Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Boater Deadline Passes

Thousands of boaters could be violating the law today if they go out in their boat without a pleasure craft operators licence.

Midnight was the deadline to have a licence.

The fine for not having a license is $250-dollars.

It's estimated more than 8-million Canadian boaters have yet to acquire their licence.

Rafferty Warm to EI Proposals

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says more study is needed, but proposals to the employment insurance program might help keep MP's in Ottawa.

The fall session of Parliament began yesterday with the threat of an election looming.

Rafferty says the changes which include an extension of benefits to workers and the ability for self-employed workers to pay into the program look promising.

"If I'm telling you right now that we're trying to make parliament and do what's right for Canadians, those two parts of the package look good," says Rafferty.

Rafferty still feels its up to Prime Minister Harper to determine how long the session lasts.

AbitibiBowater Deal in Thunder Bay

Woodlands workers who supply logs and chips to AbitibiBowater's pulp, newsprint and lumber operations in Thunder Bay are taking a pay cut and making other concessions.

Steelworkers Local president Joe Hanlon says the new three year agreement was developed as a response to the company's urgent request for cost-saving measures, but admits there is no guarantees the mills will stay open.

PUBLIC MEETING ON NEW BORDER FACILTY

The public will get to have its say today on a proposed new facility for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service in International Falls.

Project Manager Don Melcher of the U-S General Services Administration says a scoping meeting will take place at Rainy River Community College.

An informal meeting will be held at 2 p.m. with a more formal presentation happening at 7 p.m. in Room H-118,

Lakers Look to Score Town Support

The Fort Frances Lakers junior A hockey club was seeking more immediate help from town council last night.

Board chair Milt Strachan says among the things as a reduction in fees paid for ice time for practices during the morning hours.

"This is a dead ice-time," says Strachan. " In other words this ice-time that wouldn't be used if there wasn't a junior hockey club."

Strachan says they'd also like the opportunity to run their own hockey school and share of concession revenues obtained during Laker games.

Transportation Requests Submitted

A town committee is looking for some assistance in carrying out a transportation plan in Fort Frances.

Elaine Fisher of the Active Transportation Committee wants council to focus on five specific projects, including one to paint pedestrian walkways at intersections.

"We realize a lot of our intersections aren't clearly marked for people to cross," says Fisher. "Something as simple as paint to just clearly define the major intersection and crosswalks (should be considered)."

The committee is also seeking to identify a bike route along 4th street, upgrade of some of the so-called monkey trails within the community and ongoing town involvement with the committee as its carries out its active transportation plan.

Crossing Guard Requested

Calls for a crossing guard at one of the busiest intersections in Fort Frances.

Speaking on behalf of the Rainy River Valley Safety Coalition, OPP Constable Anne McCoy told town councillors last night the need for a crossing guard at Kings Highway and Keating Avenue arose during a project involving J.W. Walker School.

McCoy feels costs could be shared.

"I have already approached corporations," says McCoy. "One is already at the corporate level right now looking at whether or not they will contribute financially to this project."

McCoy says a recent traffic initiative at the intersection netted a number of charges against motorists who failed to stop for the red light.

Budget Process Begins

There was plenty for Fort Frances town council to consider at a public meeting on the 2010 budget.

Last night's meeting brought forward a number of requests.

Mayor Roy Avis admits this will be another difficult year for council.

"The budget for 2010 will be very difficult as we are in the middle of a recession, our major employer and taxpayer is still in bankruptcy protection and our senior government deficits are growing," says Avis. "In many areas of our community people are struggling. I feel this should be a budget of necessities and not luxuries."

Avis did put forward three requests of his own for council to consider.

They included the hard-surfacing of 5th Street between Portage Avenue and McIrvine Road, the hard-surfacing of Boundary Road and the creation of a work crews whose main focus would be maintaining the area around the Sorting Gap Marina.

Council is not expected to finalize its budget until next April.