Thursday, October 22, 2009

Ontario Economy Update

A government source tells The Canadian Press the 650-million dollars Ontario has spent in the fight against swine flu is partly to blame for the province's deepening deficit.

Experts say the province is likely burdened with a deficit ashigh as 22-billion dollars.

We'll find out if that's the case later today when Finance Minister Dwight Duncan delivers his fall economic statement.

Premier Dalton McGuinty says we'll have to wait until the spring budget to hear the government's strategy for digging the province out of its fiscal hole.

Ontario Flu Shots

People in the high risk group to contract the swine flu shouldstart rolling their sleeves.

They can start getting their needles to stave off the H-1-N-1virus starting Monday in Ontario.

The high risk group includes adults under the age of 65 with chronic conditions, health-care workers, caregivers for high-risk groups, people in remote communities, pregnant women and healthy children six months to five years of age.

Everyone else may have to wait until mid-November or December toget the vaccine.

Domtar Ear Falls Operation

The Domtar Mill in Ear Falls is still running.

Company Spokesperson Bonnie Skene says unfortunately economic challenges haven't improved enough to maintain operations.

Skene says the Sawmill will be shut-down in different phases.

She says the entire facility will be winterized by the end of the year.

Catholic School Board Enrollment

The Kenora Catholic District School Board seems to be bucking the trend of declining enrolment in northwestern Ontario.

Most boards are reporting significantly lower student numbers this year, but the separate board in Kenora continues to enjoy fairly stable enrolment figures.

Erica Baily is the Director Of Finance for the catholic board and says while figures won't be finalized until the end of the month, they have seen an increase of three students over their initial projections this year.

She adds thats up by two students over last years final enrolment figures.

Lakehead University

The latest Lakehead University advertising campaign is focusing on its students.

The ``Think for Yourself'' campaign is intended to bolster the university's reputation as a school that encourages its students to be innovative and independent thinkers.

The university decided on the campaign after research found 50per cent of Torontonians hadn't heard of Lakehead.

Mining Act Legislation

Long awaited changes to the provincial Mining Act have been approved by the Ontario Legislature.

The bill passed third reading at Queen's Park yesterday.

Minister of Northern Development and Mines Michael Gravelle says its a relief to have the legislation passed, but they aren't done yet.

Gravelle suggests the new Mining Act should reduce the number of conflicts between prospectors and mining companies and landownersand first nation communities.

Council on posters

The City of Kenora wants to put an end to taping posters on light posts.

The Property and Planning Committee has decided to purchase a community bulletin board for 25 hundred dollars.

Councillor Wendy Cuthbert says if the bulletin board is well received they may purchase another.

The new community bulletin board will be placed at City Hall.

Landfill Advisory Committee

The Kenora Area Landfill Advisory Committee is back up and running.

The committee was revived after the city decided it wanted to start shipping its municipal waste to the Jones Road facility.

Councillor Dave McCann says they had to make a few changes to the committee structure, reducing the membership from eight people to just six.

McCann says prior to amalgamtion the old committee used to have representation from the former Towns of Jaffray Melick and Keewatin.

The new committee now just has representation from the City of Kenora.

2010 Budget Meetings

The City of Kenora is starting its budget process a little earlier than normal this year.

A public meeting is going to be held next month to get feedback from local rate payers about how they want their tax dollars to be spent.

Rory McMillan is chair of the Finance and Administration Committee and says their goal is to have the budget ready early in 2010.

The public meeting will take place on November 16th.

Anyone who wishes to make a deputation is asked to contact the city clerk.