Ontario Realty Corporation Disappearing

The Ontario Realty Corporation appears to be the first agency to disappear under the McGuinty government's deficit-fighting program.

Published reports says it is to merge with Infrastructure Ontario.

The agency manages a huge real estate portfolio on behalf of the province.

Ice Roads Partially Open

Ice roads to remote First Nations across northwestern Ontario are beginning to open up to light vehicle traffic.

However, the routes over frozen lakes and swamps are still not strong enough to support heavy supply transports and fuel trucks.

There are almost three-thousand kilometres of ice roads in Ontario.

Boundaries Redraw Facing Court Challenges

A court fight over how Minnesota's new political boundaries for Congress and the Legislature get drawn has a new front.

Several Republicans have filed a case in state court to go along with one Democrats put in motion this month in federal court.

Both argue the existing maps are outdated and therefore invalid.

New Ad Campaign Today

A new ad campaign by the Ontario Energy Board urges consumers to do their homework before signing up with an energy retailer.

The campaign, to start today, reminds consumers of a new set of rules meant to ensure they're treated fairly by electricity and natural gas retailers selling contracts door-to-door.

The rules took effect January 1 and apply to contracts signed or renewed after that date.

Church Seeks By-law Exemption

A Fort Frances church is seeking a partial exemption from the town's calender parking by-law.

In a letter to the town, Pastor Jeff Plett of the Evangelical Fellowship Church asks for the exemption on Sunday mornings and on religious holidays.

The request comes after a number of church goers were issued tickets for parking on the wrong side of Webster Avenue earlier this month.

Plett says parishioners complied with the law the next week, but some were forced to walk long distances to get to church.

Trustees Meet Education Minister

Trustees with the Northwest Catholic District School Board got a recent opportunity to hear from province's education Minister.

Board Chair Anne-Marie Fitzegerald says Leona Dombrowsky spoke recently at a conference in Toronto.

"Minister Dombrowsky shared with us that the focus of the McGuinty government's focus will be on student achievement," says Fitzgerald. "And they're very excited about the response to the full-day every-day junior and senior kindergarten program."

Fitzgerald says based on the Minister's comments, the board is moving in the right direction with respect to student achievement.

MNR Looking into Illegally Shot Moose

The Ministry of Natural Resources is seeking the public's help in solving a number of cases where moose were illegally killed in northern Ontario.

Conservation Officer Ken Ukrainetz says in each case, the moose carcasses were left to rot in the bush.

"People, even know they're supposed to be sure of what they shoot, will make a mistake," says Ukrainetz. "It's definitely taken into consideration if someone does come forward and does admit to shooting the wrong animal."

The MNR is investigating no fewer than twenty cases from this past hunting season, including two near Vermilion Bay and one near Ear Falls.

Mining Firm Appoints Atikokan Man

An Atikokan man has joined on to help a British Columbia mining firm with its work in northwestern Ontario.

Bud Dickson becomes the Senior Consultant for Sustainable Development with Gold Canyon Resources.

The company is doing work in the Red Lake area.

Native People Asked to Complete Census

The Union of Ontario Indians wants area First Nations to participate in the 2011 long form census.

Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee says it's vital that aboriginal residents take part.

"It ensures that adequate funding for priorities like education, health care, economic development both on and off reserve are taken into account with accurate numbers," says Madahbee. "If our First Nations data and information is not included, very little funding comes to the communities."

Madahbee says they've struck a deal with Statistics Canada to hire aboriginals to collect the data from area reserves.

Temperature Records Shattered

More than fifty-year old weather records were shattered by Friday's cold weather.

Environment Canada's Geoff Coulson says the thermometer at its weather station at the Fort Frances airport dipped to minus 42.7 C.

The previous record low on January 21 was minus 40 C back in 1954.

A reading in International Falls Friday morning of 46 below F also broke the previous record for the city set back in 1954 of 41 below F.

OPP Staffing Changes

(Insp. John Kendrick speaking recently at Fort Frances town council)


There's been some temporary staffing changes within the Ontario Provincial Police and their Fort Frances detachment.

Detachment commander, Inspector John Kendrick has moved on to take on a position at the Northwest Regional Headquarters in Thunder Bay as the Regional Director of Operational Support.

Staff Sgt Steve Shouldice will serve as the acting detachment commander until Kendricks' return in April.

Meantime, the detachment will also be getting a new K-9 unit.


Shouldice says a new officer from southern Ontario is currently receiving training and will move to Fort Frances, replacing Constable Dan Bailey who was recently transferred down south.

Fort Frances Talking Casino

Fort Frances town councillors are expected to raise the issue of casinos when they head to the Ontario Good Roads Association and Rural Ontario Municipal Association meetings in Toronto next month.

Their talk started at Monday's budget meeting with Mayor Roy Avis expressing concern with the province's plan to introduce on-line gaming in 2012.

"It's taking more money out of the north and putting another nail in our coffin," says Avis. "I think if they are going to do that, a better approach would be to give border communities a casino."

Councillor Ken Perry says a local casino may help stem the flow of Canadians travelling to Minnesota casinos.

Atikokan Budget Talks Next Month

Atikokan township council will begin discussion on its 2011 budget next month.

Chair of the finance committee, Marj Lambkin says February 9 has been set as a date for the start of those talks.

Meantime, rates impacting sewer and water services will be discussed Monday with approval expected early next month.

Chamber Award Nomination Deadline

The deadline for entries to the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce business awards is fast approaching.

Nominations for a variety of awards can be made before January 26.

Manager Anthony Mason says the awards aren't solely for Fort Frances businesses.

"Not at all, not even chamber members," says Mason. "It's for any business in the Rainy River district so any one can be nominated."

Nomination forms for the February 10 event can be found on the Chambers website or at its Fort Frances office on Scott Street

HST Impact Soften

Ontario's Liberal government says more people will see a net benefit from the harmonized sales tax in three years because of new tax credits and energy rebates.

Documents obtained from the Ministry of Finance suggest the HST would not cost Ontario households about $385-million more by 2013 as originally projected.

Revised figures state the single sales tax will result in $490-million in savings for consumers in the third year.

Special Olympics Open in Thunder Bay

Events at Ontario's 2011 Special Olympics Winter Games start today in Thunder Bay.

The official kickoff took place last night with a spectacular opening ceremony.

More than 300 athletes were welcomed with performances, tributes and a roaring applause from the crowd.

Two athletes from Fort Frances and three from Atikokan are taking part.

Hockeyville Rainy River?

(Town of Rainy River photo)

The town of Rainy River wants to become this year's Kraft Hockeyville.

It's entered the contest looking for Canadian communities with strong hockey spirit.

Recreation Director Meaghan Shanks says they're now asking people to submit stories to help it reach the next level.

"There's nothing to lose in putting your name forward," says Shanks, "so I went ahead and put a story in there with some pictures. We've started a Facebook page and we're hoping to have people go there and write some stories."

Submissions are being accepted until January 31st.

FedNor Money Announced

The Federal Government is adding just over $1.1. million to FedNor.

Industry Minister Tony Clement says the investment will help continue to grow business and create jobs in the northwest.

"Big banks in the big cities are sometimes good at loaning money in the big cities," says Clement, "but sometimes less successful at making loans available to small businesses in rural and northern Canada."

Clement says there will also be some small changes to FedNor coming that will see it focus more on economic growth.

Housing Program Sought

The cities of International Falls and Littlefork are combining efforts to seek funds that will help low to moderate income families get their homes repaired.

Scott Zahorik of Kootasca Community Action says the $445-thousand from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development to help about 18 families.


"They're called differed loans," says Zahorik. "They're zero per cent interest loans, 10 year loans. They're forgiven 10 per cent per year as long as the occupant remains in the house and the house doesn't change hands."


The two cities teamed up in 2008 on a similar program, acquiring $334-thousand for repairs to 17 homes.

Medical Mistakes Not Dropping

A new report out today says Minnesota's hospitals showed no improvement in reducing the number of serious medical mistakes last year.

The Department of Health's annual report says there were 305 reported mistakes from October 2009 to October 2010.

It includes one at Rainy River Medical Centre in International Falls where a foreign object was left in a patient.