College Workers Fired

Several part-time support staff workers at Confederation College claim they've lost their jobs because they didn't cross picket lines when their full-time co-workers were on strike.

Reports says some of those workers were employed at the College's campus in Fort Frances.

Part-time support staff aren't unionized, but the Ontario Public Service Employees Union is trying to help those affected by this week's move.

The college is not commenting.

Solar Project Starts Up

(Cory Bolton (l) of Solar Logix and Fort Frances Sustainability Coordinator Travis Rob pose in front of solar power equipment at public works garage.)

The town of Fort Frances has started generating electricity with the help of the sun.

Sustainability Coordinator Travis Rob says solar panels atop the public works garage are now connected to the power grid.

The 52 panels, generating 10 kilowatts, will send the power back to the grid and collect 80 per kilowatt hour on the power sold over the next 20 years.

Three other projects at the Memorial Sports Centre, daycare centre and water treatment plant will be connected in the next couple of weeks.

Northern Issues Debate Today

There will be an empty chair in Thunder Bay this morning when the party leaders debate northern issues.

Premier Dalton McGuinty says he can't attend due to a scheduling conflict and his rivals say that won't go over well in the North.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak have been pushing McGuinty to accept the invitation.

McGuinty, who will campaign in Toronto, Hamilton and Kitchener, says he's not snubbing the North and has a long track record to prove it.

The debate will be webcast on www.noma.ca beginning at 10 p.m. CDT.

Questionaire Goes Unanswered

The Ontario Liberals choose not to address a number of forestry-related questions posed by northwestern Ontario municipal, forestry and business leaders.

But president of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Ron Nelson stops short of criticizing them for their non-answers.

The Liberals failed to provide answers to twelve of 13 questions posed.

Board Looks to Improve Technology

The Northwest Catholic District School Board will be focusing on improving access to technology in the classroom over the next three years.

Superintendent of Education Al Cesiunas says it's the key element of their strategic plan.

It includes installing Smartboards in all classrooms and having St. Francis school students test iPads.

OPP Correction

OPP have issued a correction to a story B93 News aired Wednesday involving charges against a woman after cocaine was found in a vehicle.

Police say the 44-year-old woman was from Fort Frances, not Couchiching First Nation as they previously reported.

The September 7 arrest was made on Highway 11 in Couchiching.

Website Changes

There's a new look to our website www.b93.ca.

New features include a community events calender, E! online news and easier access to our Facebook page.