Randy Thoms is a veteran news broadcaster with over 40 years' experience. He is based in Fort Frances and covers stories across northwestern Ontario. Contact Randy at thoms.randy@radioabl.ca.
The Hammarskjold Vikings’ boys curling team has earned a silver medal at the all-Ontario high school curling championships in Thunder Bay.
They lost 6-5 in an extra end to Port Perry High School in the gold medal game.
Port Perry opened the scoring with a single point in the first, before Hammarskjold pulled ahead with singles of their own in the 3rd and 4th ends.
Port Perry went back up front with 3 in the 5th and added to their lead with another in the 6th.
Hammarskjold drew within 2 in the 7th and even the game with 2 in the 8th to force the extra end.
The Vikings’ squad had an opportunity to win in the extra end, with Port Perry holding shot rock.
However, Stroud’s final shot landed further in the house than hoped, giving Port Perry the win.
Members of the silver-medal-winning team are Kyle Haynen, Kain Cristofaro, Hudson Sivic, Owen Weiss, Warren Stroud, and coaches Liane Fossum and Larry Stroud.
Ontario opposition parties are not as enthusiastic about the provincial budget as the Ford government.
The budget was introduced on Thursday and included a record $244 billion in spending.
The NDP, though, sees it failing to achieve the five objectives they were looking for.
“This budget fails the test to meet Ontario’s priorities,” says Stiles.
“Young people and families are struggling with sky-high rents, fewer opportunities, and soaring costs. Budget 2026 was an opportunity to deliver hope and relief for our province during a difficult moment.”
Stiles notes the budget makes cuts to education, colleges and universities, jobs, and housing, while funding a new Ferris wheel in Niagara.
NDP Finance critic Jessica Bell adds that the budget fails the basic tests Ontarians expect their government to meet.
“Doug Ford had one job: to spend taxpayer money on fixing the issues that Ontarians really care about. He failed,” says Bell.
The Liberals’ interim leader, John Fraser, sees the Ford government as out of gas and out of ideas.
John Fraser, Liberal Leader of the Legislature and Education Critic, discusses education funding at Queen’s Park, September 22, 2025. Queen’s Park Media Room screen shot
He says the budget fails to make life more affordable for Ontario residents.
“There’s nothing in this budget, no HST, cut for home energy costs, even though energy prices are going up,” says Fraser.
“If you need a family doctor, you’re one of those two million people who don’t have a family doctor; there’s really nothing in here. There’s nothing in here that’s going to make class sizes smaller. There’s nothing in here that’s going to kids with special education needs that aren’t getting what they deserve. There is nothing here to address the mental health crisis in our schools.”
Fraser says that for the past two years, the budget has been entitled Protecting Ontario, but notes the decision to introduce new Freedom of Information legislation that is retroactive.
“Maybe this budget shouldn’t be called protecting Ontario, but protecting Doug,” says Fraser in reference to the legislation protecting the Premier from making his phone calls public.
Green Party leader Mike Schreiner is also critical of the budget, stating it offers nothing to bring down housing costs or commit to building affordable and supportive housing.
The President of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association feels that northern Ontario’s interests were represented in the provincial budget.
Rick Dumas, who is also the Mayor of Marathon, admits it could have been greater, but is pleased with what has been announced.
“We were hoping to get a lot more money like anybody in any part of the province, but we understand the government’s priorities, and we believe that some of the key things were addressed in this budget,” says Dumas.
He cites the province’s decision to extend the Northern Ontario Resource Development Fund.
It was established with a five-year mandate to provide funding for initiatives that support economic development.
The province intends to continue funding, with an annual investment of $15 million.
Dumas says the removal of the HST on new homes will also help the smaller and rural communities in the northwest.
A commitment to help municipalities address aging recreational facilities is also seen as important to the region.
“I have a facility that needs funding, and this is a huge aspect of that opportunity for the provincial government to step up and help municipalities, specifically small northern rural communities, that have the hub of their community is their arena complex facility. So that’s very important.”
Dumas is also pleased with the continued commitment to four-lane further sections of the Trans-Canada Highway.
He says they will continue to lobby for further improvements with both the province and the federal government.
“We’re continuing to focus on the twinning of the highways in northern Ontario from the Manitoba border to Sault Ste. Marie, from Nipigon to North Bay,” says Dumas.
The host Hammarshjold Vikings’ boys curling team is heading to the semifinals at the all-Ontario high school curling championships in Thunder Bay.
The team skipped by Warren Stroud advanced with a 7-3 win over ESC Franco-Cite from Ottawa in a quarterfinal matchup on Friday night at the Port Arthur Curling Club.
The teams exchanged a pair of 2-enders in the first two ends, before Hammarskjold pulled away with a single score in the 3rd end and a steal of 2 in the 4th.
The Vikings’ foursome sealed the victory with 2 more in the 7th.
Hammarskjold will play against St Partick’s Catholic High School from Sarnia in Saturday’s semifinal, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Eastern time.
The winner will play for the gold medal later in the day.
The loser will go to the bronze medal game.
Fort Frances Muskies girls curling team skip Aili Chabot at the OFSAA curling championships at the Port Arthur Curling Club in Thunder Bay, March 26, 2027. Photo by Patrick Chondon – Chondon Photography, used with permission
On the girls’ side, the Fort Frances High School team fell 8-5 in their quarterfinal game with ES Catholique Theriault from Timmins.
The Aili Chabot-skipped team fell behind early, giving up 3 in the 2nd end and 4 more in the 3rd.
The Muskies team fought back in the latter half of the game, but the comeback fell short in the end.
Hammarskjold Vikings boys curling team has concluded the qualifying round at the all-Ontario Curling championships in Thunder Bay with a perfect 4-0 record.
They concluded the round with a convincing 14-2 win on Friday afternoon over West Niagara Secondary School.
Skip Warren Stoud guided his foursome to a 10-0 lead after three ends, highlighted by a 5-ender in the second.
The Fort Frances Muskies girls curling team has advanced to the playoff round at the all-Ontario high school curling championships in Thunder Bay.
Trailing Orillia 7-4 Friday morning, the team scored 4 in the 7th end, adding a final point in the 8th to win 9-7.
Fort Frances started the game down by 3 in the 1st, but drew even by the 3rd end.
Aili Chabot’s foursome trailed again in the 4th when Orillia scored 2 and added 2 more in the 6th.
The Muskies team now faces ES Catholique Theriault from Timmins in a quarterfinal match-up at 5 p.m. Central time.
In other girls’ action, Thunder Bay’s Hammarskjold Vikings lost to Nantyr Shores Secondary School from Innisfill by a score of 5-3, ending their appearance at OFSAA with a 1-3 win-loss record.
The final qualifying draw for the boys’ teams goes this afternoon at the Port Arthur Curling Club.
Hammarskjold, which clinched a playoff spot on Thursday, plays West Niagara Secondary School.
St. Patrick’s High School of Thunder Bay takes on Medway High School from Arva, north of London.
Kenora’s St. Thomas Aquinas boys team is still search for a win as they conclude play with a game against Milton’s St Francis Xavier Catholic Secondary School.
Thunder Bay’s Hammarskjold High School and its boys curling team clinched a playoff spot yesterday at the all-Ontario championships in Thunder Bay.
They won their third straight game with a 7-5 win over All-Saints High School from Kanata.
Warren Stroud’s foursome had to battle back twice from 2-point deficits before taking the lead in the 6th end, and holding on for the victory in the final end.
The Hammarskjold boys play their final qualifying game against West Niagara on Friday afternoon.
In other boys’ action involving northwestern Ontario schools, Thunder Bay’s St. Patrick’s High School lost to Milton’s St. Francis Xavier in Thursday’s late draw, 8-5, to fall to 1-2 in their pool.
Kenora’s St. Thomas Aquinas lost their 3rd straight game, conceding a 12-3 loss after six ends to St. Patrick’s Catholic High School from Sarnia.
In the girls division, Fort Frances inched closer to a playoff spot with an 8-7 win in an extra end over Mississauga’s Erindale Secondary School.
Aili Chabot’s team had to battle back from 5-0 and 7-5 deficits before a steal in the 8th end forced the extra end.
The win leaves them with a record of 2-1 and tied for second in their pool with Orillia.
The two teams meet on Friday morning with a berth to the quarter-finals on the line.
Hammarskjold’s girls’ team fell to 1-2 after an 8-4 loss to Canterbury High School from Ottawa.
Skip Maija Kuluski got her team out to a 4-0 start after 2 ends before giving up 8 straight.
Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy tabled the 2026 budget at Queen’s Park on Thursday afternoon, which calls for $244 billion in spending over the next year.
“Ontario is navigating economic challenges with a pragmatic and prudent fiscal plan,” says Bethlenfalvy.
“To help the province navigate these times and come out stronger, we are investing in strategic priorities such as energy, critical minerals, key infrastructure and critical technologies that will make our economy stronger, while cutting red tape and creating the conditions for businesses to grow, supporting workers and strengthening Ontario’s economy.”
The budget includes a new investment fund to attract investment from pension funds and other private capital.
The province is giving the fund a $4 billion kick-start.
To spur investment among the business community, the province intends to allow businesses to accelerate the income tax deduction for the cost of depreciable assets, keeping in line with changes announced at the federal level.
Small businesses will get a tax break, starting on July 1st.
The small business corporate income tax rate is being lowered by a full percent to 2.2%.
This is an additional $1.1 billion for home and community care, with a similar amount for hospitals.
Education also sees a slight increase in funding from the previous year.
The province is also prepared to increase funding for autism services to nearly $1 billion, which it says will allow more children and youth to access core clinical services.
The increased spending will result in the deficit reaching $13.8 billion over the next year.
Last year’s budget forecast a surplus by 2028.
This budget pushes that outlook ahead another year, with a modest surplus of about $600 million.
Bethlenfalvy says while other provinces and the federal government have opted for funding cuts, reduced the civil service or increased taxes, Ontario has opted for a plan that increases competitiveness and spurs investment and job creation.
There appears to be little appetite in Atikokan to pursue a time change.
Councillor George Martin proposed earlier this year that Atikokan follow the same time as Thunder Bay year-round, instead of bouncing between the Eastern and Central time zones by the community not changing its clocks each spring and fall.
Administration looked into the steps necessary, which include public consultation and advocacy with the province.
It recommended council drop the matter because of the other issues impacting the town that were more pressing.
Mayor Rob Ferguson agrees.
He says it could have created confusion for residents who live just outside Atikokan’s boundaries.
“Are we going to be a different time than Sapawe half the year?, asks Ferguson.
“Are we going to be a different time than Perch Lake? There’s more to it. We’re Atikokan, and we don’t dictate what happens outside our municipalities. It’s a nice thing to throw out there, and it’s nice to get some publicity and talk about things. Let’s just move on to some more pressing.”
Atikokan council decided in 1954 to follow the same time as then-Port Arthur and Fort William to avoid confusion of mine and train operations in the shipping of ore.
When the mines closed, the community opted against having clocks changed in the spring and fall, leading to Atikokan being on Eastern time during the winter and Central time in the summer.
The Ontario Legislature supported legislation to do away with time changes a few years ago, but it was contingent upon Quebec and New York doing the same.
Atikokan is one of several communities in Canada that follows Daylight Saving Time year-round.
British Columbia recently enacted legislation to do the same.
Saskatchewan has not changed its clocks since 1966, when the province passed legislation to eliminate a patchwork of time zones caused by decisions that were previously left to the municipalities.
