Niagara Parks’ Floral Showhouse. The showhouse is currently celebrating its 75th anniversary. Right now until Nov. 14, visitors can experience the site’s annual chrysanthemum display in all its orange, purple, peach and pink splendor. Photo credit: Niagara Parks
Pair of Niagara MPs call on Regional Council to declare mental health state of emergency
On Tuesday, Conservative MP for Niagara Falls Tony Baldinelli and Conservative MP for Niagara West Dean Allison issued a joint letter to Chair Jim Bradley and Regional Council asking that the municipal government support Councillor Dave Bylsma’s motion – to be presented at council tonight – to declare a regionwide state of emergency on mental health, homelessness, and addiction.
“It is apparent…the pandemic has negatively impacted each and every resident across the region in one way or another. Illness, fatigued front line workers, unprecedented job losses and skyrocketing inflation have all taken a tremendous toll,” read the letter.
“Parliament resumes at the end of November and this declaration of a mental health state of emergency in Niagara, would be a helpful tool for us to convey the urgency and advocate for funding increases, more support and decreased waiting lists for Niagara. We will also continue to call on the government to move forward with establishing a three-digit suicide prevention hotline that was brought forward last year by one of our colleagues and unanimously supported.”
Bylsma’s motion was developed in partnership with Welland mental health advocate Steven Soos. Eleven of Niagara’s 12 lower-tier municipalities have already supported the move to declare a state of emergency.
Welland sets timeline, invites public to provide input for 2022 budget
At its mid-October meeting on Tuesday, Welland City Council approved the timeline to discuss and gather public input on the city’s 2022 operating, capital, and water and wastewater budgets.
Council provided staff directions for preparing the 2022 budget, which included such tasks as targeting a zero per cent tax increase after assessment and growth and preparing a capital budget and forecast for 2022-2031, ensuring that all 10 years of the capital forecast be fully funded.
“From my perspective, the city’s budget is vital to our citizens; it provides the funding to support all strategic community priorities, service delivery, and programming our citizens depend on,” said David McLeod, Ward Two councillor and budget review committee chair.
“A progressive budget must focus on operational efficiencies while at the same time not ignoring past or present challenges. Furthermore, our community expects that we continue to invest in our city’s long-term collective prosperity. It is my belief that the public’s input helps the budget committee hear viewpoints directly from citizens and ensures we deliver a responsive budget on behalf of those we serve.”
Residents can voice their opinion by going to the city’s ‘Budget Talks’ page here.
St. Catharines makes 2021 list of Ontario’s 25 ‘rattiest’ cities
In Orkin Canada’s annual list of the province’s ‘rattiest’ cities, St. Catharines once again cracked the top 25, coming in at number 23.
Cities are ranked by the number of rodent treatments Orkin performed from August 1, 2020 through July 31, 2021. The ranking includes both residential and commercial treatments. The top five cities were Toronto, Mississauga, Scarborough, Ottawa, and North York.
St. Catharines ranked 23 last year as well. Niagara Falls made the 2020 installment at 24, but subsequently made positive strides at rodent reduction and dropped off the list for this year.
To help residents with the costs of rat removal, the City of St. Catharines introduced a rebate program in 2018. Per the City’s website, residents can receive up to 50 per cent (to a maximum of $200) for the cost of the services of a licenced Ontario exterminator to assist with the removal of rats from the exterior of a residential property.
Ontario looks to introduce legislation granting delivery workers greater access to washrooms while on the job
On Wednesday, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton announced the Ontario government intends to introduce legislation that, if passed, would allow delivery workers access to company washrooms at businesses where they are delivering or picking up items.
Consultations conducted by the Ontario Workforce Recovery Advisory Committee have indicated that couriers, truck drivers, and people who deliver food are often denied use of a washroom at businesses they serve.
“This is something most people in Ontario take for granted but access to washrooms is a matter of common decency currently being denied to hundreds of thousands of workers in this province,” said Minister McNaughton. “Workers who deliver and pick up goods have been on the frontlines of the pandemic, ensuring that essential supplies continue to reach the people of Ontario. Providing these hardworking men and women with access to washrooms is a small change that will make a big difference, so they can do their jobs with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
The proposed new measures are not applicable to businesses that they are not delivering or picking up items from, or to private residences.
Inflation increases at fastest rate in nearly two decades
Worsened by continued supply chain bottlenecks around the world, inflation once again exceeded the Bank of Canada’s control range.
According to Statistics Canada, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 4.4 per cent on a year-over-year basis in September, the fastest pace since February 2003 and up from a 4.1 per cent gain in August.
Prices rose year-over-year in every major component, with transportation prices (+9.1 per cent) contributing the most to the all-items increase. Higher shelter (+4.8 per cent) and food prices (+3.9 per cent) also contributed to the growth in the all-items CPI for September.
Prices at the gas pump rose 32.8 per cent compared with September last year. Per Statistics Canada, the contributors to the year-over-year gain include lower price levels in 2020 and reduced crude output by major oil-producing countries compared with pre-pandemic levels.
Significant percentage of Canadians think it’s time for feds to end emergency benefit programs
With five of Canada’s pandemic-related emergency benefits programs scheduled to end on Saturday, the Trudeau government will be weighing the voices of those advocating for more extensions and those who are ready to see such benefits end – either immediately or in the near term.
A recent study conducted by the Angus Reid Institute between Sept. 29 and Oct. 3, 2021 found that two-in-five Canadians (41 per cent) say now is the time for such programs to come to an end – including almost three-in-ten (29 per cent) who received benefits themselves.
A further 16 per cent say the end of the year represents an ideal period to ease off emergency benefits.
Overall, two-thirds of Canadians say the programs should not be extended past June of 2022. The remaining one-third are split between keeping benefits in place until the crisis is deemed to be over (25 per cent) and maintaining them for an additional year, post-pandemic (9 per cent).
The survey was conducted online and measured a sample of 5,011 Canadian adults.
This Weekend Around the Region
Flint Knapping Demonstration for International Archaeology Day
This Saturday is International Archaeology Day. To mark the occasion, local expert Dan Long will teach the Brock and wider Niagara community all about the art and science of flint knapping.
“Dan, as a local flint knapper, will provide an interactive experience that will help those who attend better understand this ancient technology as well as how our local geology has been used to create useful tools in the past,” said archaeologist and Brock classics professor Angus Smith, organizer of the event. “He makes beautiful objects like arrowheads that mimic forms made by Indigenous cultures and are works of art in their own right.”
Long has been knapping since 1990 using local southern Ontario Onondaga chert, a type of stone used for tools in this area during prehistoric times.
The flint knapping demonstration is free and suitable for all ages. It will be held outside of Brock’s International Centre.
When: Saturday, Oct. 23, 3:00pm
Where: Brock University, St. Catharines
Registration is required as part of COVID-19 protocols.
Handmade Harvest Festival
Presented by Sunstone Jewels and the Handmade Burrow, the 2021 Handmade Harvest Festival offers patrons the chance to shop local artisans amidst the beautiful backdrop of Rockway Vineyards.
Outside vendors are open to anyone to browse. A $2 donation gets you inside to browse more vendors and access wine samples, raffle draws, and the onsite restaurant. Proof of vaccination is required to go inside.
All proceeds go to the Lincoln Humane Society.
When: Saturday, Oct. 23, 10:00am-4:00pm
Where: Rockway Vineyards, Lincoln
Pre-register for indoor access to the event here.
Annual Chrysanthemum Show
The Floral Showhouse has once again transformed into a lush fall paradise as cascading chrysanthemum blooms adorn every corner of its showrooms. An iconic favorite, the Chrysanthemum Show is Niagara Parks’ longest running exhibit, reaching back to its first showing on November 4, 1946. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Floral Showhouse.
To celebrate many years of success, the Parks’ horticulture team has designed a display inspired by the harvest glory found in the abundant blooms of chrysanthemum.
The design in the first house highlights fall traditions and is rich with bursts of pink and orange; the second house is a dramatic display accented in shades of yellow, purple and orange. The showstopper in this year’s show is a stunning chrysanthemum tree set against the backdrop of the Floral Showhouse’s moon gate.
When: Now – Nov. 14
Where: Floral Showhouse, Niagara Falls
For more details, head over to the Niagara Parks’ website here.
