The Responsible Gambling Council is out with a new public awareness to help problem gamblers in the district.
'Check Your Blind Spot' aims to help residents identify the signs and symptoms of a problem gambler.
C.E.O. Jon Kelly says gambling is a real issue in northwestern Ontario.
"We estimate there are more than 2-thousand people in the Kenora-Rainy River district who probably have gambling problems," says Kelly. "The good news is that there is excellent counselling available across the province."
Additional resources can be obtained on the website www.checkyourblindspot.ca
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Food Bank Usage Up
The Ontario Association of Food Banks has released a report calling attention to the dire situation of the province's food banks.
The report says Ontario's food banks are under tremendous pressure due to growing unemployment, continually increasing food prices, and rising demand.
The recession means more people are in need of donations, while less people are giving.
Over 350-thousand Ontarians are turning to food banks every month in 2009, a figure that has increased by 20 per cent since last year.
The report says Ontario's food banks are under tremendous pressure due to growing unemployment, continually increasing food prices, and rising demand.
The recession means more people are in need of donations, while less people are giving.
Over 350-thousand Ontarians are turning to food banks every month in 2009, a figure that has increased by 20 per cent since last year.
Thanksgiving Weekend a Safe One
Ontario Provincial Police are reporting one of the safest Thanksgiving weekends in years on the province's highways.
During the weekend-long campaign almost every available officer in the province was on patrol, looking for speeders, impaired drivers and those who weren't buckled up.
Hundreds of drivers were pulled over in roadside RIDE checks across the province and several impaired driving charges were laid.
During the weekend-long campaign almost every available officer in the province was on patrol, looking for speeders, impaired drivers and those who weren't buckled up.
Hundreds of drivers were pulled over in roadside RIDE checks across the province and several impaired driving charges were laid.
Fort Councillors Meet Tonight
A review of Museum services is among the issues to be discussed by Fort Frances councillors at their meeting tonight.
However, the details of the review will be discussed behind closed doors for now.
In the public portion of the meeting, councillor will review the proposed purchase of Kiwanis Sunny Cove Camp and hear a presentation from O-P-P Constable Anne McCoy on a pilot project aimed at improving safety along the McIrvine Road and Kings Highway area.
That public portion of tonight's meeting begins at about 6:40 p.m.
However, the details of the review will be discussed behind closed doors for now.
In the public portion of the meeting, councillor will review the proposed purchase of Kiwanis Sunny Cove Camp and hear a presentation from O-P-P Constable Anne McCoy on a pilot project aimed at improving safety along the McIrvine Road and Kings Highway area.
That public portion of tonight's meeting begins at about 6:40 p.m.
AbitibiBowater Benefits from "Black Liqour" Program
AbitibiBowater is one of 24 mills to qualify for Canada's version of the United States black liquor program.
Under the so-called Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program, AbitibiBowater will qualify for more than $33-million at both its Thunder Bay and Fort Frances mills.
While no details have yet been released how the company will use the money, the program requires qualifying mills to finance environmental upgrades.
Under the so-called Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program, AbitibiBowater will qualify for more than $33-million at both its Thunder Bay and Fort Frances mills.
While no details have yet been released how the company will use the money, the program requires qualifying mills to finance environmental upgrades.
LHIN Plan Released in November
The Northwest Health Integration Network will be releasing its three year Integrated Health Services Plan for the region by the end of November.
The LHIN has been working on the plan for the past three years.
Spokesperson Kristin Shields says the plan is based on public input.
"We heard from just over 800 people during January to March," says Shields, "then we heard about 50 others in the following month. We've been told a thousand people is a great sample for a national health care survey, so 800 from a smaller population in northwestern Ontario is great."
Shields says once the plan is submitted to the Ministry of Health, it will also be posted online.
The LHIN has been working on the plan for the past three years.
Spokesperson Kristin Shields says the plan is based on public input.
"We heard from just over 800 people during January to March," says Shields, "then we heard about 50 others in the following month. We've been told a thousand people is a great sample for a national health care survey, so 800 from a smaller population in northwestern Ontario is great."
Shields says once the plan is submitted to the Ministry of Health, it will also be posted online.
Riverside in Deficit Position
Newly released figures show that more than a third of Ontario hospitals were spending beyond their means last year.
Among them Riverside Health Care Facilities.
Sixty-one of the province's 159 public hospitals -- or 38 percent -- were in deficit at the end of March.
Riverside reported a deficit of over 951-thousand dollars.
Ontario has a zero-deficit law for hospitals, but many of the troubled hospitals have promised to balance their books by the end of this year.
NDP health critic France Gelinas says the figures should set off alarm bells for the Liberal government.
She says hospitals will have to make more cuts to staff and services to get themselves out of the red ink.
The figures were provided by the Ministry of Health and the 14Local Health Integration Networks, which reach two-year agreements on funding with the province's hospitals.
Among them Riverside Health Care Facilities.
Sixty-one of the province's 159 public hospitals -- or 38 percent -- were in deficit at the end of March.
Riverside reported a deficit of over 951-thousand dollars.
Ontario has a zero-deficit law for hospitals, but many of the troubled hospitals have promised to balance their books by the end of this year.
NDP health critic France Gelinas says the figures should set off alarm bells for the Liberal government.
She says hospitals will have to make more cuts to staff and services to get themselves out of the red ink.
The figures were provided by the Ministry of Health and the 14Local Health Integration Networks, which reach two-year agreements on funding with the province's hospitals.
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