Artist rendering of the new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital site.
West Lincoln Memorial Hospital rebuild project one step closer to commencement
On Monday, the Request for Proposals (RFP) stage closed for teams to submit their bids to design, build and finance the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital redevelopment project.
Following the Request for Qualifications process, three teams – Amico Sacyr Alliance, EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare and Pomerleau Healthcare Partners – were shortlisted and invited to respond to a Request for Proposals in June 2021. All three teams submitted their proposals by the Jan. 10, 2022 deadline.
“Positive news and another step closer. Such an important project and redevelopment for west Niagara,” said Town of Lincoln CAO Mike Kirkopoulos via Twitter. “Massive $200M+ investment. We are growing communities.”
Over the next several months submissions will be evaluated and a successful proponent is expected to be announced in early 2022.
“The closing of the RFP means that we will have a builder for this exciting facility very soon, which is great news for a community that has been working towards this day for so long,” said Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff. “I know that we are all looking forward to the selection of the successful bidder in the coming weeks and months, as we rapidly approach the start of construction.”
Development booming in Welland
The City of Welland issued 1,108 building permits in 2021, up from only 767 in 2020. Of the over 1,100 permits issued last year, 759 were for new dwelling unit starts.
According to the city, the construction value for all 2021 buildings permits is approximately $245 million.
“What these 2021 numbers represent is a strength in the City’s economy and the confidence people have in making Welland a preferred destination for their homes and businesses,” said Grant Munday, director of planning and development services.
“We knew coming out of the pandemic that numbers would naturally increase, but the types of permits issued, especially when it comes to apartments and other options for housing, tells you where the City is heading in its growth.”
Residential growth within the city’s built-up area finished at 85 per cent, a 10 per cent increase over the previous year.
It’s anticipated growth will exceed current benchmarks in 2022.
Niagara’s top places to work: class of 2022
The 15th annual Hamilton-Niagara’s Top Employers list was released on Tuesday. A total of five employers from the Region of Niagara made the 2022 list of 20 organizations.
Niagara representatives included: Fort Erie’s Airbus Helicopters, Thorold’s Bethesda Community Services, Brock University, Durward Jones Barkwell & Company LLP, and Niagara Health.
For the annual competition, employers from Niagara, Hamilton, and Burlington are evaluated by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers using the following eight criteria: (1) Physical Workplace; (2) Work Atmosphere & Social; (3) Health, Financial & Family Benefits; (4) Vacation & Time Off; (5) Employee Communications; (6) Performance Management; (7) Training & Skills Development; and (8) Community Involvement.
Workplaces of any size, private or public, can apply for evaluation.
Province to deploy internationally trained nurses to help in pandemic response
The province is collaborating with Ontario Health and the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) to deploy internationally educated nurses to hospitals and other health care settings in need of staffing support. The nurses will work as part of a team under the supervision of a regulated health care provider, such as a registered nurse or doctor.
“Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario’s hospitals and health care providers have worked tirelessly to protect the health and safety of patients,” said Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott. “Our government has continued to make critical investments in our hospital and health workforce to ensure no resource goes untapped so that our hospitals have the staffing and resources they need to care for patients during this challenging time.”
More than 1,200 internationally educated CNO applicants have expressed interest in participating in the initiative thus far. Matching with health-care providers is expected to begin later this week, with onboarding new staff in the weeks ahead.
“More than ever, this wave of the pandemic will require us to work as a system, ensuring we utilize all of our provincial resources to meet the needs of patients,” said President and CEO of Ontario Health Matthew Anderson. “We are working closely with hospital and health care partners to maintain and protect capacity across the system.”
Quebec to tax the unvaxxed
Quebec Premier François Legault said Tuesday that the province would be imposing a health tax on residents who refuse to get their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in the coming weeks.
“We’re looking for a health contribution for adults who refuse to be vaccinated for non-medical reasons,” Legault said at a news conference.
While the premier did not give specifics in terms of amount, Legault said it would be “significant” enough to act as an incentive to get vaccinated.
“These people, they put a very important burden on our health-care network,” Legault said. “I think it’s reasonable a majority of the population is asking that there be consequences.”
Approximately 10 per cent of qualified Quebecers remain unvaccinated. According to officials, unvaccinated patients make up about half the COVID-19 hospitalizations in Quebec.
Newest cohort of Afghan refugees arrives in Canada
Earlier this week, an additional cohort of 250 Afghan refugees arrived in Canada, including 170 human rights defenders as part of the country’s human rights defenders immigration stream.
Launched in July 2021, Canada is one of the few countries in the world with a dedicated, permanent immigration program for those who protect and promote human rights in places like Afghanistan.
“It is a privilege to welcome today this cohort of Afghan refugees, who face persecution as a result of their work to protect the human rights of others,” said Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser. “Canada is one of the few countries globally with a dedicated program that provides refuge for vulnerable human rights defenders, and I am grateful for their work to document and prevent human rights abuses and proud that they now call our country home.”
In the coming days, the refugees will be welcomed into their host communities and will quarantine with the support of local service provider organizations as they begin their new lives in Canada.
So far, Canada has welcomed approximately 6,750 Afghan nationals in the wake of the Taliban’s summer takeover of Afghanistan.
Majority of Canadians want less trade with China, new survey reveals
According to a recent survey by the Angus Reid Institute, 61 per cent of Canadians believe Canada should trade less with China.
Only 24 per cent of the over 2,000 participants said China was “as good a trade partner as any”, with 15 per cent unsure either way.
Canada exported $25 billion worth of goods to China in 2020 and imported $77 billion, which taken together makes the country Canada’s second largest trading partner. However, those totals represent only five per cent of Canada’s total exports and 14 per cent of total imports last year.
By far, the United States remains Canada’s largest trading partner in terms of exports (73 per cent) and imports (49 per cent).
