Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Rickford defends federal budget

The federal government is going to have to make some tough choices in the months ahead if it plans to balance its budget by 2014.

Billions of dollars worth of spending is going to have to be cut, but Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford is promising that services will not be affected.

Rickford says overall this week's federal budget provides help for the forest sector, as well as enhancements for the health care system in this region.

Opawica begin drill program near Kenora

A junior mining company says it will be conducting a drilling program in the Kenora area this summer.

Opawica Explorations says it will be drilling three holes on a gold and copper project in the Atikwa Lake area, southeast of town.

The company says it will be carrying out the drilling over the next 45 days, and depending on the results of exploration program, it may expand and do more drilling in the area.

The holes will range anywhere from 300 to one thousand meters in depth.

FedNor Subject of Private Members Bill

A New Democrat is asking Kenora MP Greg Rickford to support a private members bill that makes FedNor an independent economic agency for Northern Ontario.

Claude Gravelle is expected to table the bill in the House of Commons this afternoon.

Gravelle says an independent agency would speed up the application process.

Gravelle notes right now FedNor is in the hands of a "meddling Minister".

Provincial Liberals Expected to Face an Uphill Battle in Northern Ontario

The Federation of Northern Municipalities says it's tired of not having a say at Queen's Park and is warning government to start listening to their needs in the lead up to the provincial election this fall.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle acknowledges there's work to do in northern Ontario, but is proud of his government's record.

The federation says misguided wood allocation policies, high hydro rates and unpredictable infrastructure funding are all hurting the northern economy.

Buster's Barbeque Sauce A real Winner

For the third year in a row, Busters BBQ Sauce has taken home the 'Peoples Choice' Award at the Great American Royal BBQ Contest.

The Vermilion Bay based company is the only one to win the award in three consecutive years.

Busters beat out over 80-other sauces.

The company has also announced its launching a new flavour, Busters Chipotle Blueberry Sauce.

NAPS officer under investigation

A Nishnawbe-Aski Police officer is facing a number of charges after a May 1st incident.

Nishnawbe-Aski Police received a report that a Muskrat Dam First Nation man was assaulted and threatened during an incident at the detachment.

After a thorough investigation James Remus has been charged with two counts of Assault with a Weapon, Assault Causing Bodily Harm, Utter Threats and Unlawful Confinement.

Remus has been released on conditions and will appear in court on September 13.

Three Minnesota Hunters face hefty fine

Three men from Minnesota have been fined a total of 10-thousand dollars for shooting aat a moose decoy from a motorboat on Cooper Lake, about 160-kilometres north of Red Lake.

Geary Padden, Timothy Peterson and Christopher Freeman pleaded guilty to unlawfully hunting moose and have been banned from hunting for 2-years.

The men were caught taking shots at the fake moose last October.

Court heard that once the trio realized they were shooting at a decoy, they attempted to flea.

They were arrested by conservation officers.

Con College Celebrates local Graduates

The Kenora Campus of Confederation College has graduated 51 students.

Graduation Ceremonies took place last night at Thomas Aquinas School.

Meanwhile, Confederation College is now up and running in Red Lake.

A grand opening was held for the new campus on Howey Street yesterday afternoon.

Vice President Academic Judi Maundrell says its an exciting time for both Confederation College and the community of Red Lake.

A number of programs will be offered at the School including business, native child and family services and mining.

Lake of the Woods Task Force and Control Board to hold local meetings

The Lake of the Woods Control Board says its not going to be providing any feedback on a final draft report by the Task Force looking at water quality on the lake.

One of the recommendations of the Task Force is to review the regulations by which water levels are controlled on Lake of the Woods.

There hasn't been any changes in those regulations in almost 100 years.

Executive Engineer of the Control Board Rick Cousins says while he doesn't feel a review is necessary, they are also not opposed.

Both the Control Board and the Task Force will be in Kenora next week to hear from local residents.