Budget Cuts affect Con College

Recent budget cuts are going to affect Confederation College's ability to extend service to local communities.

President of Con College, Jim Madder spoke to delegates this morning at the NOMA conference.

He says one of their recent success stories has been a dual credit program offered through local high schools.

Madder says there is increasing demand for trades in the region, and the college will continue to work with local business to meet the need.

Property Tax System needs to be overhauled: Hume

The property tax system is broken and needs to be fixed.

That was the message this morning at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference taking place in Kenora.

Gord Hume was the keynote speaker and says property taxes are simply inadequate to address the infrastructure deficit municipalities are facing.

Hume is suggesting some sort of revenue sharing arrangement with the upper levels of government, either a percentage of the HST for municipalities or a portion of the income tax the federal government collects.

Drug bust in downtown Kenora

A 26 year old Kenora man has been arrested after the OPP's Street Crimes Unit witnessed a drug deal going down.

Police say two men were arrested in the downtown area yesterday and eight grams of marijuana was seized.

Christopher Kitt has been charged with trafficking in a narcotic, possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime.

He is being held in custody pending a show/cause hearing.

A second man was also charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Update your Immunizations

Northwestern Health Unit says a lot of residents in the Kenora and Rainy River districts don't have their immunization records up to date.

The Health Unit's Donna Stanley says a call to the Health Unit can change that.

Stanley says as adults we're quick to ensure our children receive their shots, but don't keep our own up to date.

Get ready for Culture Days

Getting folks excited about Canadian culture is the focus of a series of information sessions across the region.

The event is in preparation for Culture Days this September across Canada.

Ontario Culture Days Manager Aubrey Reeves says they will be offering free webinars to anyone interested.

Culture Days is a 3-day event that highlights our artists, musicians and cultural groups.

FedNor Critic Concerned with cuts to program

The NDP's new FEDNOR critic is quick to call for its protection.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River M.P. John Rafferty says it's too important of a program for communities across northern Ontario.

Rafferty is accusing the federal government of cutting funding for the economic development agency.

Delegates at the NOMA conference in Kenora will get an update on FedNor later today.

NOMA Conference Begins this Morning in Kenora

Physician Recruitment and dealing with drugs in our community.

Those are just two of the topics of discussion today at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference taking place in Kenora.

The conference officially opens at 8:30 this morning with greetings from Kenora mayor Dave Canfield and Treaty Three Grand Chief Diane Kelly.

There will also be presentations today by Jim Madder president of Confederation College and the Northwest Local Health Integration Network.