Ontario Budget

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan has tabled what he says is the most sweeping budget the province has seen.

He says it makes the right choices -- including a two-year public sector wage freeze and a freeze on corporate tax cuts -- to get a massive deficit under control.

It includes almost $18-million in cuts and cost containment, along with $4.4-billion in revenue increases
over three years, without tax increases.

Opposition Reaction to Budget

The Opposition is vowing to vote against the Liberal government's budget, which could lead to a second Ontario election in five months.

 Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak says the budget did not do enough to reduce the size and cost of government or help create private sector jobs.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says she'll consult voters before deciding whether or not to support the Liberal budget.

Northern Ontario Programs Remauin

Several key programs to northern Ontario are protected in the province's budget.

Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle says the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund remains, but its funding has been frozen at $100-million.

The Northern Industrial Energy Rate program, one benefiting the mining and forestry sector, will also run for at least another year.

Forest Fire Fighting Resource Concerns

Kenora-Rainy River MPP's is looking for assurances the Ministry of Natural Resources forest fire fighting efforts won't be impacted by budget cuts.

Sarah Campbell says it's already shaping up to be a busy year and the province may not be able to rely on outside resources as its done in the past.

Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle says the Ministry will have the resources its needs to fight this blazes fires.

New County Sheriff Appointed

Koochiching County Commissioners have appointed their Undersheriff as their new Sheriff.

Brian Jesperson will take over from the retiring Brian Youso June 1st and hold the post until it comes open for election in 2014.

The County made the appointment after being told it could not hold an early election to fill out the rest of the current mandate.

Highway 11 Road Work

The drive down Highway 11 in Minnesota to Voyageurs National Park could take a little longer than usual this summer.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is replacing two bridges.

Spokesperson Walter Leu says the work will be done by the same contractor but can't be done until after the July 4 holiday.

Work will be done by October.

Both construction sites will be reduced to one lane controlled by traffic signals.

Haze Plan Vote Delayed

Regulators have postponed voting on a plan for reducing haze over the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Voyageurs National Park.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Citizens Board was set to vote yesterday on whether to send the plan to federal regulators.

Concerns about the plan from others forced the board to delay the vote until next month.

New Car Wash Planned

File Photo

Plans for a car wash in the west end of Fort Frances will be the subject of a public meeting next month.

Proponent Bruce Whalen is seeking a zoning amendment to property on McIrvine Road for the business.

Plans includes six coin-operated bays for smaller vehicles and a separate one for larger vehicles such as  transports.

A hearing will be held as part of the April 9th council meeting.

Burn Restrictions Expand to Koochiching County

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources plans to extend burning restrictions to Koochiching County next week.

Those restrictions began Monday in 35 other Minnesota counties,

The DNR is not allowing burning without a special permit from local forestry offices.

Electoral Boundary Commission Work Starts

The process towards a redrawing of the federal political maps in Ontario has started.

The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission of Ontario is looking at how to add 15 new seats to the House of Commons.

There are some concerns it will also mean some change in boundaries to northwestern Ontario's ridings where the population is on the decline.

The Commission is giving the public until the end of April to comment.