Province declares second provincial emergency
In response to a doubling in COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks, the potential collapse of the province’s hospital system and alarming risks posed to long-term care homes as a result of high COVID-19 transmission rates, the Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts, declared a second provincial emergency that goes into effect today.
The government is issuing a stay-at-home order requiring everyone to remain at home with exceptions for permitted purposes or activities, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services, for exercise or for work where the work cannot be done remotely.
Restrictions include:
- Outdoor organized public gatherings and social gatherings are further restricted to a limit of five people with limited exceptions. This is consistent with the rules during the lockdown during the first wave of COVID-19 in spring 2020 and will allow individuals and families to enjoy time outdoors safely.
- Individuals are required to wear a mask or face covering in the indoor areas of businesses or organizations that are open. Wearing a mask or face covering is now recommended outdoors when you can’t physically distance more than two metres.
- All non-essential retail stores, including hardware stores, alcohol retailers, and those offering curbside pickup or delivery, must open no earlier than 7 a.m. and close no later than 8 p.m. The restricted hours of operation do not apply to stores that primarily sell food, pharmacies, gas stations, convenience stores, and restaurants for takeout or delivery.
- Non-essential construction is further restricted, including below-grade construction, exempting survey.
Niagara’s COVID fight gets shot in the arm with first vaccination
A personal support worker (PSW) was the first person to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in Niagara. Faber Baquero is a PSW at Linhaven in St. Catharines where he’s worked for 13 years. Baquero received the vaccination yesterday morning.
The vaccines arrived in Niagara Tuesday. Health care workers, long-term care residents, and essential caregivers are the priority. However, news went from celebratory to frustration when Niagara’s top doctors released a statement expressing their anger over the province’s decision to reroute a shipment of the Moderna vaccine that was originally destined for Niagara. “We can administer vaccines as quickly as they are provided. Volunteers are lining up to support this initiative. All we need are vaccines.”
Niagara’s positive daily case counts continue to remain high with 190 cases reported yesterday. There are 47 active outbreaks and 205 people in Niagara have died due to the virus.
School board purchases land in Niagara Falls for new build
The District School Board of Niagara (DSBN), with approval from the Ministry of Education, has purchased land in Niagara Falls to support a future elementary school. The new school would be in the southern end of the city, near McLeod and Kalar Road.
The purchase is expected to close next month. The DSBN said it purchased the property as a proactive response to the growth in this area of Niagara Falls. The new school will offset enrollment pressures on Kate S. Durdan Public School, as well as accommodate the growth that will occur due to a housing development planned for that area.
DSBN will seek funding and approval from the Ministry of Education for a new elementary school build this year.
Niagara Falls MP launches petition for federal tourism recovery strategy
Niagara Falls MP Tony Baldinelli recently sponsored an electronic petition that calls upon the Government of Canada to present a tourism recovery plan on or before the 2021 federal budget.
Baldinelli says that as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the local and national travel and tourism industry has been tremendously impacted over the past 10 months. Before this pandemic, nearly one in 10 Canadians worked in our travel and tourism industry. Baldinelli is calling for a “timely made-in-Canada tourism recovery plan” to save travel and tourism jobs, businesses, and industry.
Former Niagara-on-the-Lake Hydro VP arrested for fraud
In September of 2020, Niagara Falls uniform officers began an investigation into an allegation of fraud by an employee of Niagara-on-the Lake Hydro. The investigation was assigned to detectives from the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Central Fraud Unit.
Detectives determined that the fraud occurred between March 2019 and July 2020 for an amount in excess of $425,000. The employee, Kazi Marouf held the position of Vice President of Operations at the time of the offence.
On January 12, 2020, detectives arrested and charged Marouf of Fort Erie. Marouf is scheduled to appear at the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines on March 22, 2021.
At the time of his arrest, Marouf had returned in excess of $400,000 to Niagara-on-the-Lake Hydro.
Trudeau’s cabinet shuffle signals possible election this year
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to shuffle his cabinet is a strong signal that he could soon call an election. The PM rearranged his top cabinet ministers Tuesday when a key minister announced he is stepping down because he won’t be running in the next election.
Trudeau’s approval rating saw a significant boost last year after his government handed out some of the world’s most generous COVID-19 support programs to keep Canada’s economy afloat. That presents a window of opportunity for the Liberals to try to win back their majority in the first half of 2021.
President Trump impeached again
U.S. President Donald Trump was impeached for second time yesterday. The impeachment movement stemmed from the deadly mob siege of the Capitol.
With the Capitol secured by armed National Guard troops inside and out, the House voted 232-197 to impeach Trump. Ten Republicans voted to impeach the President. The process moved quickly as the vote took place less than a week from when the Capitol was stormed by Trump supporters who were furious over what they claim was a rigged election.
