Rafferty Seeking Support to Proposed Pension Bill

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty is looking for support in his efforts to improve federal pension protection.

His private members bill goes to the Industry Committee for discussion in November, but Rafferty is hoping it gets discussed much earlier.

"One of the things I've been doing this summer as I travel to various parts of the country is to talk to people," says Rafferty, "to try to get them to write or phone committee members or their MPs and to say 'November is not acceptable. We need to move it to the top of agenda when we go back in September'."

He's also hoping MP's who showed their support in sending the bill to committee will continue to do so when it comes back to the House for a final vote.

Work Place Safety Review Near Completion

A report on improving work place safety is set to be released in December.

Chair of a government appointed review panel Tony Dean says they received input from across the province.

Dean says among the suggestions is better training for new employees.

"It appears as not much to be as much emphasis and consistant emphasis on entry level training," says Dean. "We are sending too many new entrtrants to the labour market of all ages into work places too often not well prepared."

Dean issues his report to the Labour Minister this fall.

Wood Supply Competition Still Under Review

The Ontario Government could announce the winners of the wood supply competition by the fall.

Natural Resource Minister Michael Gravelle says 115 applications came forward for the 11 million cubic metres of wood up for grabs.

"I'm pushing our Ministry people very hard on this," says Gravelle. "They have got a big job to do. I'm very grateful for they hard work they've done but I've ask them to move as quickly as possible. There are a number of organizations who are waiting to see if they're successful in moving foward with the competition."

Those with successful proposals will be able to use logs, branches and other wood in Crown forests for manufacturing or other commercial purposes.

Crews Returning

(Ministry of Natural Resources Photo)

Some of the Ministry of Natural Resources personnel working in western Canada are expected home today.

About 20 MNR fireRangers expect to end their work in Manitoba where they've been since the end of July.

Meantime, the MNR is looking at sending additional crews and equipment to British Columbia where 271 fire personnel are now working.

Another 41 are in Saskatchewan.

Incumbants File

All three incumbents holding down the International Falls city council positions that come up for grabs this November have filed for reelection.

Paul Eklund in East Ward, Gail Rognerud in Central and Cynthia Jaksa in West Ward filed this past week.

Bernie Woods filed for the position of Mayor of Rainer.

The filing period ends August 17 with the general election held November 2nd.

Those filing for the area's local government positions area not be part of primary elections being held in Minnesota tomorrow.

Steep Rock Proposal Given Go-Ahead

The provincial government is giving the go-ahead to plans that could lead to a rehabilitation of the former Steep Rock Mine site in Atikokan.

Bending Lake Iron Ore Group proposes an iron ore processing facility while Brett Resources wants to dump tailings there from a planned gold mine.

Henry Wetalainen of Bending Lake Iron Ore says approval allows their plans to now enter the environmental assessment process.

"Under this we're going to be a year under the Environmental (E.A.)," says Wetalainen. "I would properly look at construction sometime next fall."

Wetaliainen says development of his facility and mine at Bending Lake will cost about $900-million and will create about 700 construction jobs and 300 when up and running.