Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland plans to deliver this year's federal budget next week.

Freeland told the House of Commons she will unveil the government's spending plans on April 7 in a document that has been expected to focus on measures to spur economic growth.

It is also anticipated the budget will have new social programs promised as part of an agreement to earn the backing of the New Democrats in key parliamentary votes.

That includes the first steps on national pharmacare and dental care.

Kiiwetinoong MPP, Sol Mamakwa is calling on the provincial government to find a solution to physician staffing shortages in the region.

Last weekend, the Red Lake Margaret Cochenour Hospital emergency room had to close its doors due to a local physician shortage and leave its community without emergency room coverage.

“This government must address the access to basic emergency medical care for northerners in Red Lake and in all of Northwestern Ontario,” said Mamakwa.

The NDP hope to fix the Northern Health Travel Grant as gas prices continue to rise.  

One MPP is bringing the issue to light, Judith Monteith-Farrell, NDP MPP for Thunder Bay – Atikokan, is calling on the provincial government to increase the Northern Health Travel Grant as the cost of travelling, including gas prices due to inflation, continue to rise.  

Voters in Iskatewizaagegan #39 Independent Nation, also known as Shoal Lake #39 First Nation, have re-elected Chief Gerald Lewis for a fourth term.

The incumbent Lewis led with 99 votes over candidates Barbara ‘Bub’ Kejick, Garland Kejick and Leon Douglas Mandamin. Lewis was first elected as Chief in 2016, and is now serving in his sixth year for the community.

The agency is calling for 5 to 15 cm of snow Tuesday night (March 29, 2022), into Wednesday afternoon (March 30, 2022).

Snow will move into the area Tuesday night from west to east and continue into Wednesday. Total snowfall amounts of 15 cm or more are possible before the snow tapers off from west to east Wednesday afternoon.

At this time, there remains considerable uncertainty regarding the track of the low, and thus the total amount of snowfall.

A new climate plan for Canada projects the oil and gas industry will need to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 42 per cent from current levels by 2030 if the country is to meet its new targets.

The emissions reduction plan tabled in the House of Commons today by Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault forecasts that electricity emissions will be almost zero by the end of the decade but it will take longer to see real progress from the transportation sector.

The plan is a legislated requirement under the net-zero emissions law the government passed last year.

Synergy North customers in the region will see an increase in their monthly energy bill as the Ontario Energy Board has issued a new rate order.

As a result of the order, it is estimated that the total monthly bill for a typical residential customer using 750 kWh on Time-of-Use Pricing in the Thunder Bay rate area will increase by 0.86% or $1.02, and that same customer in the Kenora rate area will see an estimated increase of 2.01% or $2.46 on their total bill.

This weekend 3 Skate Keewatin star skaters and 3 Skate Keewatin Canskaters took to the ice for Stony on ice, for the first competition in almost 3 years. Star Skater Zi-Anne Ricard skated 4 events landing her 2 bronze and 2 silver. Miriam Pernsky skated in 3 events earning 2 silver and a bronze. Tessa Peliquin skated in 3 and got 3 Silver.  Can Skater Holly Novak came out with 2 gold and a silver. Saeryn Gordon-Planes received 2 gold and 1 silver, and Maria Mash earned the highest, landing herself 3 gold scores.

A Colorado low is expected to dump between 10 - 15 centimetres of snow across the region Tuesday into Wednesday.

"Right now we are looking at anywhere from 6 to 12 centimetres of snow in the Kenora area," said Environment Canada Meteorologist Gerald Cheng noting that areas further east could see more snow.

"It's gonna be another snow event, but it's not the biggest we've seen this season," added Cheng.

Dorothy Barber

November 6, 1952 - March 25, 2022

On a bright snowy day March 25th, 2022 Dorothy Kathleen Barber was wrapped in the arms of two of her daughters she left this place to continue on to her next journey, Mom earned the most beautiful Pink Angel Wings.