Building Problems at Water Plant

The painting of the Fort Frances water treatment plant has led to some other repairs needed to the building's exterior.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says a problem with the brick mortar was discovered when crews pressure washed the building.

"What we're hearing from the sub-contractor is that the mortar froze when it was initially installed," says Brown. "so when they high pressure washed the mortar was just popping out."

Brown says they're now looking at the cost of repairs.

Lobbying Required

A Fort Frances councillor is defending the need to send delegations to Toronto to lobby on the town's behalf.

The latest trip was last week where some member of council met with a couple members of McGuinty's Cabinet.

Sharon Tibbs says without such trips, the town may not have reaped past grant money.

"From looking at the amounts of grants from 2009 through to 2010, if it was not our ability to go to these meetings and send a delegation that is willing to talk to Ministries and other meetings we go to, that we would have some of the funding the province makes available," says Tibbs.

Tibbs adds that without elected officials sitting on the government's side, the town almost has to be its own advocate.

More Help to B.C. Again

Another 64 Ministry of Natural Resources forest fire fighting personnel have left northwestern Ontario to help with the fire fight in British Columbia.

They replace 21 who returned home yesterday following a two week deployment.

High Schools Open

High Schools in both Fort Frances and International Falls open today.

Fort Frances High School students in grades 10, 11 and 12 who did not register in June can do so today.

At Falls High School, class schedules can be picked up.

Road Closure in Fort Frances

Seconds Street in Fort Frances at Portage Avenue is now closed.

Crews are removing recycled asphalt in advance of next week's paving of the road.

It's to reopen by 11 a.m.

Motorists can detour around the area by taking Third or Scott Streets.

Aboriginal Awareness Program for Police

OPP officers from across northwestern Ontario are taking part this week in an aboriginal awareness course at a Kenora area First Nation community.

Inspector Dave Lucas of the Kenora Detachment says its an effort to strengthen relations between police and First Nations people.

"It is a positive example of how we're working with the First Nations communities in the area," says Lucas. "It also maintains our commitment that we're maintaining the local needs as far as policing is concerned."

A total of twenty-four officers are taking part.

Inukshuk Attracting Attention

There's a new roadside attraction on Highway 11.

It's a nearly ten-foot high rock Inukshuk located at the entrance to Quetico North Outfitters, near Quetico Park.

Co-owner Clint Taylor says its a project he first considered many years ago.

"It was about ten or twelve years ago we had an idea to gathering up these rocks and building one," says Taylor. "That's when we first started seeing them showing up along the highway. We gathered up the rocks, but the projects go put aside."

Taylor says the Inukshuk has been a huge hit with many customers stopping just to take a picture.

Avis to File

A second member of Fort Frances town council is poised to file nomination papers for this October's municipal election.

Mayor Roy Avis told members of the media last night that he intends to file for re-election today.

Avis has been on council for the past 13 years, the last four as mayor.

The only official candidate so far is Sharon Tibbs, who's seeking re-election as councillor

Council Meets With Cabinet

The town of Fort Frances had the ear of a few members of the McGuinty cabinet last week.

Mayor Roy Avis, councillor Paul Ryan and CAO Mark McCaig met with Aboriginal Affairs Minister Chris Bentley and Community and Social Services Minister Sandra Pupatello during the Association of Ontario Municipalities conference in Toronto.

Ryan says the meeting were short, but too the point.

"They have to respond to our briefs and we'll see what kind of result we get out of it," says Ryan. "I can tell you our discussions were very frank and to the point."

Topics included policing costs, First Nations blockades and the costs paid for social services.

North End Road Work

Expect plenty of work this week in Fort Frances' north end.

Paving of Portage Avenue between First and Sixth Streets is expected next week and Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says there will be some road closures in advance.

Bay City Contracting will be working in the intersection of Second Street and Portage Avenue Wednesday 7:00 am to approximately 11:00 am to the remove the recycling asphalt paving material and install granular " A" material.

As a result traffic will re-routed onto First Street and Third Street around this intersection.

On Thursday, crews will be working in the intersection of Third and Portage 9:00 am to approximately 1:00 pm.

As a result the Portage Avenue Underpass between Third and Fifth Streets will be closed.

Next Tuesday, Bay City Contracting will be working in the intersection of Fifth Street and Portage Avenue from 9:00 am to approximately 3:00 pm, again result in a closure of the underpass during this time.

A surface treatment of Fifth Street is also expected to begin tomorrow.

Lions' Park Help

The Fort Frances Lion Club is hoping for some help from the town in completing a walkway at Lion's Park in Fort Frances.

The club wants to finish off the link between the fountain and kiosk this year, but some of the costs have come well over budget.

It's now asked if the town will assist in the installation.

The request has gone to the town's operations and facilities committee for further discussion.

New Insurance Rules

New rules impacting auto insurance policies in Ontario are not sitting well with Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton.

Drivers face an array of new choices when they renew their auto insurance policies under the rules that kick in September 1.

But Hampton says the changes don't look good.

"People will be paying more for their auto insurance," says Hampton, "but if they read the fine print of the auto insurance contract, people will be getting much less. That's why we need public auto insurance because you get decent coverages without having to pay and arm and a leg."

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan says the choices will let consumers lower their premiums and dismisses claims the new system will be too confusing for consumers.

Hayes Head to U.S. Singing Contest

A former winner of Quest for the Best will take her talents to Wadena, Minnesota this week to participate in a national singing contest.

Brittany Hayes is competing in the state finals of the Colgate Country Showdown which is looking a new up and coming country artist.

"I've been singing in my basement everyday trying to get my songs worked out," says Hayes. "I'm going to be doing Carrie Underwood's 'Cowboy Casanova' and Garth Brooks 'The Dance.' I'm really, really excited and we get to perform with a live band."

Hayes earned the berth to the August 27 event after winning an event at Detroit Lake earlier this year.

Hayes won the 2009 Quest for the Best with this rendition of Janis Joplin's 'Cry Baby.'

Doer Looks at Border Issues

Canada's Ambassador to the United States has agreed to look into how Canada can make it easier for Americans with minor convictions to cross the border.

Gary Doer was questioned about the policies now carried out at Canada's borders during his visit Friday to International Falls.

He agrees it vital to growing Canada's tourism industry.

"There's going to be more and more tourism dollars and anything that is stopped is a loss opportunity," says Doer. "But it won't be simple on some of the stuff that's black and white, but on some of the other stuff it can be faster."

Area tourism officials says millions of dollars have been lost because of Americans being turned back at the border for minor convictions, some decades old.

Doer also talked about the importance of maintaining a strong cross-border relationship.

Doer notes Canada is the largest importer of goods from the U.S. and is the largest exporter of oil to the States.

The following is Doer's opening remarks at Friday's luncheon.

For Sale Sign Back on Hydro Dams

There's renewed concern over the potential future of Abitibi-Bowater's hydro-electric dams in Northern Ontario.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton says the company is again looking to sell its dams in Fort Frances and Iroquois Falls, which he says will hurt local Mills.

"It will make it more difficult for Fort Frances," says Hampton. "All of that will rebound on the sawmills. Every time you lose a paper machine then there's one less for sawmills to sell their wood chips and residuals."

A previously sale of its hydro-electric assets was put on hold when AbitibiBowater entered creditor protection in April 2009.

CFOB Coming to Atikokan

CFOB's broadcast area will become a little larger in the next few weeks.

The CRTC has given approval for CFOB to replace our sister station CKDR as the source of radio programming to Atikokan.

Vice-president of Acadia Broadcasting Jim MacMullin says it was a request that originated from residents in the community.

"The ties from Atikokan to Fort Frances are much stronger than they are between Dryden and Atikokan," says MacMullin. "That was the basis of the request by the municipality. The CRTC certainly took that into consideration very seriously."

MacMullin expects CFOB to be broadcasting in Atikokan by mid-September.

Candidates Session Cancelled

A municipal candidates session planned for tomorrow in Fort Frances has been cancelled due to a lack of interest.

It was intended to provide information about the rules candidates must follow when seeking election in this October's elections.

Municipal Affairs advisory Heather Brown says candidates can still access the information elsewhere.

"They can find information with respect to campaigning on the Ministry's website," says Brown. "There is a candidate guide that is full accessible."

There is also a candidates session in Atikokan tonight at the Economic Development Training Room beginning at 7 p.m.

Insurance Changes

Ontario drivers will see some changes when they renew their auto insurance policies this fall.

The opposition parties claim motorists will end up with higher premiums but less coverage.

However, Finance Minister Dwight Duncan says the choices will let consumers lower their insurance premiums.

Provincial Funding for Native Groups

(Aboriginal Affairs Minister Chris Bentley (right) with Nishawbe-Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy and Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry)


The provincial government is supporting northwestern Ontario's aboriginal and Metis victims.

The Ontario Native Women's Association has developed workshops designed to foster healthy relationships.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Chris Bentley says they've adopted a "for us by us" strategy.

"You have to listen to the people who have been victims," says Bentley, "and to the communities from which they come. That's the power of this program.. It's designed by aboriginal people, delivered by aboriginal people for aboriginal people."

Another first nations group is offering a healing arts program designed to remember those first nation women who are missing.

Deal Reached at Ainsworth

Workers at the Ainsworth Mill in Barwick have accepted a new four-year deal.

Last night in Emo, the members of the Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union voted 87 per cent in favour of the deal reached during bargaining talks held Tuesday and Wednesday.

CEP rep Stephen Boon calls it a fair deal with a number of critical improvements to language and compensation for workers.

The deal is retroactive to July of last year.

There's no wage increases in the first two years with a four per cent increase over the last two.