Some Health Programs to be Delisted

 The NDP is worried that the McGuinty government's cuts to the number of services covered by O-HIP will turn into a slippery slope of biggers cuts down the road.

The party's finance critic Michael Prue calls the latest announcement a part of an agenda the province started eight years ago when it delisted chiropractors and physiotherapists and optometrists.

Health Minister Deb Matthews says the province will reduce the number of services covered by O-HIP in the fight against the deficit.

Health Unit Board Selections

A Fort Frances councillor is back as the head of the Northwestern Health Unit's Board of Directors.

John Albanese has been re-elected as chair.

Fort Frances councillor Paul Ryan and former Emo Reeve Russ Fortier were also returned to the board.

Provincial Funding Announced

Fort Frances will receive more than $3.2- million from the province this year.

That's its allocation under the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund.

Over $900-thousand is to be used to offset the town's policing costs.

The province also says the town will also benefit in half-a-million dollars from the ongoing uploading of municipal costs for area social programs.

The Ministry of Finance did not disclose the amount of funding to Atikokan.

It says it couldn't calculate its allocation because the town had not submitted required financial information.

Question of the Day - January 26

A split vote to our question regarding the town of Fort Frances plans to remove sidewalks in disrepair.

51 per cent of respondents don't think the town is justisfied in its reasons while 49 per cent support the town's plans.

Today's question, do you think this week's First Nations leaders meeting with the Prime Minister was beneficial?

Let us know on our website 931TheBorder.ca.

Mixed Feelings from Treaty 3

Grand Council Treaty Three has mixed feelings about this week's summit with the federal government.

Grand Chief Diane Kelly says the prime mininister's decision to spend all day meeting with aborignal leaders was unprecedented, but some of the speeches by the Assembly of First Nations were somewhat disheartening.

She feels Treaty Three's own laws can better protect their harvesting areas.

Rafferty Takes Aim at Premier

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says Premier Dalton McGuinty is passing the buck when he claims First Nations are a Federal responsibility.

Rafferty says that's not the case since the Province of Ontario signed both the Treaty Three and Nine treaties.

The local MP adds the McGuinty Government has failed to provide equal funding toward first nation  education.

Watch What You Share Online

Ontario's privacy commissioner is warning people to be careful of information they share about themselves online.

Dr. Ann Cavoukian says pieces of information that seem unrelated can be linked to create a detailed profile.

Wolf Season Planned

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is proposing to let hunters and trappers take 400 wolves this fall.

DNR officials say research indicates the population could sustain a higher harvest quota, but say they're taking a conservative approach for the state's first season.

The region's wolves come off the endangered list tomorrow.

New Vice-Principal for Rainy River HS

Rainy River High School will have a new vice-principal next month.

Dan Mack is being appointed to the position in an interim basis.

He replace Don McBride who is retiring.