Dryden

A motion calling on the federal government to reduce gas prices by about eight cents per litre across the country has been shot down by the new Liberal and NDP partnership.

Abbotsford MP Ed Fast introduced the motion to parliament on March 23, which called on Ottawa to introduce a temporary 5 per cent reduction on gasoline and diesel prices, helping to reduce Canada’s average fuel price by about eight cents per litre.

Members of the Canadian Rangers and volunteers have been sent to Deer Lake First Nation, north of Red Lake, to help the community manage a major COVID-19 outbreak.

The Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority says as of March 24, Deer Lake First Nation has 121 active cases of COVID-19. Throughout the entire pandemic, the community has only seen a total of 324 cases.

The Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre (SLMHC) has installed a new COVID-19 screening tool at all entrances to the facility.

Starting Monday, March 28, 2022, patients, visitors, and employees of SLMHC will be required to screen, or show proof of online screening, at automated wellness screening stations when arriving at the facility.

Leaders of the Far North are working alongside staff with the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority to address a massive spike of COVID-19 cases across the region.

SLFNHA’s Director of Approaches to Community Well-being and the acting Incident Commander for their Regional COVID-19 Response Ream, Emily Paterson, says as of March 24, SLFNHA is reporting a total of 513 active cases in their catchment area, which includes 31 northern Indigenous communities.

As we start to experience warmer temperatures, you may be tempted to take one last drive on the ice road, however, that may not be such a good idea.  

We spoke with Leonard Boucha; he has helped maintain the ice roads for over 30 years and he belongs to a family very well-seasoned in the ways of Lake of the Woods.  

Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority will receive funds to hire more mental health supports and provide staff with education to better provide care for people affected by the Indian Residential School system  

Canada's oil and gas producers can hike output by the equivalent of 300,000 barrels a day by the end of the year to help displace Russian fossil fuels, Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said Thursday.

Wilkinson, speaking at the end of an International Energy Agency meeting in Paris, said two-thirds of that is oil and the rest natural gas.

"Canada's European friends and allies are experiencing an energy security crisis, a crisis that could impact industry, mobility, and even the heating of homes," Wilkinson said. "This crisis must be addressed."

Two arrests have been made following an overdose in the community of Big Trout Lake.  

Members of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (Big Trout Lake) Police and Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) issued a warning to the public on March 14, 2022, after tainted drugs led to an overdose in the community.  

The individual was flown out of the community for medical assistance following the reaction to the illicitly obtained substance. 

An extraordinary gathering of world leaders is taking place in Belgium today, as members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization gather to discuss their support for Ukraine and to continue to condemn Russia’s illegal invasion of the country.

Heads of state and government leaders from around the world gathered in Brussels for an emergency summit on Russia’s assault on Ukraine today, after the invasion began in late February. Members included Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, US President Joe Biden and a number of G7 leaders.

Lake of the Woods water level is expected to continue dropping over the next week.  

The Lake of the Woods Control Board issued a water level update on March 23, 2022. The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.45 m (1057.9 ft) putting the lake in the 45th percentile for this time of the year.