Ontario's Green Party has a new leader who hopes to help elect heir first MPP to Queen's Park.
Toronto entrepreneur Mike Schreiner was chosen to replace Frank de Jong at the party's leadership convention in London.
Schreiner says the party will fight to win a seat in the 20-11 election.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Local Sports for Monday November 16
Fort Frances Muskies girls hockey team has started the season 0-2 after losing games to Kenora and Dryden on the weekend.
Saturday, Muskies fell 6-3 in their home opener to Dryden.
Anikka Mctavish, Ericka Tymkin and Taylor Dixon scored for Fort Frances.
Friday, the Muskies lost by the same 6-3 score to Kenora.
Jillian Langtry had a pair and Danielle Jean the other goal.
Fort Frances Muskies boys hockey team scored the winner with 1-second left to play en route to a 3-2 victory over Dryden in the final of the Morden Manitoba High School Tournament.
Muskies open their NORWOSSA season tomorrow.
The Fort Frances Nor-Fab Flames Peewee Girls Rep team earned a pair of wins on the road, defeating Cloquet 3-2 and Proctor 11-2 in games played Saturday.
Amber Jourdain, Myla Angus and Amy Penner scored in the game against Cloquet in which the Flames outshot their opponents 31-9.
In the game against Proctor, Madisyn DeGagne had four goals, Amber Jourdain with a hatrick and Jessica Coran with two.
Myla Angus and Abbi Perreault rounded out the scoring
In Atom girls hockey in Emo Friday, Fort Frances Kaemingh Esso beat Nestor Falls Marine 7-1.
Maighyn Degagne had four goals for Esso with Emma Noga collecting a pair and Khali Degagne the other.
Avery Cates scored for Nestor Falls
At a bantam boys hockey tournament in Emo, Fort Frances Canadian Tire won the b-side championship with a 4-1 win over Emo.
Jordan Windigo had a pair with Josh Gwinn and Jayme Taylor adding singles for Canadian Tire.
Rainy River Community College Women's hockey team swept Minot State University on the weekend.
Brenley Anderson had 4-goals in the Voyageurs' 6-4 win Sunday in Minot.
Saturday, Anderson got the winning goal with 4-minutes left in the third to give Rainy River a 6-5 decision.
On the court, the Voyageurs' men's basketball team split a pair of games, defeating Hibbing 81-70 Friday before falling 77-75 in overtime to Mesabi Range.
The women's basketball team opened its season with a win Friday 75-63 over Hibbing.
Saturday, Muskies fell 6-3 in their home opener to Dryden.
Anikka Mctavish, Ericka Tymkin and Taylor Dixon scored for Fort Frances.
Friday, the Muskies lost by the same 6-3 score to Kenora.
Jillian Langtry had a pair and Danielle Jean the other goal.
Fort Frances Muskies boys hockey team scored the winner with 1-second left to play en route to a 3-2 victory over Dryden in the final of the Morden Manitoba High School Tournament.
Muskies open their NORWOSSA season tomorrow.
The Fort Frances Nor-Fab Flames Peewee Girls Rep team earned a pair of wins on the road, defeating Cloquet 3-2 and Proctor 11-2 in games played Saturday.
Amber Jourdain, Myla Angus and Amy Penner scored in the game against Cloquet in which the Flames outshot their opponents 31-9.
In the game against Proctor, Madisyn DeGagne had four goals, Amber Jourdain with a hatrick and Jessica Coran with two.
Myla Angus and Abbi Perreault rounded out the scoring
In Atom girls hockey in Emo Friday, Fort Frances Kaemingh Esso beat Nestor Falls Marine 7-1.
Maighyn Degagne had four goals for Esso with Emma Noga collecting a pair and Khali Degagne the other.
Avery Cates scored for Nestor Falls
At a bantam boys hockey tournament in Emo, Fort Frances Canadian Tire won the b-side championship with a 4-1 win over Emo.
Jordan Windigo had a pair with Josh Gwinn and Jayme Taylor adding singles for Canadian Tire.
Rainy River Community College Women's hockey team swept Minot State University on the weekend.
Brenley Anderson had 4-goals in the Voyageurs' 6-4 win Sunday in Minot.
Saturday, Anderson got the winning goal with 4-minutes left in the third to give Rainy River a 6-5 decision.
On the court, the Voyageurs' men's basketball team split a pair of games, defeating Hibbing 81-70 Friday before falling 77-75 in overtime to Mesabi Range.
The women's basketball team opened its season with a win Friday 75-63 over Hibbing.
HST Introduced Today
Ontario's Liberal government will introduce legislation today to harmonize the province's eight per cent sales tax with the five per cent G-S-T.
In addition to creating a single, 13 per cent sales tax next July, the bill also includes a series of cuts to income, small business and corporate taxes that take effect in January.
Finance Minister Dwight Duncan says the province needs to make businesses more competitive so they can hire more people and lower prices for consumers.
He says the tax package is about creating jobs and rebuilding Ontario's economy as it emerges from the recession.
The bill also provides for tax rebate cheques of up to one-thousand dollars for families to help offset the impact of the H-S-T in the first year.
The opposition parties call the H-S-T a blatant tax grab which will add eight per cent to many items now exempt from the provincial sales tax, including gasoline, home heating fuel and hydro bills.
The National Citizen's Coalition estimates the H-S-T will cost the average taxpayer an additional 800 to one-thousand dollars annually.
Thunder Bay-Rainy River M-P John Rafferty is still confident people can still halt the Harmonized Sale Tax from moving ahead.
Rafferty says opposition to the blended tax is growing as more and more people begin to realize the true impact HST will have on their budgets.
Rafferty has asked the federal government not forward $4.3 million to Ontario toward the harmonizing of the sales tax, a motion that expected to come up for debate early in the new year.
In addition to creating a single, 13 per cent sales tax next July, the bill also includes a series of cuts to income, small business and corporate taxes that take effect in January.
Finance Minister Dwight Duncan says the province needs to make businesses more competitive so they can hire more people and lower prices for consumers.
He says the tax package is about creating jobs and rebuilding Ontario's economy as it emerges from the recession.
The bill also provides for tax rebate cheques of up to one-thousand dollars for families to help offset the impact of the H-S-T in the first year.
The opposition parties call the H-S-T a blatant tax grab which will add eight per cent to many items now exempt from the provincial sales tax, including gasoline, home heating fuel and hydro bills.
The National Citizen's Coalition estimates the H-S-T will cost the average taxpayer an additional 800 to one-thousand dollars annually.
Thunder Bay-Rainy River M-P John Rafferty is still confident people can still halt the Harmonized Sale Tax from moving ahead.
Rafferty says opposition to the blended tax is growing as more and more people begin to realize the true impact HST will have on their budgets.
Rafferty has asked the federal government not forward $4.3 million to Ontario toward the harmonizing of the sales tax, a motion that expected to come up for debate early in the new year.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Local Sports for Friday November 13
Fort Frances Muskies junior and senior girls basketball teams are NORWOSSA Champs.
The senior girls earned the right to play in the NWOSSA title next weekend in Thunder Bay following a 26-13 win over Kenora's Beaver Brae Broncos yesterday.
The Muskies will play the winner of the SSSAA championship between Hammarskjold and St. Patrick's High Schools.
Erika Moffit scored 12 while Chantal Jodoin chipped in 11 points to help the junior girls to a 34-24 win over Dryden.
The Muskies junior boys volleyball team was upset by Dryden in the finals 3-sets to one.
The senior boys volleyball team was eliminated from in a semi-final game with Dryden in four sets.
Fort Frances Muskies girls hockey team kicks off its season on the road today in Kenora before tomorrow's home opener at the Ice for Kids Arena against Dryden.
Prior to the drop of the puck at 7:15 p.m., there will be a tribute to longtime Muskies supporter Cam Smith, who recently passed away.
The boys team travels to Morden, Manitoba for a tournament.
Fort Frances Lakers ended a three-game home stand winless following a 5-3 loss to Sioux Lookout last night.
Henry Gutierrez, Jordan Carne and Anders Wicks scored for the Lakers who are idle until next Wednesday.
Fort Frances Midget Canadians take to the road this weekend for a three-game set against Shattuck-St. Mary's in Faribault, Minnesota.
The pee-wee girls Norfab Flames travel to Cloquet and Proctor tomorrow before returning Sunday for a game against the BDO Dunwoody Bantams.
In girls hockey last night, Super 8 and the Lakewood Eagles tied 5-5.
Madison Degagne had a hat trick for Super 8 with Amber Jordain adding a pair.
Amy Penner had a hat-trick for Lakewood with Jessica Coran and Rachael Dean notching singles.
Fort Frances Atom AA Girls team, the Dynamic Homes Hurricanes will play its first game of the season Sunday at the Ice for Kids Arena against the Causeway Cougars.
There is bantam hockey tournament in Emo this weekend.
In play today, the Holmlund Leafs beat the Kennedy K-9's 4-0.
Emo Predators defeated Fort Frances Canadian Tire 4-1.
Rainy River Voyageurs women's hockey team heads to North Dakota for a pair of games against Minot State University.
The Voyageur's basketball teams begin their seasons today.
Both the men and women's teams are playing at the Mesabi tournament in Virginia.
The senior girls earned the right to play in the NWOSSA title next weekend in Thunder Bay following a 26-13 win over Kenora's Beaver Brae Broncos yesterday.
The Muskies will play the winner of the SSSAA championship between Hammarskjold and St. Patrick's High Schools.
Erika Moffit scored 12 while Chantal Jodoin chipped in 11 points to help the junior girls to a 34-24 win over Dryden.
The Muskies junior boys volleyball team was upset by Dryden in the finals 3-sets to one.
The senior boys volleyball team was eliminated from in a semi-final game with Dryden in four sets.
Fort Frances Muskies girls hockey team kicks off its season on the road today in Kenora before tomorrow's home opener at the Ice for Kids Arena against Dryden.
Prior to the drop of the puck at 7:15 p.m., there will be a tribute to longtime Muskies supporter Cam Smith, who recently passed away.
The boys team travels to Morden, Manitoba for a tournament.
Fort Frances Lakers ended a three-game home stand winless following a 5-3 loss to Sioux Lookout last night.
Henry Gutierrez, Jordan Carne and Anders Wicks scored for the Lakers who are idle until next Wednesday.
Fort Frances Midget Canadians take to the road this weekend for a three-game set against Shattuck-St. Mary's in Faribault, Minnesota.
The pee-wee girls Norfab Flames travel to Cloquet and Proctor tomorrow before returning Sunday for a game against the BDO Dunwoody Bantams.
In girls hockey last night, Super 8 and the Lakewood Eagles tied 5-5.
Madison Degagne had a hat trick for Super 8 with Amber Jordain adding a pair.
Amy Penner had a hat-trick for Lakewood with Jessica Coran and Rachael Dean notching singles.
Fort Frances Atom AA Girls team, the Dynamic Homes Hurricanes will play its first game of the season Sunday at the Ice for Kids Arena against the Causeway Cougars.
There is bantam hockey tournament in Emo this weekend.
In play today, the Holmlund Leafs beat the Kennedy K-9's 4-0.
Emo Predators defeated Fort Frances Canadian Tire 4-1.
Rainy River Voyageurs women's hockey team heads to North Dakota for a pair of games against Minot State University.
The Voyageur's basketball teams begin their seasons today.
Both the men and women's teams are playing at the Mesabi tournament in Virginia.
Growth North Session Planned
The province is giving more communities in northern Ontario an opportunity to have a say into the new Northern Growth plan.
A meeting Monday night will be held through Contact North's video-conference sites, including those in Fort Frances and Atikokan.
The session begins at 5:30 p.m.
A meeting Monday night will be held through Contact North's video-conference sites, including those in Fort Frances and Atikokan.
The session begins at 5:30 p.m.
Border Enforcement Working
A hardening of the Canada-U.S. border appears to be yielding early results.
U-S. border officials say increased enforcement, improved police co-operation and new technology are behind the gains.
The U-S seized almost 18-thousand kilograms of marijuana this year, compared to just over 4-thousand in 2008.
The number of people caught illegally entering the U.S. from Canada fell from 8-thousand to just under 7-thousand
A U-S. security official says there are about 15-hundred staff working the northern border now compared to about 900 in 2006.
U-S. border officials say increased enforcement, improved police co-operation and new technology are behind the gains.
The U-S seized almost 18-thousand kilograms of marijuana this year, compared to just over 4-thousand in 2008.
The number of people caught illegally entering the U.S. from Canada fell from 8-thousand to just under 7-thousand
A U-S. security official says there are about 15-hundred staff working the northern border now compared to about 900 in 2006.
College Talks Break Down
Contract talks between Ontario's community colleges and the union representing full-time faculty have broke off.
As a result, Colleges Ontario says it will exercise its right to will introduce a new contract that gives full time teachers, including those with Confederation College in Fort Frances, an eight per cent wage hike over four years.
Chair of the college's bargaining team Rachael Donovan says the increase is in line other recent public sector contract agreements.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union was not immediately available to comment on move.
As a result, Colleges Ontario says it will exercise its right to will introduce a new contract that gives full time teachers, including those with Confederation College in Fort Frances, an eight per cent wage hike over four years.
Chair of the college's bargaining team Rachael Donovan says the increase is in line other recent public sector contract agreements.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union was not immediately available to comment on move.
Missing Hunter
A search is underway in the Kenora area for a hunter who has been missing for the past four days.
OPP say the 50-year-old unidentified man is believed to be hunting in the Minaki and Whitedog areas.
He was last seen on Monday morning.
OPP say the 50-year-old unidentified man is believed to be hunting in the Minaki and Whitedog areas.
He was last seen on Monday morning.
Crash Victims Identified
OPP have now released the names of three men killed in last Friday's plane crash near the remote community of Cat Lake.
The pilot has been identified as 50-year-old Mike Pateman from Dryden.
The names of the two passengers in the Lockhart Airways Cessna 310 have been confirmed as 46-year-old Ronald Oombash from Cat Lake and 29-year-old Dean Meekis from Deer Lake.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Regular Flu Shots Available
Vaccine for the seasonal flu is now being rolled out to the public by the Northwestern Health Unit.
Up until now, the Health Unit had been focusing on providing residents in the Kenora and Rainy River districts with the H-1-N-1 flu shot.
Director of Health Protection Arlene Lesenke says residents can now get both shots at the same time if they desire.
"Even though our clinics are advertised for H1N1 right now, we usually do have seasonal influenza vaccine with us," says Lesenke. "If people are looking for that we are administering that as well."
Nearly 9,000 doses of vaccine have been provided to area residents since flu shot clinics began two weeks ago.
Up until now, the Health Unit had been focusing on providing residents in the Kenora and Rainy River districts with the H-1-N-1 flu shot.
Director of Health Protection Arlene Lesenke says residents can now get both shots at the same time if they desire.
"Even though our clinics are advertised for H1N1 right now, we usually do have seasonal influenza vaccine with us," says Lesenke. "If people are looking for that we are administering that as well."
Nearly 9,000 doses of vaccine have been provided to area residents since flu shot clinics began two weeks ago.
Vote for Clover Valley Farmers' Market
The Clover Valley Farmers' Market is looking for your vote.
The market's food box program is competing in on-line contest sponsored by Aviva Canada which will provide half-a-million dollars to a variety of projects that promote positive change.
Kim Cornell says part of the contest requires computer users to cast ballots.
"Somebody gave us the idea and we felt what the heck," says Cornell. "You don't have get one of the big (cash prizes) ones. They give out several small ones as well.
To vote, click this link www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf3715.
The market's food box program is competing in on-line contest sponsored by Aviva Canada which will provide half-a-million dollars to a variety of projects that promote positive change.
Kim Cornell says part of the contest requires computer users to cast ballots.
"Somebody gave us the idea and we felt what the heck," says Cornell. "You don't have get one of the big (cash prizes) ones. They give out several small ones as well.
To vote, click this link www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf3715.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Local Sports for Thursday November 12
Fort Frances Muskies court teams will be battling for NORWOSSA championships today in Kenora.
The junior girls and senior girls basketball teams along with the junior boys volleyball team, all earned byes to this afternoons finals.
The senior boys volleyball team plays Dryden in a semi-final match with the winner to meet Kenora.
Fort Frances Lakers host the Sioux Lookout Flyers tonight in the last of a three-game home stand.
Game time at the Ice for Kids Arena is 7:30
Joe Basaraba has made it official.
The former Fort Frances Muskies was one of the first players to forward signed letters of intent to play for the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs next season.
Basaraba is currently playing with Shattuck-St. Mary’s High School.
Yesterday was the first day for of an NCAA early signing period.
Fort Frances women's volleyball league continues play tonight.
A Buck or Two has opened up a 5 point bulge on Gillon's Insurance for the league lead.
Lac La Croix is in a tight battle for third with four other teams separated by just four points.
The junior girls and senior girls basketball teams along with the junior boys volleyball team, all earned byes to this afternoons finals.
The senior boys volleyball team plays Dryden in a semi-final match with the winner to meet Kenora.
Fort Frances Lakers host the Sioux Lookout Flyers tonight in the last of a three-game home stand.
Game time at the Ice for Kids Arena is 7:30
Joe Basaraba has made it official.
The former Fort Frances Muskies was one of the first players to forward signed letters of intent to play for the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs next season.
Basaraba is currently playing with Shattuck-St. Mary’s High School.
Yesterday was the first day for of an NCAA early signing period.
Fort Frances women's volleyball league continues play tonight.
A Buck or Two has opened up a 5 point bulge on Gillon's Insurance for the league lead.
Lac La Croix is in a tight battle for third with four other teams separated by just four points.
Local Sports for Tuesday November 10
Fort Frances Thunderhawks have their paperwork sorted out and will play their first game tonight against the Kenora Thistles.
The new senior hockey club was forced to cancel two games with the Thunder Bay Twins on the weekend after learning not all of its players had been signed in time to be covered through Hockey Canada insurance.
General Manager Dean Bruyere says the situation has been sorted out and tonight's games with the Thistles at the Ice for Kids arena is a go.
It starts at 7 p.m.
In Bantam girls play from Monday night, the BDO Dunwoody Stars tied Energy 1-1 in a goaltending battle between Shailyn Loyie and Callie Clendenning.
Danielle Jackson and Shelby Rea scored the goals for their respective teams.
The new senior hockey club was forced to cancel two games with the Thunder Bay Twins on the weekend after learning not all of its players had been signed in time to be covered through Hockey Canada insurance.
General Manager Dean Bruyere says the situation has been sorted out and tonight's games with the Thistles at the Ice for Kids arena is a go.
It starts at 7 p.m.
In Bantam girls play from Monday night, the BDO Dunwoody Stars tied Energy 1-1 in a goaltending battle between Shailyn Loyie and Callie Clendenning.
Danielle Jackson and Shelby Rea scored the goals for their respective teams.
Network Up for Award
Northern Diabetes Health Network is up for a provincial award.
The network's Northern Ontario Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative is among finalists for an Innovation in Health Care Award to be presented later this month in Toronto.
The Initiative helped identify priority needs of Aboriginal communities and organizations in dealing with diabetes among First Nations people.
The network's Northern Ontario Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative is among finalists for an Innovation in Health Care Award to be presented later this month in Toronto.
The Initiative helped identify priority needs of Aboriginal communities and organizations in dealing with diabetes among First Nations people.
Airport Usage
Almost 650 aircraft used the Fort Frances airport in August.
That's about a 6 per cent drop from the number recorded in July and a decline of nearly 13 per cent from that recorded in August 2008.
Of the airport users this August, 139 were private aircraft and 63 were international flights.
That's about a 6 per cent drop from the number recorded in July and a decline of nearly 13 per cent from that recorded in August 2008.
Of the airport users this August, 139 were private aircraft and 63 were international flights.
Contract Offer Declined
People looking to get their driver's licence are not going to be behind the wheel any time soon.
Ontario's striking driver examiners, represented by the United Steelworkers, have rejected DriveTest's latest offer by 78 per cent.
The strike, which began in August, affects 93 full-time and part-time DriveTest sites, including the one in Fort Frances.
Managers at some DriveTest centres in Ontario are giving driving exams while unionized employees are on strike.
Six locations, including one in Thunder Bay, opened today.
Only partial services will be offered: written tests for all classes of licences, road test for commercially classified licences and out-of-province or out-of-country licence exchanges.
Ontario's striking driver examiners, represented by the United Steelworkers, have rejected DriveTest's latest offer by 78 per cent.
The strike, which began in August, affects 93 full-time and part-time DriveTest sites, including the one in Fort Frances.
Managers at some DriveTest centres in Ontario are giving driving exams while unionized employees are on strike.
Six locations, including one in Thunder Bay, opened today.
Only partial services will be offered: written tests for all classes of licences, road test for commercially classified licences and out-of-province or out-of-country licence exchanges.
Sixth Street School Plans
It could be some time before Community Living Fort Frances District determines exactly what it wants to do with the former Sixth Street School in Fort Frances.
The agency purchased the vacant school and property for a dollar from the Rainy River District School Board.
Executive Director Alanna Barr says it could be a resources centre, but there's a lot of planning to do first.
"We're just looking at our options," says Barr. "and considering what is our best options that will meet our need, not only in the long-term, but in the short term as well."
Barr says its likely the existing school will be demolished as it is not accessible and would be too costly to bring it up to standard.
The agency purchased the vacant school and property for a dollar from the Rainy River District School Board.
Executive Director Alanna Barr says it could be a resources centre, but there's a lot of planning to do first.
"We're just looking at our options," says Barr. "and considering what is our best options that will meet our need, not only in the long-term, but in the short term as well."
Barr says its likely the existing school will be demolished as it is not accessible and would be too costly to bring it up to standard.
Local Soldier Recognized
A Fort Frances area soldier currently on duty in Afghanistan is being hailed a hero.
Sergeant Russell Gregoirie was recently awarded the Medal of Military Valour for his actions in June 2008 in which he helped lead a group of soldiers to safety while under heavy fire.
His girlfriend Angela Halvorson says she's proud of his accomplishments.
"I think what he does over there is amazing," says Halvorson. "For them to recognize him for his efforts and the fact that he had to go above and beyond to do what he did is pretty amazing.
Halvorson says Gregoirie is now part of a troop providing security to a reconstruction team helping to rebuild war-torn areas of the country.
He's to receive his medal at a ceremony to be held at a later date.
Sergeant Russell Gregoirie was recently awarded the Medal of Military Valour for his actions in June 2008 in which he helped lead a group of soldiers to safety while under heavy fire.
His girlfriend Angela Halvorson says she's proud of his accomplishments.
"I think what he does over there is amazing," says Halvorson. "For them to recognize him for his efforts and the fact that he had to go above and beyond to do what he did is pretty amazing.
Halvorson says Gregoirie is now part of a troop providing security to a reconstruction team helping to rebuild war-torn areas of the country.
He's to receive his medal at a ceremony to be held at a later date.
Soldiers Remembered
Hundred of residents gathered at cenotaphs across the Rainy River district for Wednesday's Remembrance Day ceremonies.
In Fort Frances, Pastor Barb Miller asked that we never forget the sacrifice soldiers have made.
"May we never forgot the price that men, women and their families have paid so that we can live in freedom," said Miller. "May we generally honour them by working for peace."
Ceremonies were also highlighted by a group of young students from F.H. Huffman School reciting the poem "In Flanders Fields."
In Fort Frances, Pastor Barb Miller asked that we never forget the sacrifice soldiers have made.
"May we never forgot the price that men, women and their families have paid so that we can live in freedom," said Miller. "May we generally honour them by working for peace."
Ceremonies were also highlighted by a group of young students from F.H. Huffman School reciting the poem "In Flanders Fields."
Parents Charged
The parents of two young children have been charged after OPP found the youngsters, one without clothes and the other wearing only a diaper, alone on a Kenora street.
The toddlers, aged one and two, were found around 4:30 a.m. Sunday.
Police were led to the children's home where they found the parents inside and a large quantity of marijuana.
A 42 year old man and a 38 year old woman face charges of failing to provide the necessaries of life, as well as drug trafficking charges.
The children have been turned over to Children's Aid.
The toddlers, aged one and two, were found around 4:30 a.m. Sunday.
Police were led to the children's home where they found the parents inside and a large quantity of marijuana.
A 42 year old man and a 38 year old woman face charges of failing to provide the necessaries of life, as well as drug trafficking charges.
The children have been turned over to Children's Aid.
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