Dryden

The Kenora U18 AAA Thistles will be welcoming the Southwest Cougars this weekend at the Kenora Rec Centre for a pair of exhibition games.

It’s been almost two months since the Thistles took the ice for a competitive game, which was a 6-0 loss to the Winnipeg Wild back on February 16, 2022.

COVID-19 benched Kenora following the Christmas break due to rising COVID-19 numbers. They were forced to forfeit 14 of their final 16 games, with being able to play two exhibition games in the middle of February.

Kenora MP Eric Melillo says he’ll be watching the federal government’s spending ‘closely’ after the release of Canada’s new federal budget.

Deputy Prime Minister Chystia Freeland unveiled the 2022 federal budget, A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable, at Ottawa’s House of Commons yesterday afternoon.

It’s been just over two weeks since the provincial mask mandate was removed in most public settings.

While people are settling into limited COVID-19 restrictions, Dr. Kit Young Hoon, Medical Officer of Health for the Northwestern Health Unit still wants residents to continue to be cautious.

“I continue to recommend that individuals assess personal risk and the risk of those who you gather with to determine whether you should wear a mask and practice other prevention measures,” said Young Hoon.

Kiiwetinoong MPP, Sol Mamakwa is still advocating for the continuous physician shortage to be fixed in hospitals in his riding and across Northwestern Ontario

Mamakwa was lobbying at Question Period at Queens Park earlier this week on recent events that have happened due to a lack of physicians.

He said the situation that forced Red Lake to close their emergency room, narrowly happened in Sioux Lookout – a health hub for many First Nation communities.

The provincial government is looking at new ways to use low-quality wood left behind by paper mills in the province, which includes new low-carbon products and renewable energy sources.

It’s been a busy couple of weeks for municipal staff with the City of Dryden.

City hall staff have moved into the former Dryden Police Service detachment until renovations are completed at City Hall, and municipal services aren’t being impacted. The work is expected to take two to two-and-a-half months, hopefully wrapping up sometime in June.

The Liberals have done enough to honour their agreement with the NDP, but that doesn't mean the federal budget will pass without opposition. 

"We still have critiques and criticisms," NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Thursday. "We're concerned, deeply concerned, about the approach on the environment." 

He said the government should be spending more on clean energy instead of giving subsidies to fossil fuel companies.

The leaders of the Green party and Bloc Québécois echoed that. 

Keewatin's Jeff "Gussy" Gustafson is sitting in the top 20 after Day 1 of the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Chickamauga Lake in Tennessee. 

Gussy finished the first day in 17th place after he caught five fish weighing a total of 17 pounds and four ounces. He is only 7 pounds and 8 ounces behind the current first-place holder Carl Jocumsen. 

A good day tomorrow will solidify Gustafson a spot in the top 47 anglers allowing him to fish on Saturday (April 9, 2022). 

For the second time this year, the Ontario government is raising the minimum wage to put a little extra cash in your pocket.

Starting October 1, 2022, the minimum wage will increase to $15.50 per hour, which is an eight per cent increase over one year to assist with inflation and rising costs.

Ten tourism-based projects throughout the Kenora region will see a $1.7 million investment from the federal government.

Projects include upgrades at the Mount Evergreen Ski Hill, outdoor areas in Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls, the Lac Seul waterfront area in Ear Falls and a variety of projects at a number of local lodges, camps and resorts.

The $1.7 million in funds through Canada’s Tourism Relief Fund were announced by Thunder Bay MPP, Minister Responsible for FedNor and Minister of Indigenous Services, Patty Hajdu.