2009-05-20
09:19:16
Liberal MP and gas price watchdog Dan McTeague says drivers can expect a jump in price at the pumps this morning.
The price of oil has been rising on world markets, but McTeague says the real reason for the increase is "pure profit taking."
Here in Fort Frances, gas prices rose five cents a litre to 94.9 cents a litre.
In some parts of the province, the cost of gas has risen 15 cents a litre in just the last three weeks.
2009-05-20
09:18:24
The province's Human Rights Tribunal is emerging as a divisive issue in the leadership race of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives.
Leadership hopeful Christine Elliott says a proposal to scrap the tribunal could hurt the party in the next provincial election.
Two of her rivals, Randy Hillier and Tim Hudak, support abolishing the tribunal.
Both say Ontario should move such cases to the courts, but Elliott says most people can't afford to take discrimination cases there.
2009-05-20
09:17:26
A report says letters bearing bad news will fan out across the country today and land at 264 General Motors dealerships.
A Toronto television news station says the letters will inform those dealerships that they're closing.
The closures come as GM and the Canadian Auto Workers union try to hammer out concessions so GM can be eligible for billions of dollars in government aid.
No word yet on where those letters are being sent.
2009-05-20
09:16:44
The Ministry of Natural Resources has issued yet another warning to motorists about using caution when travelling on area bush roads.
A spokesperson says road conditions can change quickly and the potential of encountering washouts and flooded sections is very real.
Spring runoff from melting snow and significant rain has caused several washouts and road closures in the Atikokan area.
2009-05-20
07:46:29
The Ministry of Northern Development has created a new entrepreneur program.
The Ministry's offering up to $125,000 thousand to help residents further their business ideas.
Minister Michael Gravelle says there's no age-limit to participate.
"The age limit was a real barrier to a number of people," says Gravelle, "particularly those people who are facing layoffs as a result of the forestry sector challenges, who had really great ideas. They just need support. They couldn't get the financial support from a bank or financial institution, but through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund now they can."
Gravelle says Northern residents can apply for funding immediately through the Ministry of Northern Development website.
2009-05-20
07:28:59
The owners of new Boston Pizza restaurant hope to be serving the first pizza to Fort Frances area customers in mid-October.
Yesterday, Dale and Elizabeth Fortes and their young daughter joined with local dignitaries in a ceremonial sod-turning to kick off construction.
Dale Fortes, a former assistant manager at the local Canada Safeway store, says the restaurant was an opportunity to return to the area.
"We always has a goal of coming back to Fort Frances," says Fortes. "We just had to find the right opportunity and this is it. We did a lot of research in terms of what kind of restaurant would work well here. The Boston Pizza brand with the Fort Frances market was a perfect relationship."
Fortes says they expect to hire between 60 and 100 people begin in July.
2009-05-20
07:26:35
Mayor Roy Avis says he made the best of an opportunity to speak with Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty.
The Fort Frances Mayor joined his counterparts from Kenora, Dryden and Sioux Lookout last Friday to sit down with the premier in Kenora.
"We were able to sit down for about 30 to 40 minutes with the premier," says Avis, "and just have a good general discussion on what's going on in northwestern Ontario. Where we need help in order to help our economy out. It was all very positive and very good dialogue."
Avis says McGuinty made no commitments, but showed a sincere concern for the north.
2009-05-20
07:22:30
There will be a modest tax increase for homeowners in Fort Frances.
After several month of discussion, town councillors finalized the budget yesterday which includes a one-point-one per hike in residential rates.
Treasurer Laurie Witherspoon says slightly higher tax ratios for the industrial sector helped minimize the impact on homeowners.
"We allocated our ratios across," says Witherspoon. "It shifted a small amount to residential, but we also raised our tax ratio for large industrial so we wouldn't have a large impact on residential, multi-residential and commercial."
Witherspoon says being able to present what she calls a bare-bones budget also helped keep rate down.
The town proposes to spend about $9.9 million in its operating budget
Of the $15 million dollars in capital expenditures, just over a million dollars will be funded through long term debt over a 10-year period.
The public will have an opportunity to comment on the public during council's meeting on June 8.
Randy Thoms – News & Sports Director
