Election Notebook

Progressive Conservatives are calling on Premier Wynne to come clean on the cost of the MarS real estate deal.

The Tories released documents last week they claim show the Liberals secretly signed off on a $317-million bailout for the Toronto real estate project.

Critic Vic Fedeli says Wynne should disclose all documents related to the deal before tomorrow's leaders' debate.

The Liberals, meantime, say the inspiration of PC leader Tim Hudak's platform comes directly from the extreme-right Republican movement in the U.S.

The Liberal have released documents of their own, claiming Hudak met with leading Republican and Tea Party strategists during his trip to Washington in April 2012.

They say part of the meeting included media training with a firm who's also worked with Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachman.

New Democrats have released new ads in their campaign to end the scandals at Queen's Park.

The ad, entitled “I’m voting Andrea,” features a number of people who say they voted Liberal in the last election, but will be switching their vote to the NDP.

The NDP have also set up a website for other voters to comment on why they plan switch their vote.

Candidates File For U.S. Elections

Candidates seeking to represent Koochiching County at the U.S., State and County levels are starting to file.

At the County level, Wade Pavleck in District 1, Kevin Adee in District 2 and Rob Ecklund in District 3 are all seeking re-election to the board.

Sheriff Brian Jesperson, Attorney Jeff Naglosky and County Auditor Bob Peterson are also up for re-election.

The deadline to file is tomorrow at 5 PM with the primaries to be held August 12 and the general election on November 4.

Crime Down In Fort Frances

OPP continue to see a drop in crime in Fort Frances.

Police handled a total of 284 calls in April while laying 76 charges.

That's down from the 92 charges issued in April 2013.

The total number of charges to date of 288 is also 50 fewer than this time last year and over 100 less than in the first four months of April.

Minimum Wage Goes Up

Thousands of employees in the Province go to work today with a raise.

Ontario's minimum wage officially increased Sunday going up 75 cents from $10.25 to an even $11.00 per hour.

Some advocates say it still keeps a number of low-wage earners well below the poverty line.

Wet Day In District Forecast

It could be a very wet day in the Rainy River district.

Environment Canada says a system moving through our area could leave as much as 5 centimetres of rain in some part of the region.

The rain is supposed to taper off by tomorrow morning.

NOMA Seeks Energy Answers

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association and the City of Thunder Bay are joining together requesting answers on local energy issues from the three main provincial parties.

They have written to the leaders and their local election candidates asking them to commit to a series of demands.

They include converting Ontario Power Generation's station in Thunder Bay to natural gas, expanding the capacity of OPG's Atikokan generating station and creating new transmission lines.

Nickle Promoting Party's Energy Platform

The PC candidate for Kenora-Rainy River is promoting his party's energy platform.

Randy Nickle says Ontario residents are paying some of the highest costs for power, and the Tories have the only plan that will help hydro users save $343.00 a year on their bills.

Nickle is handing out light bulbs to homes he's visiting as a reminder of his party's platform.

OPP Getting Their Man

OPP in Fort Frances are getting their man most of the time.

Statistics show OPP cleared 93 per cent of all violent crime cases in the town in 2013 and almost 33  per cent of all property crimes.

The clearance rate on violent crimes is about the same as last year, but the OPP's ability to solve property crime cases increased by 6.5 per cent over 2012.

The numbers are also better than both the provincial and national averages.

Commission Winding Down Its Work

The work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is starting to wind down.

Justice Murray Sinclair visited Kenora last week and says he's still affected by the stories of abuse they've collected.

Sinclair says the exact number of children who have died in residential schools remains unknown because many are buried in unmarked graves.

Skin Cancer On the Rise

Some warm weather, but you do so with some alarming news regarding skin cancer rates.

New data indicates skin cancer is the most common cancer in Canada with an estimated 65-hundred new cases expected to be diagnosed this year.

Canadian Cancer Society spokesperson Kelly Cull says skin cancer is preventable.

The Canadian Cancer Society is launching an awareness campaign this summer focusing on the dangers of tanning.

Atikokan Man Charged

An Atikokan man will appear in court Monday in connection with an assault in that community last week.

OPP say a 48-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment and released after being assaulted by another brandishing a hammer.

The 40-year-old remains in custody pending his court appearance in Fort Frances.

County Seeks Assurances On RECAP Project

Koochiching County wants to ensure the company proposing a renewable energy project is considering potential sites, west of International Falls as part of a feasibility study.

Commissioner Wade Pavleck says Coronal's latest report makes no mention of looking at land around the city of  Big Falls, despite previous requests from both the city and the county.

Pavleck says the company seems focuses soley on a site near International Falls that includes both private and city owned property.

Election Notebook

On the election campaign, Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne is challenging PC leader Tim Hudak to prove her wrong.

The Liberals and some economists say the Tories have incorrectly counted person-years of employment as full time jobs in their projections towards the million jobs plan.

Wynne wants Hudak to produce at least one qualified independent economist who supports the PC's claim.

PC's, meantime, are launching new ads after releasing details of what they say is an approved $317-million bailout of a Toronto real estate firm signed just prior to the provincial election campaign.

PC's released documents pertaining to the deal yesterday.

Premier Kathleen Wynne denies the allegations, saying the documents are part of ongoing negotiations in a real estate transaction.

NDP leader Andrea Horwath is promising to clean-up what she calls the corruption at Queen's Park and focus on the priorities that matter most to Ontarians.

Horwath says Liberals have wasted billions of dollars on such things a CEO bonuses, the ORNGE air ambulance scandal and the cancelled gas plants instead of on health care, education and public transit.

Former Atikokan Resident Releases Book

A former Atikokan educator is out with a new children's book.

Paul Bachmeier, who now lives in Thunder Bay, authored "Barley the Elephant."

It's about a spotted baby elephant. 

Bachmeier credits his daughters for the idea and includes both in the book.

The book is illustrated by Scott Chasty, another former Atikokan resident.

A launch will take place in Thunder Bay tomorrow at the Chapters book store.

You can also obtain the book on line and through splittreepublishing.com

Three Charges In Drug Bust

OPP are charging three people with drug related offences.

A 66 year old Thunder Bay man, a 53 year old from Fort Hope and 41 year old woman from Webequie woman are charged with possession of oxycodone, marihuana, and possession of property of crime.

About 11-thousand dollars worth of drugs were seized in  the investigation.

Governor OK's Marijuana Use

Governor Mark Dayton has signed off on a bill paving the way for the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

The bill creates a patient registry and authorizes the use of medical cannabis in limited forms for certain conditions.

The State expects to have distribution sites in place by next summer.

New Health Unit Campaign

A new campaign to encourage healthy lifestyles has been launched by the Northwestern Health Unit.

Medical Officer of Health Doctor Kit Young-Hoon says its aimed at improving the overall health of the region through better eating and lifestyle habits.

The campaign includes a new website offering a 21 day challenge to help change your lifestyle choices.

NCDS Busy

A busy year for Northern Community Development Services, or NCDS.

The employment assistance agency saw nearly 9-thousand people visit its Fort Frances office.

Marketing coordinator Sarah Maruzyk says it was in part due to the layoffs at Resolute Forest Products.

NCDS also saw over 21-hundred people participate in a variety of skills development workshops.

Voter Cards Being Issued

Voters across the Kenora-Rainy River riding are beginning to receive find their notice to vote cards in their mail boxes.

It includes the polling station you vote at on election day.

Returning Officer Ian Simpson says check the cards closely to ensure they are accurate.

If there are errors, or you have not received a card in  the next few days, call the Returning office.

Voting can now be done at returning offices by special ballot with advance polls opening this weekend, but the cards are not required.

Two pieces of identification is all you need.

Board Positions Filled

The Northwest Catholic District School Board has appointed two to the position of Superintendent of Education.

Brendan Hyatt and Joanne Querel will assume their new duties in August.

Hyatt is currently principal at Our Lady of the Way School in Stratton and the assistant to the education director

Querel now serves as an assistant Superintendent of Education.