Liberals To Cut Red Tape

New legislation out of Queen's Park is proposing to eliminate some of the red tape the province's business community faces.

The Better Business Climate Act would, if passed, help reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens and practices that cost businesses time and money.

It would also force government to report annually on their efforts to make it simpler for companies to do business.

Another Break In at Nestor Falls

There's been another break-in at Nestor Falls.

OPP says this time it happened at Nestor Falls Public School.

Police says sometime during the March break someone entered the school and stole cash and electronics totaling more than four-thousand dollars.

Over the past month, two businesses in the community were also broken into.

City Man Faces New Charges

Thunder Bay Police are charging a 57 year old Thunder Bay man with three counts of sexual interference involving a child under the age of 14.

The alleged incident occurred between 1992 and 1996 at a bible camp in the Kakabeka Falls area.

Donald Miller was convicted of a similar incident in 2003.

He has been released with a court date of this Friday.

New Distracted Driving Fines In Place

The province intends to make them higher, but new fines are now in place for those caught using the cellphones or other electronic devices while driving.

As of Tuesday, the fines for distracted driving increase from $155 to $280.

Transportation Minister Glen Murray introduced legislation earlier this week to bring that fine up to as high as one-thousand dollars.

OPP applaud the increase, calling distracting driving a serious threat to others on the road.

Bottled Water In Use At Rainy River Health Centre

Riverside Health Care Facilities says it's been forced to bring in bottled water to the Rainy River Health Centre.

It's because of a water main break that has occurred close to the hospital site, prompting a boil water advisory to go into effect.

Hospital officials say along with the bottled water, they've also taken precautions in food service preparation and infection control .

Float Plane Program Moves To Kenora

Confederation College has found a new home for it's float plane training program.

It will be now based out of Kenora, partnering with Kenora Air.

The College's aviation chair Paul De Oude says they're ready to go at their new location this spring.

The program was held at Eva Lake near Atikokan last year, but residents complaints forced the College to find a new location.

The Bags Are Back

The Bags are coming Back.

Riverside Foundation For Health Care says its decided to incorporate decorated bags and purses back into its annual spring luncheon fundraiser.

Events Committee chair Janice Cousineau says public demand convinced them to bring them back.


The Foundation is now looking for donations of gently used bags and purses for the May 4th event.

You can call Janice or the Foundation office if you can help out.

More UFO's Being Reported

UFO activity seems to be picking up in Northwestern Ontario.

Chris Rutkowski helps publish an annual sightings report.

He says there were several sighting reported from the Thunder Bay and Kenora area's last year.

More than 13-hundred reports of UFO's were identified across Canada.

Hospitals Seek Fairness

Ontario's hospitals says they're only seeking fairness for all health care professionals as they work toward a contract with the Ontario Nurses Association.

Both sides are awaiting an arbitrator's ruling on the issues of wages.

President of the Ontario Hospital Association Anthony Dale says the bargaining used is that based on agreements they're already signed with other labour groups.

The Nurse's union argues the hospital association wants to cut wages and benefits on the heels of a two-year wage freeze.

Nurses who work in hospital in the Rainy River district are impacted by the labour negotiations.

Greenpeace Continues PR Battle With Resolute

File photo

Greenpeace is continuing it's public relations battle with Resolute Forest Products.

The environmental group unfurled two banners Tuesday morning on the Mount Royal Cross in Montreal.

Greenpeace says the action is part of it's campaign against Resolute's operations in the Boreal Forest.

Concerns Expressed With E-Cigs

Some see it as an alternative to the real thing, but there is a new concern over E-cigarettes.

The Minnesota Poison Control System says it seeing a dramatic rise in the number of children being poisoned by the e-cigarettes liquid nicotine.

The liquid is heated to simulate the effects of a real cigarette.

None of the children were hospitalized or seriously injured, but the State's Health Commissioner Doctor Ed Ehlinger says it high lites the potential risks and the importance of storing e-cigs out of the reach of children.

Colleges Press For 3-Year Degree Programs

Ontario's college are stressing a need for three-year college degrees.

A number of College presidents uses a skill's summit hosted by Premier Kathleen Wynne in Toronto Tuesday to press their case.

Chair of Colleges Ontario David Agnew says allowing three-year degrees would encourage more people to consider a post-secondary program.

Currently, colleges offer four-year degree programs, but can only award diplomas in a three-year program.

Fort Frances Youth Now On The Job In Fort Frances

A Fort Frances youth is now on the job as a page at Queen's Park and was introduced by Speaker of the House Dave Levac Tuesday morning.

Mira Donaldson is a grade 7 student at Robert Moore School who will for the next month deliver messages to MPP's, meet key parliamentarians and learn about Ontario's government.

It's the first time in many years that a youth from the Rainy River district has been selected to serve as a Queen's Park page.

Catholic School Trustees To Consider Stratton School Fate

A small catholic school in the Rainy River district could get a reprieve.

Trustees with the Northwest Catholic District School Board are to discuss tonight whether to keep open Our Lady of the Way School in Stratton.

Just 13 students are enrolled, but administration is asking trustees to postpone their decision, suggesting more time is needed to determine the potential for longer term enrolment growth.

It also suggests taking another look at the accommodation review done of the school in 2017.

Nurses Disappointed by Wage Offer

The Ontario Nurses Association is disappointed by the wage offer put forward by the province's hospitals.

A Ministry of Labour arbitrator heard from both sides over the weekend on the wage issue.

President of the Nurse's Association Linda Haslum-Stroud says the hospitals want to cut nurses' wages and benefits on the heels of a two year wage freeze.

The existing contract for nurses, including those who work in hospitals the Rainy River district, expires at the end of this month.

Fire Investigation Continues

The Ontario Fire Marshall's office and the OPP have wrapped up their investigation, at the scene at least, into last Thursday's motel fire in Fort Frances.

But the exact cause of the blaze at Reid's Voyageur Inn Motel is still not be released.

Meantime, a 39-year-old man who was taken to hospital is now in Thunder Bay.

His condition continues to be monitored.

Higher Fines For Distracted Driving Considered

New legislation to crack down on distracted driving in the province has been introduced at Queen's Park.

The bill proposes to increase the range of fines to between $300 and $1,000 and assign three demerit points against those caught using their cellphone or other electronic devices while driving.

The bill also requires drivers to keep at least one metre away when passing cyclists.

Violence In Treaty 3 Communities Tackled

A new strategy in is place to prevent violence in Treaty 3 communities.

The Green Light initiative was launched in Onigaming First Nation.

Karen Kejick says they need the support of the provincial and federal governments as well as others to put an end to violence.

The green light is a symbol of a community safe house for individuals who are in need of safety in the event of a domestic violence situation.

Surgeons Donate Research Dollars

A group of orthopedic surgeons is donating a total of two million dollars over the next ten years to Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

The money will be used to conduct a variety of orthopedic research projects.

One will look at diabetes patients and the high rate of amputations in northwestern Ontario.

NDP Offers Job Creating Incentive Plan

Ontario's New Democrats want to reward businesses and companies who create new jobs.

Leader Andrea Horwath is proposing a new job creation tax credit that would reimburse employers 10 per cent of a new workers salaries in their first year.

Horwath says it's a simple step that would get people working now.