‘We would appreciate it if local elected officials focused on facts’: Niagara Health, NDP MPP quarrel over fate of Welland hospital

Local

Niagara Health and NDP MPP for Niagara Centre Jeff Burch appear to be at loggerheads over how details regarding present and future surgical services at the former’s Welland site have (or haven’t) been communicated.

In a series of social media posts on Friday, which contained an open letter to Niagara Health President and CEO Lynn Guerriero also signed by Welland mayor Frank Campion, MPP Burch accused the region’s local health system of not properly contemplating nor communicating reported service changes coming to Welland hospital, as well as Niagara Health’s long-term plans for the site.

“Recently we learned that surgical services at the Welland hospital will be greatly reduced by the end of February due to what is described as ongoing staff shortages,” Burch tweeted. “After a flood of calls from doctors, nurses, and patients in our riding myself and Frank Campion, Welland Mayor, are gravely concerned about what this decision will mean for patient outcomes.”

Rents rose profoundly nationwide last year, but local rates remain some of most affordable in Canada

Local

Hot off a recent study that suggested St. Catharines is one of the cheapest cities in Canada to maintain housing in terms of overall shelter costs, yet another monthly report from Rentals.ca…

Proud ‘Wellander’ becomes first ever Canadian to sign with Arsenal

Sports

Just days after the Green Bay Packers signed Niagara Falls native Tyrell Ford, the region was once again on the world sports map when a self-proclaimed, and proud, “Wellander” became the first ever Canadian…

Higgs’ masterclass on fiscal management

Provincial

If anyone is looking for an instructor to teach a masterclass on defending the public purse, New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs should step up to the chalkboard.

Human trafficking in the employment context

Business

Farm operations in Niagara rely heavily on temporary foreign workers (“TFWs”). As such, the recent case of Osmani v. Universal Structural Restorations Ltd., 2022 ONSC 6979 (“Osmani”) may be of interest.

Ford’s changes to Ontario health care necessary, and really not all that novel

Provincial

From all the hysterical caterwauling from Opposition parties, public sector unions and other assorted government critics, you would have thought that Ontario Premier Doug Ford had turned the province’s health care system over to Walmart to run.

George Santos’ whoppers inform us

Opinion

The recent battle for Speaker of the House temporarily removed public scrutiny from one of the Republicans’ newest members of Congress, George Santos, whose victory in New York’s 33rd Congressional District…

Niagara realtor reflects on local housing market, what’s next for buyers and sellers

Local

Canadian real estate has seen rapid changes and sharp turns over the past several years. The pandemic, inflation and broader market instabilities have contributed to price and inventory numbers that many home buyers and sellers have never seen. Fort Erie, Ontario, was and remains no exception.

Ray Rosettani has been a realtor for over three decades.

“These past few years have been crazy”, he shared in a recent interview with The Niagara Independent.

Rosettani said that the work-from-home culture that was brought about by Covid-19 restrictions changed the real-estate market dramatically. “As remote work caught on, moving away from the big city and into our smaller communities became much more appealing to a lot more people”.

Featured Contributors