Host of CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Leonard Chan (left) and Program Coordinator of Niagara College’s Commercial Cannabis Production program, Bill Macdonald, in the Cannabunker at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. CBC filmed a segment on cannabis innovation at the college last week. Photo credit: Niagara College
Providing relief to taxpayers, Lincoln approves budget increase well-below inflation
On Nov. 10, the Town of Lincoln approved a 2.68 per cent budget increase for 2022. The rate increase is a full two points below Canada’s current inflation rate of 4.7 per cent.
“The Town of Lincoln continues to demonstrate leadership in Niagara and resilience in addressing the financial and operational challenges resulting from COVID-19,” said Mayor Sandra Easton. “While there is still a certain level of economic unpredictability throughout the world, the Town is well positioned to forge ahead on our path to building a community in which residents and businesses alike can grow and prosper.”
Ratified by town council on Monday, the 2022 capital budget is now set at $32.3 million, with an operating budget of $24.7 million.
“Town staff, through Council’s leadership, understand that it is critical for Lincoln to deliver value for money and next year’s budget is our plan to do just that, while keeping the local tax rate well below the inflation rate,” said Lincoln CAO Mike Kirkopoulos.
Niagara College cannabis program featured on CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes
Last week, comedian and host Leonard Chan and a crew from CBC filmed a segment on cannabis at Niagara College for the comedy show This Hour Has 22 Minutes.
The segment – filmed at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake – marked the three-year anniversary of cannabis legalization in Canada and aired on Tuesday, Nov. 16 on CBC Television. The video is available on CBC Gem.
While the three-minute comedy segment starred faculty and students from the Commercial Cannabis Production (CCP) program, researchers from NC’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute Innovation Centre were also interviewed about their work on cannabis edibles.
New ICU research studies at Niagara Health may help improve patient care locally and beyond
Niagara Health has two new Intensive Care Unit (ICU) research studies underway, one to better understand health outcomes for COVID-19 patients and the other to inform the development of a national strategy to expand clinical research in community hospitals in Canada. Dr. Jennifer Tsang is leading both studies and will draw on her experience as an intensivist physician who cares for critically ill patients.
“Dr. Tsang has been at the forefront of a national movement to bring more medical research into community hospital settings like Niagara Health, where most patients receive their care,” said Dr. Johan Viljoen, Chief of Staff and Vice President of Medical Affairs, and Executive Lead for Niagara Health’s Research Office. “She is uniquely positioned to lead these two new studies, having worked on the front lines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, being part of the team leading a number of COVID-19 research studies at Niagara Health.”
Niagara Health’s dedicated Research Office was established in 2015 to strengthen its research and academic partnerships and conduct research that would inform care, inspire innovation and create environments of collaborative learning.
“The research we conduct at Niagara Health has a profound impact on the health and well-being of our patients and communities,” said Dr. Tsang. “While medical research is traditionally conducted in academic hospitals that are affiliated with universities, the majority of patients in Canada receive care in community hospitals. These two research studies will build on Niagara Health’s leadership to build research capacity in a community hospital setting and ultimately benefit patients in Niagara and across Canada.”
Federal government will give update on testing requirements for cross-border travellers “very soon”
On Tuesday, Canada’s health minister Jean-Yves Duclos said that a decision regarding testing measures for people crossing the U.S.-Canada border, amongst other concerns, will come “very soon”.
As first reported by the Canadian Press, the government is not expected to simply eliminate the test requirement in one fell swoop. Rather, it is expected to phase it out gradually, starting with removing the test requirement for people who are out of the country for less than 72 hours.
Sources most recently told the Toronto Sun the announcement will come this Friday.
Trudeau in Washington for trinational meeting with Mexican and American counterparts
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, along with a handful of his top ministers, are currently in Washington D.C. for the North American Leaders’ Summit.
The North American Leaders’ Summit is a trilateral meeting between the Prime Minister of Canada, the President of Mexico, and the President of the United States to discuss shared priorities and find North American solutions to the challenges of today and tomorrow.
“Our countries are committed to providing a better future for our people, including creating more middle class jobs, building a cleaner economy and tackling climate change, and finishing the fight against COVID-19. I look forward to meeting with my counterparts to discuss a new path for our partnerships at a time when the world is facing complex global challenges,” said Trudeau.
The last time the summit took place in person was June 2016, when Canada hosted President Barack Obama and President Enrique Peña Nieto.
This Weekend Around the Region
Fort Erie Santa Claus Parade
After a year hiatus, one of Niagara’s premier Santa Claus parades is back! Travelling an altered route from the corner of Lewis and Jennet down to Gilmore, traversing Central Avenue, and finishing at Jarvis Street, the 2021 Fort Erie Santa Claus Parade will feature dozens of floats, marching bands, and more.
Families can come out to the post office on Jarvis an hour before the parade to enjoy hot cocoa and treats, drop off letters to Santa, and take photos with the big man!
When: Saturday, Nov. 20, 5:00pm
Where: Bridgeburg District, Fort Erie
For more information, go to the parade’s Facebook page here.
Annual Poinsettia Show
Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Niagara Parks’ Floral Showhouse, this year’s Poinsettia Show features traditional holiday landscapes with modern touches of brilliant colours and lights that will leave you feeling energized.
Step into the holiday season with this spectacular display of over 1,400 festive poinsettias, highlighted by a beautiful assortment of cyclamens, amaryllis, and orchids that perfectly capture Niagara’s holiday spirit.
When: Nov. 20 – Jan. 9, 2021
Where: Floral Showhouse, Niagara Falls
To preview the displays and purchase tickets go to the Niagara Parks’ website here.
