Supreme Court Hearing Clear-Cut Logging Case

The submissions have been made to the Supreme Court over the legality of clear-cut logging on First Nations territory.

It involves a case involving two trappers from the Grassy Narrows First Nation.

Lawyers for the band say the province overstepped its bounds by issuing a forestry license for the area.

The province insists it has legal authority to issue sustainable forest licenses.

All Quiet On the Forest Fire Front

Cool, wet weather is keeping the forest fire situation quiet in northwestern Ontario.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says there have been just seven fires this year, all human caused.

None in the Rainy River district.

Province-wide, there have been 14 fires, compared with 81 at this time last year.

Money For Falls Area In Bonding Bill

File photo

Two projects in the International Falls area are included in a pair of capital investment bills passing through the Minnesota House in voting early this morning.

The more than one-billion dollars in spending includes $8.5 million to bring sewer services to the Island View area near Voyageurs National Park.

Another $2.2 million has been earmarked for an expansion of the International Falls airport terminal.

The Senate is to vote on the bonding bills today.

Election Promises

Progressive Conservatives are planning to reduce the amount of money you pay in personal income taxes.

PC leader Tim Hudak says it will happen once the budget is balanced.

The Tory's have promised to balance the books within two years of taking office.

Provincial Liberals are planning to increase funding for children's treatment centres.

Premier Kathleen Wynne says the extra $5-million dollars will help reduce wait times for families with special needs children and youth seeking services.

It's a re-commitment of a promise made in the failed provincial budget.

The NDP are promising to the hike the minimum wage to $12.00 an hour.

Leader Andrea Horwath says she's also reduce the corporate tax rate paid by small businesses by 1.5 per cent.

Leaders Friday

Premier Kathleen Wynne is focusing on heath care with a visit to a Toronto area hospital and later speaking to close out Nurses Week in the province.

NDP leader Andrea Horwath is in southwestern Ontario with stops in Sarnia, London, Cambridge and Kitchener.

PC Leader Tim Hudak starts his day in Toronto before going to Barrie and Mississauga.

Business Expo Starts

Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce kicks off its business and community expo.

Manager Annely Armstrong says more than 50 exhibitors will be on hand starting at 4 PM at the Memorial Sports Centre.

Some of the vendors are coming from as far away as Manitoba and Iowa.

Admission is $3.00 per person with children under 12 free.

It runs through until tomorrow.

College Grad Today

It's the end of the year for graduating students at Rainy River Community College in International Falls.

The college holds its commencement ceremony today beginning at 1 PM at the College.

A total of 91 students will receive degrees, diplomas or certificates for completion of programs.

Nineteen will received their practical nursing diploma as part of a joint program with Itasca
Community College.

Rentech's Atikokan Plant On Schedule

Rentech says it's on schedule and on budget with its pellet manufacturing plants in Atikokan and Wawa.

The company says it on target to deliver the first order of pellets from its Atikokan plant to Ontario Power Generation and its Atikokan power plant this summer.

The Wawa plant will ship out its first pellets by the end of the year.

New Gold Recognized For Energy Conservation Program

A mining company planning to open a gold mine in the Rainy River district is being recognized for energy conservation efforts at another of its mines.

New Gold is among ten recipients of a federal government sponsored award.

It's for a program in place at its New Afton Mine.