Thursday, November 4, 2010

Police to crack down on drug smuggling on airplanes

Police and airline officials are concerned about the amount of illicit drugs being transported on small airplanes heading to isolated First Nations.

The OPP say they are determined to fix the problem by heightening security at smaller airports.

OPP Detective Sergeant Chris Lawrence says over 50 people have been charged and thousands of dollars worth of prescription drugs have been confiscated at regional airports.

The most common drug being smuggled is the heavily addictive Oxycodone.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton says the provincial or federal government should be taking action, and funding more small airport security.

Airline officials are trying to develop methods of tracking illegal drugs to First Nations.

Minaki on the River and Wincrief sign construction deal

Wincrief Forest Products has reached a construction agreement with the project known as
Minaki on the River.

Wincrief would build ready-to-move units for the development which is being planned for the former Minaki Lodge property.

Bob Banman is one of the investors in the project and says the units would be placed on what are being called lands in common.

The ready-to-move units would be in addition to the condos which are being proposed
for the former hotel facility.

Development is expected to begin in the next year.

Another Quiet Fire Season in NWO

The forest fire season is officially over.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says there were 370 fires in Northwestern Ontario this year compared to just under 200 last year.

However, there were over 3 thousand fewer hectares that were burned this year .

NDP demand HST be taken off hydro bills

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath insists her party won't give up the fight to help Northern Ontario families deal with skyrocketing hydro bills.

Horwath Tuesday brought up the concerns of Dryden resident Eliana Wittwer and Kenora resident Jim Irish.

She says they want to hear from more Northerners.

Horwath stresses that instead of making life more affordable for people, the McGuinty Liberals are making everything more expensive.

NOHFC re-focuses

The new Executive Director of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation is targeting the tourism sector.

Bruce Strapp says that he's looking to get the word out on what kind of grants are available to local tourist outfitters and other tourist based businesses.

Strapp hopes to put some efficiency into the process of getting the corporation's goals known.