Outfitters Angry over Fee Increase

Some tourist lodge owners in northwestern Ontario are accusing the Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters Association of being a lap dog for the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Paul Boucher says he's angry because the outfitters association negotiated an 800 percent increase in land use permit fees for camp owners.

"There was talk of something as far back as the mid-9o's," says Boucher, "but nobody knew what it was. No one saw it coming. There were no questionnaires sent out or solicitation of any kind. In the end, they did ask for proposals. I gave them one and they didn't like it."

NOTO's executive director Doug Reynolds says there was extensive consultation with camp owners and feels it negotiated the best deal possible.

Rafferty Opposes Internet Cap

John Rafferty is adding his voice to those upset over a CRTC decision to allow Internet service providers the right to cap data downloads.

The Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP says it's going to allow the ISP's to charge more and consumers will suffer.

"What it means for people in northern Ontario who rely on broadband services and the Internet for their livelihood or for their entertainment, it will be disastrous," says Rafferty.

Internet users are being driven to an on-line petition to oppose the ruling.

CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein is to appear before a Commons committee on the issue today.

Tent Future Explored

Use it or lose it.

That's the message from the Rainy River Future Development Corporation regarding its giant events tent.

Chair George Emes says the tent, purchased over a decade ago, isn't being used as much and the Corporation is now looking to see if its still needed.

The only renters last year were organizers of fishing tournaments in Rainy River and Morson.

Not Many Healthy Smiles

A dental program set up and funded by the province to help children in low-income families isn't reaching many children in the Kenora-Rainy River area.

CAO of the Northwestern Health Unit Mark Perrault says stiff criteria has limited access the Healthy Smiles program to just sixteen children.

"It doesn't include people on social assistance," says Perrault. "It doesn't include First Nations people who have non-injured health benefits. So the criteria eligibility is such that you create a program that nobody can use."

The province had suggested at least 880 would be eligible when it provided funding to the Heath Unit last fall.

Hydro Outage

Hydro One is planning a power interruption today that will impact its customers in Mine Centre, Seine River and Lac La Croix First Nations.

The outage from noon and until 3 p.m. is needed for Hydro One to perform maintenance and upgrade to its transmission lines.

Q-Gold Update

Q-Gold Resources says high silver mineralization has been found during a fall drilling program conducted at its McKenzie Gray project near Mine Centre.

The company drilled 18 holes and released the results of the first six.

Cold January

January 2011 is going down as one of the coldest months on record.

Fort Frances' average temperature for the month reached minus 18.5 C.

That's about a 2 degree drop off the normal, making it the 3rd coldest January in the last decade.

Atikokan's average temperature for January was minus 18 C, down slightly from its normal, but still making it the 4th coldest January in that community.

Internet Cap Opposed

The operator of a web design firm in Fort Frances says a CRTC decision allowing Internet service providers to put a cap on how much data consumers can download will have a detrimental effect on all users.

Travis Glowasky of Studio Gibbous says the planned 25 gigabyte limit will only impact how people now use the Internet.

"If we as Canadians have this cap brought in, the Internet won't flourish anymore," says Glowasky. "People are going to looking at it like a cellphone where you already say 'I'm I over my minutes. People will now be thinking 'am I over my bandwidth."

Glowasky says many people already exceed the 25-Gig cap.

An on-line petition has been set up in hopes of getting government to stop the regulation from going in place March 1.

Water Rate Increase Explored

Fort Frances town council is a little closer to where it wants to be with water rates in 2011.

Councillors last night discussed a 1.7 per cent increase.

The rate could go higher to raise additional capital for future projects.

Councillor Paul Ryan says its something that must be done.

"We've got collapsing water pipes all over the place," says Ryan. "We have to start collecting something and putting it away to repair these pipes and our roads. I think it has to be done now."

How each water user would be impacted by the increase is still to be determined.

Sidewalk to be Removed

A section of sidewalk could be eliminated if the town of Fort Frances moves forward with sewer and water improvements on Third Street East this year.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says the north sidewalk between Portage and Mowat Avenues won't be replaced.

"This is a low volume road where you should be able to eliminate the north sidewalk," says Brown. "It's in the official plan and we've been moving towards getting that done."

Brown says the south sidewalk will remain because its newer.

Man Faces Drug Charges

An International Falls man is facing drug charges after police seized more than nine pounds of marijuana from a Falls home Monday.

Officers also seized over 10-thousand dollars in cash and a firearm from the 6th Street home.

Value of the drugs seized is believed to be about $20-thousand dollars.

Treaty Three on Rickford Announcement

Grand Council Treaty #3 is cautiously optimistic about the appointment of Kenora MP Greg Rickford as the new parliamentary assistant for Indian and Northern Affairs.

Grand Chief, Diane Kelly says she's pleased with the selection of Rickford, but questions the legislative goals of the Harper government, suggesting they give little hope to aboriginal youth in northwestern Ontario.

U.S. Border Concerns

A new government report says that less than 1 per cent of the U.S.-Canada border is considered under the operational control of U.S. border officials.

The report by the Government Accountability Office says Customs and Border Protection believes it can detect illegal entries, respond and deal with them on only about 51 kilometres of the 64-hundred kilometre border.

Snowarama Successful

More than $19-thousand was raised during the past weekend's Snowarama in Atikokan.

A total of 67 snowmobilers from around northwestern Ontario and the United States participated in the annual ride for Easter Seals Kids.

Atikokan Plant Gets Wood Supply

Atikokan Renewable Fuels is receiving the wood needed to begin producing wood pellets.

The province is providing the company with the rights to access 179-thousand cubic metres per year of poplar and birch fibre from forests near the Atikokan plant.

Company spokesperson Ed Fukushima expects production to begin later this year.

"We're excited about it," says Fukushima. "Demand has ramped up in the last two months and there's exciting opportunities for the plant in Atikokan."

The company is also receiving $1.25 million from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund to cover costs incurred when the plant didn't have a wood supply.

Fire Deemed Accidental

A fire that destroyed a Fort Frances business has been ruled accidental.

Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service says its investigation into last Thursday's blaze at Kitchen and Bath Plus on Fifth Street West is now complete.

The building's been turned back over to its owners.

Rafferty Seeks Pension Support

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty is making a last minute push to get his pension bill passed.

He's making a statement in the house today looking for all-party support.

"What I'm asking the other parties to agree to is to open up the scope of C-501 just a little bit," says Rafferty, "to see if we can make some amendments to the bill that will bring enough MPs on board that we can pass this and get something done."

The proposed bill went through committee hearings before Christmas with Conservative MP's wavering on their support.

Municipalities Asked to Sign U.N. Initiative

Municipalities across the Rainy River District are being asked to become signatories to a United Nations backed initiative to combat racism and and discrimination.

Lincoln Dunn of Celebrating Diversity says local support sends a strong message to newcomers thinking of moving to the district.

"How powerful a statement is to people from outside our district who are thinking about coming here that we, as a district, are all signatories to an anti-discrimination and anti-racism common commitment developed at the United Nations level."

Dunn says by signing, area towns would have to adhere to a set of commitments in dealing with the issues.

More Elk Sought

The Lake of the Woods Elk Restoration Committee is looking to increase the number of Elk in northwestern Ontario.

Committee co-chair Murray English says they're asking the Ministry of Natural Resources to move some of the Elk from the Bancroft area in southwestern Ontario.

"Our preference would still be out on the Aulneau Peninsula (on Lake of the Woods)," says English. "That depends on ice conditions to get them out there."

Only 39 of the over one hundred elk released about a decade ago in the Cameron Lake area near Nestor Falls are believed to be still alive.

Bonding Bill Proposed

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton is asking the State's lawmakers to borrow one billion for state-backed construction projects.

They include replacing the roof at Rainy River Community College in International Falls.

Republican House Majority Leader Matt Dean isn't ruling out a bonding bill, but says the GOP focus will be on rerouting unspent money from past projects that never got off the ground.