Thunder Bay Murder

A northwestern Ontario man faces a second-degree murder charge after initially being accused of aggravated assault.

Thunder Bay Police upgraded the charge four days after 53-year-old Barney Beaver of Webequie First Nation died of his injuries in hospital.

Police say Beaver was found unconscious in his room at Thunder Bay's Victoria Inn December 17th by cleaning staff.

Thirty-three-year-old Summer Beaver First Nation resident Kelsey Lance Charles Jacob is in custody and will appear in Thunder Bay court on January 5th.

A memorial service for Beaver is to take place at Webequie today

John Rafferty 2011-2012

MP John Rafferty says 2012 looks to be a struggle for the NDP. Looking to the new year, Rafferty says that the Harper majority will be hard to crack, if not impossible.

2011 will go down as an interesting one for MP John Rafferty.  He and his fellow NPRer Bruce Hyer were sanctioned for voting against their party on the Long Gun Registry

Rafferty says 2011 proved to be full of highs and lows for the NDP

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation

Even without any major tax hikes, Canadians' take-home pay will get a little lighter starting Jan.1.


The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says premium hikes for employment insurance and the Canada Pension Plan will take about $306 out of the pockets of both workers and employers in 2012.

The maximum pensionable earnings rise to $50,100 from $48,300.

That will take about $142 from employees who qualify for the maximum over the year.

The hit on employers is slightly more, $164.

Border Travel

The U-S Customs and Border Protection is offering some tips to travellers planning visits across the border during the holiday season.


If bringing presents across the border, ensure that any festive wrappings do not obstruct inspection of the items.

Most fresh fruits and vegetables grown outside of the U.S. or Canada are prohibited.

And because this is usually a busy time at the border, travellers may want to consider avoid peak crossing times.

Thin ice on Lake of the Woods

A conservation officer for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has escaped injury after breaking through thin ice on Lake of the Woods over the weekend.


The officer was checking fishing north of Warroad Saturday when his ATV broke through and sank to the bottom of the lake.

He was able to swim to the edge of the ice and pull himself out of the water to safety with ice picks.

He then used his radio to call a state trooper for a ride

Greg Rickford 2011-2012

2012 is going to be the year the Harper government will be wrestling with the nations debt according to MP Greg Rickford.

Looking ahead to the new year Rickford says there will also be a committment to helping out the infrastructure needs of the country


2011 helped put Rickford in the national spotlight as the Attawapiskat crisis was exposed.