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Northern Ontario 211; Access To Free Services & Info

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A special day for 211 Northern Ontario.

With it being the 11th day of the second month of the year, the organization is celebrating what it’s declaring 211 day.

Dialing 211 is a way for residents to gain access to provincially funded services.

The free number has information on government, health, community and social services. This is a non-emergency line only.

211 can be accessed by phone, chat, text or email in more than 150 languages.

The main objective for the free service is for people who are experiencing hardship, are feeling concerned about a family member or friend, to call 211 and can easily gain access to more information about resources in their area.

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NDP Ask Province To Address Gas Prices

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The Province is being asked to take action against high gas prices here in northern Ontario.

NDP critic Michael Mantha says the price at the pump is going through the roof.

“Gas prices across the province are reaching a ten-year high,” says Mantha, “And in the north, we are still paying the highest price for gas in this province. What is the government doing for the people living in northern Ontario to end price gouging at the pumps?”

He goes on to say that one way to address the problem is through their private members’ bill.

“The Fairness in Petroleum Product Pricing Act, which would allow the Ontario Energy Board to regulate the retail and wholesale mark-up of petroleum products in Ontario. Families in Ontario literally cannot afford the price of more talk with no action.”

In response, PC House Leader Paul Calandra says the gas tax is increasing the cost of living in general, not just gas.

“The carbon tax will cost the people of the Province of Ontario…will cost Canadians…on everything whether they went shopping or to drop of their kids at soccer games. That would cost people massive amounts of money and we are seeing it every single day the cost of a carbon tax to the people of the Province of Ontario.”

Gas prices in Dryden are as high as 144.9 cent a litre with Kenora and Thunder Bay as high as 154.9 cents per litre, up 13 cents in the past few days.

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FedNor Becomes Stand-Alone Agency

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The Federal Government is making FedNor a stand-alone agency.

Municipal leaders across the north have long called for the move to give them greater independence to funding requests.

Terry Sheehan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister responsible for FedNor, says the government is responding.

“Stakeholders told us that FedNor needed more independence and local decision making to ensure it could better respond to the region’s economic development needs, and that’s what we’re doing here today.”

Nipissing-Timiskaming MPP Anthony Rota says it will better respond to the needs of the area.

“We do not have to rely on Ottawa to tell us ‘well this is how you’re going to do it’. We have guidelines like the other RDA (regional development agencies) in the country, but we can make those decisions that reflect us.

The switch from a government program to a separate agency also comes with a larger budget.

The regional development program was first created in 1987, operating under various ministries until now.

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Prepare To Pay Twice For Sticker Renewal

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A reminder that sometimes things are just too good to be true; if you didn’t renew your licence plate sticker in 2020 you’ll have to pay double in 2021.

The Ministry of Transportation says that those who did not pay to renew last year will have to pay for 2020 as well as 2021 this time around.

That means for northern Ontario, you’ll be on the hook for at least $120 to renew, while if you’re in southern Ontario that doubles to $240.

This comes as a surprise to some after the Ford Government announced last year that in an effort to keep people home and stop the spread of COVID-19, all stickers and licences that expired on or after March 1st 2020 would be legal until further notice.

While that notice has not yet officially been given, the Province has started a social media blitz encouraging drivers to renew their stickers and/or licences online.

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Funding Program For North Being Overhauled

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Northern Development Minister Greg Rickford says he’s launching a new funding program that the government thinks will work much better for the people of northern Ontario.

Rickford is overhauling the current Heritage Fund to make it easier for more people and businesses to apply for money to spur economic growth, especially in rural and northern communities.

“Target both existing and emerging opportunities and provide more opportunities for Indigenous peoples and businesses. And to address the skilled labour shortage in the north and aid the continued recovery from COVID-19.”

Rickford says the changes were based on the feedback they received from municipalities in the region and local businesses.

He stresses “NOHFC is going to be bigger, better, stronger and more responsive to a broader set of constituents.”

The Kenora-Rainy River MPP says the new program will launch in January.

Rickford notes applications to the current fund will end today (Wednesday), but they will still process those and will be handing out funding for projects that have been approved.

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Eric Melillo Demanding Feds Come To The Table

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The MP for Kenora is applauding the provincial government for stepping up to support local business owners.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford unveiled a new Northern Ontario Economic Recovery Program Monday for those impacted by COVID-19.

Eric Melillo is now urging the federal government to come to the table.

Melillo says he’s been calling on the feds to show this kind of leadership but has seen very little action from the Liberals.

“They’ve forgotten about Northern Ontario.”

Melillo notes the region’s tourism and hospitality sector may not recover until the Canada-US border re-opens, leaving many tourist camps, hotels, airlines, and other businesses in a precarious position.

He adds that many small businesses struggled to access existing COVID-19 supports due to exclusionary eligibility criteria.

Melillo states “The contribution from the province will go a long way in helping Northern businesses who have been hit hard by this pandemic. I won’t stop fighting until the federal government steps up as well.”

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Ontario Launches Recovery Program For Northern Businesses

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Ontario has launched a recovery program for Northern businesses impacted by COVID-19.A new Northern Ontario Economic Recovery program has been unveiled to support small and medium sized businesses impacted by COVID-19.

Minister of Northern Development Greg Rickford says the program is the result of extensive consultations with those hit hard by the pandemic.

Rickford says $20-million in grants are being made available and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation will be administering the program.

“An opportunity for your business to apply for up to $25,000 in grants. So not a loan component to this. To help you run and make your business better as we face what is still, especially with the second wave, an uncertain future.”

Money can be used for building renovations, new constructions, marketing, equipment purchases, including personal protective equipment, business restructuring and customer and employee safety installations.

Rickford provided some examples while rolling out the program early Monday morning.

“Construction of new space for increased social distancing measures. New patio construction for outdoor services. If that’s an opportunity for your business, this will qualify. We will be very generous in our efforts to make sure we are supporting our businesses.”

He adds “Redesigning current space to allow for increased social distancing and customer flows. This could be your dining room at a tourist camp or a dock that now have to have much bigger because of social distancing as parties stay separate.”

Applications will be accepted starting on Thursday and last until the end of December.

The Kenora-Rainy River MPP says the government wants to put business owners in a better place now and in the future.

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Northern Economic Recovery Plan Being Drafted

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The provincial government is putting the finishing touches on a new Northern Ontario Economic Recovery program.

Northern Development Minister Greg Rickford says it will target small businesses that have been hit hard by COVID-19.

“There will be threshold evaluations on the economic impact to their businesses and when and where appropriate a grant format for them to carry on with some of the projects that they would have otherwise done had they not been hit by COVID.”

Rickford says the goal is to restart the local economy.

“This will be particularly important for some our tourist operators and our businesses that are in that supply chain but it will be available to all small businesses when I roll it out.”

The Kenora-Rainy River MPP says he hopes to announce specific details in the next couple of weeks.

Rickford notes the support will begin immediately when he announces specifics and will go through to the fall and early winter.

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Eric Melillo Not Supporting Throne Speech

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Kenora MP Eric Melillo is calling yesterday’s Throne Speech incredibly disappointing.

“Promising nearly every single broken Liberal promise of the past. So it’s a lot of new spending. Nothing to help Canadians who are worried about their health, their loved ones, their jobs or for those of us who are living in the North.”

The Conservative says Canadians should be very concerned as there is no plan to pay down the deficit with a government pledge to spend even more money.

Melillo says there was very little mention of support for northern Ontario.

“One thing I did hear was, explicitly, that the government was going to continue to further restrict firearms rights. In a speech filled with vague promises and platitudes, I found it was interesting that they chose to explicitly target firearms owners in Northern Canada once again.”

Melillo notes “They were talking about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. They were talking about the need for drinking water, infrastructure, Internet connectivity, many of those improvements. But the thing is these are all promises that the Liberals have made before.”

He stresses the Liberals have been in power for five years and have failed to deliver so he has very little expectations that this will be any different than the times past.

Melillo isn’t speculating if the Opposition will reject the Throne Speech and force an election.

However, he is making it very clear that the Conservatives won’t support it in its current form.

Debate on the Throne Speech begins Thursday in the House of Commons and Melillo will be participating remotely.

To hear more from Eric Melillo, visit the Audio link below.

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Business Support Opportunity For Local Residents

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The Northwest Business Centre is now accepting applications for its Starter Company Plus program.

The provincially funded program is designed to create sustainable jobs for local residents through entrepreneurship and is geared towards those who are expanding or buying a small business or are applying for training or mentoring.

The initiative provides one-on-one guidance, advise on completing a business plan and the opportunity to apply for a $5,000 grant.

You will be able to participate in business workshops, seminars and networking events as well as receive valuable mentorship.

Applicants must present a business idea, be over the age of 18, a resident of Ontario, and are not attending school.

Since the launch of Starter Company in 2014, 174 individuals have participated in the training, 82 businesses were started, expanded or purchased and 135 jobs were created.

The deadline to apply is September 21 at 4:00pm and is open to anyone in northwestern Ontario.

For more information visit http://www.nwbiz.ca/ or email ckabel@kenora.ca

https://www.facebook.com/nwbiz/videos/322403672352207/

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