Government Meetings Disappointing

Not all went well for the town of Fort Frances in its meetings last month with members of the McGuinty government.

Mayor Roy Avis revealed at last night's council meeting talks with Community and Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur led to more conflicting information about where savings from the uploading of social services are supposed to go to.

Avis says the Minister claims a letter sent to municipalities indicated the savings were to be directed towards programs.

Municipal Affairs had suggested savings be used toward local infrastructure.

Strategic Plan in Place

Fort Frances town council will be taking more advice from local groups over the next four years.

C-A-O Mark McCaig says it part of a new strategic plan that was formally approved by councillors at their meeting last night.

McCaig says the document looks to obtain opportunities out of the challenges facing the community.

Official Plan Review

The town of Atikokan has started the process of updating its official plan.

A public meeting was held last night with two workshops scheduled for tomorrow.

Greens Seeking New Candidate

Ontario's Green Party hopes to have a candidate in place for the Thunder Bay-Atikokan riding by Thursday.

Spokesperson Rebecca Harrison says they're scrambling to replace Russ Aegard who stepped down.

Aegard dropped out of the race for personal reasons.

Heritage Party Candidate in Place

The Northern Ontario Heritage Party will run a candidate in Kenora-Rainy River.

The party says Charmaine Romaniuk has filed her papers.

Party leader Ed Deibel says issues important to northerners can now be raised in the election campaign.

The 26-year-old Romaniuk is a Kenora resident who's also a student at Lakehead University.

Atikokan Sawmill Future

The planned sell off of the Atikokan Forest Products sawmill is becoming a election issue for candidates in Thunder Bay-Atikokan.

An auction of equipment is set to go at the end of this month.

Liberal MPP Bill Mauro says there's still some hope for that mill.

But NDP's Mary Kozorys and PC's Fred Gilbert say the current wood allocation process is prohibiting the mill from reopening.

Liberals Release Northern Platform

The Liberals have released their platform specific to northern Ontario.

Anthony Leek, their candidate for Kenora-Rainy River, says it means real and measurable progress for the area.

"I think its another step towards positive growth," says Leek. "Really expanding a foundation for the north and look at what's worked really well through the Heritage Fund as well as through energy grants and credits."

The Grits are promising, among other things, to increase the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund to $110-million.

NDP Northern Ontario Platform

The NDP is also out with its northern Ontario platform.

Kenora-Rainy River candidate Sarah Campbell says it includes improvements to the Northern Health Travel Grant.

"That would ensure that cheques are processed within 30 days," says Campbell. "If they are not received by people within the 30 days, people will receive interests from the Ontario government."
Campbell says the NDP would also implement an industrial hydro rate to help local mills.

Election Leaders Day

Ontario's provincial leaders all start their day courting votes in the Toronto area.

Premier Dalton McGuinty will speak at the Toronto Board of Trade, then head to Mississauga and Richmond Hill.

PC leader Tim Hudak is also in Mississauga, then heads to Kitchener and London.

NDP leader Andrea Horwath is in Toronto.

More Forest Fires in Northwestern Ontario

(Ministry of Natural Resources photo)

A lengthy warm spell has allowed the number of forest fires burning across northwestern Ontario to grow.

Almost forty new fires were reported over the weekend, pushing to 51 the number of those active.

Seven of were in the Rainy River district, most caused by lightning from previous storms.

There are seven fires still burning in the district.

BWCA Closed

(File photo)

A forest fire has closed a portion of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area near Ely.

Fire officials say dry air and north winds pushed the Pagami Creek Fire farther south on the weekend, forcing authorities to move campers out of the area.

The fire has grown to about 4,500 acres.

ERT in Town

(OPP Photo)

Ontario Provincial Police remind residents in Fort Frances of their Northwest Region Emergency Response Team training exercises.

Officers will be visible in the west end of the town until tomorrow.

Road Closure

Motorists who use McIrvine Road in Fort Frances will need to find an alternative route today.

The road is being shutdown near the old Bingo Hall so work crews can install water and sanitary sewer lines to an adjacent piece of property.

The work will begin at 7 a.m. today with the road reopening by tomorrow night.

Knights Honoured

The Knights of Columbus in the Fort Frances area celebrated their 75th anniversary on the weekend.

Bishop Fred Colli was among many dignitaries on hand.

"The Knights of Columbus here celebrating 75 years is a testament to the dedication and sacrifice and willingness of men and their families who have come before them to continue the strong work of the Knights of Columbus," says Bishop Colli.

The Knights used the celebrations to make their final contributions to Riverside Health Care's Care Close to Home Campaign and to the St. Mary's Church building fund.

Several members were also recognized for their years of service, including the last remaining charter member John Duchnicki.

Ontario Election Day Two

(CJUK photo)


NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is calling out the Liberal Government for sending out press releases attacking her northern Ontario platform.

Horwath says if the McGuinty Liberals want to attack her policies they can take part in a northern Ontario specific debate.

Horwath spoke to a crowd of party faithful in Thunder Bay last night.

The issue of helping some newcomers find work in Canada became a hot topic yesterday on the campaign trail.

PC Leader Tim Hudak says a Liberal plan to give tax credits to employers who hire professionals trained aboard doesn't help the 500-thousand people in the province who can't find work.

The Liberal party countered by saying such attitudes are intolerant and anti-immigration.

Employment and training appears to be the focus of the party leaders as they visit the Toronto area today.

Premier Dalton McGuinty is in Newmarket at a solar panels plant.

Hudak visits a training centre in Toronto while Horwath is at one in Oakville.

Atikokan Residents to Celebrate Canoe Trip

(Atikokan Progress photo)


An Atikokan man, travelling the historic Voyageur route by canoe, will be see some familiar faces when he reaches Montreal next week.

Donna Zachariah says a trip is being organized for residents to greet Mike Ranta when he completes the 52-hundred kilometre journey.

"We certainly are going to have a celebration in Atikokan," says Zachariah, "but we also felt it was also very important to have him see, once he came up to Montreal in a canoe, somebody there from Atikokan. We feel what he's doing is representing the heart and spirit of Atikokan."

Residents are also being asked to sign a congratulatory banner.

Contest Deadline Extended

The Atikokan Economic Development Corporation is giving people some extra time to submit their ideas that help promote the town as the Canoeing Capital of Canada.

The Corporation set up a contest, but received only a few submissions by an August 31st deadline.

It's hoping more ideas come forward by the end of the month.

Knights of Columbus Celebrate

The Knights of Columbus will celebrate their 75th year in the Fort Frances area this weekend.

Grand Knight Herman Rodriques says the Knights have played a significant role in improving the quality of life for residents.

"One time, I'm told, in the early 1970's, the old Knight of Columbus hall across the arena was the place to be if you want to get married," says Rodriques. "The Knights did raise a lot of funds through its bingos and weddings. There was a very substantial contribution to the community."

A dinner Saturday night and a mass Sunday highlight festivities.

Border Concert Series Underway

The Border Concert Association will offer five shows as part of its entertainment series at Backus Auditorium in International Falls.

Paul Follan of Allied Concert Services says they come at a very affordable cost.

"The prices on the Canadian side are $45 for adults, $10 dollars for students and $95 for a family," says Follan. "It's the same price on the American side. It's a great value. If you go to all of them it's like nine dollars a show."

Street Corner Symphony, runner-up in the NBC Reality Show Sing Off, kicks things off September 30.

Ontario Election Day Two

On the provincial election campaign, Premier Dalton McGuinty says tens of thousands of new clean energy jobs would be put at risk if the Progressive Conservatives are elected on October 6.

McGuinty made the statement as he visited London to announce Samsung's intentions to build four manufacturing plants in southern Ontario.

McGuinty says PC Leader Tim Hudak's promise to tear up the contract with Samsung will kill the jobs the plants bring.

The New Democrats are promising to create a northern Ontario legislative committee as part of their northern election platform.

During a campaign stop in Sudbury Thursday, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath also promised to re-establish an independent ministry of aboriginal affairs instead of the joint ministry that's now in place.

And Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak says he will "enforce the law" when it comes to doctors who charge illegal user fees.

He says he'll make sure no one will be able to charge patients for medically necessary services if he's elected premier,