By Darius Snieckus
Local Journalism Initiative
Reporter
Canada’s National Observer

Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives have pledged to set up a $500-million critical mineral processing fund to invest in “strategically located” facilities to develop the province’s vast resources of lithium, graphite, zinc, cobalt and other key minerals and metals. The fund, a central economic plank in the party’s re-election platform released on Monday, is […]

By Mike Stimpson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thunder Bay Source

KENORA – Anicinabe Park will continue to be run by a private contractor, city councillors decided last week. City administration had proposed putting management of the park near Wauzhushk Onigum Nation back in municipal hands, but the proposal had its critics at Tuesday’s council meeting. Coun. Graham Chaze was among […]

By Rocco Frangione
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
NorthBayNipissing.com

The Phragmites Working Group Lake Bernard has several suggestions for the next Ontario Government on how to better tackle invasive plant species. Spokesperson Marilee Koenderink says the Sundridge-area group — also known as Phrag Fighters — wants to see more adequate funding for agencies that take on non-native plants. This […]

From the OPP
Press release

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has invoked its mandate in relation to separate incidents that took place in the City of Kenora and Pikangikum First Nation On February 16, 2025, at 5:00 a.m. in the City of Kenora, members of the Kenora Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded […]

By Mike Stimpson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thunder Bay Source

KENORA — The federal government’s appointment of a longtime advocate for victims’ rights as chief adviser on human trafficking was great news to the coordinator of Treaty Three Police Service’s Maanaji’win Project. Gary Anandasangaree, the minister of Crown-Indigenous relations, announced Jennifer Richardson’s appointment to the adviser position, with a three-year […]

By Carl Clutchey
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

A decision by the Ministry of Natural Resource to allow a high-voltage power line to go through a portion of a protected area just west of Thunder Bay may be challenged at an Ontario Land Tribunal hearing. “We are currently filling out the paperwork to request a hearing, which we […]

By John Woodside
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Canada’s National Observer

Connecting the Toronto-Quebec City corridor with high speed rail could shave 39 million  tonnes of carbon pollution in the coming decades, the equivalent of  taking nine million gas powered cars off the road for a year, according  to project documents.  Transportation experts interviewed by Canada’s National Observer  said a high-speed rail network […]

By Derek Howard
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
MidlandToday.ca

The business of running a cemetery should be on the shoulders of the province and country instead of municipalities, Tay Township Deputy Mayor Barry Norris said during a recent committee of the whole meeting. A report costing out the cemetery operations for 2024 was discussed at the meeting, as it […]

By Ethan Braund
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Woolwich Observer

Rising costs and economic uncertainty are slowing Ontario farm business growth, according to the latest Farm Business Confidence Survey released this week by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA).  Compared to the previous year, Ontario farmers are focusing on maintaining the status quo and dialing back expansion and investment in […]

By Ken Kellar
Editor
kkellar@fortfrances.com

Council has adjusted how much it is spending in its capital budget for 2025 as it continues towards final approval for its financials for the year. At a special budget meeting held last night, Tuesday, February 18, 2025, council was presented with an updated budget item to consider, specifically the […]

From Riverside Health Care
Press release

Riverside Health Care, in conjunction with the Northwestern Public Health Unit, has declared an end to the Influenza A outbreak at Rainycrest Long Term Care Home affecting the West Wing. Visitor and resident restrictions are no longer in place. We would like to remind everyone that we remain a mask-friendly […]