Buy Ontario Policy Promoted in Fort Frances

2009-06-09

09:20:37

Regional and local labour representatives join with Ontario Federation of Labour President Wayne Samuelson (centre) and Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty to celebrate the Federation's Drive to Work Caravan in Fort Frances 

 

The Ontario Federation of Labour rolled its Drive to Work Caravan into Fort Frances last night with a call for a Buy Ontario policy.

The Caravan is crossing northwestern Ontario to draw attention to a need to protect jobs across the province.

Speaking to town council, president Wayne Samuelson says the policy is not about protectionism.

"In the United States and Europe, they've figured this out," says Samuelson, " especially when your talking about taxpayers money invested to help us through these tough times. Let's do everything we can do to make sure those jobs are in our community at least in our province or in our country."

Mayor Roy Avis says the OFL policy will be reviewed by the town's administration and finance committee before coming to council for a decision.

Fort Frances Budget Passes

2009-06-09

09:11:07

The town of Fort Frances has passed its 2009 budget.

It includes a 1.1 per cent tax increase for residential ratepayers which is about $20 extra on a house assessed at 100-thousand dollars.

Council Rick Wiedenhoeft says its a good budget in tough economic times.

"When we're facing an overall 3 per cent increase in inflation, a 3 per cent increase in salary and benefits across the corporation, and to maintain the services that we do and still come in with at a 1.1 per cent tax increase in my opinion in phenomenal," says Wiedenhoeft.

Mayor Roy Avis called the budget affordable.

No Money for Scott Street Yet

2009-06-09

09:07:02

The town of Fort Frances still waits for funding to start work on Scott Street.

The town was hoping to begin work on the road between Colonization Road East and Reid Avenue this summer.

But Mayor Roy Avis says requests for provincial money have yet been approved.

"We have made contacts with every level of provincial government," says Avis, "right from the office in Thunder Bay right to the top. We're so of in a holding pattern until we get our funding."

CAO Mark McCaig says it would be nice to know soon if they're getting that money so they can begin work.

"We got to stop work at the end of October," says McCaig. "Maybe in the GTA they can work until the end of December. We can't do that here. If we're part of a cluster group for approval with northwestern Ontario municipalities, we should be getting these approvals a little earlier than we have been."

The town issued a tentative contract for the work in March.

Road Work Continues

2009-06-09

09:01:01

Progress continues to be made at the only road project taking place in Fort Frances.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says crews were slightly ahead of schedule on work at Nelson Street and Victoria Avenue as of last week.

Meantime, no word yet as to when work on the Portage Avenue underpass will begin.

CAO Mark McCaig says CN Rail officials are still reviewing the results of soil anchor tests and plan to discuss them with the town in the near future.

Landmark Relocation Begins

2009-06-09

08:57:54

Work has started on the relocation of the tugboat Hallet and former fire tower to the Fort Frances waterfront.

The dismantling of the tower began yesterday with fencing placed around the areas where the Pither's Point Park landmarks will go.

The work by Tom Jones and Sons is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

 

 

Lock it or Lose it!

2009-06-09

08:42:14

Ontario Provincial Police say too many people in the Fort Frances area not locking their vehicles.

Recent patrols found more than 60 per cent of the naerly 200 vehicles checked with the doors unlocked.

Constable Anne McCoy says eight still had their keys inside.

"We need people to do their part in their locking things up," says McCoy. "We can do investigations to try and solve break and enters, but we need people to help us in trying to prevent the crimes."

McCoy says they'll be promoting the importance of keeping vehicle doors locked through their youth policing initiative this summer.

 

Charges Laid in Youth Centre Assault

2009-06-09

08:41:03

Two youth have been charged in connection with an assault that has left a new native youth in Fort Frances centre empty.

Provincial police say a 15-year-old male and an 18-year-old male were part of five youths who assaulted two workers at the Ge-Da-Gi-Binez Youth Centre last Wednesday night.

Neither worker was seriously hurt.

The altercation resulted in all six youth detained at the secure custody facility being transported to a facility in Thunder Bay.

A spokesperson with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services says the ministry and centre staff are currently reviewing the incident with the intent of bringing the youth back the Fort Frances facility sometime soon.

The centre opened at the end of March.