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Rickford Responds To Kasper Concerns

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The MPP for the Kenora-Rainy Riding remains unapologetic about introducing Ontario Northland buses to the Rainy River District.

Greg Rickford is responding to criticism for Kasper Wabinski, who runs Kasper Transportation across the region.

“As I’ve said to Kasper when I’ve visited his place on a number of occasions. He has the ability to pick up routes all over northern Ontario as he’s doing right now. I wish them well.”

Rickford says even with the expansion of Ontario Northland, they will continue to work with other bus services in the area, including Kasper Transportation.

“We’ve worked with them in the past and have been prepared to support their operations, but Ontario Northland has come to northwestern Ontario and it’s taking seniors and college students, workers and parcels.”

Rickford adds that Ontario Northland operates full-sized buses right across the region, and he hasn’t received any negative comments about Tuesday’s announcement.

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Province Urged To Act On Regional Social Issues

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Local municipalities continue to lobby the provincial government for additional supports to address homelessness and social issues across the region.

Members of the Kenora District Services Board recently met virtually with several cabinet ministers and Sioux Lookout Mayor Doug Lawrance came out of the meetings feeling optimistic.

“I would say the province is very receptive to working with us and the District Services Board has been doing some excellent work to lay the groundwork here.”

Lawrance says he’s hoping for positive action on more transitional and supportive housing, emergency shelters, as well as programs to help the more vulnerable population.

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Feds Urged To Help Fund Broadband Expansion

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Premier Doug Ford is challenging the federal government to get on board with his plan to expand broadband services across Ontario.

Ford says people in rural communities deserve the same level of service that the rest of Ontario enjoys and relies on every day.

“Investments now will lay a strong foundation for our future. It will lay a strong foundation for our economic recovery, for better quality of life for everyone and for the long term prosperity of our province.”

The province recently made a $150-million investment to improve Internet and cellular service this past week but the government says it can’t do this alone.

Minister of Infrastructure Laurie Scott says “Today we are calling on the federal government to step up and help us expand connectivity to everyone across Ontario. We all deserve the opportunity to join the economy of the 21st century.”

 

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Northerners Not Impressed With COVID Response

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More than half of people living in Kenora and Thunder Bay believe the Ford government is underperforming in how it’s responding to COVID-19.

According to a survey conducted for the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, 54% of those polled in the two cities said they didn’t think the province planned properly to deal with the pandemic.

When asked whether the government should move long-term care residents ill with COVID-19 symptoms to hospital, to protect the other residents, more than twice as many said yes as those that said no.

88.1% of respondents in Kenora would like to see Ontario significantly increase testing, with 84.5% of those in Thunder Bay agreeing.

88.5% of respondents in Thunder Bay and 87.5% in Kenora think all hospital patients and staff should be tested for the virus.

More than 2,000 people were polled earlier this spring.

 

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Melillo Joins Northern MP’s To Support Tourism Industry

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The MP for Kenora has co-authored a letter with other northern Ontario Members of Parliament, calling for immediate support for local tourist operators and airlines serving remote communities.

It’s penned by Conservative Eric Melillo, Thunder Bay-Rainy River Liberal Marcus Powlowski and Timmins-James Bay NDP representative Charlie Angus.

The joint letter has been sent to four federal cabinet ministers (Finance Minister Bill Morneau; Transport Minister Marc Garneau; Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller; Economic Development and Official Languages Minister Melanie Joly)

It outlines how seasonal and tourism businesses in the north have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Melillo says our area is heavily reliant on tourism and seasonal work, and many businesses are at risk of falling through the cracks.

He says a lot of business owners across the region have told him that they aren’t being helped by current aid programs.

The letter contains four asks from the government:

-Immediate relief to help cover start-up costs for seasonal tourism businesses, particularly insurance costs for air-carriers
-Non-repayable loans to help these businesses cover costs throughout the summer
-An expansion of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy beyond June
-Help to address the fact that many seasonal pilots over the age of 40 cannot get medically certified to fly commercial this season.

Letter From MP Angus, Melil… by Rayson Martyn on Scribd

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Relief For Unincorporated Areas Across North

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Those living in unincorporated areas across the region are getting some relief from the province.

The Ford government is deferring $15-million in property taxes for people and businesses in parts of the north located outside of municipal boundaries.

Northern Development Minister Greg Rickford says this is critical relief for over 63,000 residents and businesses.

The Kenora-Rainy River MPP says every community in Ontario is feeling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the government is ensuring that no one gets left behind.

Taxpayers will have 90 extra days to pay without incurring interest or penalties.

The deferral applies to all of the levies collected by the government including Provincial Land Tax, education property tax, Local Road Boards and Local Services Boards.

The province says it will continue to make payments to these partners, as scheduled.

In addition, to ensure the relief doesn’t have a financial impact on school boards, the province will adjust payments to school boards to offset the deferral.

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Some Contract Details For Teachers Unions

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Ontario’s elementary teachers will be receiving a 1% pay raise in each of the next three years.

That’s the highlight of a tentative deal reached by the government and the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario.

A leaked document also indicates an increase to benefits.

The ETFO has scheduled ratification votes from April 23rd to 27th.

The contract is similar to the deal signed by the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association.

Those members will hold ratification votes next week.

Meantime, Education Minister Stephen Lecce has announced a tentative agreement with the unions representing French-language educators.

Lecce says “In this negotiation, we advanced student priorities, including lower class sizes, enhanced special education supports, and the protection of full-day kindergarten.”

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Local MPP Says COVID-19 Relief Will Benefit Everyone

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Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford is touting the provincial COVID-19 relief plan introduced Wednesday.

The Northern Development and Mines, Energy and Indigenous Affairs Minister says the $17-billion package is targeted at the people who are going to be the most impacted.

“I think it’s pretty safe to say at this point, everybody is, in some way, shape or form, but economically our most vulnerable.”

Rickford says the relief targets seniors, families, those who have to work from home, businesses and students with deferred loan payments.

He believes one of the main highlights is a hydro relief plan, stressing it will help those who have to stay home to work and study.

Rickford adds a major investment is being made in health care.

“A couple of billion dollars allocated to the hospitals. I think this will really have a benefit beyond COVID to put our hospitals in the best position to serve under the circumstances that we’re currently in.”

The Kenora-Rainy River MPP warns we aren’t out of the woods yet as a surge in cases is expected with Snowbirds starting to return home.

To hear the full interview with Greg Rickford, visit the Audio link below.

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Emergency Relief For Social Services

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The provincial government is providing more COVID-19 emergency relief funding to help the most vulnerable.

However, it’s not yet known how local municipalities and the Kenora District Services Board will benefit from $200-million in social services funding.

The money is meant to support shelters, food banks, emergency services, charities and non-profits to deliver critical services, hire additional staff, and find ways to promote social distancing and self-isolation to keep clients healthy and safe.

The new funding will help individuals and families in financial crisis who are not able to access federal assistance to cover needs such as food, rent, medicine, transportation and other services during the public health crisis.

Money will also be available to organizations delivering social services to vulnerable First Nations individuals and families.

For more information visit http://www.Ontario.ca/community

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Protecting First Nations Priority For Government: Greg Rickford

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Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development Minister Greg Rickford says the province is working closely with remote First Nations communities to ensure they are protected during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Rickford says he’s closely working with Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler to ensure families have access to critical supplies and information.

The Kenora-Rainy River MPP says his government understands the unique challenges facing the Far North.

Rickford says they have committed immediate funding to support food and supply networks in the region.

He notes the money will ensure food security by purchasing food storage and staging areas, and help with transportation costs.

An online tool has also been established with COVID-19 information and fact sheets in four Indigenous languages.

It can be found at https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus

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