New Speaker Elected for Ontario Legislature

Dave Levac, a Liberal who represents the riding of Brant, has been elected Speaker of the Ontario legislature.

Three other Liberals were also vying for the job: Donna Cansfield, Kevin Flynn and David Zimmer.

Now that a Speaker has been chosen, the legislature can officially get back to business with a throne speech tomorrow.

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell says its too early to say how much premier Dalton McGuinty will be willing to work with the opposition in his minority goverment.

The first question period at Queen's Park will take place on Wednesday, with a fall economic update scheduled for Thursday.

Saints volleyballers ranked 2nd heading into OFSAA

The Thomas Aquinas senior boys volleyball team is expected to be a force once again this year at the All-Ontario Single A championships.

The Saints go into the OFSAA tournament ranked second in the province.

That despite the fact, T.A. only has two returning players from last year.

A year ago, the Saints won the OFSAA silver medal, after winning gold the two years previous.

Meanwhile, the Thomas Aquinas senior girls basketball team will have a much tougher schedule this week at OFSAA.

The Saints are ranked 16th out of 16 teams entered in the Single A championships in St. Catharines.

Both OFSAA championships begin on Thursday.

Ontario Legislative Speaker

History could be made today at the Ontario Legislature, where M-P-Ps will gather to elect a new speaker.

Of the four candidates, the perceived front-runner is Liberal Donna Cansfield, who hopes to become the Legislature's first female speaker.


There are there other Liberals running for the job -- Dave Levac, Kevin Flynn and David Zimmer.
Whoever wins will preside over a minority house.

In the October 6th Ontario election, Premier Dalton McGuinty's

Liberals finished one seat short of forming their third straight majority government.

Treasury Metals

Wabigoon Lake First Nation has served notice of non-compliance of all operations by Treasury Metals.

Chief Ruben Cantin sayas the Company has been conducting exploration work in the area without free and prior consent.

He adds that Treasury has expressed an unwillingness to negotiate any agreements that support the First Nation.

He's ordered a halt on operations until a satisfactory deal is reached and he's asked Natural Resources Minister Rick Bartolucci to get involved.

Cantin adds Wabigoon Lake is prepared to take any and all necessary measures to proect their land and their rights.

Arie Hoogenboom

Sioux Lookout has a new interim CAO and you may recognize his name.


Council has agreed to appoint Arie Hoogenboom to the position, effective tomorrow.

Hoogenboom is the former Dryden City Manager and will serve as CAO for a 6-month term.

Mayor Dennis Leney says Hoogenboom knows the opportunities and challenges facing local communities.

Teen Pregnancy

After analysing four years of birth outcomes in Ontario, Code Red says more and more teens are starting families.

At Sandy Lake First Nation, 40 per cent of the mothers giving birth were teens .

In Pikangikum, 47 of the 144 mothers were between the ages of 15 and 19 and in 2009 there were 53 pregnancies for every thousand teens here in Kenora .

Harmonized Sales Tax

Kenora Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is making good on her promise to remove the HST from our home heating bills. The NDP party is ready to introduce a private members bill that could save us a few bucks.


Campbell hopes the Conservatives will back her up on the motion to make life more affordable for families in Northwestern Ontario.

Christmas Tree Lighting

Free hot chocolate, apple cider and treats!


It’s all part of this years Christmas Tree Lighting along with free sleigh rides from beaver creek ranch.

It all starts at 5:30 on the corner of Main and Second Street this Thursday night.

15-year-old Boy Charged in Death of Young Girl

A Sandy Lake First Nation teen has been charged with sexual assault, sexual interference and criminal negligence causing death in relation to the death of a young Big Trout Lake girl.
The body of 11-year-old Chloe Matthews was discovered back in March on the Sacred Heart School property in Sioux Lookout.

The OPP say Matthews died from hypothermia.

Charges against the 15-year-old boy were laid Thursday.

The accused has a preliminary hearing set for March in Sioux Lookout.

His name can't be released.

"Lock it or Lose it!"

It's Midnight Madness in Kenora.

OPP are reminding folks to "Lock it or Lose it!"

Constable Dave Cain says you shouldn’t keep anything valuable in your vehicle.

With Christmas shopping underway keep your purchased items in the trunk, in the glove box, or store them out of sight from would be thieves.

Police say they will continue foot patrols to ensure everyone has a festive season.

Drive Safe this Winter

The winter weather has arrived and Police are urging motorists to take it easy.

Constable Dave Cain says motorists should take their time and slow down.

Cain says drivers should also keep a safe distance between vehicles

The OPP remind motorists to keep snow boots, winter coats and an extra tire in the vehicle in case it breaks down.

Bundle up!

CJRL Meteorologist Bill Laidlaw says it might be time to unpack your winter guear!
Laidlaw says it looks like we're in for a so-called La Nina Winter.

Expect a cold winter with less snow.

Long Gun Registry

Bruce Hyer isn't saying if he'll be voting to scrap the long-gun registry when it comes up again for third reading in Parliament.

 The Thunder Bay NDP MP says even though he has voted against the party line on the issue doesn't mean he'll do it again.


Meantime fellow NDPer John Rafferty says he plans to vote to scrap the registry like he did before.

Kenora District Services Board

One of the longest serving staff members at the Kenora District Services Board is calling it quits.

Toni Thurbide is the director of finance for the KDSB and was the second employee hired for the organization.

Her resignation comes as the Services Board is getting ready to finalize its 2012 budget.

NWOSSA Championships

The Thomas Aquinas senior girls basketball team will try to book its ticket to the All-Ontario Single "a" championships today.

The Saints are hosting the NWOSSA championships. T.A. will take on Marathon in a best-of-three final series.

Game one tips off at 9:30 this morning.

Game two is this afternoon at 1:30 and game three if necessary will take place Friday morning at 9:30.

The winner will advance to the OFSAA championships next week in St. Catharines.

Resolute Forest Products

Members of CEP Local 141 and 259 at Bowater Mersey voted to accept the latest proposal from Resolute Forest Products - formally Abitibi Bowater - which includes massive job cuts.

In total, 51.7 percent of those who cast a ballot, voted in favour of negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement with the company.

It means 110 employees at the mill along Nova Scotia's South Shore are going to lose their job. That includes 80 full time and 30 casual positions. The reduction of the workforce represents almost half of the union's membership and will leave 128 workers left to operate the mill.

Union President Courtney Wentzell was clearly dejected and emotional as he delivered the news to a handful of his co-workers and union members at the union hall in Brooklyn on Wednesday night.

No word on when negotiations between the company and union will commence. Wentzell didn't take any questions or reveal how many of the union's 228 members voted but he said turnout was solid.

Redditt Railway Crossings

Redditt may be a small community, but its getting some attention from the federal government.

A total of 43 thousand dollars is being spent in the community to upgrade six railway crossing in the area.

The funding is part of a 14 million dollar program to fix up railway infrastructure across Canada.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says northwestern Ontario has one of the safest rail systems in the
country, but notes that improvements can always be made.

Kenora Handi-Transit

After years of penny pinching, Kenora Handi-Transit will be getting a helping hand from the city.

Handi-Transit had racked up a deficit of 25 thousand dollars, but has managed to cut that in half over the past couple of years.

The board of Handi-Transit has asked city council for 13 thousand dollars to help erase the deficit.

Most of the city councillors have agreed to the request, saying the volunteer board has worked hard to address its financial situation.

Ontario Tourism Awards

Northwestern Ontario has always been known for its tourism potential, now its being recognized for its tourism marketing.

The "Escape to Ontario" campaign place third in the Ontario Tourism Awards this year.

Tourism Development Officer Heather Paterson says they finished just behind Toronto and Ottawa in the competition.

The campaign ran in June of 2010 and February of 2011.

Red Lake OPP

An OPP officer with the Red Lake Detachment has been suspended amid allegations a person was driven several kilometres out of town before being released from custody.


The incident is alleged to have happened on October 29th.

The name of the officer now under investigation has not been released.