Water Rates Upsetting

Some rural residents around International Falls are upset with the cost they now have to pay for the delivery of city water.

The city increased rates last month.

Resident Kathie Fluke says an increase of 48 per cent to the out-of-town delivery charge contrast to the 20 per cent increase impacted users in the city.

But the city says it's increase only amounts to a few dollars, depending on the amount of water used and any higher costs could be associated with fees applied by the independent water haulers.

Fort Employees Have New Contracts

Municipal employees in Fort Frances have started 2012 with new labour agreements.

Separate four-year-deals for unionized workers and managers and non-unionized staff were agreed to just before the Christmas break.

The deals include wage hikes of two per cent in each year.

One with the Canadian Union of Public Employees impacts 67 full and part time workers, along with eighteen student positions.

The other covers about 40 managers and non-unionized staff, along with another 28 students.

Festive Ride Stats Disappointing

The OPP aren't happy with the results of the festive RIDE program.

Sergeant Shelly Garr says it's disappointing to see some in northwestern Ontario still taking the chance of drinking and driving.

A total of 47 people across the region were charged with impaired.

The specific number of charges in the Rainy River district were not immediately released.

Cap on Hospital CEO Salaries Needed

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says it's time to cap salaries and cut perks for health-care executives.

Her comments come after most of Ontario's hospitals posted their CEO's compensation packages online.

Health Minister Deb Matthews says the idea of a one-size-fits-all salary cap is simplistic and not well thought out.

Question of the Day - January 4

Do you support making the salaries and contracts of hospital executives public?

Tell us on Facebook or our new website 93.1The Border.ca.

In yesterday's question, 52 per cent felt increases in CPP and EI premiums are necessary.

Those increases went into effect Sunday.

Fibrek Fights Takeover Bid

Quebec pulp producer Fibrek is urging its shareholders to reject a hostile takeover bid from Resolute Forest Products.

Resolute is offering 130-million dollars for the company that has pulp mills in Quebec, West Virginia and Michigan.

Fibrek says bid is timed to take advantage of turmoil on the equity markets and low pulp prices.