Minimum Wage Goes Up

Ontario's Minimum wage has gone up for the first time since 2010.

The Liberal government announced that the wage has moved to 11 dollars an hour, up from 10.25.

The government also announced plans to review and adjust it annually.

The minimum wage will now be tied to the Consumer Price Index to ensure it increase with the cost of living.

Changes will be announced on April 1st and come into effect on October 1st.

City Responds To Snow Removal Concerns

Facebook now has a new use.

The City of Kenora is using the social media website to tell local residents
where and when snow removal will be taking place.

It's all part of a communications plan to deal with a large number of complaints about snow removal in the city this winter.

City staff says the roads department has been scrambling to keep up with
all the snow this year, but they do have a plan of attack.

Today, snow removal will take place along Valley Drive and sidewalk plowing
is scheduled for Lakeside and Minto areas.

Rickford Questions Liberal Decision to Oust Sentators

Kenora MP Greg Rickford says a Justin Trudeau decision to order his party's senators to sit as independents "smacks of something that he's concerned about within his rank and file".

The Liberal leader dropped the political bombshell yesterday.

Rickford calls it a liberal gimmick.

The Minister of State says Trudeau should concentrate his efforts on helping the Conservatives move towards an elected senate.

Impaired Driving Charges on the Rise

The Kenora OPP say they are disappointed in the number of impaired driving charges.

Last month, 10 drunk drivers were arrested.

Staff Sergeant Paul Van Belleghem says it's a disappointing statistic.

In addition to the higher number of impaired drivers, there was also a big jump in the number of motor vehicle accidents last month, with 68 reported in the Kenora
area.

Ontario Fire Marshall To Help Investigate Ignace Fire

The Ontario Fire Marshal's Office has been contacted to help investigate the cause of a massive fire that destroyed Gramma's Supermarket in Ignace early Tuesday morning.

Crews continue to work on mopping up and hitting hot spots and Fire Chief Robert Berube says it was a blaze that caused nothing but problems.

Berube says his firefighters received badly needed help from Wabigoon Fire, Dryden Fire, Hydro One, Union Gas and Ignace Public Works.

City of Dryden Facing Significant Deficit

The City of Dryden is sitting with a 4-million dollar deficit in the 2014 budget year.

A number of factors are included in the shortfall including a reduction in the Domtar Mill rate, a reduction in the annual Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund and an accounting discrepancy in the amount of 1-million dollars from the 2011-2012 budget years.

A media conference was held yesterday to discuss the financial picture and Chief Administrative Officer
Andre Larabie warned there will have to be cuts across the board.

Larabie adds a recovery plan is now in place and staff will be working with council for the next 5-weeks to find ways to cut without impacting the safety of residents and workers.

Fantino Taken To Task For Treatment of Veterans

The only Veterans Affairs Office in northwestern Ontario is scheduled to close its doors for good tomorrow.

A list ditch effort to save Canada's offices appears to have failed after Minister Julian Fantino showed up extremely late for a meeting with veterans in Ottawa.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty expressed his outrage.

Rafferty says there have been eight suicides in just two months and the Conservatives have failed to listen to those that fought for our freedom.

Wasacase Back As Chair of Police Services Board

No changes in the make-up of the Kenora Police Services Board.

Colin Wasacase is back for one more year as chair of the Police Board.

He was acclaimed at the inaugural meeting of 2014 this morning.

Glenda McMillan is also returning for another year as vice-chair.

Dave Canfield is the only other member of the Police Board.

More Bridge Work in NWO This Summer

A bridge on Highway 11 will get some upgrades this year.

The Swamp River Bridge, just west of Shebandowan, will be replaced at a cost of 3-point-2 million dollars.

Thunder Bay-based L-H North will begin work in the spring.

Senior Thistles Add Proven Winner

The Kenora Triple "A" Seniors are adding some more grit to the roster.

The Thistles have announced that minor pro forward Nathan O'Nabigon has signed with the club.

O`Nabigon, who hales from Long Lac, has spent time in the Central Hockey league with Rocky Mountain, Allen, Missouri, and Arizona.

The 30 year old also won the 2003 Memorial Cup with Mike Richards as a member of the Kitchener Rangers.

He also won the 2007 CIS Championship while playing with the University of New Brunswick.

Family Of Four Survives Frigid Weekend in the Bush

Another tale of survival in the bush in frigid weather conditions.

A family of four spent three nights stranded over the weekend north of Minaki near Trapline Lake.

The family had gone out on January 18th for a week of trapping.

On their way home, one of their snowmobiles broke down and the other became stuck.

The family, which included a six year old and a ten year old, had survival gear with them and
were able to build a shelter, light a fire and had enough food to survive.

They were finally located Monday morning by a pilot who had been contacted family members to try and locate them.

Attawapiskatt Walkers Close In On Ottawa

A group of First Nation walkers are only 900 kilomters away from their journey to Ottawa.

They left at the beginning of January from Attawapiskatt First Nation.

The three men are on foot and are hoping to encourage the Federal government to work on addressing several Aboriginal issues.

On Monday, the activists spent some time in Cochrane.

Chamber of Commerce Releases Economic Report

The Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce is teaming up with it's Ontario wide body, and the Mowat Centre to create a list of recommendation for the Ontario Government.

Spokesperson Charla Robinson says the suggestions are listed in the document "Emerging Stronger 2014" which was released on Tuesday.

Robinson says they've delivered the document to both opposition paries and the Liberal government.

Paramedics Reach Deal with KDSB

A tentative contract has been reached between the Kenora District Services Board and paramedic staff represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

The three-year deal has been approved by the KDSB and terms won't be released until the contract is ratified by CUPE membership.

The deal covers 2012 to 2014.

New Gold Expects Slight Delay in Rainy River Project

New Gold says it's still committed to moving ahead with plans to develop a gold mine south of Kenora.

The company is holding a couple of open houses on its environmental assessment report.

Director of Environment Kyle Stanfield says the recent release of a new feasibility study shows plenty of promise for the project despite fluctuating  gold prices.

New Gold anticipates production to begin in the later part of 2016, later than what had been projected by then-Rainy River Resources.

Scary Bus Ride Home for Dryden Students

Not a routine ride home for some school bus students in Dryden yesterday.

The Northwestern Ontario Student Services Consortium says the DR19 bus traveled into the ditch near Dryden just after 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

Officials say police were immediately called and students were checked and then evacuated to another bus to be transported home.

No injuries are reported.

The Consortium says it attempted to call all impacted parents to advise them of the incident.

I Am Awesome, And I Know I Gets Funding

A major cash injection for a regional program for young women.

Program Coordinator Renee Martin-Brown says they have received 45-thousand dollars from the Aviva Fund.

She says the money will be used to promote the program across the region as well as hire more staff and presenters for the weekend retreat.

Last year, 19 girls from across the region attended a weekend conference in Nestor Falls.

Martin-Brown says their goal this year is to bring as many as 75 girls together for the self esteem and empowerment retreat.

Broncos Struggle After Exam Break

Beaver Brae sports teams were showing some signs of rust yesterday after their two week exam break.

The Broncos faced the Dryden Eagles on five fronts yesterday and managed just one win.

In girls hockey action, the Eagles cruised to a 5-2 win last night.

At the Beaver Brae gym, Dryden took three of four games against the Broncos in boys basketball and
girls volleyball.

The Eagles junior and senior girls beat Beaver Brae in three straight sets.

The lone win of the day came from the Bronco junior boys, who romped to a 59-42 victory.

The Beaver Brae senior boys were downed 63-43.

The Broncos are back in action at home again on Thursday against Fort Frances.

Green Advances to Final 16 of Master Chef Canada

Former Kenora resident Mike Green has made the cut.

Green is among the final 16 amateur cooks to make it through on
Master Chef Canada.

Green currently lives in Winnipeg, but grew up in Kenora.

His pan-seared arctic char with ratatouille and quinoa impressed the judges enough  to be invited into the Master Chef kitchen.

The title also includes 100 thousand dollars in prize money.

The next episode of the show will follow the Superbowl on Sunday.

Ignace Mayor Calls Fire Devastating

The mayor of Ignace says an early morning fire is devastating.

Lee Kennard has owned Gramma's Supermarket for the past five
years.

The grocery store went up in smoke this morning around 2:30.

Kennard says fire crews will likely be at the scene most of the day
putting out hot spots.

The fire is under control and was contained to the store itself, though
Kennard believes a home behind the building may have sustained some
damage.

No injuries have been report, and the cause of the blaze has not yet been
determined.

Highway 17 has also been re-opened after being closed for nine hours due to
the fire.