NDP Promise HST Cut on Energy Bills

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath continues to attack the McGuinty Government's failure to remove the HST from hydro, and home heating bills.

Horwath says northerners especially are struggling and need a break.

Horvath says if her party is elected she would remove the HST from home heating oil and natural gas.

McGuinty Future

A broadcast report says Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is hinting that he may not serve a full third term if his Liberal party wins re-election in October.

In an interview with CTV News, McGuinty hedged about his future when asked if he would serve out four years.

McGuinty said he was " not going to speculate as to how long,'' but was committed to seeing through the policies the Liberals have put in place.

McGuinty first led to Liberals to power in 2003.

Natural Helpers Program at Fort High

(Fort Frances High School teacher Shane Beckett explaining Natural Helpers Program at recent Rainy River District School Board meeting)


Students at Fort Frances High School are benefiting from a program that offers help from their own peers.

The Natural Helpers program was established two years and involves a group of students selected in part by the student body.


Grade 11 student Kennadi Herbert says there's satisfaction to lending a hand.

"It's hard helping people and hard constantly being there and listening to every one's problems," says Hebert, "but when you get that thank you or that smile or that 'you helped me so much' it makes it all worth it."

The group participates in monthly training sessions, including on suicide identification.

Limited Snowmo Trails Open in Park

(Voyageurs National Park photo)


Voyageurs National Park is reporting many of ski and snowshoe trails are open, but only two of its snowmobile trails are fit for use.

Among them, the entire 50 mile length of the Green Trail from Rainy Lake, through the Kabetogama Lake and Ash River communities and on to Crane Lake.

The Park says thin ice conditions are preventing other trails from opening.

DNR Commish Named

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton has selected a seasoned conservationist to head the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Tom Landwehr, formerly of the Nature Conservancy's Minnesota chapter, becomes commissioner of natural resources, a position that requires balancing varied economic and recreational interests.

Landwehr expects the state's deficit and two pending precious metals mining projects in northeastern Minnesota to be a big part of his new job.

Alzheimer Education

The Alzheimer's Society of Kenora and Rainy River Districts is trying to raise awareness of the disease in 2011.

Executive Director Lynn Moffatt says a new survey suggests that 23 percent of baby boomers don't know some of the early signs of the disease.

"Some of the ten warning signs are memory loss that effect day to day abilities," says Moffatt. "Difficulty performing regular and familiar tasks such as preparing a meal or playing a game even."

Moffat says the risk of getting the disease also increases with age.

Prevention Program Put in Place

Riverside Health Care Facilities is taking a holistic approach in preventing patients from getting pressure ulcers.

They're often inflicted on those who remain in one position for too long.

Dee O'Sullivan-Drombolis says the new program benefits both patients and staff.

"It encompasses a lot of education," says O'Sullivan-Drombolis, "not just for staff, but also for patients and making sure you really understand what's going on and also implementing personalized care plans. First of all to be comfortable and to prevent from getting a fresh ulcer."

Staff recently completed a series of education sessions to implement the program this year.