Job Fair in I. Falls

Job seekers in the International Falls area will get some help today.

Sheila Demenge of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development says the Community Resource and Job Fair is designed to help people learn more about the area's employment and education opportunities.

"We have manufacturing, retail and industry, and health care," says Demenge. "There's a wide range of businesses that are represented. We also have a few of the community colleges in the area coming and a few of the area's community resources."

The event at the Backus Auditorium is free to the public and goes from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

What Hooks You Here?

A group of local artisans want to know what hooks you here.

Pam Cain says the public is being invited to the Fort Frances Museum today to assist on a collaborative design for the What Hooks You Here project.

"We have a group of rug hookers involved who will take the design - develop it - and then bring the project to the community so that they actually do the rug-hooking," says Cain, "and create a final project that may have three panels to it that shows the design of What Hooks You Here."

The today's event goes from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Renovations Funding

Three area agencies are receiving provincial funding for a variety of repairs, renovations and upgrades to their facilities.

Community Living Fort Frances is getting $44-thousand.

Atikokan and District Association for Developmental Services will receive about $46-thousand. dollars.

Riverside Health Care Facilities will use $8-thousand.

Plant Conversion on Schedule

(Ontario Power Generation Photo)

Ontario Power Generation says it’s still on track to convert the Atikokan Generating Station from coal to biomass in 2012.

Spokesperson Ted Gruetzner says there are some key things that still need to be complete.

"One is the engineering modifications for such things as storage and fuel handling," says Gruetzner. "The other is putting place a supply contract for the fuel itself. Third is a power purchase agreement with the Ontario Power Authority."

Gruetzner says tests focusing on the feasibility of burning biomass are now completed.

HST on Therapy

There's a warning today from the NDP about the harmonized sales tax and therapy for autistic children.

Leader Andrea Horwath is demanding the government come clean about whether the new tax will apply on I-B-I therapy.

Horwath says that would rub salt in the wound for parents who are already dealing with long wait lists for the treatment.

Budget Date Set

The provincial government has confirmed its plans to bring down a new budget March 25.

It's to include a timetable Finance Minister Dwight Duncan will outline for eliminating Ontario's record $24.7-billion deficit.

Unlike the recent federal budget, which showed a small deficit after five years, Ontario is required by law to spell out exactly how long it will take to eliminate the red ink.

Ski Tour a Go

Despite recent weather, organizers are still planned to go ahead with a cross-country ski tour through Quetico Provincial Park this Saturday.

The event takes participants on a either a 35, 45 or 55-kilometre route and attracted about 60 skiers last year.

Organizer Chris Stromberg says a lack of snow forced them to eliminate the 55-K route this year, but the other routes travel mostly on lakes that still have upwards of two feet of ice.

Stromberg says there are some portages that skiers will have to walk.

The Province of Toronto?

A Progressive Conservative member of the Ontario legislature thinks Toronto should become its own province.

The member for Bruce-Grey-Owen-Sound, Bill Murdoch, made the radical proposition at a meeting of the Bruce County Federation of Agriculture.

He says rural Ontario is fighting a losing battle against what he calls "a Toronto mentality.''

Murdoch says Toronto decision-makers ignore rural voices and create policies that hurt agriculture and hamper rural food processors.

Murdoch says making Toronto the eleventh province is the only way rural Ontario will get a voice.

Park Improvements

One provincial park and a camp in northwestern Ontario are getting a facelift.

Neys Provincial Park near Terrace Bay and a Ranger camp near Sioux Lookout are receiving $700-thousand in federal and provincial cash for upgrades to both areas.

Scam Identified

OPP are warning area residents of a scam that's being found in northwestern Ontario newspapers.

Police says an ad, which promotes a Mystery Shopper Program, provides participants with a money order they're asked to cash in at their bank and send a large portion back to an address provided.

Kenora Death Investigated

OPP are looking into the death of a 24-year-old Kenora woman.

Police found the body of Deidre Lynn Chukra Sunday morning on the shore of Lake of the Woods near the northwestern Ontario city.

Chukra was the subject of a search after reported missing March 8.

Women's Health Symposium Returns

The Women's Health Symposium is returning to Fort Frances this May.

Organizer Linda Hamilton says along with speakers and a trade show, this year's event will include a number of short films.

"We've got some wonderful National Film Board movies to watch," says Hamilton. "They might be five, seven or eight minutes long focusing on our theme this year of Diversity."

Among the speakers lined up for the May 8 event at the Fort Frances High School will be Laura Horton of Seven Generations Education Institute.

Early Fires Possible

(Ministry of Natural Resources Photo)

The Ministry of Natural Resources is keeping a close eye on the melting snow.

The official start of the forest fire season begins April 1st, but Fire Information Officer Debbie MacLean says there are signs of the potential of fires breaking out before then.

"We have had below normal snow falls over the winter," says MacLean. "so that could indicate of the possibility of a dry spring. We never say its definitely going to be dry until we see if spring rain comes."

MacLean says the MNR will have a full compliment of firefighters in place by mid-April, but will have the ability to fight any fire that does occur before then.

Economic Development Examined

Rainy River Future Development Corporation is being asked to explore how it can expand on the economic development services it now provides to the town of Fort Frances.

At last night's budget meeting, councillors asked RRFDC to consider hiring an employee who work work specifically on town projects.

Client Services Manager Geoff Gillon says there some issues to resolve first.

"The hard part is to take that individual and have it specifically work for the Fort Frances or the economic development advisory committee," says Gillon, "because who do they take orders from? Somewhere in there I have to figure out the benefit for both."

Council also want the economic development advisory committee to have a stronger role.

Costing Formula Reviewed

Area municipalities are being asked to reconsider the formula used to determine how much money they contributed toward social services in the district.

The town of Atikokan wants to adapt a formula based on each municipalities assessment, but Fort Frances councillor Sharon Tibbs the current formula is more balanced.

"It is the best overall for the district that everyone takes costs on proportionately," says Tibbs. "When you go to option 3 there are only four (communities) that will be paying higher and they will have to pick up what the reductions are from all of the others."

Tibbs says Fort Frances, along with the townships of Lake of the Woods, LaVallee and Morley would pay more under the proposed option.

Members of the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board are to review the formula at a meeting next month.

E-I Changes Requested

Ontario is calling on Ottawa to expand Employment Insurance so workers are treated the same no matter where they live in Canada.

Because E-I is easier to get in regions of historically high unemployment, Ontario says many recession victims in the province were left out.

And Community and Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur says welfare cases are on the rise because people are exhausting their E-I benefits.

Cabinet Clean-Up

Seniors in the Rainy River district are being encouraged to look inside their medicine cabinets while doing their spring cleaning this month.

Any out-of-date or unused medications can be taken to a pharmacy for safe and free disposal.

Those who drop off old drugs by the end of this month will be entered in a draw to win a prize.

Last year, more than 50 people participated by turning in about 18 kilograms of unwanted medication.

Gravelle Visits 'Ring of Fire"

Ontario's mining minister will visit First Nations communities this week near the potentially massive chromite deposit known as the Ring of Fire.

Michael Gravelle's trip is aimed at reassuring the communities they will be properly consulted as the province seeks to develop the mine.

Grand Chief Stan Beardy of the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation warns it will take more than lip-service to ensure development can go ahead.

Letter of Commitment Signed

Grand Council Treaty #3 has signed a new Letter of Commitment with the provincial government.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says it reaffirms the government's commitment to continue working with area first nations.

"My relationship with Treaty # 3 is an important one," says Gravelle. "I think the relationship with all of our aboriginal communities and leaders is based on building and continuing to build positive working relationships. I think we're working very much in that direction."

Grand Chief Diane Kelly joined with Gravelle and Natural Resources Minister Linda Jeffrey in Friday's signing.

Radar Speed Sign Posted

Motorists travelling along Kings Highway in Fort Frances near J-W Walker School may want to watch their speed.

Constable Anne McCoy says Ontario Provincial Police have a new radar speed sign that flashes the speeds of vehicles as they pass by.

"It can be operated alone or it can be operated with an enforcement officer within the vicinity of the sign," says McCoy. "It's basically an awareness and education component first off, but it can be used with the enforcement component."

A $4,300 grant from Safe Kids Canada to the Community Policing Committee aided in the sign's purchase.