NOMA Gets Underway in Fort Frances

Municipal reps from across northwestern Ontario get down to work in Fort Frances today for the start of the annual meeting of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association conference.

NOMA President and Kenora Mayor Dave Canfield says the theme this year deals with partnerships.

But Canfield says that theme could be overshadowed by the discussion over winter road maintenance and property assessment which have greatly impacted municipalities over the past year.

As many as 180 delegates are expected to attend, including the Grand Chief of Treaty Three and the
president of the Metis Nation of Ontario.

More Snow on the Way?

Winter just isn't ready to release it's icy grip on northwestern Ontario.

A snowfall warning has been issued for areas to the east of the City of Kenora.

Mark Shuster is a meteorologist with Environment Canada and says there's a lot of
moisture in the system.

He says Thunder Bay could get up to 20 centimeters.

Shuster says Kenora will just get brushed by the system, but could still see between five
and eight centimeters of wet snow.

Red Cross Conducts Emergency Exercise

The Kenora Red Cross is turning St. Louis School into a disaster shelter.

Elizabeth Playfair is the Community Services Coordinator and says they are running a mock emergency preparedness exercise.

Playfair says high school student will be filling the role of displaced victims.

The drill begins at 5:30.

Accident Slows Traffic on the D-2

Traffic is moving slowly on the D-2 this morning.

Police are on the scene following a two vehicle collision that took place shortly after 7:00 just
south of the turn-off to the Operations building.

A pick-up truck and a car were involved, with the car getting the worst of
the accident and was slammed into the rock cut.

No one was seriously injured.

Just one lane is open as a tow truck is on the scene removing the wreckage.

New Courthouse Opened in Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay's new consolidated courthouse is now officially christened.

The Attorney General and other dignitaries took part in a ceremony opening the building yesterday.

Regional Chief Stan Beardy says the new building will help aboriginal people caught up in the justice system.

The building has been been open for several weeks hearing cases.

Heart of the Continent Map Being Developed

An effort is underway to promote local attractions within parts of northwestern Ontario and northeastern Minnesota as part of an international tourism marketing initiative.

The Heart of the Continent is seeking nominees to be a part of a web map for its Geotourism project with National Geographic.

Committee member Eric Johnson says they're looking for things that fall within the geotourism guidelines.

The public is being asked to offer its suggestions to traveltheheart.org by June 15th.

Province to Eliminate Hydro Debt Retirement Charge

The much-hated hydro debt retirement charge could soon be a thing of the past.

The Liberal government is promising to get rid of the debt retirement line on residential
electricity bills by the end of 2015.

Energy Minister Bob Chirelli says the average home-owner could save about five dollars and 60 cents a month.

The charge will remain for other customers like large industrial users until the debt is retired, sometime in 2018.