Changes to Land Ambulence Service Proposed

The Kenora District Services Board is taking a bold move to get everyone at the table to solve the long-standing issue of non-urgent land ambulence patient transfers.

The Board has adopted a new policy that could see them bill hospitals for so-called code 1 and code 2 transfers or cut the practice out all together.

Chair Phil Vinet says folks need to think what they would do if there was no ambulance available in the case of a true emergency.

Mark Balcaen is the CEO of the Lake of the Woods Hospital and he agrees, but notes they do provide an essential service.

The Board believes some hospitals or doctors are improperly coding cases in order for the patient to receive a ride home.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Announces School Funding

The federal government is carrying through on a promise to provide new schools for first nation communities.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan was on the Fort Severn First Nation yesterday to announce the construction of a new elementary school.

He says this is the first announcement from their 175 million dollar pledge in the spring budget.

Today Duncan has a meeting scheduled with the new leadership of Grand Council Treaty Three and then will fly to the Pikangikum First Nation for another announcement.

Rickford Helps Find Supreme Court Judge

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford will have a hand in selecting the next justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.

Rickford was one of five M.P.'s chosen to sit on the selection panel.

He says he takes that responsibility seriously.

The panel will create a short-list of three qualified candidates from the Province of Quebec and submit that to the Prime Mininister and the Minister of Justice.

Dragon Boat Festival this Weekend

Dragon boats will be plying the waters of Rabbit Lake this weekend.

The 10th annual Dragon Boat Festival gets underway on Sunday.

Darlene McGilvary is the executive director of the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Foundation and says they expect people of all ages to take part.

Racing gets underway Sunday morning from Garrow Park.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission Comes to Kenora

Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission meeting face to face with inmates at a correctional institution for the first time.

A statement gatherer has been speaking with inmates from the Kenora Jail over the past two days and will wrap up the visit today.

Ry Moran from the commission says this is really uncharted territory for them.

Moran says there is a dispropotianate number of first nations people incarcerated at the Kenora Jail, with 92 percent of the population of aboriginal origin.

Green Party Says Go Slow on Ring of Fire

The Leader of the Ontario Green Party feels the Liberals are mishandling the development of the Ring of Fire.

The green party leader spoke out recently about the project noting his party supports mining development when it's done right.

Mike Schreiner says the Government is rushing the project through.

Schreiner says the mineral resources found in the Ring of Fire aren't going anywhere and there isn't a need to rush the process.

Protection Sought for Norman Park

Residents in the Norman area are rallying in support of a popular beach area.

The city is considering some changes to the official plan to give Norman Park a special designation.

But councillor Sharon Smith says she also wants to see a covenant that was removed on the park back in 2008, put back in place.

Former Kenora mayor Joyce Chevrier says she wants to make sure there are protections in place to ensure Norman Park is never used for any other purpose than recreation.

Ryberg and McNanney Lead after Day 1 of SKBI

A couple of familiar names are on top the leaderboard after day one of the Shaw Kenora Bass International.

Matt Ryberg and Brian McNanney from Sioux Narrows had the top weight yesterday, bringing in 17.84 pounds of bass.

Ryberg and McNanney are members of Team Canada and won KBI back in 2009.

A total of six teams weighed in more than 17 pounds of fish on day one.

Genvie Grafham and Bruce Berringer from Keewatin were just a couple of ounces back at 17.82 pounds, followed by Tim Strempler of Winnipeg and his partner Terry McClymont from Kenora are in third with 17.72 pounds.

It was a tough day for a number of teams, last year's champs, Mark Libitka and Dave Bennett are in 38th place with 14.26 pounds, while Jeff Gustafson and Chris Savage are in 42nd place with 14.06 pounds.

In the Can/Am Challenge, Team Canada took a commanding lead with almost 15 more pounds than the Americans on Day one.

Fishing begins this morning again at 6:30.

Tim Horton's Camp A go

Encouraging news for local kids in Northwestern Ontario.

Officials say a Manitoba First Nation has backed off its opposition to a Tim Horton children's camp near the Ontario/Manitoba border.

Dave Newnham of the Tim Horton Children's Foundation says it recently signed a lease for a site on Sylvia Lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park.

He says a right-of-way has been cleared and road construction is expected to start shortly.

This would become the closest camp for kids in our area who attend camp on a yearly basis.