Northern Ontario Leaders Debate

Thunder Bay takes centre stage today as it hosts the first ever Northern Ontario Leaders Debate.

Chief Operating Officer of the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce, Harold Wilson

says they'll be asking a number of questions to the party leaders.

The NDP's Andrea Horwath and PC's Tim Hudak will square off at 11 today

Confederation College

Three part time support staff workers at Confederation College say they haven’t been back to school since the strike ended. They’re claiming to have lost there jobs because they didn’t cross picket lines when their full time co-workers were bargaining a new contract. Part time support staff isn’t represented by OPSEU but the local president says the union is trying to help those affected by this week's move.

Martin Falls deals with epidemic of prescription drug addictions

With a quarter of its tiny population hooked on prescription painkillers, Marten Falls First Nation has decided to embark on a costly but proven method to get addicts free and clear.

Starting October 3rd, about 60 affected residents of the Northern First Nation will take part in a 3-phase program to substitute their addiction to Oxycodone and other addictive pills with controlled doses of Suboxone.

A team of health professionals will taper the drug over 30 days until clients can be taken off completely or continue on short-term, low-dose maintenance.

Drug and alcohol counsellor Liza Moonias says painkiller abuse on the reserve, 500-kilometres north of Thunder Bay, started to become a serious problem about 5-years ago.

She says 20-per cent of the reserve's adult population has since become addicted.

Greenstone lobbies for Ring of Fire Smelter

The Municipality of Greenstone feels it now has a leg up in attracting a Ring of Fire refinery.

Consultant George Smitherman says his study shows that the Town of Exton should be the top choice for Cliffs Natural Resources when it makes a decision on a smelter location

Cliffs hopes to make a decision by the end of the year.

Rainy River Resources Strikes Nickle

There's gold - now there appears to be nickel at Rainy River Resources gold project south of Kenora.
The company says it recently found what it believes to be a new nickel deposit.

Further exploration is planned to better define the size of the discovery.

OPP investigate Weagamow fire

Sioux Lookout OPP and Weagamow Lake First Nation Police are investigating a major fire.

Police received a report on MOnday that a winter road check point building had been burned.

OPP believe the structure may have been burned intentionally.

Police say the building was a North Caribou Band Office security trailer.

Anyone with information is asked to contact OPP or Crime Stoppers.

Three drug busts in Rainy River District

Three people in the Rainy River district will make future court appearances on drug charges.

A 60-year-old Fort Frances man was charged after O-P-P seized 3-thousand dollars worth of marijuana plants from a home in late August.

A week later, a marijuana grow operation was discovered in Barwick where police seized plants and dry marijuana, valued at over 23-thousand dollars.

A 47-year-old man was charged.

A day later a 44-year-old woman from Couchiching First Nation was charged after police stopped a vehicle and found 41-hundred dollars worth of cocaine inside.

Portraits of Honor Coming to Kenora

A national tribute to soldiers who have died during the Afghan mission will be making its way to Kenora after all.

A couple of local residents have been lobbying for the truck to stop in the city on its cross-country tour.

George Storm and Carole Davis have been spear-heading the effort.

The Portraits of Honor carvan will also be stopping in Vermillion Bay next week.

NOMA

The Vice President of NOMA has a sneaking suspicion the Northern Ontario Leaders Debate will draw Premier McGuinty.

Dave Canfield says even though the Premier has said he can't attend; he might find a way in the end.

Canfield feels any Premier needs to be engaged with the region since we have all of the resources.

OFIA

Northwestern Ontario's Forest Industry could make a come back.


That's according to Ontario Forest Industry Association Spokesperson Scott Jackson.

The O-F-I-A wants a promise from each provincial party that if they win the election; they'll scrap policies that create red tape for the industry.

Ontario Mining Association

The President of the Ontario Mining Association is predicting the current mining boom only has a 20 year shelf life.


Chris Hodgson says we need to strike while the iron is hot.

Hodgson adds in order for the region to provide a solid workforce more women need to consider careers in mining.

MS Kenora

The M-S Kenora will continue to be a landmark on the Harborfront.


The owners of the tour boat have announced that they will continue to operate on Lake of the Woods, after threatening to move last year.

Owner, Al Luby admits its been a difficult couple of years but they hope to provide more services next year, including daily trips to Coney Island.

OPP investigate Fatal Fire on Lake of the Woods

One person is dead and another in critical but stable condition as a result of a fire at a cottage on Lake of the Woods.

The OPP say the blaze took place just before 5:00 Monday morning on Ward Island.

The cabin was completely destroyed.

The Ontario Fire Marshall's office has been called into investigate.

Police have not released the name of the deceased, but say both people were residents of the United States.

Organizers of Northern Leaders debate still hoping Dalton shows

Organizers of this week's leaders debate on northern issues are still hoping the premier might make an appearance.

Andy Scribilo is the president of the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce and believes there is a lot of pressure on Dalton McGuinty to take part.

The leaders debate will take place Friday morning in Thunder Bay.

Far North Act Under Attack at all-candidates forum

The Far North Act came under attack at last night's all-candidates forum in Kenora.

At least three of the candidates indicated that their party would either scrap it or re-write it.

Rod McKay for the Conservatives says they believe in opening up the north for development.

Charmaine Romaniuk from the Northern Ontario Heritage Party says their goal would be to make sure any minerals mined in the north would be processed here as well.

Sarah Campbell from the NDP, Anthony Leek from the Liberals and Jo Jo Holiday of the Green Party also attended the forum.

Saints Sweep Rams in NorWOSSA season opener

A good start to the season for the Thomas Aquinas Boys Volleyball and Girls basketball teams.

They made it a clean sweep over the Red Lake Rams yesterday.

The T.A. senior boys cruised to an easy three sets to none victory over the Rams, while the Saints Junior boys needed five sets to get by Red Lake.

In Basketball action, the Senior Saints upended the Rams 30-12, while the Junior girls held on for a 27-24 victory.

Broncos lose season opener on home Court

A disappointing start to the season for Beaver Brae's court Sport teams.

They were swept by the Dryden Eagles this afternoon at home.

The Broncos Senior boys volleyball team took the Eagles to five games, but came out on the losing end, while the Beaver Brae junior squad lost in three straight sets.

In girls basketball, Dryden earned a 28-20 win over the Broncos.

Kaitlyn Sparkman led the offense with 7 points.

The Beaver Brae junior girls dropped a 41-30 decision. Riley Smith was the game's high scorer with 11 points.

Canada's Inflation Rate

Canada's annual inflation rate jumped to 3.1 per cent last month as consumers paid more for many items, including gasoline and food.

Statistics Canada says, on a month-to-month basis, consumers paid 3-10ths of a per cent more last month than in July.The surprisingly strong jump reverses a recent trend to more moderate inflation, which had seen the rate fall from 3.7 during May to 2.7 per cent in July.

But gasoline was 22.8 per cent more expensive last month than in August 2010. Food cost 4.4 per cent more

Fertility Treatments

Canada's fertility doctors are looking at barring obese women from having fertility treatments.

It's in light of some research showing obese women who have in-vitro fertilization treatments have higher risks of complications.

The idea is being discussed among the fertility doctors who are meeting at a conference this week in Toronto

Vote

A sure sign that the Provincial election is fast approaching!

Advance polls open in several communities today according to Kenora-Rainy River Returning Officer Ian Simpson.

Kenora residents can also start voting today at 227 2ND STREET SOUTH .

Voters should bring their photo ID and the Notice of Registration Card.

Youth Action Committee on Drugs

Kenora City Council is being asked to support yet another committee.

A couple of members of the Youth Action Committee on Drugs made a deputation this week suggesting the formation of a youth council.

The council would be made up of youth between the ages of 14 and 20 and would have an elected board of directors.

Air Canada

The skies are clear for Air Canada in its labour dispute with its flight attendants.

A threatened strike was averted after a tentative agreement was reached late yesterday between the airline and its 68-hundred attendants.

CUPE is happy with the deal and recommends members accept it when they vote on it next month.

The union says even though the agreement was reached with back-to-work legislation looming, it achieved about 80 per cent of what it wanted.

Canadian Doctors

The College of Family Physicians of Canada is releasing a report on Parliament Hill today calling for patient-centered care and timely access to health care for all Canadians.

C-E-O Dr. Calvin Gutkin says more clearly defined links are needed between the family-practice office and other health services in the community

Dr. Rob Boulay says all Canadians should expect to have a family doctor by 2020.

Senior Thistles looking to make a comeback this winter

Senior Hockey may be alive and well in Kenora this winter after all.

A board of directors has been formed for the Kenora Triple A senior Thistles.

The team is currently trying to secure ice time for a condensed schedule.

The board is also looking for players who might be interested in suiting up for the Thistles this year.

Anyone interested in playing for the 2011-2012 season is asked to attend a meeting Thursday night at the Kenora Rec. Center.

The meeting will take place at 7PM.

All Candidates Forum tonight at Super 8

The second all-candidates forum in the Kenora-Rainy River Riding will take place this evening.

All five candidates have been invited to take part in an event sponsored by the Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce.

The candidates are being given questions related to the economy and how to improve the local business climate.

The candidates had a bit of a warm-up this morning, when they took part  in a forum sponsored by the Civics class at Beaver Brae Secondary School.

Council Passes new deer hunting regulations

Not everyone in Kenora is in favour allowing the hunting of deer south of the Kenora by-pass.

At a public meeting last night, a couple of people spoke out against the by-law change.

Darlene Lever says its not a good solution to the problem.

Council passed the by-law change by a vote of 3-2.

Houseboat owners get a break from City Council

Who says you can't fight city hall and win.

Houseboat owners who moor off Coney Island have won a bit of a break from the city and won't have to move their vessels right away.

A number of boaters spoke out to council last night including Rhonda Brown who says some of the house boats have been at that location for more than 10 years.

Council has decided to defer any decision on the removal of the house boats.

School Food Regulation

No more deep fried french fries and no more pop.
Those foods can no longer be sold in local schools under new regulations passed by the provincial government.

Chelsea LeCain is a dietician with the Northwestern Health Unit and says there are some exemptions.

Each class is allowed 10 special event days, which are exempt from the new food regulations. The new regulations went into effect September 1st.

Air Canada

There was turbulence late last night in Montreal, where contract talks between Air Canada and the union representing its flight attendants broke down.

CUPE claims both sides walked away from the table after an Air Canada spokesman insulted the union and a federal mediator.

Labour Minister Lisa Raitt says she still expects the two sides in the Air Canada dispute to get back together and come up with a collective agreement.

The flight attendants have threatened to walk off the job at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow if their demands aren't met.
The key areas of dispute are wages, pensions, crew rest, working conditions and work rules.

Parliament's Fall Session

Conservative, Liberal, and New Democrat M-P's say they intend to focus on job creation during Parliament's fall session.

But when the Conservative government begins rolling out its legislative agenda today, it'll start with the re-introduction of a series of crime bills.

Among other things, the bills would increase the number of mandatory minimum sentences and eliminate house arrest for violent offences.

M-P's opened the fall session yesterday with tributes to the late Jack Layton

Union Gas

Finally some good news for cash-strapped homeowners in Northwestern Ontario.

Union Gas Spokesperson Vanda Wall says the cost of natural gas will be decreasing slightly during the colder months. Eight dollars and twenty-five cents worth of savings could be coming your way on consumption of about 2600 cubic meters a year. Wall says the rate change comes into effect October 1st.

Northern Ontario Drug Bust

No word of any charges yet following one of the largest seizures of marijuana plants in northern Ontario.
Police say they seized 16-hundred plants during the weekend at Brunswick House First Nation near Timmins.Police put the value of the plants at 1.6 million dollars. Nishnawbe-Aski Police didn't say whether the plants were found in a field or growing inside homes on the reserve, 200 kilometres southwest of Timmins.

Suspects have been identified, but no names have been released.

Walmart Green Student Challenge

Walmart Canada President and CEO David Cheesewright announced today the launch of the Walmart Green Student Challenge, inviting post-secondary students across Canada to develop proposals that are good for the environment and for business.

Cheesewright says "We're asking for their best, most innovative ideas to make business more environmentally sustainable in the future."

Full contest details, including a video announcement, are available at www.sharegreen.ca/student

Forest Fire Update

Northwestern Ontario is getting involved in the forest fire fight south of the border.

The Ministry of Natural Resources has dispatched 16-fire rangers, a waterbomber and a birdog to Northern Minnesota. A 94-thousand acre forest fire continues to blaze in the Pagami Creek area.

The fire is only 19-percent contained and evacuation notices remain in effect in the area.

Rainfall Warning Issued for Northwestern Ontario

Don't forget your umbrella tomorrow.

Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for the Kenora area and much of northwestern Ontario.

Geoff Coulson is a severe weather specialist and says the rain will be with us for at least the next two days.

Coulson says we can expect to see at least 50 millimeters worth of rain Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Thistles unbeaten in weekend exhibition tournament

A promising weekend for the Kenora Triple "a" midget Thistles.

The Thistles were in Beausejour for a pre-season tournament and finished with a record of three wins and a tie on the four games played.

Head Coach Doug Novak says he doesn't want to read too much into the results.

The Thistles allowed just five goals in four games, and recorded two  shutouts.

The Kenora Midgets blanked the Central Plains Capitals 1-0, got by the Winnipeg Thrashers 4-3, then shutout the Pembina Valley Hawks 3-0 and tied the Interlake Lightning 2-2.

Their home opener is September 30th against the Winnipeg Wild.

Knowlege is Power presentation tonight

Understanding and Living with Cancer.

That's the theme of a presentation sponsored by the Kenora Dragon Tamers.

Lorna Haney is a member of the team and says they have lined up a number of guest speakers for tonight's event.

The event is being called "Knowlege is Power" and will be held at the Best Western Lakeside Inn starting at 7:00.

Terry Fox Run A success

The weather wasn't great, but that didn't stop almost 300 people for turning out to the 31st annual Terry Fox Run in Kenora.

Yesterday's event raised just over 10 thousand dollars for cancer research.

Organizers are also thanking the 38 volunteers who help stage the annual run.

Con College Workers set to return to work

The president of Confederation College, Jim Madder says he's ecstatic now that a tentative agreement has been reached to end the strike by support staff.

Madder says it was good news to wake up to.

Madder hopes to have operations back to normal by the end of the week.

Public meeting tonight on City Deer Hunting

Kenora City Council will find out this afternoon how the public feels about

its plan to allow deer hunting south of the Kenora By-Pass.

A second public meeting is being held prior to the open meeting of council this afternoon.

Councillor Sharon Smith says they expect to hear both the pros and the cons of the plan.

The plan would allow bow-hunting on crown land or private property over five hectares in size, with the permission of the property owner.

The meeting is scheduled to start at 4:00 this afternoon.

Bikes for Triple Play

Triple Play will be going into the bicycle business soon.

The OPP are planning to donate 24 bikes to Triple Play this year instead of holding its annual bike auction.

The bikes are either lost or stolen, but remain unclaimed by their owners.

Last year the bikes were donated to a couple of remote first nation communties in northwestern Ontario.

Catholic Board Responds to EQAO results

The Kenora Catholic District School Board says there's still room for improvement.

Staff are still digesting the latest figures from grades three and six, reading, writing and math tests.

Phylis Eikre is the director of Education and says the EQAO results show where they can do better.

Eikre says academic math scores were nine percent higher than than the provincial average.

Officers to receive Accolade Awards

Well deserved recognition for two Northwestern Ontario OPP officers.

Constable Bob Bernie of the Kenora Detachement is going to be named OPP Officer of the Year.

Bernie will receive the award at a special ceremony in Orillia Monday afternoon.

Bernie is being recognized for outstanding service as well as his work with the Kenora Mental Health and Drug Awareness Task Force.

Detective Constable Clarence Pierce from the Fort Frances-Emo area will also pick up an award for enforcement.

The Federal Long-Gun Registry

The Federal Long-Gun Registry is one of the Harper Government's top priorities for today's start of the new session of Parliament.

Kenora MP Greg Rickford says he hopes to have a bill to dismantle the Registry in place sooner rather then later.Rickford notes it all depends on what games the opposition play, noting its an issue that continues to divide the NDP.

ePassports

Canadians could soon be paying a lot more for passports if the first versions of Canada's new electronic passport are any indication.

Since 2009, Ottawa has issued 40-thousand so-called ePassports to senior government officials and diplomats.

The document has a computer chip that stores key personal data. According to an expense claim filed by Prime Minister Harper,they cost 225 dollars each.Currently, adult Canadians pay 87 dollars for a passport

Air Canada

At last word, Air Canada and its flight attendants' union were still talking in Montreal late last night ahead of this week's union-imposed strike deadline.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees says the airline presented a counter-offer to a proposal that CUPE made Saturday.Two federal mediators are said to be involved in the talks aimed  at heading off a walkout by Air Canada's 68-hundred flight attendants early Wednesday morning

House of Commons

Parliament gets back to business today after the summer recess.


M-P's will return to work in the House of Commons where some will offer tributes to late N-D-P leader Jack Layton, who died of cancer last month.

Although Prime Minister Harper has stressed job creation his top priority, a tough-on-crime agenda will be the first major bill to be introduced this week.

Laws in the omnibus bill are expected to include measures to toughen jail terms for child predators and an end house arrest for violent offenders.

OPSEU

The province's 24 community colleges should be back to normal within days after striking staff reached a tentative deal.

The eight-thousand support workers who were on picket lines since just before school resumed are expected back on the job tomorrow.Negotiators for OPSEU members who handle everything from

cleaning, to food services and registration reached a tentative deal late last night.

Blue Rodeo Ready for Tonight's Concert

The new Harborfront Tent is being prepped for tonight's Blue Rodeo Concert.

Greg Keelor is one of the lead men for the Canadian Super Group and says they still enjoy performing after 30 years on the road.

Fat City is scheduled to open for Blue Rodeo starting at 7:15.