Both sides in the L-C-B-O dispute have agreed to stick a cork instrike plans and keep bargaining until they strike a deal.
But if either side walks away from the table, a strike that was scheduled to begin this morning would likely be back on.
An OP-SEU official says the union would not be extending the strike deadline if it didn't feel it could forge a new contractthrough negotiation.
The strike threat prompted many people to stock up on alcohol andsome empty shelves may greet customers at some stores today.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
MNR Fire Update
The forest fire hazard is high to extreme across much of Northwestern Ontario.The Ministry of Natural Resources is dealing with 24-active fires, most in the Far North.
Information Officer Debbie MacLean says fortunately they have received some help.
MacLean anticipates several new starts due to lightning, warm weather and windy conditions.
Information Officer Debbie MacLean says fortunately they have received some help.
MacLean anticipates several new starts due to lightning, warm weather and windy conditions.
OPSEU Economy Meeting in Kenora
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union says it was pleased with the response to a community forum on the local economy.
About 20 people attended yesterday's meeting at the Best Western Lakeside Inn.
James Tocker is OPSEU's vice-president for northwestern Ontario andsays he was surprised by the positive outlook from most of the peoplewho attended.
Tocker says the input they received at the meeting will be compiled into one large report, which will ultimately be presented to the provincialgovernment.
About 20 people attended yesterday's meeting at the Best Western Lakeside Inn.
James Tocker is OPSEU's vice-president for northwestern Ontario andsays he was surprised by the positive outlook from most of the peoplewho attended.
Tocker says the input they received at the meeting will be compiled into one large report, which will ultimately be presented to the provincialgovernment.
Visitor Restrictions Lifted Hospital
After a couple of weeks of being closed to the public, the Lake of the Woods DistrictHospital has opened its doors again to visitors.
Director of Patient Care, Leslie Brown says they were able to re-open the health care facility yesterday afternoon.
Brown says the limited visiting hours will take effect from 2pm to 8:30pm for the rest of this week.
Director of Patient Care, Leslie Brown says they were able to re-open the health care facility yesterday afternoon.
Brown says the limited visiting hours will take effect from 2pm to 8:30pm for the rest of this week.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
H1N1 Flu Cases
The Ministry of Health and Health Canada are being urged to mobilizetheir resources to deal with the outbreak of the H1N1 virus in firstnation communities in northern Ontario.
Kenora-Rainy River M.P. Howard Hampton says he wants the McGuinty government to treat the outbreak on first nation communities the same way they treated it in southern Ontario.
Hampton says six first nation communities in northern Ontario aredealing with multiple cases of H1N1 and says the situation will onlyget worse unless the province takes action.
Kenora-Rainy River M.P. Howard Hampton says he wants the McGuinty government to treat the outbreak on first nation communities the same way they treated it in southern Ontario.
Hampton says six first nation communities in northern Ontario aredealing with multiple cases of H1N1 and says the situation will onlyget worse unless the province takes action.
LOW Control Board Open House
Water levels on the Winnipeg River are higher than normal according to the Lake of the Woods Control Board.
Spokesperson Rick Cousins says they'll be discussing water levels on the lake and the river at their open house today.
Area residents can visit the open house at the Best Western Lakeside Inn from 7:30 until 9.
Spokesperson Rick Cousins says they'll be discussing water levels on the lake and the river at their open house today.
Area residents can visit the open house at the Best Western Lakeside Inn from 7:30 until 9.
OPSEU Economic Crisis Meeting
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union is holding a round table discussion on Kenora's economic crisis.
Representatives from the City,Making Kenora Home, Tourism, business and Labour communities will be speaking at the event.'
Summit Organizer Cassie Moehler says everyone faces challenges in today's economy.
The Kenora Forum on the economic crisis will be held at the Bestwestern from 1 until 4.
Representatives from the City,Making Kenora Home, Tourism, business and Labour communities will be speaking at the event.'
Summit Organizer Cassie Moehler says everyone faces challenges in today's economy.
The Kenora Forum on the economic crisis will be held at the Bestwestern from 1 until 4.
Downtown Revitalization Project gets 2 million dollars
The City of Kenora will get getting two million dollars from the provincial government to proceed with phase two of the downtown revitalizationproject.
The funding was announced yesterday by the Northern Ontario HeritageFund.
Jeff Port is the city's planner and says they hope to begin phase twoby the end of the summer.
Port says most of the work will center around the Lake of the WoodsPlaza, which is being developed at the intersection of Main and 1stStreet South on the Harborfront side.
The money will also help fix up aging wharves, and convert theThistle Pavillion into a year-round visitor information center.
The funding was announced yesterday by the Northern Ontario HeritageFund.
Jeff Port is the city's planner and says they hope to begin phase twoby the end of the summer.
Port says most of the work will center around the Lake of the WoodsPlaza, which is being developed at the intersection of Main and 1stStreet South on the Harborfront side.
The money will also help fix up aging wharves, and convert theThistle Pavillion into a year-round visitor information center.
LCBO Strike Deadline
Employees with the Liquor Control Board of Ontario in Kenora have set up their strike headquarters.
Members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union will be in a legal strike position by midnight tonight.
Randy Robinson is an OPSEU spokesperson and says employees want to share in a very profitable crown corporation.
Robinson says the talks with the LCBO are under a media black outand he can't discuss the specific issues on the table.
However, he does say they are concerned with the large number ofpart time workers employed by the LCBO who don't enjoy workplace benefits.
Members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union will be in a legal strike position by midnight tonight.
Randy Robinson is an OPSEU spokesperson and says employees want to share in a very profitable crown corporation.
Robinson says the talks with the LCBO are under a media black outand he can't discuss the specific issues on the table.
However, he does say they are concerned with the large number ofpart time workers employed by the LCBO who don't enjoy workplace benefits.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Paved Trail
Work has nearly been completed on a new wheelchair accessible walking trail to Rabbit Lake.
A portion of the trail from Nairn Avenue to Rabbit Lake was paved this week.
A number of groups got together to help fundraise for the project,including the Kenora Association for Community Living, the Lake of theWoods Regional Community Foundation and the Rotary Club.
A portion of the trail from Nairn Avenue to Rabbit Lake was paved this week.
A number of groups got together to help fundraise for the project,including the Kenora Association for Community Living, the Lake of theWoods Regional Community Foundation and the Rotary Club.
Canada Day Fireworks
A decision to bump Kenora's famous Canada Day fireworks from July 1 to July 4 has caused a small stir in town.
Some residents are questioning whether Canada Day organizers have forsaken patriotism in the name of a few tourist dollars.
The scheduling change has more to do with economics thandeclaring any U.S. allegiance.
When the city's lavish, $25,000 fireworks celebration has landed on a weekday, attendance has been lacklustre.
Show organizers say they have to do what they can to draw people into the community, even if it means changing the date.
Some residents are questioning whether Canada Day organizers have forsaken patriotism in the name of a few tourist dollars.
The scheduling change has more to do with economics thandeclaring any U.S. allegiance.
When the city's lavish, $25,000 fireworks celebration has landed on a weekday, attendance has been lacklustre.
Show organizers say they have to do what they can to draw people into the community, even if it means changing the date.
Fata; Crash-update
The OPP have released the name of a person killed in a single vehicle crash on Highway 17-A on Friday morning.
65 year old Archie Wilcott sustained fatal injuries after his motorcycleleft the road and hit a rock cut.
Police say they have have concluded their investigation in to thefatality, but are unsure why the motorcycle left the road.
The crash took place around 6:30 Friday morning.
65 year old Archie Wilcott sustained fatal injuries after his motorcycleleft the road and hit a rock cut.
Police say they have have concluded their investigation in to thefatality, but are unsure why the motorcycle left the road.
The crash took place around 6:30 Friday morning.
Increase in Forest Fires
Ministry of Natural Resources Fire Crews are keeping an eye on lightning caused fires in the region.
There are currently 28 active fires in the Northwest.
Many of the lightning caused fires are burning in the far north.
The blazes have been assessed and do not pose a threat to any communities or values.
Area communities may notice smokey conditions depending on the wind direction.
No new fires were reported as of Saturday.
There are currently 28 active fires in the Northwest.
Many of the lightning caused fires are burning in the far north.
The blazes have been assessed and do not pose a threat to any communities or values.
Area communities may notice smokey conditions depending on the wind direction.
No new fires were reported as of Saturday.
Oil Spill Kenora
All is well on the roadway in front of Kenora City Hall.
OPP and Fire Personel were called out to an oil spil around 3 o'clock Sunday.
Fire and Emergency Services Coordinator Warren Brinkman says some kind of vegetable oil was dumped along a route from the city hall parking lot to the public works area.
Brinkman notes they poured absorb-all on the roadway, and public works crews sanded the area.
The oil spill and road conditions do not pose a threat to the public.
OPP and Fire Personel were called out to an oil spil around 3 o'clock Sunday.
Fire and Emergency Services Coordinator Warren Brinkman says some kind of vegetable oil was dumped along a route from the city hall parking lot to the public works area.
Brinkman notes they poured absorb-all on the roadway, and public works crews sanded the area.
The oil spill and road conditions do not pose a threat to the public.
Wallace on Economic Development
The Lake of the Woods Development Commission is working on forming partnerships with area first nations.
The group wants to develop tourism opportunities involving area native communities.
Chair Dennis Wallace says they will play a large role in tourism and future business opportunities.
Wallace notes they also want to develop a tour of the prisoner of war camps on Lake of the Woods.
The group wants to develop tourism opportunities involving area native communities.
Chair Dennis Wallace says they will play a large role in tourism and future business opportunities.
Wallace notes they also want to develop a tour of the prisoner of war camps on Lake of the Woods.
MPP'S Want Help for Swine Flu
Two northern Ontario New Democrat MPP's are calling on the Province to provide the healthcare resources needed to stop the spread of swine flu in First Nations communities.
Howard Hampton and France Gelinas also want the Liberals to address underlying conditions that are making the communities more vulnerable to the flu.
Hampton and Gelinas say nursing stations at many northern First Nations are already stretched to the limit.
And Gelinas says with several families forced to live together in two bedroom houses because of housing shortages, disease can spread rapidly.
Howard Hampton and France Gelinas also want the Liberals to address underlying conditions that are making the communities more vulnerable to the flu.
Hampton and Gelinas say nursing stations at many northern First Nations are already stretched to the limit.
And Gelinas says with several families forced to live together in two bedroom houses because of housing shortages, disease can spread rapidly.
Deer Lake fatality
OPP and Nishnawbe-Aski Police are investigating the death of a 44-year-old man in Deer Lake First Nation, north of Red Lake.
Henry Kakekagumick was found along a roadway in the community and was transported to Hospital in Winnipeg where he was pronounced dead.
A post-mortum is being conducted at the Health Sciences Centre.
Charges have yet to be laid.
Henry Kakekagumick was found along a roadway in the community and was transported to Hospital in Winnipeg where he was pronounced dead.
A post-mortum is being conducted at the Health Sciences Centre.
Charges have yet to be laid.
Making Kenora Home
It's been over 2 years since the Making Kenora Home Committee was struck.
In that time, the group has made progress on four out of the eight recommendations they created.
Spokesperson Nan Normand says they worked hard to get the emergency shelter operating on a year round basis.
Norman notes they're also working on creating transitional housing for women.
In that time, the group has made progress on four out of the eight recommendations they created.
Spokesperson Nan Normand says they worked hard to get the emergency shelter operating on a year round basis.
Norman notes they're also working on creating transitional housing for women.
Parliament ends without an election
There was an almost audible sigh on Parliament Hill on Friday.
The opposition decided not to topple the Harper government, forcinga general election.
Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford no-one was very eager to see a vote thissummer.
Friday was the last day of the current sitting of the House of Commons.
Business won't resume on Parliament Hill again until the fall.
The opposition decided not to topple the Harper government, forcinga general election.
Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford no-one was very eager to see a vote thissummer.
Friday was the last day of the current sitting of the House of Commons.
Business won't resume on Parliament Hill again until the fall.
School Board Amalgamation
Staff from the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board plan to travel tothree schools being amalgamated before the end of the current school year.
The public school board will be taking over schools in Pickle Lake,Savant Lake and Upsala in September.
Larry Hope is the director of education and says they don't plan anymajor changes to the way the schools operate.
Chair of the public school board, Dave Penny says they have beenassured by the Ministry of Education that all costs associated with theamalgamation will be covered by the province.
The public school board will be taking over schools in Pickle Lake,Savant Lake and Upsala in September.
Larry Hope is the director of education and says they don't plan anymajor changes to the way the schools operate.
Chair of the public school board, Dave Penny says they have beenassured by the Ministry of Education that all costs associated with theamalgamation will be covered by the province.
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