Research Project Launched

(Northwest Catholic District School Board photo)


An Atikokan elementary school will be involved in a province-wide research project looking at the early learning program.

Education Director with the Northwest Catholic District School Board Mary Catherine Kelly says the full-day kindergarten program at St. Patrick's School is among those to be studied.

"The purpose of the research is to see how things are rolling out," says Kelly," so that we can share the stories of early-learning for the first two years and we can track on a longitudinal basis how the results are affecting student achievement."

Kelly says, for her, the program which began this school year, has been a huge success for the board, students, teachers and parents.

Growth Plan Released Today

The long-awaited Northern Growth Plan is being released today.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says the document is an economic vision for northern Ontario for the next 25 years.

"And we are going to be looking at ways that we can guide investment decisions from southern Ontario, based on what northerners have told us," says Gravelle. "This has been a three-year consultation period. We’ve talked to thousands of northerners. They’ve given their advice to us."

Simultaneous announcements will be made this morning in Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury.

Third Reading for Bill C-501

It's a important day for Thunder Bay-Rainy River M-P John Rafferty.

An amended version his Bill C-501 to protect workers severance and termination pay when a company enters bankruptcy proceedings, goes to a third reading.

Rafferty is cautiously optimistic about it advancing to the Senate.

"I've spoken with representatives from the other three parties," says Rafferty. "They've all indicated to me they are supportive, but as often happens on the hill you can't always count on that."

The Bill had also intended to protect pensions, but those sections were eliminated at the committee level.

NDP Trying to Save Northern Ontario in Brier

The federal NDP wants to save Northern Ontario and its place on the national curling stage.

Sports Critic Glenn Thibeault of Sudbury says they're trying to stop the Canadian Curling Association from eliminating the region's place at the Brier and giving it to the defending champion.

"We want the governing body to recognize keeping Northern Ontario in the Brier is an important piece for us," says Thibeault. "We have a petition for people to sign, both on line and on paper."

Thibeault says the region's vastness and uniqueness support the need for a separate Northern Ontario entry.

Carnival Kicks Off

Nestor Falls kicks of its annual Winter Carnival today.

Events include judging of the ice and snow sculptures, a youth scavanger hunt and a dance.

Organizer Howard Dodds says they also have some incentive to attend.

"Anybody that buys a ticket for that dance gets a chance to win the all participant's draw prize," says Dodds. "This year that is a LG 42 inch Plasma TV."

Tomorrow there's a fish derby, Poker Derby and a cribbage tournament.