Niagara’s COVID-19 update
Niagara’s COVID case count continues to improve with the overall trend of newly reported cases heading downwards. Yesterday, there were 26 new cases. Tuesday of this week saw a low of 13 new cases while Monday’s number was 28.
According to Niagara Region Public Health’s COVID stats website, St. Catharines continues to have the most active cases with 175 but that’s down significantly from last week’s 374. Port Colborne has just four active cases.
The age group with the most cases is the 20-39 age bracket which now stands at 2,775 cases while the 40-59 age group has the second most cases at 2,192. Niagara residents under 20 years old continue to see the least infection.
Municipalities finalizing 2021 budgets
Niagara cities and towns are releasing their 2021 budgets along with their tax increases. Given the federal and provincial funding support, rate hikes have been kept at lower rates than previous years.
Niagara Falls released their budget details earlier this week which include a tax increase of 1.7 per cent. The Town of Lincoln also released their budget details. Lincoln’s tax increase is pegged at 1.75 per cent. Residents of Niagara-on-the-Lake will be facing a 2 per cent increase this year, that’s down from the whopping eight per cent NOTL residents were hit with last year.
Charges laid following largest single seizure of fentanyl in Niagara history
Since January of this year, members of the Niagara Regional Police Service Major Drug and Gang Unit, with assistance from the Intelligence Unit, have been investigating the sales of illegal drugs, in the region of Niagara. As a result of the investigation, detectives were able to identify a male suspect.
On Feb. 4, that suspect was the subject of a traffic stop by the OPP for allegedly stunting at a speed of 160 km/h in a 100km/h zone on the QEW in the Town of Lincoln. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of 1,025 fentanyl tablets, 25 grams of cocaine and $1400.00 in currency.
As a result, detectives with the Major Drug and Gang Unit, executed warrants at a residence in St. Catharines, a residence in the Town of Lincoln, and a residence in Niagara Falls.
The residence in Niagara Falls contained a massive fentanyl pill production operation. The double garage area of the residence had been extensively modified to accommodate an industrial size pill press. Due to the mass quantity of fentanyl and related materials present, the OPP’s Clandestine Lab Investigation Response Team (CLIRT) was requested to assist with the safe dismantling of the site.
Detectives seized over 400lbs of an unknown powder, 100kgs of cutting agents, 20,000 fentanyl pills, 160 grams of cocaine and $150,000 in equipment. In all, the estimated street value of the drugs seized is approximately $3.6 million, which is the largest seizure of fentanyl in Niagara history.
The illicit pills were packaged in bottles intended to look like legitimate prescription medications and posed the threat of serious harm or death. Peter Caponcini (56 years old) of St. Catharines, was arrested and charged with a number of offences.
March Break or no March Break
As COVID-19 cases across Ontario continue to trend downward there has been some discussion and debate as to whether or not the annual school March break should be cancelled to avoid travel and large gatherings that could increase the chance of the case numbers increasing again.
The province is expected to decide whether March break will be cancelled or not later this week. The Opposition is calling for the government to keep the break, however many health experts said it could lead to another spike in COVID-19 cases. Niagara’s elementary and high school students returned to the classroom this week.
Minister of Education Stephen Lecce said he’s working with the medical officer of health on the decision about March break and has promised to give parents “sufficient notice on that decision.”
Town of Lincoln exceeds $100 Million in construction value in 2020
The Town of Lincoln reported a strong 2020 with more than $103 million in construction value, despite the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since 2016, Lincoln has experienced significant growth in private sector investment and that is expected to continue with additional commercial, industrial, and residential projects in the pipeline. An ongoing economic driver for the Town continues to be permits for new construction across the municipality.
“As a municipality, Lincoln relies on development charges to help pay for new or upgraded roads, transit, water, and sewer infrastructure, community centres, and emergency service facilities. With Lincoln’s growing private sector investment, Council can continue to invest in our community,” explained Mayor Sandra Easton.
“Throughout COVID-19, we knew that moving forward, construction projects were integral for our municipality to continue down the path of economic recovery,” said the Town’s Chief Administrative Officer Michael Kirkopoulos. “We will continue to actively seek future private sector investment to help stimulate our economy and leave no stone unturned in 2021 and beyond. We continue to boast one of Niagara’s most diversified economies, and this means keeping people working.”
Request for Qualifications issued for South Niagara hospital site
The South Niagara hospital project is taking another step forward as Infrastructure Ontario and
Niagara Health start the process to find a design-build-finance-maintain team for the project.
Issuing a request for qualifications, (RFQ) is the first step in the competitive process for prospective teams to express their interest in bidding to help deliver the project. Submissions will be reviewed to shortlist three teams with the design and construction experience, as well as the financial capacity to deliver a project of this size and complexity. Shortlisted teams will then be invited to respond to request for proposals, expected to be released in fall 2021.
The new state-of-the-art facility involves the creation of Centres of Excellence in stroke, complex care, geriatric psychiatry and ageing and wellness. The project will have a senior’s focus embedded into all aspects of the design.
Annual bi-national bird festival goes virtual
A bi-national bird festival, and the only trans-boundary event of its kind in North America, will captivate audiences of all ages this weekend from Feb. 12-14. Guests from around the world are invited to participate in this virtual celebration, at no cost, from the safety and comfort of home.
Birds on the Niagara is an international partnership of organizations, agencies, and individuals, dedicated to promoting the conservation and enjoyment of the Niagara River Globally Significant Important Bird Area. The Annual Birds on the Niagara International Celebration of Winter Birds (BON21) was created to celebrate the magnificent winter presence of birds and the nature that sustains them. A number of guest speakers will be making presentations on a variety of topics.
Ontario extends Off-Peak electricity rates
The Ontario government is once again extending electricity rate relief for families, small businesses and farms to support those spending more time at home while the province maintains the Stay-at-Home Order in the majority of public health regions. The government will continue to hold electricity prices to the off-peak rate of 8.5 cents per kilowatt-hour until February 22, 2021. This lower rate is available 24 hours per day, seven days a week for Time-Of-Use and tiered customers.
