents were given 72 hours notice about the one-day strike, learning that teachers would not be in classrooms and instead protest a government bill they believe takes away their bargaining rights.
An engineering consultant hired by the city to investigate the flooding of the Atlantic Avenue sewage treatment plant presented his findings to council on Dec. 3. He recommended the city implement a “quick and dirty fix” and temporarily remove one of four filtration screens to allow a faster flow of water. A long-term fix includes the creation of an emergency bypass that would divert water and increase screen-cleaning rates to prevent clogging and the slowdown of water flow. The total cost would be in the $1.45-million range and could take up to 15 months to complete.
A 40-year-old Greater Toronto Area man died following an industrial mishap on Thunder Bay’s waterfront in the early morning of Dec. 1. Thunder Bay Police said the unidentified man was killed while working on a grain ship in port. He was aboard the Tecumseh, a Canadian bulk carrier owned by Lower Lakes Towing.
Hundreds of people braved the cold Dec. 21 and gathered at Prince Arthur’s Landing for the city’s own Idle No More protest in conjunction with similar events across the country. The protest was part of a national campaign to protest Bill C-45. Many vocalized their support for Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence who has been on a hunger strike in an effort to force a meeting with the prime minister.
The seven Liberal leadership hopefuls met in Thunder Bay Dec. 9 at Lakehead University for a northern debate. Education, economic development and Aboriginal issues were front and centre topics at the debate, which saw little tension between contenders.
Fort William First Nation officials learned they were cleared of fiscal misuse allegations on Dec. 10. Officials with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada said in September they were looking into allegations of financial improprieties connected to the finances of Fort William First Nation. The stemmed from a complaint made in September of 2011.
The man accused of stealing a plane from Confederation College in 2009 was denied his special plea of autrefois convict, which is similar to double jeopardy. Adam Leon has been charged with theft over $5,000 in Canada and was convicted in the U.S. and sentenced to two years in prison for illegally entering that country and interstate transportation of a stolen aircraft. In her decision on Dec. 18, Justice Joyce Pelletier said the charges are not the same.
City council voted to take over two local services in December. On Dec.10, council voted in favour of forgiving a $572,000 loan from the Thunder Bay Regional Protective and Emergency Services Training Centre (PEST) in exchange for the facility’s title being transferred to the city. And at Dec. 17’s meeting, council voted 11-1 in favour of bringing HAGI Community Services for Independence under their control.
Just one day after expressing his frustration over not hearing any information on the stalled conversion of the Thunder Bay Generating Station, Mayor Keith Hobbs received a call from Energy Minister Chris Bentley Dec. 20 to schedule a meeting to discuss the future of the plant. The meeting has been set for Jan. 14 in Thunder Bay between the mayor, the minister, the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association, members of a local energy task force and members of the Ontario Power Authority.
