Infrastructure Round Table Today in Kenora

For the second time in as many days a high profile federal politician will be paying a visit to Kenora.

Minister of State for Transport, Stephen Fletcher will be town today for a round-table discussion on the federal government's infrastructure program.

The Build Canada Fund is expected to be phased out by the spring of 2014.

Today, Fletch will be meeting with municipal leaders across the region to talk about their wish list in terms of infrastructure.

The meeting will take place this morning at the Discovery Center.

New Forest Fires Continue to Crop Up

The Ministry of Natural Resources is hoping cooler conditions today will help put a damper on the fire situation across the region.

Yesterday, there were another eight new fires reported.

That's on top of 18 wild fires reported in the region on Tuesday.

Clusters of fires in the Deer lake and Sandy Lake areas remain a cause for concern for fire crews.

There are now more than 80 forest fires burning across northwestern Ontario.

Feds Won't Promise more money for Policing

The federal government isn't saying whether it plans to continue a fund that helps police services across the region hire more officers.

The Police Officer Recruitment Fund is due to run out next March.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says he understands that some police services rely on the funding.

The Treaty Three Police Service has indicated that it will have to pull out of Whitedog, because it won't have enough officers to police the community, once the fund dries up.

Wynne Makes Apology in Wabigoon

History in the Making in Wabigoon First Nation.

Minister Kathleen Wynne of the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs and Chief Rubin Cantin Sr signed a settlement from an incident dating back more then 150 years ago.

It stems from past and ongoing flooding that has damaged the area and destroyed parts of the reserve.

Wynne presented an appology letter, and acknowledged the 20 million dollar settlement for the community.

The Chief says the a chunk of the money will be invested for future growth.

Farmer's Market Patrons Fill the Van

A big boost for the Salvation Army's food bank.

A cargo van was set up yesterday at the Farmer's Market in an effort to help re-stock the shelves of the food bank.

Organizers say local residents responded by filling the van to the brim.

The Salvation Army says demand for the food bank is just as strong during the summer months, but donations tend to drop off during the holidays.

OPP Announce Details of a Major Drug Bust

Provincial Police in Thunder Bay have revealed details of a six month drug investigation.

A number of police agency's were involved in the bust including the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service.

A total of nine search warrants were executed in the Greater Toronto Area, Mississauga, Kitchener-Waterloo and Thunder Bay as part of "Project Harrington".

In all, police laid 95 charges against 11-individuals, four of whom remain at large.

Police say the investigation targeted a network that transported and distributed large amounts of oxycodone and cocaine from southern Ontario to northwestern Ontario, including First Nations communities.

The quantity of the drugs seized is 1.3-million dollars.

Six of those charged are from Thunder Bay and one is from Weagamow First Nation.

One of the individuals is an employee of the Thunder Bay District Jail and he's been charged with breach of trust.

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!

Housing Prices on the Rise

House prices in northwestern Ontario have gone up by 26 percent over the past four years.

That's according to the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.

MPAC released its first ever report today, and it shows housing prices have increased more in northern Ontario than any other part of the province.

For the province as a whole, housing prices have gone up an average of 17 percent since 2008.

Police Confirm One Dead in Whitefish Bay Shooting

One person is dead following a shooting incident on the Whitefish Bay First Nation southeast of Kenora.

The OPP confirm that 61 year old Charles Minshall was shot early Sunday morning.

Minshall lived in a residence attached to the store.

The Treaty Three Police and the OPP responded after they received a report of gunfire in the area of the store.

Minshall was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem exam will be conducted later today at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

Police say they don't have a suspect in custody, but are asking anyone with information to contact the Treaty Three Police Crime Unit, the OPP or Crimestoppers.

OPG ready to wean Atikokan Plant off Coal

The switch from coal to biomass at Ontario Power Generation's plant in Atikokan will begin this fall.

Work on the 200-million dollar conversion will result in the plant actually stopping the use of coal this October.

Plant Manager Chris Fralick say the existing workforce of 85 will remain on site.

The plant will begin burning biomass in 2014.

Red Lake OPP lay Sex Assault Charges

A 25-year-old Cochenour man faces a long list of charges after a 50-year-old woman was sexually assaulted.

Red Lake Provincial Police say the two knew each other and the incident occurred at a Cochenour home.

OPP say the accused faces counts of break and enter, overcoming reistance to commit and offence, forcible confinement and sexual assault causing bodily harm.

The victim was transported to hospital and released.

The accused remains in custody and no names have been released.

More Fire Crews Heading to Northwestern Ontario

Badly needed help for weary firefighters in Northwestern Ontario.

20-firerangers from Saskatchewan and 20-from New Brunswick are joining local crews on the fire lines.

Waterbombers from Quebec and Newfoundland have also been called in.

20-firerangers from Minnesota arrived last week.

Five new fires were reported yesterday, bringing the number of active fires up to 70.

OPP Says Phone Scams on the Rise

The OPP say they have been getting complaints about an increasing number of telephone scams in recent weeks.

In one incident, a local resident agreed to donate 250 dollars to a charity they figured was worthwhile, and provided their credit card number over the phone.

Only after making the transaction did they contract police to ask whether the call was legitimate.

An officer was able to work with their financial institution to stop the payment from going through.

Police say local residents have also complained of phone calls about securing winnings or vacation packages.

The OPP remind you that if it seems to too good to be true, it likely is.

Cargo North Ready to Launch New Service

A new service is coming to Northwestern Ontario.

Cargo North President Frank Kelner announced the purchase of a new aircraft which will provide air cargo services.

Kelner thinks that this new addition, a Basler Turbo 67, will help a lot of businesses and companies.

The launch date is expected to be November 1.

Kelner says he has obtained 2 more planes by 2013.

LOWBIC Website Garners Award

Lake of the Woods Business Incentive Corporation is showing off some new hardware.

Executive Director of LOWBIC, Ryan Reynard says their website was singled out at a recent conference.

Reynard adds that the website is often the first point of contact for a number of would-be entrepreneurs in the area.

The award was handed out at the annual general meeting of the Ontario Association of Community Future Development Corporations.