Author Archives: dougdraper

Town of Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop

“Residents should recognize these actions as band-aid solutions to serious health care deficiencies that could be construed as an effort by Niagara Health to socialize our communities to the eventual planned removal of the UCCs from Fort Erie and Port Colborne.”                                           – Wayne Redekop, Mayor of the Town of Fort Erie

News from the Town of Fort Erie in Niagara, Ontario

Posted July 2nd, 2025 on Niagara At Large

FORT ERIE, Ontario — The Town of Fort Erie acknowledges Niagara Health’s recent efforts to partially reinstate hours of operation at the Urgent Care Centres (UCCs) in Fort Erie and Port Colborne on select dates previously marked for closure, including the July 1 and Labour Day weekend holidays.

View the revised Niagara Health UCC Summer Schedule

While these restored dates are appreciated, both communities remain without urgent care services for approximately a dozen days each during the peak of the summer season, when the need for health care is most critical due to increased tourism activity. Continue reading →

“Receiving Stroke Distinction is a proud moment for our organization and a testament to the expertise, dedication and collaboration of our stroke team.”                                                               – Heather Paterson, Niagara Health’s Executive Vice President, Clinical Operations

News from Niagara Health, the amalgamated system for hospital services across the Niagara region

Posted July 3rd, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – Niagara Falls Hospital has earned national recognition for its exceptional stroke care, receiving the Stroke Distinction from Accreditation Canada.

This recognition follows an intensive on-site survey in May, where Accreditation Canada surveyors evaluated Niagara Health’s acute stroke program against national standards.

The achievement confirms that patients at Niagara Falls Hospital are receiving high-quality stroke care throughout the stroke journey – from prevention and emergency treatment to community reintegration and support after discharge.

Stroke Distinction reflects the dedicated Niagara Health teams working across the full continuum of stroke care to improve outcomes and help patients recover and return to their lives. Continue reading →

A News Release from the City of St. Catharines

Posted July 3rd, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – St. Catharines Fire Services community event Hot Summer Nights returns next week for its fourth year of sizzling summer sprinkler fun and fire safety training.

Throughout the summer, St. Catharines Fire Services’ ladder trucks and dedicated fire prevention team will be visiting a different city park every Wednesday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., transforming their vehicles into giant sprinklers. Continue reading →

A Statement by Prime Minister Carney on Canada Day

Posted Canada Day, July 1^st, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Prime Minister Mark Carney

 “One hundred and fifty-eight years ago, a few provinces bet on the idea that they’d be stronger together than they ever could be apart. They were right, and so they became a new federation that’s now grown into our strong, bilingual, multicultural, and ambitious country.

“Our story didn’t begin at Confederation. For thousands of years, Indigenous Peoples have called this land home, and our country’s next chapter will be written together in true partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.

“Our shared history has been marked by inflection points. Moments where Canada has had to step up – on the battlefield of Vimy, on the beaches of Normandy, in the homes of Gander after 9/11.

“Now, we face another such moment. The world is changing. Old friendships are fraying, our economy is being buffeted by a trade crisis, and our values are being tested by attacks on democracy and freedoms.

Continue reading →

“The tariffs are on, but we cannot break,                                             We must rise together, for Canada’s sake.                                        This truth-less aggression, we find ourselves in,                               Fueled only by lies, it’s a fight we will win.                                          So take a deep breath, you are not alone,                                            We will stand together, because Canada’s home.”                                   – from the song Canada’s Home, with lyrics by Brad Grant

A Commentary for Our Canada by Niagara At Large reporter/publisher Doug Draper

Posted June 27th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Many of you in Niagara may remember ‘The Friendship Festival’ that was held each year over Canada Day and Fourth of July in Fort Erie, Ontario and Buffalo, N.Y.

The days-long festival’s concerts, fireworks and other activities were billed as a celebration of the friendship between Canada and the United States going back more than a hundred years.

The first festival was held in 1987 and the last in 2019 – a 32-year run that ended in 2020 with the onset of the COVID pandemic. It never resumed after the worst of the pandemic was over which, as it turns out, is just as well since Trump has turned that friendship between the two countries upside down with his tariff war and threats against Canada’s sovereignty. Continue reading →

“At a time when President Trump has threatened to tear up Great Lakes agreements and gut the agencies responsible for scientific research and environmental restoration, Canada cannot allow the future of Lake Erie to get any murkier. Our governments have a critical role to play in ensuring any progress is sustained.”

A Statement by Environmental Defence’s Ashley Wallis, Associate Director, on the NOAA’s 2025 Lake Erie HAB (Harmful Algal Bloom) Forecast

Posted June 27^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

The Lake Erie shoreline in the Fort Erie, Ontario area. file photo by Doug Draper

Toronto – After years of thick, green slime, Lake Erie is showing small signs of recovery. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) annual Lake Erie harmful algal bloom (HAB) forecast suggests progress toward a healthier Lake Erie. 

The good news is, less nutrient pollution is entering the lake, and since 2020, the algal blooms have been less severe. Continue reading →

“We’re committed to delivering the best possible service to Niagara’s communities. Partnering with Optibus will introduce optimization technologies that support our mission to ensure everyone has access to safe, reliable, and affordable transit — while keeping our operations sustainable and responsive to evolving passenger needs as we grow.”                                                   –  Carla Stout, General Manager, Niagara Transit

News from Niagara Transit in Niagara, Ontario

Posted June 27^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

NIAGARA REGION, ONTARIO – Niagara Transit and Optibus announced (this June 24^th) their partnership to enhance public transit across Ontario’s Niagara region.

Through this collaboration, Niagara Transit will implement Optibus Planning, Scheduling, Rostering, Operations, and Driver App to boost service and operational efficiency and improve the driver and passenger experience. Continue reading →

A Statement from the Green Party of Ontario

Posted June 26^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

This week, Premier Doug Ford announced a $400 million taxpayer-funded parking garage at Ontario Place right where 850 mature trees once stood.

At the same time, housing starts in Ontario have hit their lowest point in 15 years. Families, seniors, and young people are being priced out of their communities, watching the dream of home ownership slip away. Continue reading →

Five Concerts Run July 10 to Aug. 14 At Montebello Park

News from the City of St. Catharines in Niagara, Ontario

Posted June 2oth, 2025 on Niagara At Large

The City’s free outdoor Concerts in the Park returns this summer to Montebello Park featuring performers from diverse music genres.

An old favourite is back – LTM Connection

This year’s concert series features local and touring Canadian musicians, including headliners LMT Connection, Beatlejuice, Sarah Jerrom, Benjamin Dakota Rogers, and Shania Twink.

Openers this year include Feverish Lemons, Nick Braun, Sleepy Jean and Donny Crosswell. Continue reading →

Funding Announcement in St. Catharines Includes $15 Million Grant Program to Help Provincial Shipbuilders Meet Canada’s Defense Needs

A News Release from the Constituency Office of Niagara West Ford Government MPP Sam Oosterhoff

Posted June 26^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

ST. CATHARINES, Ontario – The Ontario government is investing $215 million to support shipbuilding and the broader marine sector in the province, including through the establishment of a $15 million Ontario Shipbuilding Grant Program to expand the province’s shipbuilding sector.

The support provided through the Ontario Shipbuilding Grant Program will ensure Ontario is positioned to support Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy and support Ontario manufacturing businesses and workers in the face of American tariffs and economic uncertainty.

The Ontario Shipbuilding Grant Program will fund projects that support skills training, infrastructure improvements and the purchase of machinery and equipment in the shipbuilding sector. Continue reading →

“Misinformation is targeted and intentional: Political leaders, civil servants, and regulatory agencies are key targets in efforts to delay climate policy.”

News from the International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE)

Posted June 25^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

A Brief Foreword by Doug Draper at Niagara At Large – I am posting what I believe is this very timely and important report because at a time of growing climate crisis there continues to be individuals and groups spreading misinformation about climate change that is compromising governments’ will to take action here in Niagara, as well as across the province and country.

Just to cite one example, last year, a delegation of area residents peddling misinformation about the impact human activities have on climate change successfully convinced the city council in the Niagara municipality of Thorold to pull out of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Partners for Climate Protection Program, which exists for municipalities to share information on what can be done to help address the impacts of extreme heat and other climate-related events on the lives of their citizens. (for more on this from 50By30 Niagara, click on – https://50by30niagara.org/Thoroldx.pdf .)

With that, here is the News from the International Panel on the Information Environment –

Zürich, Switzerland – The International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE) has released a landmark assessment revealing the greatest barrier to climate action may not be a lack of scientific knowledge, but the global spread of misinformation that targets public trust and political will. Continue reading →

An Invite to All from Ontario Nature, a province-wide citizen advocacy group for protecting and preserving our natural heritage

Posted June 25^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Join us on Wednesday, July 9th from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., to learn about the implications of Bill 5.

The sweeping bill  amends several pieces of legislation and creates new laws. Most significantly it eliminates the Endangered Species Act and replaces it with a much weaker and performative Species Conservation Act.

It also creates the Special Economic Zones Act, which allows Cabinet to exempt projects from all provincial laws, regulations and municipal bylaws with no guardrails or criteria.

At this free webinar, we will discuss how we can collectively get Bill 5 overturned now that it passed on June 4, 2025. You will hear from:

Continue reading →

A News Release from the Constituency Offices of Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates and St. Catharines NDP MPP Jennie Stevens

Posted June 24^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara Falls MP Wayne Gates and St. Catharines MP Jennie Stevens

NIAGARA, Ontario — NDP MPPs Wayne Gates (Niagara Falls) and Jennie Stevens (St. Catharines) are calling on the Ford government to immediately halt the expansion of private, for-profit health care in Ontario following a new report showing Niagara is being hit harder than almost anywhere else in the province.

“I stood up against Bill 60 from the start because I knew it would hurt our hospitals,” said Gates.

“Niagara’s getting hit hard — while urgent care centres in Fort Erie and Port Colborne shut down, ER wait times are too high, while public hospitals have lost staff to private clinics. Healthcare costs and wait times are being unfairly shifted onto patients, especially seniors on fixed incomes, who need it most.” 

Continue reading →

On Friday, June 20^th, Bill C-5 passed in the House of Commons

“While Greens, Indigenous leaders, environmental organizations, and legal experts sounded the alarm on C-5, the Liberals and Conservatives closed ranks. They rushed through a bill that makes it easier to ignore public input and harm the environment.”

A Statement from the Green Party of Canada

Posted June 24^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Many progressive voters hoped that Mark Carney would respect the fact that it was their support, not a surge in Liberal enthusiasm, that put him in office. But C-5 makes clear who this government is listening to: the same corporate interests that have always had the ear of both red and blue.

This is what happens under First Past the Post. When parties know they can win power with far less than 50 percent of the vote, they don’t have to listen to you. And they certainly don’t have to govern like they earned your trust. Continue reading →

You Are Invited To A Panel Discussion – Bills 5 And 17 Are The Law. What Now?

Scheduled for Monday, June 23. 7:30 p.m. at the Simpson Room, Community Centre <https://maps.app.goo.gl/j2nixvqrCW5doo158> , 14 Anderson Lane, Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Organized by Seniors for Climate in Niagara

Posted June 22^nd, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Join Seniors for Climate in Niagara <https://www.facebook.com/groups/1272850327219480> for a panel discussion on the realities of Bills 5 and 17 now they’ve become law, and what the next steps open to us might be. Continue reading →

“When heat comes, it’s invisible. It doesn’t bend tree branches or blow hair across your face to let you know it’s arrived…. The sun feels like the barrel of a gun pointed at you.”                                        – Jeff Goodell, author of the 2023 best-selling book ‘The Heat Will Kill You First’

Posted by Niagara At Large reporter/publisher Doug Draper on June 6th, 2025, a day that is breaking records for extreme heat and humidity

New York Times best-selling journalist Jeff Goodell presents a “masterful, bracing” (David Wallace-Wells) examination of the impact that temperature rise will have on our lives and on our planet, offering a vital new perspective on where we are headed, how we can prepare, and what is at stake if we fail to act. Continue reading →

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney

“The passing of Bill C-5, One Canadian Economy Act, will remove trade barriers, expedite nation-building projects, and unleash economic growth, with Indigenous partnership at the centre of this growth. It’s time to build big, build bold, and build now. As Canadians, we can give ourselves more than any foreign nation can ever take away.”                                                                                  – Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada

“Indigenous Peoples’ voices are at the table where discussions are happening, and decisions are made. This government understands that Indigenous Peoples have the right to determine their future. As the first Indigenous Minister of Indigenous Services, I understand the importance of relationship moving forward – and I am pleased to see the Prime Minister has determined this as a priority and a critical part of the work ahead.”                                                                                                                – Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services

News from the Office of Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney

Posted June 23^rd, 2025 on Niagara At Large

A computerized rendition of some of Canada’s finest chasing trump out of our country

(A Brief Forward Note from Doug Draper at Niagara At Large – If this legislation works and trade barriers between all of Canada’s provinces and terrorities are at long last broken down, it will be the beginning of building an economy east and west, and the beginning of the end of a north-south trade relationship that has made our country so vulnerable to the likes of Trump.

This, along with building stronger trading relationships with more friendly and reliable countries in Europe and elsewhere around the world,  may deliver us to a day – the sooner, the better – when we can tell Trump and his MAGA army to take their trade war and shove it.)

Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s new government has a mandate to build big, build bold, and build now. This June 20th, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, welcomed the passing in the House of Commons of Bill C-5, One Canadian Economy Act. Continue reading →

Bill 5 will have profound consequences for Ontarians and the natural world around us. Without essential safeguards, the fresh water we drink and the clean air we breathe are at risk. If biodiversity – like bees and other native pollinators – continue to decline, our entire food system will be threatened.

A Call-Out to All of Us from Ontario Nature, one of the province’s major citizen voices for protecting and preserving our natural heritage for present and future generations

Posted June 23^rd, 2025 on Niagara At Large

On June 5, 2025, despite widespread opposition from Indigenous leaders, environmentalists, civil liberty organisations and labour groups, the Ford Government of Ontario passed Bill 5, Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025.

This disastrous legislation scraps the Endangered Species Act, creates lawless “special economic zones” for developers to exploit and undermines the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Continue reading →

“These companies have no intention of using their record profits to cut (carbon) emissions and they’re not serious about climate action.”

A Statement from Canadians for Tax Fairness (C4TF), a non-profit, non-partisan organization that advocates for fair and progressive tax policies, aimed at building a strong and sustainable economy, reducing inequalities, and funding quality public services

Posted June 23^rd, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Wildfires are raging across the Prairies. Families are evacuating, communities are choking on smoke, and emergency services are stretched thin.

Meanwhile, Canada’s oil and gas CEOs, whose industry is fueling this crisis, are sitting on record profits and raking in billions in tax breaks. As we revealed last year, [from 2010 to 2022, the oil and gas sector received $248 billion in federal and provincial tax deductions, plus $16.6 billion in refundable tax credits](https://www.taxfairness.ca/civicrm/mailing/url?u=7393&qid=2006759).

That’s money that should be fighting the climate crisis, not worsening it.

Continue reading →

A Severe Heath Alert Warning from Environment Canada & Canada’s Weather Network

Posted June 21^st, 2025 on Niagara At Large

The first significant heat event of the season with dangerously hot and humid conditions will begin Sunday afternoon and is expected to continue into the week.

Continue reading →

Posted by Doug Draper on Niagara At Large

June 20^th, 2025 -First Official Day of Summer

I’m sure that right about now we could all use a song  that lifts our spirits and replaces whatever worries we may have about the world around us with a bit of joy.

Here is one of my favourites, written by Sly Stone, who went to Rock & Roll Heaven Heaven earlier this June, and who founded one of the greatest funk bands of all time – Sly & The Family Stone.

To hear the song with an accompanying video for summer, click on the screen immediately below and crank it up –

Go outdoors and enjoy the wonders of nature, and  have some fun this summer! But don’t forget to visit Niagara At Large at niagaraatlarge.com and encourage everyone you know to do the same. I will be back next week with a commentary about the disgraceful treatment of five Niagara women at a recent Niagara Falls council meeting and other news.

• Doug Draper, Niagara At Large

NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views O This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below.

“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders

“You open the beaches on the 4th of July, it’s like ringing the dinner bell for Christ’s sakes.”

“You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”

• Some memorable lines from the movie Jaws

A Brief Ode To A Movie By Doug Draper

Posted June 20^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

An image of original movie poster

The closest I came to thinking I was going to drown was 50 years ago on a warm sunny day in the summer of 1975.

The waters off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where I was staying at the time, were fluorescent blue and I decided to take a quick swim across a narrow inlet between two spits of sandy beach along the Atlantic Ocean.

Everything was fine and then, suddenly, half way across I heard that pulsating soundtrack in that movie I recently say and I became almost paralyzed with fear that I was going to be attacked by a shark. Had it not been for a nearby wooden pole holding up a nearby wooden bridge that I managed to cling to until I shook off the fear, they might have been fishing my body out of the water. Continue reading →

Carla Stout, General Manager, Niagara Transit Commission

“Transit is the connective tissue that drives our economy, reduces gridlock, supports affordability, enables health and social well-being, and moves us towards our climate sustainability goals. We all have a stake in transit and I’m looking forward to working together to making this plan a reality in the coming years.”                                                – Carla Stout, General Manager, Niagara Transit Commission

News from the Niagara Region Transit Commission

Posted June 19th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara Region, Ontario –– The Niagara Transit Commission Board has approved the Niagara Transit Master Plan 10-Year Investment and Growth Strategy (2026-2035) in principle. This plan provides a comprehensive playbook for the future of public transit in Niagara.

Grounded in community feedback, data analysis and best practices, the Transit Master Plan identifies priority investments in service enhancement and infrastructure. Continue reading →

Mishka Balsom, CEO, Greater Niagara Chamber 0f Commerce

“Once again, we are honoured and humbled to present these awards to truly outstanding and deserving organizations and people in our community. Our judges gave awards to businesses large and small, old and new, people at the start of their careers and people being recognized for a lifetime of work. What they all share is dedication to their craft and a spirit of community, and we’re fortunate to have them all in Niagara.”                                                                                                        – Mishka Balsom, CEO, Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce.

News from the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce

Posted June 19^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – Niagara’s business community gathered on June 18th to celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of organizations and individuals across the Niagara region.

More than 350 people attended the 2025 Niagara Business Achievement Awards at the Holiday Inn & Suites Conference Centre in St. Catharines, presented by RBC.

The 2025 recipients are:

Continue reading →

A Statement on the G7 Kananaskis Wildfire Charter from Environmental Defence Canada

Posted June 19^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Statement by Stephen Legault, Senior Program Manager, Alberta Climate following the close of the G7 meeting held in Kananaskis, Alberta between June 15- 17th

The Kananaskis Wildlife Charter, released on June 17th by the leaders of the G7, misses the most important, and most controversial point, about wildfires around the globe: that increasingly they are made so much more frequent and dangerous to human life and infrastructure by climate change. 

To have a serious conversation about wildfire necessitates a discussion about climate change. It is disappointing that no mention of climate was included in the wildfire charter.  Continue reading →

“(Ontario Premier) Doug Ford made a joke out of emergency room closures, but here in Niagara, no one is laughing.”

A Message to the Doug Ford & his Government from Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates, St. Catharines NDP MPP Jennie Stevens and Niagara Centre NDP MPP Jeff Burch

Posted June 18^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

NIAGARA, Ontario — NDP MPPs Wayne Gates (Niagara Falls), Jennie Stevens (St. Catharines), and Jeff Burch (Niagara Centre), are demanding the Ford government immediately reverse its decision to reduce hours at urgent care centres (UCCs) in Fort Erie and Port Colborne this summer, following Premier Doug Ford’s insensitive response that turned a regional health care crisis into a punchline.

From lett, Niagara MPPs Jeff Burch, Wayne Gates and Jennie Stevens

In a press conference (in Niagara) this June 18th, Doug Ford responded to growing concerns about the cuts to urgent care by saying “I’m sorry if they have to close for one day during the Summer” downplaying a decision that’s already pushing emergency rooms in surrounding areas to the brink of exhaustion.

“No, Premier Ford — this doesn’t ‘just happen every summer. Fort Erie has close to 40,000 residents that need healthcare,” said Gates. “Let’s be clear: Doug Ford has been Premier for seven years. This crisis didn’t come out of nowhere, the Premier needs to take immediate action to restore 24/7/365 services at Douglas Memorial — Fort Erie deserves nothing less.” Continue reading →

Mayors of those municipalities say funding will help build more affordable housing

Posted June 18^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

A News Release from the Ford Government, June 18th, 2025

Ontario Rewards St. Catharines, Niagara Falls And Welland With $6.8 Million From The Building Faster Fund

Second round of funding rewards Niagara Region cities for progress toward housing targets

St. CATHARINES, Ontario — The Ontario government is awarding a combined total of nearly $6.8 million to the cities of St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Welland through the second round of the Building Faster Fund, which provides funding to municipalities that achieve at least 80 per cent of their provincially designated housing targets. St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Welland broke ground on nearly 2,000 new homes in 2024. Continue reading →

A Statement from Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, and Other Leaders coming out of this week’s G7 Summit in Alberta, Canada

Posted June 18^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

A Brief Foreword from Niagara At Large reporter/publisher Doug Draper – The statement that follows is okay as far as it goes but what is both disappointing and astonishing is that it does not make one direct reference to carbon emissions or climate change.

This after scientists around the world have been warning for decades that the continued burning of fossil fuels and resulting  build up of carbon in the earth’s atmosphere is a recipe for severe heat, drought and windstorms that fuel  wildfires that are now causing more destruction to communities and to woodlands that are home to a host of living creatures that share this earth with us every year..

It is hard not to conclude that crass backdoor politics and lobbying by special interests in the oil and gas industry are responsible for this omission.

Whatever the reason, here we are in the third decade of the 21st Century, with a climate emergency that is now worsening by the year, and we still don’t have enough politicians paying much more than lip-service to what counctless experts around the world are calling an “existential threat” to our very survival.

Now here is the Statement from the Leaders –

A Statement from the G7 Leaders, plus the Leaders of Australia, India, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, and South Africa – 

Kananaskis, Alberta – We, the Leaders of the G7, are deeply concerned that the world has experienced record-breaking wildfires across every forested continent over the past decade, often overwhelming available national resources and requiring governments to request assistance from other countries. Continue reading →

Province Expanding Grape Varieties for Vintners Quality Alliance Certified Wine

News from the Constituency Office of Niagara West MPP & Ford Government representative Sam Oosterhoff

Posted June 18^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

BEAMSVILLE – The Ontario government is supporting grape growers and wineries by adding twenty-four new grape varieties to Vintners Quality Alliance certified wine. 

These new grapes were approved because of the high quality of wines they produce, their resistance to extreme temperatures and their lower dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

“Today’s news means more jobs and bigger paycheques in Ontario’s growing grape and wine sector,” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West. Continue reading →

A Message  from the Green Party of Ontario

Posted June 18th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Last week, Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner released a damning new report that outlines just how far Doug Ford went to hide the truth about his corrupt Greenbelt land deals.

To keep Ontarians in the dark, Ford’s team used personal email accounts, secret code words, and deleted public records to conceal backroom deals with wealthy insiders. Continue reading →

An Open Letter To St. Catharines Liberal MP Chris Bittle From St. Catharines Regional Councillor Haley Bateman

Posted June 17^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Re: Request for Action Regarding Unsafe Conditions and Encampment Removals Along CN Railway Property Leased by GIO Rail

Niagara Regional Councillor for St. Catharines, Haley Bateman

Dear MP Bittle,

Over the past four years, I have been actively supporting residents who live adjacent to CN Railway tracks. Their concerns — regarding the condition and safety of these lands — long pre-date my election in 2022 and my appointment to Niagara Regional Council. These concerns have only grown more urgent in recent months.

In May 2025, I was called to support people being evicted from their encampments near the abandoned CN rail line, currently leased by GIO Rail. For years, residents in this neighbourhood have appealed for the site to be cleaned up. It has become a well-known dumping ground for illegal waste, illicit drug paraphernalia, and overgrown vegetation — creating a dangerous and unsightly condition for all who live nearby. Continue reading →

News from the Constituency Office of Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates whose provincial riding includes Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Fort Erie

Posted June 17^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates

NIAGARA FALLS — MPP Wayne Gates wrote an open letter to the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care (Natalia Kusenddova-Bashta) to scrap a proposal that would remove long-term care inspection reports from public access after just three years.

In a letter sent to the Minister today, Gates warned that the change would undermine transparency and deny families information about the care their loved ones — often seniors — receive. Continue reading →

A News Release from SCOPE Niagara, a platform that promotes collaborative work between primary care, hospital services and community health partners to serve patients with complex needs.

Posted June 17^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – Dr. Nikki Reklitis remembers the case clearly. A patient who needed urgent care, but didn’t quite meet the threshold for an immediate trip to the Emergency Department (ED).

Instead of sending the patient to wait in a busy ED, Dr. Reklitis called SCOPE Niagara.

“Thanks to the SCOPE Nurse Navigators, who quickly connected me with the general internal medicine physician on-call and diagnostic imaging – the patient was able to be assessed quickly and proceed with next steps in her care journey,” she says.

The patient avoided the ED entirely – and still got the care she needed.

Continue reading →

News from Abacus Data Ontario

Posted June 16^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Ontario Premier Doug Ford appears to be hitting the mark with many in the province

(A Brief Foreword from Doug Draper at Niagara At Large – You might think that  with all of  the public concern being expressed over funding (or lack thereof) for education and health care.

Then there are all of the concerns that have been raised  by individual citizens and citizens groups alike over energy plans that pay  little or no attention to renewable sources of and energy,  and over legislation the Ford government is pushing ahead with that potentially threatens our natural heritage, including the quality of our air and water – just to mention a few key issues – that the Ford government’s approval ratings would be tanking.

However, if this public opinion survey is accurate, there are  a lot of people out there who are either not paying attention or who like what Doug Ford and company are doing.

Also surprising in this poll is how much it shows  approval for the NDP falling despite the hard work the party does  to critique the Ford government’s actions and put forward solutions of its own.

Overall, those of us who are more progressive, liberal or left-leaning members of the population may need to come to terms with the possibility that we live in a far more right-wing province than we  may care to imagine.)

Now here is the news on the poll –

In our first survey of Ontario public opinion since the February provincial election, we find Premier Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservatives in an enviable position.

With a solid majority under their belt, a largely disinterested opposition, and a public more preoccupied with economic uncertainty and global affairs than provincial scandal or friction, the Ford government is benefiting from both competence perceptions and a remarkably quiet political environment.

The numbers speak for themselves.

If an election were held today, 49 percent of committed voters in Ontario say they would vote for the Progressive Conservatives, up four points since the last survey we conducted just before the election in February.

The Ontario Liberals sit at 28 percent, down slightly by one point, while the NDP has fallen to 14 percent, a two-point drop. The Greens hold steady at 5 percent, and other parties account for 4 percent.

These are not small margins. A 21-point lead over the second-place Liberals is rare in any political context. But for a third-term government battling economic insecurity, it is even more remarkable.

Ford’s Approval Hits a High

When we look beyond vote intention to overall job approval, the results are equally impressive. Today, 44 percent of Ontarians approve of the job Ford and his government are doing, up two points since our January tracking and the highest we have measured since August 2023. Disapproval stands at 31 percent, down three points from earlier this year.

The trend line tells the story. Since late 2023, Ford’s approval numbers have steadily improved. After dipping in the fall, evaluations of the Premier and his government began to recover just ahead of the February election. Since then, they have continued to climb. What we are seeing now is the best standing for the Ford government in nearly two years (and likely since it was elected in 2018).

About Abacus Data Ontario – We’re strategic thinkers, storytellers and data experts focused on digging in to the unknown and anticipating where things will be to equip our clients with the tools they need to succeed. We achieve this through a combination of our experience, broad understanding of the economic, political, social, and labour worlds, and with the best qualitative and quantitative research in North American that includes designing and executing surveys, focus groups, in-depth interviews, and online research communities.

To visit this news online, click on – https://abacusdata.ca/abacus-data-ontario-poll-ford-government-approval-hits-new-high-pcs-lead-by-21/

NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views On This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below.

“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders

News from Niagara Health, the public corporation responsible for operating the amalgamated system of hospital services across the Niagara region

Posted June 15^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – Niagara Health is undertaking a transformative upgrade to its CT scanner fleet, bringing the most advanced diagnostic imaging equipment currently available in Canada to our hospital sites.

These state-of-the-art CT scanners will be installed at the Marotta Family, Niagara Falls and Welland hospitals starting this month.

(From left) Andrea Scott, President and CEO, Niagara Health Foundation; Simon Akinsulie, Executive Vice-President, Practice, Clinical Support & Chief Nursing Executive, Niagara Health; Bob Asham, Patient Partner with the Niagara Health Engagment Network; Janice Feather, Director, Diagnostic Imaging, Niagara Health and Dr. Ali Jahed, Radiologist at Niagara Health stand infront of a CT scanner at the Marotta Family Hospital in west St. Catharines

As the first hospital in Canada to receive this next-generation CT technology, Niagara Health is enhancing access to faster, safer and more accurate diagnostic imaging. Continue reading →

A Statement from Environmental Defence Canada  on Ontario’s Integrated Energy Plan

Posted June 16^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Toronto – Ontario’s new energy plan risks making life worse for Ontarians, leading to higher bills, an increased reliance on U.S. imported gas, greater air pollution and more severe climate damages.

While it is positive to see the government take an integrated and long-term approach to energy planning, this ideological plan from the Minister must be replaced by a plan written by experts and based on modelling shared with the public. Continue reading →

A News Commentary by Niagara At Large reporter/publisher Doug Draper

Posted June 13^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

At a press conference this past June 11th, Port Colborne Mayor Bill Steele (left) and Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop protest decision to cut hours at Urgent Care Cetres in their municipalities

Niagara, Ontario – While citizens and their municipal representatives in Port Colborne and Fort Erie press for  funding and health care personnel to keep their Urgent Care Centres open 24 hours a day, this past June 11^th we were served  the spectacle of the Mayors of St. Catharines, Niagara-on-the Lake and Welland, along with Niagara Regional Chair Jim Bradley, celebrating an announcement from Ontario’s Ford Government that it is moving forward with design work for twinning the Garden City Skyway.

Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati apparently missed attending the announcement, staged at a site where the Garden City Skyway could be seen towering in the background. But hours earlier, in a news release from the Ford government, he was quoted saying; “Twinning the Garden City Skyway is a significant step for the Niagara region, providing a crucial link to Niagara Falls, Canada’s top tourist destination, while supporting job creation throughout our growing tourism sector.’’

The Garden City Skyway, as it looks taking traffic over the Welland Canal today.

That same day, I emailed a contact person, listed at the bottom of that news release, and asked if the provincial government has any kind of estimate it can share with the public now about of how much constructing a twin bridge next to the existing six-lane Skyway will cost.

As of the posting of this commentary, I have yet to receive an answer so let me take a stab at it. Continue reading →

“Last time this happened, someone went to jail.”                – Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles

A Statement from Ontario Opposition NDP Leader Marit Stiles

Posted June 12^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles

QUEEN’S PARK – Marit Stiles, Leader of the Official Opposition NDP, has issued the following statement in response to the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s findings  about the Ford government breaking their legal obligations  to maintain government records while planning the Greenbelt land removals:

“Deleting government records is illegal. The last time this happened; someone went to jail. Enough hiding, it’s time for the Premier to come clean.” Continue reading →

First-ever integrated energy plan leverages every energy resource to protect Ontario with affordable, secure, reliable and clean energy to power growth and jobs across the province

News from the Government of Ontario Premier Doug Ford

Posted June 12^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

A Brief Foreword from Niagara At Large reporter/publisher Doug Draper – Take note that in the following news release about this  so-called “Energy for Generations” plan, there is no explicit reference energy conservation, and to renewable energy projects like wind and solar, and to home heating and cooling systems like heat pumps.

The term “clean energy” is repeated a number of times, but in Ford’s world that could mean more high-cost nuclear reactors and/or gas-fired power plants with filters or scrubbers on the stacks with the aim to reducing emissions that are harmful to our health and the environment.

So how excited should any of us get about this energy plan in the age of climate crises and as a 21^st Century vision for conserving energy and generating and using the energy we do need in ways that are more sustainable for our planet?

Now back to the New from the Ford Government –

TORONTO – Today (this June 12th, 2025) , the Ontario government released Energy for Generations, the province’s first-ever integrated energy plan – a comprehensive roadmap to meet future energy needs, support new housing and power the most competitive economy in the G7.

This plan is an important part of the government’s work to protect Ontario by bringing together electricity, natural gas, hydrogen and other energy sources under a single coordinated strategy to ensure the province has the affordable, secure, reliable and clean energy needed to build a more competitive, resilient, and self-reliant province.

“At the turn of the century, our great grandparents had the vision to build Ontario’s hydroelectric dams, later our grandparents started the build-out of Ontario’s nuclear fleet, and today, that responsibility falls on us to build for the future,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines.

 “While every jurisdiction around us scrambles for affordable power, our government is thinking ahead, building for our children and grandchildren. Energy for Generations represents the ambition and long-term thinking necessary to deliver critical nation-building priorities that solidify Canada’s self-reliance. As energy demand soars, our plan leverages ‘Made-In-Ontario’ to build affordable, clean, and always reliable power, built by and for Canadians.”

Over the next 25 years, demand for electricity is forecast to increase by 75 per cent, the equivalent to adding four and a half cities the size of Toronto to the grid. At the same time, there is continued demand for existing and emerging fuels that are critical for powering vehicles, heating our homes and supporting industry.

To meet this demand, the province is making record investments in energy infrastructure that are helping protect workers in engineering, science, construction and other skilled trades by supporting economic growth and keeping workers on the job during a time of economic uncertainty.

At the same time, Energy for Generations will modernize the grid to support a smarter, more flexible system that can better integrate and manage new technologies, from net-new nuclear to advancing national energy corridors for clean energy, transmission, and pipelines, while also strengthening access to reliable and affordable fuels that are critical to Ontario’s industries, farmers and rural communities.

Ontario’s approach is anchored in four guiding principles that have been established over the past seven years and define the province’s energy advantage:

• Affordability – Keeping energy costs low for families, businesses, and industry.
• Security – Building a self-reliant system with domestic infrastructure and supply.
• Reliability – Delivering consistent, 24/7 service to power every part of the province.
• Clean energy – Supporting economic growth, attracting investment while providing a North American solution to reduce emissions.

Energy for Generations advances a range of actions that leverage every energy resource and position the province for long-term success including:

• Meeting Growing Electricity Demand – Investing in energy efficiency, generation, storage and distribution, including competitive procurements and the largest nuclear buildout on the continent, while reaching more than 99 per cent zero-emissions electricity by 2050.
• Positioning Ontario as a Global Clean Energy Superpower – Growing exports of Ontario-made electricity, nuclear technology, medical isotopes, and engineering expertise to global markets, while supporting east-west grid connections across Canada.
• Leading on Energy Corridors and Infrastructure – Driving conversations on pipeline infrastructure and national energy corridors to support growth and energy security.
• Unlocking Distributed Energy Resources – Making it easier for individuals and businesses to generate, store and manage their own electricity through technologies like rooftop solar, batteries and smart thermostats.
• Planning Smarter, Faster – Ending siloed energy planning by integrating electricity, fuels and new technologies, and enhancing planning and development to better meet fast-growing demand.
• Protecting Access to Fuels – Safeguarding access to natural gas and other fuels, chosen by customers for home heating, industry and agriculture, by releasing Ontario’s first Natural Gas Policy Statement.

Ontario will be doing this work in partnership with municipalities, business, industry and Indigenous communities. This supports the province’s ongoing commitment to economic reconciliation including increasing funding for the Indigenous Energy Support Program to $25 million annually to help build long-term capacity, support equity partnerships and invest in more reliable solutions for First Nations.

Niagara West Conservative MPP Sam Oosterhoff

“Ontario is taking concrete steps to ensure that our economy is powered by strong, self-reliant, and competitive energy sources – particularly in the face of the unprecedented energy demands that our growing province is experiencing,” said Sam Oosterhoff, Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries.

“This Integrated Energy Plan, the first of its kind, is a generational step toward an energy future that will grow our economy and support Ontario’s industries, while remaining affordable, reliable, and secure.”

Energy for Generations provides a coordinated, long-term approach to make sure Ontario has the reliable, affordable energy it needs to be energy secure and power economic growth.

The government’s integrated approach and record investments in energy infrastructure are also providing the certainty needed to for Indigenous communities, municipalities, businesses and industry partners to invest confidently in Ontario’s future.

With a clear path forward, the plan not only helps meet the demands of today but will help protect workers and the economy by keeping workers on the job and powering growth and opportunities for generations to come.

NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views On This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below.

“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders

“Niagara residents deserve accountability. When billions of tax dollars are being spent, people deserve reliable transit and expect straight answers. Especially when Metrolinx officials are now quietly walking back transit promises.”                                                   – St. Catharines NDP MPP Jennie Stevens

News from the Constituency Office of St. Catharines NDP MPP Jennie Stevens

Posted June 12^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

St. CATHERINES, Ontario – NDP MPP Jennie Stevens (St. Catherines) is raising concerns about the Ford government’s lack of transparency and unstable commitment to meaningful transit expansion in St. Catharines and Niagara region.

“Real progress means giving the people in our community choices, especially reliable, two-way, all-day GO services,” said Stevens. “You can’t claim to be tackling gridlock while actively scaling back on the very transit options that would get cars off the road.” Continue reading →

“Instead of redesigning packaging for reuse and recycling, or eliminating it altogether, producers will be incentivized to burn non-recyclable packaging in incinerators, refineries or cement kilns and call it recycling.”

A Statement by Karen Wirsig, Senior Program Manager for Plastics, Environmetal Defence Canada

Posted June 12^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Toronto – The government’s proposal to gut the Ontario Blue Box regulations trashes more than a decade of progress toward effective waste reduction policy. If adopted, it would lead to more plastic burning and more litter, while further straining Ontario landfills.

The government is betraying Ontarians by seeking to reverse requirements that would have reduced single-use and unrecyclable plastics and to delay enforcement of these—now weakened—rules for another five years, to 2031. Continue reading →

“I’m a leaf on a windy day
Pretty soon I’ll be blown away
How long will the wind blow?
How long will the wind blow?

Until I die
Until I die
These things I’ll be until I die
These things I’ll be until I die.”

Above Lyrics from the  song ‘Till I Die’ by Brian Wilson

A Brief Tribute from life-long fan Doug Draper at Niagara At Large

Posted June 11^th, 2025

Music legend Brian Wilson, on tour in more recent years

News like this should not come out on a warm sunny day

It was just announced this June 11^th that Brian Wilson, whose music from the 1960s with The Beach Boys became a soundtrack for warm, sunny days, has died at age 82.

What can I say. When it comes to pop music figures from the past 50 or 60 years, Brian Wilson was about as big as they come.

The composer of many hit songs like ‘Surfin U.S.A.’, ‘Fun, Fun, Fun’, ‘I Get Around’, ‘Help Me Rhonda’, ‘The Warmth Of The Sun’, ‘California Girls’, ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’  and ‘Good Vibrations’, he and fellow Beach Boys Al Jardine, cousin Mike Love and brothers Carl and Dennis Wilson, were among the few American groups that could still hold their own on the music charts in the weeks and months following The Beatles and British Invasion crashing their shores in 1964. Continue reading →

Leading Member Of Legendary Band ‘Sly & The Family Stone’ Dies At Age 82

A Brief Tribute by Doug Draper

Posted June 11^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Sly Stone wowing more than 400,000 at the epic Woodstock Festival in 1969

Somewhere in the Catskills of New York State, in the  hills and valleys around the site where the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival was held, you may still be able to hear the echo of more than 400,000 festival goers chanting the word “HIGHER”  as Sly & The Family Stones’ performed one of its anthems, ‘I Want To Take You Higher’.

For those of you who have ever seen the movie of that epic Woodstock Festival, it was one of the film’s most memorable highlights – Sly Stone up there on that stage, looking like a god for the counterculture as he and his band worked their funky magic. Continue reading →

“While you may not know how life is going to work out, you can have faith that giving your all will take you wherever you strive to go.” – Ted Nolan, former NHL player for the Detroit Redwings and Pittsburg Penguins and former couch for the Buffalo Sabres

News from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario

Posted June 11^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Former National Hockey League player and coach Ted Nolan delivered the Convocation address at Brock University on Tuesday, June 10. photo courtesy of Brock University

Niagara, Ontario – When Ted Nolan wanted to learn how to play hockey as a young child, he made his own ice rink — one pail of water at a time.

It was a trying task, taking what seemed like 1,000 trips across the backyard, with his eight-year-old gait causing spills along the way.

Each step counted. Each drop mattered. And driven by determination, Nolan’s fresh ice came to be.

The rink was born from perseverance. It is where Nolan, who would go on to play for the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins and coach the Buffalo Sabres, would learn to play the sport that would change his life. Continue reading →

Town of Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop

“This decision (by Niagara Health to reduce hours of operation of Urgent Care Centres in Fort Erie and Port Colborne)  is completely unacceptable and deeply disappointing. Our Urgent Care Centre is not a luxury — it is an essential service. Scaling back operations during the busiest months of the year, when thousands of residents and visitors depend on timely access to care, shows a troubling disregard for the needs of our community.”        – Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop on the decision by Niagara Health, the region’s system of amalgamated hospital services, to further  cut back the hours of operation the the Urgent Care Centres in Fort Erie and Port Colborne

A News Release from the Town of Fort Erie, Ontario

Posted June 10^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Fort Erie and Port Colborne Mayors Respond to “Unacceptable” UCC (Urgent  Care Centre) Closures

Niagara, Ontario – This June 9th, Niagara Health informed the Town of Fort Erie and City of Port Colborne that they will reduce regular hours of the Urgent Care Centres (UCCs) in both communities this summer.

This news follows recent meetings when Mayors Wayne Redekop of Fort Erie and Bill Steele of Port Colborne offered to work with Niagara Health to support physician recruitment efforts to keep the UCCs operational, and to help with efficient emergency room (ER) operations. Continue reading →

A Message from Niagara Centre NDP MPP Jeff Burch, whose riding includes Port Colborne, Welland and Thorold

Posted June 10^th, 2-25 on Niagara At Large

Niagara Falls NDP MPP Jeff Burch at work in the Ontario legislature

PORT COLBORNE – Today’s announcement from Niagara Health that urgent care centres in Fort Erie and Port Colborne will close one day a week and on certain holidays is devastating news for our community—especially with the busy summer season about to begin.

Make no mistake: this is a direct consequence of consecutive provincial governments’ neglect of Ontario’s healthcare system. Continue reading →

“We know these closures are frustrating and concerning for the communities affected. They are not decisions we make lightly. This is the minimum level of closure required to maintain emergency care across the region.”   – Dr. Kevin Chan, Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President, Medical Affairs at Niagara Health.

News from Niagara Health, Niagara, Ontario’s amalgamated system of hospital services

Posted June 9^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

A banner from the Port Colborne Health Coalition, a citizens organization in the community fighting for the return of full day and night emergency hospital services

(A Brief Foreword Note from Doug Draper at Niagara At Large – These new closure schedules come after Niagara Health made the controversial decision two years ago to reduce hours for the urgent care centres in Fort Erie and Port Colborne  from around the clock to 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with not further patients being taking in after 8 p.m.

And now – thanks to a chronic shortage of doctors and a continued lack of funding for public health care  services from the provincial and federal governments – we have this, despite an ongoing outcry from citizens in the communities to keep their urgent care centres open full-time.

Another  message – this one from the Save Our Hospital citizens group in Fort Erie

Where will the cutting of public health care services in this region and others across the province and country end? Or is this where we will continue to go until everything the late Tommy Douglas did to champion a quality, accessible  public health care system for all in Canada ends?

Meanwhile if you are in Fort Erie or Port Colborne this summer, try not to get seriously ill.)

Now here is the News Release from Niagara Health – 

Niagara Health is announcing schedule changes at the Fort Erie and Port Colborne Urgent Care Centres (UCCs) due to a critical shortage of available physicians.

These changes are a measure of last resort, necessary to preserve safe, 24/7 operations at our Emergency Departments (EDs) in Niagara Falls, Welland and St. Catharines.

Effective later this month:

•   *   Both UCCS will face closures starting in July and running into early September.
•   *   Fort Erie closures will take place on Fridays and Port Colborne on Saturdays.
•   *   In addition, both UCCs will be closed on Canada Day (July 1) and Labour Day weekend (August 30-September 1)
•   *   Fort Erie UCC will also close for the Civic Holiday weekend (August 1-4)

Kevin Chan, Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President, Medical Affairs at Niagara Health

“We know these closures are frustrating and concerning for the communities affected. They are not decisions we make lightly,” said Dr. Kevin Chan, Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President, Medical Affairs at Niagara Health. “This is the minimum level of closure required to maintain emergency care across the region.”

The decision was made at the recommendation of our Emergency Department leadership and with the approval of Niagara Health’s Board of Directors, following extensive efforts to avoid disruption.

Despite exhaustive efforts – including financial incentives, direct outreach to local physicians, targeted recruitment campaigns and flexible scheduling – Niagara Health continues to face 111 unfilled physician shifts across all sites this summer. More than half of these are at the Marotta Family Hospital ED, with most of the remainder at the Niagara Falls Hospital ED.

“These are Niagara’s busiest and most acute care centres, receiving the highest volumes of ambulance arrivals and serving the sickest patients in the region,” said Dr. Rafi Setrak, Niagara Health chief of Emergency Medicine. “Prioritizing our Emergency Departments in Niagara Falls, Welland and St. Catharines is essential to maintaining region-wide access to emergency services.”

Providing the public with a predictable closure schedule ensures patients and families can make informed decisions about where to seek care. This approach supports patient safety and helps avoid last-minute, disruptive cancellations.

While physician shortages are a province-wide and global challenge, Niagara’s situation is made more difficult by the lack of access to primary care in Fort Erie and Port Colborne. Many residents rely on UCCs for concerns that could be better managed in a primary care setting – if that access existed.

“This isn’t just about urgent care – it’s about access to care, period,” said Dr. Chan. “The sustainable solution is team-based primary care in every community. Until that’s in place, hospitals are left managing system gaps with limited resources.”

For a related story, click on – Keep urgent care in smaller communities, Niagara residents tell Ontario party leaders | CBC News

NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views On This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below.

“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders

“Canada has what the world wants and the values to which others aspire. The G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis is a moment for Canada to work with reliable partners to meet challenges with unity, purpose, and force. Canada is ready to lead.” – Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada

News from the Office of Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney

Posted June 9^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

A Brief Foreword Note from Doug Draper At Niagara At Large – The G7 countries include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States – the first six of which U.S. President Donald Trump has shown little or no respect for and has spent his first months in office slapping punishing tariffs on that, in some cases, violate previously signed trade agreements.

Prime Minister Mark Carney notes that the upcoming G7 Summit is Alberta “is a moment for Canada to work with reliable partners.” If that is the case, the United States, under Trump, has certainly shown that it is not one of those.

So where does that place the U.S. in playing any kind of productive roll at this summit? Continue reading →

“The reality is that global markets are shifting away from oil and gas towards renewable energy.  If the Prime Minister wants to build a new economy for Canada, his government should invest in the energy of the future.”

A Statement from Keith Brooks, Programs Director, Environmental Defence Canada

Posted June 9^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Toronto – The Prime Minister has committed to “nation-building projects” and making Canada an energy superpower. To be a superpower in the 21st century means first considering what our customers around the world are buying now, and what they will be buying five, ten, and fifteen years from now.

The reality is that global markets are shifting away from oil and gas towards renewable energy.  If the Prime Minister wants to build a new economy for Canada, his government should invest in the energy of the future. Continue reading →

 “This is a clear abuse of taxpayer dollars. Premier Ford and his government are using people’s hard-earned tax dollars to run partisan puff pieces about themselves,” – Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles

News from Ontario’s Official Opposition NDP

Posted June 9^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large 

QUEEN’S PARK – Marit Stiles, Leader of the Official Opposition NDP, re-introduced legislation ban the use of taxpayer dollars for partisan advertising.

A still image from a Ford government’s It’s Happening Here ad. See full video below.

Last month, CBC revealed  that the Ford government’s “it’s happening here” ads cost taxpayers $40 million.

 “This is a clear abuse of taxpayer dollars,” said Stiles. “Premier Ford and his government are using people’s hard-earned tax dollars to run partisan puff pieces about themselves, instead of investing in our province.

$40 million could start opening shuttered emergency rooms, bring back health care services to rural communities, and start delivering on the future that Ontario deserves.  Continue reading →

“I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world.”

• Lyrics from It’s A Wonderful World, a song made immortal by the late jazz legend, Louis Armstrong

A Brief Commentary by Doug Draper

Posted June 6^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

A swan family enjoyed by many this spring in the waters off Mel Swart Lake Gibson Conservation Park where they are nesting. photo by Doug Draper

We all know that there is a tsunami of bad and ugly news raining down on us these days – so much so that I have heard many friends and acquaintances say it is making them feel so depressed that they can hardly stand to follow the news  any longer.

It seems like every few days I can open a newspaper or turn on a cable news program and find another story about how all of the stories about war, racial hatred, economic hardship and, last but not least, Donald Trump, is taking  serious toll on mental health.

As someone who has to try to keep up with the news to keep this Niagara At Large news and commentary site going, these days I often find myself on the very of cracking up too.

The swan family at sunset. photo by Doug Draper

That’s when I take a break from the news and go out for a walk in one of the great nature areas we have in this region like Thorold’s Mel Swart Lake Gibson Conservation Park.

For the past month or so, I’ve been going out to that park where, just a few meters away from a boardwalk along the lake, a pair of swans have been caring for their nest of eggs.

During a another walk in that park this past week, I discovered that the eggs had hatched and there were six baby swans paddling out on the lake with their parents. It was a wonderful sight and it did wonders for my mind and soul and for the mind and soul of others who looked on.

Swan family coming to shore for the night. photo by Doug Draper

That same Tuesday evening, in the same Mel Swart park, a gathering of Indigenous people were in a circle, singing traditional songs to the soft beat of drums. That was a wonderful sight too that everyone who visits the park can now enjoy every Tuesday evening through the spring and summer starting at 5:30 .p.m. and running to about 7 p.m.

A gathering of Indigenous people in Mel Swart Lake Gibson Conservation Park for an evening of traditional songs. photo by Doug Draper

If and when the troubles of the world are getting to feel too much for you, find a nice place to walk, with the the sights and sounds of nature around you, where you can find some peace of mind.

It also serves as a reminder of why we have to work together to protect and preserve our natural places for present and future generations.

• I Wish All Of You Some Peace, Doug Draper, Niagara At Large

To hear the song It’s A Wonderful World, accompanied by a video, click on the screen immediately below –

NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views On This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below.

“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders

A Message to All of Us from Ontario Nature, a non-profit citizens organization dedicated to protecting and preserving our natural heritage

Posted June 6th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Despite significant opposition from Indigenous groups, diverse civil society organizations and thousands of Ontarians the Government of Ontario passed Bill 5 this past June 4th.

This legislation infringes on Indigenous rights, gives unchecked powers to provincial ministers, dismantles protections for Ontario’s most vulnerable species, overrides municipal planning and undermines democratic processes. Continue reading →

“Since October 28, 2024, Ontario has reported a cumulative total of 2009 measles cases. … The vast majority of cases are among individuals who are unvaccinated or whose immunization status is unknown.”

A Statement from the Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore

Posted June 6^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore

TORONTO — This Thursday, June 5^th, Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health, issued the following statement:

“It is with deep sadness that I confirm that an infant, born prematurely and infected with measles, has tragically passed away in southwestern Ontario.

The infant contracted the virus before birth from their mother, who had not received the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Continue reading →

237 Cats and dogs receive free rabies vaccine at clinic hosted by Niagara Region Public Health and VCA Animal Hospitals

News from Niagara Region Public Health

Posted June 5^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – This June 4th, Niagara pet owners gathered at Market Square in St. Catharines with their cats and dogs for a free rabies vaccination clinic hosted by Niagara Region Public Health and VCA Canada Animal Hospitals.

They got their shots

The event aimed to make essential rabies vaccinations for pets more accessible to residents, particularly those who may face challenges accessing routine veterinary care.

Now in its second year, the clinic saw an even higher turnout than in 2024. Pet owners began lining up as early as 9 a.m., well before the clinic’s 11:30 a.m. start. By noon, the clinic had reached full capacity, and by the day’s end, 237 cats and dogs were vaccinated.

“Rabies is fatal, but it is preventable. Making vaccinations easy and accessible for pet owners is one way that we can reduce risk to the entire community,” said Dr. Azim Kasmani, Niagara Region Medical Officer of Health. “When we reduce the barriers that make it harder for some pet owners to access care, whether those are financial, location, or otherwise, we help protect not just individual families, but the broader community as well.”

Another one of many dogs in Niagara receiving a vaccine. Photo courtesy of Niagara Region Public Health

Rabies, a viral disease affecting the central nervous system of mammals, is spread through saliva often from a bite or scratch. While rabies is rare in Ontario, it remains a public health concern. Vaccination is the best defense, and it’s legally required for all cats and dogs over three months old in the province.

That’s why low-barrier clinics like this are so important. They offer a convenient, no-cost way for pet owners to meet legal vaccination requirements, especially for those who may not have easy or affordable access to regular veterinary services.

“Not everyone has a vet nearby, and some are facing circumstances that make routine care harder to access,” said Joe DeGiuli, Environmental Health Manager at Niagara Region Public Health. “Clinics like this help remove those obstacles and build a safer, healthier community. This clinic checked those boxes, and the community showed up in a big way.”

VCA Canada, a leading provider of veterinary care, played a crucial role in the clinic’s success. Their team of veterinarians and veterinary assistants administered vaccinations with compassion and expertise, while public health staff managed registration and guided pet owners through the process.

The atmosphere was overwhelmingly positive, with many attendees expressing their appreciation for the service. For some, it was their pet’s first vaccination. For others, it was an opportunity to catch up on overdue care.

Looking ahead, Niagara Region Public Health hopes to continue offering rabies vaccination clinics, using insights from this week’s turnout, feedback, and local needs to guide future events.

View and download press-ready images [https://www.flickr.com/photos/138585849@N02/albums/72177720311388086].

NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views On This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below.

“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders

“This isn’t about politics — it’s about saving lives,.” – Wayne Gates

A News Release from the Constituency Office of Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates

Posted June 5^th, 2025 on Niagara at Large

Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates whose riding includes Niagara Falls, Fort Erie and Niagara-on-the Lake

QUEEN’S PARK — Ontario NDP MPP Wayne Gates (Niagara Falls) is proudly supporting Independent MPP Bobbi-Ann Brady (Haldimand-Norfolk)’s motion to have OHIP cover the cost of prostate cancer testing in Ontario — a cause Gates has long championed at Queen’s Park.

Gates previously introduced this life-saving initiative in the legislature, and says he’s pleased to see momentum building across party lines. Gates says this is a critical opportunity to come together for the health of Ontarians.

“This isn’t about politics — it’s about saving lives,” said Gates. “Every year, thousands of men are diagnosed too late because cost is a barrier to early testing. We can fix that. I’m proud to support MPP Brady’s motion, and I hope every member in the legislature does the same.” Continue reading →

“Bill 5, which comes into force immediately, strips protection from almost all of the habitat that endangered, threatened and special concern species require to survive and reproduce, removing even the recognition of habitat beyond the immediate surroundings of birds’ nests and badger sets, or the critical root zones of individual plants and trees.”

A Statement by Phil Pothen, Counsel and Ontario Environment Program Manager for Environmental Defence Canada

Posted June 5^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Toronto – By voting “yes” to Bill 5 on its third and final reading, the Ontario government has knowingly inflicted a grievous blow against the rule of law, and likely condemned many of the province’s endangered and threatened species to extinction or extirpation (which is when a species disappears completely from a part of its former range).

From the moment that Bill 5 receives Royal Assent, the Premier and his cabinet will have unfettered power to exempt any person or business they like from any provincial or municipal law they choose, in as much of the province as they like, for any purpose, and based on whatever criteria they themselves decide. Continue reading →

A Brief News Commentary by Niagara At Large reporter/publisher Doug Draper, followed by a news release from Ontario’s Official Opposition NDP

Posted June 4^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is back and after his third consecutive majority government win, probably feeling more emboldened than ever to plough ahead at whatever cost to the environment.

By Doug Draper – A little more than three months after the Fort government in Ontario won a third-consecutive majority, you had to see it coming.

All of the worst plans and pieces of legislation that Ford ever tabled to pave over more of what’s left of our food lands and other green spaces, would be back again in whatever shape or form. And this time, even after all the shellacking he and his Conservatives took  (including the launch of an ongoing RCMP investigation) over taking out lands in the Greenbelt for more roads and highways and urban sprawl, this latest election win could only make them feel more embolden than ever to rev of the bulldozers and chainsaws and plough right through.

Niagara citizens protest Bill 5 and a just as menacing Bill 17 this June 3rd in front of the constituency office of Ford Conservative MPP for the Niagara West Riding, Sam Oosterhoff

So it is with Ford’s controversial Bill 5 which environmental groups, Indigenous people and a host of others have spent the better part of the past three months begging the Premier and his ever-so-loyal party members to withdraw for the sake of protecting and preserving Ontario’s natural heritage for present and future generations.

But there was  never any real  hint that Ford was going to do much in the way of listening to other concerned parties, partisan or non-partisan, as he pressed ahead, this time including the  Trump tariff war in his arsenal of excuses for doing so.  Continue reading →

‘Bill 5 is sweeping legislation that concentrates unprecedented powers in the hands of provincial ministers without proper checks and balances.’

An Urgent Call-Out from Ontario Nature, a citizens organization dedicated to protecting and preserving our natural heritage for present and future generations

Posted June 4rth 2025 on Niagara At Large

Toronto, Ontario – On May 22 and May 26, the Canadian Union of Public Employees – Ontario (CUPE Ontario), Ecojustice, Friends of Attawapiskat River, Neskantaga First Nation, Ontario Nature, the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE), Toronto Zoo and Wildlands League expressed our concerns and recommendations with the Government of Ontario’s proposed Bill 5 to the Standing Committee on the Interior. Collectively, we believe that economic resilience can and must go hand in hand with Indigenous rights and sovereignty, robust democratic institutions, sound engineering practices, labour laws and strong environmental standards.

Bill 5 is sweeping legislation that concentrates unprecedented powers in the hands of provincial ministers without proper checks and balances. Continue reading →

Now’s The Time To Move Ontario Onto The Smart Energy Path Of Renewables + Storage

A Bulletin with a Call-Out to All of Us from the Ontario Clean Air Alliance, a non-profit citizens organization advocating for a safer, cleaner environment

Posted June 4^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

The Ontario government wants to build the world’s largest nuclear plant on the shores of Lake Ontario at Port Hope.

This is an incredibly ineffective – and costly – way to meet our electricity needs. Our  new report finds that wind and solar power could provide the same amount of power while saving us $6.2 to $19.3 billion per year in electricity costs!

It would take at least 20 years to design and construct a new nuclear plant at Port Hope. 

Meanwhile, Ontario would remain reliant on  polluting gas imported from the United States [https://www.cleanairalliance.org/getting-ontario-out-of-the-american-gas-trap/]. Continue reading →

“When will we see a climate plan?,” asked Federal Green Party Leader Elizabeth May in Parliament this June 3^rd. The new Environment Minister had no answer.

News from the Green Party of Canada

Posted June 4^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Canada’s Green Party Leader, Elizabeth May

In her first week back in Parliament, Elizabeth took on the government’s lack of urgency on the climate crisis. In a press conference she pointed out that the Speech from the Throne barely mentioned climate action and demanded answers from Prime Minister Carney on how Canada will meet its legally binding Paris targets.

To watch Federal Leader Elizabeth May speak at her press conference, click on the screen immediately below –

Inside the House she used her one question of the week to put the climate emergency front and centre, asking directly: “When will we see a climate plan?” The new Environment Minister had no answer. Continue reading →

“At a time when Trump’s tariffs threaten Ontario’s economy, we must protect our defining economic advantage; our $50 billion food and farming sector.”

A Message from Ontario’s Green Party

Posted June 3^rd, 2025 on Niagara At Large

This week is Local Food Week in Ontario – a time to celebrate the hardworking farmers who bring fresh, local, Ontario food to communities across the province.

But every day, under the Ford government, Ontario loses 319 acres of farmland in Ontario every day.

[PROTECT LOCAL FOOD → PROTECT ONTARIO FARMS](https://secure.gpo.ca/civicrm/mailing/url?u=211545&qid=123434874)

The Ontario Greens know that food is our future, and without farmland, we have no future. Continue reading →

“My motion to eliminate hospital parking fees has been endorsed by the Canadian Cancer Society, the Ontario Nurses’ Association and tens of thousands of Ontarians who have signed our petition.” – Jeff Burch, NDP MPP for Niagara Centre

The Following  Is A June 2^nd  Exchange between Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch & Ford Government Health Minister Sylvia Jones In the Legislative Assembly Of Ontario

Posted June 3^rd, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara Falls NDP MPP Jeff Burch at work in the Ontario legislature

(From the Hansard) – Mr. Jeff Burch: Speaker, through you to the Minister of Health: Debbie MacGregor’s mother passed away earlier this year after a seven-year battle with cancer. Throughout that time, Debbie collected a stack of parking receipts at the hospital. She and her daughter spent over $7,000 on parking, just to be with her mom as she passed.

My motion to eliminate hospital parking fees has been endorsed by the Canadian Cancer Society, the Ontario Nurses’ Association and tens of thousands of Ontarians who have signed our petition. Continue reading →

A Message from Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold

Posted June 3^rd, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario Thanks to an ANONYMOUS Donor, donations made to our Big Impact Backpacks program will be MATCHED! This will help us provide for more Kids to start school ready!

Back-to-school season should be exciting — not stressful. But for too many families, it means choosing between food and school supplies.

Since 2022, we’ve seen a 31% increase in children accessing our services. Many are from single-parent households — families facing rising costs and tough decisions every day. In 2022, 35.4% of lone-parent families in Ontario experienced moderate or severe food insecurity. Continue reading →

And If Americans Don’t Like It, Let Them Go Yell At The Guy Who Started All This – Donald Trump

A Commentary by Niagara At Large reporter/publisher Doug Draper

Posted June 2nd, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Triump’s U.S. Ambassador To Canada Pete Hoekstra lectures us to “get over it.”

Late this past May, around the same time King Charles was visiting Canada to deliver a Speech from the Throne that, among other things, celebrated our country’s sovereignty, Pete Hoekstra, Trump’s recently appointed ambassador to Canada went out of his way to insult and belittle us as if we were behaving like a nation of errant children.

“Get over it,” Hoekstra told us of our continued strong and unified resistance to Trump’s efforts to crush our economy with punitive trade tariffs and repeated threated to make Canada  a “51st state.” Continue reading →

A Statement by Mark Prime Minister Carney on National Indigenous History Month

Posted June 2^nd, 2025 on Niagara At Large

“Indigenous Peoples have been stewards of Canada’s lands and waters for time immemorial.

“National Indigenous History Month <https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/ eng/1466616436543/1534874922512> is a time to celebrate the histories, cultures, languages, knowledge, and traditions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples.

“Indigenous leadership and perspectives will be foundational to how this government delivers its mandate. We will address past harms, take a distinctions-based approach, and advance self-determination, while upholding Modern Treaties and self-government agreements. Continue reading →