Thursday, December 10, 2009

Paper used in HST legislation amendments

The provincial government says half-a-million amendments to the HST legislation is costly for both taxpayers and the environment.

A Liberal release criticizes the Torys for presenting the amendments, saying it cost taxpayers 250-thousand dollar to duplicate them for committee members and killed 620 trees.

Liberal Member Yasir Naqvi says the opposition should have been more responsible.

Kenora-Rainy River M-P-P Howard Hampton says its a further indication how the Liberal's really feel toward the forest industry.

Trillium Cash

19-Community groups across Northwestern Ontario are sharing 932-thousand dollars in Ontario Trillium Foundation funding.

The only program in Kenora to approved for funding is the Kenora Pre-School Group, which will get 85 hundred dollars to install new flooring in their facility.

The Royal Canadian Legion in Ear Falls is receiving 91-grand to insulate and repair the roof of the facility, while the Legion in Atikokan is accepting 30-thousand dollars to install a new roof.

The Sioux Lookout Golf and Curling Club will see 74-thousand dollars to purchase a mower, ice-plant condenser and new computer system for the club.

All Day Kindergarten KPDSB

The Keewatin Patricia District School Board has submitted six possible "all day kindergarten" site to the Ministry of Education.

The public board will be housing 2 full day early learning programs starting in the fall, and Director of Education Larry Hope says they hope to hear back from the Ministry in January.

Hope adds the schools that are being considered by the Ministry are Pinewood in Dryden,
Evergreen in Kenora, Ignace, Lillian Berg in Vermillion Bay, Keewatin and Ear Falls.

Kenora Budget

A couple of groups funded by the City of Kenora are seeking an increase in their 2010 budget.

Council held another budget meeting last night and heard from four groups.

Bert Alcock is with the Kenora Handi-Transit Board and has requested a seven thousand dollar increase in their operating budget.

The Kenora Public Library is also seeking about a 50 thousand dollar increase in itsbudget from the city.

Both the Museum and the Community Foundation asked for the same budgets as lastyear.

Moose Hunting

A Winnipeg resident has been fined 25 hundred dollars for illegally hunting moose in northwestern Ontario.

The Ministry of Natural Resources say they spotted Barry Arnason travellingon a lake about 180 kilometers north of Red Lake during aerial surveillance last October.

He had a moose call, a moose lure, a high powered rifle and ammunition.

Conservation officers discovered that while the hunter had a valid licence to hunt moose in Manitoba, he didn't have one to hunt on the Ontario portion of Sparrowhawk Lake.

His firearm has been seized and he has been banned from hunting in Ontario for two years.