Scholarships And Bursaries Handed Out To College Students

Over 250 Confederation College students have one less financial worry.

They have been awarded scholarships and bursaries totaling $120-thousand to continue their education.

President Jim Madder says it's all made possible by private donations.

The ceremony was held at the College's Thunder Bay campus yesterday.

Construction Boom Predicted For Northern Ontario

A series of large resource and infrastructure projects are been seen as boosting the construction industry in northern Ontario.

A report from BuildForce Canada predicts projects such as the Ring of Fire, the Energy East pipeline and ongoing transmission work, will bring new workers to the region over the next five years.

It also sees the demand for workers exceeding the existing workforce, forcing recruitment efforts to focus on youth and the Aboriginal community.

Ontario Wants More Immigrants

Ontario wants to attract more skilled immigrants to the province.

The Liberals are introducing an Ontario Immigration Act, aimed at strengthening its role in the immigrant selection process.

Ontario also wants the number of individuals who fall under a nominee program to increase to five-thousand from the current 13-hundred.

The program allows employers to fill skilled-labour vacancies with immigrants when suitable workers can't be found in Canada.

Retirement Benefits Changed

Retirement benefits for Ontario's civil service are being changed

Employees who retire on or after January 1, 2017 will be required to pay 50 per cent of their benefits premiums.

Currently the government pays the full cost.

Workers will also have to work 20 years, up from 10, to qualify for benefits.

The moves expect to save the province $1.2 billion over five years.

More Hunting Fines Issued

The hammer is coming down on more illegal hunting in the region.

This time it's a southern Ontario man who has been fined a total of $3,700 for illegally hunting two cow moose and for shooting across a road.

He has also been banned from hunting for a year.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says the incidents happened at a resort in the Lac des Mille Lacs area, west of Thunder Bay, last fall.

Student Tests Reviewed

The agency responsible for administering the province-wide tests in Ontario says most students do well in the three R's by the time they reach high school.

The Education Quality and Accountability Office say it's tracked students scores over the past seven years and found that students not doing well at the high school level also struggled in elementary school.

Chief Executive Officer Bruce Rodriques says it shows that educators and parents need to pay close attention to students' results on the provincial assessments.

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.

Queen's Park Resumes

Provincial politicians return to the legislature today after a long winter break.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says she's ready to continue the battle over winter road maintenance.

Campbell says another priority is affordability after hearing concerns over Metrolinx expansion plans in southern Ontario and hydro rates.

Police Now Confirm Victims In House Fire

Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service are confirming that four bodies have been located inside of a home at Mishkeegogamang First Nation near Pickle Lake, following a house fire late last week.

No names have been released.

Sergeant Jackie George says several agencies are involved in the investigation that will take time to complete.

Boil Water Advisory Lifted

The water all good again at Riverside Health Care's Emo Health Centre.

The Emo hospital had been under a boil water advisory last week because of a water main break on Front Street close to the facility.

That advisory was lifted Friday.

Hammond Reef Deadline Today

Today is the deadline to comment on the federal environmental assessment of Osisko Mining's Hammond Reef gold project near Atikokan.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is gathering input before making a decision on the project.

New Gold Files Technical Report

Another key document in New Gold's Rainy River project is now complete.

The company has filed a technical report pertaining to its gold project north of Barwick.

The report provides further information on the project's history as well as additional detail on both the technical and financial estimates.

New Gold is targeting construction to begin some time next year with the mine opening a year later.

Resolute Get New Deal For Workers At U.S. Mills

As Resolute Forest Products prepares for contracts talks with Unifor for its mills in Canada, the forest company has completed new deals for workers at four of its U.S. mills.

The five-year agreement covers more than 15-hundred employees at mills in Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia.

The deal includes wage improvements, but no details are provided.

New Release From Atikokan Artist

A new release from Atikokan blues artist Sunday Wilde.

Entitled "He Digs Me," the thirteen new songs are a bit of a departure for the artist who has added drums and some electric guitar.

Along with new original songs, Wilde also adds her version of Patsy Cline's "I Falls To Piece."

The album was recorded in Minnesota last fall.

Homeowners Asked To Help Prevent Freezing

The town of Fort Frances is asking homeowners who have faced frozen water lines in the past or who's neighbours are suffering the same face to run their water for the next few months.

The town's public works department has been called out to thaw more than 90 lines as of yesterday.

Manager Doug Brown says the shallow depth of lines is partly to blame.

Brown says its also good to leave a trickle of water if you're leaving town for the weekend.

Osisko Write To Shareholders

Osisko Mining's shareholders can expect mail in the near future.

The company has fired off a letter recommending they reject the unsolicited bid from Goldcorp.

Osisko states the $2.8 billion offer fails to recognize the value of it's Canadian Malartic mine in Quebec.

The letter adds that Goldcorp also made three previous offers, all of which Osisko says would have been "value destructive" to shareholders.

The matter is also before a Quebec court while Goldcorp has extended its offer until March 10.

No Change To FedNor

The Minister responsible for FedNor is firing back at Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty.

Rafferty this week stated the federal budget included no new funding for the regional economic development agency and that hundreds of thousands of dollars had been removed.

Greg Rickford calls it a "bold faced lie."

Rickford says they have new priorities under FedNor with some focus on manufacturing and support for businesses who want to diversify.

Iron Range Using Hwy 502 Again

Iron Range Bus Lines is once again using Highway 502.

The local bus line had refused to travel the road due to poor conditions and dismal road maintenance this winter.

That resulted in lengthy travel times for area sports teams, both here in Fort Frances and those in the Dryden areas.

Opposition Parties Split Provincial By-Elections

The governing Liberals were shut out in two provincial by-elections in southern Ontario.

Gila Martow won in Thornhill, maintaining the riding for the Progressive Conservatives.

The NDP's Wayne Gates won in Niagara Falls, a riding formerly held by the Liberals.

Ontario Looks To Deny Licenses

The Ontario's government appears to be trying to put an end to payday lender The Cash Store.

The province’s Registrar of Payday Loans has issued a proposal to refuse licenses to The Cash Store and Instaloans, both owned by Edmonton-based The Cash Store Financial Services.

The proposal stems from a recent court decision that lead them to being prohibited from offering payday loans or lines of credit products in Ontario.

The company plans to ask for a hearing before the License Appeal Tribunal.

Ontario Asked Not To Raise Tobacco Taxes

Ontario's corner store owners want the province to avoid following the federal government's lead in raising tobacco taxes.

The Conservative government announced in the federal budget Tuesday to add $6.00 in new taxes to a carton of smokes.

The Ontario Convenience Stores Association's Dave Bryans says that only hurts owners and does little to address the issue of contraband tobacco.

Bryans says further increases from Ontario will only inflame the problem.

Trucker Now Charged

OPP have now laid charges in that near head-on collision north of Nipigon involving two transports that was captured on video and went viral.

Police say 31-year-old Akmal Hayat of Milton, Ontario has been charged with careless driving, failing to remain at the scene of an accident and failing to report an accident.

Video of January's incident, showing one transport having to take evasive action to avoid another trying to pass a snow plow, helped police identify the driver.

More Charges Againt Thunder Bay Man

More charges have been laid against a Thunder Bay man accused of incidents of sexual assault dating back to 1997.

OPP slapped four new charges on 52-year-old Gary Lamont after determining the identity of three male victims.

Lamont has been in custody since arrested in December on eight other charges.

Police says the victims, all male, were between the ages of 17 and 24 at the time of the alleged incidents that occurred at Thunder Bay and Warnica Lake between 1997 and 2007.

OFAH Support Federal Funding Commitment

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters is welcoming announced plans by the federal government to add another $15-million over the next two years to a recreational fisheries conversation partnership program.

The program was created last year to help support local projects that benefit the conservation of fisheries habitats.

OFAH says the new money will allow for dozens of new projects to proceeds

Crime Stats Drop In Rainy River District

A drop in calls for service for the OPP in the Rainy River district.

OPP responded to almost 68-hundred calls last year, compared with the 78-hundred in 2012.

Rainy River district detachment commander, Inspector Steve Shouldice says there was a similar trend in Fort Frances where police handling about 33-hundred calls.

Shouldice says police also cleared 33 per cent of all property crimes and 93 per cent of all violent crimes, both significantly higher than the provincial and national averages.

Tim Hortons Brings Smiles To Policing Committee

It's all smiles for the OPP's Community Policing Committee.

Tim Hortons in Fort Frances has donated nearly $4,300 raised from last fall's sale of Smile Cookies.

Constable Anne McCoy says the money will be used in a variety of ways this year.

The Committee is also working on a website to be launched next month.

Drive To Conditions

All highways in the Rainy River district and Koochiching County are open but being listed as snow covered with the snow falling in the region.

Drivers are advised to take precautions while on the roads.

There was a brief closure of Highway 71 near Sioux Narrows yesterday, following a two vehicle collision.

No one was injured.

Propane Prices Questioned

While Minnesota continues to deal a propane shortage and higher prices, there's word of similar problems facing homeowners in northwestern Ontario.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says it was brought to his attention by a homeowner in Atikokan that the cost of propane had risen 80 per cent in the past year.

Rafferty says while the Canadian Propane Association insists there is no shortage in Canada, he wonders if it's a case of price gouging.

Rafferty is asking the Minister of Finance to investigate.

Campbell Gathering Input On Budget

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is gathering feedback on the upcoming provincial budget.

Campbell says affordability is the resounding complaint she's heard throughout the riding.

Campbell says the NDP will be making demands in the budget, but it's too early to say if the party will support the Liberal government like it did last year.

MPPs return to Queen's Park Tuesday.

NCDS Ready To Help Workers

NCDS is stepping forward to help laid off workers at Resolute Forest Products.

The Fort Frances based agency provides a number of employment services programs.

Marketing Coordinator Sarah Marasyk says they have a number of workshops including ones to help workers with their resume.

Marasyk says they're also planning to create a "Coffee Club" allowing workers to gather and offer support, feedback and job hunting advice to each other.

Firms Fined For Building Mining Camp

Two companies working in the Ring of Fire mining development have been fined $27-thousand for illegally building a mining camp.

Vancouver based Fancamp Explorations and Thunder Bay's Webequie Logistics were found guilty of carrying out construction work without proper permits.

The companies were charged back in 2010 after repeated warnings from the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The camp has since been removed.

Province Not Happy With Feds

Plenty of negative post-budget reaction coming from the provincial government.

The governing Liberals says the federal government is cutting $641-million in transfers to the province.

Premier Kathleen Wynne says that's over the 110 actions the federal government has taken since 2006 that have impacted Ontarians in a negative manner.

Wynne says the feds are making cuts without consulting the province and forcing Ontario to pick up the tab.

Good Budget For Northern Ontario

The Minister responsible for FedNor says the budget is about is all about fiscal responsibility and balancing the books for 2015.

Kenora MP Greg Rickford says while not mentioning northern Ontario specifically, there's are some goodies for the region.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty pans the budget for its lack of support for such things as the region's forest sector and no new funding for FedNor

Obestrical Department Recognized

Some recognition for Riverside Health Care.

It's core team of six obstetrical physicians and nursing staff have received a recognition award for completing the first phase of a comprehensive three-year program that sets obstetrical patient safety a top priority.

The program, known as MOREOB, was launched at LaVerendrye Hospital in Fort Frances last April.

Fight Against Drug Abuse Continues

The federal government is stepping forward in the fight against prescription drug abuse.

It plans to spend nearly $45-million over the next five years to on an awareness campaign, increased monitoring of pharmacies and enhanced services in First Nation communities.

Officials says Canadian consumption of prescribed opioids has risen by over 200 per cent since 2000, while abuse has more than doubled in the past two years.

Made In Canada Campaign Considered

Canadian producers will be getting some promotional support from the federal government.

The recent budget includes plans to create a steering committee to help in a "Made-in Canada" awareness campaign.

Details are to be revealed in the near future.

The quality of Canadian products is recognized worldwide, but no widely recognized Canadian brand exists.

Tourism Marketing Initiative On-line

A tourism partnership between northwestern Ontario, northern Minnesota and the National Geographic Society is now official.

Together they will create an online regional geo-tourism initiative highlighting the region.

The partnership means a new in-depth website and smartphone app that will be linked with existing National Geographic sites.

Atikokan, International Falls and Koochiching County were among those contributing funding to the initiative.

Proposal For Rainy Lake Hotel Made

There's been another proposal put forward for the former Rainy Lake hotel.

No details were revealed, but Fort Frances Mayor Roy Avis council did talk with the proponent at a closed door meeting Monday night.

Avis says council still favours proceeding with efforts to acquire government funding to knock down the shuttered hotel, and help in the develop of an open-air market square.

Rafferty Pans Budget

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty is panning the new federal budget.

He calls it a do nothing document with hardly any substantial support, especially for northern Ontario.

While the budget mentions protecting forestry jobs in eastern Canada, Rafferty says there's nothing about helping to recover those lost in Ontario, nor any mention of any new funding for FedNor.

Mining Likes Budget

The mining industry is welcoming certain components of the federal budget.

The Mining Association of Canada says an extension of a Mineral Exploration Tax Credit for another year will be of huge benefit to the junior exploration sector.

It says renewal comes at a critical time given the tough economic challenges faced in recent months by Canada's smaller exploration companies.