Federal Budget Reaction

Get ready for a May election.

The Harper government is poised to fall within days, with all three opposition parties planning to vote against the federal budget.

NDP Leader Jack Layton says the Conservatives latest fiscal plan was a disappointment.

Defeat of the government will likely occur this week.

Locally, Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty is standing behind his leader in not supporting the budget.

Rafferty says he wasn't impressed.

"I'm not going to support this budget in its present form," says Rafferty. "It's our job to press the government to ensure we have a budget that's good for all Canadians, and in my case, the people of northern Ontario."

Kenora's MP is questioning the NDP's motives.

Greg Rickford believes the Conservative Government struck a perfect balance in the budget.

Budget Tidbits for Northern Ontario

There are some budget goodies that could benefit this area.

The federal government's proposing an incentive program for doctors and nurses practicing in rural and remotes areas.

It's willing to forgive up to $40-thousand in student loans for doctors and $20-thousand for nurses to work in under serviced areas.

Funding for FedNor remains the same, but Industry Canada and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada face large cuts to their budgets.

The federal government also proposes to extend until May 2012 the existing waiver of gun registry license fees at a cost of $21- million.

Community Safety Zone Developed

A new Community Safety Zone in Fort Frances could be in place this year.

The zone will stretch along Kings Highway from Legion Park to McIrvine Road.

OPP Constable Anne McCoy says along with ongoing education, it will improve pedestrian safety.

"That will encompass a very high pedestrian population," says McCoy. "It encompasses two elementary schools as well as the High School and the Confederation College areas. As well, the pedestrian walkway in the area of McDonalds and A & W."

The zone must still be approved by the province before appropriate signage is placed.

It's need was first identified over two years ago by a project involving students from J.W. Walker School.

Exploration Deal

Two mining companies doing work in the Atikokan area have finalized a joint venture agreement.

The deal between Osisko Mining and Sparton Resources allows Osisko to take over partial interest in 7,5000 hectares of mining claims held by Sparton.

Osisko will spent a million dollars exploring the property that straddles its Hammond Reeve gold project.

Leon Back in Canada

Thunder Bay's Adam Leon is back in Canada.

He's the former Confederation College student who caused an international scare two years ago for stealing a Cessna and flying into American airspace without permission.

RCMP have escorted him back after his time in a Missouri jail.

He's appearing in a Thunder Bay court room today on theft charges.

Uploading Answers Sought

Fort Frances councillors will consider a political route in search of answers regarding the provincial uploading of municipal costs to the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board.

The board approved a $15-million budget last week, but councillor Ken Perry says any savings the province suggests aren't been seen by the municipalities.

"We're going to pull some changes and rattle some cages," says Perry. "The answers we're getting from everyone concerned are not consistent. That's my problem. show me some consistency. If we're right, we're right and if we're wrong, we're wrong. We can put it to bed one way or another."

Council will look to writing the Premier and having a question posed in the legislature.

Museum Assistant On Hold

The town of Fort Frances is holding off on the hiring of a museum assistant at the Fort Frances Museum.

The position became vacant with the move of Sherry George to curator.

Councillors last night decided to hold off filling the vacancy this year, allowing George time to assess staffing needs in the future.

Library Board Budget Rejected

(Fort Frances Library photo)

The Fort Frances Library Board is being asked to go back to the table to reduce its budget requirements for the new library.

It's budget has come in at about $22-thousand more than last year.

Town Councillors say they aren't prepared to provide any more than the $453-thousand allocated in 2010.

Regional Cyclotron in Budget

Kenora MP Greg Rickford says the region's two NDP MP's may be about to put a kibosh on $4 million for a cyclotron for the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

The Conservative MP says the money is included in the federal budget, but approval rests with the NDP.

"Are they prepared for to vote against probably one of the most significant medical advancements in medical research for Thunder Bay and northwestern Ontario in a long time?," asks Rickford.

Rickford says the money would be in jeopardy if an election is called.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

A walk that encourages men to lend their voice to end gender violence will take place next month in International Falls.

The "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" is organized by the Friends Against Abuse.

Executive director LeeAnn Meer says this year's walk will be an international affair.

"We are partnering with Fort Frances to do this," says Meer. "We have the groups over there, Victims Services and some of the others group, we are working with and planning it. Hopefully they will be joining us with the walk over here. So we are really reaching across borders to discuss a topic that really needs to be discussed."

The event takes place April 28

Bending Lake to go Public

A company with plans for the former Steep Rock Iron Ore mine at Atikokan is looking to go public.

Tom Ungar, a vice-president with Bending Lake Iron Group, says a move to the Toronto Stock Exchange will help raise the over $900-million for the project.

"We're well underway to hopefully raising and locking up that funding that needed," says Ungar. "When you can also offer someone the liquidity that a public company provides, it helps you."

Ungar says the company could begin trading on the Stock Exchange later this year.

Atikokan Hydro Bill Dropping Slightly

Hydro users in Atikokan may see a decrease in their bills in May.

The Ontario Energy Board has approved new rates for Atikokan Hydro.

The decrease amounts to about 26 cents per month on the average bill.

The drop takes into account a 10 per cent cut in hydro costs imposed earlier this year by the province.

Solar Project Up for Discussion

Fort Frances town councillors are expected to hear today from the company interested in helping set up solar panels on some municipal buildings.

Officials with Solar Logix are scheduled to be at tonight's budget meeting.

The project was discussed by Councillors at their last meeting, but some expressed concern with the maintenance of the panels and the sustainability of a contract to sell the power back to the grid.

Safeway Scam

Canada Safeway has issued a warning about a telephone scam involving an automated or live caller posing as a representative of the company.

The caller seeks personal credit card information under the pretext that the person has won a large prize.

A number of calls have been received in Western Canada.

Jury Rolls Concerning

There is concern among the legal community in northwestern Ontario over the issue of a lack of Aboriginal representation on the district's jury roll.

A murder trail in Thunder Bay was postponed this week because of it.

Lawyer Gil Labine says the issue of jury rolls needs to be resolved.

"Effectively it's put a stop to jury trials in Thunder Bay and the northwest region until that happens," says Labine.

A number of cases across northwestern Ontario coming up on the docket later this year could be effected as a result.

Area Concerns Shifting

The high cost of living in northwestern Ontario has become the main concern for many area residents.

A poll conducted by Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty during a telephone town-hall meeting this week found most want Ottawa to make live more affordable.

"We've got a health tax. We've got HST. We've got an electronics's tax, an eco tax and of course, the price of electricity continues to rise," says Rafferty, "and so people are finding it very difficult to make ends meet."

Health Care and the Economy were ranked low by the 2,500 people who participated in the survey.

Waste Transfer Considered

The town of Fort Frances says it's willing to discuss further a Ministry of Natural Resources request to have waste from Mine Centre sent to the town's landfill site.

The MNR wanted to know Fort Frances' interest in taking on waste as it works toward closing a dump now serving Mine Centre.

New sites are being explored, but a new transfer station is also being considered.

OPP Camp Coming to Fort Frances Area

Fort Frances' Sunny Cove Camp will be the site of this year's OPP's annual summer camp.

Forty children, aged 11 and 12, selected through the OPP's DARE programs in the Kenora and Rainy River districts will participate.

Constable Anne McCoy says its the second year for the week long camp.

"We're looking at a wonderful week with the kids and teaching them different development assets," says McCoy, " in helping them learn about team building concepts, life experiences and just having a great week and learning how to do different things to give them the strengths they need for life skills."

A $20-thousand provincial grant is helping to offset some of the camp's costs.

Boat Registration Changes

Canadians who own a canoe, kayak, sailboat, or a boat with a small motor will no longer have to register it with Transport Canada.

Transport Minister Chuck Strahl says the regulation was complicated, confusing, and was originally meant to apply only to commercial vessels.

Create Space for Peace

A book about a Fort Frances man's peace efforts will be presented to a local audience this weekend.

Create Space for Peace focuses on the work of late Gene Stoltzfus.

Dorothy Friesen says it was something that her husband considered before his untimely death one year ago.

"I think after he died it took on a different character," says Friesen, "and it was important to include some of his earlier roots and what other people saw and experienced - the kind of encouragement he gave them."

An event billed as the an inter-cultural peace event takes place at St. John's Anglican Church in Fort Frances Sunday at 3 p.m.