Couchiching First Nation may be claiming victory following the decision to remove its controversial toll booth off Highway 11 on Monday night, but at what cost? True, the band accomplished what it had set out to do—gaining assurances that eight home owners will be relocated from contaminated soil and a […]
Editorials
Fortunately, it has remained peaceful so far at the toll booth Couchiching First Nation put up on Highway #11 just west of the Noden Causeway late Friday afternoon. It’s obvious, however, that the longer it stays up, the more likely that calm will deteriorate—and quickly. Already those who may have […]
It appears the Couchiching band council has no intention of backing down from its plan to install a toll booth on Highway #11 just west of the Noden Causeway, meeting last night to set the fee schedule. The federal government certainly hasn’t done much, if anything, to defuse the situation […]
Very few issues town council grapples with are black and white. There are divergent viewpoints to consider, not to mention concerns about setting a precedent that might come back to haunt the current council or a future one. And of course, there will always be someone who doesn’t agree with […]
It’s been stated before but deserves to be reiterated: organizers of the Rainy River District Festival for the Performing Arts can’t be thanked enough for their efforts to ensure this valued tradition continues on here. Running the last two weeks in April, and then culminating Sunday with the annual “highlights […]
Rainy River District has been spared contentious disputes revolving around aboriginal grievances that have plagued other communities across our region, as well as elsewhere in Ontario and the rest of Canada. That may change as early as next month. Fed up with the slow pace of progress on resolving compensation […]
Of all the challenges facing Fort Frances these days, surely the saddest is watching Pither’s Point Park slowly wither away while its future remains in legal limbo. The Hallett and Lookout Tower were relocated from there to the La Verendrye Parkway by the Sorting Gap Marina last year, and now […]
In what has become an annual story around this time of year, the Fun in the Sun committee once again is appealing for public support to keep our summer festival afloat. But with the plea beginning to sound like a broken record, it’s high time for our community to decide […]
With Ontario facing a record budget deficit, and municipal ratepayers forced to fork over more in property taxes and user fees, the annual “sunshine list” released last week by the province is a real slap in the face. Province-wide, the number of public-sector workers making $100,000 plus a year grew […]
A reputation for excellent customer service always has been the cornerstone to a successful business here in Rainy River District. But it is even more crucial today when local consumers have so many options on where to spend their money, such as “outshopping” thanks to our high-flying loonie compared to […]
It’s early yet, and Fort Frances residents have a reputation of doing things “last minute,” but it is troubling to note that no one has yet tossed their hat into the ring to run for town council or either of the local school boards almost three months after nominations first […]
Given the myriad of serious issues town council is grappling with, what was the hot-button topic of the past week? Whether or not the town should allow wedding receptions at Sunny Cove Camp. The underlying question is whether the town should be in competition with private-sector businesses? Paul Noonan, owner […]
