Local Postal Workers Locked Out!

Members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers in Kenora are on the picket line today.

Pickets were set up after Canada Post decided to lock-out its employees.

Chuck Cadger is the local union respresentive and says they are willing to fight to maintain the wages and benefits they have.

The head of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Denis Lemelin held a press conference this morning and is calling the lockout a completely unacceptable situation.

City Daycare Rates going Up

Its soon going to cost more to send your kid to a city-run daycare facility.

The city is looking at imposing a dollar a day increase at the Castle of Learning Daycare Center starting next week.

The daycare rate will go up to 31 dollars a day.

Recreational Services manager, Colleen Neil says there's still lots of demand for the service and says they are full.

Police Continue to Investigate Fatal Accident on Highway 17

Police still haven't released the names of the young family who perished in a fatal collision near Upsala.

OPP Staff Sergeant Dan Peters says the family died after there vehicle crossed the centre line on Highway 17 and hit a transport head on Sunday evening.

Peters says once the bodies are identified the names will be released.

Public School Board approves Budget

Declining enrolment is starting to cut into the budget of the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.

This year, the public school board is projecting a shortfall of 1.5 million dollars in the 2011/2012 school year.

Superintendant of Business Dean Carrie says they hope to be able to balance their books within three years.

The overall budget for the school board is 84.7 million dollars, which is

down almost two million dollars from last year.

Community Improvement Plan Coming together for Abitibi Lands

A number of tax incentives are being promised to companies which decided to locate on the former Abitibi property in Kenora.

Details of a community improvement plan were unveiled this morning at a public meeting.

Councillor Ron Lunny says they will also be providing incentives to fix up the buildings on the mill site.

Lunny says tax incentives include no taxes after the first year of setting up shop on the mill property on 9th Street North.

There will be a five year phase-in of the industrial taxes.

First Nations Get Funding for Training

The Provincial Government is doling out millions of dollars to Northwestern Ontario communities.


Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says 8.6 million dollars is being put towards training programs for first nations.

Shoal Lake #39 First Nation has been promised 566 thousand dollars of that funding, while the Bimose Tribal Council will be getting 540 thousand.

Gravelle says they're also putting 16.6 million dollars towards cell service upgrades in the far north.

Beach Boys Headline Harborfront Tonight

The first major event of the summer season gets underway this evening in Kenora when the Beach Boys come to town.

Over 15 hundred people are expected to crowd under the big tent on the Harborfront.

Kenora's Tourism Development Officer Heather Paterson says parking could be at premium.

Tonight's concert is scheduled to get underway at 7:30 this evening.