Canadians coast to coast are being urged to join others around in the world in marking Earth Hour tonight.

People are being asked to turn off their lights between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. local time.

Utilities and environmental groups are pleading for people to power down to help reduce energy and raise awareness of climate change.

In Greater Sudbury, the city and the Rainbow District School Board have both said they’re participating in the environmental initiative.

Both will shut down non-essential interior and exterior lights, as much as is safely possible.

Fire officials are warning everyone to practice candle safety.

They actually recommend using battery-powered flashlights instead of candles, however for those who insist on candles, fire officials warn not to leave them unattended.

By Angela Gemmill & David Lacasse

The annual Easter Seals Telethon will broadcast tomorrow across Ontario, including on EastLink TV in Sudbury from 1pm until 8pm.

This is the 29th year for the telethon in Northern Ontario.

Money raised supports children with physical disabilities and their families pay for specialized equipment or spend time at an Easter Seals summer camp.

Equipment like walkers, wheelchairs, lifts, ramps and communication devices are costly for families and Easter Seals provides financial assistance for those that might not otherwise afford them.

Development Manager for Northern Ontario, Nicole Blais, says along with the telethon and other fundraising initiatives Easter Seals-North raised over 430-thousand dollars last year.

She hopes they can exceed that number for 2012.

Donations can come in before the telethon by going to the Easter Seals website: www.easterseals.org

Easter Seals Ontario is marking its 90th year of helping support children with physical disabilities achieve their full potential and independence.

By Angela Gemmill

Two 20-year-olds, allegedly street racing along Falconbridge Road, were both pulled over and charged by police early this morning.

Greater Sudbury Police clocked the two vehicles traveling 117-kilometres-an-hour in a posted 60-zone.

The two men, both G-2 drivers, are acquaintances of one another.

Both are charged with Stunt Driving and Racing a Motor Vehicle.

Each driver had their license suspended and their vehicle impounded for seven days.

By Stew Kernan

It’s was a slow ride home for many in the east end of the city.

A two vehicle crash on the Kingsway at Third Avenue happened just after 3 o’clock.

Police shut down the Kingsway at Falconbridge Road for over an hour so Firefighters could extricate one man from his vehicle…it’s believed the injuries were not life threatening.

Also…gas and other liquids spilled onto the roadway.

By Angela Gemmill

The budget is an economic document guiding the government on how to grow jobs and opportunities on the road to long-term prosperity.

That’s what Minister of FedNor, Tony Clement, says about the federal government’s 2012 fiscal plan.

Clement, who is also the Treasury Board President, was talking about the budget with a group of business-people at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Copper Cliff today.

He says the government is set to reduce red-tape for small businesses, increase assistance for innovation, research and development and keep taxes low for innovators so they can spent money on their products rather than paying the taxman.

Clement says the budget is pro-mining and pro-Northern Ontario development.

He says the changes within the budget will help  reduce red-tape for new mining projects.

The budgets for all regional development offices, like FedNor, are being reduced, but Clement says the department will still deliver high quality programs to Northern Ontario.

When asked about the elimination of 19-thousand public service jobs, Clement says the government’s focus is on making sure the economy creates jobs and that businesses throughout Canada have the tools needed to succeed.

He says one of the way to create jobs in the private sector is to make sure the government spends within its means.

Clement began his day in Sudbury visiting Villa St Gabriel, the city’s newest old age home.

This afternoon Clement will stop at NORCAT (Northern Centre for Advanced Technology), a centre on Maley Drive which focuses on innovation and development.

By Matt Harris

Eight local not-for-profit organizations will receive support from grants announced today by Sudbury M-P-P Rick Bartolucci.

Over $430 thousand in funding will come from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

According to Bartolucci these grants will help create several jobs.

Groups to receive funds are:

• $67,500 for the Association des Scouts du district de Sudbury to hire staff to recruit new members and raise awareness of the Francophone scout movement.
• $17,000 for Fiddleworks of Rayside-Balfour to create a three-year action plan which includes fundraising and marketing strategy.
• $112,000 for Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario to hire staff to enhance marketing promotion and fundraising efforts of Franco-Ontarian arts and cultural programs in Northeastern Ontario.
• $24,600 for Laurentian Nordic Ski Club to purchase a snowmobile and signage to help provide safer cross country ski trails.
• $81,300 for Northern Lights Festival Boréal to hire staff to develop strategic and fundraising plans as well as increase support of other festivals and community events.
• $10,300 for Sudbury Rainbow Crime Stoppers for an updated bilingual website providing specific information for youth and seniors.
• $71,800 for Social Planning Council to hire staff to help establish a social development strategy with cross-sectoral partnerships.
• $48,800 for Volunteer Sudbury/Benevolat Sudbury to hire a project coordinator and purchase two new dinghies for the sailing school.

By Matt Harris

A repeat offender has been arrested for allegedly drinking and driving yet again.

Ontario Provincial Police have charged a 65-year-old Narin Centre man after he was found driving an ATV on private property.

An open bottle of alcohol was found at the scene and police say the man’s blood alcohol was over twice the legal limit.

The suspect has been convicted of Impaired Driving at least six times before.

By Gary Beech

The Sudbury Wolves handed out their year-end hardware last night and no surprise that Michael Sgarbossa collected five trophies, including the MVP for the regular season.

Justin Sefton was name Playoff MVP.

Frank Corrado got Top Defenceman.

Nathan Pancel was named Top Rookie.

Andrey Kuchen won for Most Sportsmanlike.

Josh Leivo won for Most Improved.

Charlie Dodero took home the award for Most Underrated.

Graduating players are: Josh McFadden, Michael MacDonald and Andrey Kuchin.

The awards were given out at the team’s year-end banquet held at the Caruso Club last night.

A complete list can be found on the Sudbury Wolves website: www.sudburywolves.com

By Angela Gemmill

Tony Clement is in Sudbury today for several stops on his agenda.

First, the Minister responsible for FedNor will visit Villa St Gabriel in Chelmsford, followed by a luncheon in Copper Cliff hosted by the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce.

During the event Clement will address the crowd, speaking about how yesterday’s federal budget will influence our community and region.

The M-P for Parry Sound-Muskoka will also touch on reducing red tape for businesses.

Clement ends the day with a visit to NORCAT on Maley Drive.

(Picture taken Dec 2011, the last time FedNor Minister Tony Clement was in Sudbury)

By David Lacasse

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s first budget under a majority government trims federal spending, scraps the money-losing penny and raises the eligibility age for old age security starting a decade from now.

Flaherty says the document looks years down the road, with the aim of preparing Canada to reap the rewards of an improving economy.

While it cuts government spending by up to 5.2 billion dollars by 2015 — and slashes about 19-thousand civil service jobs — the budget includes money for venture capital, targeted research and development and hiring incentives for small businesses.

The government also aims to eliminate the deficit by fiscal 2015 at the latest.