Medical School Working On Strategic Plan

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is continuing to work towards creating a 5-year strategic plan.

It has created a 28 person group to oversee the planning process.

They'll start to form their plan this year and implement it next year.

Budget Day Confirmed

The provincial Liberals are now confirming the Ontario budget will be released May 1.

 

The Progressive Conservatives revealed that date last month based on documents they had obtained.

 

The Liberals have been making a flurry of announcements as a prelude to the budget.

 

If both the NDP and Tories oppose the fiscal plan, it will trigger an election, likely in June.

More Time To Complete Your Taxes

Canadians have a few extra days to complete their taxes.

The Canada Revenue Agency has pushed the deadline to file from April 30th to May 5th.

That's because of last week's shutdown of on-line services due to a a security threat.

Relay For Life Information Session

Relay for Life is fast approaching in Fort Frances.

It goes June 20th at Fort Frances High School.

Committee member Christine Denby says the theme focuses on the purpose of the event.

An information session will take place tonight at the Fort Frances Library for teams and volunteers interested.

It takes place from 6 PM to 8 PM.

You can also register a team on-line through the Relay for Life website.

Coal Free

Ontario is now coal free.

The last remaining load of coal has burned at the Thunder Bay Generating Station, Ontario's last remaining coal-fired plant.

The plant is being converted to burn biomass.

Meantime, the conversation of Ontario Power Generation's Atikokan plant continues and is expected to be complete by August.

New Brand In Place

A new marketing brand for Fort Frances is now in place.

"Fort Frances, Boundless" was created following several months of work by Calgary-based Twist Marketing.

Consultant Chris Field says it identifies the endless opportunities before the community and sets Fort Frances apart from other communities.

The brand comes with a new logo showing a bird who's wings represent the "F's" in Fort Frances.

No Shows On Casino Question

No comment from the public on Fort Frances council's intent to include a question in the fall ballot regarding casinos.

No one showed for a meeting Monday night that offered the public an opportunity to comment on the question asking if residents support the town pursuing a casino further with Ontario Lottery and Gaming.

The question's wording will come back to council for final approval later this month.

Vote-By-Mail Accepted

Fort Frances will again go with the vote-by-mail system for this fall's municipal elections.

The method has been used in every municipal election in town since 2000.

The town will also lease tabulating equipment at $9,800  to help count the votes.