Chiefs Meeting Continues

First Nation Leaders from across the province resume their meetings at Couchiching First Nations today (Wednesday).

They're here for the Ontario Chiefs Conference.

Regional Chief Angus Toulouse says they're tackling a number of issues.

"Education, the inequity in terms of the kind of funding that we do get from government, the inequity in social justice," says Toulouse. "You name it, the various sectors that need First Nations leaders redress."

Today's (Wednesday's) session is to be highlighted by a visit from Assembly of First Nation Chief Shawn Atleo.

Rent Guidelines in Place

Ontario's rent increase guideline for 2011 has been set at 0.7 per cent.

The guideline is the maximum amount a landlord can increase the rent of most sitting tenants without seeking approval of the Landlord and Tenant Board.

The government says it's the lowest guideline in the 35-year history of Ontario rent regulation.

SuperCorp. Protest

The opposition and labour groups are raising the alarm over talk of creating a so-called SuperCorp.

It would oversee a portion of provincial electricity, liquor and lottery assets that could potentially be sold off.

Premier McGuinty says no decision has been made, but admits his government is considering such a sale to raise money.

Minnesota Civic Leaders Meet

Minnesota mayors, city council members and city administrators are getting together in St. Cloud this week to focus on their financial problems.

The League of Minnesota Cities holds its annual conference starting today (Wednesday).

The conference will focus on financial strategies for weathering the economic downturn and declining state aid.

Monopoly Passes on Northwestern Ontario Cities

Northwestern Ontario cities have been told "Do Not Pass Go and Do Not collect 200 dollars."

Both Kenora and Thunder Bay failed in their bids to earn a place on the new Canadian Edition of Monopoly.

The city of Winnipeg is also not on the board.

The only northern Ontario community on the board is North Bay.

Library Official Opening

Library patrons and supporters gathered with staff, board members and dignitaries yesterday to mark the official opening of the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre.

Library Board Chair Joyce Cunningham says the opening was more than just for a traditional library.

"The dream has never been just about bricks and mortar," say Cunningham. "Today is not a mere celebration about a building or the technology within it. It's about having community access to possibilities that we have only just started to explore."

Fundraising chair Mark Kowalchuk says the day was both an end and beginning to era's in the library's history.

"We mark on one hand the end of a project that took fifteen years to complete from start to finish," says Kowalchuk. "On the other hand, we mark the beginning for a new facility that will open the doors to the world for everyone through books, technology and rich ongoing menu of program offerings."

Several dignitaries were on hand, including Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton who said the new facility was a huge step forward for the area.

"Education and technology and learning has always been important," says Hampton. "But in the world we live in now it is more important than ever. Fort Frances should be proud that it has taken a leadership and is well positioned for that 21st century economy."

No provincial cabinet ministers were on hand, but plaques presented on their behalf were presented to the Library for display.

The $4.7 million project was paid for through government grants and public and private donations.

Falls Books Look Good

The city of International Falls is in good financial shape.

That according to Don Zierke of Miller McDonald who looked at the city's book for last year.

"In the general fund you're in good shape," says Zierke. "Obviously you have 69 per cent but considering the cuts that may be coming in the state level that's to your benefit because it can help offset some of those cuts."

Finance committee chair, councillor Cynthia Jacksa says given the challenges faced over the past couple of years, the audit's findings were gratifying.

HST Ad

Premier Dalton McGuinty is taking to the airwaves to tell Ontario consumers the HST is strong "Strong Medicine.''

In the 60-second spot, McGuinty says the blended sales tax is the next step in the provincial government's plan to grow the economy.

The television spot can also be viewed online until the HST takes effect on July 1.

Rail Line Blocked

The chief of Batchewana First Nation, near Sault Ste. Marie, says an agreement giving natives a point-of-sale exemption from the GST portion of the HST isn't good enough.

Band members are blocking a rail line that passes outside the band office.

Both the federal and Ontario governments agreed to give the exemption starting in September.

But Chief Dean Sayers says there's no reason it can't take effect July 1st.

Chiefs Meetings Begin

First Nation Leaders from across the province are gathering in Couchiching First Nations today for the start of the annual Ontario Chiefs Conference.

Three days of talks will focus on issues such as First Nations rights and jurisdiction, health, education and the HST.

Duel Credit Program Funding

The provincial government is putting almost $1.3 million into a college and high school program.

The Duel Credit program allows area students to get college credits while still in high school.

Confederation College President Pat Lang says it helps students find the right course.

"This gives students an opportunity to study both at college and in their high school years to study college-level credits to understand what those opportunities are all about," says Lang.

The provincial money will fund the program for the upcoming school year.

School on the Move

A Fort Frances school has been recognized by the Ministry of Education as a 'School on the Move.'

Principal Teresa Dennis says the designation for St. Francis School recognizes the progress its made in student achievement in the areas of numeracy and literacy.

"They are working, not only in academics which we have very high expectation throughout the school," says Dennis, "but also working on spiritual growth, character development and we consider those as the cornerstones of the learning process."

Dennis says credits the entire school community for the school being just one of 33 schools and the only one in northern Ontario to be given the designation.

MNR Firefighters Off to Manitoba

The Ministry of Natural Resource has sent more help to battle forest fires in other provinces.

Yesterday, firefighters from the Fort Frances, Kenora, Red Lake, Dryden and Sioux Lookout areas were dispatched to The Pas, Manitoba.

Two waterbombers and birddog aircraft were also sent.

The MNR also has personnel in Quebec and the Northwest Territories.

Meantime, it was a busy weekend for remaining Ministry of Natural Resources firefighters in northwestern Ontario.

Sixteen new fires were reported caused by lightning and the high winds that went through the area.

The Fort Frances fire region had eight new starts.

All were small in size and started as a result of trees falling across hydro lines.

Fires were located in and around Nichol Lake, Finland, Crystal Lake Beach, Mine Centre and Factor Lake Road.

Rainy River Aquires More Land

Rainy River Resources is purchasing more property in the Rainy River district.

The company is paying out $100-thousand and 50-thousand shares for a patented claim covering 160 acres from an unnamed owner.

Rainy River Resources is conducting gold exploration in the area of Black Hawk, 25 kilometres north of Barwick.

The purchase must still be approved by the TSX Venture Exchange.

MPs Take Break

MPs have started their 12-week summer break.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says the recent session of Parliament was a roller coast of success for him.

"There have been highs. There have been lows," says Rafferty. "The whole session was highlighted by Conservative mismanagement, fiscal mismanagement and Liberal ineffectiveness."

Rafferty was happy that his private member's bill on workers pensions was able to reach the committee level and expects it to come back for a final vote in the fall.

Electric Car Incentives Offered

The Ontario government is offering consumers a rebate of between $5,000 and $8,500 if they buy a new plug-in hybrid or fully electric vehicle after July 1.

The rebates will only be offered to the first ten-thousand applicants who qualify.

Ontario is aiming to have one out of every 20 vehicles in the province be electrically powered by 2020.

Currently, none of the major automakers sell purely electric vehicles in Canada, but many expect to have battery-powered cars on the market by 2012.

HST Exemption Given

The federal government says Ontario can allow First Nations people to have a point of sale exemption on the harmonized sales tax.

Aboriginal people in Ontario have been exempt from the provincial sales tax for decades, and were threatening road closures during the G8/G20 summits if they didn't get an HST exemption.

The exemption though won't come into effect until this September.

Native people will still have to submit receipts to receive refunds on purchases made between July 1 and August 31.

Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak says he'll be pushing for more HST exemptions now that First Nations have secured theirs.

He says the premier wants to give First Nations a break, but asks about seniors who can't pay their hydro bills.

Eye Van Adds New Service

The Canadian National Institute for the Blind is allowing northern Ontario residents the chance to be screened for diabetes at its Eye Van.

Executive Director Monique Pilkington says they're teaming up with the Northern Diabetes Health Network to provide people with access to a diabetes educator.

"The diabetes program is actually a drop-in," says Pilkington. "Although you need to have an appointment with the Eye-Van, it will be a drop-in service. Even community members are invited to come by and see the diabetes educator.

The Eye Van makes stops in Atikokan, Fort Frances and Rainy River beginning July 5.

Telemedicine Reaches Milestone

The Ontario Telemedicine Network says more than 100-thousand patients accessed health care through videoconferencing and tele-diagnostic equipment throughout the province over the past year.

CEO Dr. Ed Brown says that's a significant milestone, but just the tip of how telemedicine will be used in the future.

"We all feel like we're really just actually starting," says Dr. Brown, "because our goal is to really make this a mainstream part of the health care system, to really improve access care for patients, to reduce the burden of travel of them and their family and to help them with quality issues."

The network has been in place since 1998 with the service made available to the Rainy River district in 2002.

Golfers Wanted

Golfers are still be welcomed to participate in next weekend's RBC Charity Golf Classic at Kitchen Creek Golf Course.

Local branch manager Heather Johnson says the event helps raises money for Riverside Health Care Facilities chemotherapy department.

"Our whole focus is really cancer care," says Johnson. "Chemotherapy plays a big part in the that where they can be at home and still receive that care and medical expertise where they're close to family."

Registration forms can be picked up at the golf course or by calling Lisa Plourde at 274-7271.