School Bus Cancellations For Monday February 11

Here is a list of School Buses in the Rainy River District cancelled today.

DB100 - Jane Peterson    Dimit Buslines
DB104 - Bradley Shoemaker    Dimit Buslines
DB105 - Harrold Boven     Dimit Buslines
Seine River F.N. Elementary Bus to Mine Centre - Ted Menson
IR302 - Herman Rodrigues    Iron Range
IR304 - Stacy Bragg    Iron Range
IR306 - Nancy Allan    Iron Range
IR308 - Karen Kellar     Iron Range
IR312 - Roman Mlynarski    Iron Range
Red Gut Bay to Mine Centre - Duane Morrison
Stanjikoming F.N. - Brian Wayash
DB103 - Karen Borger    Dimit Buslines
SM235 - Shane McDonald    Shane McDonald
Seine River F.N. High School Bus - Norman Allan Jr.
Seine River Handicap Bus - Ringo Whitecrow
DB101 - Tracy Mose    Dimit Buslines
DB112 - Aleata Jerry    Dimit Buslines
Red Guy Bay High School Bus to Fort Frances - Mike Morrison


IR107 driven by Lyndon Hughes is operating this morning, but its afternoon route to Reef Point has been cancelled.

This list will be updated as bus lines notify 93.1 The Border.

Mayors Planning To Fight MPAC Decisions

A united front is forming in opposition to how the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation is assessing mill properties.

MPAC has substantially lowered the assessment rates on some facilities, including in Dryden, which means lower tax dollars for municipalities.

Dryden Mayor Craig Nuttall is now enlisting the mayors of Thunder Bay, Espanola and Fort Frances in hopes of discussing the issue with the premier.

Northwest LHIN Release New Health Care Plan

The Northwest Local Health Integration Network has a new three-year plan it says will advance health care in the region.

It focuses on four key areas.

CEO Laura Kokocinski says it will be accomplished with an expectation of new money coming from the province, instead looking at the existing pot of $600-million and determining whether they're using it in most effective way.

The plan includes creating a more integrated health care system across the region, increasing the use of electronic medical record, improving access to care and enhancing services to assist with chronic care patients in their own home.

E.I. Complaints Mounting

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty believes too many people are being denied employment insurance benefits.

Rafferty says complaints to his office have been more frequent since the federal government made changes to the E.I. system.

Rafferty says many of the complaints have come from workers employed on a seasonal basis.




He believes the federal government purposely wanting to see a number of denials to help save money.

New Role for MP

A new role for our MP.

John Raffery is part of a new all-party Entrepreneur caucus in Ottawa.

Its aim is to support and foster discussion on entrepreneurship in Canada.

It held its inaugural meeting yesterday.

Border Crossing Numbers Up

A rise in the number of people crossing the border at Fort Frances.

The Canada Border Services Agency says almost 60-thousand travelers were processed at the Fort Frances port of entry in December .

That's a three per cent increase from the number in November and almost two per cent higher from the number of people crossing in December 2011.

New Northern Development Minister Expected

There's going to be a new Minister responsible for Northern Development next week.

Rick Bartolucci says he won't be in Wynne's new cabinet when it's sworn in Monday.

Bartolucci made that confirmation after announcing he would not be seeking re-election in Sudbury in the next provincial election.

City Police Doing Its Job To Nab Speeders

International Falls City Police are being applauded for their efforts towards reducing the number of deaths on Minnesota highways.

The State wants the number brought to Zero.

Frank Scherf, a liaison with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, says local authorities are doing their part.

City Police have also acquired a new radar unit that help pinpoint speeders more accurately.

Scherf says police are being encouraged to take a "no excuses" approach to speeders in helping the State reach its goal.

State Employees Getting Pay Hike

Thousands of Minnesota state employees may soon get a raise.

State Senators approved a new contract that includes a 2 percent pay hike.

The House is expected to vote on the contract sometime next week.

Students Stepping Up For Extra-curricular Activities

Students appear to be taking a leadership role in extra-curricular activities at area high schools.

Dexter Fichuk, the student trustee with the Rainy River District School Board, says the teacher's withdrawal from activities is actually helping students develop new skills in the planning of events.

Fichuck says he'd still like the teachers involved, but hopes students can continue to have a greater role in planning when they do return.

Teacher withdrew their involvement in extra-curricular activities in December in protest over legislation that eventually imposed new contract on them last month.

Duncan Leaving

Ontario's Finance Minister is resigning.

Dwight Duncan says on Twitter this morning he's stepping down as the member of Windsor-Tecumseh a week from today.

Duncan, who supported Sandra Pupatello, had made it clear during the Liberal leadership race that he intended to resign his seat soon.

Wynne Pledging Support To Forestry Industry

Premiere-designate Kathleen Wynne is giving her commitment to sustaining the forestry industry in northern Ontario.

Wynne says it's great to see the industry coming back and the government wants to help it succeed.

She also wants to meet with the region's leaders to find further ways of strengthen the industry.

Meantime, the soon-to-be premier says she'll be appointing herself as Ontario's agricultural minister.

Wynne, who lives in downtown Toronto, says there's no reason why a city politician can't represent rural folk and understand their issues.

Minnesota Power Planning Transmission Line

Minnesota Power is exploring routes through the northern part of the State for a new transmission line to link with Manitoba.

Minnesota signed a deal in 2011 to acquire electricity from Manitoba Hydro beginning in 2020.

Cindy Hammerlund of Minnesota Power says they're currently in the planning stages for the line with construction proposed by 2017.

Hammerlund says whether the line goes through Koochiching County is still undetermined.

County Considers Sharing Engineer

Koochiching County will see if nearby Lake of the Woods County is interested in sharing the services of a County Engineer.

Commissioner Wade Pavleck raises the idea as the County looks to replace its engineer who retires in April.

Pavleck says there might be some benefits to sharing the position.

More Casinos Still Possible

Premier-designate Kathleen Wynne isn't ruling a possibility of more casinos in Ontario.

Wynne sees no reason to believe they'll halt plans to add new gambling facilities.

But she's leaving it up to communities to decide if they want one or not.

Kenora has been identified as a potential site, with Fort Frances town council recently expressing interest as well.

New Radiation Treatment Available

Cancer patients in Northwestern Ontario will now have access to an improved method of radiation.

Regional Cancer Care Northwest has installed a new linear accelerator at the Thunder Bay Health Sciences Centre.

Vice President Dr. Mark Henderson says it better focuses treatment of a tumor.

A second accelerator is also planned for the hospital later this fall.

Law School Hired First Staff

Lakehead University has hired its first three faculty members for its new law school in Thunder Bay.

Karen Drake and Dr. Mariette Brennan have been hired as Assistant Professors of Law.

Rob Hudson will act as the Faculty Head of the School's Law Library.

The school is scheduled to open this September.

CN Workers Deal

CN Rail and the union representing its signals and communications workers have ratified a new deal.

The four-year deal impacts about 700 workers across Canada.

It includes improvements to wages and benefits and is retroactive to January 1st of this year.

City Hall Improvements Planned

Some improvements are planned for the inside of International Falls City Hall.

The $148-thousand worth of work will lead to new administrative offices and counter space to deal with the visiting public.

A portion of the work has been awarded to KBB, an International Falls firm, at $82 thousand.

City public works department will do some of the other components.

Mayor Bob Anderson voted against the project, saying he struggles with its need.

New Premier Recognizing N. Ontario Interests

Premier-designate Kathleen Wynee is promising more input from northern Ontario in the decision at Queen's Park.

Wynne held a conference call yesterday with members of the media from northern Ontario, including CFOB-News.

She says she has plans to form a northern Ontario cabinet committee that will examine decisions, policies and issues effecting the north.

Wynne is also promising some northern flavour in her cabinet, but is keeping who that will be close to her chest until Monday.

She also intends to hold some cabinet meetings in the north, the first taking place at an undetermined location with her first thirty days in office.