Rainy River Doc Issue

Concerns the town of Rainy River could be without a full-time doctor this spring will be delivered directly to government next week.

Mayor Deb Ewald wanted to meet with Health Minister Deb Matthews in Toronto, but instead has received an audience with her Parliamentary Assistant.

Doctor David Singleton, the town's lone doctor, is planned to end his practice in April.

Minister Invited to Rainy River, Again

Ontario's Health Minister is being accused of forcing the town of Rainy River into a medical crisis.


In the legislature, Kenora-Rainy River  MPP Sarah Campbell reissued an invite to Deb Matthews to visit and speak with local officials about what can be done.


"The situation for family doctors in communities like Rainy River is untenable," says Campbell, "and it means that we are unable to recruit permanent family doctors. The minister knows all of this, yet she keeps hoping that the problems will somehow magically disappear. Well, they won’t. The system as it now stands is broken."


Matthews says her Ministry is working hard to help the community and has ensured emergency room coverage at Rainy River Health Centre until April 5.

No Meetings for Fort Council

A contingent of Fort Frances council has no meetings with Liberal cabinet members when they travel to a provincial municipal meeting next week.

Council had requested meetings with about half a dozen Ministers at the Ontario Good Roads conference in Toronto.

The Ministry of Environment did agree to meet Sunday, a day before delegates where to arrive.

Interim Report on Residential Schools Today

A commission set up to help First Nations heal from abuses they suffered in residential schools is about to release an interim report.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada has taken 25-thousand statements from survivors, visited 500 communities and heard from about 100 former school employees.

Minnesota Moose Continue to Decline

The head of a study that shows Minnesota's moose population continues to drop says the state probably won't have moose much longer.

Mark Lenarz of the Department of Natural Resources says northeastern Minnesota has lost about half its moose population since 2006.

Reasons for the decline are not that well understood, but diseases, parasites and a warmer climate are thought to be factors.

Social Justice Issues Explored

Social justice issues are on the minds of some students in the Rainy River district.

Intermediate students from St. Francis School in Fort Frances and Stratton's Our Lady of the Way gathered yesterday for a student leadership initiatiative.

Joseph Wenzel, a youth representative with Development and Peace, says students can make a difference

The social and economic impacts of such things as ethanol and bottle water were among issues discussed.

Chamber Awards Presented

Some of the area best businesses and individuals have been recognized by the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce.


The chamber held its annual awards night last night.


Here's a list of all winners

Safety Award - Town of Fort Frances

Accessibility Award - Riverside Health Care

Tony Beyak Memorial - Volunteer of the Year-  Gabriela Hanzuk

Employee of the Year - Jeff Savage, BDO Canada

Business Woman of the Year - Erin Wood, Simplicity

Customer Service - Individual - Laurie Webb-Brown, Tim Hortons

Customer Service - Business - Fort Frances Dental Centre

Entrepeneur of the Year - Nick Beyak, Sunset Country Ford

Small Business Trainer - M.L. Caron Electric

Home Based Business - SKS Unlimited - Steve Sinclair

Business of the Year (1-15 employees) - Betty's of Fort Frances

Business of the Year (16-plus employees) - Gillons Insurance

James Paul Award- Tannis Drysdale

Driving Eyes Preoccupied

Some folks still aren't understanding the importance of keeping their eye on the road.

Provincial Police in northwestern Ontario have laid 21 charges during their recent "Distracted Driver" campaign.

Tickets were issued for driving and using a cell phone, watching an entertainment device and careless driving.

Local Educator to Head Regional Board

A Rainy River district educator has been named to head a regional board of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace.

Amy LaFroy, Catholicity Coordinator for the Northwest Catholic District School Board will serve as its president.

Development and Peace is the official international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada.

Report Finds High Child Poverty Rate in Koochiching

A new study suggests 19 per cent of children in Koochiching County are living in poverty.

Information released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation indicates that figure has remained virtually unchanged over the past five years.

Kara Arzemendia with Children's Defense Fund Minnesota says the numbers aren't surprising.

The report calls for transforming disadvantaged communities and makes several recommendations that can be tailored to each area.

Doctor Moves Up Departure Date

The town of Rainy River is losing its only full-time doctor sooner than expected.

In an open letter to the community, Dr. David Singleton says he'll be ending his practice in the middle of April instead of June of next year.

Middleton cites a need for more control over his work and its conditions as reasons for his departure.

He also blames deficiences in the funding model that's prohibiting new doctors from relocating to Rainy River or locums wanting to fill in at the emergency department of the Rainy River Health Centre.

Seniors Tax Credit Panned

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is doubtful most seniors will benefit from a proposed home renovation tax credit from the province.

She says seniors in the Kenora-Rainy River Riding would be far better off with cheaper electricity rather than another rebate program.

Campbell suggests few seniors living on fixed incomes in her riding will be able to afford any renovations to qualify for a tax credit.