Rafferty Returns from Columbia

2009-04-02

07:22:44

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty has returned from a fact-finding mission in Columbia.

Rafferty participated in a four-day junket with Federal Minister of State of Foreign Affairs for the America's Peter Kent. The trip comes on the heels of last weeks decision by the Harper government to introduce legislation aimed at implementing a free trade agreement signed with Columbia in 2008.

"I wanted to get a good sense what it will mean for us," says Rafferty, "but alway want to make sure if you implement something like that workers, indigenous people and others in Columbia don't get the short end of the stick."

"I meant with all kinds of groups, civil society groups, women's groups, union groups, business owners, small business, big business, Canadian business."

Some opposition members are opposed to such a deal with Columbia because of that country's poor human rights record.

Cigarette Sellers Complying with Laws

2009-04-02

07:21:17

Northwestern Ontario may have higher cigarette smoking levels than the rest of the country, but fewer businesses are selling to under-aged youth.

A Northwestern Health Unit report found 97 per cent of area businesses  selling cigarettes are abiding by provincial regulations. That's a 3 per cent improvement over two years ago and well above the national and provincial averages.

The Health Unit adds fewer businesses are actually selling cigarettes these days as well. 

Forest Fire Season Officially Underway

2009-04-02

06:59:03

The forest fire season in 2009 is starting where 2008 left off. Last year was one of the quietest ever recorded in northwestern Ontario.

April 1st is the traditional start to the forest fire season. Ministry of Natural Resources fire information officer, Debbie MacLean, says they're don't expect much activity for at least a few weeks.

"It does look we're going to head into the fire season with nice wet weather," says MacLean, "so that's obviously going to help us in the early part of the season meaning that we're not going to have an early start to the fire season with fires that come up that have to be dealt with immediately." 

MacLean says they are using the slow period for training purposes and ensuring all necessary fire fighting equipment is ready when needed.

Gotcha, Again

2009-04-02

06:57:50

The small northeastern Minnesota town of Ely used April 1st to announce a bid for the 2016 summer Olympics.

The community, just south of here, set up a website and a video on YouTube as part of its submission. The only hitch was that it was all just a joke.

Last year's hoax of Canada trying to buy Ely was such a marketing success that officials decided to do another this year

Wastewater Discharges Concerning

2009-04-02

06:57:03

First Nations are concerned that communities on both sides of the border are bypassing wastewater into the Rainy River and endangering lake sturgeon.

They are calling for the elimination of such bypasses and want a plan to ensure that aging infrastructures are upgraded or replaced.

Rainy River First Nations Chief Jim Leonard says wastewater coming from treatment plants in International Falls and Rainy River are going into the river.

OMB Decision Out in 30 days

2009-04-02

06:54:51

There was no decision coming out of an Ontario Municipal Board hearing held in Fort Frances Wednesday.

The hearing heard arguments surrounding the town's October 2008 decision to rezone the United Pentecostal Church site on Emo Road to allow it to be redeveloped into apartments. O.M.B. Chair Gary O'Connor heard more than four hours of testimony from town officials and residents living in the area who are against the rezoning and the project.

O'Connor is expected to rule on the case within a next month.

Pither's Point Park Discussed

2009-04-02

06:41:44

A hint of what may happen if a Fort Frances town lease for Pither's Point Park is allowed to lapse at the end of this month was revealed at a town hall meeting Wednesday night.

About 50 people, including about a third of them from the native communities affected by the issue, attended.

Meeting organizer Andrew George read a letter from Ontario and federal legal representatives that warned both the town and the four First Nations bands in September of the importance of reaching a deal then.

"It is the view of both Ontario and Canada the lands are unsold surrendered lands which would be unencumbered by any lease," read George. "The lands will not automatically revert to First Nations, nor would the town have any continued legal right to occupy or to use the lands."

At least two band councillors from Couchiching First Nations did attend the meeting, but all of the First Nations chiefs and elected representatives from the town of Fort Frances stayed away.

"We elected those people, we put them in office. Why aren't they here?" questioned Ida Linklater.

Residents plan to initiate a letter writing campaign asking all levels of government to keep the park open to the public.