Thunder Bay-Rainy River Riding Candidates in Place

The campaigning has started for the federal election candidates in the Thunder Bay-Rainy River riding. Voters got to the polls May 2nd. Incumbent MP John Rafferty says he's ready. "There's no secret to my strategy," says Rafferty. "It's the same strategy I always used. That's to knock on as many doors as possible, stand in front of as many post offices as possible, meet as many constituents as possible and see what happens at the other end." Rafferty sees the issue of government ethics to be top of mind on voters. The riding's Liberal Candidate is prepared to regain the seat he lost to Rafferty in the last federal election. Ken Boshcoff says it will be a matter of time before his campaign team in place and he's opening campaign offices throughout the riding. "You have to be prepared both psychologically and physically," says Boshcoff. "I am that. It's just a matter of responding with a volunteer group and that's coming together very nicely." The former area MP says representation will be the key issue in the riding. Maureen Comuzzi-Stehmann carries the Conservative banner in Thunder Bay-Rainy River. t's her first campaign, but is eager to help the Tories win the riding by showcasing projects helped by programs initiated under Prime Minister Harper. " We're going to go after the Economic Action plan and reinforce the good work he's done for this region," says Comuzzi-Stehmann. "It's amazing that northwestern Ontario has gotten so much attention." Comuzzi-Stehmann says her team is already in place and has her campaign headquarters set up in Thunder Bay.

School Survey

The Fraser Institute's annual ranking of schools is again putting northwestern Ontario school near the bottom.

Spokesperson Michael Thomas says the rankings, based on the province's standardize test results, alert officials of the need for improvement.

"There may be issues at the heart of it that are not easily understandable by looking at the report card," says Thomas. "We want the whole community to come together to look at ways to improve student achievement."

North Star Community School in Atikokan tops all Rainy River district schools, but some schools honoured by the very group responsible for the tests are left out of the survey.

Bass Tournament Back on Agenda

Members of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship will be back at town council tonight.

Their appearance comes following a week of talks with various town committees over a number of requests for this year's tournament.

Council is also to hear presentations from the Downtown Business Improvement Association and Solar Logix, the company offering to help set up solar panels on some municipal buildings.

No Chronic Wasting Disease Found

Minnesota's search for additional evidence of chronic wasting disease continues to come up empty. So far, 665 adult deer have been tested in southeastern Minnesota. The Department of Natural Resources began the tests after a deer infected was found near Pine Island last fall. The DNR will end its tests this week.