There's been another change in the location for next week's seminar on the Harmonized Sales Tax.
It was scheduled next Wednesday at the Fort Frances Legion, but a previous booking has forced it to be moved to the Adventure Inn.
Only a few spots remain for the seminar which will provide businesses, organizations and residents more insight into how HST will work from officials with Revenue Canada.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Jobless Rate Declines
There's been a slight drop in the unemployment rate in northwestern Ontario.
Statistics Canada says January's rate of 6.4 per cent compares with the 6.5 figure in December with five-hundred more people finding work.
The provincial rate remained the same at 9.2 per cent while the national rate declined a tenth of a percentage point to 8.3 per cent.
Statistics Canada says January's rate of 6.4 per cent compares with the 6.5 figure in December with five-hundred more people finding work.
The provincial rate remained the same at 9.2 per cent while the national rate declined a tenth of a percentage point to 8.3 per cent.
AbitibiBowater Bankrupcty
A published report says AbitibiBowater is preparing itself to exit bankruptcy protection by the middle of this year.
Company Spokesman Seth Kursman is quoted as saying the newsprint producer intends to file plans in both the United States and Canada before the end of the first quarter.
The company filed for protection in April 2009.
Company Spokesman Seth Kursman is quoted as saying the newsprint producer intends to file plans in both the United States and Canada before the end of the first quarter.
The company filed for protection in April 2009.
Visitor Restrictions Continue
Visitor restrictions at Rainycrest Long Term Care in Fort Frances will remain in effect through the weekend.
The restrictions were imposed last month due to cases of gastroenteritis and extended this week after another case was identified Tuesday.
The facility is allowing only one family member per patient to visit and no one under the age of 18.
Officials say a decision whether to extend the restrictions further will be made Monday.
The restrictions were imposed last month due to cases of gastroenteritis and extended this week after another case was identified Tuesday.
The facility is allowing only one family member per patient to visit and no one under the age of 18.
Officials say a decision whether to extend the restrictions further will be made Monday.
Membership Goal Within Reach
The Alzheimer's Society of Kenora-Rainy River is close to meeting its membership goal.
The group is striving for 300 members which Executive Director Margaret Schoenville says will give the district a greater say at the provincial level.
"They give us votes," says Schoenville. "Our votes are in relations to how many members we have. If we have 300 members we have 3 votes. It's important that the north has a strong voice."
An individual membership is $25.00 - $30.00 for a business or organization.
The group is striving for 300 members which Executive Director Margaret Schoenville says will give the district a greater say at the provincial level.
"They give us votes," says Schoenville. "Our votes are in relations to how many members we have. If we have 300 members we have 3 votes. It's important that the north has a strong voice."
An individual membership is $25.00 - $30.00 for a business or organization.
Ice Fishing Warning
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking angler out on the frozen lakes to become familiar with the local fishing regulations.
The department says recent patrols of the lakes has resulted in a number of anglers being cited for having too many lines in the water, having no fishing licenses in their possession or exceeding their limits.
Minnesota anglers are allowed to use two lines in the winter, except on trout lakes where only one line is allowed.
The department says recent patrols of the lakes has resulted in a number of anglers being cited for having too many lines in the water, having no fishing licenses in their possession or exceeding their limits.
Minnesota anglers are allowed to use two lines in the winter, except on trout lakes where only one line is allowed.
Populations Declines
New data is confirming what most already believe - fewer people are calling the Rainy River district home than they did five years ago.
Statistics Canada says the district population in 2009 was just under 22-thousand - a 9 per cent decline from 2008 and a net loss of about 700 people since 2003.
Other area's of northwestern Ontario also saw declines with the population in the Kenora district going down nearly 14-hundred people while the Thunder Bay district experience a decrease of 5-thousand over the past five years.
Statistics Canada says the district population in 2009 was just under 22-thousand - a 9 per cent decline from 2008 and a net loss of about 700 people since 2003.
Other area's of northwestern Ontario also saw declines with the population in the Kenora district going down nearly 14-hundred people while the Thunder Bay district experience a decrease of 5-thousand over the past five years.
College Applications Increase
Grade 12 students applying to Ontario colleges may have to have higher marks than they thought to get in this fall.
Over 100-thousand people have applied to the colleges according to new figures --- that's a 14 per cent hike over last year.
Many of those are mature students going back to school because of a lack of jobs.
The colleges are asking for another 160-million dollars to cope with the increase.
Over 100-thousand people have applied to the colleges according to new figures --- that's a 14 per cent hike over last year.
Many of those are mature students going back to school because of a lack of jobs.
The colleges are asking for another 160-million dollars to cope with the increase.
Minnesota Session Underway
The 2010 legislative session is underway in Minnesota.
Democrats wasted no time by putting forward a one-billion dollar plan to create more jobs in the state.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty has called for a smaller bonding bill of $685-million and has threatened to veto any plan he thinks is too large.
Democrats wasted no time by putting forward a one-billion dollar plan to create more jobs in the state.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty has called for a smaller bonding bill of $685-million and has threatened to veto any plan he thinks is too large.
Tories Want Back In
(Left - P.C. MPP Randy Hillier during a recent visit to Fort Frances)Three Tories are trying to return to the Ontario legislature.
Randy Hillier and Bill Murdoch, kicked out of the chamber two months ago for their sit-in over the harmonized sales tax, are seeking the blessing of the Speaker to return.
Laurie Scott, who gave up her central Ontario seat so ex-leader John Tory could run in a by-election - which he lost, is seeking the Conservative nomination for the 2011 provincial election.
Former Winnipeg Mayor Wins Ont. By-election
The Liberals have captured their third straight by-election, with former Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray taking the Toronto-Centre riding.
The downtown riding had been held by former deputy premier George Smitherman for almost a decade.
After the results were in, Premier Dalton McGuinty called the win a "wonderful way to begin Ontario politics in 2010.''
Murray garnered 47 per cent of the vote while Cathy Crowe for the N-D-P took 33.1 per cent and Pam Taylor for the Tories had 15.4 percent.
The downtown riding had been held by former deputy premier George Smitherman for almost a decade.
After the results were in, Premier Dalton McGuinty called the win a "wonderful way to begin Ontario politics in 2010.''
Murray garnered 47 per cent of the vote while Cathy Crowe for the N-D-P took 33.1 per cent and Pam Taylor for the Tories had 15.4 percent.
Hampton to Seek Re-election
Howard Hampton is quickly squashing any rumours about his political future.
The long-time MPP for Kenora-Rainy River told area municipal leaders from the Rainy River District last weekend he's committed to seeking another term in the 2011 provincial election and will put his campaign into motion this summer.
Hampton was first election to Queen's Park in 1987.
H1N1 Review
The acting medical officer of health for the Northwestern Ontario says local efforts to deal with the H1N1 flu season went well - but not well understood.
Dr. James Arthurs says a review of their abilities to deal with the flu strain did show the distribution of vaccines went well, but there remained a lot of confusion.
"Confusion about the priorities. Confusion about the adjavent. Confusion about the seasonal flu versus the H1N1 swine flu and who should get what first," said Arthurs. "Our weaknesses were realistically the same as I think as they were right across the province."
Arthurs says the fact that the impact of H1N1 was not as great as feared was beneficial.
Issuing Office to Close
Motorists in the Fort Frances area who need to renew their driver's licences or vehicle registrations will do so at a new location starting next month.
A spokesperson with the Ministry of Government Services says beginning March 15, those services will be offered out of the ServiceOntario centre at 922 Scott Street.
Alain Cairns says the current issuing office on Second Street East will continue to operate until March 26.
The move is part of a changes announced last July to bring more services to its ServiceOntario locations.
A spokesperson with the Ministry of Government Services says beginning March 15, those services will be offered out of the ServiceOntario centre at 922 Scott Street.
Alain Cairns says the current issuing office on Second Street East will continue to operate until March 26.
The move is part of a changes announced last July to bring more services to its ServiceOntario locations.
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