Federal Election Looms

Political mountains may have to move if we're to avoid a spring election.

It appears the government will fall on a Liberal non-confidence motion, chiding the government for showing contempt for Parliament.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River John Rafferty says he's voting in favour of that motion.

"I don't believe this government has been very ethical," says Rafferty. "I certainly don't believe they've been accountable or transparent - two things they campaigned on in the last election and in the election before."

Rafferty doesn't see any last-minute ditch efforts to avoid the inevitable.

Survey Studied Next Week

A survey conducted by the Rainy River District Women's Shelter of Hope is finding a high misuse of prescription drugs in our district.

Executive Director Donna Kroocmo says area service providers will come together next Tuesday to discuss the results.

"I think it will give us a lot of good information going forward as to the gaps in service that we have in our district to address some of these issues," says Kroocmo. Possibility that will give us good information to write proposals to fill in some of these gaps."

The survey was done to identify the key symptoms leading to abuse.

School Fees Explained

Provincial public schools will find out today what they can charge students in extra fees.

Some schools have charged students hundreds of dollars.

The new guidelines will also require boards to track their fundraising and corporate participation in schools.

NCDS Renovates

Some new facilities for Northern Community Development Services.

Executive Director Jennifer Greenhalgh says renovations to their Fort Frances location provides space for employers to meet with prospective employees.

"A lot of outside agencies do not have an office and quiet space to meet clients," says Greenhalgh. "They often become our clients after that so we realized there was a real need for a place for employers who want to conduct interviews and don't have an established office space."

The $160-thousand dollars worth of work was offset in part by provincial funding.

Cost to use NCDS facilities is free.

Murder Suspect Dies

A police investigation into a murder in northern Ontario is now turning into a coroner's inquest.

Dwane Turk of Thunder Bay died while being held in custody in North Bay.

Turk was charged with second-degree murder in the death last week of 32-year-old-Christopher Jean, near Elk Lake, North of Sudbury.

Jean was also from Thunder Bay.

Former Mayor Charged

The former mayor of Kenora will appear in court in May on impaired driving charges.

74-year-old Len Compton was arrested early yesterday morning after O-P-P pulled over a vehicle in downtown Kenora.