OPP investigate Fatal Fire on Lake of the Woods

One person is dead and another in critical but stable condition as a result of a fire at a cottage on Lake of the Woods.

The OPP say the blaze took place just before 5:00 Monday morning on Ward Island.

The cabin was completely destroyed.

The Ontario Fire Marshall's office has been called into investigate.

Police have not released the name of the deceased, but say both people were residents of the United States.

Organizers of Northern Leaders debate still hoping Dalton shows

Organizers of this week's leaders debate on northern issues are still hoping the premier might make an appearance.

Andy Scribilo is the president of the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce and believes there is a lot of pressure on Dalton McGuinty to take part.

The leaders debate will take place Friday morning in Thunder Bay.

Far North Act Under Attack at all-candidates forum

The Far North Act came under attack at last night's all-candidates forum in Kenora.

At least three of the candidates indicated that their party would either scrap it or re-write it.

Rod McKay for the Conservatives says they believe in opening up the north for development.

Charmaine Romaniuk from the Northern Ontario Heritage Party says their goal would be to make sure any minerals mined in the north would be processed here as well.

Sarah Campbell from the NDP, Anthony Leek from the Liberals and Jo Jo Holiday of the Green Party also attended the forum.

Saints Sweep Rams in NorWOSSA season opener

A good start to the season for the Thomas Aquinas Boys Volleyball and Girls basketball teams.

They made it a clean sweep over the Red Lake Rams yesterday.

The T.A. senior boys cruised to an easy three sets to none victory over the Rams, while the Saints Junior boys needed five sets to get by Red Lake.

In Basketball action, the Senior Saints upended the Rams 30-12, while the Junior girls held on for a 27-24 victory.

Broncos lose season opener on home Court

A disappointing start to the season for Beaver Brae's court Sport teams.

They were swept by the Dryden Eagles this afternoon at home.

The Broncos Senior boys volleyball team took the Eagles to five games, but came out on the losing end, while the Beaver Brae junior squad lost in three straight sets.

In girls basketball, Dryden earned a 28-20 win over the Broncos.

Kaitlyn Sparkman led the offense with 7 points.

The Beaver Brae junior girls dropped a 41-30 decision. Riley Smith was the game's high scorer with 11 points.

Canada's Inflation Rate

Canada's annual inflation rate jumped to 3.1 per cent last month as consumers paid more for many items, including gasoline and food.

Statistics Canada says, on a month-to-month basis, consumers paid 3-10ths of a per cent more last month than in July.The surprisingly strong jump reverses a recent trend to more moderate inflation, which had seen the rate fall from 3.7 during May to 2.7 per cent in July.

But gasoline was 22.8 per cent more expensive last month than in August 2010. Food cost 4.4 per cent more

Fertility Treatments

Canada's fertility doctors are looking at barring obese women from having fertility treatments.

It's in light of some research showing obese women who have in-vitro fertilization treatments have higher risks of complications.

The idea is being discussed among the fertility doctors who are meeting at a conference this week in Toronto

Vote

A sure sign that the Provincial election is fast approaching!

Advance polls open in several communities today according to Kenora-Rainy River Returning Officer Ian Simpson.

Kenora residents can also start voting today at 227 2ND STREET SOUTH .

Voters should bring their photo ID and the Notice of Registration Card.

Youth Action Committee on Drugs

Kenora City Council is being asked to support yet another committee.

A couple of members of the Youth Action Committee on Drugs made a deputation this week suggesting the formation of a youth council.

The council would be made up of youth between the ages of 14 and 20 and would have an elected board of directors.

Air Canada

The skies are clear for Air Canada in its labour dispute with its flight attendants.

A threatened strike was averted after a tentative agreement was reached late yesterday between the airline and its 68-hundred attendants.

CUPE is happy with the deal and recommends members accept it when they vote on it next month.

The union says even though the agreement was reached with back-to-work legislation looming, it achieved about 80 per cent of what it wanted.

Canadian Doctors

The College of Family Physicians of Canada is releasing a report on Parliament Hill today calling for patient-centered care and timely access to health care for all Canadians.

C-E-O Dr. Calvin Gutkin says more clearly defined links are needed between the family-practice office and other health services in the community

Dr. Rob Boulay says all Canadians should expect to have a family doctor by 2020.

Senior Thistles looking to make a comeback this winter

Senior Hockey may be alive and well in Kenora this winter after all.

A board of directors has been formed for the Kenora Triple A senior Thistles.

The team is currently trying to secure ice time for a condensed schedule.

The board is also looking for players who might be interested in suiting up for the Thistles this year.

Anyone interested in playing for the 2011-2012 season is asked to attend a meeting Thursday night at the Kenora Rec. Center.

The meeting will take place at 7PM.

All Candidates Forum tonight at Super 8

The second all-candidates forum in the Kenora-Rainy River Riding will take place this evening.

All five candidates have been invited to take part in an event sponsored by the Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce.

The candidates are being given questions related to the economy and how to improve the local business climate.

The candidates had a bit of a warm-up this morning, when they took part  in a forum sponsored by the Civics class at Beaver Brae Secondary School.

Council Passes new deer hunting regulations

Not everyone in Kenora is in favour allowing the hunting of deer south of the Kenora by-pass.

At a public meeting last night, a couple of people spoke out against the by-law change.

Darlene Lever says its not a good solution to the problem.

Council passed the by-law change by a vote of 3-2.

Houseboat owners get a break from City Council

Who says you can't fight city hall and win.

Houseboat owners who moor off Coney Island have won a bit of a break from the city and won't have to move their vessels right away.

A number of boaters spoke out to council last night including Rhonda Brown who says some of the house boats have been at that location for more than 10 years.

Council has decided to defer any decision on the removal of the house boats.

School Food Regulation

No more deep fried french fries and no more pop.
Those foods can no longer be sold in local schools under new regulations passed by the provincial government.

Chelsea LeCain is a dietician with the Northwestern Health Unit and says there are some exemptions.

Each class is allowed 10 special event days, which are exempt from the new food regulations. The new regulations went into effect September 1st.

Air Canada

There was turbulence late last night in Montreal, where contract talks between Air Canada and the union representing its flight attendants broke down.

CUPE claims both sides walked away from the table after an Air Canada spokesman insulted the union and a federal mediator.

Labour Minister Lisa Raitt says she still expects the two sides in the Air Canada dispute to get back together and come up with a collective agreement.

The flight attendants have threatened to walk off the job at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow if their demands aren't met.
The key areas of dispute are wages, pensions, crew rest, working conditions and work rules.

Parliament's Fall Session

Conservative, Liberal, and New Democrat M-P's say they intend to focus on job creation during Parliament's fall session.

But when the Conservative government begins rolling out its legislative agenda today, it'll start with the re-introduction of a series of crime bills.

Among other things, the bills would increase the number of mandatory minimum sentences and eliminate house arrest for violent offences.

M-P's opened the fall session yesterday with tributes to the late Jack Layton

Union Gas

Finally some good news for cash-strapped homeowners in Northwestern Ontario.

Union Gas Spokesperson Vanda Wall says the cost of natural gas will be decreasing slightly during the colder months. Eight dollars and twenty-five cents worth of savings could be coming your way on consumption of about 2600 cubic meters a year. Wall says the rate change comes into effect October 1st.

Northern Ontario Drug Bust

No word of any charges yet following one of the largest seizures of marijuana plants in northern Ontario.
Police say they seized 16-hundred plants during the weekend at Brunswick House First Nation near Timmins.Police put the value of the plants at 1.6 million dollars. Nishnawbe-Aski Police didn't say whether the plants were found in a field or growing inside homes on the reserve, 200 kilometres southwest of Timmins.

Suspects have been identified, but no names have been released.