College To Open As Planned

(Unionized Support Staff at Fort Frances campus on picket line)


Confederation College is anticipating no major disruptions from a strike by its support staff when classes resumes Tuesday.

Staff are walking picket lines as part of a province-wide labour disruption.

Vice-President of Academics Judi Maundrell says they'll have Campus managers take over the duty of registration and helping students file for financial aid in the meantime.

Maundrell says most academic and apprenticeship programs will proceed as scheduled, but continued education programs are being delayed a week.

Drug Concerns

First Nation leaders are calling on Ottawa to help stem what they are calling an epidemic of prescription drug abuse across northern Ontario.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation deputy Grand Chief Mike Metatawabin says it has been two years since they declared a state of emergency because of drug abuse, but government response has been minimal.

Legal Action Taken

Several First Nation communities in northwestern Ontario are seeking legal action to stop provincial power contracts to hydro dams on their traditional lands.

Lawyer David Estrin says Grand Council Treaty 3 is concerned that the contracts will have adverse effects on aboriginal and treaty rights and is asking an Ontario court to set them aside.

The complaint is relates to five hydro generating plants, including the one in Fort Frances.

Alcohol Prices Lowered

The province is lowering the LCBO’s mark-up on alcohol sold at duty free stores, including that in Fort Frances.

The mark-up will be reduced from 50 per cent to 30 per cent of cost.

A release from the province says the changes will improve the competitiveness of the duty-free stores, allowing them to create jobs.

The pricing change takes effect October 10.

Ranger Program Concluded

(Fort Frances District Ontario Stewardship Ranger photo)

The Ontario Stewardship Ranger program has wrapped its summer program in the Rainy River district.

Four area youth took part in a variety of outdoor activities.

Among projects was identifying rusty crayfish on area lakes and putting up fences on farms to keep cattle out of streams.

Tele-Health Funding

The North West Local Health Integration Network is earmarking two-million dollars towards the region's tele-health program.

The money will allow various health care organizations to hire more nurses for the program.

Hertiage Party Candidate Expected

The Northern Ontario Heritage Party says it will soon be announcing the name of its candidate who will seek the seat in Kenora-Rainy River in this October's provincial election.

The party was formed last year to bring attention to issues important to this region.

Missing Man Found

OPP have located the body of a Florida man from Lake of the Woods.

68-year-old Bill Amason had been reported missing Sunday after his empty boat was found floating in Obabikon Bay.

Police says a marine unit found his body in the same area Wednesday.