NDP Wants No New Taxes

Provincial Liberals are balking at NDP demands to avoid any new taxes or fees in the upcoming budget.

NDP leader Andrea Horwath says her party won't support the Liberals if it happens.

Premier Kathleen Wynne says she understands her concerns, but the budget they will bring forward will be fair.

Wynne says she plans to meet with both opposition leaders in the future to discuss their budget wish lists.

Valcourt Promotes First Nations Education Act

The Federal Aboriginal Affair Minister is trying hard to sell his government's plan for First Nation Education.

Bernard Valcourt met with Native leaders in Thunder Bay yesterday.

Valcourt says understands their concern that funding won't flow until next year, but says time is needed to get the legislation through the House and into law.

Valcourt feels the plan will allow adequate funding and First Nation say in the education system.

Watch The Weather

Weather officials are watching closing a pair of systems that have the potential of bring huge amounts of snow to northwestern Ontario and northern Minnesota.

An Alberta clipper and a Texas low are expected to develop by tonight, and track towards the Great Lakes tomorrow.

There's still some uncertainty as to the exact track of the storm's centre.

Environment Canada says it is possible we could see snow, changing to ice pellets and freezing rain.

Senator Seeks Customs Facility Under New Funding Program

A U.S. Senator believes International Falls should be a pilot under new legislation that would allows for alternative funding of a new customs facility.

Minnesota's Amy Klobuchar says as many as five pilots are to be selected under the measure included in the recently passed omnibus spending bill.

The U.S General Services Administration has plans for a new facility, but hasn't moved forward on the project because of funding.

More Help For Propane Users

Koochiching County is setting up a new fund for those struggling with propane costs.

Community Services Director Terry Murray says eligible applications would be referred by Kootasca after having exhausted all other relief initiatives.

Murray says they will then see if they qualify for other programs before dipping into the new fund.

The County's put in 20-thousand dollars as start up money.

Debate Over Sewer Board Appointments

An effort to fill two vacancies on the North Koochiching Sanitary Sewer Board resulted in a debate at International Falls city council last night over who should fill those spots .

Councillor Cynthia Jacksa wanted at least one councillor in place to ensure the city's concerns are brought forward, but Mayor Bob Anderson ruled the request out of order because it didn't reflect the intent or spirit of a city ordinance regarding public participation in committees.

It was eventually left to Anderson to make recommendations to be discussed by Council at a later date

OPP Seek Student

OPP are hiring.

Their seeking a student to work with their marine unit in the Rainy River district this summer.

Students work with OPP officers to conduct regular patrols of area lakes to ensure boaters are following the rules of the water.

Only electronic applications will be considered and can be located at http://www.gojobs.gov.on.ca/SEP.asp, or the Career pages of www.opp.ca.

Colleges Ask For More Focus On Youth Employment

MPP's are being asked to put more focus on youth unemployment this session.

Colleges Ontario says young people have been hit particularly hard in the current economy with more than 16 per cent of youth without jobs.

It says broader policy measures are needed so education and training better reflect with the needs of the job market.

Bayfield Files Report

Bayfield Ventures has completed a technical report on its exploration project north of Barwick.

The report details exploration efforts conducted within its so-called "B-Block" which adjoins to the north of New Gold's gold project.

The company says drilling has led to the discovery of wide spread gold, silver, zinc and copper mineralization, but no calculations have been done to determine how much.

Crimestoppers Welcomes Tips To Break In

OPP are turning to Crimestoppers for help in solving a break-in at Nestor Falls.

An unnamed business on Highway 71 was broken into sometime between 6 p.m. Saturday February 8 and 1 p.m. the next day.

An amount of money and some small items were taken.

Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers.

New Youth Program For Pikangikum

Ontario Provincial Police and the National Crime Prevention Centre are unveiling a new program to help the youth of Pikangikum First Nation.

Sergeant Shelley Garr says the new initiative will run for five years.

The young people taking part in the program range from 6 years old to 18.