10. City clerk John Hannam said he expects electronic voting could be ready as soon as the next vote is needed, announcing requests for proposals have already been sent out. Staff was expected to review the proposals starting in late October and make recommendations shortly afterward.
9. Former parliamentary budget office Kevin Page paid a visit to his hometown to sign copies of his new tell-all book, Unaccountable: Truth and Lies on Parliament Hill. Page, in the book, says Ottawa is broken and laid much of the blame on the then-ruling Conservative government. Page and co-author Vern Stenlund released the book during the midst of one of the longest federal election campaigns in Canadian history.
8. A Thunder Bay Police officer had a department-issued Glock 26 stolen from his vehicle overnight. The gun and several ammunition magazines were stored in a backpack left in the vehicle. The backpack was eventually recovered, but not the gun.
7. A budget battle brewed in city council chambers after administration presented a projected three-year tax levy increase of about 4.2 per cent over the next three years. Admin also told council it would need to spend $22.5 million by 2018 to run the city.
6. Council named Superior North EMS head Norm Gale its acting city manager, filling in for a retiring Tim Commisso, who stepped aside at month’s end. The search for Commisso’s replacement continues, with an answer expected in early 2016, likely after the budget process is complete.
5. Liberal Minister of Natural Resources and Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro had harsh words for the Toronto Transit Commission, reminding them of the province’s commitment to the Ontario capital’s street-car replacement. Mauro’s words came after news broke the TTC was planning to sue Bombardier for delays in delivering the street cars.
4. A 20-year-old pedestrian was killed in a late-night hit-and-run collision on Court Street. Stacy Kejick died after being struck by a passing motorist. A GoFundMe campaign was started by an ex-girlfriend to help cover the expenses of a memorial service.
3. Shaldon Wabason was found guilty of manslaughter in the 2011 death of 54-year-old Robert Topping, who died after arriving at the Minnesota Street home of a friend, who called the victim upon suspecting someone was breaking into her home. Topping was stabbed after confronting the intruders.
2. An inquest into the deaths of seven Aboriginal students attending school in Thunder Bay began in controversy, with family members and Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler upset at the size of the room allocated for the six-month hearing. The situation was rectified, but not before the public backlash hit.
1. After nine years of Conservative rule, the Liberals under Justin Trudeau swept into power with a majority government. The red tide washed its way through Northwestern Ontario, costing both local incumbents their jobs. Don Rusnak knocked off the NDP’s John Rafferty in Thunder Bay-Rainy River, while Patty Hajdu took the reins of power in Thunder Bay-Superior North, beating Green Party MP Bruce Hyer his job.
