Return to Sender – Region addresses funding request to Minister who resigned
One out of two ain’t bad. Niagara Regional Council had the best intentions when they requested a letter be drafted to both the Federal and Provincial Finance Ministers asking for financial support for Niagara’s hospitality, food services and tourism sectors. The problem is the Federal letter was addressed to the Hon. Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance – Mr. Morneau hasn’t been finance minister since mid-August. His very public resignation Aug. 17 made headlines across the country.
Here’s hoping that the letter isn’t returned and if it does find its way to the actual Finance Minister, she doesn’t take too much offence. Niagara’s businesses could really use the support.
Good News – Bad News on COVID front
Just as this past month was the worst on record for COVID cases in Ontario, November was also Niagara’s worst month for COVID cases. There were 706 cases identified in November which was an average of just over 23 per day. This included Niagara’s worst day ever, Nov. 10 when 63 cases were identified. However, as of Nov. 11 there were 279 active cases in Niagara, whereas as of yesterday, Dec. 2, there were only 209. By municipality there were approximately 56 in each of St. Catharines and Niagara Falls, 24 in Fort Erie and 16 in West Lincoln. Port Colborne had just one case.
On a positive note, the U.K. approved the use of the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine for use. Dissemination of the vaccine is set to begin next week. Both Pfizer and Moderna are expected to get similar approvals for use in the United States by next week.
Former GM property gets rezoned
At this week’s City of St. Catharines council meeting, and as part of the City’s official plan discussions, councillors had a number of properties in front of them for rezoning applications. The most notable piece of land was the former GM property. Council approved rezoning it from industrial to residential and mixed-use purposes hoping to have a developer build homes or commercial buildings on the site.
The property has not only been an eye-sore since the plant closed in 2010 but residents have complained about the contamination, lack of security and overall safety hazard the property poses to citizens. Former GM health and safety representative at the plant John Pula spoke at council and rattled off a long list of various pollutants that are on the site.
Niagara-on-the-Lake announces new CAO
The town of Niagara-on-the-Lake announced recently that Marnie Cluckie has been appointed to the top administrative job, effective Dec. 9. This is Cluckie’s first time as a CAO. Previously she has held roles in Halton Region and Halton Community Housing Corporation, Niagara Region, and City of Hamilton. During her time at Niagara Region Cluckie held the position of director of construction, energy and facilities management.
Compassionate Care Act becomes Law
This week, Bill 3, the Compassionate Care Act passed Third Reading unanimously in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Originally tabled in 2017, Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff’s first Private Member’s Bill will become a law upon Royal Assent. This follows the re-introduction of the bill in July 2018 during the 42nd Parliament of Ontario.
The Compassionate Care Act mandates the creation of a provincial framework to improve access to palliative care in hospitals, long-term care homes, hospices and home care. The framework will identify much-needed measures to facilitate consistent access to palliative care across Ontario, as well as supports for palliative care providers. It will also provide a necessary focus on palliative care training for health care providers and caregivers.
Niagara Health takes delivery of freezers to store COVID vaccine
Niagara Health took delivery of three large freezers earlier this week in preparation of receiving COVID-19 vaccines. Niagara Health, based on what is known of the size of the flu vaccine, are anticipating they can store between 400,000 and 500,000 doses.
The freezers are ultra low -80C freezers. Each unit is 20.4 cubic feet in size and the units are medical lab-grade freezers that stand upright. They each have back-up systems in place in the event they are needed to maintain normal operations.
Brock extends holiday break; moves back the start of winter term
Brock University announced Monday, Nov. 30 it will extend its upcoming holiday break by delaying the start of Winter Term by one week. Instead of opening on Jan. 4, the University will re-open on Jan. 6, and classes for the Winter Term will resume on Jan. 11.
The announcement was made in a letter to the Brock community from Lynn Wells, the Provost and Vice-President, Academic, who said the decision comes after two weeks of consultations with students, staff and faculty members.
COVID-19 outbreak declared over at Millennium Trail Manor
An outbreak of COVID-19 at long-term care home Millennium Trail Manor in Niagara Falls has been declared over. A facility-wide COVID-19 outbreak had been in effect at the facility since September 29.
The Ministry of Long-Term Care issued a Mandatory Management Order on October 27, appointing Niagara Health to temporarily manage the home for a period of 90 days in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19 and safely end the outbreak. A total of 32 positive cases of COVID-19 were confirmed at the home during the outbreak, including 16 residents and 16 staff. Three residents who tested positive for the virus died.
Enbridge Line 3 Pipeline linking oil sands to Midwest wins final approval
An Enbridge Inc. pipeline that will help ship more Canadian crude to the U.S. Midwest received final approval, paving the way for construction to start soon on a third key export project for the oil sands after years of delays. Minnesota approved the stormwater pollution plan for Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline replacement and expansion, the project’s last pending permit, the company said on Monday. Construction is expected to take six-to-nine months on a line that will add 370,000 barrels a day of capacity. Producers in Alberta, which holds the world’s third-largest crude reserves, have seen growth ground to a halt in recent years as a lack of enough export pipelines caused local crude prices to plummet in value. Now, three projects could allow them to ship an extra 1.8 million barrels a day when built.
