Issues Debated in Kenora

Hydro rates, the Far North Act and forestry were among issues arising out of a debate in Kenora for candidates seeking election in Kenora-Rainy River.

The Liberal's Anthony Leek admits his party's policies have been under attack, but they aren't about to change course now.

The NDP's Sarah Campbell reiterating her party's plans to bring down hydro rates.


Rod McKay of the Conservatives says his party believe in opening up the north for development.

Charmaine Romaniuk of the Northern Ontario Heritage Party wants to ensure mineral mined in the north be processed in the north.

Jo Jo Holiday from the Green Party says in order to have a healthy economy, we need a healthy population.

Stratton Debate Organized

There will be a provincial election debate in the Rainy River district.

The Rainy River Federation of Agriculture is sponsoring an event a week from tomorrow at Our Lady of the Way School in Stratton.

A meet and greet, sponsored by the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce, takes place the day before in Fort Frances.

Advance Polls Open

Advance polls open today in the provincial election.

Returning officer for the Kenora-Rainy River riding Ian Simpson says voters can go to the returning office in Fort Frances or to the Rainy River Community Centre beginning at 10 a.m.

In Atikokan, there is an advance poll at Elections Ontario's office on Main street.

Three Face Drug Charges

Three people in the Rainy River district will make future court appearances on drug charges.

A 60-year-old Fort Frances man was charged after OPP seized  $3,000 worth of marijuana plants from a home in late August.

A week later, a marijuana grow operation was discovered in Barwick where police seized plants and dry marijuana, valued at over $23-thousand.

A 47-year-old man was charged.

A day later, a 44-year-old woman from Couchiching First Nation was charged after police stopped a vehicle and found $4,100 worth of cocaine inside.

Environmental Film Festival

The environment takes front and centre at a film festival at Fort Frances High School today.

Beth Fairfield, chair of the Rainy River District School Board's Environmental Education Committee says it's the event's third year.

Students will see a number of short films.

An expo will also be held to showcase environmental products and services in the district.

The festival is restricted to students only, but the expo is open to the public from 10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

Dayton Talks Jobs

(Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton listens to International Falls Mayor Shawn Mason at economic development summit)

Education and transportation were among areas identified needing support to help generate jobs in Koochiching County.

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton heard from a variety of individuals at his economic development summit on job creation.

International Falls Mayor Shawn Mason says promotion of its foreign trade zone would go along way to meeting that goal.

The input will be further discussed as a State-wide jobs summit planned for the end of next month.

Demo Project at Area Schools

Schools in the Rainy River District are being used as demonstration sites to find ways of integrating speech and language services for young children.

Ann Anderson, the public board's speech language coordinator, says they're focusing on the needs of students going from preschool to junior kindergarten.

Lonna Oster, a speech language pathologist with the Kenora – Rainy River District Preschool Speech and Language Program, has been seconded to head the project.

Support Workers Back on Job

Support workers with Confederation College are back on the job today.

They still have to vote on a tentative deal that ended a 16-day old strike at all of Ontario's 24 community colleges, but their union is recommending acceptance.

Voting is expected to take place within two weeks.

Rainfall Warning

Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for the Morson and Nestor Falls areas.

A system moving across the area over the next 24 hours is expected to bring up to five centimetres of rain in some areas.

Lesser amounts are expected around Fort Frances and Atikokan.

Ontario Election Day 14

Premier Dalton McGuinty says he can find health care savings without making cuts to hospitals.

Tory Leader Tim Hudak promises to end the mandatory smart meter program, call the meters a government cash-grab.

The NDP is promising to help municipalities with public transit costs if they commit to holding the line on fares for four years.

Debate in Kenora

Candidates in Kenora-Rainy River will debate regional issues in Kenora today.

This one is sponsored by the Kenora Chamber of Commerce.

Weather Aids Minnesota Fire Fight

Firefighters appear to be gaining ground on a forest fire that has blackened 147 square miles of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northeastern Minnesota.

Fire information officer Doug Anderson says significant rainfall has resulted in the fire being 23 per cent contained.

Rainy River Resources Finds Nickel

There's gold - now there appears to be nickel at Rainy River Resources gold project north of Barwick.

The company says it recently found what it believes to be a new nickel deposit.

Further exploration is planned to better define the size of the discovery.

St. Mary's 60th

St. Mary's Church in Fort Frances has started celebrations towards its 60th anniversary.

Bishop Fredrick Colli says it's a significant milestone.

The church was originally constructed in 1951.

Former Family Services Worker Facing Charges

The former director of family services with the Rainy River First Nation is reportedly facing multiple charges in connection with alleged abuses of two teenage girls and a woman.

Metrolinx News reports 60-year-old James Leonard Cardy is free on bail after turning himself into Winnipeg Police last week.

The alleged offences took place in Winnipeg between January and November of last year.

An band official says Cardy was dismissed from his position earlier this year.

College Support Workers Get New Contract

The province's 24 community colleges should be back to normal within days after striking staff reached a tentative deal.

The eight-thousand support workers, including those with Confederation College, who were on picket lines since just before school resumed are expected back on the job tomorrow.

No details will be released until after a ratification vote.

Internet Safety to be Promoted

Ontario Provincial Police will likely roll out its Internet Safety programs to Rainy River district schools next month.

Constable Anne McCoy says they've come up with a curriculum that touches every age group, their parents and teachers.

McCoy says Tim Hortons, a past supporter of the DARE program, will continue on with this program through the sale of its Smile Cookies this week.

Passport to Farm Safety

A program that emphasizes safety on the farm is being tested in the Rainy River district.

Administrative coordinator for Safe Community's Rainy River Grace Silander says 26 area farms are involved in Passport to Farm Safety.

Pilots are also being done in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and southern Ontario before expanded elsewhere by mid-October.

Parliament Resumes

Members of Parliament will return to their seats today in the House of Commons.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River's John Rafferty plans to reintroduce a private members bill to protect workers severance.

Rafferty says he'll also be watching for the Conservatives to bring their plan to kill the long-gun registry very early in the session.

Canada Responses to Tax Dispute

The Harper government is pressing the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to back off on its effort to find offshore tax cheats in Canada.

The IRS is going after people who are citizens of both Canada and the U-S, and didn't file a U.S. tax return.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says many of those dual citizens are not high rollers with offshore bank accounts -- and Canada is not a tax haven.

The U.S. also proposes to compel Canadian banks to notify the I.R.S. of accounts held by clients with dual citizenship.