Premier Responds to Agent Orange Report

Premier Dalton McGuinty is trying to reassure retired government forestry workers.

It comes after a report that says they may have been exposed to the cancer causing chemical Agent Orange during their work years.

McGuinty says the government is interested in getting information.

"If anybody feels their health has been compromised as a result of working with that particular compound, it's something we no longer use obviously," says McGuinty, "they should contact the MNR so we can begin to build up a data bank and assess what we're looking at here."

Speaking in Thunder Bay, the Premier says he was only recently made aware of the issue.

Premier Attract Protesters

Premier Dalton McGuinty's appearance to Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro's nomination meeting last night drew some protesters.

Sandra Snider of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union says their pickets were a stand against the Province's tax cuts.

"Their tax cuts mean service cuts," says Snider. "You cut revenue you have to cut services somewhere. All we know is that when you take $23-million dollars out of the provincial budget, you have to get revenue from somewhere."

Mauro defends the cuts.

"It's important to remind people that our corporate tax cuts are important now as we come out of the recession to attract business and job growth back to the province," says Mauro. "It's also important to remind people that there is no reduction in services."

Mauro was unopposed in his bid to carry the Liberal banner in the upcoming provincial election.

Cold Weather Back

After a brief mild spell, winter is back in the Rainy River district with a drastic drop in temperature.

This has left some area highways extremely slippery and forced at least two bus cancellations in the Atikokan area.

Lynn Miles AKQ run and the RCS bus driven by Kurt Miller has been cancelled.

Seine River's Handicap bus is also not running.

Bad weather also forced the temporary closure of the Trans Canada Highway near Kenora early this morning.

The road has since reopened.

Forestry Aid Program Questioned

NDP's Natural Resources critic wants the McGuinty Liberals to come clean on which forestry companies are benefiting from a $500-million grant and loan guarantee program.

The program was established in 2006 to help the struggling forestry sector.

But Howard Hampton says government documents show more than half of the fund remains unused.

Horwath Visits Fort Frances

A visit to Fort Frances today by the provincial NDP leader.

Andrea Horwath is meeting with community leaders this morning.

She's also planning to visit a local store to highlight the impact of the HST on small businesses.

Pension Bill Vote in Spring

An altered version of John Rafferty's pension bill is facing its final hurdle.

The Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP will see his bill head back to the House of Commons for a final vote sometime this Spring.

A different version of the private member's bill was already voted down once before.

Local Organizations Honoured

Several agencies across the Rainy River district will be recognized today for their involvement in a provincial-wide campaign to combat domestic violence in the workplace.

Donna Kroocmo of the Rainy River District Shelter of Home says the groups participated in workshops to help with deal with new provincial legislation.

"The onus is now on an employer to take steps to keep that worker save," says Kroocmo. "Even if the partner is making harassing phones calls to work, they've got to take some action to stop it. The Neighbours, Friends and Family campaign teaches employers that will help them do that."

Today's ceremony in Fort Frances is one of just eight taking place across Ontario.