Pinecrest still waiting for long term care beds

The Northwest Local Health Integration Network still has not signed off on  ten temporary new beds at the Pinecrest Home for the Aged.

Administration at the long term care home has been working with the LHIN's for months trying to get funding to open the beds, but CAO, Kevin Queen says they have nothing in writing yet.

He's hoping there will get approval to open the beds by the end of the month.

Pinecrest has been waiting since the beginning of the year for the extra long term care beds to help ease a critical shortage in the community.

OPP Commissioner worried about staff shortages

The Ontario Provincial Police is facing a severe shortage in staff.

The Police Force stands to lose about 400-officers due to retirement.

On a tour of Northwestern Ontario detachments last week, Commissioner Chris Lewis says this region is not immune.

Lewis says they want to recruit as many officers from the north as possible, so they will stay and

work in the north. 

More MNR Fire Rangers Heading to Alberta Today

The Ministry of Natural Resources is sending more personnel to the forest fire fight in Alberta.

Another 102-fire staff are expected to leave today, replacing some of those who have been in the western province for the past two weeks.

85 of the 190 Ontario personnel now in Alberta are expected to return later this week.

Here at home there is only 1-active fire, a 13-hundred hectare blaze currently under control near Savant Lake.

Grassy Narrows Blockade back in Action

Grassy Narrows First Nation says its long-running blockade in the woods is seeing action.

Women from the Kenora-area community blocked Ministry of Natural Resources enforcement officers yesterday who were attempting to stop road repair work by the First Nation.

Judy Da Silva says the community is repairing a bridge used as an alternate route out of the community during forest fires, flooding and other emergencies.

Da Silva says the Ministry has threatened 10-thousand dollar fines if the work is not halted, but she says work continued behind the blockade.

The blockade began in 2002 when women and youth from the community blocked logging machinery from entering what they say is traditional territory.

NAN Grand Chief Speaks out against OPP Commendations

The head of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation says a decision to reward some OPP officers last week sends a wrong message to First Nations.

Grand Chief Stan Beardy says the commendations are glorified and unnecessary

One award was for exemplary performance in the Pikangikum First Nation dispute last year and the other, a bravery award for the officer who shot an aboriginal woman in downtown Kenora last June. 

Abitibi completes the sale of its Hydro Assets in Ontario

AbitibiBowater has completed the sale of its hydro-electric assets in Ontario which include the dams in Kenora and Fort Frances.

The company is receiving 300-hundred million dollars for the sale to a consortium of a Canadian investor and a private Canadian renewable energy company.

Chief executive officer Richard Garneau says it allows the company to reduce its debt and help improve its finances.

The hydro dam in Iroquois Falls is also on the list of assets being sold by AbitibiBowater.