Health Minister Asked to Visit

Ontario's Health Minister is being invited to visit the Rainy River district.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says it may help find a more long-term solution that improves better access to physicians for area residents.

Campbell says the situation has become especially critical in Rainy River where the town's lone doctor announced recently to retire by the end of June 2013.

Health Care Reform Planned??

A change in how Ontario spends money for health care may be on the horizon.

Premier McGuinty says government will soon outline its plans for health care reform.

McGuinty says the government will also have to deal with public sector salaries in its drive to eliminate the deficit.


The New Democrats are worried by the Liberal government's talk of transforming Ontario's health care system.

Leader Andrea Horwath fears the lack of specifics.

The Progressive Conservatives, meantime, say they'll keep pushing for a legislated public sector wage freeze to help trim the deficit, an idea rejected by the Premier.

Air Ambulance Job Cuts

Ontario's air ambulance service ORNGE has cut 18 jobs in an effort to cut costs.

The cuts apply only to office jobs and not paramedics or pilots.

ORNGE has been at the centre of controversy lately over its questionable business practices, posh headquarters and high executive salaries.

Water Meters Being Changed

A final attempt will be made next month to replace a number of out-dated water metres from a number of Fort Frances businesses, industries and institutions.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says the company tasked with the job is hoping to finish the changeover it started last fall.

Brown says some of the 173 metres being replaced were installed up to 40 years ago.

Because of increase accuracy in reading water use, Brown admits some users may find themselves paying more for water than they did with the old meters.

Unemployment Rate Unchanged

The unemployment rate in Koochiching County held steady at 7.9 per cent last month.

The latest figures from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development show the County created about one hundred jobs in December over the month before.

Union Merger Explored

The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union and the Canadian Auto Workers are getting the ball rolling to create one mega union.

Stephen Boon, CEP National Representative for this region, says both sides are pushing to establish a new union.

Other unnamed unions could also be included.

Law School Dean Selection Continues

Lakehead University is starting to whittle down it's list of potential Law School Deans.

Spokesperson Rodney Hanley says they should have a short list of candidates in February.

Applications for the new Thunder Bay law school have come from across Canada and around the world.

Lost Wheels

Both the 20-year-old driver of a transport and the company he was driving for face charges after OPP stopped a vehicle near Dryden missing a set of rear tires.

The incident happened Saturday.

No word where the missing tires went or how long the vehicle had been on the highway before police stopped it.

Seine River Looks for New Business

Seine River First Nation is receiving provincial funding to help attract new business and create jobs.

The money allows the band to complete an inventory of its community assets, update its web profile and host an investment readiness strategy workshop.