Recommended Changes to Jury Rolls

A report on getting more First Nations involved in provincial juries is out.

Former Supreme Court of Canada Justice Frank Iacobucci released his report in Thunder Bay this morning.

Iacobucci says the first step is establishing an implementation committee with First Nation membership.

Other recommendations include considering a procedure where on-reserve residents could volunteer for jury duty and creating an Assistant Deputy Attorney General responsible for aboriginal issues such as implementing the recommendations in the report.

Boil Water Advisory in Place

The water is back on, but the city of Kenora says several businesses in
the downtown area shouldn't drink from the tap.

A boil water advisory has been issued for Shoppers Drug Mart, the Bannister Center and the Blue Heron.

The advisory was issued yesterday afternoon following a water main break on First Avenue South.

Water was finally restored shortly before 5:00 yesterday afternoon, but the boil water advisory is expected to remain in place for at least the next two days.

Second Degree Murder Trial Coming to and End

The second degree murder trial of Kenneth Ivall could come to an end
soon.

Today, the jury will begin its deliberations.

Justice Terrance Platana will be making his final charge to the jury this
morning.

He's been working on his final instructions for the past couple of days.

Ivall's trial has been going on for the past eight weeks at the Kenora Court
House.

He's been charged in connection to the beating death of Ed Wilson on
March 21st, 2009.

Ivall's co-accused, Angela Duchesne has already pled guilty to the lesser
charge of manslaughter.

Federal Ridings to Remain Status Quo in NWO

No changes to the federal ridings of Kenora and Thunder Bay-Rainy River are being recommended in the final report of the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission.

The report was tabled in the House of Commons yesterday.

The Commission had proposed moving Lake of the Woods township from Thunder Bay-Rainy River to Kenora.

But its report, the Commission states that after public hearings, it's assumption the area had stronger ties to Kenora than Thunder Bay or Fort Frances was mistaken.

NOMA Pleased with Meetings At ROMA/OGRA

The president of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is pleased with how the Good Roads Conference is going.

Ron Nelson, along with other officials in the region, are in Toronto to meet with the provincial government and discuss issues being faced in the North.

Nelson says they had the privilege to meet with Kathleen Wynne yesterday morning, and describes the meeting as very positive.

Nelson says they will be meeting with Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak yesterday afternoon and NDP Leader Andrea Horvath later today.

The conference goes until Wednesday.

OHA Concerned with Health Cuts

Hospitals in Northwestern Ontario are among many in the province that will be affected by recent cuts
The provincial government is cutting health spending by more than three-billion-dollars.

Director of the Ontario Health Coalition, Natalie Mehra, says the region will no doubt see changes.

Mehra says hospitals in northwestern Ontario have already seen a huge decrease in long term care beds.
To protest this action, the coalition has declared March 4th as a day of action.

Report on Jury Rolls to Be Released Today

A former Supreme Court of Canada justice today delivers a report on whether on-reserve aboriginals have been systematically excluded from Ontario's juries.

First Nations leaders hope Frank Iacobucci comes up with recommendations to fix a broken system.
   
Alvin Fiddler, Deputy Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, says aboriginals have known for years the problem needed to be dealt with.
 
Fiddler says native accused seldom see a member of their own
community on the jury.
 

Saints host Game One of Northland Cup Final

The finals of the Northland Cup high school hockey championships begin
tonight.

The Thomas Aquinas Saints will host the Fort Frances Muskies in a
home and home total goal series.

Game one is tonight at 7:30 at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Meanwhile, Beaver Brae's girls team will play the winner of last night's
game between Dryden and Fort Frances.