Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Road Opens

A road seen an important link between Atikokan and a mineral exploration project north of the community is now open.

The rehabilitation of 26-kilometres of Sawbill North road was done to provide a shorter link to Brett Resources mineral properties in the Hammond Reef Area.

Funding for the project was shared between the mining company, Seine River First Nation and the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Visitor Restrictions Lifted

Visitor restrictions at Rainycrest Long Term Care have been lifted.

Officials with the Fort Frances home lifted the restrictions Monday morning after determining there were no further outbreaks of gastroenteritis.

However, the home is advising those who may be experiencing any flu-like symptoms to avoid visiting the home to aid in preventing future outbreaks.

HST Campaign

Ontario is spending 1.6 (m) million dollars to sell its controversial move to harmonize sales taxes.

Print ads which come out Thursday highlight an income tax cut that took effect January 1st.

Revenue Minister John Wilkinson says more than 400-thousand people have visited a government website to help show how the tax changes will affect them and their businesses.

But opposition critics are not buying it.

Progressive Conservative Lisa McLeod calls the ads another broken promise that just "adds insult to injury'' by costing taxpayers more money.

The New Democrats say all the information in the ads could have been distributed through public hearings.

Missing Girl Sought

Fort Frances OPP are seeking the public's assistance in locating a missing 13-year-old girl.

Police says Cheyenne Boshkaykin, a resident of the Training and Learning Centre in Watten Township, was last seen Friday.

She's described as being of native descent, 5'7", 120 pounds with long black hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a black hoodie and blue jeans.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Cheyenne Boshkaykin is asked to contact the OPP.

Sidewalk Stays

A length of sidewalk along Portage Avenue in Fort Frances intended to be ripped up this summer will be staying put.

Town councillors agreed to keep the east walkway in the 700 and 900 blocks of Portage intact.

The fact that a portion of the sidewalk was installed as a community improvement project paid for by area homeowners, and that it wasn't that old, convinced council to remove that portion of the project out of its work plans.

Airport Leases Renewed

The town of Fort Frances has renewed leases with four of its tenants at its Airport.

Bearskin Airways, North Air Services, Evi Aviation and Enterprise Rent-a-car will pay four per cent more for the space in the terminal and parking spots assigned.

The companies will paid a annual fee based on a figure of $296-dollars per square metre.

Clinic Ownership Concerns

Concerns were also raised over the ownership of the Fort Frances Community Clinic at last night town council meeting.

Resident Allan Bedard says part of the confusion lies with the role of the Fort Frances Community Clinic Corporation and the Nelson Medical Professional Corporation based at the clinic.

Councillor Ken Perry, who is also chair of the Clinic Corporation, provided some clarification.

"We're in discussions with Nelson Medical," said Perry. "They do no run the clinic. Fort Frances Community Clinic runs the clinic under the guise of the Family Health Team which is funded by the Ministry of Health. Nelson Medicine is a tenant in our building. They contract services from us. They contract equipment from us."

Perry admitted all was not as smooth as he'd like it to be with the board of director operating with a minimum number.

Mayor Roy Avis says the only town involvement in the clinic was the provision of a one-million dollar interest free loan provided to the Corporation to purchase the clinic five years ago.

Doctor Concerns Highlighted

A Fort Frances residents feels the inability to attract new doctors to the community is reaching a crisis stage.

Speaking to town council last night, Allan Bedard said he and other residents are concerned.

"We have five fewer doctors than we had a few years ago," said Bedard. "We have three doctors over the age of 70. We're short an anesthetist. It looks to be there's been an allocation with other parties of $750-thousand and we don't have a doctor here.

Mayor Roy Avis says the $750-thousand from the town and other groups has been earmarked for doctor recruitment since 2004.

He adds a consultant has been hired to review the current recruiting model with the the finding to be revealed in the near future.