Local
Bob Gale, a Regional Councillor from Niagara Falls, believes that annual regional budget increases have gotten out of control in recent years. With this in mind, Gale is bringing forth a motion to limit the 2026 increase to the consolidated levy budget to no higher than 3.5 per cent at an upcoming council meeting.
“The past three years of property tax increases has placed a heavy, unaffordable and unsustainable tax burden on Niagara’s residents and businesses,” Gale told The Niagara Independent.
Since the 2022 fiscal year, regional property taxes have increased by 9.6 per cent, 7.02 per cent and 7.6 per cent, respectively.
Local
There’s officially an opening date for the new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital. According to Hamilton Health Sciences, the opening date will be Oct. 27.
Sports
It’s a big week sports wise here in Niagara as three top-level sporting franchises all open their regular seasons at home.
National
Statistics Canada’s monthly Labour Force Survey was published late last week, and the numbers were not encouraging. The overall rate of unemployment increased to 6.9 per cent, which was the highest rate in eight years except during the pandemic years.
Opinion
It’s now clear the “elbows up” slogan of the Mark Carney Liberal campaign was nothing more than a sales pitch to dupe the Canadian people.
National
Prime Minister Mark Carney is taking over a country with deep divisions.
After 10 years of the Trudeau government stymying Alberta’s attempt to develop its natural resources at virtually every turn, Premier Danielle Smith has set in motion a plan that could ultimately lead to a referendum on Alberta independence as soon as next year.
Opinion
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s leadership ran aground in the aftermath of Canada’s federal election. Many things can be said about what happened to Poilievre on the way to the Prime Minister’s office. He held what appeared to be an insurmountable lead over the Trudeau Liberals until the election of Donald Trump in November 2024.
