Government Accused of Ignoring Northern Health Care Needs

The Liberal government continues to be pressed over looming health care concerns in northwestern Ontario.

As Rainy River Health Centre looks for more permanent coverage of its emergency room, comes word that Ear Falls is losing its only doctor at the end of the year.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell accuses the government of ignoring the needs of the north.

Health Minister Deb Matthews says her government has made it a high priority to increase physician coverage in the North.

Youth Centre Seeks Adult Help

The youth centre in Atikokan is looking for more adult help.

Chair of the Atikokan Youth Initiatives Eva Shields says they're hoping to find enough volunteers to keep the centre open during the Christmas.

Shields says a strong volunteer base could also aid two part-time employees the Centre has other times of the year.

Board Human Resources Manager to Retire

The Rainy River District School Board will be looking for a new Human Resource manager in the new year.

Diane Ross will end a 28-year-career with the board at the end of next March.

She first joined the board as a school attendance councillor.

Polar Plunge Incentives

A jump in the lake could earn you a 3D Blu Ray Home Theatre System.

It's one of the prizes being offered to participants at the Voyageur Lion's Polar Plunge on January 1.

Event chair Jim Martindale says new sponsorship provides for some incentives they hope will inspire more jumpers and increased fundraising.

The top fundraiser gets the theatre system with Canadian Tire offering up gift certificates.

   

P.M. Defends Attawapiskat Decision

Prime Minister Harper is defending the decision to force the Attawapiskat First Nation to pay for the consultant named to handle the reserve's finances.

It's costing the band $1,300 dollars a day to have the third-party manager appointed by Harper.

The prime minister says the government is just making sure the band council stops mismanaging taxpayers' money.

Session Ends

 The Liberals are following through on an election commitment with a bill introduced in the legislature today.

It would expand a program that provides up to eight weeks of unpaid leave for people caring for a sick or injured family member.

The Liberals have also introduced a bill to provide a home renovation tax credit to seniors, and have promised to cut full-time tuition fees in the new year.

Governments Addicted to Corporate Welfare

A report from a right-wing think tank says Ontario governments are addicted to dispensing ``corporate welfare.''

The Fraser Institute says Ontario governments of all political stripes spent almost 28-billion dollars on direct subsidies to corporations between 1991 and 2009.

Author Mark Milke says its money that could have been used to almost eliminate the Ontario health premium, reduce taxes or Ontario's annual deficit.

NOMA Not Pleased with Environmental Commissioner

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association doesn't seem to be a fan of Ontario's Environmental Commissioner.

NOMA is critical of some of the comments Gordon Miller makes in his annual report.

Vice-President Dave Canfield says Miller doesn't really understand the importance of forestry to our economy.

NOMA takes issue with the Commissioner's suggestion that the Caribou Conservation Plan will have only a "limited" affect on local communities.