Gravelle Upset at Rickford Over Snowmobile Trails

Nickel Belt MP Claude Gravelle wants answers from Kenora MP Greg Rickford.

Gravelle wants to know why Rickford avoided the topic of providing funding for snowmobile trails in Northwestern Ontario.

Gravelle says he's frusturated with how Rickford is handling the situation.

About 168,000 Ontarians belong to a snowmobiling club, generating around 1.2 billion in revenue.

Whitecap Pavillion Skating Rink

This winter you can go skating underneath the Whitecap Pavillion.

The Lake of the Woods Economic Developement Commission passed the motion to create the skating rink yesterday.

Special Events Coordinator Mark Duggan they hope to open the rink by mid-December.

The rink will be used as a skating only surface.

Changing to the Provincial Mining Act

New changes to the mining industry are now in effect.

Minister of Northern Development and Mines, Rick Bartolucci says phase two was enacted this week and is an upgrade of a 100 year old piece of legislation.

Highlights of phase two of the mining act also include: new early exploration requirements to help minimize the impact on the environment and new requirements for notifying private landowners potentially affected by exploration activites.

Student Voices Program

Students voices are getting heard throughout the region.

Students have been taking advantage of the Student Voices Program being used in the Keewatin Patricia District School Board.

Beaver Brae Vice Principal Steve Grindrod says students are using the program to make their schools more enjoyable.

Grindrod also says the program gives students the tools to research problems and find solutions so they can put together a presentation for the school adminstation.