Quilters Want Relief from Parking Tickets

Kenora City Council says it doesn't want to be a wet blanket.

A quilting group has asked the city for some leniency when it comes to issuing parking fines in the area of Knox United Church.

Marion Wright is a member of the Hearts of Knox Quilters and says some of their members are finding difficulty dealing with the two hour parking limit in the area.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield has suggested expanding the free parking zone along 5th Avenue South, so a few more quilters would be able to park without incurring fines.

City Wants a Crackdown on unpaid Traffic Fines

The City of Kenora wants to crack down on motorists who refuse to pay their fines.

Currently the city is looking at over two million dollars in unpaid parking tickets and other traffic fines.

City council says its a significant problem and is endorsing a resolution from the Ontario Association of Police Services Boards.

The Association says there are a number of gaps in the system and suggests there are ways of improving the ability of municipalities to collect unpaid fines.

Special Budget Presentation this Afternoon

Taxpayers can get an idea of how their money is being spent today.

Kenora City Council will be holding a special budget presentation this afternoon at City Hall.

Last week, council finalized the 2012 numbers and are requesting a one percent increase in the mill-rate.

A complete break down of the numbers will be made at 3:00 this afternoon in Council chambers.

Broncos girls Battle Eagles for First

First place in on the line this afternoon in NorWOSSA girls hockey action.

The Beaver Brae Broncos are hosting the Dryden Eagles in a make-up game at the Kenora Rec. Center.

The Broncos trail the Eagles by one point in the standings.

Puck drop is 1:30 this afternoon.

Beaver Brae is back in action tomorrow afternoon against their cross-town rivals from Thomas Aquinas.

No Homes Games for Midget Thistles when Play-offs open Friday

No such thing as home ice advantage for the Kenora Triple "a" Midget Thistles.

The Thistles begin the play-offs this weekend but will have to play their best-of-three series on the road.

The Kenora midgets will travel to Thompson, Manitoba to face the NorMan North Stars.

The Thistles finished the regular season this past week with a split against the North Stars in northern Manitoba.

Game one of the best-of-three series begins Friday night.

Senior Thistles lose on the road

The Kenora Senior Thistles dug themselves a hole they were unable to get out of.

The Thistles were in Morris yesterday and dropped a 4-2 decision to the Southeast Prairie Thunder.

The Thunder raced out to a 4-0 second period lead, but the short-staffed Thistles managed to cut that in half with goals from Jon Johnson and Matt Richards.

The Kenora Senior squad is back in action this weekend with a game in Fort Frances against the Thunderhawks on Saturday.

Old Age Security System

The federal government isn't about to do anything drastic with the Old Age Security System just yet.

That's the message from Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford.

Rickford admits they are looking at a number of ideas to try and deal with long term funding issues facing the system.

Rickford promises that any changes will not affect people currently collecting Old Age Security cheques or people nearing retirement.

Week of Action Against Poverty

Making Kenora Home is trying to raise awareness this week about the issue of poverty.

The 5th annual Week of Action Against Poverty began yesterday.

Dan Jorgensen is a spokesperson for the Committee and says a wide array
of events will be taking place this week.

One of the main events is the Poverty Challenge, which will wrap up on
Thursday. For the full list of events visit: http://www.makingkenorahome.ca/

Attawapiskat

Bad news for the troubled Northern First Nation of Attawapiskat.


Officials are concerned the sites chosen for two new house trailers haven't been prepared yet.

They're worried the road to the remote community will close before the trailers and building supplies arrive.

The First Nation is battling a severe housing crisis and declared a state of emergency last fall.

The Travelling Action Plan

Since 2001, less and less Americans have been coming into Canada through the Fort Frances and International Falls crossings. The decline in visitors coming into Canada is partly because of law enforcement measures at the border.

The federal government announced today, it’s changing its strict customs policy. The Travelling Action Plan now allows Americans with minor criminal offences a one- time waiver into the country.

Kenora MP Greg Rickford says the safety of all Canadians is still the government’s number one priority. Individuals  will still have to comply with CIC and CBSA approval before crossing the border into Canada.

“We do feel that this is an important first step, temporary in nature, as the long-term solutions I think we'll take on from the industry itself,"

Kenora MP Greg Rickford along with Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism made the announcement with a firm belief that this will increase tourism numbers in the Kenora District.

Smith Camps owner/operator Al Smith agrees adding that millions of dollars in revenue has been lost affecting everybody not only those in the tourism industry.

Resolute Forest Products

Resolute Forest Products is not ruling out more production downtime at its mills this year.

Lower demand and weaker pricing played a role in the 6-million dollar loss in the 4th quarter of last year.

CEO Richard Garneau doesn't see much immediate change.

The reported loss was the second straight since the company emerged from creditor protection a year ago.

ORNGE

The Ontario Government is taking flack from the Opposition parties over the handling of the Province's air ambulance service.


Some members of the Opposition have come out saying the government needs to allow private companies to operate the air ambulance service.

MPP Bill Mauro disagrees.

“At this point we’re all very happy with what the Minister has done to try and rectify some of the problems that have excited at ORNGE for some time. In terms of that suggestion again not being clear, I’m not sure our government is interested in privatizing health care.”

The Province recently put a not-for-profit air ambulance co-ordinator in place after firing former CEO Chris Mazza.

Sioux Lookout Fire

Provincial Police are looking into the cause of a fire in Sioux Lookout.


A building on Wellington Street engulfed in flames early yesterday morning.

The Sioux Lookout Fire Department was able to contain and extinguish the blaze.

No one was injured and the cost of damage is unknown.

Anyone with information is asked to contact OPP or Crime Stoppers.

Coventry Resources

Another mining company has started a search for gold in the Rainy River district.


Australian based Coventry Resources has started a drilling program at its gold project.

It's the first work the company has done on the 120-square kilometers of property, located adjacent to Rainy River Resource's project, north of Barwick.

The company is also doing exploration work at Cameron Lake near Nestor Falls.

Federal Long Gun Registry

Thunder Bay MP John Rafferty plans to continue the trend of voting to dismantle the Federal Long Gun Registry.


The final vote is expected to come down on Wednesday.

Rafferty feels there are more important issues the Federal Government should be focusing on instead of the gun registry.

Aboriginal Education

The federal government says its willing to work with first nation leaders to develop a better education system for aboriginal children.

Earlier this week, a panel on Aboriginal Education released its final report.

Parliamentary Assistant for Aboriginal Affairs Greg Rickford says the report contains some useful information.

The panel traveled across the country last year and held a day of hearings on
the Rat Portage First Nation.

Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls

The Mayor of Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls says they must be doing something right.

The tiny community south of Kenora had the largest population growth in Northwestern Ontario in the last five years.

Bill Thompson says they have been trying to be pro-active to attract more people.

The population of Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls grew by 7 percent in the last five years, while the rest of the Kenora District saw a 10 percent drop.

Community Satisfaction Survey

How do you feel about the level of policing in our community?

That's the question the OPP is trying to answer.

Sergeant Shelley Garr says they have hired a consultant to conduct a Community Satisfaction Survey.

Garr says the telephone survey is confidential and will be used to help develop OPP business plans for each of the detachments in northwestern Ontario.

Daycare Rates

Its going to cost more to put you child into a city-run daycare facility.


Council has approved a modest increase in rates for the Castle of Learning and Discovery Center.

Before and after school rates will be rising by a dollar a day starting March 1st.

Pre-school day care and toddler rates are also going up by a dollar a day.

Recreational Services manager Colleen Neil says the programs continue to be very popular and are full with a long waiting list.

Kenora Youth Council

A total of eight local teens have been appointed to Kenora's first ever Youth Council.


City Council promised to establish the Youth Council last year after receiving a couple of deputations from local high school students.

No date has been set for the first meeting of the Youth Council, but councilor Rory McMillan says they will be gathering input from city staff about some of the issues they'd like to discuss.

The term of the youth council is a short one.

Its scheduled to expire this June.