Exotic Pet Laws Under Review

Ontario Community Safety Minister Madeleine Meilleur says she wants to talk with municipalities about having the province regulate exotic animals like the python believed responsible for killing two New Brunswick boys on Monday.

Meilleur says there should also be regulations to protect people from dangerous animals that some people keep as pets.

Police say Noah and Connor Barthe, aged four and six, were found dead Monday after a 45-kilogram African rock python escaped from its enclosure in the apartment where the boys were sleeping and apparently crushed them to death.

Conservative MPP Files for Leadership Review

Progressive Conservative M-P-P Frank Klees says party leader Tim Hudak should to allow a leadership review at a policy convention in London next month.

Klees says Hudak shouldn't be trying to suppress the will of Tories after the party lost four of five by-elections last week and have filed motions to seek a leadership review.

However, deputy P-C Leader Christine Elliott says disgruntled Tories should ``calm down'' and forget about looking for a review of Tim Hudak's leadership.

KBI Festivities Well Underway

The Kenora Bass International is now underway.

The first flight of teams were giving the green light at 6:30 this morning.

Included in the flight are last years championship team of Aaron Wiebe and Peter Tully.

Over 125 teams are going after the 25 thousand dollar first prize, while Team Canada is looks to retain the Frank Townsend Memorial Trophy over Team USA.

895 The Lake will have live updates of the weigh ins starting at 4:00 on the Harbourfront.

Meanwhile, the KBI  Kids tournament starts today at 10:00 on the Harbourfront docks.

The bar under the Whitecap Pavilion opens at 3:00 with dinner at 5:30 hosted by Gropps Country Catering.

Day 1 wraps up with a movie under the Whitecap Pavilion at 7:00.

Hydro One to Build New Transformer in Barwick

Hydro One is set to spend 25-million dollars on the construction of a new transformer station for the Rainy River district.

The station, to be located in Barwick, will replace an existing and aging one in Fort Frances.

Spokesperson Tiziana Baccega Rosa says they have all of the approvals in place to start the work.

She says the station will improve the electricity capacity for the area between Fort Frances and Rainy River.

MNR Offers Bear Safety Tips

The Ministry of Natural Resources has some tips to protect yourself against a bear attack following an attack at Sandbar Provincial Park North of Ignace.

Spokesperson Jolanta Kowalski says its important to keep an eye on your pets, and to properly store food away at any campsite.

Kowalski also said its a good idea to carry a whistle, bear spray, and even an axe.

She adds the bear that attacked that man was euthanized and sent for tests.

Canadian Blood Services Looking for 50,000 Donations

More blood is needed across Northwestern Ontario.

And the Canadian Blood Services says the situation is the same across the country.

Fortunately, Local Rep Mike Choi says as of right now there are no hospital patients going without blood.

Choi says more than 50-thousand-donations are needed by Labour Day.

The next clinic in Kenora is September 9th and 10.

Treaty 3 Hosts Planning For The Future Forum

Grand Council Treaty 3 is planning for the future.

They are hosting a youth career exploration forum in Kenora on August 14th and 15th at the Best Western Lakeside Inn

Youth who enroll in the forum will learn about career and education planning, job readiness, and financial responsibility.

Registration ends today.

Contact Annie Boyd at reception@treaty3.ca or at (807) 542-4214

City Council Expands Bow Hunt

Tighten those strings and sharpen your arrows.

Kenora city council is making changes to the city bow hunt.

The season will now begin on September 1st with hunting allowed on private land larger than 5 acres.

Mayor Dave Canfield says that's just the start as the city is continuing to work with the MNR regarding the hunt.

Canfield says controlling the deer population is a balancing act.

KBI Introduces teams Canada and USA

Team Canada and team USA has been introduced for the Kenora Bass International.

The teams were introduced during the KBI breakfast this morning.

Team Canada consists of Aaron Wiebe & Peter Tully, Jim Gustafson & Ben Gustafson, Jess Swenson & Michael Reid, Jeff Dingwall & Blair Dingwall, and Oliver Gibbons and Jason Gibbons.


Team USA is made of Kraig Dafick & Janice Dafick, Jim Flack & Andy Flack, John Liestman & Todd Tougas, Ernie Hearn & Forest Green, and Bill McGhie and Ken McGhie.

The 2 teams compete every year for the Frank Townsend Can-Am Challenge Trophy.

Team USA leads the overall tally 13-12.

National Aborigal Committee Welcomes Brad Maggrah

Added responsibility for Wabigoon's Brad Maggrah.

Maggrah has been appointed
to the National Aboriginal Committee on Species at Risk.

The Committee was created with the mandate to provide the Minister of Environment with advice on the handling of the Species at Risk Act.

His term will last 3-years.

Maggrah is the current President of the Ontario Coalition of Aboriginal People.

Con College Adds New Mining Course

Good news for folks in the region who are interested in a career in the mining sector.

Confederation College is expanding its mining program thanks to a new partnership with the Haileybury School Of Mines in Timmins.

President Jim Madder says the end result will be a ready work force for future mining employment.

The College will deliver the mines program through its Thunder Bay campus.

Sarah Campbell Applauds Youth Job Creation

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is applauding the provincial government for its new youth jobs program.

The province will provide up to 78-hundred dollars for each eligible youth, starting in September.

Campbell says it was one of the NDP's demands in the spring budget.

The grant also includes up to one-thousand-dollars to hep youth pay for costs like tools and transportation to work.

Quiet Long Weekend for area OPP

A pretty quiet weekend for Provincial Police in Northwestern Ontario.

Sergeant Shelley Garr says they laid 286 speeding charges, nineteen seat belt charges, six charges for impaired driving and three for distracted driving.

According to OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis, the 2013 Civic Long Weekend saw the lowest number of fatalities in almost 20-years.

Treaty 3 Police Chief Resigns

The Treaty 3 Police saga has taken another turn.

Board Chair Chief Eli Mandamin says Conrad DeLaronde has resigned as the chief of police.

DeLaronde has recently fallen under intense pressure due to the financial troubles facing the force the lead to a 45 day lay off notice for all officers.

Mandamin says the board will meet next week to discuss how to proceed, but he doesn't expect the change to affect union negotiations.

City Council Discusses Parking Concerns

City council is opening up parking on Lakeview drive.

Council is working to change parking regulations near Husky the Musky during special events like the farmers market.

Mayor Dave Canfield says ticketing people is not the right thing to do.

Canfield says the city is talking to the OPP to change the by-law.

He does say the area will be open to park tomorrow during the farmers market.

Boat Parade Kicks Off KBI

KBI festivities kick off tonight.

The boat parade will head through the streets of downtown.

The parade starts at the rec centre and heads down first avenue south to Matheson street where the boats will the head over to Main Street.

The parade gets underway at 6:00.

NWHU Releases Health Report Card

The Northwestern Health Unit has released its annual health report card.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jim Arthurs says a main focus is chronic disease prevention.

Arthurs says the report card also includes information about programs and services in the region.

Arthurs says they also need to identify better with vulnerable populations that need this information.

head to www.nwhu.on.ca to view the full report.

MPP Sarah Campbell Going Door to Door

If you have concerns, Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell wants to hear them!

Campbell says she has been going door-to-door across the riding, getting input from people on what they want to see changed.

Campbell says she welcomes phone calls, emails, and letters from anyone who wants to offer their two-cents.

MP Greg Rickford Donates to Dryden Library

A generous donation by Kenora MP Greg Rickford to the Dryden Library.

The Minister of State has handed over 24-books from some well-known Canadian Authors.

Rickford says it's important to help support small libraries.

Rickford is expected to make a similar donation to the Ignace Library.

Mine on Hold in Atikokan

Lower than expected gold prices is having an impact on a planned mine for the Atikokan area.

Osisko Mining has been working on its Hammond Reef project since taking it over from Brett Resources in 2010

President Sean Roosen says its still a valuable asset, but better prices are needed.

Roosen says the company still plans to complete a permitting process which is underway.