Provincial Election Set For June

Mark June 12th on your calendar.

That's the date of a provincial election.

Premier Kathleen Wynne visited the lieutenant-
governor this afternoon to
dissolve the legislature.

Wynne's decision was triggered by the NDP, who are refusing to support yesterday's budget.

Speaking in Toronto today, a Horwath says the NDP do not have confidence in the government anymore.

New Chief For Treaty Three Police

The Treaty Three Police Service has hired a new Chief.

Louie Napish from the Eagle Lake First Nation has been hired
to take over from Dan Davidson, who has been the acting chief
since October.

Chair of the police services board, Eli Mandamin says there was an
intensive recruitment and hiring process.

Napish was a former deputy chief of the Treaty Three Police Service
and has 18 year of service.

NDP Won't Support Provincial Budget

The spectre of a spring election is looming.

This morning NDP leader Andrea Horwath indicated her party would not be supporting the budget.

Horwath says she can't in good conscience support a government that the people don't trust.

She calls the budget a mad dash to escape scandals and suggests it's time for change.

Murray Optimistic Following Meeting With Shoal Lake

Ontario's Transportation minister is describing talks with the Shoal Lake
First Nation as positive.

Glen Murray travelled to Shoal Lake #39 last week to meet with the new band council.

Murray says the end game is to get the twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway moving, but there are other issues that need to be addressed first.

Murray refused to give any timeline for the twinning project to move ahead, but is confident any obstacles in the way of construction are surmountable.

Council to Hold Special Meeting Today

Kenora City council will be holding a special meeting today to deal with
a couple of pressing issues.

Council will be awarding tenders for Phase Three of Downtown Revitalization as well as completion of work to rehabilitate the West Branch Bridge over the Winnipeg River.

Another item on the agenda includes Sewer and Water Adjustments due to all the water main breaks this past winter.

Council will be meeting at 11:00 this morning.

Inquest Into Aboriginal Youth Deaths Could Be Further Delayed

The coroner's inquest into the tragic deaths of seven First Nations teens in Thunder Bay
is taking more time than officials originally expected.

Dr. Michael Wilson, Regional Supervising Coroner says they are having internal discussions between their stakeholders on timing and aboriginal representation on jury rolls.

Wilson says the recent decision to put Sheldon Wabason's murder trial on hold for a year could be potentially relevant to their inquest.

He adds the basis for their inquest is done but they need to deal with those issues before they can move forward.

Ontario Chiefs Demand Meeting On First Nations Education Act

Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy is calling on the Assembly of First Nations to hold an emergency meeting on the Federal Government's first nation education bill.

Beardy feels the issue warrants a national discussion.

Beardy wants the meeting to be held as soon as possible this month.

Opposition Critical of Budget

Reaction from the opposition to the budget, not surprising.

PC Finance Critic Vic Fedeli says the budget only increase spending and piles more onto an already historic provincial debt.

Leader Andrea Horwath was absent from both media lock-up and the budget's reading.

She's expected to comment at a news conference called for this morning in Toronto.

Liberals Flogging the Provincial Budget

The Minority Liberal Government is promising to balance the budget by 2017.

Finance Minister Charles Sousa says they'll eliminate the defecit but won't hack program spending to do so.

Highlights from the 2014 budget include 29 billion dollars dedicated over the next 10 years for transportation infrastructure, public transit and other priority infrastructure projects.

Meanwhile, the Wynne government is giving the NDP a deadline of May 8th to decide whether it will support the  budget.

Canadian Taxpayers Federation Critical of Provincial Budget

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is weighing in on provincial budget tabled by the Liberal government.

Ontario Director of the Taxpayers Federation Candice Malcolm says she's disappointed with the budget.

Malcolm adds that the budget can not be balanced by 2017-2018 as promised by the Wynne Government.

Acting CAO at KDSB Announced

Some major change at the top of the Kenora District Services Board.

Chief Administrative Officer Dan McNeil has taken a three month leave of absence.

Chair Barry Baltessen says Director of Integrated Social Services Sarah Stevenson has been named acting CAO.

Baltessen stresses it's business as usual at the KDSB.

Home And Leisure Show Begins This Afternoon

The 28th annual Home and Leisure show is coming to
Kenora.

The event, hosted by the Kenora & District Chamber of Commerce, takes palce at the Rec Centre this weekend.

Chamber Manager Carol Leduc says this years has a great mix of new and old exhibitors.

The Home and Leisure show begins this afternoon at 4 and ends Sunday at 3.

Report Critical of Health of Ontarians

Ontario has a long way to go when it comes to the health of its residents.

That statement is found in the Canadian Index of Wellbeing's report on health.

Wendy Talbot is the Chief Executive Officer of the Northwest Community Health Centers and says for our region the news is worse.

Talbot says northwestern Ontario has higher incidents of alcohol consumption and smoking which leads to
higher rates of stroke and heart disease.

The report calls on the Ontario Government to expand its Community Health Centres Network.

Resolute Announces Sizable Loss

Resolute Forest Products says this past winter has had an impact on its bottom line.

The company's reporting a 50 million dollar loss for the first quarter of the year.

It blames it on the weather which led to higher electricity costs, production disruptions and equipment failures and disruptions in shipments.

Museum Ready to Twist and Shout

Lake of the Woods Museum in Kenora continues to celebrate it's 50th anniversary.

Lynn Riddell is one of three employees and says this weekend they will be holding a Ladies Only event tomorrow called Twist and Shout.

The event will celebrate 1964, the year the Museum was founded.

Riddell says they are also preparing to hold an exhibit on World War One later this summer marking
the 100th anniversary of the start of the deadly conflict.

Broncos Winless So Far At OFSAA Badminton

Not a great start for local badminton players at the All-Ontario High School Championships in Markham.

Tyler Neil lost his first game yesterday in the Single boys division while Logan Ginn and Kate Charlebois were also relegated to the b-flight after losing their first round match in mixed doubles.

All three will be back in action today.