Four coal-burning power units will be shut down in Ontario next year -- two at Nanticoke and two at the Lambton station near Sarnia.
Energy Minister George Smitherman says Ontario Power Generation will complete the closures by October, 2010.
Smitherman says the closures will reduce air pollution and make more room for greener forms of energy on the grid.
Plans to covert the coal-fired plant in Atikokan remain unchanged.
OPG is hoping to begin burning biomass at the Atikokan Generating Station by 2012.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Bus Services to be Eliminated
Greyhound Canada has serviced notice it plans to halt operations in Manitoba and northwestern Ontario.
It's given 30 days notice in Manitoba and 90 days notice to Ontario.
The bus company says it's also reviewing operations in Alberta,Saskatchewan, B-C, Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
Greyhound says it's in dire financial shape because of government regulations that force it to serve remote communities.
But it says that over the next 30 and 90 days, it will continue to work with the federal and provincial governments to try to find a solution to the emergency.
It's given 30 days notice in Manitoba and 90 days notice to Ontario.
The bus company says it's also reviewing operations in Alberta,Saskatchewan, B-C, Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
Greyhound says it's in dire financial shape because of government regulations that force it to serve remote communities.
But it says that over the next 30 and 90 days, it will continue to work with the federal and provincial governments to try to find a solution to the emergency.
More Forest Fire Fighing Support to B.C.
Ontario will be sending another one-hundred firefighters and an agency representative to British Columbia today in an ongoing rotation of resource support to the western province which began in July.
They will join the 233 support staff, fireRangers and Incident Management Team members already in British Columbia.
They will join the 233 support staff, fireRangers and Incident Management Team members already in British Columbia.
Atikokan Cottage Lots Explored
The development of cottage lots in the Atikokan area continues to move forward.
Another open house will be held today for the public to examine a proposal by Techno Logic Timber of Thunder Bay to develop thirteen residential lots on Lerome Lake.
Mayor Dennis Brown says its the first phase of development that could see up to 40 lots at the lake and additional lots established at nearby Plateau Lake.
Another open house will be held today for the public to examine a proposal by Techno Logic Timber of Thunder Bay to develop thirteen residential lots on Lerome Lake.
Mayor Dennis Brown says its the first phase of development that could see up to 40 lots at the lake and additional lots established at nearby Plateau Lake.
Post Office Stays Open
It appears a post office in International Falls will stay open, at least for now.
The U-S Postal Service had previously targeted the office on 18th Street East, along with two dozen other branches in Minnesota for closure, but no longer includes them on its latest list.
But Postal officials says they're still examining the South International Falls branch, but no action would be taken for at least six months.
The U-S Postal Service had previously targeted the office on 18th Street East, along with two dozen other branches in Minnesota for closure, but no longer includes them on its latest list.
But Postal officials says they're still examining the South International Falls branch, but no action would be taken for at least six months.
Sabres Get Attention of Former Mayor
A local group trying to keep junior hockey alive in Fort Frances is seeking some advice from those who ran the town's junior hockey program almost forty years ago.
Glenn Witherspoon, who ran the Fort Frances Royals with his father, says he's spoken with Sabres' organizers and fully supports their efforts.
"The big thing (I've told them) is to watch your expenses and try to use as many local kids as possible because there is a lot of talent here," says Witherspoon.
Meantime organizers are holding another public meeting tonight for people interested in becoming board members to oversee the club's operations.
That meeting is at 8:00 p.m. at the Ice for Kids Arena conference room.
Glenn Witherspoon, who ran the Fort Frances Royals with his father, says he's spoken with Sabres' organizers and fully supports their efforts.
"The big thing (I've told them) is to watch your expenses and try to use as many local kids as possible because there is a lot of talent here," says Witherspoon.
Meantime organizers are holding another public meeting tonight for people interested in becoming board members to oversee the club's operations.
That meeting is at 8:00 p.m. at the Ice for Kids Arena conference room.
Dryden Visits Fort Frances
Former Liberal Cabinet Minister and NHL hall-of-famer Ken Dryden visits Fort Frances today and tomorrow.
It's part of a cross country discussion on poverty.
Dryden says he hopes to get a feel for northwestern Ontario's concerns.
"When you talk about poverty it covers a lot of ground" says Dryden. "It covers housing, it covers income support, child care, first nations, single parents. It covers a lot of ground."
Dryden will speak at a party function tonight at Little Beaver Snow Park before holding the discussion on poverty tomorrow at the La Place Rendez-Vous.
It's part of a cross country discussion on poverty.
Dryden says he hopes to get a feel for northwestern Ontario's concerns.
"When you talk about poverty it covers a lot of ground" says Dryden. "It covers housing, it covers income support, child care, first nations, single parents. It covers a lot of ground."
Dryden will speak at a party function tonight at Little Beaver Snow Park before holding the discussion on poverty tomorrow at the La Place Rendez-Vous.
Literacy Test Scores Revealed
The results of provincial literacy tests show high school students with the Rainy River District School Board are doing well.
Eighty-four per cent students who wrote the test in April passed on their first writing.
The board's Secondary Curriculum Coordinator Beth Fairfield says scores from the past five years show major improvements.
"The success rate for boys has increased from 78 per cent in 2004 to 81 per cent in 2009," says Fairfield. "Similarly, the success rate for girls has increased from 82 per cent in 2004 to 87 per cent this year. These results are similar to those in the province which were 82 and 88 per cent respectively."
Fairfield says the board also seen significant improvements from students enrolled in the Academic and Applied English programs.
The success rate for students in an academic English course was 99 per cent, the seventh straight year with a rate of 90 per cent of more.
Students enrolled in an applied English course saw their scores increase 13 per cent from 56 per cent in 2004 to 69 per cent this year.
Eighty-four per cent students who wrote the test in April passed on their first writing.
The board's Secondary Curriculum Coordinator Beth Fairfield says scores from the past five years show major improvements.
"The success rate for boys has increased from 78 per cent in 2004 to 81 per cent in 2009," says Fairfield. "Similarly, the success rate for girls has increased from 82 per cent in 2004 to 87 per cent this year. These results are similar to those in the province which were 82 and 88 per cent respectively."
Fairfield says the board also seen significant improvements from students enrolled in the Academic and Applied English programs.
The success rate for students in an academic English course was 99 per cent, the seventh straight year with a rate of 90 per cent of more.
Students enrolled in an applied English course saw their scores increase 13 per cent from 56 per cent in 2004 to 69 per cent this year.
Green Energy Projects Eyed at District Schools
The Rainy River District School board is investigating the possibility generating its own power at some of its schools.
Manager of Plant Operations Raymond Roy says they're developing business cases on four projects in hopes of accessing a portion of $70-million dollars the province is setting aside for renewal energy projects.
"We're looking at J.W. School potentially partnering up with Conserval Engineering on some solar panels there," says Roy. "The second renewal energy funding that came up this summer, we're looking at building business cases for our three secondary schools. We're also looking at solar power, but we're also looking at wind turbines or solar walls."
Roy says approval of the projects by the province could lead to energy savings for the board, or the potential of selling power back to the hydro grid.
Manager of Plant Operations Raymond Roy says they're developing business cases on four projects in hopes of accessing a portion of $70-million dollars the province is setting aside for renewal energy projects.
"We're looking at J.W. School potentially partnering up with Conserval Engineering on some solar panels there," says Roy. "The second renewal energy funding that came up this summer, we're looking at building business cases for our three secondary schools. We're also looking at solar power, but we're also looking at wind turbines or solar walls."
Roy says approval of the projects by the province could lead to energy savings for the board, or the potential of selling power back to the hydro grid.
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