Late last month, the Ford government announced $240,000 in additional funding over two years to support the Mobile Crisis Response Team of the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS). Funding through the Mobile Crisis Response Team Enhancement Grant is designed to enable local police to work with trained crisis workers to produce specialized support when interacting […]
Over the next three weeks, this column will provide background on the development of Regional Government, how it has operated over the past half-century-plus, and what amalgamation may portend for the citizens of Niagara in the years ahead. PART ONE – Lincoln & Welland County When regional government came to the Niagara area in 1970, […]
Niagara Regional Council met for a special session to address the issue of amalgamation late last week, after Regional Chair Bob Gale put the issue firmly on the agenda. Gale continues to insist that amalgamation is necessary, citing massive tax increases in recent years and arguing that too many politicians has led to inefficiencies and […]
Ontario Premier Doug Ford made a visit to Niagara Falls last week, where the government market a “significant milestone” in the construction of Niagara Health’s new South Niagara Hospital, with the final structural beam being raised. Ford was on site to highlight the new beds and expanded acute care that will be available for local […]
More than 300 secondary school students from across the Niagara region will gather on March 4 for the 28th annual District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) Technological Skills Challenge, hosted at Niagara College. The competition will take place across two Niagara College locations — the Welland Campus and the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. […]
Regional Chair Bob Gale appeared before Fort Erie’s City Council on Monday to make his case for amalgamating Niagara Region into either one large municipality or four lower-tier municipalities to replace the 12 lower-tier municipalities that currently exist. Under Gale’s proposed four-city model, Fort Erie would be amalgamated with Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake into a […]
The government of Ontario announced new funds to support victims and survivors of crime by providing Victim Services Niagara and the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) with nearly $400,000 in new funding through the Victim Support Grant Program. Categories of crime that were specifically highlighted by the province as areas of focus include intimate partner […]
Regional Chair Bob Gale is advocating for reducing the number of municipal politicians and possibly amalgamating local municipalities throughout Niagara Region as a means of reducing costs, enhancing governance and improving efficiency. Gale sent letters to local mayors and the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack outlining his case for change. His […]
Niagara College’s friendly rivalry between wine and beer students returns Saturday, Feb. 21 as Caps, Corks and Forks takes place at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus. The sold-out event will welcome 250 guests for a five-course dinner prepared by the College’s Benchmark team, while Team Wine and Team Beer students present and defend their beverage […]
Accessibility upgrades to the Fonthill Legion have officially been completed, with local politicians and legion members on hand for an official celebration. The project includes a fully accessible front entrance to Lloyd King Hall at Branch 613. The project was supported by $148,900 in funding from the province of Ontario, received through a capital grant […]