Clean Energy Benefit Details Today

Electricity consumers in Ontario will find out detailstoday on how the Liberal government intends to lower their bills by10 per cent.

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan will announce the Ontario Clean Energy Benefit in his fall economic update, promising to lower hydro bills starting in the new year.

Premier Dalton McGuinty wouldn't confirm details, but says the government knows people are struggling with soaring electricity bills.

He says cutting electricity bills is about understanding the pressures on families and providing them with "a little bit of help.''

However, the Opposition says cutting electricity rates 11 months before an election smacks of a desperate attempt to help the Liberals win a third term in office.

3-G Coming Soon

Thunder Bay Telephone has launched it's latest cellphone technology.

President Don Campbell says the 3-G mobility service is now up and running in Thunder Bay.

"Actually it's being expanded throughout the next couple of months to six months into the entire region," says Campbell. "Thunder Bay is now operational. Customers are going onto the network and accessing all of the features of the much higher speed network."

The service will be offered to the Atikokan, Fort Frances and Rainy River areas by January.

First Snow Storm of Winter Approaching

Time to get those snow shovels and snow blowers out of storage.

Environment Canada says a significant snowfall is in the cards across northwestern Ontario.

An Alberta clipper is expected to scoot eastwards along the border today accompanied by a band of snow.

Snow, occasionally heavy, is to fall near the Manitoba border late this afternoon or early this evening and quickly envelop northwestern Ontario tonight.

Total snowfall amounts of 10 to 15 centimetres are expected.

Climate Change Bill Killed in Senate

A northwestern Ontario MP is condemning Prime Minister Harper.

Bruce Hyer's climate change legislation died in the Senate earlier this week.

The MP for Thunder Bay-Superior North calls Harper bad for the environment

"The unelected, unaccountable Senate has ambushed the country's only federal climate change legislation and killed it," says Hyer, "without hearing evidence or hearing any due consideration."

Hyer hopes to re-introduce the bill sometime in the future.

Highway Renamed After Long-time MPP

The King of the North will have a highway named his honour.

The announcement came Wednesday while MPP's paid tribute to the late Leo Bernier at Queen's Park.

Highway 664, which runs from Sioux Lookout to Hudson will be renamed in honour of the long-time politician who died this past summer.