Thursday, November 19, 2009

Thunder Bay Worker Killed

Two labour inspectors are looking into the death of a 51-year-old recycling worker loading a container onto a truck at a Thunder Bay grocery store.

The ministry of labour spokesman says somehow the man's head was crushed between the container and the truck.

The victim was employed by Thunder Bay waste-management company ReCool.

Hospital Foundation Director

The Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation has its fourth executivedirector in the past year.

Jess Rheault was hired last week to fill the position.

She says in addition to the Tree of Lights campaign, they will alsobe erecting the lighted Christmas structures along Lakeview Drive.

Rheault says their fundraising efforts right now are going towards a PCR analyzer forthe Lab department.

Community Foundation Grants

A total of 14 groups in Kenora have been given over 46 thousand dollars from the Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation.

Executive Director Darlene MacGilivry says the foundation helps out a variety of programs in the region.

The Kenora Fellowship Centre, and St. John's Ambulance will each be receiving 3 thousand dollars, and the Sioux Narrows School Student Nutrition program will utilize over 2 thousand dollars.

Hampton on HST

The New Democrats say a harmonized sales tax of 13-percent is nothing more then a tax break for large and profitable corporations.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton is asking residents to voice their opposition to Legislation creating the single tax.

Hampton notes ordinary people will end up paying more in hydro, heat and filling their gas tank.

KPDSB Kindergarten

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board has started the process of deciding where to extend all-day junior and senior kindergarten classesnext year.

The public school board will be able to offer only two classes starting next fall.

Superintendant of Business, Dean Carrie says its going to take some work to find locations that fit the Ministry of Education criteria.

Carrie says under the government's regulations, the schools will have to be able to accomodate at least 26 students, whichwill limit the number of locations they can use next year.

DSSAB Increase

Kenora City Council has reluctantly agreed to hand over an extra 217 thousand dollars to the Kenora District Services Board this year.

The board says due to unexpectedly high costs for Ontario Works programs this year, they had to amend their 2009 budget.

Councillor Chris Van Wallenghem refused to vote in favourof the increase, saying the 10 percent hike is out of line.

While other members of council agreed, they said the city's hands are tied and its required by law to pay the extra costs.

Ignatieff in Kenora today

The leader of the federal Liberals will be paying a visit to theKenora Riding today.

Michael Ignatieff has a number of events planned for his stay in town.

He will be holding a Town Hall meeting tonight atthe Best Western Lakeside Inn starting at 7:30.

He is also will be meeting local aboriginal and municipal leaders throughout the day.

This is Ignatieff's first visit to the Kenora Riding since hewas chosen to lead the party almost a year ago.