AbitibiBowater is still reviewing the details of a one-billion dollar federal aid package for Canada's pulp and paper industry
Spokesperson Seth Kursman says its welcomed news and appears both the Fort Frances and Thunder Bay mills may qualify for some of that money.
He says the company still needs more details about the fund and how it will be administer.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Youth Coming Back Soon
A timetable has now been set to bring youth housed in a Thunder Bay facility back to the native youth detention centre in Fort Frances.
A spokesperson with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services now says arrangements are being made to have all six returned to the Ge-Da-Gi-Binez Youth Centre by the end of this month.
All of the centre's youth were removed following an altercation between five youth and two staff members on June 3rd.
Ministry and centre staff have been meeting since to review the incident.
A spokesperson with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services now says arrangements are being made to have all six returned to the Ge-Da-Gi-Binez Youth Centre by the end of this month.
All of the centre's youth were removed following an altercation between five youth and two staff members on June 3rd.
Ministry and centre staff have been meeting since to review the incident.
Police Looking for Owner of Found Money
Someone who made a clothing donation to a Thunder Bay Value Village discount store may have been more generous than they intended.
Police say several thousand dollars in cash was found mixed in with clothing donations made to the store last August
But where the money came from remains anybodys guess.
Police are hoping someone will come forward to claim the money.
Police say several thousand dollars in cash was found mixed in with clothing donations made to the store last August
But where the money came from remains anybodys guess.
Police are hoping someone will come forward to claim the money.
ehealth Changes
The chairman of the e-Health board has resigned, but opposition parties say Health Minister David Caplan should also go.
Doctor Alan Hudson follows C-E-O Sarah Kramer out the door after she received a $314thousand payout.
The departures come after the agency awarded millions of dollars in untendered consulting contracts.
Meantime, the premier says government ministries and agencies will no longer be allowed to award contracts to consultants without a competitive bidding process.
Premier Dalton McGuinty made the changes as he moved to quash a growing scandal at eHealth.
He says the agency should not have awarded $5 million in untendered consulting contracts.
Doctor Alan Hudson follows C-E-O Sarah Kramer out the door after she received a $314thousand payout.
The departures come after the agency awarded millions of dollars in untendered consulting contracts.
Meantime, the premier says government ministries and agencies will no longer be allowed to award contracts to consultants without a competitive bidding process.
Premier Dalton McGuinty made the changes as he moved to quash a growing scandal at eHealth.
He says the agency should not have awarded $5 million in untendered consulting contracts.
Admission Guidelines Change
The Ontario government is loosening the rules for students to be eligible to attend French schools.
The province has instructed French school boards to make their classes more ``welcoming'' to children whose grandparents' first language is French and to French-speaking new Canadians.
The education ministry says the move will streamline admission guidelines in Ontario's 12 French school boards.
The province has instructed French school boards to make their classes more ``welcoming'' to children whose grandparents' first language is French and to French-speaking new Canadians.
The education ministry says the move will streamline admission guidelines in Ontario's 12 French school boards.
Forest Fire Help to Alberta
More help from Ontario is heading west to battle forest fires.
About 118 Ministry of Natural Resources firefighters and support staff are expected to leave for northern Alberta today
With 175 personnel already in BC, spokesperson Debbie MacLean says this latest deployment won't leave resources thin in northwestern Ontario.
"We do still have fire crews at all bases," says MacLean. "In addition, we have the capability of bringing in what we call type 2 crews. We have already called them in and resources are adequate."
MacLean says the number of people being sent to Alberta could be also reduced if the forest fire situation changes.
Six new fires were reported yesterday in the West Fire Region with active ones burning in the Dryden, Sioux Lookout and Red Lake areas.
There are no active fires in the Fort Frances fire district.
About 118 Ministry of Natural Resources firefighters and support staff are expected to leave for northern Alberta today
With 175 personnel already in BC, spokesperson Debbie MacLean says this latest deployment won't leave resources thin in northwestern Ontario.
"We do still have fire crews at all bases," says MacLean. "In addition, we have the capability of bringing in what we call type 2 crews. We have already called them in and resources are adequate."
MacLean says the number of people being sent to Alberta could be also reduced if the forest fire situation changes.
Six new fires were reported yesterday in the West Fire Region with active ones burning in the Dryden, Sioux Lookout and Red Lake areas.
There are no active fires in the Fort Frances fire district.
Federal Aid Package Panned
N-D-P's forestry critic says a new aid package for Canada's forest industry doesn't address the issues impacting the industry.
Ottawa is providing the struggling pulp and paper industry with a billion dollars for capital improvements that increases productions and use of clean energy.
But Thunder Bay-Rainy River M-P John Rafferty says doubts it will help mills or their workers much.
"While this is welcomed and certainly the environmental measures at pulp and paper mills is good," says Rafferty, "but not everyone is going to be able to access that. This announcement doesn't create one forestry job, nor does it safe one forestry job."
Rafferty is also disappointed the government won't meet the "black liquor" subsidies provided to U-S mills.
Ottawa is providing the struggling pulp and paper industry with a billion dollars for capital improvements that increases productions and use of clean energy.
But Thunder Bay-Rainy River M-P John Rafferty says doubts it will help mills or their workers much.
"While this is welcomed and certainly the environmental measures at pulp and paper mills is good," says Rafferty, "but not everyone is going to be able to access that. This announcement doesn't create one forestry job, nor does it safe one forestry job."
Rafferty is also disappointed the government won't meet the "black liquor" subsidies provided to U-S mills.
Youth Detention Centre Still Empty
There is no word yet when youth moved to Thunder Bay will return to the native youth detention in Fort Frances.
The centre's six youth were sent to the city's facility following a June 3rd altercation between some of the youth detained at the Ge-Da-Gi-Binez Youth Centre and two staff members.
A spokesperson with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services says ministry and centre staff are still reviewing the incident and discussing a possible return of the youth.
But Anne Smith could not say when that would happen.
The centre's six youth were sent to the city's facility following a June 3rd altercation between some of the youth detained at the Ge-Da-Gi-Binez Youth Centre and two staff members.
A spokesperson with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services says ministry and centre staff are still reviewing the incident and discussing a possible return of the youth.
But Anne Smith could not say when that would happen.
Flu Numbers Up in Ontario
The numbers in northwestern Ontario has brought the province's total of H1N1 flu cases to over 2,200.
As of Tuesday, eighteen people with the virus were in hospital, although the province says a number of those people have underlying medical conditions.
Most of the people who were infected with the virus have recovered.
So far, two people in Ontario have died after contracting swine flu but both had chronic medical conditions.
As of Tuesday, eighteen people with the virus were in hospital, although the province says a number of those people have underlying medical conditions.
Most of the people who were infected with the virus have recovered.
So far, two people in Ontario have died after contracting swine flu but both had chronic medical conditions.
H1N1 Cases in Northwest Increase
The presence of the H1N1 flu virus in the far north has spiked the number of cases in northwestern Ontario.
The Northwestern Health Unit says there are now 26 confirmed cases of the flu.
Medical Officer of Health Doctor James Arthurs says the pandemic is having a big impact on remote First Nation communities.
"The leadership of first nations communities is also working with Health Canada," says Arthurs, "working with the public health agency of Canada and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in Ontario to address the situation and identify any support from Ontario."
Arthurs says anti-viral medications are available in most remote communities to treat those who are effected.
But Arthurs say the Health Unit won't be revealing the communities impacted by the flu based on discussion with a number of agencies, including First Nations leaders.
The Northwestern Health Unit says there are now 26 confirmed cases of the flu.
Medical Officer of Health Doctor James Arthurs says the pandemic is having a big impact on remote First Nation communities.
"The leadership of first nations communities is also working with Health Canada," says Arthurs, "working with the public health agency of Canada and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in Ontario to address the situation and identify any support from Ontario."
Arthurs says anti-viral medications are available in most remote communities to treat those who are effected.
But Arthurs say the Health Unit won't be revealing the communities impacted by the flu based on discussion with a number of agencies, including First Nations leaders.
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