Riverside Health Care Facilities will again be gauging the public's opinion of its services and facilities.
Riverside will be asking service users next week to fill out a survey that asks them to rate its facilities in several areas including safety, accessibility and customer customer.
A similar survey conducted last year gave Riverside a good grade, but identified an issue with parking in front of the Community Health Services building in Fort Frances which has since been rectified.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Early Learning Program Registration
Some of the first students expected to enroll in the Rainy River District School Board's Early Learning Program got an opportunity to visit their new school last week.
Parents and their children toured North Star Community School in Atikokan, the site of the board's first full-day junior kindergarten program.
So far, a total of 23 students have registered for fall classes.
Parents and their children toured North Star Community School in Atikokan, the site of the board's first full-day junior kindergarten program.
So far, a total of 23 students have registered for fall classes.
New Position
The Rainy River District School Board is adding to its administration team.
Sharla MacKinnon has been named the board's Elementary Curriculum Coach beginning next month.
The current elementary teacher at J.W. Walker School in Fort Frances will work with the Board's elementary literacy and numeracy coordinators on a variety of initiatives.
Sharla MacKinnon has been named the board's Elementary Curriculum Coach beginning next month.
The current elementary teacher at J.W. Walker School in Fort Frances will work with the Board's elementary literacy and numeracy coordinators on a variety of initiatives.
Credit Card Rates Reforms Demanded
A northern Ontario MP has taken his fight for reforms to credit card regulations on the road and to the Rainy River district.
Glenn Thibeault , the NDP member from Sudbury, hosted a public meeting last night in Fort Frances and says the public needs better protection.
"You can make a call to your credit card company. Ask them to reduce your interest rates and they will do it," says Thibeault. "But if they're doing it and making billions of dollars on the backs of consumers, why isn't the government looking at making sure we can protect people against these interest rates that we're calling legalized loan-sharking in some cases?"
A motion passed in the House of Commons that would force credit card companies to eliminate their ability to raise rates at any time, but Thibault says the Harper government has yet to take action.
Glenn Thibeault , the NDP member from Sudbury, hosted a public meeting last night in Fort Frances and says the public needs better protection.
"You can make a call to your credit card company. Ask them to reduce your interest rates and they will do it," says Thibeault. "But if they're doing it and making billions of dollars on the backs of consumers, why isn't the government looking at making sure we can protect people against these interest rates that we're calling legalized loan-sharking in some cases?"
A motion passed in the House of Commons that would force credit card companies to eliminate their ability to raise rates at any time, but Thibault says the Harper government has yet to take action.
C.A.S. Appeal Lost
Family and Child Services Rainy River has lost its appeal in attempts to reverse the loss of 600-thousand dollars in government funding from its budget.
The agency was hoping the province reconsider its decision through a so-called section 14 appeal, but board chair Bob McGreevy says instead they will receive one-time funding of 430-thousand dollars.
"The guidelines in section 14 are quite clear," says McGreevy. "We were hoping the ministry would flex a bit on that but they choose to provide funding through one-time mitigation funding as opposed through the section 14 process."
McGreevy says the agency will still end the year in a deficit position, but steps are being taken that won't impact programs or staff.
The agency was hoping the province reconsider its decision through a so-called section 14 appeal, but board chair Bob McGreevy says instead they will receive one-time funding of 430-thousand dollars.
"The guidelines in section 14 are quite clear," says McGreevy. "We were hoping the ministry would flex a bit on that but they choose to provide funding through one-time mitigation funding as opposed through the section 14 process."
McGreevy says the agency will still end the year in a deficit position, but steps are being taken that won't impact programs or staff.
Capital Budget Cut
Fort Frances town councillors trimmed more than two-million dollars off its 2010 capital budget.
Most of the cuts made during a budget meeting yesterday were projects dependant upon government grants.
The reductions bring the capital budget down to a little more than $6.5 million.
The shortfall in the operating budget is still at $246-thousand which would translate into a 3-per cent residential tax increase.
The budget, though, is not expected to be final until April.
Most of the cuts made during a budget meeting yesterday were projects dependant upon government grants.
The reductions bring the capital budget down to a little more than $6.5 million.
The shortfall in the operating budget is still at $246-thousand which would translate into a 3-per cent residential tax increase.
The budget, though, is not expected to be final until April.
DSSAB Meeting Planned
The town of Fort Frances will seek some information on the cost of providing social services from district's delivery agency.
Mayor Roy Avis says a meeting has been arranged for tomorrow with the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board.
"It was brought to our attention by administration that OSDP (Ontario Disability Support Program) funding was showing up as a credit on our OMPF (Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund) funding report," says Avis. "When that came to council, council said where's our credit? Where does it come from? Where it would come to the municipality is from the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board. We haven't seen that credit yet so were having a meeting with them on Thursday."
The province informed the town it would see about $376-thousand in savings as it takes back the responsibilities of paying for some of those services this year.
Mayor Roy Avis says a meeting has been arranged for tomorrow with the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board.
"It was brought to our attention by administration that OSDP (Ontario Disability Support Program) funding was showing up as a credit on our OMPF (Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund) funding report," says Avis. "When that came to council, council said where's our credit? Where does it come from? Where it would come to the municipality is from the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board. We haven't seen that credit yet so were having a meeting with them on Thursday."
The province informed the town it would see about $376-thousand in savings as it takes back the responsibilities of paying for some of those services this year.
New Responsibilities
Some new responsibilities for Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton today.
He's been named NDP critic for Public Infrastructure Renewal.
This adds to his portfolios as party critic on Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs, Economic Development and Natural Resources.
He's been named NDP critic for Public Infrastructure Renewal.
This adds to his portfolios as party critic on Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs, Economic Development and Natural Resources.
Ad Attack
The Ontario government is rejecting Opposition calls to pay back the 700-thousand dollars that was spent on a government advertising campaign that promoted its controversial plan to harmonize sales taxes.
Premier Dalton McGuinty says they didn't sneak in the ads last spring by putting them online - the only loophole in a provincial law that guards against partisan government advertising.
McGuinty defended the online ads, saying his government is just doing everything it can to get the word out.
Premier Dalton McGuinty says they didn't sneak in the ads last spring by putting them online - the only loophole in a provincial law that guards against partisan government advertising.
McGuinty defended the online ads, saying his government is just doing everything it can to get the word out.
Green Energy Act Review
Ontario is asking the federal Conservative government to use next month's budget to fund green energy projects in the province.
Premier Dalton McGuinty says if Ottawa is going to provide financial support for unproven technologies to capture carbon emissions in Western Canada, it should also support green energy initiatives.
McGuinty says the province will review the impact of its Green Energy Act on struggling towns in northern Ontario, where there are fears more industries could close because of rising electricity prices.
Premier Dalton McGuinty says if Ottawa is going to provide financial support for unproven technologies to capture carbon emissions in Western Canada, it should also support green energy initiatives.
McGuinty says the province will review the impact of its Green Energy Act on struggling towns in northern Ontario, where there are fears more industries could close because of rising electricity prices.
C.A.S. Funding Update
Family and Children Services Rainy River and Wee-chi-ti-win Family Services will receive a share of the nearly $27-million the province is providing in one-time funding to cash strapped children's aid societies.
The Rainy River agency was informed it will receive $430-thousand while Wee-chi-ti-win will get about $940-thousand.
Both agencies had forecast operating shortfalls for this year after the government clawed back some its funding last year.
Director of Administration for Wee-chi-ti-win Debbie Leonard says they welcome the money. but its too early to determine if the funding will reverse any decisions made earlier to help offset the shortfall.
The Rainy River agency was informed it will receive $430-thousand while Wee-chi-ti-win will get about $940-thousand.
Both agencies had forecast operating shortfalls for this year after the government clawed back some its funding last year.
Director of Administration for Wee-chi-ti-win Debbie Leonard says they welcome the money. but its too early to determine if the funding will reverse any decisions made earlier to help offset the shortfall.
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