MP Nicki Ashton visits Kenora

New Democrats in the House of Commons are calling on the federal government to restore funding for the Aboriginal Healing Foundation.

Nicki Ashton is the M.P. for the Churchill Riding in Manitoba and says a total of 134 programs across the country have closed their doors, including a number in northwestern Ontario.

Ashton says the Aboriginal Healing Foundation provided three million dollars a year for programs in the Kenora Riding.

Forest Tenure

The McGuinty government is proposing sweeping changes to the way wood cutting licences are awarded.

Effectively the big forestry giants would have their current licences scrapped and they'd have to start over.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle admits the changes are bold.

Public hearings on the proposed changes start in Thunder Bay May the 18th.

Hampton on HST

The harmonized sales tax is getting close to implementation.

Any item that is purchased before the harmonized sales tax comes into effect, but will be used after July 1st will be subject to the extra tax.

Kenora Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton says its going to surprise a number of people who thought they dodged the tax by buying before the start date.

Hampton says people are so upset about the tax they are pre planning their funerals just to dodge the extra tax.