City Joins FCM's Housing Crunch Campaign

Kenora city council is pushing back against the downloading of services.

A resolution was passed today to join the Canadian Federation of Municipalities Housing Crunch campaign.

Councillor Sharon Smith says the province's housing market is already in a bad situation as property taxes are used to cover social costs normally covered in income taxes.

Smith says that the federal government needs to increase funding to supply more housing in an effort to battle the homelessness issue.

She adds that the housing issue is also preventing more and more middle class residents from purchasing houses which in turn is increasing rental rates.

Main Street Christmas Tree Goes Up

It's beginning to look a lot more like Christmas.

The large Christmas Tree on Main Street South was erected by Kenora Hydro crews.

They spent the morning anchoring the large spruce to the roadway and
installing the lights.

The actual lighting of the tree won't take place until Thursday.

A special ceremony will take place at 6:00.  

KPDSB Stands Up to Bullying

It's anti-bullying and prevention awareness week at the Keewatin Patricia District School Board.

Sean Monteith is the Director of Education and says they have activities planned across the board.

In Kenora, students at Keewatin Public will have an assembly with OPP Constable Ronni Grosenick, while students at King George will hold an assembly that includes songs, poems, and skits.

Monteith says the school board has also launched a new anonymous online reporting tool.

The tool allows anyone to report cases of bullying in all their schools, and is aimed at having students stand up against bullying.

Here is the link to the tool https://safeatschool.kpdsb.ca/

KDSB Approves 2014 Budget

Communities in the Kenora District are going to have to cough up a bit more money to pay for social services next year.

The District Services Board approved the 38.9 million dollar budget at a special meeting last week.

Chairman of the board, Barry Baltessen says the increase could have been a lot more, if they hadn't done a fair bit of restructuring over the past couple of years.

The overall increase amounts to about 192 thousand dollars in 2014, or the equivalent of about a 1.26 percent increase in property taxes.

Health Unit Applauds New Anti-Tobacco Legislation

The Provincial Government has introduced legislation to protect youth from the harmful effects of tobacco.

The Youth Smoking Prevention Act was presented at Queen's Park on Monday and would prohibit smoking on playgrounds, sports fields, and restaurants and bar patios.

Christine Kiewning is the Youth Engagement Coordinator for the Northwestern Health Unit and she says the legislation would also double fines for those who sell tobacco to youth.

Kiewning says the Act will help keep outdoor spaces clean, help reduce second hand smoke and aid smokers in butting out.

Province Defends Conversion of Thunder Bay Generating Station

The province's energy minister says the latest move to convert the Thunder Bay generating station to burn biomass may not be the end of its expansion.

Bob Chiarelli said with the north on the verge of a mining boom there still could be room for future growth of the plant

Chiarelli was responding to NDP leader Andrea Horwath's concerns that the conversion is only for a limited time.

Initially the province indicated it planned to close the Mission Island Power Plant, but last week the
Wynne Government had a change of heart and announced the conversion of the coal burning station
to biomass fuel.

More Snowplows Hitting Roads in Northern Ontario This Winter

It may not seem like it yet, but there will be more snowplows on area highways this winter.

The Provincial Government is deploying 50 additional snowplows, 42-of them in northern Ontario.

John Vanthof is the Natural Resources Critic for the NDP and he applaud
s the government for the move.

The Ministry of Transportation and selected contractors were flooded with complaints in the north last winter about snow clearing on area highways.

Blood Donor Clinic Wraps Up Today

More blood is needed across Northwestern Ontario.

The Canadian Blood Services is at Thomas Aquinas for another blood donor clinic.

Local Rep Mike Choi says as of right now there are no hospital patients going without blood, but they always like to build up their blood supplies heading into the holiday season.

The clinic will wrap up today and run  from 9:30 to 12:30.

Canadian Blood Services is hoping to have as many as 300 donors come through the doors
during the two-day clinic.