Ontario's attorney general says there is no more money for legal aid in the province despite a growing boycott by criminal lawyers, including those in northwestern Ontario, who say the program needs more funding.
Attorney General Chris Bentley says his government's recent $150-million increase in funding over the next four years "is it,'' and adds his focus now is on working with the lawyers to make sure the money goes where it is needed.
Frank Addario of the Criminal Lawyers' Association says he believes money will flow, but the government won't increase funding willingly.
He says that's why the boycott must continue.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Loose Moose In Fort Frances
The Ministry of Natural Resources is studying samples taken from a moose found wandering in Fort Frances earlier this week that died after being tranquilized by authorities in their attempts to relocate the animal.
The large bull moose was found in the 300 block of Third Street East early Monday morning having difficulty maintaining its balance and salivating profusely.
At the time, it was determined the moose was showing signs of brain worm.
A local trapper and the M-N-R assisted the OPP in having the animal sedated because of safety concerns.
The large bull moose was found in the 300 block of Third Street East early Monday morning having difficulty maintaining its balance and salivating profusely.
At the time, it was determined the moose was showing signs of brain worm.
A local trapper and the M-N-R assisted the OPP in having the animal sedated because of safety concerns.
Fort Frances Teen Arrested on Drug Charge
A 15-year old Fort Frances male youth faces a drug-trafficking charge.
Provincial police arrested the teenager yesterday morning as part of an ongoing drug investigation while he was walking to his school bus stop.
Following the arrest, police discovered he was carrying over 20 marijuana cigarettes and one gram of cannabis.
The youth was later transported to the Portage Youth Detention Centre in Kenora and will appear in Fort Frances court tomorrow.
Provincial police arrested the teenager yesterday morning as part of an ongoing drug investigation while he was walking to his school bus stop.
Following the arrest, police discovered he was carrying over 20 marijuana cigarettes and one gram of cannabis.
The youth was later transported to the Portage Youth Detention Centre in Kenora and will appear in Fort Frances court tomorrow.
Sunny Cove Meeting Planned
The town of Fort Frances is expected to reveal more details surrounding its interest in Sunny Cove Camp next month.
Mayor Roy Avis says a tentative October 6th meeting will outline a partnership being examined between the town and the local Kiwanis Club that now owns the camp.
The town has being discussing the issue behind closed-doors for several months.
Mayor Roy Avis says a tentative October 6th meeting will outline a partnership being examined between the town and the local Kiwanis Club that now owns the camp.
The town has being discussing the issue behind closed-doors for several months.
Runway Closure Reviewed
Fort Frances town council is going to take another look at its decision last month to close a secondary runway at the airport.
The runway is slated to closer at the end of this month.
But councillor Ken Perry, who inspected the runway with local pilots on the weekend, feels the repairs needed aren't as great as being suggested.
"There's six major cracks in that runway that need to be repaired," says Perry. "We do not need to resurface that whole runway. If that runway needs to be replaced, then we have a lot of work do in town because most roads in Fort Frances are in worst shape than that runway is."
It had been stated repairs would cost in excess of a million dollars.
Perry says pilots he spoke with peg the cost closer to $10 or $20-thousand dollars.
The runway is slated to closer at the end of this month.
But councillor Ken Perry, who inspected the runway with local pilots on the weekend, feels the repairs needed aren't as great as being suggested.
"There's six major cracks in that runway that need to be repaired," says Perry. "We do not need to resurface that whole runway. If that runway needs to be replaced, then we have a lot of work do in town because most roads in Fort Frances are in worst shape than that runway is."
It had been stated repairs would cost in excess of a million dollars.
Perry says pilots he spoke with peg the cost closer to $10 or $20-thousand dollars.
Greyhound Halts Closures Plans
Greyhound is backing off its threat to stop serving Manitoba and northwestern Ontario -- at least for now.
Two weeks ago, the bus company said it would drop routes in those areas if it didn't get 15-million dollars a year in government subsidies.
Since then Greyhound says it has had positive talks with Manitoba government officials on a short-term solution to the company's financial woes.
Greyhound is also hoping to meet with Ontario government officials in the coming days.
But if no subsidy deal is reached, Greyhound warns that it will proceed with plans to drop service in northwestern Ontario on December 2nd.
Two weeks ago, the bus company said it would drop routes in those areas if it didn't get 15-million dollars a year in government subsidies.
Since then Greyhound says it has had positive talks with Manitoba government officials on a short-term solution to the company's financial woes.
Greyhound is also hoping to meet with Ontario government officials in the coming days.
But if no subsidy deal is reached, Greyhound warns that it will proceed with plans to drop service in northwestern Ontario on December 2nd.
Another Forest-Related Business Closes
A company which produces resin used in the manufacture of particle board and oriented strandboard is closing its Thunder Bay plant.
The closure by Arclin Canada will affect 28 people.
Officials blame the closure on the downturn in the forest products industry.
The closure by Arclin Canada will affect 28 people.
Officials blame the closure on the downturn in the forest products industry.
Forestry Caucus Proposed
Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty is looking to create an all-party caucus focusing on forestry.
Rafferty has pitched his proposal to other MP's in hopes of developing workable public policy for the ailing industry.
"An all-party caucus has a number of functions," says Rafferty. "Fact finding and research is one of them and finding common ground on constituent issues. Forestry on the west coast involved as many, many more seasonal workers than in northwestern Ontario, so there's some other issues that we need to deal with."
Rafferty says while the Conservatives have yet to respond, the Bloc Quebecois have indicated its support.
Rafferty has pitched his proposal to other MP's in hopes of developing workable public policy for the ailing industry.
"An all-party caucus has a number of functions," says Rafferty. "Fact finding and research is one of them and finding common ground on constituent issues. Forestry on the west coast involved as many, many more seasonal workers than in northwestern Ontario, so there's some other issues that we need to deal with."
Rafferty says while the Conservatives have yet to respond, the Bloc Quebecois have indicated its support.
Mining Deal Reached
A Vancouver exploration company has signed an memorandum of agreement with several area Rainy River district first nations regarding its activities in the Atikokan area.
The deal between Brett Resources and the Fort Frances Chiefs Secretariat and the Lac Des Milles Lac First Nation recognizes the company's use on traditional native land and sets out processes toward an Impact Benefits Agreement.
Company president Patrick Soares says it's believed to be the first of its kind for the area.
"There were a lot of skeptics that it wouldn't be done," says Soares, "but all of our dealings with Fort Frances Chiefs Secretariat and Lac Des Milles Lac has been very positive and we've come to an understanding. We have a high respect for them. I think they trust us and I think its going well."
Soares says the agreement, among other things, will allow first nation communities to bid on the work related to exploration of the Hammond Reef Gold Deposit.
The deal between Brett Resources and the Fort Frances Chiefs Secretariat and the Lac Des Milles Lac First Nation recognizes the company's use on traditional native land and sets out processes toward an Impact Benefits Agreement.
Company president Patrick Soares says it's believed to be the first of its kind for the area.
"There were a lot of skeptics that it wouldn't be done," says Soares, "but all of our dealings with Fort Frances Chiefs Secretariat and Lac Des Milles Lac has been very positive and we've come to an understanding. We have a high respect for them. I think they trust us and I think its going well."
Soares says the agreement, among other things, will allow first nation communities to bid on the work related to exploration of the Hammond Reef Gold Deposit.
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