Gravelle Eyes Liberal Leadership

A northwestern Ontario MPP is giving some consideration to running for leader of the Ontario Liberal party.

Thunder Bay's Michael Gravelle, who's now Natural Resources Minister, says he wants to see who else enters the race before making a firm commitment.

Gravelle says if no candidate show any passion for the north, he will consider his options.

Meantime, party officials will meet this weekend to decide when they can hold a leadership convention to replace Premier Dalton McGuinty.

The party's rules allow six months to hold a convention, but sources say the executive invoked what's known as an "electoral urgency'' clause to shorten that time frame.

Hats Off To Seniors

It will be "Hats Off To Seniors" next month.

The group, Seniors and Law Enforcement Together will host an event to celebrate seniors living in the Rainy River district.

Spokesperson Nell Laur says everyone is being invited to the November 16th event.

The group has also established a Making A Difference award to recognize individuals.

It's accepting nominations which can be found by click the link to SALT's website.

Water Route Project Gets Funding

More funding for the Path of the Paddle project.

It's a proposed water route linking Kenora, Atikokan and Thunder Bay.

Project manager Vicki Kurz says there's still a lot of work yet before the route is fulling in place.

The 68-thousand dollars from the province will allow the planning group carry out its next round of work.

Hydro Charges Drop Slightly

Starting next month, most electricity prices in the province will drop slightly for the winter months -- except for the highest demand hours.

The Ontario Energy Board says the changes to the off-peak and mid-peak prices means most consumers using the so-called smart meters will see a decrease of just over a dollar on the electricity line of their hydro bill.

Court Hearing On Catholic Education Continues

A hearing regarding the funding of Catholic schools in Ontario continues in Toronto today.

A Toronto woman is asking Ontario's Superior Court to order the government to stop funding Catholic schools because as a taxpayer who doesn't share the church's beliefs.

Ontario government lawyers say because the funding was guaranteed in 1867 in the constitution, it is not subject to charter challenges.

Parade of Lights Coming Soon

There's nine more weeks until Christmas and that means the annual Parade of Lights in Fort Frances is just around the corner.

Causeway Insurance is once again the key organizer and spokesperson Robin Payeur says this year's theme will be "A Christmas Story."

Those wanting to take part or help out for the November 24th event can contact Causeway Insurance or the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce.

Plane Crash Kills Three

Three people are dead and another person is in hospital following a plane crash near Pickle Lake.

Peter Hildebrand of the Transportation Safety Board says it happened Tuesday night as the plane was making a landing at the community's airport.

Hildebrand says the plane went down in a heavily wooded area about 7:30 p.m., but the wreckage wasn't found until 3 a.m. the next morning.

No names has yet been released.

Woman Seeking Money From NWO residents In Winnipeg

Shoppers heading to Winnipeg are being warned of a scam that has a connection to the Rainy River district.

Dryden Police say a woman from Dryden was approached recently at the Polo Park Mall by a woman who claimed to be from Devlin and needing money.

The reasons for the money was not disclosed.

MPP Wants Queen's Park Back In Session

The MPP for Kenora-Rainy River wants her constituents to help get Queen's Park back in business.

Sarah Campbell calls Premier Dalton McGuinty's decision to prorogue the legislature because he's stepping down a "political lock-out."

Campbell is asking residents to write or call the Premier to get him to reconsider his decision to halt business at the legislature.

Meantime, Liberal supporters are still in shock by their leader's sudden resignation.

Vice-president of the party's northern region, Anthony Leek says he found out about the resignation on-line.

Economic Development High On The Candidates Agenda

Economic development top of mind for candidates attending a forum in International Falls.

Falls mayoral candidate Bob Anderson says it starts with creating a climate that helps foster job grown among existing entrepreneurs and businesses.

Councillor Paul Eklund, who's also running for mayor, says the city needs to continue investing in projects as it's now doing.

Candidates running in races in Ranier, Koochiching County and School Board District 361 also participated in the forum held at Rainy River Community College.

Park Clarifies Position On Cell Tower

Voyageurs National Park and its Park Association are clarifying statements made in a letter over AT&T plans to install a cellphone tower near the park.

The Koochiching County Board, which gave approval to the tower in August, took the letter as a threat.

The Association's Jody Tableporter says that wasn't the intent.

She says they support the County decision to limit the height of the tower to 199 feet thus minimizing any impact to the park.

The AT&T is building the tower with the ability to expand higher.

Area CEP Reps Support Union Merger

Northern Ontario members of the Communication Energy and Paperworkers Union are throwing their support being a merger with the Canadian Autoworkers.

CEP gave its blessing at its conference earlier this week.

Local rep Steven Boon believes it will provide strength to the local membership.

Boon says it will still be at least six to 12 month before all the work needed on the new structure is complete.

Catholic Education Funding Challenge

The province is trying to shut down a constitutional challenge to its funding of Catholic schools.

A Toronto woman is arguing in court that funding Catholic school violates the charter and should be stopped.

Men Without Hats Cancels Show

A scheduled performance of the 80's band Men Without Hats in Fort Frances has been cancelled.

The November 2 show at Club 88 is one of several across western Canada the Canadian group has cancelled.

The band cites unforeseen circumstances as the reason.

Foundation Fundraiser Hailed A Success

Riverside Foundation for Health Care's recent fundraiser, "An Evening in Paris," is being hailed a huge success.

Last Saturday's event raised more than $30-thousand for the new digital mammography unit campaign.

Over 200 people attended the sold out event.

Border Numbers Still Up

New numbers from the Fort Frances border.

The Canada Border Services Agency says more than 100-thousand travellers in over 48-thousand vehicles crossed into Canada at Fort Frances in August.

That's a 3.6 per cent increase in the number of travellers and 4.7 per cent increase in vehicles compared to August of last year.

McGuinty Steps Down

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty says he's stepping down as Liberal leader and is also adjourning the legislature to try and negotiate with the opposition parties.

 Beaten down by a series of scandals involving air ambulances and hundreds of millions of dollars spent to cancel two gas plants, McGuinty decided he's had enough.

He made the surprise announcements to an emergency meeting of the Liberal caucus last night after the
government was hit with a second contempt motion over the cancelled power plants.

Meantime, the Opposition leaders are paying tribute to the Premier for his years of public service.

But P.C. leader Tim Hudak and the NDP's Andrea Horwath are urging McGuinty to reconsider his decision to prorogue the legislature.

Both leaders say there is important work to be done and there's no reason to stop the business in the house.

Candidates Debate

Candidates in four races within Koochiching County will outline their platforms to voters tonight.

Faye Whitbeck of the International Falls Chamber of Commerce says they'll face questions in a forum at Rainy River Community College being put together by the College's Student Senate and students at Falls High School.

Candidates seeking election in International Falls, Rainer, Koochiching County and School District 361 are taking part.

The event begins at 6 p.m.

New State Senator Visits

Koochiching County's new State senator says he's ready to represent the area in the Minnesota legislature.

The area fell within Tom Baak's jurisdiction following a rewrite of the legislative districts earlier this year.

He says it was something he and other Democrats would happen when the courts did its review of the boundaries.

Baak was in the area's to meet with area municipal and school board officials.

Local Government Week

This is local government week and members of Fort Frances council are out in the community promoting how residents can get involved.

C.A.O. Mark McCaig encourages residents to take an active role.

The town is also soliciting for volunteers to sit on future committees.