Snowy Fort Frances

2009-04-06

12:56:41

There was definitely a low of snow in the Fort Frances area in March.

Environment Canada says the area saw a total of 74 centimetres of snow - well above the monthly average of 13.

Meteorologist Sandy Radeki says the numbers were boosted by two significant storms.

"You had snow fall events reported on March 9th and 10th," says Radeki. There was 25 centimetres one day, and then 15. And on March 31st the area had 19 centimetres of snow."

Combined with a mid-month rainfall, the area saw more than 110 centimetres of precipitation in March.

Snowy International Falls

2009-04-06

12:55:39

There's also been a lot of snow in International Falls this year.

Last week's winter storm brought the city's seasonal snowfall to just over 121 inches - breaking the old record of 116 set back in the winter of 1995-96. Since November 1st, the city has  reported snow on 110 of the 151 days through to the end of March.

Local Foods Promoted in Schools

2009-04-06

12:54:21

Premier Dalton McGuinty says he hopes an Ontario apple a day will keep the recession away.

The premier is defending a $24-million investment over three years to help make Ontario-farmed foods available in more jails, schools and hospitals. He says that, in the past, provincial institutions have opted to buy whatever was easiest to get.

Now that the province is in the midst of a crippling recession, McGuinty says it's important to understand that buying Ontario apples, potatoes and lamb will help the economy. He says he's not taking aim at items like B.C. apples but simply wants to move his province's produce to forefront - just like the province did with Ontario wines.

And while he concedes it's difficult to get Ontario fruit in the winter and acknowledges some contracts may end up being more expensive, McGuinty says there are opportunities to promote
homegrown product everywhere food is served.

Green Energy Act Claims Disputed

2009-04-06

12:52:21

A new report commissioned by the Opposition says Ontario's Green Energy Act could hike electricity bills by hundreds of dollars a year.

The report says the average additional cost per household ranges from $280 to $780 per year
between 2010 and 2025. The study, which is being released later this month, says those
costs don't include the impact of tax harmonization, which will tack on another eight per cent on home heating costs starting in 2010.

The report says government claims that the legislation will create more than 50,000 jobs over three years are unsubstantiated. It says the act could actually costs jobs if the province becomes less competitive as a result.

The Progressive Conservatives say the report shows the legislation will add another burden to consumers struggling in tough economic times.

Rainy River Grant

2009-04-06

12:50:54

The township of Rainy River is receiving some money from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

It will use more than $37 thousand dollars toward the purchase and installation of equipment  in the arena and community centre.

Riding Program Funding

2009-04-06

12:49:42

Northwestern Independent Living Services in Kenora-Rainy River will be hiring a coordinator for its equine (eh-queen) therapeutic riding program.

Funding for the hire will come out of a $97 thousand Ontario Trillium Foundation grant. Part of that money will also be used to purchase equipment, attract participants and volunteers.

Emergency Response Reviewed

2009-04-06

12:36:41

The Northwestern Health Unit is changing the way how it responses to medical and public health emergency situations.

Traditionally, the Chief Medical Officer of Health has also been on call year round. Doctor James Arthurs says the workload will now be spread among other senior managers.

"The change was made to spread that responsibility around," says Arthurs, "and begin communication between all of us who are cross-trained and able to do things in vacation or family-issue absents because one person can't do it all."

Arthurs says they are also looking at improvements in other areas such as environmental protocols, and after-hours incidents.

International Falls Cuts Considered

2009-04-06

12:35:56

The city of International Falls is considering delaying the purchase of several capital expenditures to deal with a potential half-a-million-dollar loss in local government aid.

City councillors will discuss the cuts at their meeting tonight. The proposal includes halting capital expenditures previously budgeted from the general government buildings, police, fire and ambulance departments.

Library Tender Being Reviewed

2009-04-06

12:33:53

Members of the library board will be on hand Monday afternoon to submit their recommendation on a preferred contractor for the new Fort Frances Library and Technology Centre to Fort Frances town councillors.

A special committee of the whole meeting at the Civic Centre is scheduled for 4:00 pm. Six companies submitted bids on March 17 with the lowest coming in at about $3.8 million.

Council will also discuss a contract for the moving of the tugboat Hallett and fire tower to the waterfront. The lowest bid for that work is about $1.2 million.

Preliminary operating and capital budgets will be discussed for what should be one final time before council seeks public comment.
 

Jenson Jumps for Gold

2009-04-06

07:29:32

Jake Jenson was the bright spot for the Falls High School track and field team at the Lion's Invite at Bemidgi State University on Friday.

Jenson captured first in the Pole Vault with a jump of 12 feet. The boys team finished 8th overall.

The girls team managed just a single point during the event with a 9th place finish by the girl's 4-by-800 relay team.

New Bells for Rainy Lake Ringers

2009-04-06

07:19:52

Rainy Lake Ringers Handbell Choir will be getting some new equipment.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation is giving the group $12,000 to purchase new handbells to replace those the choir is now borrowing.

"We're very thrilled to have gotten our Trillium funding," says choir leader Diane Maxey. "We've been hoping it would go through. That will be the start of us owning our own bells. Now, we have to start raising some money locally to purchase the accessories that go along with that."

Choir leader Diane Maxey estimates the group needs to raise at least $6,000.

"We need to purchase music, books and stands," says Maxey.

The fundraising will be start in the coming months. Maxey hope to have the new equipment in place by the fall.

New Faces to Crimestoppers

2009-04-06

07:18:27

Some new faces to the Crimestoppers of Northwest Ontario and Northern Minnesota.

Terence Douglas of Kenora and Shirley Keesic of Red Lake were elected to the board of directors. One of the founding members, Bill Harrington of Dryden, has returned after a brief hiatus.

Summer Job Funding

2009-04-06

07:11:43

The federal government has added an extra $32 thousand to help students find summer jobs in the Thunder Bay-Rainy River riding.

A total of $237 thousand will be available to the riding's Canada Summer Jobs program. The money comes from the extra $20 million over the next two yeas set aside in the recent federal budget in recognition of the recession.

Spring Bear Hunt Cancellation a Mistake

2009-04-06

06:53:29

A Conservative MPP is admitting the Harris government was wrong in cancelling the Spring Bear Hunt ten years ago.

Randy Hillier, a candidate in the Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership race, is vowing to bring back the hunt if he wins the leadership race.

Hillier says the evidence today shows cancelling the hunt was a bad decision.

"It was the wrong decision back in 1999," says Hillier, "we know that to be truthful now. So it's incumbent upon us to fix those mistakes that we've created."

Hillier says reinstating the hunt will ease of burden for municipalities dealing with nuisance bears and help northern Ontario lodge owners.

"This is just not a problem in the far north. In my riding, Lanark-Frontenac, we have a number of tourist outfitters and a number of farms who've suffered significant crop damage. So it make senses everywhere (to reinstate the hunt).

The Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters is among organizations that have welcomed the call for the hunt to be reinstated. 

Medical School Dean Remains

2009-04-06

06:51:19

The founding dean of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine will remain a fixture of the school for another five years.

Doctor Roger Strasser was reappointed by the school's board of directors for a term that will end in June 2014.

Medical School Concerns

2009-04-06

06:43:20

Concerns are being raised that some of the graduating students from the Northern Ontario School of Medicine might not end up working in the north.

Several municipalities, including the town of Fort Frances, have supported Sault Ste. Marie's request for the Health Minister to ensure med students who continue specialist training in the south return to the north. Sault Ste. Marie Mayor John Roswell fears cuts to hospital funding will prevent them from coming back.

"We set up the northern Ontario school of medicine to give us family doctors," says Roswell, "and they will be here for us, I know that. But the specialists that we need as bad as family doctors - there won't be positions for them to come home to because of the cutbacks in health care in northern Ontario with the hospitals."

"There is a real problem. There's a total disconnect right now because we're going to have our students, who are set up with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine to look after us as doctors in the north, not coming home because there's not going to be a specialty service in that town or city."

Roswell says the region is facing a shortage of specialists, and the province's policies only undermine the Medical School's full potential.

International Falls City Council Meet

2009-04-06

06:41:27

City councillors in International Falls also meet Monday night.

Their agenda includes a discussion of the Highway 53-11 Gateway Task Force recommendations and a report from the Advanced Live Support Task Force. Councillors will also look at proposed budget reductions to help deal with a loss in local government aid.

The meeting begins at 6:30 pm. 

 

Contractors to be Revealed

2009-04-06

06:40:15

Construction contracts for both the new Fort Frances Library and Technology Centre and the second phase of the Heritage Tourism project will be discussed at a special meeting of Fort Frances town council tonight.

Six firms were seeking to build the new library while five companies bid on the tourism project which includes the refurbishing and relocation of the tugboat Hallet and fire tower.

Councillors are also expected to finalize both the operating and capital budgets before seeking public comment.

The meeting at the Civic Centre begins at 4:00 pm.