OPP Investigate Another Break and Enter

The rash of break ins are continuing in Kenora.

Provincial Police are investigating a break and enter to a house in the Lakeside area early yesterday morning.

OPP say a man entered a house but took off before taking anything once the resident woke up.

The suspect is described as young aboriginal man about 6 feet tall with a thin build, a grey hoodie, and blue jeans.

If you have any information about this incident please call the OPP or Crimestoppers.

City Planning Organizational Review

The City of Kenora is planning to conduct an organizational review this
year.

City council is expected to approve a Request For Proposal at it's open
meeting this afternoon.

Chief Administrative Officer Karen Brown says because it will be an extensive review of the city's operations, they decided to go to an outside company to do it.

It's hoped the review will begin by July 1st.

Save ELA Gives Thanks

This past weekend marked a bit of a milestone for the Experimental Lakes area east of Kenora.

It was two years ago the federal government announced the closure of the outdoor laboratory.

Diane Orihel says the ELA is alive and well today thanks to the support of  Kenora City Council in the battle over the past two years.

Orihel was the guest speaker at a pot luck supper put on by Save ELA Friday night in Kenora.

OPP Gearing Up For Summer Camp

The OPP are gearing up for their annual youth summer camp.

This year it will be taking place near Kenora on Longbow Lake.

Constable Dave Cain says it's a unique opportunity for kids to interact
with police in a non-threatening environment.

Cain says 40 kids from across the northwest region will arrive at the camp,
which starts June 29th and will run to July 4th.

Treaty Three Concerned With Enery East Pipeline

Grand Council Treaty 3 is looking to sign a consultation agreement with Trans-Canada Pipelines.

Warren White is the grand Chief and says the agreement is focused on getting the facts on the Energy East Project.

The agreement could be signed at the upcoming spring assembly.

However, White already feels as though the project won't get the needed approval.

Conversion of Atikokan Coal Plant On Track

Ontario Power Generation says its still on track with the conversion of its power plant in Atikokan.

The former coal plant is being set up to burn biomass later this year.

OPG says a milestone was reached earlier this year with a successful test fire of the main unit on natural gas.

The 170-million dollar project is expected to be complete by August.

Kenora To Get Millions in Gas Tax Revenue

The City of Kenora will be getting 4.6 millin dollars in gas tax
revenue over the next five years.

The federal government has announced an allocation of 899
thousand dollars this year.

Councillor Ron Lunny says he'd like to have more leeway on how that
money can be spent.

Instead, Lunny says the city will be spending it's gas tax money to fix up the Winnipeg River West Branch Bridge this year.

NDP Promise To Cut Hydro Rates

The NDP will to cut Hydro rates.

That's a promise by Kenora Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell.

Campbell says they have a focused plan of attack

She notes Hydro rates have increased over 300 percent since 2002.

Northern Leaders Debate Next Week

The leader of the provincial liberals has confirmed that she'll be participating in the northern debate at the end of the month.

The debate between the three provincial leaders is scheduled for the May 26th in Thunder Bay at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association conference.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says that the Liberals refused to join the debate during their last campaign.

Horwath adds that she looks forward to the debate.

It's not yet known if PC leader Tim Hudak will attend the debate as well.

More Northern Evacutations

Another weekend, and more evacuations from another northern community.

About a thousand people were removed from the Attiwapiskat First Nation due to flooding.

About 140 were airlifted to Fort Frances, while others ended up in northeastern Ontario and Quebec.

It's hoped the evacuees should be able to return home as early as today
as water levels begin to subside.

Ring of Fire Training Starts In Ignace Next Week

The Confederation College Ring of Fire Training Alliance is set to begin teaching mining skills to First Nation students.

Training will will begin May 28th in Ignace.

College spokesperson Don Bernosky says it trains people for entry level positions in the mining industry

Matawa community members will gather today at Confederation College to launch the 12-week plan.

Royal Tour Heads to Manitoba Today

It was a royal "Welcome to Nova Scotia".

Princes Charles and his wife Camilla were given a warm welcome earlier today in downtown Halifax during a 40 minute event filled with music, cheers and warm wishes from dignitaries.

The Prince of Wales also gave his first speech on the tour.

He spoke fondly over the warm greeting received in Nova Scotia and paid tribute to the very first Royal visit to Canada in 1939 when Queen Elizabeth spoke in Halifax.

The royal couple arrived in Halifax on Sunday evening.

The tour continue today with stops in PEI and then later in the day Charles and Camilla will make their way to Winnipeg for the Manitoba leg of their tour.

OPP Investigating Whitefish Bay Rollover

At least one accident on area roads this Victoria Day Long Weekend.

The OPP say they were called to a vehicle rollover on Gaudry's Road near
the Whitefish Bay First Nation early Sunday morning.

Police say the accident took place around 7:00 in the morning.

The driver was ejected from the vehicle and a female passenger was
also injured.

Both were taken to hospital in Winnipeg for treatment of injuries they sustained.

Police say charges are still pending in the incident.

Bus KN-15 Starting Early Today

Students living in the Essex Road area will have to get up a little earlier than
normal.

The Northwest Student Service Consortium says bus KN-15 will be arriving
30 minutes early to pick up students this morning.

That's because the bus will have to take a detour that will add a half an hour to
it's route.

Last week there was flooding in the area and heavy rain yesterday likely
won't improve the situation.

The Consortium says service will return to normal once the detour is no longer
needed.

Kenora Restaurant Fined by MNR

A Kenora restaurant has been fined 1 thousand dollars by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The charges against Hing's Chop Suey House stem from a 2013 incident regarding illegally purchased fish.

Conservation Officers had continually informed Owner Gam Hing Choo of purchasing requirements for fish since 2007.

In July last year the MNR inspected the restaurant where they found 22 kilograms of fish stored in bread bags and garbage bags.

Owner Gam Hing Choo said the fish were exchanged with strangers for food from the restaurant.

The MNR confiscated the fish at that time.

The restaurant has been fined 750 dollars for buying fish without a licence.

Meanwhile Choo was fined 250 dollars for illegally buying fish.

Section of Essex Road Flooded

A new detour to report North of Kenora.

Rising waters on the Black Sturgeon Lakes has flooded a section of Essex Road just south of the Lajeunesse Bridge.

The city has not closed the roadway but travel is not advised and a detour has been put in place.

The flooded roadway is also affecting school bus KN-15.

The Northwest Student Services Consortium says the route will be delayed by 30 minutes.

RCMP Release Report on Missing Aboriginal Women

Some startling statistics from a new report by the RCMP about murdered or missing aboriginal women.

The report shows there are near twice as many murders involving aboriginal woman than prevously thought.

Superintendant Tyler Bates says the report was seven months in the making and involved
over 300 police agencies across Canada.

The report shows there were just over one thousand murdered aboriginal women in Canada
between 1980 and 2012.

Original estimates had put that figure at between 580 and 800 murders.

Bates adds that they have solved 88 percent of those cases, which is almost identical to the
national clearance rate of 89 percent.

The report also shows there are still 169 open cases of missing aboriginal women.

Campbell Supports Calls For New Cabinet Position

The incumbent MPP for Kenora-Rainy River is supporting her party's plan to create a new cabinet position aimed at helping the province find savings.

The NDP's Sarah Campbell says a Minister of Savings and Accountability is an important step towards restoring trust in government.

Meanwhile, the NDP are looking to help Ontario's lowest paid workers and small businesses.

Leader Andrea Horwath confirming she will increase the minimum wage to 12 dollars an hour under an NDP government.

Horwath says she'd also make a 1.5 per cent cut on the corporate tax rate for small businesses.

All Quiet On Forest Fire Front

Cool wet weather is keeping the forest fire situation quiet in northwestern Ontario.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says there have been just seven fire this year, all human caused.

So far there have been three wild fires reported in the Kenora District.

Province-wide, there have been 14 fires, compared with 81 at this time last year.

OPP Concerned About ATV Accidents

Ontario Provincial Police are warning motorists to drive safely and responsibly this Victoria Day long weekend.

Officers will be on the road focusing on the big four offences; impaired driving, seat belts, distracted driving and aggressive driving.

Police are reminding drivers to plan ahead and take plenty of time to get to your destination safely.

OPP will be paying close attention to ATV drivers.

The number of deaths linked to off-road vehicles has hit a four year high and has doubled in just two years.