MPP Defends Teachers Bill

MPP Bill Mauro hopes some past goodwill is enough to ease any possible labour tensions with local teachers. 

Next week the McGuinty government will force a new contract on public school teachers in the province.

In defending passage of the bill, Mauro understands there could be some animosity but thinks teachers here will remember what the Liberals have done for education in the province.

West Nile Death Reported In Minnesota

There's been a death in Minnesota related to the west nile virus.

State health officials says the elderly woman was hospitalized earlier this month.


There are now 20 confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne illness in our neighbouring state.


There have been no west nile positive mosquitoes trapped in Northwestern Ontario.

New Flu Strain Hits Our Neighbours

Minnesota has recorded its first confirmed case and a second probable case of a new flu strain that people can catch from pigs.

Health officials say both cases involve siblings who most likely were exposed when their family visited a live animal market in Dakota County earlier this month.

The new flu strain has been popping up across the United States but hasn't made its way to Northwestern Ontario.

Kenora MP Excited To Work With New NAN Leader

Congratulations continue to pour in for the new Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.

Kenora MP Greg Rickford is the latest to welcome Harvey Yesno into the fold

Rickford says Yesno brings extensive knowledge and experience with respect to economics, policy and leadership skills.

Rickford is the Parliamentary Assistant for Aboriginal Affairs and he says he looks forward to strengthening the relationship with all 49 NAN communities.

LHIN Launches Online Health Survey

Your chance to say what's good or bad about health care in the Northwest and what the priorities should be, is just a mouse click away.

Laura Kokocinski is the CEO of the Northwest Local Health Integration Network and she says the health authority is launching another online survey.

Kokocinski says they want to ensure they are on the right track.

The survey questions focus on four key areas; accelerated integration of services, improved access to care, improved coordination of mental health and addictions services and chronic disease prevention and management.

All input gathered will be considered for a new 2013-2016 plan.

The survey will run for the next four weeks, and can be accessed at www.northwestlhin.on.ca

Extra Subsidy Turned Down By KDSB

The Kenora District Services Board has turned down a funding request from the Sioux Lookout Non-Profit Housing Corporation.

The Corporation asked the KDSB for an annual $45,000 subsidy.

Chair of the Board Phil Vinet says they want to ensure they balance out their funding.

The KDSB says it already covers 75% of the Corporation's budget (Roughly $995,000)

Vinet says he believes the KDSB does a good job in helping the not-for-profit organizations across the district.

He notes they aren't taking anything away.

The Corporation says they are dealing with a severe staff shortage and crumbling infrastructure.

MPP Reacts To Legislature Recall

Ontario politicians are having their summer recess interrupted.

They're being recalled to the legislature Monday when the Liberal government will introduce a bill to impose a two-year contract on 93,000 Ontario teachers that would cut wages and benefits.

If the bill is passed, the government would also have the power to ban a strike or lockout for the next two school years.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says teachers don't deserve this.

Campbell says the teachers have been bargaining in good faith and have earned the right to continue.

She is accusing Premier McGuinty of manufacturing a crisis.

Campbell adds legislating an agreement could end up costing taxpayers nearly $780-million rather than saving them money.

She also believes it's more about gaining seats in the legislature as the move comes just days before two key by-elections.

Fire Hazard Creeping Up

Looks like the forest fire hazard won't be low for long.


Two new fires were reported yesterday in the Fort Frances district.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says the forecast is supposed to be nice for the rest of the week, which will raise the fire hazard to high.

The high hazard areas include Dryden and Kenora

Police Lay Charges in Weekend Stabbing

A 28 year old man faces a long string of charges following a stabbing incident over the weekend.

John Victor Munroe has been charged with break and enter with the intent to commit an offence as well as assault causing bodily harm.

The OPP say the stabbing incident took place Saturday.

The victim was treated at Lake of the Woods District Hospital and later released.

Munroe appeared in court over the weekend on the charges.

57 Year old Man faces Drug Charges

A 57 year old Kenora man faces drug charges following a bust by the Kenora Joint Forces Drug Unit.

Police say they executed a search warrant at a home on the Homestake Road last Friday and seized about 400 grams of marijuana as well as an illegal weapon.

Gordon Pernsky has been charged with production of a controlled substance, possession for the purpose of trafficking marihuana, careless use of a firearm, and possession of a prohibited firearm.

He appeared in Kenora Court over the weekend for a show/cause hearing.

Treaty Three Welcomes new NAN Chief

The new grand chief of Treaty Three is extending his congratulations to the new chief of the Nishinabe Aski Nation.

Chief Warren White says he's looking forward to working with Harvey Yesno, who was elected last week.

He says he wants to build a strong alliance with the Nishinabe Aski Nation.

He suggests that Yesno's knowlege as one of the founding members of NAN will ensure treaty rights are respected, protected and enhanced.

Thistles Banner Stolen from Pavillion

It looks as if someone was looking for more than just a photo with Mike Richards.

The OPP are investigating the theft of a number of banners from the White Cap Pavillion over the weekend.

Sometime between 4:00 Friday afternoon and 8:00 Saturday morning, a Kenora Thistles 1907 Stanley Cup Championship banner was stolen along with a Los Angeles Kings Stanley Cup Flag and a Canadian flag.

The Thistles banner is 8 feet long and 3 feet wide and is burgundy and white in colour.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact the OPP or Crimestoppers.

Council Members Head to Ottawa for AMO

Infrastructure funding will be at the top of the wish list this week as members of Kenora City council are in Ottawa for the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says they have eight meetings set up over the next couple of days with provincial politicians and cabinet ministers.

Canfield says the future of government services will likely be another hot topic this week.

Councillors Louis Roussin, Ron Lunny and Rory McMillan are also in Ottawa this week for the AMO conference.

Fire Crews Heading Out West

Despite a relatively dry weekend, the Ministry of Natural Resources says it was a pretty quiet weekend on the forest fire front in northwestern Ontario.

Just two new blazes reported, including on in the Kenora District.

MNR fire crews were called out to deal with a camp fire that got out of control on Lake of the Woods.

The fire grew to 0.1 hectares in size.

Because its been so quiet here, the MNR says its able to lend out 36 fire rangers to help out with the fire situation in British Columbia.

Dryden Concussion Symposium Deemed a Success

It was a chance to sit down and talk about the serious issue of concussions.

A large crowd turned up Saturday afternoon at the Centre in Dryden to take part in a symposium on concussions.

Hockey great Ken Dryden facilititated the event and notes its a chance for coaches, doctors and players to brainstorm on ways of preventing serious head injuries.

Some agreed that a plan should be put in place on when a player should return from a concussion.

First Riders Program at King George

It's almost time for students to board the big yellow school bus.

The First Riders Program was held at King George School this past Saturday.

Transportation Officer Robyn Paquette says this program can calm the nerves some students get when going on for the first time.

The students were able to go on a bus ride with their parents, and then went on by themselves.

OPP host annual Summer Camp this week

Forty 12-year-olds from northwestern Ontario are spending the week with Ontario Provincial Police officers at a summer camp near Fort Frances.

The annual Youth Summer Camp is taking place at Sunny Cove Camp.

Constable Anne McCoy says part of it focus on a curriculum based on the program Rachel's Challenge.

Campers will also participate in some fun activities such as houseboat rides, horseback riding and their own version of the Olympics.

Mike Richards Brings Stanley Cup Home

Thousands Enjoy Time with Stanley Cup

Over three thousand people crowded under the White Cap Pavillion to cheer on Mike Richards

as he brought the Stanley Cup to Kenora.

Hundreds line up afterwards to have their picture taken with the Los Angeles Kings star.

Brian Rupert was the Master of Ceremonies and introduced Richards, his mother Irene and his

brother Matt up on the main stage.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford and acting mayor Rod McKay also welcomed Richards to the White Cap

Pavillion.

NOMA Applauds new Infrastructure Fund

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is hoping for more details this weekend about a new infrastructure program.

The province announced 60 million dollars for rural and small municipalities yesterday.

Vice-President of NOMA Dave Canfield says while its not a lot of money, he's hoping its the start of bigger things.

The funding also includes nine million dollars to help municipalities prepare asset management plans for their infrastructure.