Kenora OPP Make Numerous Arrests

The Kenora OPP have arrested 5 people following numerous incidents last weekend.

Provincial police say the investigation and subsequent search warrant began when a firearm was reported stolen from the vehicle in the Rideout area on Saturday morning.

At the same time police were called about a black GMC Sierra being stolen in the same area.

Afterward OPP got flooded with reports about break ins up Highway 671.

A road block allowed police to seize the stolen vehicle and arrest 3 suspects.

On Monday a search warrant at a residence on Mascott Avenue saw police seize the stolen firearm along with other property.

All 5 suspects are being held in custody and will appear in Kenora court tomorrow.

21 year old Edward Kersch from Kenora:

• Theft of Motor Vehicle
• Theft from a Motor Vehicle
• Mischief Under $5,000
• Possession of a Firearm, Prohibited or Restricted Weapon Obtained by Crime
• Break, Enter Dwelling Commit an Indictable Offence
• Break, Enter Place Commit an Indictable Offence

19 year old Tristen Futros from Winnipeg:

• Theft Under $5,000
• Mischief Under $5,000
• Break, Enter Dwelling Commit an Indictable Offence x2
• Possession of a Firearm, Prohibited or Restricted Weapon Obtained by Crime
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
• Theft of a Motor Vehicle

40 year old Timothy Elliot from Kenora:

• Possession of Firearm or Ammunition Contrary to Prohibition Order
• Possession of a Firearm, Prohibited or Restricted Weapon Obtained by Crime

20 year old Bryan Fehr from Winnipeg:

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

19 year old Mikhayla Mann from Winnipeg:

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

TBayTel Launches New Campaign

TBaytel's latest "Tbaytel for Good" campaign is now underway.

The telecommunication's company is offering up a total of 15-thousand dollars to organizations with the focus this time on the environment.

Groups across northwestern Ontario can register their idea and lobby for votes until June 20th.

The Border Skating Club in Fort Frances was the winner of the company's winter contest.

TransCanada Defends Energy East

A spokesperson for TransCanada Pipeline says they have a strong working relationship with First Nations regarding the proposed Energy East Pipeline.

Concerns about treaty rights have been raised at Ontario Energy Board consultations over the past month across Ontario

Philippe Cannon says they have an open dialogue with aboriginal leaders.

Cannon says several letters of agreement have been reached.

Ontario Court To Hear Appeal of Spring Bear Hunt

An Ontario court is to hear arguments today against the province’s planned spring bear hunt.

Animal Alliance of Canada and Zoocheck Canada are challenging the hunt, saying mother bears will be killed and their orphaned cubs left to starve or be killed by predators.

The new spring hunt is scheduled to begin in selected northern communities on Thursday and ends on June 15th.

The animal rights groups have filed an application for a judicial review, and say they hope the court will at least delay the start of the hunt until it can issue a ruling.

Their lawyer has said the hunt would be contrary to animal cruelty provisions in the Criminal Code.

The hunt was cancelled in 1999.

City Releases Boating Sector Profile

Business opportunties in boating.

That's the thrust of a  new economic development profile
developed for the City of Kenora.

Don Denver is chair of the Economic Development Commission and says the Boating Sector Profile fits in nicely with Kenora's brand promise.

The Boating sector profile outlines a number of business opportunities including boat maintenance and repairs, storage, as well as docking and rentals.

It's the most recent of the City's business profiles, which also includes mining, forestry and tourism.

Gravelle Promise One Billion For Ring of Fire

The provincial government is making a huge financial promise to the Ring of Fire mining development.

Northern Development and Mines minister Michael Gravelle says they will commit one billion dollars for infrastructure projects to the Ring.

Gravelle is challenging the federal government to pony up the same amount.  

The money will go towards building access to the project through either roads or railways.  

The funding will be included in this weeks provincial budget.

FedNor Promotes Export Opportunities

FedNor would like to see more companies in northwestern Ontario get into the export business.

The regional economic development agency is out offering specific financial assistance programs.

Director Aime Dimatteo says since announcing them last fall, thirty companies have made application.

Dimatteo says of the 67 hundred business with available products or services, just 6 per cent are now in the export business.

Tories Complain About Fake Deficit Numbers

The Progressive Conservatives claim the Liberal government has been using fake deficit numbers as part of its budget process.

They say the numbers are contained in documents obtained.

Tory leader Tim Hudak says its only hurts future investment.

The Tory says documents first identify a fake deficit number of 24.7 billion for the the 2009/
10 fiscal year.

Unifor Begins Contract Talks With Resolute

Contract talks between Resolute Forest Products and Unifor are underway.

The results of the negotiations, impacting nineteen collective agreements are intended to serve as a pattern for talks with other pulp and paper companies in eastern Canada.

The talks are scheduled to continued all this week in Montreal.

Local Fighter To Compete in Jiu Jitsu Competition

A local Jiu Jitsu fighter is competing in an international event.

Amanda Kowalik is heading to Brampton for the Ontario Opens.

Kowalik says she'll be fighting in the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competition.

She will be fighting in the white belt middle
weight class.

The tournament runs Saturday and Sunday.

OPP Investigate breaks Ins and Robbery

The Kenora OPP are investigating a number of break and enters in the community.

On Thursday last week police say a home in the North End was broken into and numerous electronics were stolen

At the same time police are investigating multiple break ins to cabins and a business on Coney Island.

The incidents occurred between the 22nd and the 25th.

Anyone with information about any of these incidents are asked to call the OPP or crimestoppers.

Meanwhile provincial police have charged 2 youth for robbery.

Early this afternoon a youth in the 9th Street North area was confronted by 2 16 year old boys, one of whom was carrying a knife.

Both youth suspects are being held in custody as they await a bail hearing tomorrow.

Green Party Concerned With Fair Elections Act

After a two-week break, the House of Commons and Senate return to work today.

Expect talk and debate among MP's and Senators as the session resumes about the Supreme Court's decision on Friday which claimed provincial consent is needed before the Senate can be eliminated.

Meanwhile, proposed amendments to the federal government's Fair Elections Act are not sitting well with the Green Party

Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Bruce Hyer says there is nothing fair about the Fair Elections Act.

He says he would rather see a system of proportional representational.

Hyer adds that the entire elections system needs to be overhauled.

Green Party Announces Candidate for Kenora-Rainy River

The Kenora-Rainy River Riding now has a Green party candidate for the next provincial election.

Tim McKillop of Pickle Lake has been selected to carry the green colours.

McKillop is a High School teacher with the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.

He joins Sarah Campbell, Anthony Leek of the Liberals and Randy Nickle of the Progressive Conservatives.

Campbell Acclaimed as NDP Candidate in Kenora-Rainy River

Sarah Campbell will once again represent the NDP in the Kenora-Rainy River riding in the next provincial election.

Campbell was acclaimed on the weekend at a nomination meeting in Dryden.

Campbell says she's ready to hit the campaign trail whenever the writ is dropped.

She says she knows the issues and has a lot of projects that she wants to see through.

Heritage Fund Dollars Announced

Several communities will share in funding from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund.

The Stanjikoming First Nation near Fort Frances is receiving 569 thousand dollars to upgrade a road for a quarry development project.

It's also getting 280 thousand to build a multi-use centre.

Lake of the Woods Township will use 125
thousand to install a geothermal heating system at the Bergland Hall.

Grassy Narrows Arena Destroyed by Fire

The Ontario Fire Marshall's office has been contacted about a fire to
the arena on the Grassy Narrows First Nation.

The arena was gutted by a blaze early Sunday morning.

It's believed the fire was caused by youth who may have broken into the
building late Saturday night.

The building was completely engulfed in flames by the time members of the  local volunteer fire department showed up at the scene.

No dollar figure has been given for the amount of the damage.

Province Wants Feds To Contribute to Highway Maintenance

Ontario says the federal government needs to ante up when it comes to road improvements.

The province is proposing to spend 14 billion dollars in northern Ontario alone.

Transportation Minister Glenn Murray says the federal commitment is well below that, closer to 73
million a year.

He says they are seeking at least three billion a year in Federal support for highways.

Some smaller municipalities also say a federal program for upgrades excludes them because of their size.

Federal Government Promises to Pursue Senate Reform

Minister of Natural Resources and Kenora MP Greg Rickford says the federal government is hoping to gain support from the provinces for Senate reform.

The Supreme Court of Canada says the government doesn't have the power to enact most of the changes it has proposed for the Senate without the support of the provinces.

Rickford says they will review the decision.

Rickford says they can always improve on regional representation.

Mental Health Agreement for Treaty Three

Tackling mental health in the Treaty 3 territory.

Members of the Minobimaadiziwin project have signed a relationship agreement with support providers to tackle issues of mental health.

Project manager Melanie Hyatt says it's a long time coming.

Hyatt says one big part of the agreement is to ensure patients aren't forgotten when they leave care an re-enter their communities.

Plane Problems on Sachigo Lake

The Chief of Sachigo Lake First Nation is confirming an incident involving a Wasaya Airways plane.

Alvin Beardy says the community is in shock after the doors of a Wasaya Airways plane flew open shortly after take-off early Friday morning

Beardy says the aircraft had finished dropping off passengers when it took off.

He says passengers on the ground heard something different and knew right away that something was very wrong.

The aircraft came back to the airport and landed safely.

Beardy says the door above the propellor had opened during mid-flight.

He says it was a full load with members of his community as well as others.

Beardy stresses the incident needs to be seriously looked at.

The Transportation Safety Board is looking into the incident.

Calls to Wasaya haven't been returned.