Public Input on Mine Site Rehab Sought

The Ministry of Natural Resources is forming an advisory committee to assist it with a rehabilitation of the former Steep Rock Mine site in Atikokan.

The Ministry is working to address environmental issues surrounding for former iron ore mine site.

Project Manager Rob Purdon says the committee will hold its first meeting later this month.

"We're going to get some public feedback on the current uses of the site," says Purdon, "and what they envision for site management activities going forward."

Purdon is hoping to have a draft plan in place by the end of the year.

Condo Project Update Today

Area residents will get more information today on the future of a condominium project slated for Fort Frances.

Thunder Bay developer Robert Zanetti is back in town to promote the project at a open house.

It's been almost two years since it was first unveiled.

Zanetti then had stated he wanted to pre-sell at least twenty units before construction began.

Tonight's meeting goes from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Civic Centre.

More Debate on Bill C-501

John Rafferty's private members bill C-501 is expected to come back to the House for more debate today.

The bill proposes to protect termination and severance pay in bankruptcy cases.

The Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP was hoping to fast-track it through third reading last Friday.

Rafferty says it could be now be June before a final vote is taken.

Water Conference Begins

An annual conference looking at the health of the Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake basin gets underway in International Falls today.

Organizer Todd Sellars says delegates to this year's forum will get a chance to provide some feedback on a interim report looking at the management of the basin.

"The IJC task force will be running a task force (this afternoon) a workshop to consult with the folks attending the forum," says Sellars. "It's a real good opportunity to provided input."

Some of the sessions will also focus on the state of the fisheries and effects of nutrients and algae on water quality.

Schools to Benefit from Mining

Minnesota school stand to benefit from two proposed copper mining projects in northeastern Minnesota.

Two ventures hope to mine copper, nickel and precious metals near Ely and Babbit on what are called "school trust lands.''

Under the state law, income from those lands goes to a fund for schools.

An analysis says the projects could generate $2.5 billion if approved.

On-Line Homework Help Provided

Rainy River District School Board's intermediate students have access to math teachers across the province to assist them with their homework.

It's part of a pilot project called the Homework Help Initiative.

Spokesperson Denise Rybuck says it's one more mechanism to help students.

"If a student arrives at a point where they're not understanding something," says Rybuck, "or run into a question that they need some assistance with they can go on-line and be able to ask that question and get support from a certified teacher somewhere in the province of Ontario."

A separate educational resource bank has also been established that offers resources on a wide range of other subjects.