First Nations Rally in Protest of Bill C-45

Aboriginals across Northwestern Ontario rallied today against Bill C-45.

Rallies were held in Kenora outside MP Greg Rickfords office and in Dryden outside the Government buildings.

Onigaming Chief Norman Copenance spoke during the rally in Kenora, and says its time for chiefs to come together and stand up for their self governance.

While Grassy Narrows Chief Simon Fobister says the government did not speak with First Nations about possible changes affecting their communities.

The Rallies were held in part of a national day of action names "Idle No More!"

Sioux Lookout Man Arrested on Prostitution Charges

A Sioux Lookout man has been charged with two counts of juvenile prostitution.

Last month, Provincial Police went to a home after receiving information that there illegal activities going on inside.

Police confirmed that prostitution was taking place, and all of the victims involved were under 18 years old.

Police say the accused is 30 year old Steven Robertson.

He remains in custody and will appear in court on Friday.

Kenora's First Electric Car Charging Station

Kenora now has it's first ever electric car charging station.

The station has been set up at the Best Western Lakeside Inn by Sun Country Highway.

Vice President Chris Misch says the project came together pretty quick.

Misch adds over 80 charging stations are being set up coast to coast along the Trans-Canada Highway to commemorate the highways 50th anniversary and create the world longest green highway.

Both OSSTF and EFTO Begin Job Actions This Week

Both elementary and secondary school teachers will begin their job action today.

Elementary teachers within the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board will be staging a one day strike tomorrow.

As a result, all elementary schools within the board will be closed.

Director of Education Jack McMaster says that it was a unanimous decision.

Elementary Schools will re-open on Wednesday.

Teachers Job Action to Affect NorWOSSA Leagues

The job action at the public school board is creating some confusion for parents at Kenora Catholic District School board.

Director of Education Phylis Eikre says it will be business as usual at all their schools this week.

But she admits the job action is having an impact on their sports teams.

Eikre says the job actions will affect their high school sports teams, because the NorWOSSA season has been put on hold due to the withdrawal of the Secondary School Teachers from extra curricular activities.

Eikre adds that school buses will be running tomorrow, even though all elementary schools will be closed.

Rickford Impatient for Highway Twinning to Begin

The Ministry of Transportation is taking some heat for failing start work to twin the Trans-Canada highway west of Kenora.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says the project was ready to roll over a year ago.

He blames the province's inability to negotiate a deal with area first nations.

Rickford says the federal government is still committed to the project but he wants the province to confirm funding for twinning the entire length of highway from the Manitoba Border right to the City of Kenora.

Ontario Liberals Debate Northern Autonomy

Ontario's Liberal leadership hopefuls don't all agree on whether northern Ontario needs its own regional government.

Glen Murray wants full autonomy for the north so it can forge its own path. Speaking at the leadership debate in Thunder Bay, Murray says the north should make its own decisions.

But not everyone agrees. Kathleen Wynne is warning that it sounds like separation, and that's not where she wants to go.

Meanwhile, Gerard Kennedy told the audience more needs to be done for Aboriginal students.

Other topics of discussion included the Ring of Fire and Economic Development in Northern Ontario.

Hospitals to Study Non-Emergency Transfers

Area hospitals are going to study the management of non-emergency patient transfers.

Lake of the Woods District Hospital CEO Mark Balcaen says hospitals and services boards West of Thunder Bay are taking part in the study.

Belcaen adds the goal of the study is to find financial solutions for payment of the transfers after the Kenora District Services Board announced it will no longer fund the program.

Youth Faces Charges for Taking Replica Gun to School

A youth who brought a replica handgun to the Fort Frances high school last week is facing charges.

Provincial Police have charged the youth with two counts of assault with a weapon, posession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and failure to comply with an order.

The accused remains in custody and is expected to appear in court today.

A Good Weekend for PeeWee and Midget Thistles

The Kenora double "a" PeeWee Thistles skated to the B-Side title at their own tournament over the weekend at the Rec. Center.

The Thistles doubled up the St. James Canadians 4-2 in their final game of the tournament on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, the Kenora Triple "a" midget Thistles earned a split of their weekend series against the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Yesterday, the Wheat Kings earned a 3-2 in in a shootout at the Rec. Center.

Saturday the Thistles had a solid defensive effort in a 1-0 win.

Scott Parsons earned the shutout for the Kenora Midgets making 35 saves.

Saints Win Manitoba Hockey Tournament

A good weekend for the Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team.

The Saints were in Killarny, Manitoba and walked away with the gold medal from a high school tournament there.

T.A. went through the tournament with a perfect 4-0 record including a 5-4 win over Deloraine in the A-side final.

Jackson Fregeau led the way with three goals in the final.

Meanwhile, Beaver Brae's girls team spent the weekend on the road.

The Broncos attended a tournament in Portage La Prairie, and lost the gold medal game to the
NorWOSSA rivals from Fort Frances 3-2.

Yesterday, Beaver Brae was back on the road in Sioux Lookout and skated to a 7-0 win over the Warriors.

The Broncos had seven different goal scorers in that contest.

Harbourtown Biz Ice Rink opens this Saturday

The much awaited skating rink under the whitecap pavillion opens tomorrow.

Special Events Coordinator Mark Duggan says the Harbourtown Bic Ice Rink the will open at 9:00 tomorrow morning.

Duggan also wants to remind the public that rink will be for skating only.

Fort Frances High School Locked Down

The presence of what turned out to be a replica firearm put the Fort Frances High School into a lookdown situation yesterday.

OPP Acting Sergeant Anne McCoy says the measure was necessary to secure the area while police searched for the person seen carrying it.

The lockdown was lifted about an hour later after a 16-year-old boy was taken into custody without incident off school property.

Elementary Teachers to Hold One Day Strike

Job actions by public school teachers are starting to hit close to home.

The Elementary School Teachers Federation says it will be staging a one day strike on December 11th.

All local elementary schools will be closed as the teachers head to Dryden to hold a rally there.

Yesterday, Education Minister Laurel Broten indicated she would not stop the one day strikes.

Local elementary school teachers are in a legal strike position as of this Monday.

Public School Board Suspends Extracurricular Activities

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board has also announced that it will be suspending all extracurricular activities at their high schools because of the teachers job action.

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation says it will not be participating in after school programs starting on Monday.

As a result all NorWOSSA League play is being suspended until further notice.

Jack McMaster says he regrets having to make that decision.

McMaster says the suspension of extracurricular activities will also affect drama productions, arts and travel clubs and any noon hour activities that require teacher supervision or coaching.

Theory of a Deadman to Headline Harborfest

Harborfest is still eight months away, but the entertainment for the summer festival is starting to come together.

Theory of a Dead Man and Faberdrive have been confirmed for the Saturday night concert.

Entertainment Director Dave Blake says they are now working to fill the Friday night and Sunday night shows.

Blake says they are hoping to confirm more acts before Christmas.

Tickets will go on sale for the Saturday show tomorrow morning.

Fire Crews Battle Chimney Blaze

A fire in a chimney is being blamed for a blaze at a home in the Lakeside area.

Kenora's Fire and Emergency Services Department was called out last night.

While no-one was hurt, damage is said to be extensive, expecially in the attic area.

Fire crews were finally able to leave the scene around 9:00 last night.

NOMA Wants More Autonomy for Northwestern Ontario

Queens Park doesn't understand the needs of the North.

That's the message from the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Assoication, which is asking for more regional authority to enchance economic development in the region.

Vice President David Canfield says that policies that are developed in Queens Park do nothing for Northwestern Ontario.

NOMA will be working with all provincial parties and local party canidates to bring this issue to the forefront, in preparation for a possible 2013 election.

Conservatives Planning to Take a Run at the Kenora-Rainy River Riding

Progressive Conservatives intend to focus a lot of attention on the Kenora-Rainy River riding in the next election.

The riding has been an NDP stronghold for many years, but MPP Garfield Dunlop believes there's enough support out there for the Tories to grab.

Dunlop was in the Fort Frances area to talk to area leaders about ways to get more young people interested in the trades.

Craft Market Making a Winter Comeback

A summer staple is making a winter come back.

The Matiowski Craft and Market show will be expanded in the new year.

Special Events Coordinator Mark Duggan says they will be holding the Craft Markets in the Discovery Center three times in the new year.

Duggan adds the idea was spiked by the vendors who normally participate in summer events.

The dates for the shows are January 12th, Febuary 9th, and March 2nd.