2009-03-30
12:36:10
Unemployed workers in Minnesota will soon be receiving more unemployment insurance benefits.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development says an extra 13 weeks of benefits will go to eligible residents who have exhausted both their regular U-I and Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation benefits.
The extension could give qualifying Minnesotans up to 72 weeks of U-I benefits.
2009-03-30
12:35:08
Northwestern Ontario's business leaders are showing their support for last week's provincial budget. The Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce says it offers some good support for the north.
President Barry Strieb cites announcements for roads, forestry and mining as positives for the region. He says they're now looking forward to working with the province on moving forward with the upcoming Grow North plan
2009-03-30
12:30:31
Despite its current problems, a British Columbia M-P believes forestry still has a role to play in the economy of northwestern Ontario. NDP member Pat Crowder was in Kenora on the weekend to promote her party's economic recovery plan.
Crowder says the Harper government simply hasn't done enough for forestry.
"We don't think the response has recognized the transition that the forestry community is in," says Crowder. "They put money into research and development, but research and development in itself won't solve problems."
"We need to take a look at research and development, support to workers, retraining in terms of different kinds of value-added in the forest sector."
Crowder says the NDP is consulting with Canadians about what they want to see in a recovery plan and will present that to the federal government in May.
2009-03-30
12:27:46
A group of citizens has formally made its request to the town of Fort Frances to consider purchasing AbitibiBowater's hydro-electric assets in the town.
In a letter to Mayor Roy Avis and the Fort Frances Power Corporation, the group believes the Power Corporation has the resources to make such a deal happen, and other financial partnerships could be secured as well.
It says keeping the dam in local hands would guarantee a continued future supply of power for the town while protecting existing jobs at the mill.
2009-03-30
08:51:49
There's a new deadline for AbitibiBowater to reach a debt restructuring deal with its creditors. Creditors now have until the end of Tuesday to exchange the $1.8 billion of debt of the company's Bowater unit. The previous deadline was last Friday.
2009-03-30
08:23:34
It was a gold performance for the Fort Frances Blades bantam girls team at a tournament on the weekend in Winnipeg. The Blades defeated Thunder Bay Fury 2-1 in overtime in the final of the Winnipeg Stars tournament.
2009-03-30
07:52:53
The Fort Frances Sabres have been pushed to the brink of elimination in their SIJHL playoffs series.
The Sabres dropped a 3-2 overtime decision at the Ice for Kids arena Sunday to fall 3-1 in their the best-of-seven series with the Thunder Bay Bearcats.
The Bearcats opened with a 1-0 first period lead on a goal by Fort Frances native Tyler Miller. Brendan Baumgartner tied the game with a powerplay marker six minutes into the second.
The Bearcats regained the lead a minute into the third with Brad Pawlowski scoring on the powerplay. Kyle Turgeon answered eight minutes later to tied the game once again.
The game would need an extra 14 minutes of overtime before Pawlowski scored his second of the game to give the Bearcats the win.
Saturday the Sabres won 3-1. Graham Dyck, Brendan Baumgartner and Mario Boivin scored for the home team. Chris Kitt scored the Bearcats only goal in the third period.
Game five will be played in Thunder Bay Tuesday night.
2009-03-30
07:27:42
Ontario led the country in cutting power consumption during Earth Hour. Province-wide, electricity usage dipped six per cent Saturday night.
Earth Hour is all about drawing attention to the global warming problem. But Lawrence Solomon, of Energy Probe, is critical -- saying Earth Hour tells people that conservation means sitting in the dark, ``doing without'' when it's really about using energy more wisely.
2009-03-30
07:26:19
The Rainy River District Substance Abuse Prevention Team has been given the go ahead to continue programming for at least another year.
Coordinator Hugh Dennis says an e-mail from a Ministry of Health Promotion staffer Friday confirmed that funding for the program had been made available in the province's recent budget. However, exactly how much money provided is not clear.
Current annual funding of about 100-thousand dollars was to run out tomorrow.
2009-03-30
07:22:02
Thunder Bay-Rainy River M-P John Rafferty says he's got no response from federal Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt for a national forestry summit.
In the House of Commons Friday, Rafferty said prolonged shutdowns by AbitibiBowater in Thunder Bay and Fort France show why such a summit is needed.
"The forestry industry continues to struggle under the weight of the economic crisis and the government's indifference to the industry, communities and families that have been suffering massive losses for a number of years," said Rafferty.
"Such a summit was called for by the finance committee, the natural resources committee, industry, labour and now the opposition. Everyone knows this must happen and the callous indifference of the government is becoming more apparent by the day."
Rafferty first asked Raitt three weeks ago to convene a summit.
2009-03-30
07:20:09
An announcements regarding AbitibiBowater's financial situation could come as Monday morning.
Last Friday's deadline passed without indication that the forestry company had been able to reach a restructuring deal with its creditors. AbitibiBowater officials have so far not commented, other to say Friday that negotiations were continuing.
Randy Thoms – News & Sports Director
