By: Martha Dillman

Premier McGuinty is proroguing the Ontario legislature for four days on March the 4th. MPP Gilles Bisson says the move essentially kills all bills that aren’t passed, but adds he will be re-introducing his proposed changes to the mining act as soon as Queen’s Park resumes.

By: Martha Dillman

Municipal, provincial and federal politicians are working hard to get answers and try and save the Xstrata Met Site. MPP Gilles Bisson is asking Premier McGuinty what he’s doing to help avert the Xstrata shutdown, while MP Charlie Angus is calling on Minister of Industry Tony Clement to get involved. Mayor Laughren recently spoke with the Premier on the same issue.

By: Amanda Young

Four businesses that just started in Timmins four months ago have closed up shop…but it’s not because they went belly up. They were run by students taking part in a new co-op program being offered to high school students where they develop a business plan and then put it into action. This is the first year for the Start-Me-Up program, which is being offered with the hope that students will go on to start their own business in the future.

By: Jessica Horne

The Haiti Relief Effort is getting a little help from local students, and an Olympic Torch. O’Gorman Intermediate School Principal Ted Welts contacted Anne MacDonald, a local Olympic Torch Bearer. For a small fee, students had their pictures taken with the Olympic Torch, and over $3,700 was raised.

By: Martha Dillman

MPP Gilles Bisson is asking the Liberals not to make any cuts to the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund. Bisson says municipalities are already stretched to the limit, and adds a number of them can’t be sustainable if their funding is cut.

By: Amanda Young

The 100 students who took part in the Timmins Youth Torch Run are receiving a special gift. Each student will get a pair of red Olympic mittens on behalf of the Timmins Olympic Torch Relay Committee.

By: Jessica Horne

The City of Timmins has declared Tuesday, February 23rd International Rotary Day. The Rotary Club of Canada is turning 100 years old. Local president Darren Taylor says that the Timmins branch is 61 years old, and is proud to be a part of a global organization providing humanitarian relief.

By: Martha Dillman

Mayor Laughren and Premier McGuinty recently discussed the proposed closure of the Xstrata Met Site. Laughren says McGuinty listened to his concerns, and is offering to assist in the hiring of a consultant to look at other uses of the Met Site.

By: Martha Dillman

The city of Timmins is hoping to have a 3.24% decrease in tax rates this year, even if Xstrata closes. However, even if the rate goes down your tax bill may rise because of higher assessments – assessment rates are going up 8% this year.

By: Martha Dillman

MPP Gilles Bisson has introduced new legislation to change Ontario’s mining act. If the legislation goes through, it would mean materials mined in Ontario would have to be processed in Ontario.