Policing Needs Explored at Meeting

A discussion with the OPP over policing costs and manpower requirements has revealed a decision by Fort Frances town council to accept a contract that pays for fewer officers.

The decision was made December 20, but never reported publicly until now.

Mayor Roy Avis says the decision was above board.

"It was presented to council at an open committee meeting," says Avis. "and council looked at it. It was in our package. There was nothing that was done behind the scene. It was just a process of negotiations that we go through with all contracts."

Councillors may revisit the contract for 16 constables after OPP yesterday outlined differences with the current one for eighteen.

Bass Tournament Policing Requirements

Policing of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship was also discussed at yesterday's meeting.

OPP Inspector John Kendrick says it's a balance in meeting both community and event needs.

"(The town's) contract provides for you to have two officers in town," says Kendrick. "Well if those two officers are continuously at the bass tournament then they're not answering the calls for service in town. If there at the bass tournament, in accordance with the liquor license, and they're called away, they're not providing the services that required by the liquor licence act."

Tournament organizers plan to address the issue with the Police Services Board in the near future.

Chair Appointment Questioned

The Opposition is questioning the McGuinty government's appointment of a panel to investigate the use of Agent Orange in Ontario.

NDP Critic Gillies Bisson says it's chair, Doctor Leonard Ritter, worked for a federal department that approved the chemical's use for over four decades.

"How independent can he be," says Bisson, "if he is in fact the very person who is responsible for the approval of Agent Orange in the first place?"

Natural Resources Minister Linda Jeffrey says she has all the confidence in Ritter's abilities.

Hampton on Jury Rolls

Howard Hampton is putting the blame on the McGuinty government for the jury crisis in the northwest.

The Kenora-Rainy River MPP says there is no reason a judge had to postpone a jury trial earlier this month because there were not enough aboriginals on the jury roll.

"This was brought to the government's attention back in 2008," says Hampton. "It's pretty difficult for the provincial government to say we've been working on this."

Hampton says the government has not taken the issue seriously.

Contract Terminated

(Belmont Resources photo)



Belmont Resources has ended a potential agreement with another junior mining exploration company for partial ownership of a mining project north of Atikokan.

The agreement would have seen Dorex earn up to 60 per cent interest in Belmont's Lumby-Buffo property.

Belmot says Dorex failed to meet certain requirements and deadlines set out in the contract.