Liberals Promising Doctor House Calls

Ontario's Liberals are kicking off the last week before the provincial election campaign begins in earnest by courting seniors.

Health Minister Deb Matthews says the Liberals are promising to bring back doctor house calls for seniors if elected October 6th.

The Liberals say their promise will apply to anyone who has trouble getting to their doctor's office.

Both the NDP and Progressive Conservatives call the $60-million program an election gimmick.

Hudak to Hit the Road

The Progressive Conservatives are expected to launch what they're calling their "campaign for change'' later today.

Leader Tim Hudak will be joined by his caucus and candidates in Toronto to announce he's hitting the road as he tries to convince Ontarians he should be the next premier.

The election campaign officially begins next Wednesday.

Pace Car Program Promoted

Drivers in the Rainy River district are wanted to set the pace this fall.

Safe Communities Rainy River District is asking motorists be part of its Pace Car Program.

Administrative Coordinator Grace Silander says it simply asks them to sign an oath to drive slow in school zones.

It's an effort that initially started in December.

College Bargaining Talks

Talks continue to try to head off a September 1st strike by support workers at Ontario's community colleges, including Confederation College.

Three days of bargaining will begin today.

Tourism Report Reviewed

A consultant's report on the new northern Ontario tourism plan is out.

Members of various tourism organizations are taking time to review the document and will be meeting for two days starting today in Sudbury.

Forest Fires Activity Continues

Eleven new forest fires in northwestern Ontario were reported yesterday, but the Ministry of Natural Resources says it's making good process on the fifty-plus still burning.

Fire Information Officer Debbie MacLean says it's allowed them to release some of the out-of-province fire crews from active duty.

Maclean says this has been the most destructive fire season in 50 years, with more than 622-thousand hectares of forest burned.

Four of the fires still active are at the southern part of Quetico Provincial Park but are posing no real threat.

NDP Back to Work

After a week of grieving the loss of their leader and saying goodbye at Saturday's state funeral in Toronto, New Democrats are turning to the job at hand.

NDP director Brad Lavigne says party members will honour Jack Layton's legacy by rolling up their sleeves and getting down to work first thing this morning.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty and his partner Pam Cain were among those attending Saturday's funeral.

Toronto Liberal Announcement

A major provincial announcement for the Liberal party was made today.
PRESTO is now available at all GO stations and on all GO buses in the southern Ontario region.
"The McGuinty government is making it more convenient for commuters to choose transit. With PRESTO, riders can travel across multiple transit systems in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area with just one card." says Kathleen Wynne, the Minister of Transportation for the McGuinty government.

US Earthquake

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake centred in the state of
Virgina, shook much of Washington, D.C., and was felt as far north
as Rhode Island and New York City.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake was 3.7 miles (6
kilometres) deep. Shaking was felt as far north as Sudbury, and east into New Brunswick yesterday.

Layton's Body Arrives On Parliament Hill

Jack Layton's body arrived on parliament hill to lay in state this morning.

A grieving Olivia Chow accompanied her husband's coffin as it was
greeted by a piper playing a lament.
New Democrat MPs and staff shared tearful hugs as the coffin
arrived at the Peace Tower, where the flag fluttered at half-staff.

Several hundred people watched quietly as the casket was wheeled
into the the Parliament Buildings, where Layton is to lie in state for two days.
The first hours of the ceremony were reserved for family,
colleagues and dignitaries.

Major OPP Drug Bust

A routine traffic stop by Fort Frances OPP resulted in more than just a ticket. The 26 year old male driver from Manitoba was driving while suspended. Officers searched the vehicle and came away with 24 pounds of pot with a street value of over 60 thousand dollars.

The 26 year old driver was remanded into custody and faces charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking, driving while suspended and two counts of failing to comply with a court order. He will appear in court tomorrow for a bail hearing. His 27 year old female passenger was also taken into custody and charged with possesssion for the purpose of trafficking. She has been released and will be back in court Sept 26th.

Fort Frances Town Council Meeting

At Fort Frances town council yesterday, a local artist was given permission to work to put up a mural in the arena.
The mural, called Timmy's World, was painted by children with Lindsay Hamilton's help.
Town councilor Hallikas is quoted as calling the work a: "fantastic, fasmagorical world!"

Jack Layton State Funeral

The deceased leader of the federal NDP will be given a state funeral.
Jack Layton will be honoured with a sendoff usually reserved for
prime ministers, governors general and cabinet ministers.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Harper says the P-M exercised his
discretion and offered Layton's wife, Olivia Chow, a state funeral, which she accepted.

Potential Provincial College Strike Brewing

Ontario's college support staff union warned Saturday that the beginning of the Ontario college school year is at risk.
More than 8,000 workers who are part of the Ontario Public Services Union have been in new contract talks since June, and the union warns that "there has been no meaningful dialogue from negotiators representing management."
Their last contract is set to expire the day before the start of the school year on August 31st, and OPSEU says that management is "avoiding serious negotiations until the deadline is reached. Both sides are set to return to the negotiating table for a week of talks starting tomorrow.

Conservative Candidate Picked for Fall Election

All the major parties now have their candidates in place for the October
6th provincial election.
The Conservatives are the latest party to select their candidate.
Kenora City Councillor Rod McKay beat out Louis Roussin for the Tory
nomination.
McKay says his biggest job now is getting his name out in the Kenora-Rainy
River Riding.

Jack Layton Dead at 61

The NDP federal leader has died this morning.
Just months after leading his party to unprecedented success in
the federal election campaign, Jack Layton died while fighting cancer.
He died early this morning, surrounded by friends and family.
He was 61.

Beaches Now Posted

The Northwestern Health Unit has now posted all the beaches in the Kenora and Rainy River Districts with warning signs.

They warn of higher levels of bacteria after heavy rainfalls or high winds.

Enforcement manager Jennifer McKibbon says they are only a precaution.

McKibbon says reds signs will be posted when a beach has been closed.

Another Lightning Strike in Park

There are now four forest fires burning within Quetico Provincial Park.

The latest was spotted yesterday southeast of Bass Lake in the southern part of the park.

The lightning-caused fire has so far scorched about a hectare.

Three others located near the same vicinity have been burning since the end of July.

Plane Crash

A pilot is lucky to be walking away with only minor injuries after a plane crash in Marathon.

OPP say the plane was attempting to take off when it ran out of runway and clipped a poll yesterday afternoon, ending up in a ditch along side Highway 17.

The crash forced the closure of the highway for a couple of hours.

Schools Recognized as Residential

Two First Nation schools in the Nishnawbe Aski Nation are now on a formal list of residential schools.

It allows former students of the Stirland Lake and Cristal Lake Residential High Schools to be eligible for government compensation.

The schools, located 170 kilometres north of Sioux Lookout, opened in the 1970's, later merging and operating until 1991.