Border Concerns Still Linger

Camp owners across northwestern Ontario are calling for changes at the border in Fort Frances.

Concerns about how American hunters and anglers are treated by customs officers was a topic of discussion at yesterday's Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters Association Conference in Dryden.

Executive Director of the Sunset Country Travel Association Gerry Cariou insists policies and procedures are being carried out different at the Fort border.

"The hunters going to Quebec, northeastern Ontario, B.C. or Manitoba aren't getting refused or turned back in the numbers we're seeing in northwestern Ontario.

The Head of NOTO suggests camp owners advise their guests to lodge a formal complaint if they're treated poorly at the border.

Liberal Leaders in Northwestern Ontario

Northwestern Ontario is Liberal Leader's Michael Ignatieff's latest stop on his cross country tour.

Speaking in Thunder Bay yesterday, Ignatieff says its part of his strategy to get Liberal MP's elected in this area.

"I think it's really important for politicians to get out of Ottawa," says Ignatieff, "come here, affirm and reaffirm constantly that we think northern Ontario has an incredible future."

Today, he visits Sioux Lookout and Dryden.

Hampton Seeks Help for Remote First Nation

A northwestern Ontario MPP is calling on the Liberal Government to take action to help Fort Hope First First Nation.

Howard Hampton says the province needs to roll out programs for first nations facing prescription drug abuse.

The NDP is calling for an amendment to the Narcotics Safety and Awareness Act to address the prescription drug abuse epidemic.

Former Doc Returns to Fort Frances

A former Fort Frances physician returns to the community today to talk about Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Doctor Ted Jablonski, himself diagnosed with the form of winter depression, is travelling across the country to draw more awareness.

Jablonski says its more common and real than many believe.

"It's a very frequent problem in our country," says Dr. Jablonski. "We live in a northern latitude and northern latitude countries are the ones who get effected. About 3 per cent of our population has S.A.D. that probably should be treated. That's over one million Canadians.

Jablonski says the disorder can easily be treated with light therapy.

He'll speak more about S.A.D. at a public meeting at 2 p.m. at the La Place Rendezvous.

Parade of Lights Planned

(B93 Staff ready to collect your non-perishable food items at the 2009 Parade of Lights in Fort Frances)


Planning for the Christmas Parade of Lights in Fort Frances is underway.

For the second year in a row, it's being organized by the staff at Causeway Insurance.


Spokesperson Brenda Kellar says they want parade participants to get ready.



"We had a really good turnout with our first annual parade last year," says Kellar. "We we're very happy on how it went. We're just hoping to get a lot more people. We do have a theme this year. It is the 'Lights and Sounds of Christmas'."



Registration for the November 27 parade can be done by calling Brenda at Causeway or emailing brenda@causewayinsurance.com.