Author Archives: dougdraper

Can you think of a Scarier Halloween for the World than this one!

Here is hoping that our American friends go to the polls in droves this coming Tuesday, November 6th AND VOTE DEMOCRAT!

Posted by Doug Draper, October 31^st 2018 on Niagara At large

A tweet on the even of Halloween, this October 31st ,from Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post politics reporter Ashley Park –

Ashley Parker‏Verified account @AshleyRParker 7h7 hours ago

“Just in time for Halloween… Trump has transformed the federal government into his own Fear Factory, as part of his midterm strategy.”

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 reminder that we only post comments by individuals who also share their first and last names.

For more news and commentary from Niagara At Large – an independent, alternative voice for our greater bi-national Niagara region – become a regular visitor and subscriber to NAL at www.niagaraatlarge.com .

 “A politician thinks of the next election. A leader thinks of the next generation.” – Bernie Sanders

Niagara Parks Commission chair Janice Thomson

“In 2016, we generated a surplus of $12 million on $97 million in revenue and a surplus of $17 million on $110 million in revenue in 2017. And again this year, we are projected to see a surplus of over $11 million on $121 million in revenue. All surplus funds are directed to environmental initiatives, cultural events, new capital projects and deferred maintenance.” – Janice Thomson, Chair, Niagara Parks Commission Chair

An Address from Janice Thomson, Chair of Ontario’s Niagara Parks Commission to the NPC’s board and members of the public

Delivered at a Public Meeting, Niagara Parks Commission
School of Horticulture, Friday October 19, 2018

Posted October 31^th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

(A Brief Foreword from Niagara At Large reporter and publisher Doug Draper –

This November marks the finish of Janice Thomson’s current term as chair of the Niagara Parks Commission and her re-appointment to this key position is totally at the discretion of Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his government.

Ford and his government – a government and a Conservative Party that professes to care about and to want public agencies that run efficiently and save taxpayers money – would do well to appoint Janice Thomson to another term as the NPC’s chair.

I don’t know if Janice Thomson is a partisan or member of a political party, and I don’t care, and neither should Premier Ford and his government. Partisan politics should play no role in who gets appointed to any position at Niagara Parks.

All that should matter is that Niagara Parks has not bee run this well in at least two decades now and Janice Thomson has played a key role in its recent successes. She deserves another term in the job.

If you feel so inclined, you may wish to contact your Ontario member of parliament -MPP- and let him or her know that you would like to see Janice Thomson re-appointed chair of the Niagara Parks Commission so she can continue to build on the successes of the past 10 years.)

Now here are Janice Thomson’s October 19th comments to the NPC’s board and members of the public – 

“The Niagara Parks Commission was founded in 1885, 133 years ago. In all of those years, the organization has been served by many thousands of employees, but only 11 General Managers or Chief Executive Officers.

“Today, I have the bittersweet task of recognizing the dedicated efforts of one of those 11 organizational leaders and outstanding public servants, Reegan McCullough, as he prepares to depart Niagara and Niagara Parks to assume a community CAO role in Alberta. Continue reading →

Hosted by Open Arms Mission of Welland, the Hope Centre and Welland Food Drive

Posted October 31, 2018 on Niagara At Large 

GET INVOLVED! Place non-perishable food items on your porch before 10am for pickup by our volunteers! 

SPREAD THE WORD! You can also help us out by telling your friends, family, neighbours and co-workers about this amazing event that happens the first Saturday in November, each year. 

DONATIONS ARE NEEDED. Donated non-perishables are hand sorted at Club Richelieu by our hard-working volunteers. Donations are split between three transport trucks that deliver to our food banks in Welland: The Hope Centre, The Welland Salvation Army, and Open Arms Mission. Continue reading →

“It’s shocking to hear that this Conservative government is not including the very people who will be impacted by this social assistance review.”

News from Ontario’s New Democratic Party

Posted October 31st, 2018 on Niagara At Large

QUEEN’S PARK – During question period on Tuesday, NDP Social Services critic, Lisa Gretzky, said the Ford government is making unilateral decisions on changes to social assistance after it failed to consult with the public and people who have lived experience with ODSP and OW.

The Ford Conservatives announced they will be releasing the results of their 100-day review of Ontario’s social assistance system on Nov. 8.

“This government has been surprisingly tight-lipped about how exactly they are conducting this review, and who has been involved in its development,” said Gretzky, MPP for Windsor West. Continue reading →

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May will be in the leaders’ debates in 2019 election!

News from Canada’s Green Party

Green Party of Canada leader Elizabeth May

Posted October 31st, 2018 on Niagara At Large

For the first time since 1968, the leaders’ debate will be held under a system of fair and inclusive rules – published in advance.

Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould has established an Independent Debates Commission, and adopted our approach for deciding which leaders can participate.

The leaders’ debates underpin our electoral process and our democracy. Major party leaders need to share (and debate) their political visions with all Canadians — including seniors, youth and people living in rural and remote areas — in a proven and easily-accessible way.

For years now, the Green Party, with the support of activists like you, has been calling for fair rules governing debate inclusion.
Continue reading →

A Brief Commentary by Doug Draper, reporter and publisher, Niagara At Large

Posted October 29th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Niagara Falls regional councillor Bob Gale, questioning St. Catharines citizen Haley Bateman, after she addressed the Region’s council in 2017 on the issue of code of conduct rules for the council.

In the days following the October 22nd municipal elections, I floated the names of two individuals on Niagara At Large that might throw their hats in the ring to replace Al Caslin as Niagara regional chair.

I’m surprised that at least one of the names  floated here – that of Bob Gales, a regional councillor for the City of Niagara Falls – did not trigger a little more reaction from readers given Gales’ record during this past term of the Region’s council.

For  critics of the outgoing council, it was a record of marching in lock step with the rest of Caslin’s fellow travellers – known to many across Niagara as Caslin’s cabal – on a number of issues that provoked a good deal of public controversy.

I floated Gale’s name because a number of political insiders across the region have told me they have reason to believe he is already out there, working to line up the support he or anyone else interested in the position would need from  newly elected or re-elected members of the Region’s council who will decide who they will ultimately appoint to it. Continue reading →

A Public Forum Panel – Wednesday, November 14th,      8 p.m. in St. Catharines

An Invite to All from the Niagara District Council of Women

Posted October 30th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

The Niagara District Council of Women will be hosting a Public Forum Panel, “Is Niagara Ready for Legal Cannabis” on Wednesday, November 14 at 8:00 pm in the Mills Room at the St. Catharines Central Library (54 Church Street). 

One of the guest speakers – Patrick Robson,  Professor of Environmental Management and Assessment, Niagara College

Our guest speakers will be: Patrick Robson,  Professor of Environmental Management and Assessment, Niagara College; Professor Bill MacDonald Coordinator of the Cannabis Production Program at Niagara College; Barbara Wiens, Director of Planning & Development for the Town of Pelham; and a representative from Niagara Region Public Health. 

Discussions will include regulatory issues; the need for qualified and trained professionals in the cannabis production industry; regulatory and trade requirements for the safe and legal production and packaging of cannabis; land use planning; the local perspective, community questions and concerns; and public health considerations. Continue reading →

Thousands attend vigil for victims of Saturday, October 27^th mass shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh

Remarks of Ontario Premier Doug Ford at Toronto vigil

Posted October 29^th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Joyce Fienberg, one of the victims of this act of hatred that unfolded in in Pittsburgh this past Saturday,, grew up in Toronto.

Thank you to everyone here tonight (this Monday, October 29th), and to the organizers of tonight’s vigil. Thank you for providing this opportunity for us to come together as a community, to grieve, to remember, and to stand united in the face of anti-Semitism and hatred. 

We are seeing too often the rise of hatred and indeed the rise in anti-Semitism even right here in Ontario. Let me be clear, and I know I speak on behalf of all MPPs: there is no place for hatred and racism in Ontario.

Tonight, I am here with my fellow MPPs to tell you that the government of Ontario and the people of Ontario are standing shoulder to shoulder with the Jewish community, our friends and neighbours. And we will always, always stand with you. Continue reading →

“Niagara has being shaken to its core by a shocking number of people who need mental health support. People are struggling to get the services they need and they need more support from this Conservative government.” – Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates

News from the Constituency Office of Niagara Fals MPP Wayne Gates

Posted October 29th, 2018 on Niagara At Large 

Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates. File photo

Queen’s Park, Toronto—This October 29th,  NDP MPP Wayne Gates asked the Minister of Health to review their current mental health plans and increase funding for mental health services.

 “Niagara has being shaken to its core by a shocking number of people who need mental health support,” said Gates. “People are struggling to get the services they need and they need more support from this Conservative government.”

“I’ve spoken to the families time and time again, and it’s clear to all of us in Niagara that the need for expanded mental health services is critical.” Continue reading →

Lend your voice to a citizens’ campaign to save another precious piece of Niagara’s natural heritage by signing the petition below

The following petition was started by Marcie Jacklin, a resident of Fort Erie, Ontario

Posted October 29th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

A subdivision has been proposed at Waverly Beach/Erie Beach called HarbourTown Village.

Waverly Beach in Fort Erie – another precious piece of Niagara’s natural heritage that is now in the cross-hairs. Don’t let any piece of it get bulldozed away.

We object to this proposed subdivision based on the following criteria: This location is used as a connection to nature for many Fort Erie residents and has been for many decades. It has historical significance and may contain important artifacts. Continue reading →

NIAGARA ECONOMIC SUMMIT 2018 – Friday, November 2nd, 2018

An Invite from the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce

Posted October 28th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

If there is a single lesson to take from the recent NAFTA/USMCA negotiations, it is that an economy is vulnerable when it relies too much on a single trading partner, a single industry, or a single market. Economies that will survive and thrive in this uncertain climate will be those that are diverse.

Diversification is the key question at this year’s summit. How do we attract not just new businesses, but new industries? How do we diversify our workforce and our population? Continue reading →

Sign a Petition – Below – to Stop the Riverfront Community Project and Save what is left of Niagara’s Precious Natural Heritage

A Petition posted by St. Catharines citizen activist Emily Beth Spanton

Posted October 28th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

PETITION UPDATE

Paradise Walk to open in 2021 – GR-CAN

Emily Beth Spanton, St Catharines, Canada

OCT 28, 2018 — PETITION UPDATE

Paradise Walk is part of a larger 484-acre mixed-use community called ‘Riverfront Community at Niagara Falls’, which will include homes as well as more than 200 acres of nature preserve.

Wetlands inside Thundering Waters Forest are vital to the web of life for all species and to the health of the Niagara River watershed. Let the developers build their Disney-esque “Paradise” somewhere else in Niagara. There is plenty of land in this region that is zoned for development and that does not risk destroying ecosystems like this.

The goal of Paradise Walk is to be accessible to the general population and as such, it will not be positioned as a luxury centre — rather, it will include a democratic offering in an upscale and attractive-looking environment.  Continue reading →

First Meeting of Niagara’s New Regional Council Scheduled for December 6th

A News Commentary by Doug Draper

Posted October 26^th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

The old cliché “the show must go on” is just that – a cliché

In reality, all shows – good, bad or ugly – reach one last finale, sooner or later. Even a circus.

The  Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performed its final show in 2017 after 146 years.

And this coming Thursday, November 1^st, the circus that was Al Caslin’s Niagara regional council will perform its final show after four years – although for many of us who made it our burden to endure this off-putting spectacle, it seemed like 146 years. Continue reading →

Bill S-203 Which Ends The Captivity Of Whales And Dolphins In Canada Has Passed Senate!  Now we need it passed in     Canada’s House of Commons.

A Call-Out from Niagara Action for Animals (NAFA)

Posted October 26^th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Dear friends of animals –

Two requests for quick emails to governmental reps to help black bear cubs and to help whales and dolphins.

FOR THE BEARS:

Emails needed to Manitoba Minister of Sustainable Development, the Honourable Rochelle Squires. Email: minsdev@leg.gov.mb.ca  

The Manitoba Ministry of Sustainable Development will be releasing three orphaned bear cubs this fall. This can and has been done successfully in other jurisdictions.

However, it is critical that the cubs weigh over 80 pounds upon release to ensure that they are able to hibernate and emerge in a healthy condition in the spring. It is also critical that these animals be monitored using GPS collared so that their release can be assessed and measured.  Continue reading →

An Invite from the City of St. Catharines

Posted October 26th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

St. Catharines City Hall

St. Catharines/Niagara – The Budget Standing Committee and City staff are calling out to residents to gather opinions and ideas about the 2019 operating budget.

Mayor Walter Sendzik, City Budget Standing Committee Chair Mat Siscoe, and City staff will answer questions about the 2019 draft operating budget during the annual Telephone Town Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 6, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Continue reading →

“Plastic waste is choking our oceans, threatening to outweigh the amount of fish by 2050 if nothing is done. … Here in Canada, we generate about 3.25 million tons of plastic waste every year3. 1.6 million coffee cups sit in Canada’s landfills4. And Canadians throw out about 57 million plastic straws a year.”  – words from a petition that you can lend your name to below   

A Call-Out from the Broadbent Institute

Posted October 26^th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Plastics contaminating the shores and waters of our Great Lakes

On Tuesday (October 23^rd, 2018) the European Parliament voted in favour of a complete ban on single-use plastics in the EU market by 2021.

Canada should do the same. Continue reading →

One of the Last Things Niagara’s Battered Conservation Authority Needs Is Timms’ Continued Presence On Its Board

A Commentary by Niagara At Large reporter and publisher           Doug Draper

Posted October 25th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

a Meesage to St. Catharines regional councill Bruce Timms. It’s time to say goodbye

If there was an award we could bestow on the most delusional member in the crowd of Niagara politicians on their way out the door this October, recently defeated St. Catharines regional councillor Bruce Timms would surely rank as a top contender.

Timms, a veteran member of the Region’s council and a member and former chair of Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority’s (NPCA) board of directors who failed to win one of the city’s six seats on the council in this past Monday, October 22nd’s municipal elections, was quoted in The St. Catharines Standard the following day saying; “What we did right in the last term (of regional council) will stand the test of time.”

What they did RIGHT?!! What on earth is Timms talking about? Continue reading →

• This Saturday, October 27^th, 2018 –

An Invite from Throld’s Downtown Business Community

Posted October 25th, 2018 on Niagara At Large.

Downtown Thorold will be hosting a costumed dog event – The Halloween Canine Costume Contest on Saturday, October 27, 2018.

Pre-registration is online at http://www.thoroldbia.com/events.  Check in is at 10:30 a.m. at the corner of Front St. N. and Regent Street (next to Book Depot) and the promenade through the sidewalks of Downtown Thorold starts at 11:00 a.m.  Continue reading →

Now On To Appointing A New Niagara Regional Chair And Rebuilding Public Trust In Region’s Council

And A Few Words On Why Jim Bradley Should Be The Region’s Next Chair

A Brief Commentary by Doug Draper

Posted October 24th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

The following image, posted on Facebook this October 24th by former St. Catharines regional council candidate Peter Gill, captures the way many of us across Niagara feel about the defeat of outgoing Niagara regional chair Al Caslin and so many members of his cabal on the Region’s council in this past Monday’s municipal elections.

Gill, a retired Niagara Regional Services Police officer, fell short of winning one of the six seats available to St. Catharines on the Region’s council, but he deserves a great deal of thanks from everyone who have shared concerns about the conduct of Caslin and too many on the outgoing regional council for using social media to continually shine a light on their misdeeds. Continue reading →

Local health and rehabilitation centre waiting months for $500,000 in promised funding

News from the Constituency Office of Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch

Posted October 24^th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch

Queen’s Park – NDP MPP for Niagara Centre Jeff Burch said this past Tuesday, October 24^th  that the Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre has been waiting months for the Ford government to confirm $500,000 in crucial funding that was promised.

“After over a decade of fighting for a planning grant to expand the facility with 65 additional beds, the Hotel Dieu Shaver was successful when the province announced a $500,000 planning grant this past May,” said Burch.

“The Hotel Dieu Shaver has been in the dark on the status of this grant since the Ford government took office and they need to know if they can expect the money so they can begin planning for years to come.” Continue reading →

Trudeau Acts In Wake Of Ford’s Move To Give Ontario’s Polluters – In The Name Of Making Province “Open For Business” – A Free Ride

“Canadians are seeing the costs of climate change first hand, from wildfires in the west to floods in the east, smoke that makes the air unsafe to breathe and heatwaves that endanger the young and the elderly. We need to act now to fight back against climate change, for our children and grandchildren.”

A News Release from the Office of Canadian Prime Minister        Justin Trudeau

Posted October 24th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna (at left), talk to school children about need to protect environment for their future, during a visit to Niagara-on-the Lake on Earth Day in April of 2017. Visit followed shortly after Trump announced his decision to walk away from Paris Climate Change Agreement with Canada and rest of the world. File photo by Doug Draper

Canadians are seeing the costs of climate change first hand, from wildfires in the west to floods in the east, smoke that makes the air unsafe to breathe and heatwaves that endanger the young and the elderly. We need to act now to fight back against climate change, for our children and grandchildren.

The Government of Canada has a plan that protects the environment while growing the economy, and that plan is working – our emissions are down and the economy has grown by 500,000 full-time jobs. But we know we need to do more.

The Government of Canada worked with provinces and territories for two years, giving them the flexibility to design their own climate plans that included putting a price on carbon pollution. Continue reading →

“Working people need more help to build a great life and a great career here — not less.” – Ontario NDP and Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath

A Statement from the Office of Official Opposition and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath

Posted October 24th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Ontario Opposition and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath

Queen’s Park — Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath said that Doug Ford’s plan to scrap basic worker dignities like paid sick days will hurt hard-working people in Ontario, and drag the province backwards.

Doug Ford’s government announced this past Tuesday(October 23rd) he’s rolling back workers’ rights — taking away paid sick days, requiring a sick note when someone calls in sick, and taking away equal pay provisions so that if employers give a person less than full-time hours, the business is rewarded by being allowed to pay that worker a lower hourly wage. Continue reading →

A Message from Niagara At Large reporter and publisher Doug Draper

Posted October 23rd, 2018 on Niagara At Large

This is the real Dave Augustyn from Pelham

It is bad enough Pelham’s Dave Augustyn lost in these municipal elections, Niagara At Large made the mistake in a post published earlier this October 23rd of using his last name when I meant to refer to Sandy Annunziata, the defeated regional councillor from Fort Erie. 

The two individuals could not be more different, and I apologize to Dave Augustyn in advance of him even possibly noticing, for the mistake.

• Doug Draper

Here is the link to the corrected commentary – https://niagaraatlarge.com/2018/10/23/somewhere-between-beautiful-and-abysmal-these-municipal-elections-werent-bad/ 

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 reminder that we only post comments by individuals who also share their first and last names.

For more news and commentary from Niagara At Large – an independent, alternative voice for our greater bi-national Niagara region – become a regular visitor and subscriber to NAL at www.niagaraatlarge.com .

 “A politician thinks of the next election. A leader thinks of the next generation.” – Bernie Sanders

At The Very Least, They Served To Pull Enough Teeth Out Of The Monster

A Brief Commentary by Doug Draper

Posted October 23rd, 2018 on Niagara At Large

On this first morning after these municipal elections in Niagara that were a rout for Al Caslin and many of his fellow travellers on the Region’s council, I woke up to email and Facebook messages that summed the results in words that ranged from “beautiful” to “abysmal.”

Abysmal?

Niagara Region’s controversial chair, Al Caslin, running in St. Catharines for a regional council seat, had a lot of campaign signs covering the fences and walls of buildings in the city’s downtown area, but they didn’t do him any good. He polled 20th in a field of 23 candidates, along way from the top six where he had to be to win another term on the council. Photo by Doug Draper

Abysmal in the sense that for some people, the elections did not produce a total purge of Caslin’s cabal. There were still a few left at the end of the night, like Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati and a regional councillor from that same city, Bob Gale.

But look at how many of them were booted out. Selina Volpatti from Niagara Falls, Patrick Darte from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Tony Quirk from Grimsby, Doug Joyner from West Lincoln, Brian Baty from Pelham, Sandy Annunziata from Fort Erie, Bruce Timms from St. Catharines, and last but not least, the chair of the cabal himself, Al Caslin from St. Catharines. Continue reading →

Former MPP Jim Bradley Leads Pack, Caslin Is Buried in Race for St. Catharines Regional Council Seats

A News Commentary by Doug Draper

Posted October 23^rd, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Former St. Catharines MPP Jim Bradley was a big winner in these municipal elections, leading a pack of 23 candidates for one of St. Catharines’ six seats on Niagara Region’s council. Could he be appointed the Region’s new chair next?

If it was change the people of Niagara wanted in these municipal elections, we certainly got it – especially at the regional level.

So much so that when a new regional council is sworn later this fall, a full 23 of the 32 members, including the Region’s chair, sitting on it will be new.

The number of incumbents swept out in these October 22^nd elections was extraordinary by compared to elections gone by, but hardly all that shocking given the amount of controversy the outgoing council, chaired by the ever so controversial Al Caslin, became mired in over the past four years.

Lest there be any doubt that St. Catharines voters have had enough of the ill-conduct at the regional council level, Caslin polled 20^th in a field of 23 running in the city for a seat on the Region’s council, while long-time regional councillor Bruce Timms – one of Caslin’s fellow travellers during this now finished term of council – ranked ninth, with only the top six in the field winning a seat. Continue reading →

We Are Now Finally On The Verge Of Finding Out

A Brief One from Doug Draper

Posted October 22^nd, 2018 on Niagara At Large

When retired Niagara Regional Police Services officer and now St. Catharines regional council candidate Peter Gill posted this image on his Facebook page this past spring, Niagara Regional Chair Al Caslin and a majority on his council were already mired in controversy and there was already a strong public desire for change – or as Gill put it, a housecleaning – in the air.

That urge for change has only grown stronger since then, and on this Monday, October 22nd municipal election day, I’ve heard one anecdotal report after another that voter turnout at the polls is much higher than usual. Continue reading →

Tens of Thousands of People – Rallying Together – Can Make A Big Difference

A Statement from Natalie Mehra, Ontario Health Coalition

Posted October 22nd, 2018 on Niagara At Large

“I am hearing from many corners of the province that a rally or an action won’t work. It won’t change anything.

“This is not objectively true, and it is really dangerous thinking. In truth, we have saved dozens and dozens of local services and even entire hospitals through political action and advocacy. Continue reading →

Niagara Residents Invited To Hop On The Bus And Join The Rally – This Tuesday, October 23rd

To demand restored & expanded public health care. No cuts and privatization!

A Call-Out from the Niagara Health Coalition and Ontario Health Coalition

Posted October 22nd, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Niagara,Ontario – In what is shaping up to be one of the largest public rallies at the Ontario Legislature regarding the Doug Ford government’s plans to date, the Ontario Health Coalition is ramping up to demand that the government live up to its pre-election promises to “end hallway medicine” and improve mental health resources.

Noting that Doug Ford did not mention the word privatization in the pre-election campaign, the Coalition will send a strong message that the public expects the government to restore closed hospital beds, improve hospital, long-term and mental health care, and re-invest in front-line services.

A decade ago,Wayne Redekop, now Mayor of Fort Erie,  addressesa rally attended on lawns of Queen’s Park  for saving hospital services in his town and other communties across Ontario.  File Photo by Doug Draper

The government has no mandate to cut, privatize, engage in mega-mergers of hospitals or other services, roll back gains that were made last year, and other negative proposals that have been floated or implemented since the Ford government took power. Continue reading →

This Monday, October 22nd, Vote for Candidates who will Stand Up for the Common Good in our Niagara Region

From Doug Draper, reporter/publisher, Niagara At Large

Posted October 21st, 2018 on Niagara At Large

“Throw them all out and elect new people.”

St. Catharines regional councillor Brian Heit. One of the heroes on Niagara Region’s council that we need to keep.

I have heard that line over and over again from fellow residents across this Niagara region as these Monday, October 22nd municipal elections draw near.

And it is a sentiment that almost makes sense given the ugly mess we have suffered through at the regional council level with Caslin and his cabal, and at some of the local councils in Niagara .

Almost makes sense. But not quite.

It would be a huge and harmful mistake to “throw them all out” because there are some very good, solid and principled people who have served on the Region’s council and our local councils in Niagara over the past four years who deserve to be re-elected and, just as importantly, we need their knowledge and experience to get our councils off to the hit-the-ground-running, productive start our region needs. Continue reading →

This Monday, October 22^nd, Elect Barbara Greenwood, Dave Eke and Dianne Munro to Regional Council

Elect Kim Craitor Mayor of Niagara Falls  and Re-Elect Carolynn Ioannoni to City Council

A Commentary by Niagara At Large reporter and publisher           Doug Draper

Posted October 19^th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Okay, Niagara Falls.

In the 2014 municipal elections, you elected Bart Maves, Bob Gale and Selina Volpatti to the three seats reserved for directly elected councillors from your city on Niagara Region’s council.

And along with your city’s mayor, Jim Diodati, all three of them – Maves, Gale and Volpatti –got the 2014 to 2018 term of regional council off to a start by voting to appoint Al Caslin’s to lead the Region’s council as chair.

In February of 2015, they voted in a block again – this time against a motion to hire an integrity commissioner to address code of conduct complaints at the Region.

In June of 2016, they joined with other members of Caslin’s cabal against calls from the public to have an independent, value-for-money audit done on the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA). Then in October of 2016, they voted in lock-step again to higher then NPCA CAO Carmen D’Angelo CAO of the Region. Continue reading →

An Important Municipal Election Report  from ‘A Better Niagara’, a non-partisan, non-profit organization of citizens with a mandate to encourage civic engagement in                       this Monday’s, October 22^nd municipal elections

Posted October 19^th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

To watch a video A Better Niagara produced, naming incumbents on Niagara Region’s council that the citizen organization believes do not deserve your vote in this coming Monday’s October 22^nd  municipal elections, click on the screen below –

To review a list of candidates in municipalities across the Niagara region that A Better Niagara is endorsing to serve on regional and local councils, click on – https://www.abetterniagara.com/endorsements

A Brief Footnote from Niagara At Large reporter and publisher Doug Draper –

In the almost 40 years this journalist has been following municipal politics in this Niagara region, I believe these October 22nd municipal elections are the most important ones we have had in terms of what is at stake for our lives, jobs and communities.

We have never had a Niagara regional council with as many bullies and uncivil characters on it, carrying on in ways that are an embarrassment and disservice to all of us. Some of their scandalous antics have generated headlines that have disgraced our region from cost to coast.

I’ve covered this council and I believe that A Better Niagara’s lists of who to vote for and who to boot out are on the mark.

Please review them careful and for the sake of yourselves, your families and your neighbours, GO OUT AND VOTE!

About ‘A Better Niagara’ – A Better Niagara is a non-partisan, non-profit organization with a mandate to encourage civic engagement and municipal public participation in Niagara. The group was founded by a coalition of local residents frustrated by the nature of politics in Niagara who joined together to offer a new vision for governance in our communities.

To learn more about A Better Niagara and its efforts in these October 22^nd, 2018 municipal elections, click on – https://www.abetterniagara.com/

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 reminder that we only post comments by individuals who also share their first and last names.

For more news and commentary from Niagara At Large – an independent, alternative voice for our greater bi-national Niagara region – become a regular visitor and subscriber to NAL at www.niagaraatlarge.com .

 “A politician thinks of the next election. A leader thinks of the next generation.” – Bernie Sanders

Ford froze funding increases to Sexual Assault Centres and dissolved the Roundtable on Violence Against Women

A News Release from Ontario’s New Democratic Party

Posted October 18th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario was not doing enough to end gender-based violence, but the Doug Ford government has cut those efforts even more by dissolving Ontario’s Provincial Roundtable on Violence against Women and refusing to flow funding increases to Sexual Assault Centres promised under the Gender Based Violence plan.

NDP Women’s Issues Critic Suze Morrison says that the Ford Conservatives must do better.

“The Hamilton Sexual Assault Centre has seen a 100 per cent increase in calls to their crisis line over the past three years. Their waitlist for counselling is now seven months long,” said Morrison. Continue reading →

Actions and outcomes from working group meeting on suicide prevention and mental health

News form Niagara’s Regional Government

Posted October 18th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

As one suicide prevention measure, Niagara Region is installing help line signage around Burgoyne Bridge in St. Catharines. Region says more measures are on the way.

Niagara, Ontario – On Wednesday, Oct. 17, members of Niagara Region’s newly formed suicide prevention working group met to further explore preventative actions to respond to recent suicide-related deaths and the broader issue of suicide prevention in Niagara.

This follow-up to last week’s discussion included representatives from Niagara Region, Niagara Region Public Health, City of St. Catharines, Niagara Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS), Niagara Suicide Prevention Coalition (NSPC) and Niagara Health. Continue reading →

The funding helps support parent engagement in schools that do not otherwise have community support, or where language, socio-economic and geographic barriers come between parents and their children’s education

A News Release from Ontario’s New Democratic Party

Posted October 18^th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

QUEEN’S PARK – Doug Ford’s cuts to education includes parent council programs like the one that helped parents navigate digital safety with their kids.

And the cuts just keep on coming

For the second day in a row, Ford’s dducation minister refused to explain why Ford has cut the Parents Reaching Out Grants for 2018-19, or why parents were not notified about the decision.

And parent workshops focused on mental, physical and sexual health, a school event on boosting participation in STEM, and resources for parents of children with special needs are just a few of the hundreds of parent engagement events that have hit Ford’s chopping block. Continue reading →

This Monday, October 22nd, Let the Clean Up Begin by Firing Caslin & Timms, and Hiring A Mix of Incumbents and New Faces on the Region’s Council

A Commentary by Niagara At Large reporter and publisher           Doug Draper

Posted October 18th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

In the days leading up to this coming Monday’s  municipal elections, I have never encountered  more of a “throw the bums out” mentality among voters than I have this time around – especially when it comes to Niagara’s regional council.

It is time to get more people with integrity in this building. These municipal elections are our best chance to do it. Vote for your future in Niagara this Monday, October 22nd.

That mentality is driven by a good deal of anger over what people have been hearing and reading around the CAO hiring issue and other controversies at the regional council level. And it makes more sense when it comes to the incumbent regional council candidates running in some Niagara municipalities more than others.

When it comes to the extraordinarily large slate of regional council candidates in St. Catharines  – more than 20 in all, running for six of the Region’s 31 seats (not including the regional chair’s) – Niagara At Large believes that voting all of the incumbents out would be a huge mistake. Continue reading →

Premier Doug Ford will appoint Ian Todd as Ontario’s Trade Representative to the United States in Washington, D.C.

News from the Office of Ontario Premier Doug Ford

Posted October 18th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

The Peace Bridge – a major gateway for trade between Ontario and many points in the U.S.

Queen’s Park, Ontario — Today, Premier Doug Ford announced that Ontario’s Government for the People is marking a new chapter in the province’s relationship with the United States.

“I am pleased that we are beginning a new chapter in Ontario’s long relationship with the United States. I am so happy to announce that we intend to appoint Ian Todd to be Ontario’s Trade Representative in Washington,” said Ford.

“In the new era of USMCA, we need someone who is strategically minded, has extensive government experience, and will put Ontario’s interests first. Todd is well suited to promote Ontario’s diversity and diverse economy.” Continue reading →

Former Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown

“There’s a culture at the top of the Conservative party that’s troubling. ,… We’ve seen Ford appoint his friends and insiders to cushy gigs that come with gigantic public paycheques. And now we have serious questions about how Brown spent so much, so quickly.” – Ontario NDP MPP Taras Natyshak

A News Release from Ontario’s New Democratic Party

Posted October 18th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

QUEEN’S PARK – Former Conservative Leader Patrick Brown has to explain how he blew through nearly $300,000 in public money in just two months, said NDP MPP Taras Natyshak.

“Conservative party insiders get paid, and Ontario people pay for it,” said Natyshak. “Mr. Brown needs to come clean and explain where this money went.” Continue reading →

… And a Well-Deserved Trouncing in the Polls for Regional Council Incumbent Brian Baty

A Commentary by Niagara At Large reporter and publisher Doug Draper

Posted October 17th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn with former Niagara Regional chair Debbie Zimmerman this past July, after Augustyn announced his plans to run for Niagara Regional Chair in the October 22nd elections. Thanks to Ford cancelling the regional chair elections, he is now running in Pelham for a seat on the regional council. File photo by Doug Draper

One bright, sunny morning this past July, things finally seemed to be looking ups for people dreaming for an end of the four-year nightmare at Niagara regional council.

At a Tim Horton’s diner in Pelham, packed with friends and supporters, the town’s mayor, Dave Augustyn, did what so many hoped he would do and announced his plans to run in what was still on the books then – a region-wide race for Chair of the Region’s council.

At the time Augustyn made his announcement, a race for the Chair’s seat was already shaping up between him, the seat’s current holder, Al Caslin, former Welland mayor Damian Goulbourne and Niagara Falls resident John “Ringo” Beam. And given all of the controversy swirling around Caslin, the hiring of the Region’s CAO and related matters, it looked like Augustyn might have a pretty good shot at campaigning his way to a winning finish in this October 22nd municipal elections.

Shortly after Augustyn made his announcement, Pelham resident Diana Huson announced her plans to run for the town’s only directly elected seat on regional council, now held by Brian Baty. Continue reading →

On Monday, October 22nd, Vote for Betty Disero for Lord Mayor and for Gary Zalepa for Regional Council

It Is High Time For NOTL’s current Lord Mayor,   Patrick Darte, to Say Goodbye!

A Commentary by Niagara At Large reporter and publisher Doug Draper

Posted October 17th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Vote for Betty Disero for Lord Mayor of Niagara-on-the-Lake

If you are a voter living in the municipality of Niagara-on-the-Lake and you are feeling as fed up or angry as many of the rest of us in Niagara are over what has been going on at the regional government level, the good news is this.

There is something you can help do about the mess at the Region in this coming Monday, October 22nd municipal elections by voting in people who can play a role in making our regional government work in ways that are open, fair, civil and functional again for all of us who live and work in Niagara, and want to build a healthy, prosperous future here.

Voters in Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) can play an important role in getting Niagara Region’s council back on track again by going to the polls – en masse – this October 22nd and electing two good people we at Niagara At Large believe you are fortunate to have on your ballots. Continue reading →

“(This) means ripping $3 billion right out of folks’ bank accounts, or cutting $3 billion from things like health care.” – Peter Tabuns, Ontario NDP’s Energy and Climate Change critic

A News Release from Ontario’s New Democratic Party

Posted October 16th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

The cost of this move? $3 billion in the short run.. And there is no estimating how many more billions of dollars of damage and destruction to persons and property we will face in the years ahead because this guy wants to make like Donald Trump on addressing climate change.

Queen’s Park – The people of Ontario will have to shell out an extra $3 billion over four years because of Doug Ford’s favour to big polluters: cancelling cap and trade.

“Doug Ford is hurting Ontario’s environment, and he’s charging all Ontarians extra to do it,” said the NDP’s Energy and Climate Change critic, Peter Tabuns.

“The direct result of Ford’s favour to big polluters will be $3 billion in costs piled onto the backs of the people of Ontario. That means ripping $3 billion right out of folks’ bank accounts, or cutting $3 billion from things like health care.” Continue reading →

Backroom deal keeping slots out of Fort Erie Race Track sells Niagara community and its people short – Wayne Gates

A Statement from the Constituency Office of Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gate

Posted October 15th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Niagara Falls, Ontario MPP Wayne Gates in provincial legislature. File photo

(A Note to NAL readers – The following statement  from Niagara Falls’ MPP is a response to an announcement Ontario’s Ford government outlined in a media release this October 12^th. You can  read that media release by going  Niagara At Large’s online site or by clicking on –

Fort Erie, Ontario —Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates released the following statement regarding Doug Ford’s decision not to reinstate the slot at the racetrack program at the Fort Erie Race Track:

“This backroom deal trading dollars for slots tramples the efforts of Fort Erie families and horse people throughout the region to secure a future for the Fort Erie Race Track. Continue reading →

“Government for the People” reaches deals with Ontario race tracks

Fort Erie and Dresden race tracks elected to receive additional financial support for horse racing operations, but declined to accept slots at those facilities.

News from the Ontario Government of Doug Ford

Posted October 15th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Toronto — The Government for the People has kept a commitment to bolster support for Ontario’s horse racing industry.

This repairs the damage done by the previous Liberal government when it cancelled the slots at racetracks program.

Agreements in principle have now been reached to keep slots operating at Kawartha Downs and Ajax Downs, and to provide additional funding to continue horse racing in Fort Erie and Dresden.

“This is another promise made, promise kept,” said Finance Minister Vic Fedeli.

“We worked with our partners in the horse racing industry, and have agreed on packages which include funding and/or slots at racetracks. These packages are designed to directly support the horse racing industry and rural communities.”

Ajax Downs will continue to have slots which will provide additional financial support to continue quarter-horse racing in Durham Region. 

Fort Erie and Dresden race tracks elected to receive additional financial support for horse racing operations, but declined to accept slots at those facilities.

Discussions are ongoing with other racetracks in Ontario.

Quick Facts

• In May 2018, a new long-term funding agreement for the horse-racing sector was signed between the industry and OLG. The agreement includes funding for racetracks operations and purse support for horse people up to $105M per year for 19 years.
• The signatories of the long-term funding agreement (Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), Ontario Racing, Woodbine Entertainment Group and Ontario Racing Management Inc.) executed the agreement May 7, 2018. The agreement will come into effect on April 1, 2019.

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 reminder that we only post comments by individuals who also share their first and last names.

For more news and commentary from Niagara At Large – an independent, alternative voice for our greater bi-national Niagara region – become a regular visitor and subscriber to NAL at www.niagaraatlarge.com .

 “A politician thinks of the next election. A leader thinks of the next generation.” – Bernie Sanders

This coming Monday, October 22nd, vote for positive change for our Niagara region. Nothing less than        our future is at stake!

A Brief Commentary by Niagara At Large reporter and publisher, followed by a video message from the region-wide citizens group, ‘A Better Niagara’.

Posted August 14th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

It is time to vote out this guy – current Niagara Region chair Al Caslin – and his fellow travellers and enablers on the council

Given the costly, hellish nightmare that Niagara Regional Chair Al Caslin and his cabal  of bullies and enablers have turned our Region’s council and the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority – a key regional partner in protecting and preserving what is left of our precious natural heritage in our region – in to over the past four years, the coming  October 22nd municipal elections are the most important ones in decades for our region’s future.

In these October 22nd municipal elections, it is absolutely imperative in these municipal elections that we, the people who live, work and pay taxes in Niagara, fire Caslin, who is running in St. Catharines, and members of his cabal running in other municipalities across the region, and replace them with people of integrity, who will put our interests as people and a community of communities first.

There is no other option if we want a Niagara Region that is working for a healthier, more prosperous future us and that we can be proud of again.

In that spirit, please click on the following video message from the dedicated citizens working for more public engagement in these crucial elections, ‘ A Better Niagara’ –

Of the members of the cabal that are running in these municipal elections, the ones who definitely need to be voted out or fired include Al Caslin and Bruce Timms in St. Catharines, Brian Baty in Pelham, Mayor Frank Campion and Paul Grenier in Welland, Sandy Annunziata in Fort Erie, Lord Mayor Patrick Darte in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Mayor Doug Joyner in West Lincoln, Tony Quirk in Grimsby, and Mayor Jim Diodatti , along with  Bob Gale and Selina Volpatti in Niagara Falls.

There are some very good candidates running against each and every one of the above and Niagara At Large will be posting information about them in the days ahead.

It is time to get more people with integrity in this building. These municipal elections are our best chance to do it.

There are also some very good incumbents who sit on the current Niagara regional council who are running for re-election – individuals who have had the courage to stand up (not just sit there or not show up for key meetings) and speak out for something better than the train wreck the council unfortunately turned in to.

Key incumbents Niagara At Large urges you to support in these elections include Brian Heit and Kelly Edgar in St. Catharines, George Marshall in Welland, Dave Augustyn who is running for a regional council seat in Pelham, Barbara Butters who has sat on the local council in Port Colborne and is running for a regonal council seat this time, and Henry D’Angela who is running for mayor this time in Thorold, and Tim Whelan, who has sat on Thorold’s council and is now running for a regional council seat.

Don’t make the mistake of throwing out good councillors with the bad! We need the experience of these good people, and so will those who will be serving on regional council for the first time!

Please spend the week days left before the coming Monday, October 22nd vote getting to know as much as you can about the candidates running for regional and local municipal council, and the school boards in your community, and do everything you can to show your support for candidates that promise to do our communities the most good.

(If we missed any key candidates in the lists above please let us know in a comment below and we will be sure to make up for any omission that makes sense to us – give a candidate’s past record – the next time.)

And please continue to visit  Niagara At Large at www.niagaraatlarge.com for more on all of this in the days ahead.

For more  on the October 22nd municipal elections from A Better Niagara, visit the citizen organizaiton’s website by clicking on https://www.abetterniagara.com/ .

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 reminder that we only post comments by individuals who also share their first and last names.

 “A politician thinks of the next election. A leader thinks of the next generation.” – Bernie Sanders

Our Natural Heritage is being Ill-Served by those now running this Broken Conservation Authority

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

Posted October 12^th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Canadian environmentalist  John Jackson

“You have all of these special ecosystems in Niagara,” said veteran Canadian environmentalist John Jackson during his talk on the Great Lakes, hosted in St. Catharines this October by the Niagara District Council of Women. “You have so many special places here in this region. … It is so important to protect them.”

Jackson knows what he is talking about  when it comes to those  special places because the Waterloo area activist has spent a good deal of his adult life in Niagara, helping local citizen groups battle one proposal or another that posed risks to healthy communities and the environment.

Eighteen of those years – in the 1980s and 90s – were spent helping Niagara citizens successfully defeat a plan by a now-defunct Ontario crown corporation to build and operate a giant toxic waste disposal facility in West Lincoln when, Jackson said, some of those citizens would take him on tours of woodlands, marshlands and other natural places he came to treasure.

A look at the wetlands in Thundering Waters Forest

It is too bad that the people of our region no longer has a Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) that shows the same passion and dedication for protecting and preserving what are left of these special places as citizen activists like John Jackson have. Continue reading →

Glyphosate, an active ingredient in Roundup, targets undesired weeds—as well as honeybees

News from the National Magazine for the Sierra Club, one of North America’s oldest and largest grassroots environmental groups

Article by Austin Price, Sierra Club

Posted October 12^th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

The most widely sprayed herbicide in the world kills honeybees, according to a new report.

SIERRA Monsanto Honeybees WB

Glyphosate, an herbicide and active ingredient in Monsanto’s (now Bayer’s) Roundup weed killer, targets enzymes long assumed to be found only in plants.

The product is advertised as being innocuous to wildlife. But some bacteria also use this enzyme, including a microbiome found in the intestines of most bees. When pollinators come in contact with glyphosate, the chemical reduces this gut bacteria, leaving bees vulnerable to pathogens and premature death. Continue reading →

Employees, students and research add up to Brock’s significant impact on region

News from Brock University in St. Catharines/Niagara

Posted October 12th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – Nearly half a billion dollars. Even on the conservative end of the measurement scale, that’s the economic impact Brock University has on the Niagara region each year.

Brock University President Gervan Fearon addresses the crowd Wednesday, Oct. 10 as the Niagara Community Observatory presented a policy brief examining Brock’s economic impact on Niagara and beyond.

It comes in the form of Brock’s 19,000 students living in the region and spending their money here. It comes from hundreds of millions of dollars in capital and operational expenditures. And it comes from Brock’s 4,800 part- and full-time employees receiving more than $200 million in payroll each year. Continue reading →

“Niagara Region is taking immediate action to install signs at key locations around Niagara that will provide mental health crisis support information. In addition, the Niagara Regional Police Service will increase vigilance in downtown St. Catharines.”

A Joint Statement from Niagara Region and City of St. Catharines officials on meeting on suicide prevention and mental health

Posted October 11^th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

This Thursday, October 11th , representatives from Niagara Region, Niagara Region Public Health, City of St. Catharines, Niagara Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) met to develop appropriate actions to respond to recent suicide-related deaths and the broader issue of suicide prevention in Niagara.

“Our organizations take the mental health and well-being of our residents and the ongoing need for effective suicide prevention very seriously.

Recent deaths in Niagara have further highlighted this important health challenge that we face across the region and Ontario. We share the community’s grief over these recent losses and a desire for action to address the mental health needs of our residents. Continue reading →

“Recent suicides in our city show the problem is not isolated to individuals but is widespread and will continue until we treat the underlying mental health issues.” – Mo Al Jumaily, running in the City of St. Catharines for a seat on Niagara Regional Council

News from the Campaign to Elect Mo Al Jumaily to Niagara Regional Council

Posted October 10^th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

St. Catharines regional councillor candidate Mo Al Jumaily

St. Catharines, Ontario  – In the wake of this morning’s suicide, St. Catharines regional council candidate Mo Al Jumaily is calling for restoring the over $300 million per year of funding for mental health cut by the provincial Doug Ford government.

Mo said “I send my deepest condolences to the families affected. While we are still waiting for details on this morning’s tragedy, we know that crises related to mental health have been at an intense level in our community. Accessible mental health services are needed for preventing suicide, self-harm, and for treating opioid addiction. I will work with every Niagara MPP to ensure we get the funding we need in Niagara Region.” Continue reading →

“NRH is committed to continuing to provide affordable, accessible and quality housing for all Niagara residents.”   Henry D’Angela, Thorold regional councillor and Niagara Regional Housing board Chair

See Highlights below of NRH’s Second Quarterly Report for 2018

News from Niagara Regional Housing (NRH) in Niagara, Ontario

Posted October 10th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

NIAGARA REGION – The Niagara Regional Housing (NRH) Board of Directors approved the second Quarterly Report for April to June 2018.  This report provides updates on NRH programs and services.  

 “As the number of households waiting for affordable housing steadily increases, it’s important to note the many initiatives that NRH has undertaken that help to address this issue”, said NRH board Chair Henry D’Angela, “NRH is committed to continuing to provide affordable, accessible and quality housing for all Niagara residents.”  Continue reading →

With a new Discovery Grant from the federal government, Brock University bee expert Miriam Richards is hoping to do what no other researcher has ever done.

News from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario

Posted October 9th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – Scientists often study an animal’s ability to survive to maturity, find a mate and produce offspring — shedding light on traits that will be passed onto successive generations. That’s fairly straightforward with larger animals, but it gets complicated when the subject of study is a carpenter bee.

Biological Sciences graduate student Lyndon Duff (front) explains how he and his research team, led by Professor of Biology Miriam Richards, monitor bees’ mating activities during a tour on the day that funding results were announced by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). Back row from left: St. Catharines MP Chris Bittle; Richards; Niagara Centre MP Vance Badawey; and Tim Kenyon, Vice-President, Research.

Allowing that research to move forward is funding announced Tuesday, Oct. 9 by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Continue reading →

Are They Enjoying A Beer For A Buck Too? Chug-A-Lug Another Brewski on Premier Doug!

A Status Report from Ontario’s NDP and Official Opposition Party

Doug Ford’s first 100 days: by the numbers

“From forcing a sex-ed curriculum written more than 20 years ago back into the classroom, to meddling in the Toronto municipal elections that were already underway, to appointing rich and powerful supporters to patronage jobs that come with big pay cheques, Ford has shown that he’s driven by backroom deals, his need for revenge against old political enemies,  and doing favours for friends.”

Posted October 9^th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Ontario’s New Democatic Party P says Doug Ford’s first 100 days in office can only be measured by the people impacted by his choices. Continue reading →

A Brief Comment from Niagara, Ontario area Don Alexander

Posted October 9^th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

The Trade agreement with Mexico, Canada and the United States is written with US first.

USMCA. Try pronouncing that!.  No useful acronym here.

Let’s put Canada First, Mexico in the middle and the US last!  Now we have a pronounceable and really useful acronym: CAMUS.

Useful?  Yes. It triggers us to think of French author Albert Camus.  Some of his writings—two in particular– describe the US president’s role: “Stupidity has a knack of getting its way.”  (The Plague,  part-one 1947) Continue reading →

Do Enough Of Us Really Care Enough To Act Before It Is Too Late? Is It Too Late Already?

“The report finds that limiting global warming … would require “rapid and far-reaching” transitions in land, energy, industry, buildings, transport, and cities.”

News from the United Nation’s report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Posted October 9^th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society, the IPCC said in a new assessment.

With clear benefits to people and natural ecosystems, limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared to 2°C could go hand in hand with ensuring a more sustainable and equitable society, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said this past Monday, October 8th.

The Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C was approved by the IPCC on Saturday in Incheon, Republic of Korea. It will be a key scientific input into the Katowice Climate Change Conference in Poland in December, when governments review the Paris Agreement to tackle climate change. 

“With more than 6,000 scientific references cited and the dedicated contribution of thousands of expert and government reviewers worldwide, this important report testifies to the breadth and policy relevance of the IPCC,” said Hoesung Lee, Chair of the IPCC.  Continue reading →

A Call-Out from the Niagara-based animal advocacy group, Niagara Action For Animals

Posted October 9th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Dear Friends Of Animals –

Another deer hunt planned for Short Hills Provincial Park in Niagara, Ontario. File photo

The Ministry of Natural Resources & Forests is currently in the final planning stages for this year’s Deer Herd Reduction in Short Hills Park; the dates are as follows: Sunday Nov. 11th, Monday Nov. 12th. Sunday Nov. 25th, Monday Nov. 26th. Tues. Dec. 4th, Wed. Dec. 5th.

Last year the MNRF “assisted” and “hosted” what turned out to be a full blown trophy hunt in the park referred to as “The Big Buck Contest” by the hunters. Attached are posts made by hunters during the hunt last November. Continue reading →

Saturday, October 20, 2018 At the Hotel Dieu Shaver Health & Rehabilitation Centre, St. Catharines

Admission Is Free To Attend The Community Event At The Hotel Dieu Shaver Health And Rehabilitation Centre, 541 Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines

Posted October 9th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

St. Catharines in Niagara, Ontario –  Attendees can learn, connect, and interact with healthcare experts on the Speaker Sessions schedule confirmed for the Niagara Health Expo. The line-up of speakers at the event on October 20 from 10am to 2pm includes highly credentialed doctors, healthcare practitioners, and a fitness expert.

BREAST CANCER PREVENTION: 10 AM
Lisa Syed, Clinical Thermographic Technician,Thermography Rochester Continue reading →