2009-03-31
12:52:51
A planned tax harmonization in Ontario won't result in lower alcohol prices.
The merger of the eight per cent provincial tax with the G-S-T next year was expected to bring down taxes on alcohol, but the government says it will add new fees to make up the difference when the blended tax takes effect. A government spokeswoman says the fees on alcohol will ensure social responsibility.
2009-03-31
12:51:19
Saskatchewan's premier is leading a contingent of politicians visiting Ontario in an attempt to woo recent grads to the Prairie province. Premier Brad Wall is targeting university and college graduates, offering up to $20,000 in tuition rebates to move to Saskatchewan.
Advanced Education Minister Rob Norris says the government wants to show it's serious about recruiting workers because the province has more than 6,200 unfilled jobs. Wall attended a business community luncheon Tuesday and a job fair on Wednesday.
It's the second time in six months that politicians from Saskatchewan have brought their pitch to southern Ontario. In September, Wall targeted workers in Ontario's battered manufacturing sector.
2009-03-31
12:43:13
A new network of collection sites for electronic waste is being launched across Ontario in a bid to divert 160,000 tonnes of garbage over five years.
Starting Wednesday, companies that sell electronic products will pay a stewardship fee to have their goods recycled or reused. That fee may or may not be passed onto consumers. The fee will pay for 100 per cent of the cost of collection, transportation, processing, research and development, and public education programs.
The first phase of the disposal program will accept products like televisions, computers, mice, keyboards, monitors, printers and fax machines. A second phase will also collect the likes of cellphones and cameras.
2009-03-31
12:41:53
More than 53,500 Ontario public sector workers were paid over $100,000 last year, an increase of 11,500 over 2007.
Premier Dalton McGuinty is defending the big increase in the so-called sunshine list released by the Finance Ministry each year. McGuinty says it's only natural for the list to grow because of
inflation, but he admits the size of the premier's office keeps increasing.
2009-03-31
12:30:00
The Ontario government has released the salaries and benefits of Ontario Public Service and broader public sector employees who were paid 100-thousand dollars or more in 2008. The so-called Sunshine List includes a number of Fort Frances residents.
Among the highest paid in the Rainy River district is Riverside Health Care Facilities Chief Executive Officer Wayne Woods who earned a salary of over 245-thousand dollars last year. Riverside also reports ten other employees in the 100-thousand dollar income bracket, including four registered nurses.
The Rainy River District School Board also reports eleven employees hitting the magic number led by Education Director Jack McMaster at over 162-thousand dollars.
And just one town of Fort Frances employee on the province's list with Chief Administrative Officer Mark McCaig reporting an income of over 120-thousand dollars.
Here is a partial list of the public sector employees as identified by the Ministry of Finance.
2008 Salary Benefits
Legislative Assembly Howard Hampton, Leader, NDP..................$156,987.72 $284.82
Town of Fort Frances Mark McCaig, Chief Administrative Officer....$120,673.69 $305.04
Rainy River District School Board Heather Campbell, Superintendent, Education.................................................................... $126,521.00 $172.00
Rainy River District School Board William Daley, Principal........... $103,509.00 $172.00
Rainy River District School Board Paul Elliot, Teacher................ $142,978.00 $172.00
Rainy River District School Board Jody Labossiere, Principal........ $100,064.00 $172.00
Rainy River District School Board Gordon McCabe, Principal........ $112,675.00 $172.00
Rainy River District School Board Jack McMaster, Director.......... $162,719.00 $172.00
Rainy River District School Board Laura Mills, Superintendent, Business..................................................................... $130,058.00 $172.00
Rainy River District School Board Penelope Newman, Principal.... $104,258.00 $172.00
Rainy River District School Board Sylvia Parker, Effective School Leader...................................................................... $106,979.00 $172.00
Rainy River District School Board David Ian Simpson, Vice Principal................................................................... $101,843.00 $172.00
Rainy River District School Board Robert Casey Slack, Student Success Leader..................................................................... $114,707.00 $172.00
Northwest Catholic District School Board Alvin Cesiunas, Superintendent, Education................................................................. $126,223.40 $421.20
Northwest Catholic District School Board Teresa Dennis, Principal.................................................................. $103,726.61 $263.28
Northwest Catholic District School Board Darlene Fejos Rousseau, Principal.................................................................. $102,016.69 $263.28
Northwest Catholic District School Board Christopher Howarth, Superintendent, Business................................................................... $126,223.40 $421.20
Northwest Catholic District School Board Brendan Hyatt, Principal.................................................................. $103,726.66 $4,085.28
Northwest Catholic District School Board Mary-Catherine Kelly, Director, Education................................................................. $173,906.93 $421.20
Northwest Catholic District School Board Mark Lugli, Principal................................................................... $101,181.20 $263.28
Northwest Catholic District School Board Jo-Ann Querel, School Effectiveness Leader..................................................................... $109,677.46 $263.28
Northwest Catholic District School Board Margot Saari, Principal................................................................... $103,726.61 $263.28
Northwest Catholic District School Board David Sharp, Assistant to the Director, Education.................................................................. $113,449.74 $4,261.14
Northwestern Health Unit William Limerick, Director, Environmental Health...................................................................... $115,819.75 $455.89
Northwestern Health Unit Valerie Mann, Director, Planning & Evaluation.................................................................. $110,530.45 $417.01
Northwestern Health Unit Mark Perrault, Chief Administrative Officer. ............................................................................... $111,542.54 $480.70
Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc. Edith Bodnar, Rainycrest Administrator............................................................... $110,524.57 $704.39
Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc. Debbie Canfield, Registered Nurse.........................................................................$102,926.84 $0.00
Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc. Sheri Degagne, Registered Nurse.........................................................................$109,953.30 $0.00
Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc. Soili Helppi, Rainycrest Administrator............................................................... $101,641.07 $579.35
Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc. Andrew Lesko, Manager, Human Resources....................................................................$102,019.82 $654.82
Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc. Lori Maki, Vice President, Clinical Services..................................................................... $143,465.52 $894.45
Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc. Marna Martin, Registered Nurse.........................................................................$112,727.98 $461.83
Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc. Tammy McNally, Nurse Manager..................................................................... $102,233.78 $596.71
Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc. Susan Ossachuk, Manager Nursing Practice......................................................................$102,172.95 $630.61
Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc. Donna Whalen, Registered Nurse......................................................................... $111,541.95 $469.41
Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc Wayne Woods, Chief Executive Officer........................................................................$245,417.38 $6,115.88
Family & Children's Services of the District of Rainy River Viktor Nowak, Executive Director.......................................................................$114,322.74 $11,113.29
2009-03-31
07:22:10
The economy is proving to be a challenge for the Salvation Army across northwestern Ontario and Manitoba. P.R. director for the division, Captain Les Marshall says demand for its services in the region has grown 20 per cent, but strong local support is helping them meet that need.
"We realize we aren't able to all the things that are needed by ourselves," says Marshall, "and so partnering with other community groups, organizations and companies it really makes our work so much easier."
Marshall says the agency has not considered offering Canadian ministries a similar grant being given to their U.S. counterparts, but is looking at other means of helping them cope.
2009-03-31
07:11:56
Today marks the official closures of the last remaining institutions for developmentally disabled people in Ontario.
The province and community living advocates say it's the end of an era, and the beginning of a new one of social inclusion.At one time there were 16 institutions in Ontario -- today the last two will shut their doors.
Since 1987 thousands of former residents have been moved into the community, into such settings as group homes.
When the last closures were announced in 2004 many families dug their heels in because the institutions were the only homes their loved ones had known. Community and Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur says families were afraid of the unknown.
She says now the province can move toward full inclusion of people with developmental disabilities into society.
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2009-03-31
06:56:54
A day-long strategic planning session lies ahead for member of the Rainy River Valley Safety Coalition. They're sitting down Tuesday with representatives from a number of agencies, community leaders and members of the public.
Administrative Coordinator Grace Silander says it should lead to a five year plan.
"The actual priority setting exercise itself is geared to identify top priorities," says Silander. "So we will start focusing on the top priorities, however that doesn't mean the priorities that are small aren't going to identified and worked on as well."
Silander says during the course of the day, they'll review current programs and identify new ones the coalition can work on in the future.
2009-03-31
06:49:23
Don't put the shovels away just yet. Environment Canada says we could be dealing with yet another large winter storm.
Numerous warnings are in effect for parts of the Dakotas into Minnesota. Present indications are that most of the heavy snow will remain South of the border.
The areas which are likely to receive the highest amounts of snow will be over Thunder Bay and Superior west with near 15 centimeters likely by Wednesday morning. The remaining regions west of Lake Superior can expect 5 to 10 centimeters with 10 to 15 near the international border.
2009-03-31
06:47:21
A lack of orders has prompted AbitibiBowater in Fort Frances to extend a current shutdown of its operations.
Two paper machines - 5 and 7 - and the kraft mill will now remain idle until April 13 - extending a planned two week shutdown an extra week. The mill's paper machine number 6 will resume production May 3. The company had planned to resume production at that machine Sunday.
2009-03-31
06:42:32
The Fort Frances Power Corporation says it will take an active role in protecting the town's interests in the pending sale of AbitibiBowater's hydro-electric assets in Fort Frances.
AbitibiBowater has yet to finalize a deal with Brookfield Asset Management for the dam, along with other assets in Ontario. The Corporation's board chair Doug McCaig says if that offer moves ahead, the corporation will seek intervener status when the two sides seek a license amendment with the Ontario Energy Board.
McCaig adds that a call by a group of residents wanting the power corp. to purchase the Fort Frances dam is not a new concept, but one that is not as simple as being suggested. He says there are many complex issues that would have to be reviewed before any purchase can be considered.
