Fires in the Far North blowing smoke into the City of Kenora

Crews are battling dozens of wildfires across much of northwestern Ontario and smoke from those blazes is causing some concern in the Kenora area.

The MNR fire base in Kenora says its been inundated with calls complaining about the smokey haze.

Its believed fires burning in the far north in the Red Lake District are responsible for the smoke.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says its dealing with almost 100 wild fires today, including a nearly 14 thousand hectares blaze, which is burning out of control about 50 kilometres northeast of Ear Falls, and is threatening a number of power lines.

Another fire of more than 70-thousand hectares is out of control near the Musselwhite Mine site.

And a blaze of 79-thousand hectares is out of control nine kilometres east of the New Osnaburgh First Nation.

Another road closure on the Kenora By-Pass

A couple of accidents have closed the Trans-Canada for varying periods of time over the past 24 hours. 

A section of the Kenora By-Pass at the west end near Middle Lake was shut down temporarily due to a single vehicle accident.

The OPP says a tractor trailor unit drove off the road and almost went into Louise Lake.

Crews have been working to remove the wreckage from the area, slowing traffic down.

Last night, another single vehicle accident in the area of Shoal Lake also caused delays for motorists.

Some motorists said they had to wait more than an hour before they were able to get through.

The accident took place around 7:00 last night.

OPP investigating death in Red Lake

The OPP in Red Lake are probing the death of a 46 year old woman.

Police say former Pikangikum resident Bertha Quill was found unconscious in that community and was flown to Thunder Bay where she was pronounced dead at the Health Sciences Centre early Thursday morning.

Police aren't saying anything about the cause of death.

A post-mortem exam was conducted Friday at Lake of the Woods District Hospital, but the cause of death still has not been released.

Busy Weekend for Fire Crews

Crews are battling dozens of wildfires across much of northwestern Ontario and more new fires are expected.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says there are 96 active fires burning in the remote northwestern region.

And more than 30 new blazes are expected over the coming days.

Waterbombers, helicopters and ground crews are battling the flames.

More than two-thousand staff will be helped by another 500 reinforcements from B-C.

Many northwestern communities are dealing with smoke issues and are planning for evacuations with federal and provincial authorities.

Hudak Launches Northern Platform

Tim Hudak says he has big plans for the north now that his Progressive Conservatives have released their northern election platform.

As leader Hudak is making two main promises for this region if the Tories are elected, including holding

at least one cabinet meeting a year in northern Ontario.

Hudak is also promising to give gas tax money to every northern community.

OPP investigate fatal accident north of Red Lake

A Pikangikum man and woman are dead as the result of a traffic accident 60 kilometres north of Red Lake.

The OPP say the two were the passengers in a pick up truck that rolled several times last Thursday afternoon.

39 year old Kevin Suggashie and 37 year old Ibena Suggashie were pronounced dead at the scene.

Two other people were treated in hospital.

The OPP say charges are pending against the driver of the vehicle, 36 year old Bernie Peters of Pikangikum.

He remains in hospital in Thunder Bay with severe injuries. 

Invasive Species Hit Squad launches summer campaign

Local residents are being urged to be on the look out for invasive species in local lakes and rivers.

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and the Lake of the Woods District Property Owners Association working together to promote their Invasive Species Hit squad.

Elauna Boutwell is summer student working with the squad and says  they are reaching out to as many people as they can to raise awareness.

Some of the species on the hit list are the spiney water flea, the rusty crawfish and the rainbow smelt.

Harborfest Seeking Volunteers

The count down is underway for the 20th annual Harborfest.

The biggest event of the summer will take place in two weeks time.

Dave Blake is one of the directors and says they are still looking for volunteers to help out during the weekend.

Harborfest will take place this year from July 29th to July 31st.

City Decides to Join One Call System

The City of Kenora has decided to join the One Call system.

Union Gas has been trying to get municipalities across the province to cough up a thousand dollars each to help fund the initiative.

One Call would create a dedicated phone line that local residents or contractors could call to find out where gas line, buried power lines and telephone lines are located.

If enough municipalities sign up, the provincial government has promised to help fund the program.

Canfield ready to lobby for more funding for City

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says the provincial government owes the city millions of

dollars in transfer payments.

Canfield is gearing up for the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference next month and hopes to meet with a number of cabinet ministers.

He says his main goal is getting the province to restore the city's share of the Ontario Municipal Partership Fund.

He says when amalgamation took place 11 years ago, the province promised the city would not lose any revenue.

Instead Canfield says the Ontario government has given the city just 52 percent of the money it should have received under the Rural and Remote Grant.

He says before amalgamation Kenora, Keewatin and Jaffray Melick received 100 percent of that funding.