Province Promoting Apprenticeship Opportunities in Northern First Nations

Transportation minister Glenn Murray says there are opportunities for
aboriginal communities in future infrastructure projects.

Murray says proposed new legislation would require any company that wins a government contract to implement an apprenticeship program.

He suggests such an agreement would benefit communities such as Shoal Lake #39 and #40, once
work on twinning the Trans-Canada highway west of Kenora
gets underway.

Murray says he would also like to see cabinet ministers meet with the Northern
Growth Panel on a quarterly basis to update them on projects and priorities in the region.

Province Promises Help for Lumber Companies

The provincial government is promising to work with local lumber companies to
get them back in operation.

At the Northern Leader's Forum, Natural Resources Minister David Orazietti
talked about the opportunities facing mills like Kenora Forest Products.

Orazietti says the government is just part of the equation for getting the mills operational.

Premier Kathleen Wynne says the government does see the urgency in getting the mills up and running and is willing to do what it can to make that happen.

They were responding to a question from mayor Dave Canfield about emerging new opportunities for forest companies, and the future of the Kenora Forest Products mill.

Weechi-it-te-win Signs Agreement for Off-Reserve Children

Some additional workload for Weechi-it-te-win Family Services.

For the first time, the native-based agency can now
provide child welfare services to aboriginals living off reserve within the Kenora and Rainy River district.

Executive Director Laurie Rose says an agreement with Kenora-Rainy River District Child and Family Services allows that to happen.

Rose says they had been asking for the expanded mandate from the province for many years without much success.

The two agencies sign the agreement in a ceremony Friday.

OPP Joins the Twitterverse

The Northwest Region OPP are now members of Twitter.

They'll be tweeting road closures, crime incidents among many things.

Their twitter handle is:

@OPP_NWR

NDP Speak Out Against Ontario Energy Plan

A Northeastern Ontario MPP says the provincial Government is forcing people from their homes.

Gilles Bisson is addressing the new long-term energy plan that will see hydro rates increase by 33-percent over 3-years.

In the Legislature, NDP MPP Gilles Bisson read out a letter from a Dryden woman who stated that with the increase in hydro, property taxes and insurance, they have been forced to put their home up for sale.

Bisson asked the government in Queen's Park that if people can't afford to pay, why would they be increasing rates.

Hospital Looks to Overhaul Operating Rooms

Time to upgrade.

The Lake of the Woods District Hospital is working with the province to revamp the operating rooms.

VP of Corporate Services Cindy Gasparini says they still have a bigger goal in mind.

Gasparini says they will submit 3 designs that would include staying with the building footprint, building a brand new wing, and a combiniation of both.

Warren White Adds to his Duties

The Grand Chief of Treaty Three is taking on some new duties.

Warren White has been appointed as one of the co-chairs of a new committee
set up by the province to an Aboriginal Justice Advisory Group.

The committee was recommended by Justice Frank Iacobucci, who wrote a report on Aboriginal Representation on Ontario Juries.

The new committee will look at some of the broader issues affecting aboriginals in the justice system.

White and Murray Segal from the Chiefs of Ontario will initially advise the Attorney General on the make up of their committee and some of the issues they want to tackle.

Con College to Launch Maternal Care Program

Confederation College is on the receiving end of some money from the Ontario government.

President Jim Madder says the cash will be used to start a new program for expectant mothers called "Maternal Care".

Madder says they're teaming up with First Nation health care organizations, including Meno-Ya-Win in Sioux Lookout
to develop the program.

Madder hopes they can offer the program in the fall of 2014.

Northwest CCAC Launches TeleHomeCare Program

People living with heart conditions will be able to get help from their home thanks to a new program launched by the Northwest Community Care Access Centre.

Spokesperson Marg Milani says people will enter their vitals into a tele-homecare program installed in their residence.

A nurse will be checking to see if the patient is doing okay
and if not will take action.

The program was made possible through funding from the local health authority.

Two Men Survive Snowmachine Ordeal near Lac Du Bonnet

A couple of sledders from eastern Manitoba are lucky to be alive after
spending a chilly night in the bush near Lac Du Bonnet.

The RCMP were called out Saturday night to check on a couple of
snowmobilers who had gone out earlier in the day, but failed to return.

By Sunday morning, members of the Lee River Snow Riders and local
emergency response crews began searching for the two men.

They were located around 9:00 in the morning near Bird River.

Police say the two men became stranded after one of their sleds broke down.

They went looking for shelter at Anson Hut but ended going through the ice.

Both men, aged 22 and 29 have been taken to hospital and are in stable
condition.

PeeWee Thistles Win Own Tournament

The KMTS Double "A" PeeWee Thistles have northwestern Ontario bragging rights.

The Thistles went through their tournament at the Rec. Center with a perfect
5-0 record.

That included a 4-3 overtime win over the Dryden Paper Kings in the tournament final yesterday afternoon.

Mason Barclay scored the game winner in extra time for the Kenora Peewees.

Thistles Split Against Norman

The Kenora Triple "a" Midget Thistles continue to play .500 hockey.

The Thistles split a pair of games in Thompson, Manitoba this weekend.

Yesterday, the Kenora Midgets were edged 4-3 by the Norman North Stars in a shootout.

Josh Brunton scored a pair of goals in the loss.

On Saturday, the Thistles escaped with a 2-1 win over the North Stars, also in a
shootout.

Lake of the Woods Girls Hockey Teams in Grand Forks

A couple of medals for local girls hockey teams at a tournament in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

The Atom Canucks went undefeated in the round robin of the Angels tournament, but ended up losing to the Seven Oaks Raiders from Winnipeg in the gold medal game 6-3.

The PeeWee Canucks placed third in their division after getting by the Northeast Predators from
Winnipeg 2-1 in double overtime.

The Lake of the Woods Bantam Canucks were the third team entered in the tournament, and they
finished fifth after compiling a 2-2 record.

Hospital Takes Home Another Award

The Lake of the Woods District Hospital will soon need a bigger trophy case.

The hospital has won it's first ever Silver Designation Quality Healthcare Workplace Award.

Kathy Dawe is the VP of Patient Care and says the award recognizes their employee wellness program that's been in place since 2009.

Dawe says it's the first time the hospital has applied for the award.

Last month the board of directors received the Leading Governance Excellence award.

Three Days Grace and Sheepdogs Signed for Harborfest

Winter may be closing in on Kenora, but the Harborfest committee is only
thinking summer thoughts.

The first two acts for the August Long weekend festival have been booked.

Director of Entertainment Dave Blake says they have confirmed the Sheepdogs
and Three Days Grace will perform Saturday night.

Blake says the tickets will go on sale today at noon at Harborfest.ca or a
Donny B's.

Canfield Attends Norther Growth Forum

The Northern Growth Plan is going to be the focus of attention at a
meeting this morning in Timmins.

The Northern Leaders Forum will bring together cabinet ministers, municipal, business and aboriginal leaders.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says they are curious to see what the government has to say about the Growth Plan.

Canfield says he'd like to see more focus on forestry, because he sees that
as the big growth industry in the next year or two.

Legal Aid Lawyers Look to Organize

Legal Aid lawyers across Ontario are pressing for the right to collectively bargain with Legal Aid Ontario.

The effort start almost two years ago.

Legal aid lawyer Jillian Rogin says since then, 80 per cent of lawyers across the province has signed a petition asking the agency to voluntarily accept its wishes.

Legal Aid Ontario says there's no precedent for lawyers to be represented by what they call a trade-union, a claim disputed by Rogin.

Montreal Massacre Vigil Today

It will be a somber and chilly memorial today.

An outdoor vigil will take place at noon today to remember the 14 women killed in the Montreal Massacre 24 years ago.

Collette Surovy from Women's Place says they will be gathering near the corner of Matheson and Second Streets South.

Surovy says afterwards they will be moving over the the satellite office of the Kenora Area Health Access Center for a bite to eat and another presentation.

OSSTF targets Catholic Education System

Catholic Education would become a thing of the past if the Ontario Secondary School Teachers have their way.

The OSSTF made the suggestion in it latest public Education position paper.

President Paul Elliot says streamlining services will create more funding.

Elliot says there are studies showing that up to 2 billion dollars can be saved.

The new platform calls for an English and a French system.

Rae Speaks Out on Ring of Fire

The First Nations negotiator in the Ring of Fire mining development says it's important that the infrastructure is in place before work actually begins on the giant project.  

Speaking in Thunder Bay,  Bob Rae believes it's critical to get the system up and running to guarantee that First nations aren't led down the garden path.

Rae adds it's also important to make sure that environmental mistakes of the past aren't repeated.