Airport Proposal to be Pitched this Weekend

The town of Fort Frances is making another appeal to have other communities in the Rainy River district help fund its municipal airport.

Town officials plan to bring forward a resolution to this weekend's Rainy River District Municipal Association meeting in Stratton seeking support for their idea of a regional airport.

The resolution says the airport provides a vital link to residents in the western portion of the district and should be supported financially by all, including First Nations and residents in the unorganized communities.

Atikokan would be excluded by a cost-sharing agreement because it operates own airport.

Atikokan Extends OPP Contract

The township of Atikokan will continue to have the Ontario Provincial Police patrol its streets.

Town council has agreed to renew a five-year policing contract with the OPP with costs to come in at just under $1.5 million this year.

That's about $100-thousand more than what the town expected to pay in 2010.

Mayor Dennis Brown says OPP did submit a second proposal worth about half that, but would not have given the township twenty-four hour policing.

OPP took over policing from Atikokan's municipal force in 2006.

Pre-Budget Hearing In Thunder Bay

The provincial finance committee will likely get an earful when it makes a pit stop in Thunder Bay today.

Kenora Mayor Dave Canfield, who's making a presentation on behalf of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association, is disappointed by the lack of notice given to municipalities to attend the pre-budget consultation.

"We just got in under the deadline," says Canfield. "They didn't do a real good job of advertising this."

Because presenters only have five minutes to speak, Fort Frances council did not see any value in attending and is not making a presentation.

Brain Injury Programs Funded

The Northwest Local Health Integration Network is rolling out a number of new programs for residents living with brain injuries.

$715-thousand is being used to offer a variety of programs across the region.

A family therapist will work with families in the region, while program facilitators will be posted in Dryden, Fort Frances and Thunder Bay.

December Border Stats

It was a busy December for Canada Border Services Agency officers at the Fort Frances border.

More than 42,000 travellers were processed with officers having to make a total of eighteen seizures of undeclared or prohibited goods.

In one case, a Canadian resident had their car impounded after failing to declare over a thousand dollars worth of vehicle repairs.

The vehicle was returned after the owner paid out more than $00 in penalties.

In another incident, a Canadian was forced to pay out almost $1,500 after trying to avoid paying the fees on more than a thousand dollars worth of items purchased in the U.S.

The agency says the individual was asked to report inside, but left the property first to drop off the undeclared goods at a nearby parking lot.

Both the goods and the person's vehicle were seized, and later returned when the penalties were paid.

Thunder Bay Office Impacted by ORC Merger

The Ontario Realty Corporation is no more.

It's been merged with Infrastructure Ontario.

Northern Development Minister, Michael Gravelle says he doesn't know exactly how the merger will affect the Corporation's Thunder Bay office.

"This is not about reducing the actual responsibilities of the Ontario Realty Corporation," says Gravelle. "This is about reducing administration costs and putting it under one Ministry."

Gravelle says the province is still looking to do the same with other agencies.

Town Encouraged to Put more in Reserves

The town of Fort Frances is being advised to raise more tax revenue to help cover the cost of replacing aging infrastructure.

An asset management plan outlined to councillors last night says the town hasn't been putting enough money into reserves in the past.

Jim Bruzezze of BMA Management Consulting says a 5 per cent hike in tax revenues for the next five years would help.

"By doing that, you would have an additional $2.5 million," says Bruzezzes. "So that $2.5 million would be available to increase the reserves or decrease the amount of debt incurred over the next five years."

Bruzezze says about $33.5 million in town assets needed to be replaced now.

He also suggests similar hikes to water and sewer rates to help cover capital in those areas.

Lakers Denied Sign By-law Exemption

Fort Frances Lakers hockey club request to be exempt from a new town by-law governing the use of mobile signs has been denied.

Councillor Rick Wiedenhoeft says it wouldn't be right to start making changes to a by-law that only took effect this month.

"We don't want to start shooting holes in our sign by-law after taking two to three years to rearch and develop," says Wiedenhoeft. "It's the wrong way to go."

The Lakers have used two signs to promote their games and activities year round, but the new by-law now limits their use to 180 days per year.

Attendance to Training Session Debated

Attendance to an upcoming councillor training session in Emo drew some strong discussion at Fort Frances council last night.

Mayor Roy Avis felt because council was acclaimed, attendance wasn't as important and suggested travel costs not be paid to those who want to attend.

Councillor John Albanese, who plans to attend, felt attacked by the suggestion.

"I wasn't going there because I wasn't going to be paid," says Albanese. "I was going to go there to support Emo. If anybody wants to donate towards the ten dollars it's going to cost me to attend the conference, I'll take it out of my pocket."

Councillor Rick Wiedenhoeft added the Mayor's suggestion went against a new travel policy adopted by council last year.

LGA Reduction Limited

Legislative Republicans pushing a one billion dollar package of spending cuts have softened the long-term effect on Minnesota cities and counties.

The House Ways and Means Committee changed the bill to make reductions in local government aid temporary instead of permanent.

The bill would decrease projected aid by more than 400 million over the next two years.

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.