LOWBIC Gets Funding Boost

The Lake of the Woods Business Incentive Corporation is getting a bit of a shot in the arm.

The Community development agency will be getting an extra 157 thousand dollars from the federal government, on top of its annual grant of 300 thousand dollars.

Ryan Reynard is executive director of LOWBIC and says the funding will be used to help out all nine economic development agencies in northwestern Ontario.

LOWBIC says they are planning a two day get together in the fall with their counterparts across the region.

Details of Joint Drug Investigation to be released

Provincial police say they'll be giving details of a complex joint drug investigation today in Thunder Bay.

Investigators say the case involves trafficking of prescription medication and illegal drugs from southern Ontario to several communities in northwestern Ontario.

Police say O-P-P chief superintendent Mike Armstrong, and representatives of the Thunder Bay, Nishnawbe-Aski and Anishinabek police forces and the R-C-M-P will be present for today's announcement.

Prescription painkillers have been a major problem in some northwestern Ontario, with some community leaders estimating up to 80 per cent of adults are hooked on OxyContin or Percocets.

Justice Minister Rejects Hand Gun Ban

The federal government doesn't seem interested in a wholesale ban on handguns.

There have been renewed calls for banning the firearms following a spate of shootings in the Toronto area.

Yestererday, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson was in Kenora and poured cold water on any sort of handgun ban.

Nicholson says the real problem is handguns which are making their way into Canada illegally.

He says the government is taking a tough stand on gun crimes, introducing new mandatory sentences for anyone convicted.

Government Defends Decision to Close ELA

The Federal Government continues to hold stead fast to it's decision to close the Experimental Lakes Area near Kenora.

House leader, Peter Van Loan was in northwestern Ontario recently and says he's heard the concerns over the move.

He says the government is putting its money toward remediating lakes at risk, instead of raw research.

Dissaproval has come from across the world over the Federal Government's decision to cut the funding for the outdoor research lab.

Job Symposium for Aboriginal Youth

Aboriginal youth in the Kenora District are getting a chance to learn more about future job opportunities in Northwestern Ontario.

The federal government has pledged 46-thousand dollars to host a an Aboriginal Trades and Employment Symposium in the fall.

Mary Tait says the event will focus on some of the jobs that are available in the mining and resource sector in this region.

Tait says reps from various mining companies will be on hand to outline what is needed to work in the budding industry.

Logo Contest Launched

There's a big cash prize up for grabs for a creative mind.

The Kenora District Interactive Digital Platform is in need of a new logo and tag line.

James Harvey says the public will get to vote on line for the submission they

like the best.

The artist with the best submission will recieve 500 dollars!