By Sandi Krasowski
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal

The Ontario government has put a freeze on the 4.6-per cent Ontario beer basic-tax increase and LCBO markup rates scheduled to go into effect on March 1. The freeze will be in place for two years, until March 1, 2026, and Thunder Bay breweries are relieved.George Renner, owner of Dawson […]

–Allan Bradbury photos

Due to lack of snow the Rainy Lake Nordic Ski Club had to pivot from holding a poker ski to a poker hike. Participants were able to take a lovely walk in the woods on Saturday morning and pick up poker chips along the way to trade in for a […]

Staff

Town council is moving forward with its plan to create an inviting landscape to feature the historic forestry vessels, the Hallett and Owandem. On Tuesday night’s council meeting, councillors were presented with four draft options, created by Little Bluestem – a Winnipeg-based landscape design firm, contracted to reimagine the waterfront […]

Tips to avoid being a victim
From the OPP
Press release

(ORILLIA, ON) – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), would like to inform the public about romance frauds involving cryptocurrencies this Valentine’s Day, in an effort to keep money out of the hands of fraudsters.  In 2023, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) received fraud reports totalling a staggering $554 million in […]

By Amanda Modaragamage
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Stratford Times

The Ontario government is investing $100 million to improve training and retention of staff in long-term-care homes across the province. On Jan. 31, Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae joined Ontario Minister of Long-Term Care Stan Cho at Spruce Lodge Active Living Centre in Stratford to announce that the province’s intention to […]

By Mike Stimpson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thunder Bay Source

IGNACE – Some residents of the Northwestern Ontario township on the shortlist for a nuclear waste repository will be going places soon, on Nuclear Waste Management Organization money. Two industry-related trips are on the horizon, as well as a mid-April learning event in Ignace – all part of the “willingness […]

By Laura Stradiotto
Local Journalism Initiative
Reporter
The Sudbury Star

An eight-year-old boy in Greater Sudbury has died from invasive group A streptococcal disease, a fast-moving and severe bacterial infection that is on the rise in Canada. Public Health Sudbury and Districts says it takes the same approach with all cases identified as invasive Group A strep in the region, […]

By Celeste Percy-Beauregard
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Hamilton Spectator

A harm-reduction vending machine may be coming soon to Brantford as part of an action plan from local stakeholders looking to address the opioid crisis in both communities. The machine — called Our Healthbox — dispenses health information and items like HIV self-testing kits, naloxone and other harm-reduction supplies to […]

By Andrew Fung
FSRA’s Acting Executive Vice President, Pensions

For young families and those just starting out in their careers, the thought of retirement is the furthest thing from their minds. The hustle and bustle of daily life is the priority – getting the kids to hockey or dance class, preparing dinner or taking the dog to the vet. […]

A recent survey by the Ontario Truckers Association has backed up what the Ontario New Democratic Party and others have already been saying about northern highways and the truck traffic that uses them. NDP MPP John Vanthof said in a telephone interview that the survey was pointing out “many of […]