Missing Manitoba Girl Located

A Manitoba teen who was the subject of a search by the RCMP and OPP has been found.

Police says 16 year old Toni Rose Linklater was located Friday in Manitoba.

There had been reports she had been spotted in northwestern Ontario, hitch-hiking east.

OPP Investigate Pair of Break-Ins

The OPP are looking into a pair of break-ins in the Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls area.

Police say in both cases, seasonal cottages were targeted by the thieves.

In one instance a camp on Regina Bay was entered between April 20th and May 2nd.

Some alcohol and sporting goods were stolen.

Officers are also investigating a break and enter to a cabin in the Nestor Falls area that
took place between Christmas and May 2nd.

The OPP say the front door was forced open and several cupboards and drawers
were rummaged through by the culprits, though nothing appears to have been stolen.

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

RCMP Investigate A Pair of Homicides in Southeastern Manitoba

The RCMP are investigating a pair of homicides on the Roseau River First Nation in southeastern Manitoba.

The Mounties were initially contacted about a fatality in the community  on Saturday.

The victim has been identified as 23 year old Charles French.

Upon further investigation, a 30 year old man was arrested and charged with second degree murder.

30 year old Richard Alex Johnson will appear in Winnipeg Court today to face the charge.

Police were also contacted about another sudden death the next day.

Homicide is also suspected, but the RCMP say the two cases are not
related.

The Dakota Ojibway Police Service is also assisting with the investigations.

It's A Dog's Life Gets A Boost

It's a Dogs Life is getting a helping hand from the Lake of the Woods
Business Incentive Corporation.

LOWBIC Staff has presented a 200 dollar check to the pet rescue agency.

The money was raised through voluntary participation in casual Friday's.

Staff donated a dollar a week when they wore jeans to work.

Candidates Hit the Hustings for Provincial Election

They are off and running in the provincial election.

All four major parties have their candidates in place for the
June 12th vote.

Conservative Candidate Randy Nickle says his campaign is all about
job creation.

For the second election in a row Sarah Campbell will represent the NDP while Anthony Leek will carry the Liberal banner.

The Green Party will also be represented on the ballot by Pickle Lake school
teacher Tim McKillop.

City Announces Relief From High Water Bills

Some relief for homeowners facing high water bills this winter.

City Council has approved a number of tools to help reduce costs for
anyone who had to run bleeders or shared their water with neighbors.

Mayor Dave Canfield says they will be holding water bills at the same level as
last year.

Council has also agreed to re-imburse homeowners who had to pay to have their water lines thawed between January 1st and February 15th.

About a dozen property owners were affected during that period.

Contract For Downtown Revitalization Awarded

Kenora City Council has given the green light to Phase Three of Downtown
Revitalization.

Moncrief Construction had the winning tender of 4.75 million dollars.

Operations manager Rick Perchuck says contruction will likely last well into
fall.

Perchuck says contruction will start at the Kenricia Corner at Second Street
and end at Knox United Church.

Substance Abuse Task Force Receives Funding

Kenora's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Task Force has received
a shot in the arm.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation has approved 220 thousand dollars in funding to hire a program co-ordinator.

Inspector Dave Lucas of the OPP says they have a number of projects they want to pursue through this position.

There is funding in place for three years.

Lucas says they will be posting the job shortly.

OPP Dispatch Wild Dogs

The OPP are taking steps to manage the wild dog problem in the city.

Late last week, officers were contacted about a deer that had been injured by a number of dogs in the Laurenson's Lake area.

Police say they had to put the deer down because is was so badly injured.

A short time later, the pack was located and the OPP say they were able to kill three of the animals.

They say the dogs have becoming increasingly agressive over the winter.

MTO Opens Highway 527 South of Armstrong

The Ministry of Transportation says Highway 527 is now open to both lanes of traffic.

The highway was closed on Thursday to replace a culvert on the roadway.

One man was killed after an accident last week that was caused when a portion of the highway washed out about one kilometre south of the Kab River Bridge.

Gull Bay First Nation Chief Wilfred King Chief had declared a state of emergency in that community due to the highway closure.    

TBayTel For Good Challenge Launched

Tbaytel is going green and they need your help.

They are looking for ideas on how to improve the environment and the winning one will receive 15-thousand dollars to help create a healthier planet.

Spokesperson Laura Foulds says you can vote for your favourite idea until June 12th.

People can vote on the "tbaytel for good" website.

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.