CUPE Campaigns against Hospital Overcrowding

The union representing hospital workers in Ontario wants the provincial government to open more beds not close them.

That was one of the suggestions made during a tour of northwestern Ontario by the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

Sharon Richer is the northern representative for the union and says over-crowding is leading to poor sanitary conditions in some hospitals.

The tour made a stop in Kenora yesterday and will be in Fort Frances later today.

More Medical Professionals Working in Kenora

The City of Kenora now has record number of medical professionals working in the community.

A report by the Chief of Medical Staff at Lake of the Woods District Hospital shows that there are currently 28 general practitioners and family doctors working in Kenora.

Depite that fact, Dr. Kerry McDonald says a large number of people in the community still have to go to the ER to see a doctor.

He says number of the physicans do not work full-time, or have a restricted practice.

In all, there are 81 medical professionals that have credentials at the hospital.

That includes visiting specialists, dentitists and nurse practitioners.

Relay for Life At Lakewood tonight

The Canadian Cancer Society has already raised 250 thousand dollars across northwestern Ontario this month through Relays for Life in a  number of communities and is expected to get another boost this weekend.

Kenora's Relay is taking place starting tonight at Lakewood School.

Amanda Witta is the co-chair of the event and says one of the highlights of the event is the lighting of the luminaries.

Organizers of this year's relay are hoping to match or exceed last year's fundraising total of over 75 thousand dollars.

The Relay for Life gets underway at 7:00 this evening.

NDP call for Gas Regulation

Andrea Horwath doesn't like how high gas prices in northwestern Ontario are compared to Southern Ontario, so she's promising price caps if elected premier.

The NDP leader also think the sytem should be regionalized.

Horwath believes transporation costs shouldn't be used as an excuse to gouge drivers

Anglican Archbishop speaks out against Kenora's Deer

Ontario's Minister of Natural Resources has received a strongly worded letter from a local religious leader.

Anglican Archbishop of Keewatin, David Ashdown has written a letter complaining about the deer population in Kenora.

Ashdown the deer have lost their fear of humans and are becoming unpredictable and agressive.

He suggests the crown has the responsibility of protecting local residents, but nothing has

been done to control the local deer population.

He goes on to say the minister has a moral obligation to take all steps necessary, including

"if necessary" a cull of the urban deer population.

Facilitator agrees with School Board's Decision to close Evergreen

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board followed its own policies when it decided to close Evergreen School.

That's the finding of a facilitator hired by the provincial government to look into the closure of the elementary school.

Joan Green was appointed by the Ministry of Education this past winter after parents at Evergreen complained about the process.

But in a report by the former head of the Education Quality and Accountability office, Green says the school board was thorough and compliant wih its school accommodation policy.

The board had initially decided to close Evergreen at the end of this school year, but has agreed to delay the closure for another year.

Snow in Pickle Lake?

While Southern Ontario perspired through a day of temperatures in the low-to mid-30s on Wednesday, Pickle Lake residents almost had to grab their snow shovels.

Mayor Roy Hoffman, who works at the airport weather station, says snow was falling at about 10 a.m.

Hoffman says the temperature was down to about 2 C,and big flakes were falling.

In other areas of the Northwest, people donned fall jackets to cut a biting wind and rain early in the day.

The forecast for today is a lot better with sunny skies and 18-degree temeratures.

CUPE Brings Health Care Tour to Kenora

The union representing health care workers is speaking out against overcrowding in local hospitals.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees has launched a tour of northwestern Ontario talking about some of the problems that are cropping up due to overcrowded conditions.

It says infections like C-difficile are the the result of too many patients and not enough beds.

CUPE is bringing its campaign to Kenora today.

Fire Hazard low in NWO

Despite the wet weather six forest fires remain active in Northwestern Ontario.

The most recent fire was sparked by lightning in the Sioux Lookout area.

The 2.5-hectare fire is being observed north of Wabakimi Provincial Park.

The fire isn't threatening any property.

5 of the fires currently burning are in the Thunder Bay-Nipigon District and don't pose any problem.

Canada Post to reduce delivery service

Expect to see less mail delivered to your doors.

Canada Post is trimming staff levels at mail sorting plants. And, starting next week, it's ordering letter carriers to deliver letters only three days a week - Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Spokesman Jon Hamilton says it's because mail volumes have dropped by half since last Thursday, when postal workers began a series of rotating strikes.

Rotating walkouts hit 13 communities today, including Thunder Bay and Hearst in Northwestern Ontario.

Farmer's Market returns June 22nd

Despite continued construction on the Kenora Harborfront, the Farmer's Market will be back in its usual place under the big tent this summer.

The Farmer's Market will start up the day after the first day of summer, June 22nd.

Buck Matiowski says they expect to have more vendors this year.

This year, the city has decided to allow parking along the south side of Lakeview Drive along the greenbelt, to increase the amount of parking available for the farmer's market.

Rickford defends federal budget

The federal government is going to have to make some tough choices in the months ahead if it plans to balance its budget by 2014.

Billions of dollars worth of spending is going to have to be cut, but Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford is promising that services will not be affected.

Rickford says overall this week's federal budget provides help for the forest sector, as well as enhancements for the health care system in this region.

Opawica begin drill program near Kenora

A junior mining company says it will be conducting a drilling program in the Kenora area this summer.

Opawica Explorations says it will be drilling three holes on a gold and copper project in the Atikwa Lake area, southeast of town.

The company says it will be carrying out the drilling over the next 45 days, and depending on the results of exploration program, it may expand and do more drilling in the area.

The holes will range anywhere from 300 to one thousand meters in depth.

FedNor Subject of Private Members Bill

A New Democrat is asking Kenora MP Greg Rickford to support a private members bill that makes FedNor an independent economic agency for Northern Ontario.

Claude Gravelle is expected to table the bill in the House of Commons this afternoon.

Gravelle says an independent agency would speed up the application process.

Gravelle notes right now FedNor is in the hands of a "meddling Minister".

Provincial Liberals Expected to Face an Uphill Battle in Northern Ontario

The Federation of Northern Municipalities says it's tired of not having a say at Queen's Park and is warning government to start listening to their needs in the lead up to the provincial election this fall.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle acknowledges there's work to do in northern Ontario, but is proud of his government's record.

The federation says misguided wood allocation policies, high hydro rates and unpredictable infrastructure funding are all hurting the northern economy.

Buster's Barbeque Sauce A real Winner

For the third year in a row, Busters BBQ Sauce has taken home the 'Peoples Choice' Award at the Great American Royal BBQ Contest.

The Vermilion Bay based company is the only one to win the award in three consecutive years.

Busters beat out over 80-other sauces.

The company has also announced its launching a new flavour, Busters Chipotle Blueberry Sauce.

NAPS officer under investigation

A Nishnawbe-Aski Police officer is facing a number of charges after a May 1st incident.

Nishnawbe-Aski Police received a report that a Muskrat Dam First Nation man was assaulted and threatened during an incident at the detachment.

After a thorough investigation James Remus has been charged with two counts of Assault with a Weapon, Assault Causing Bodily Harm, Utter Threats and Unlawful Confinement.

Remus has been released on conditions and will appear in court on September 13.

Three Minnesota Hunters face hefty fine

Three men from Minnesota have been fined a total of 10-thousand dollars for shooting aat a moose decoy from a motorboat on Cooper Lake, about 160-kilometres north of Red Lake.

Geary Padden, Timothy Peterson and Christopher Freeman pleaded guilty to unlawfully hunting moose and have been banned from hunting for 2-years.

The men were caught taking shots at the fake moose last October.

Court heard that once the trio realized they were shooting at a decoy, they attempted to flea.

They were arrested by conservation officers.

Con College Celebrates local Graduates

The Kenora Campus of Confederation College has graduated 51 students.

Graduation Ceremonies took place last night at Thomas Aquinas School.

Meanwhile, Confederation College is now up and running in Red Lake.

A grand opening was held for the new campus on Howey Street yesterday afternoon.

Vice President Academic Judi Maundrell says its an exciting time for both Confederation College and the community of Red Lake.

A number of programs will be offered at the School including business, native child and family services and mining.

Lake of the Woods Task Force and Control Board to hold local meetings

The Lake of the Woods Control Board says its not going to be providing any feedback on a final draft report by the Task Force looking at water quality on the lake.

One of the recommendations of the Task Force is to review the regulations by which water levels are controlled on Lake of the Woods.

There hasn't been any changes in those regulations in almost 100 years.

Executive Engineer of the Control Board Rick Cousins says while he doesn't feel a review is necessary, they are also not opposed.

Both the Control Board and the Task Force will be in Kenora next week to hear from local residents.