MP's Back to Work Today

It's back to work for Members of Parliament.

Raffery says he'll be introducing several private members bills.

"My second Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder bill that I'm putting forward this week calls for the government to have a national strategy," says Rafferty. "What we have now are pockets of people who are working and doing their best on this particular issue. What this bill calls for is the government to say 'listen, this is a serious issue. We need a national strategy in how we're going to deal with it."

Rafferty says he's also hoping to see his private members bill on pensions become law.

Harper Calls for NDP Support

The prime minister is calling on northwestern Ontario New Democrats to help his government abolish the long-gun registry.

The bill to kill the registry will be put to a vote Wednesday.

Harper suggests NDP MP's may face a revolt in their rural ridings if they don't vote with his party.

First Nations Reiterate Opposition to Act

Northwestern Ontario First Nations say they will not recognize the Far North Act if it's passed by the provincial legislature.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy says the voices of First Nations people in northern Ontario are being ignored.

The bill would block up to 42 per cent of Ontario's land mass from development, protecting 225-thousand square kilometres of boreal forest.

NOSM Talks Break Down

Talks have stalled in the Northern Ontario School of Medicine labour dispute.

Ontario Public Service Employees Union representatives left the table Friday afternoon after four days of talks last week.

A NOSM representative says progress was made but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.

Atikokan Song Needs Video

An Atikokan musician is looking for pictures to put to a song she wrote about her hometown.

Jinx Stus first performed the song at Atikokan's one-hundredth anniversary more than a decade ago, but decided only recently to post it to You Tube in hopes of finding the right video for the song.

"I thought it I could generate some interest and get some video to put over top of it and show what our town is about, it would be a great marketing tool," says Stus. "That's what exactly what we did, upload it to You Tube, and now were kind of waiting around to see if anyone has any footage or pictures to help market Atikokan."

The song has received a number of views on You tube, but no video just yet.

Here is the "Atikokan Song" as written and performed by Jinx Stus