The new HART Hub will receive $6.3 million in provincial fund per year over the next three years. Pictured: Local officials, including MPP Sam Oosterhoff, at the funding announcement. Photo Credit: Sam Oosterhoff/X.  Ahead of Premier Doug Ford’s decision to call a snap provincial election for Feb. 27, the Ontario government announced 18 new locations […]

NOTL considering nine per cent property tax hike

by Jay Goldberg

A nine per cent property tax increase would be significantly more than last year’s 6.74 per cent increase. Pictured: Niagara-on-the-Lake City Council. Photo Credit: Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara-on-the-Lake taxpayers are facing a big property tax hike this year, although it’s now looking smaller than what city staff initially proposed.  When staff initially put forward their […]

The average property tax bill in Niagara Falls will remain below the Niagara Region average. Pictured: Niagara Falls City Council. Photo Credit: City of Niagara Falls.  Niagara Falls City Council met on Jan. 21 to discuss Mayor Jim Diodati’s proposed 2025 operating budget, which built on city staff’s proposed budget, presented earlier this month.  Niagara […]

Ontario should scrap McGuinty’s health tax

by Jay Goldberg

After 20 years, it’s time for Ontario’s stealth health tax to go. Pictured: Former Ontario premiers Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne. Photo Credit: Dalton McGuinty/X.  Ontarians won’t be baking a cake or lighting candles to celebrate this anniversary: taxpayers have officially been paying the province’s sneaky health tax for two decades. After making a promise […]

Niagara Region moving forward with student housing strategy

by Jay Goldberg

The new strategy is part of Niagara Region’s broader Attainable Housing Strategy. Photo Credit: Pexels.  Niagara Region has announced that it plans to move forward with a new post-secondary student housing strategy, which is specifically geared toward supporting students at schools like Brock University and Niagara College.  According to the Region, this new strategy is […]

Niagara Falls eclipses St. Catharines in rental housing costs

by Jay Goldberg

Rental costs in St. Catharines stayed steady in December while Niagara Falls prices rose again. Generated by Dall-E.  The average one-bedroom rent in St. Catharines was up 0.5 per cent month-over-month to $1,669 in December 2024, according to the latest Rentals.ca market update. One-bedroom rents are also up 4.8 per cent year-over-year from December 2023. […]

Grits must embrace fiscal reckoning

by Jay Goldberg

Canadians are sick and tired of more spending and debt. Pictured: Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland. Photo Credit: Chrystia Freeland/X.  No matter who Canada’s next prime minister is, it’s time to lay down a marker: the party with Canada’s finances is over.  Canadians have had it with the Trudeau government’s irresponsible spending. One of the […]

Niagara Falls city staff propose 7.6 per cent property tax increase for 2025

by Jay Goldberg

The proposed property tax increase is much higher than Council requested. Pictured: Niagara Falls City Hall. Photo Credit: City of Niagara Falls/Facebook. Residents of the City of Niagara Falls will see property taxes rise significantly if city staff have their way. Earlier this week, staff released their proposed property tax levy supported budget for 2025. […]

  A new Liberal leader will likely be chosen by late March. Pictured: Niagara Centre MP Vance Badawey. Photo Credit: Vance Badawey/X.  Liberal Members of Parliament from the Niagara area are now facing a choice about who to support, if anyone, in the upcoming party leadership race after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement that he […]

Ford has a strong record on tax relief – and he should build on it

by Jay Goldberg

Ford has delivered billions of dollars of tax relief. Pictured: Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X.  The Ford government has delivered billions of dollars of tax relief during its first six years in office. There’s still more to do to get Ontario’s tax burden down, but it’s worth reviewing the billions of dollars […]

Niagara Region residents facing $800 increase in grocery bills in 2025: Report

by Jay Goldberg

The average family will spend nearly $17,000 on groceries in 2025. Photo Credit: Pexels.  Niagara Region residents can expect higher grocery bills in 2025. The 2025 Canada Food Price Report, with contributions from researchers at Dalhousie University, the University of Guelph, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Saskatchewan, predicts that grocery costs […]

Nearly one-third of respondents said they believe Niagara Region is becoming unaffordable. Generated by Dall-E.  A poll commissioned by the Niagara Association of Realtors and released to the public last month shows that housing affordability and the cost of living are the two biggest concerns of residents of Niagara Region. The poll, done by Nanos […]

Pelham moving forward with effort to honour WWII veterans ahead of anniversary

by Jay Goldberg

The Fonthill Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion was on hand at a Dec. 18 Council meeting. Pictured Councillor Wayne Olson. Photo Credit: Town of Pelham.  With the 80th anniversaries of Victory in Europe Day (May 8, 1945) and Victory over Japan Day (Aug. 15, 1945) coming up next year, Pelham Councillor Wayne Olson is […]

Bradley asks province for more cop funding

by Jay Goldberg

Bradley is asking for the province to cover $5.2 million in new costs. Pictured: Regional Chair Jim Bradley. Photo Credit: Niagara Region.  Niagara Regional Chair Jim Bradley is calling on the Ford government to provide increased funding to cover the cost of police services, following the Region’s passage of the 2025 budget. The budget includes […]

Feds could learn from Ontario’s recent restraint

by Jay Goldberg

Queen’s Park’s and Ottawa’s finances are diverging. Pictured: Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc. Photo Credit: Dominic LeBlanc/X.  If Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy has any spare time on his hands, he might want to offer his new federal counterpart, Dominic LeBlanc, some after-school lessons. There’s no way for the feds to spin this: Ottawa’s 2023-24 deficit […]

Region releases new five-year accessibility plan

by Jay Goldberg

The plan includes a requirement for an annual update on its implementation. Photo Credit: The Niagara Independent.  Niagara Region has officially released an accessibility plan for the next five years.  The 2024-2029 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan is used as a guide to make the Region’s facilities, operations, and services accessible and inclusive to all residents.  The […]

Rental costs in St. Catharines continued to fall in November while Niagara Falls prices rose again. Generated by Dall-E. The average one-bedroom rent in St. Catharines was down 1.2 per cent month-over-month to $1,660 in November 2024, according to the latest Rentals.ca market update. One-bedroom rents are also down 0.1 per cent year-over-year from November […]

Niagara Region sets 2025 property tax increase at 9.6 per cent

by Jay Goldberg

Niagara Region has finalized yet another massive property tax increase for 2025. Pictured: Niagara Regional Chair Jim Bradley. Photo Credit: Niagara Region.  Niagara Regional Council met yesterday and finalized a budget for 2025 that includes a massive 9.6 per cent property tax increase. When added together with last year’s 7.02 per cent property tax increase, […]

Wellanders face 3.95 per cent lower-tier property tax hike in 2025

by Jay Goldberg

The increase is larger than what Mayor Frank Campion had originally proposed. Pictured: Welland City Council. Photo Credit: City of Welland.   Wellanders will see their property taxes rise by 3.95 per cent in 2025, a larger increase than Mayor Frank Campion had originally proposed.  That represents an increase of $72.78 for the average home in […]

Shameless partisan ads on the taxpayer dime must end

by Jay Goldberg

Scathing auditor general report proves government advertising rules need an overhaul. Pictured: Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X.  Too many Ontario families are struggling just to pay their bills. And yet when they turn on the TV to watch a hockey game, they’re bombarded with glitzy government ads that offer no real public […]

Welland residents want Council size cut: Poll

by Jay Goldberg

City staff are proposing to cut Council’s size from 13 to seven. Pictured: Welland City Council. Photo Credit: City of Welland.  Welland residents want fewer municipal politicians, a new survey shows. The view of the public aligns with the view of city staff, who made that very recommendation earlier this fall. A total of 141 […]

New Gilmore Lodge to open December 18

by Jay Goldberg

State-of-the-art facility will house current residents of the existing Gilmore Lodge and the Upper Canada Lodge. Photo Credit: Niagara Region. Late last month, Niagara Region offered an update on its Gilmore Lodge redevelopment project and announced that residents of the existing Gilmore Lodge and Upper Canada Lodge will move into their new home on Dec. […]

Nothvolt bankruptcy shows foolishness of corporate welfare

by Jay Goldberg

Businesses don’t need handouts to make investments that make sense. Photo Credit: Pexels. One of politicians’ favourite things to do is gamble with taxpayers’ cash. But, based on their record, you’d think they were rookies getting swindled by a card shark at a Vegas bar.  The latest in a long list of failures is the […]

Council is asking the police services board to make a second round of budget cuts. Pictured: Niagara Regional Police Chief Bill Fordy. Photo Credit: NRP.  Niagara Regional Council and the Police Services Board are in a spat over this year’s police budget. Chief Bill Fordy initially requested a 15.1 per cent budget hike from Council […]

Niagara-on-the-Lake staff propose massive property tax hike

by Jay Goldberg

The proposed tax hike is 14.4 per cent. Pictured: Niagara-on-the-Lake council members. Photo Credit: Niagara-on-the-Lake.  Niagara-on-the-Lake city staff are pushing for a massive property tax increase on homeowners for 2025. The proposed tax hike is 14.4 per cent. Because the average home has an assessed value of $544,000, that works out to a tax hike […]

Canada’s politicians should stop handing out taxpayer dollars to the EV industry – full stop. Photo Credit: Pexels.   Ottawa and Queen’s Park bet the bank on electric vehicles and the hand they’re playing looks worse every day.  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Doug Ford teamed up to hand $57 billion in electric vehicle manufacturing […]

Canada-wide rents experienced 1.2 per cent year-over-year decrease in October. Generated by Dall-E.  The average one-bedroom rent in St. Catharines was down 1.1 per cent month-over-month to $1,681 in October 2024, according to the latest Rentals.ca market update. One-bedroom rents are also down 0.2 per cent year-over-year from October 2023. Meanwhile, a two-bedroom unit in […]

Campion proposing 3.54 per cent property tax hike as part of 2025 budget

by Jay Goldberg

The average household will see a property tax increase of $65.33. Pictured: Welland Mayor Frank Campion. Photo Credit: City of Welland.  Welland Mayor Frank Campion is proposing to raise property taxes by 3.54 per cent as part of his 2025 budget.  For a home with an average assessment value in Welland, which is $230,000, that […]

Last month, 539 homes were sold in Niagara Region. That compares to 377 homes in October 2023. Generated by Dall-E. The Niagara Association of Realtors (NAR) released its October market update on the local housing market, noting that many more homes were sold last month than during the same month in 2023.  Last month, 539 […]

Crombie could do much more to make Ontarians’ energy bills more affordable

by Jay Goldberg

Crombie has yet to call on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to scrap his federal carbon tax. Pictured: Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie. Photo Credit: Bonnie Crombie/X.  Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie wants to make energy bills more affordable in Ontario, but only by a little bit. That’s because Crombie is pledging to remove the provincial […]

It’s all about affordability

by Jay Goldberg

  It’s time for politicians to focus on making choices that prioritize the needs of taxpayers. Generated by Dall-E.  If the three most important words in real estate are “location, location, location,” the three most important words in politics are “affordability, affordability, affordability.” The fastest way to make sure more money stays in the pockets […]

Massive infrastructure deficits trigger huge water and wastewater budget increase

by Jay Goldberg

Officials estimate the average household will see a $7.40 increase in their water bill each month. Pictured: Niagara Regional Council. Photo Credit: Niagara Independent.  Niagara Region will be hitting taxpayers with significant water bill increase after the budget committee voted to approve a 12.27 per cent 2025 budget increase for water and wastewater. The increase […]

Niagara Region appoints new Commissioner of Community Services

by Jay Goldberg

Henri Koning, who previously served as Director of Seniors Services, has officially assumed the role. Pictured: Henri Koning. Photo Credit: Niagara Region.  Niagara Regional Council has approved Henri Koning as its new permanent Commissioner of Community Services. She officially took the permanent post last week.  Koning has been with the Region since 2012 as the […]

Fordy requests major Niagara Regional Police Service budget increase for 2025

by Jay Goldberg

Fordy is pitching a 15.1 per cent police budget increase for 2025. Pictured: Niagara Regional Police Chief Bill Fordy. Photo Credit: NRPS.  Niagara Regional Police Service Chief Bill Fordy is pitching a massive operating budget increase for 2025, seeking a jump in funding of over 15 per cent. The dollar value of Fordy’s requested budget […]

Bethlenfalvy presents good-news economic update

by Jay Goldberg

  Bethlenfalvy’s fall economic update offers a path to balance. Pictured: Premier Doug Ford and Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X.  Here’s some good news for taxpayers: the Ontario government stands on the cusp of balancing the books and there’s tax relief coming.  Those are great highlights in Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy’s fall […]

Siscoe proposes higher property tax increase than city staff at 2.71 per cent

by Jay Goldberg

The proposed property tax increase is 0.25 percentage points higher than what city staff initially suggested. Pictured: St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe. Photo Credit: Mat Siscoe/X.  St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe is proposing a larger property tax increase in his 2025 budget than city staff recommended. In October, city staff suggested St. Catharines councillors approve […]

St. Catharines staff propose 2.46 per cent property tax increase for 2025

by Jay Goldberg

The proposed property tax increase is slightly above the anticipated rate of inflation.  Pictured: St. Catharines City Hall. Photo Credit: City of St. Catharines.  St. Catharines homeowners are looking at a 2.46 per cent increase in lower-tier residential property tax bills if city staff have their way.  That represents an average increase of $42.82. But […]

The debt silver bullet? Ending corporate welfare

by Jay Goldberg

Corporate welfare is fueling government debt. And it’s time for it to stop. Photo Credit: Shutterstock. Canadians are worried about government debt and axing corporate welfare is the closest thing to a silver bullet politicians have to solve the problem. Canada’s politicians spent $89 billion handing out taxpayer cash to corporations in 2021, the last […]

Canada-wide rents experienced 2.1 per cent year-over-year increase in September. Generated by Dall-E.  The average one-bedroom rent in St. Catharines was up 1.4 per cent month-over-month to $1,700 in September 2024, according to the latest Rentals.ca market update. One-bedroom rents are also up 1.6 per cent year-over-year from September 2023. Meanwhile, a two-bedroom unit in […]

Ford must let Ontario’s political welfare regime finally die

by Jay Goldberg

Political welfare is the epitome of waste. Pictured: Premier Doug Ford. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X.  Premier Doug Ford is weeks away from keeping a promise that’s six years old: Ontario’s political welfare regime is finally set to meet its demise on Jan. 1, 2025.  But taxpayers must stay vigilant to ensure Ford keeps his word, […]

Niagara Region’s budget committee voted to delay consideration of the proposed transit budget increase until November. Photo Credit: NRT/Facebook.  It’s Groundhog Day for the Niagara Transit Commission.  Last fall, the Niagara Transit Commission proposed a significant budget increase of 7.8 per cent. This proposed budget increase was endorsed by members of the Niagara Transit Commission, […]

Niagara real estate market heats up in September compared to 2023: Report

by Jay Goldberg

Last month, 488 homes were sold in Niagara Region. That compares to 372 homes in September of 2023. Generated by Dall-E. The Niagara Association of Realtors (NAR) released its September market update on the local housing market, noting that more homes were sold last month than during the same month in 2023.  Last month, 488 […]

Niagara Falls gives Thomson keys to the city

by Jay Goldberg

Thomson capped off his 60 years of service by receiving the keys to Niagara Falls. Pictured: Former councillor and mayor Wayne Thomson. Photo Credit: Wayne Thomson/X.  After serving Niagara Falls for nearly 60 years, Wayne Thomson was given the keys to the city by Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati. Thomson has been involved in Niagara […]

Ford should challenge Trudeau’s carbon tax in court – again

by Jay Goldberg

The Trudeau government has torpedoed the legal rationale the Supreme Court used to allow Ottawa to impose a federal carbon tax in the first place. Pictured: Premier Doug Ford. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s carbon tax has never been more vulnerable. It’s time for Ontario Premier Doug Ford to step up to […]

Dabrowski joins Niagara Falls City Council

by Jay Goldberg

Chris Dabrowski was appointed to council to fill a vacancy triggered by Wayne Thomson’s resignation. Pictured: Councillor Chris Dabrowski. Photo Credit: Revel Realty. Niagara Falls officially has its newest city councillor, although it’s a familiar face.  Chris Dabrowski was appointed to fill the vacant seat previously occupied by Wayne Thomson, who retired last month after […]

Highway 401 tunnel feasibility study must not be an afterthought

by Jay Goldberg

The devil is in the details. Pictured: Premier Doug Ford. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X.  When it comes to Premier Doug Ford’s proposal to build a 55-kilometre tunnel to lessen congestion on Highway 401, the devil will be in the details. Ford presented his plan to build a tunnel from Mississauga to Scarborough as a bold […]

Task force recommends $9,000 raise for St. Catharines councillors

by Jay Goldberg

The changes to councillors’ pay would be implemented following the 2026 municipal election. Photo Credit: City of St. Catharines.  St. Catharines city councillors could soon be in line for a raise. A citizen-review task force is recommending a $9,235 pay hike for the city’s 12 city councillors.  The changes to councillors’ pay would be implemented […]

Niagara Falls Innovation Hub gets $98,000 from provincial taxpayers

by Jay Goldberg

MPP Sam Oosterhoff made the announcement at Vineland Station late last month. Photo Credit: Niagara Falls Innovation Hub/X.  The Niagara Falls Innovation Hub is getting nearly $98,000 from the province to support its Niagara Innovation Cluster Helping Entrepreneurs Project. Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff, who is also the Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries, made the […]

Ontario taxpayers deserve taxpayer protection legislation

by Jay Goldberg

Ford can build on his legacy by ensuring that his successors can’t raise taxes on a whim. Pictured: Premier Doug Ford. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X.  Voters deserve a say before politicians hike their taxes.  Here’s how to do it. Premier Doug Ford should introduce legislation that makes sure taxpayers can vote in a referendum before […]

St. Catharines adopts new five-year economic development and tourism strategy

by Jay Goldberg

The new 2024 plan outlines several priorities to help strengthen the local economy. Pictured: St. Catharines City Council. Photo Credit: City of St. Catharines.  St. Catharines city staff have outlined a new five-year economic development and tourism strategy, which will shape the city’s approach to both public policy areas from this year until 2029.  The […]

Average rents in St. Catharines up three per cent in August year-over-year: Report

by Jay Goldberg

Canada-wide rents experienced 3.3 per cent year-over-year increase in August. Generated by Dall-E.  The average one-bedroom rent in St. Catharines was down 2.1 per cent month-over-month to $1,677 in August 2024, according to the latest Rentals.ca market update. However, one-bedroom rents are up three per cent year-over-year from August 2023. Meanwhile, a two-bedroom unit in […]

Thank Trudeau’s carbon tax for surging heating bills

by Jay Goldberg

The average household in Ontario will pay $381 in carbon taxes on home heating this winter. Pictured: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Photo Credit: Justin Trudeau/X.  Taxpayers better brace themselves for the bruising impact of the Trudeau government’s carbon tax on home heating bills this winter. If you heat your home with natural gas, like more […]

Proposed Niagara Transit Commission budget comes in at $88 million

by Jay Goldberg

The proposed budget is nearly six per cent higher than the 2024 budget. Photo Credit: NRT/Facebook.   Niagara Regional Transit’s budget is set to climb, which could drive taxes higher, if Niagara Regional Council doesn’t intervene and demand savings on behalf of taxpayers.  The Niagara Region Transit Commission is chaired by Regional Councillor and St. […]

Niagara Region approves 2025 capital budget

by Jay Goldberg

Niagara Region’s 2025 Capital Budget comes in at $376 million.  Niagara Regional Council approved a $376-million capital budget for 2025 at a September committee-of-the-whole meeting overseen by Budget Committee Chair Wayne Redekop of Fort Erie. The capital budget deals with long-term infrastructure needs of Niagara Region and is separate from the operating budget, which will […]

Council voted on a full three-year extension of three development incentive programs, which was passed by a 14-7 margin.  Niagara Regional Council was sharply divided on whether to extend housing incentive programs, with costs for taxpayers piling up. At a Sept. 5 council meeting as a committee of the whole to deal with the budget, […]

The time for charter schools in Ontario is now

by Jay Goldberg

Better test scores and saving taxpayer dollars is a win-win. Pictured: Ontario Education Minister Jill Dunlop. Photo Credit: Jill Dunlop/X.  Ontario taxpayers deserve choice and value-for-money when it comes to educating our kids. It’s unfair to force parents to keep their kids in failing government-run schools. And it’s unfair to force taxpayers to continue to […]

Niagara real estate market slowdown continued in August: Report

by Jay Goldberg

Last month, 488 homes were sold in Niagara Region. That compares to 523 homes in August of 2023. Generated by Dall-E. The Niagara Association of Realtors (NAR) released its August market update on the local housing market, noting that fewer homes were sold last month than during the same month in 2023.  Last month, 488 […]

New Brunswickers get tax cut commitment, while Ontarians face mountain of debt

by Jay Goldberg

Higgs was able to put an HST cut on the table because his province’s finances are in such good shape. Pictured: New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs. Photo Credit: Blaine Higgs/X.  It’s a tale of two premiers. New Brunswick’s Blaine Higgs has been disciplined with managing his province’s finances, reducing debt and paving the way for […]

Niagara Regional Police Service makes 147 traffic stops on back-to-school safety day

by Jay Goldberg

Officers issued 57 tickets for speeding across Niagara Region. Photo Credit: NRPS/X. The Niagara Regional Police Service launched its 24th Annual Back-to-School Traffic Safety and Awareness Day on Sept. 3, with more than 50 additional officers pulled in for duty.   The NRPS has been doing annual awareness days since 2000. Senior officers and officers not […]

Niagara Region mobilizes to open new shelter in Welland

by Jay Goldberg

The new shelter, based in Welland, will house up to 60 homeless adults. Generated by Dall-E.  Last week, Niagara Regional Council approved $2.8 million to help build a new temporary emergency shelter in Welland. According to the Region, this new site will expand overall adult shelter spaces and also increase services available to those in […]

Smoke and mirrors budgeting hides massive debt spike

by Jay Goldberg

Taxpayers deserve to see the real numbers and the Ontario’s politicians should have to be accountable for them. Pictured: Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy. Photo Credit: Peter Bethlenfalvy/X.  Remember that friend you had in school who would change his report card before taking it home to his parents?  It turns out premiers, mayors and prime […]

Canada-wide rents experienced a 0.2 per cent month-over-month increase and a rather modest 3.5 per cent year-over-year increase. Photo Credit: iStock.  The average one-bedroom rent in St. Catharines was down 0.9 per cent month-over-month to $1,713 in July 2024, according to the latest Rentals.ca market update. One-bedroom rents are also down 1.4 per cent year-over-year […]

A special award was given to The Citrus Twists stand, which raised $3,829. This was the second year in a row that stand raised the most money. Photo Credit: FACS Niagara.  The fundraising totals are in, and the Family and Children’s Services (FACS) Niagara Foundation raised over $90,000 through its Mountainview Lemonaid Day to help […]

Ford has far too many cooks in the cabinet kitchen

by Jay Goldberg

Does anyone think their Toyota Highlander disappeared because there wasn’t a cabinet minister watching it? Pictured: Premier Doug Ford and Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. Photo Credit: MPPKerzner/X.  Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet was already excessively large. A surprise resignation should have been an opportunity to shed some extra weight. But somehow, Ford managed to add yet […]

The new tool can be used by a prospective investors and entrepreneurs at niagaracanada.com. Niagara Region has launched a new tool to promote economic development opportunities.  Launched on Aug. 15, “Niagara Signature Sites” is a new, innovative and interactive map that showcases industrial and commercial development opportunities throughout the Niagara region. The tool was rolled […]

Last month, 503 homes were sold in Niagara Region. That compares to 522 homes in July of 2023. Photo Credit: iStock. The Niagara Association of Realtors (NAR) released its July market update on the local housing market, noting that fewer homes were sold last month than during the same month in 2023.  Last month, 503 […]

Ontario politicians must pledge to make Ford’s gas tax cut permanent

by Jay Goldberg

Ontarians can’t afford to see gas taxes surge in the new year, so taxpayers must make that clear to provincial politicians well in advance of the currently scheduled tax hike. Pictured: Premier Doug Ford. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X.  Premier Doug Ford’s gas tax cut saved Ontario families hundreds of dollars over the past two years.  […]

The government says that this move will save vehicle owners more than 900,000 hours every year. Pictured: MPP Donna Skelly and Ministers Todd McCarthy and Prabmeet Sarkaria. Photo Credit: Donna Skelly/X.  Automatic license plate renewal is now in effect for drivers across Ontario. The new process will impact eight million Ontario drivers. Ontario became the […]

Poilievre brings summer tour to Niagara Region

by Jay Goldberg

Last week, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre visited St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Welland, Stevensville and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Pictured: Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. Photo Credit: Pierre Poilievre/X.   Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was in Niagara last week, touting his plan to build more homes and tackle housing affordability for Canadians.  Poilievre visited St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Welland, Stevensville and […]

Families pay dearly at the pump – but it’s going to get much worse

by Jay Goldberg

An Ontario family filling up a Dodge Caravan and Honda Accord once every two weeks ends up paying just shy of two grand in gas taxes over the course of a year. Photo Credit: Pexels Two thousand dollars. That’s how much the typical two-car Ontario family spends on gas taxes every year.  Big numbers can […]

The new car accident fee is one of 13 new user fees approved by council in late July to try to increase city revenue. Photo Credit: iStock. St. Catharines councillors approved a raft of changes to city fees as part of a regular review of all city fees, which were originally set as part of […]

Favouring unions costs taxpayers dearly

by Jay Goldberg

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow should implement common-sense construction contracting reforms to head off a massive property tax increase in 2025. Pictured: Mayor Olivia Chow. Photo Credit: Olivia Chow/X.  They say less is more, especially when it comes to budgeting. Apparently, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow never got the memo.  Canada’s largest city keeps overpaying on construction […]

The report’s proposed changes to council rules and procedures were overwhelmingly adopted, with only St. Catharines Councillor Haley Bateman and Pelham Mayor Marvin Junkin voting against. Pictured: Councillor Haley Bateman. Photo Credit: Niagara Region.  After a clash over the Israel-Gaza conflict and the role Niagara Regional Council should, or should not, play in it, regional […]

Niagara Region residents facing massive 2025 property tax increase

by Jay Goldberg

Regional staff are proposing an 8.72 per cent property tax increase for 2025. Pictured: Niagara Regional Council Chair Jim Bradley. Photo Credit: Niagara Region.  Niagara Region residents are staring down an upper-tier property tax increase of 8.72 per cent in 2025 if city staff have their way.  That’s significantly higher than last year’s 7.02 per […]

Higgs’ HST cut promise shows prudence pays off

by Jay Goldberg

Higgs’ HST cut pledge is the first major policy proposal laid out ahead of this fall’s election. Pictured: New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs. Photo Credit: Blaine Higgs/X.  Premier Blaine Higgs made it a priority to pay down New Brunswick’s debt and that means there’s room for tax relief. And that’s exactly what Higgs is promising […]

West Lincoln schedules by-election for Ward 3 vacancy

by Jay Goldberg

A Ward 3 by-election will be held on Nov. 4 to replace Councillor Terry Bell, who vacated his seat by missing successive council meetings. Photo Credit: Township of West Lincoln.  West Lincoln Town Council has voted to hold a by-election to fill a vacancy created by the departure of Ward 3 representative Terry Bell, who […]

Arrests made in fentanyl death of 45-year-old Pelham resident

by Jay Goldberg

As a result of the investigation, NRPS announced two arrests on July 17. Both individuals arrested were from Stoney Creek. Photo Credit: X/Niagara Regional Police Service. In April 2024, a 45-year-old man was found dead in the Town of Pelham. As has been the case in so many communities across Ontario and Canada, the deceased […]

Twenty-eight of the approved convenience stores are in Niagara Falls, five are in Welland, two are in Niagara-on-the-Lake and one is in St. Catharines. Photo Credit: iStock.  As the province-wide LCBO union strike reaches its two-week mark, corner stores across Niagara are preparing to sell alcohol. Provincial rules will now permit corner stores to sell […]

Ford faces a “time for choosing” on alcohol sales

by Jay Goldberg

The only reason selling alcohol in grocery stores is on the public agenda is because the LCBO union strike put it there. Pictured: Premier Doug Ford. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X.  Decades ago, an aspiring politician once coined the term “it’s a time for choosing.” That would-be politician was talking about an election. But Ontario now […]

Canada-wide rents experienced a 0.8 per cent month-over-month increase and a rather significant 7.0 per cent year-over-year increase. Photo Credit: iStock.  The average one-bedroom rent in St. Catharines was up 2.9 per cent month-over-month to $1,728 in June 2024, according to the latest Rentals.ca market update. However, one-bedroom rents are up just 0.9 per cent […]

Last month, 541 homes were sold in Niagara Region. That compares to 609 homes in June of 2023. Photo Credit: iStock.  The Niagara Association of Realtors (NAR) released its June market update on the local housing market, noting that fewer homes were sold last month than during the same month in 2023.  Last month, 541 […]

Vape detectors coming to Niagara Region schools

by Jay Goldberg

Thirty per cent of youth between the ages of 15 and 19 tried vaping in 2022, at an age when they’re not allowed to legally purchase any tobacco products. Photo Credit: iStock. Major changes for Niagara Region’s schools are in the works while students are gone for the summer, as plans are underway to install […]

The political welfare straw man

by Jay Goldberg

If political parties want to raise cash, they should do so by winning over taxpayers, not raiding their wallets. Pictured: Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X.  For Ontario’s political parties, the jig may finally be up. Premier Doug Ford is just six months away from scrapping Ontario’s political welfare system. Political welfare has […]

Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa was among those who voted in favour of the proposal both times. Pictured: Niagara-on-the-Lake council. Photo Credit: City of Niagara-on-the-Lake.  A major new development was approved by Niagara-on-the-Lake councillors despite councillors having recommended the rejection of the same application when meeting as the planning committee just two weeks prior.  When council met […]

Liberals could lose all Niagara area seats in next election: Expert

by Jay Goldberg

If the 25-point swing in Toronto-St. Paul’s were to occur in Ontario in next year’s federal election, the Liberals would be left with no seats in the Niagara area or in Hamilton. Pictured: Liberal MPs Chris Bittle and Vance Badawey. Photo Credit: Vance Badawey/X.  In a stunning upset last week, Conservative candidate Don Stewart won […]

Time for accountability: Ontario’s ballooning subway expansion costs

by Jay Goldberg

In the private sector, if a project manager was overseeing a multi-billion-dollar project and costs ballooned by 43 per cent in a single year, that project manager would be shown the door. Pictured: Premier Doug Ford. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X.  It sure looks like Premier Doug Ford has been hoodwinking Ontarians by using one of […]

Niagara Region’s property taxes some of the highest in Canada: Report

by Jay Goldberg

The average property tax levied on a home worth $500,000 in Niagara Region is $7,421. That’s nearly $1,000 more than nearby Waterloo and Kitchener. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock Images.  Niagara Region residents pay some of the highest property taxes in Canada, according to a new report by Zoocasa. The average property tax rate for a […]

St. Catharines is the 26th most expensive city to rent a one-bedroom unit out of the 35 Canadian cities examined. Photo Credit: iStock.  The average one-bedroom rent in St. Catharines was up 0.5 per cent month-over-month to $1,663 in May 2024, according to the latest Rentals.ca market update. However, one-bedroom rents are down 0.5 per […]

Region to review flag raising policy following Israel-Gaza conflict

by Jay Goldberg

Recommended changes will be considered by council at a meeting next week, on June 28. Pictured: Regional Chair Jim Bradley. Photo Credit: Niagara Region.  Niagara Region’s Corporate Services Committee is recommending that Niagara Regional Council change its policies to prevent the flying of foreign flags after controversy broke out when an Israeli flag was raised […]

Ford’s bloated cabinet reflects an embrace of big government

by Jay Goldberg

With 36 Progressive Conservatives now in cabinet out of a caucus of 80, no less than 45 per cent of the governing caucus gets a 42 per cent pay bump. Pictured: Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X.  Is Queen’s Park nearly twice as effective as it was six years ago? That’s a question […]

Over 70 arrests have been made over the past three years throughout the country for so-called grandparent scam crimes, including at least one in every Canadian province. Photo Credit: Facebook/Niagara Region Police Service.  The Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) is warning local seniors about so-called “Grandparent Scams” after receiving a number of complaints throughout the […]

Niagara real estate market shows signs of slowing compared to 2023: Report

by Jay Goldberg

The benchmark price for May was $653,900. That’s up from April, but it’s also nearly $10,000 lower than the $663,800 benchmark price was in May of 2023.  The Niagara Association of Realtors (NAR) released its May market update on the local housing market, noting that fewer homes were sold last month than during the same […]

It’s time to kill Ontario’s political welfare regime

by Jay Goldberg

By the end of 2024, total payments from Ontario’s political welfare program will have crossed the $100-million mark. Pictured: Premier Doug Ford. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X.  One hundred million dollars.  That’s how much Ontario’s political parties will have taken from taxpayers before its sunset clause sets in the new year. Eight years ago, former premier […]

The motion was in support of a policy change being advanced by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. Pictured: Welland City Council. Photo Credit: City of Welland.  Welland councillors passed a motion last week calling on the Ford government to update the municipal code of conduct and strengthen enforcement measures.  The motion was in support […]

Furey’s gas tax cut saving Newfoundlanders and Labradorians $150 million

by Jay Goldberg

Over the past 24 months, taxpayers filling up two cars once a week have saved more than $1,000 thanks to Furey’s gas tax cut. Pictured: Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey. Photo Credit: Andrew Furey/X.  One hundred and fifty million dollars.  That’s how much money Premier Andrew Furey’s nearly three years of gas tax cuts […]

Niagara school board joins lawsuit targeting social media giants

by Jay Goldberg

Social media use, so says the lawsuit, has altered students’ mental wiring and damaged their ability to learn and fully participate in school. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock Images. The District School Board of Niagara has joined with several other Ontario school boards in filing a lawsuit against a handful of social media giants. The lawsuit […]

Presentation pitches redevelopment partnership for Toronto Power

by Jay Goldberg

Pearle Hospitality, an Ontario-based hospitality company, is pitching a $200-million plan to develop and restore Toronto Power. Photo Credit: Niagara Parks.  At last week’s Niagara Regional Council meeting, Niagara Parks Chair Bob Gale and CEO David Adames provided an update on the state of Niagara Parks as an organization and the plans it has for […]

Niagara Region budget process receives poor grade from C.D. Howe Institute

by Jay Goldberg

Niagara Region received a D grade, only marginally better than the F received by Hamilton, London and Windsor. Pictured: Niagara Region Chair Jim Bradley. Photo Credit: Niagara Region.  A major Canadian think tank gave Niagara Region a D grade when it comes to its 2023 budget process, criticizing the budget’s lack of transparency and lateness. […]

When politicians gamble, taxpayers lose

by Jay Goldberg

Politicians should be focusing on creating the right environment for any company, large or small, to grow without a government handout. Pictured: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Photo Credit: Justin Trudeau/X.  Politicians are rolling the dice on the electric vehicle industry with your money. If they bet wrong, and there’s a good chance they have, hardworking […]

Diodati leads push for dynamic parking pricing

by Jay Goldberg

At Diodati’s behest, Niagara Falls City Council will discuss the idea of dynamic parking pricing at its May 28 meeting. Photo Credit: iStock.  Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati is leading a new push to implement dynamic pricing in public parking areas. Diodati says that after hundreds of thousands flocked to Niagara Falls to watch and […]

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