Some Mill Workers Returning To Work

Resolute Forest Products is citing a scheduled maintenance repair at the Fort Frances mill as the reason for a recalling some of the workers laid off recently.

About a dozen members of the Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union and some represented by other unions have been asked to report to work in early March.

About 250 employees were laid off by the company's decision to idle its kraft mill and a paper machine last fall.

New Mill Manager For Resolute

There will be a new manager at Resolute Forest Products Mill in Fort Frances.

The company confirms current manager, Andre Bernier will remain in the position until the end of this month.


Ryan Ellard will then take over in an interim basis.

Bernier began general manager of the Fort Frances operations in May 2011.

 

No Changes To Ridings Recommended

No changes to the federal ridings of Kenora or Thunder Bay-Rainy River are being recommended in the final report of the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission.

The report was tabled in the House of Commons yesterday.

The Commission had proposed moving Lake of the Woods township from Thunder Bay-Rainy River to Kenora.

But in its report, the Commission states that after public hearings, it's assumption the area had stronger ties to Kenora than Thunder Bay or Fort Frances was mistaken.

Northern Input Promised on Transportation Policy

The provincial government is insisting it will listen closely to northerners in the development of a transportation policy for northern Ontario.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says it's a priority for the Premier and him that they get the strategy right and know how important it is for the region's economy.

The Liberals identified plans to address the special transportation needs of the north in last week's Throne Speech

Juries Report Out Today

A former Supreme Court of Canada justice today delivers a report on whether on-reserve aboriginals have been systematically excluded from Ontario's juries.

First Nations leaders hope Frank Iacobucci comes up with recommendations to fix a broken system.

Deputy Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Alvin Fiddler says aboriginals have known for years the problem needed to be dealt with.

Minimum Wage Increase Proposed

There's a proposal to boost Minnesota's minimum wage to $10.55 an hour by August 2015.

A House legislative committee plans to vote Thursday on a bill that would increase the minimum wage in three phases.

After that future increases would be pegged to inflation and increase automatically.

The current rate of $6.15 an hour has not increased since 2005.

Second Man Arrested In Gun-Smuggling Case

There's been another arrest related to a gun-smuggling incident that led to a Fort Frances man being arrested in North Dakota earlier this month.

RCMP say 22-year Thomas Peter Atkinson, also from Fort Frances, faces 27 different firearms-related charges.

His arrest came the same day 29-year-old Shawn James Hartnell was placed in custody by American authorities.

Atkinson has since been released and will appear in a Winnipeg court room March 5th.

Hartnell is facing charges both in North Dakota and Manitoba.

Mill Employees Being Recalled

It appears some of the workers laid off due to the idling of the kraft mill and a paper machine at the Resolute Forest Products mill in Fort Frances may be returning to work.

About a dozen members of the Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union and some represented by other unions have also been asked to report back to work in early March.

The company has yet to explain why, but it's believe the recalls are to fill vacancies among the employees still working.

Mayor And Councillors In Toronto

The town of Fort Frances is seeking some financial help from the province to offset the tax rebate to Resolute Forest Products.

Mayor Roy Avis, along with Councillor Rick Wiedenhoef and John Albanese intend to broach the idea with Municipal Affairs Minister Linda Jeffery while they're at the joint meeting of Ontario Good Road Association and the Rural Ontario Municipalities Association meetings in Toronto this week.

The trio also has meeting with Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli regarding a proposal to amalgamate local electricity distribution companies.

They're also meeting with the Natural Resources parliamentary assistant regarding the area's wood rights.

Osisko Feasibility Study Nears Completion

Osisko Mining is preparing to complete a key document on its gold project near Atikokan.

President Sean Roosen says they're about 85 per cent complete on a feasibility study

Roosen says that document could be complete within the next six month.


Meantime, the company is budgeting about $10-million for remaining work at its Hammond Reef Gold project.

It spent almost $59-million in 2012.

Funding Request Deadline Today

Today's the deadline for groups and individuals seeking funding to participate in the federal environmental assessment of Rainy Resources gold project.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is making over $122-thousand available.

Community Forest Policy Network Planned

There's a move in Ontario to get First Nations and Municipalities involved in managing and using area forests.

Lakehead University's Dr. Peggy Smith says delegates to a recent conference agreed to developing a national policy network to look at community forestry programs.

Smith says they'll continue to work towards creating the network in the coming months.

Teachers Asked To Resume Extracurriculars

The union representing Ontario's public high school teachers is recommending its members go back to supervising extracurricular activities.

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation intends to explain why later this morning.

Premier Kathleen Wynne predicts most teachers will return to voluntarily looking after the clubs and sports.

Wynne says her government didn't make any concessions to get extracurriculars back, other than to promise to work on a new collective bargaining process.

OPP Seeking Public's Help in Solving Theft

OPP are looking for the public's help in solving a theft in Fort Frances.

Police says a 2010 Polaris Assault 800 was taken from an enclosed trailer at a Christie Avenue home sometime last week.

Election Talks Heats Up

Talk of an early election in Ontario is heating up.

The Conservatives are already saying they'll vote against the budget, yet to be announced, while the NDP are looking for certain demands.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says those requests come directly from people they've talked with.

They include ending corporate tax loopholes, and changes to auto insurance.

Petitions Delivered To Queen's Park

Two petitions at Queen's Park on two separate issues from Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell.

One called for a reopening of northern Ontario parks closed to overnight camping by the province last year.

The other seeks an expansion of power to the Ontario Ombudsman to oversee such things as hospitals, police and school boards

Thunder Bay Firm Wins Contract

A Thunder Bay firm has been award a road and sewer and water improvement project in Fort Frances.

The project includes upgrades on Second Street East between Mowat and Central Avenues and Mowat between Second and Third Streets.

Total cost of the contract to Makkinga Contractors is just over $1.2 million.

The town is hoping for provincial funding help cover a third of the project.

Snow Sculptors Wanted

Calling all artists.

Snow sculpturing is returning to Fort Frances.

Participants are being asked to carve their creation out of piles of snow in the area of the former Huffman School property.


Organizer Samantha Manty says they intend to make the event a community family affair.



Sculpting will begin on March 5 with judging and other activities happening on March 9.

Prospective sculptors are asked to contact the Fort France Museum if your interested.

STOP Program Returns To Fort Frances

An opportunity for area smokers trying to break the habit.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, through the Northwestern Health Unit, is bringing back its Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients, or STOP, back to the Fort Frances area next week.

Coordinator  of the Northwest Tobacco Control Area Network, Jennifer McFarlane says its free eligible participants and provides five weeks of nicotine patches.

Your asked to register with the Health Unit for Wednesday's event.

Town Responding To Transport Canada

The town of Fort Frances isn't pleased with how Transport Canada is responding to a new proposed landfill site in Couchiching First Nations.

The federal agency says it has no authority to restrict the site, but recommends it be operated bird-free.

Councillor Rick Wiedenhoeft doesn't know how that's going to happen.

The town plans to draft a response back to Transport Canada.