Author Archives: dougdraper

Niagara MPP Cindy Forster’s Bill Includes Card Check Certification And First Contract Arbitration

News from Welland Riding MPP Cindy Forster and Ontario’s New Democratic Party

Posted April 4^th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Queen`s Park– This April 4^th, Welland Riding MPP and Ontario NDP Labour Critic Cindy Forster, will table legislation that would give Ontario workers access to better jobs, better wages and the ability to secure benefits.

Forster’s bill, Fairness in First Contracts and the Right to Representation Act 2017, would make it easier for workers to achieve union representation in a workplace, and to quickly and fairly attain a first contract.

Niagara, Ontario area MPP Cindy Forster, second from left, at jobs press conference twith young Ontario workers Erin Warman, Suleman Basharat, and Samia Hashi

Forster’s approach has the support of workers like Erin Warman, Suleman Basharat, and Samia Hashi, all young workers who shared their experiences of difficulties accessing union representation and reaching a first contract. They shared personal accounts of how these measures would significantly improve the quality of work for hard working Ontarians.

 “The nature of work is changing at a significant pace and people – including so many young people and racialized women – are finding their work less and less stable,” said Forster. Continue reading →

The people of Canada are leading the world in their response to the refugee crisis. I am honoured by Parliament’s invitation and look forward to visiting this great nation of heroes.”                      — Malala Yousafzai

News from the Office of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Posted April 3rd, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s  Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced this April 3rd that Malala Yousafzai will visit Canada on April 12, 2017, to address Parliament and to officially receive the honorary Canadian citizenship bestowed upon her in 2014.

At 15 years old, Ms. Yousafzai was the target of Taliban assassins after she became an outspoken advocate for the right of girls to learn and to attend school. She has since become an international spokesperson for girls’ education and the rights of women and girls. In recognition of this work, she was named a co-recipient of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize. Continue reading →

“Ending the hunt helps to give snapping turtles a fighting chance and frees us up to focus attention on dealing with other threats such as wetland loss and road kills.” – Ontario Nature conservation and education director Anne Bell.

A Message from Ontario Nature, an advocacy organization for nature in Ontario

Posted April 3rd, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Toronto –  Ontario’s decision to end hunting of snapping turtles is a welcome move, according to the David Suzuki Foundation, Canadian Herpetological Society and Ontario Nature.

SnappingTurtle,Photo courtesy of Scott Gillingwater, Ontario Nature

Ontario lists the snapping turtle as a species of “special concern,” which means that although it is not yet endangered or threatened, a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats could endanger or threaten it. Continue reading →

An Invite from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario

Posted April 3rd, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Making money is good, but making money while remaining socially responsible is even better.

The topic of corporate social responsibility will be the focus of this year’s Business Matters panel discussion, being held Tuesday, April 4 at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.

Making Business Matter is the third in a series of panel talks organized by Brock University’s Goodman School of Business. Previous Business Matters discussions have focused on the music industry and innovation in business. Continue reading →

Breaking News on Niagara At Large

Posted April 1st, 2017

During their ongoing  probe for links between members of Donald Trump’s campaign and presidential team and Russians, FBI director James Comey and his bureau investigators made a startling discovery.

One of Trump’s former campaign managers and his right-hand man in the White House, Steven Bannon, is really Roie O’Donnell. The discover ends months of the comedian’s friends wondering why they haven’t seen her making her usual round of visit to Yuk Yuk clubs in the Manhattan area.

Sources say the real Steve Bannon, fearful that the feds are closing in on the Russian scandal and may soon serve arrest warrants, is now be hiding out in the same Moscow apartment where U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden has been living in exile

The matter has been turned over to the Senates Intelligence and Ethics Committees for a full hearing.

Enjoy your first day of April and the weekend. And Happy April Fools, Doug Draper, NAL publisher.

NIAGARA AT LARGE encourages you to join the conversation by sharing your views on this post in the space below the Bernie quote.

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 binational 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

And we in Niagara, Ontario certainly deserve better than what we have now!

A Brief Commentary by Doug Draper

Posted March 31st, 2017 on Niagara at Large

Niagara, Ontario – Never doubt it when someone wisely says that we get the government we deserve and that election make a difference.

If you don’t believe it, just look at what is happening in the United States right now. But you don’t even have to look that big or that far.

Look at what we’ve got at Niagara’s regional government level where – I will say it now, and you will find me saying it again and again if you continue visiting Niagara At Large for an alternatives news and commentary voice in the weeks a months ahead – we only have about a dozen elected people on the current regional council that deserve re-election.

Niagara, Ontario’s regional council in session, with the Region’ chair, Al Calin, at top left. File photo by Doug Draper

The rest have got to go! Continue reading →

Who to blame for all of that ‘Fake News’

A Brief One on Niagara At Large

Posted March 31t, 2017NIAGARA AT LARGE encourages you to join the conversation by sharing your views on this post in the space below the Bernie quote.

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 binational 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

New from the Office of Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath

Posted March 31t, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Queen’s Park ,Ontario  – The number of well-heeled people being highly paid by Hydro One is a mystery – a black hole in Friday’s sunshine list, according the NDP.

“How many names, and how much money would be added to this sunshine list if Premier Wynne didn’t give her partially-privatized company permission to hide that information?” asked NDP MPP Peter Tabuns, the NDP’s energy critic.

“How many names? How much money?” Continue reading →

Is Niagara Regional Government’s intervention needed to     Make Pelham Great Again?

A News Commentary by Doug Draper

Posted March 31st, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Thank God we have David Barrick on Niagara’s regional council. What a profile in courage! What a crusader for Niagara’s taxpayer!

Port Colborne regional council and Niagara corporate services committee Chair David Barrick sees possible financial trouble in Pelham town.

The Port Colborne regional councillor took time out from representing his own municipality on the Region’s council and from his full-time job as director of corporate services at the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority to drill down in to the Town of Pelham’s financial books and what he claims he found is not a pretty picture.

To wade through all of the ‘Whereas’s’ in a motion Barrick tabled at the regional council meeting this past Thursday (March 30th night) – a motion that, at the bottom of it, calls on Pelham’s mayor and council to pull of their fiscal socks, exercise more public disclosure when it comes to their financial statements and restore public trust in the way they operate their affairs, and that seemed to take Barrick longer to read than the time it takes to hard boil a dozen eggs – one would conclude that Pelham’s budget is about to explode in ways that triggers an economic earthquake across the entire region. Continue reading →

 New laws would increase organ donations and would protect workers’ rights

News from the Ontario New Democratic Party

Posted March 30^th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

The late Niagara, Ontario poltical maverick Peter Kormos, former Welland Riding MPP, Welland city councilor and Niagara regional councilor.

QUEEN’S PARK – This March 30th,  NDP MPP France Gélinas re-introduced two private member’s bills in honour of her former colleague, Peter Kormos, to mark the fourth anniversary of his death.

 “Peter made an enormous contribution to public life as the MPP for Welland for 23 years – both because he was a tremendous advocate for his constituents and because of the skill he displayed in respectfully using the parliamentary process to enhance debate and improve legislation,” said Gélinas, MPP for Nickel Belt. 

 “To me, Peter was a friend who provided sound advice, and I am proud to bring forward these two pieces of legislation that I believe are good for the people of Ontario, and that honour Peter’s memory,” she noted. Continue reading →

“The Games will not only significantly benefit restaurants, hotels and other businesses in my riding, they’ll also allow people in Ontario to cheer on our amateur athletes on our home turf and showcase the province to visitors from across the country.”  — Jim Bradley, MPP St. Catharines

News from the Ontario government,  Niagara’s regional government and Brock University

Posted March 30th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – Ontario is pleased to announce that the Canada Games Council has selected Niagara Region to host the 2021 Canada Summer Games.

In August 2021, Niagara Region will welcome approximately 4,600 athletes from across Canada to compete in 17 sports over the course of two weeks.

The province is supporting Niagara Region to help plan and deliver the Games through the Games Ontario program. Continue reading →

 News from the Ontario Government

Posted March 30th, 2017  on Niagara At Large

St. Catharines, Ontario   – Anchor Shoring & Caissons Ltd., a  company that designs and installs soil retention systems and caisson foundations, pleaded guilty and has been fined $50,000 after two workers were injured when a reinforcing cage collapsed with the workers in it.  

The company had been retained to undertake construction of a foundation for a new hydro tower at 88 Niagara Boulevard in Fort Erie and on November 13, 2015, two workers were working inside a cylindrical cage made of reinforcement bars (rebars). Earlier, workers had used a crane to remove the cage from a flatbed truck. Continue reading →

 A Call-Out for Public Accontability from the Ontario Public Service Employees Union

Posted March 29th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) is calling on the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) to accept the Auditor General’s offer to conduct a free and comprehensive audit on the organization instead of paying up to $150,000 to a private firm for an “operational review.”

Niagara citizens demonstrate outside an NPCA board of directors meeting this March 29thy. Photo by Doug Draper

“Last month, the NPCA laid off a highly skilled worker, supposedly due to fiscal constraints,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “Why is the NPCA spending $150,000 on consultants when they can get a full audit from the Auditor General’s team of experts for free?” Continue reading →

 News from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario

Posted March 29th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Brock University Student Life and Community Experience marketing assistant Nicole Henderson (pictured immediately below) takes her turn at the Charity Car Smash held in front of Schmon Tower at Brock on Wednesday, March 29.

Proceeds from the fundraising event support MADD Canada. Continue reading →

MPPs urge NPCA to withdraw itsr controversial bid to seek an auditor

An Open Letter, dated March 27^th, 2017,  from St. Catharines MPP Jim Bradley, Welland Riding MPP Cindy Forster, Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates and Hamilton East-Stoney Creek MPP Paul Miller

Posted March 28^th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Here is the letter in full –

On behalf of the communities we represent in the Region, we urge the NPCA to withdraw the Request for Proposal (RFP) issued at last week’s board meeting and instead reconsider the Ontario Auditor General’s offer to conduct a financial audit of the board, a course of action that we believe would go a long way in restoring our respective communities’ faith in their local public conservation authority.

As you know, the Auditor General is an independent officer of the Legislative Assembly who is responsible for ensuring that public dollars are used appropriately by the province’s ministries and agencies. Continue reading →

By Doug Draper

Posted March 28th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – Ed Smith – a Niagara, Ontario community activist who faces a defamation suit from the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority and its former CAO Carmen D’Angelo in the wake of questions and concerns he raised about their management practices – has fired back with a lawsuit of his own.

Niagara, Ontario resident and community activist Ed Smith. File photo by Doug Draper

According to documents obtained by Niagara At Large and filed on behalf of Smith,  a 54-year-old retired Canadian Armed Forces officer,  in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Welland, Smith is suing the NPCA, as a body, and its former board of directors chair Bruce Timms, a St. Catharines regional councillor and one of 10 municipal politicians in Niagara sitting on the board, for a total of $60,000.

The penalty being sought by Smith’s lawyers include $50,000 from both the NPCA and Timms for alleged “defamation and/or malicious falsehoods,” and $10,000 for alleged “aggravated and/or punitive damages” – all focusing on what was headlined: “A Special statement from NPCA Chair Bruce Timms,” which was posted on the NPCA’s website this past January and published as a paid ad in a weekly newspaper, Niagara This Week, circulated to homes and businesses throughout the Niagara region.

Niagara At Large obtained the court documents outlining Smith’s lawsuit against the parties late last Friday, March 24th, and made calls that late Friday to both the NPCA and Timms, seeking comment. Continue reading →

Many asked; “What took so long?” and “What’s going to change?” – Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn

A Column by Town of Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn

Posted March 28th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – Before I write about the long road toward inter-municipal transit in Niagara, I have a question for you…

Photo courtesy of Niagara.s regonal government.

How excited would you get when friends who own a house and have been living together for five-and-a-half years announce engagement and complete wedding three-months-hence? Are you delighted for the couple, but wonder “what took you so long?” and “what’s going to change in your relationship?” Continue reading →

“My ministry has confirmed the presence of Provincially Significant Wetlands on the Thundering Waters property (and) we have also acknowledged the potential presence of species at risk which could require authorizations under the province’s Endangered Species Act, 2007.” – Ontario Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry Kathryn McGarry

A Brief News Commentary by Doug Draper

Posted March 28th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Ontario Natural Resources and Forestry Kathryn McGarry responds to Niagara Falls Nature Club’s concerns over proposed urban development in Thundering Waters Forest

Niagara, Ontario – Concerned about the fate of the Thundering Waters Forest given plans by a China-based developer to construct residential and commercial buildings on a portion of the roughly 500-acre site, the Niagara Falls Nature Club’s conservation director, Joyce Sankey wrote a letter to the province’s Premier, Kathleen Wynne, this past February, urging her not to see policies that would protect its wetlands, forests and grasslands weakened in any way.

“The Niagara area has lost 90 per cent of its pre-settlement wetlands making it vital to preserve what remains,” said Sankey in the Nature Club’s February 16th letter to the premier, a copy of which was shared with Niagara At Large. “Recently, the MNRF (Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry) mapped additional wetlands in the Thundering Waters area. This is a beautiful natural complex with forested swamps, old growth trees and a meadow area which, with so much diversity, provides habitat for a wide range of species.” Continue reading →

News from the Niagara Centre Constituency Office of Vance Badawey

Posted March 28th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre, will be holding a Smart Cities Consultation in partnership with the Department of Geography and Tourism at Brock University, to discuss how to help municipalities in Niagara become smart cities. This event is open to the public.

 “Budget 2017 provides a great opportunity for Niagara municipalities to leverage the mechanism of Community Improvement Plans to promote and encourage economically, environmentally, and technologically sounds growth in a responsible and sustainable way. 

I am looking forward to speaking with students, stakeholders, and the residents of Niagara, hearing their thoughts on smart cities and the future of Niagara.”

Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament, Niagara Centre

• DATE:           Wednesday, March 29, 2017
• TIME:            Consultation Begins 2:00 p.m.
• PLACE:    Brock University, Pond Inlet, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1            

NIAGARA AT LARGE encourages you to join the conversation by sharing your views on this post in the space below the Bernie quote.

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 binational 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

 A News Commentary by Doug Draper

Posted March 27th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – Lincoln regional councillor Bill Hodgson said he was having a pretty enjoyable Sunday this past weekend until he went to his computer and opened up the following email the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority’s communications specialist Michael Reles sent him that March 26th day on behalf of the NPCA’s board chair Sandy Annunziata.

NPCA chair and Fort Erie regional councilor Sandy Annunziata at March 8th special meeting of board to address audit issue.

“Dear Member Hodgson,” began the email to Hodgson who sits on the NPCA’s board. “I  hope you are enjoying your weekend.”

“In response to your Regional Councillors report at the Monday, March 20, Town of Lincoln Council Meeting,” added Reles of a report on regional affairs that he shared with the town council he once sat on as the town’s mayor, “the Chair has asked me to contact you for your written submissions to support a claim you made.”

“Specifically, he (Annunziata) is requesting you address the claim that “They say they’re following the resolution, but, really, a grade 2 student would understand, you’re not following the resolution,” the email continued. “He is also requesting that this is done in advance of our Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday. Best Regards, … Michael Reles, Communications Specialist.” Continue reading →

Speak Up for the Great Lakes you Love

A Call-Out from the Canada-U.S. International Joint Commission

Posted March 27th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Residents of the Buffalo and Niagara region are invited to share their views about the Great Lakes at public meetings hosted by the Canada-U.S. International Joint Commission (IJC).

Lake Erie at bottom and Lake Ontario at top, with the Niagara River in right half of photo in between. Image shot from Earth’s orbit

On March 28th, 2017, a public roundtable on topics specific to Buffalo will be held from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. at the WNED/WBFO studios at 140 Lower Terrace in downtown Buffalo, NY.

A general public meeting will be held at the same location from 6 – 9 p.m. 

On Wednesday, March 29,  the public is invited to a roundtable discussion from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. at the St. Catharines Rowing Club at Alumni Hall on Henley Island Drive in St. Catharines, Ontario.

Canada and the United States released their progress report last fall on accomplishing the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement’s goals, and the International Joint Commission released their draft assessment report on January 18. Continue reading →

David Barrick To Introduce Motion To Regional Council Urging Pelham to Disclose its “2015 annual audited financial statement,” among other things

A News Commentary by Doug Draper

Posted March 27th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Of all the motions listed on the agenda for Niagara Region’s upcoming Thursday, March 30th, the one I am positing here struck me the most.

The motion, according to the agenda, is being brought forward by David Barrick, a Niagara regional councillor for Port Colborne who is chair of the regional government’s Corporate Services Committee and who also holds a senior management position at the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority.

Port Colborne regional council and Niagara corporate services committee Chair David Barrick.

The motion, posted in its entirety below, highlights what are characterized as a number of concerns around the financial health of the Town of Pelham that could, as the motion reads on, contribute to a potential for Niagara’s regional government “to receive a negative credit rating” which, as this reporter of municipal news understands, is not a good position for any government to be in.

Therefore, the motion – if approved by a majority of regional councillors at its March 30th meeting – would see the regional government asking the Town of Pelham to publicly disclose its 2015 annual audited financial statement along with the corresponding management letter with staff responses as well as the same documents for fiscal years 2016 and 2017.” Continue reading →

Brian Higgins Calls This Past Friday, March 24th’s Defeat a Victory for Hard-Working Americans but Says We Will Continue to Fight to Protect Affordable Care

From the Buffalo, New York Office of U,S, Congressman Brian Higgins

Posted March 27th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

U.S. Congressman Brian Higgins of Buffalo/Western New York

Buffalo/Western New York – Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) released the following statement after learning that the American Health Care Act (Trumpcare) was pulled from consideration in the House of Representatives:

“Since the introduction of the Republican healthcare bill, less than three short weeks ago, people across our district and the country have expressed deep concern for the legislation which was better suited to protect wealthy insurance companies’ profit margins than hard-working Americans.  Continue reading →

A Statement from Mishka Balsom, CAO for the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce

Delivered to Niagara’s regional council this past Thursday, March 23rd, just before the council voted to move forward with more consolidated transit services for the Niagara region.

Posted March 24rth, 2017 on Niagara At Large

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

While Niagara’s regional chair Al Caslin and other elected officials in the region were busy applauding themselves this March 23rd after finally voting to take another step toward the seamless, accessible and affordable transit system many people in this region have been longing and lobbying for for years, I could not help but think of so many people, living and in some cases now dead, and groups that have been pushing for transit systems like the ones that have been operating for years in other Ontario regions like Waterloo, Halton, and Peel.

I could not help but thing of the many articulate students from Brock University and Niagara College who have gone before regional councillors year after year, pressing for better transit services, and of other young people like Jennifer Sinclair and others from that great transit advocacy group ‘Meet on the Bus’. Continue reading →

 Niagara Region’s Council Approves Recommendations Towards Consolidated Transit Service

News from Niagara’s Regional Government

Posted March 24th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

One of the Region’s inter-municipal transit buses makes a stop in Welland. File photo by Doug Draper

Niagara, Ontario – Niagara Region Council has signaled strong support (at a March 23rd special meeting of council) for the future of inter-municipal transit in Niagara by endorsing in principle the creation of a consolidated transit system along with the municipalities of Niagara Falls, St. Catharines and Welland.

This follows recent unanimous approvals from St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Welland city councils to also approve in principle the consolidation of their transit services into one entity with Niagara Region. Continue reading →

“The current board of directors of the NPCA has lost the public’s confidence. … Their actions have demonstrated governance issues that speak to poor use of public funds, poor management of Niagara’s natural heritage and poor treatment of valued employees.” – from an open letter tabled this past Thursday, March 23rd by Albert Garofalo, a respected  naturalist and member of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority’s Community Liaison Advisory Committee.

A News Commentary by Doug Draper

Posted March 24rth, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Niagara resident and well-known naturalist Albert Garofalo.

Albert Garofalo – a Niagara resident and professional biologist representing environmental clubs and groups in the region on the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority’s Community Liaison Advisory Committee – tabled a toughly worded letter at the end of one of the committee’s meetings this March 23rd.

The letter, tabled by Garofalo as the committee’s chair, Sandy Annunciata, opened the floor to “other business,” calls on the councils of all municipalities within the Niagara watershed the NPCA has a mandate to care for, including Niagara’s 12 municipalities, the City of Hamilton and Haldimand County, to “withdraw their municipally appointed representatives to the Conservation Authority board and direct Premiere Kathleen Wynne to appoint a third party manager to immediately oversee day to day operations of the NPCA.” Continue reading →

A Statement from Ontario NDP Labour Critic and Welland Riding MPP Cindy Forster

Posted March 24rth, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – Cindy Forster, Ontario NDP Labour Critic and MPP for Welland,  issued the following statement in response to the announcement made today by the Minister of Labour:

 “Ontarians deserve nothing less than a $15 minimum wage, because someone who goes to work 40 hours each week shouldn’t be struggling below the poverty line. Too many people are working two or more low wage, part-time jobs just to pay their hydro bills and to put food on the table.

Premier Wynne doesn’t get that families can’t survive on the current minimum wage. Unstable employment is having‎ a devastating impact on women, racialized people and immigrants. Now is the time for a ‎$15 minimum wage for Ontario.”

A liveable wage has been an ongoing push for Niagara area MPP Cindy Forster and Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath,, pictured here.

NIAGARA AT LARGE encourages you to join the conversation by sharing your views on this post in the space below the Bernie quote.

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 binational 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

News from Brock University in St. Catharines/Niagara

Posted March 24th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – The new federal budget could help more families if the parental leave program were expanded to benefit more lower-income households, says a Brock University researcher.

Lindsey McKay, adjunct professor and researcher in Brock University’s Department of Sociology

In the 2017 budget unveiled Wednesday (March 22nd), the government announced that working parents will now have the option of extending their paid parental leave to 18 months, from the present 12 months. But to do so they must live off less money – 33 per cent of their income rather than 55 per cent for a 12-month leave.

Lindsey McKay, an adjunct professor in Brock University’s Department of Sociology, says this is good news for parents with higher incomes, but doesn’t help parents with lower incomes. Continue reading →

News from Brock University in St. Catharines/Niagara

Posted March 3rd, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario A leading Canadian scientist has developed a synthetic compound that appears to be capable of killing cancer cells while leaving healthy cells intact.

Brock University chemist Tomas Hudlicky has created and patented several variations of the compound pancratistatin, which has been tested on 20 different types of cancer cells by a research team at the University of Windsor. The team’s paper, “Cancer Cell Mitochondria Targeting by Pancratistatin Analogs is Dependent on Functional Complex II and III,” appeared in the February issue of Scientific Reports.

Brock University scientist Tomas Hudlicky. Photo courtesy of Brock University

Scientists have known for some time that pancratistatin (PST), a substance found in the spider lily, causes cancer cells to die. But the low rate of natural production (a kilogram of spider lily produces less than 2 mg of PST) is a major challenge to research and clinical advancement. Continue reading →

Government offers the rest of us ‘Stale Crumbs’

From Rick Smith, Executive Director, Broadbent Institute

March 3rd, 2017 on Niagara At Large

I was on Parliament Hill this March 22nd while the Liberal government delivered its second federal budget.

The Trudeau government continues to leave the loopholes open for the richest of Canadians. Wonder how many of them contributed money to the federal Liberal’s last election campaign.

I’m sorry to report that the poorest and most vulnerable Canadians have been told to stand at the back of the line while the richest Canadians continue to unfairly benefit at the expense of the majority.

Budget 2017 explicitly recognizes income inequality as a concern but does virtually nothing to solve the problem. Rather than taking a bite out of the juicy tax loopholes that unfairly benefit the richest Canadians, the Trudeau government has offered up only a few stale crumbs. Continue reading →

 Wanted: More Walk, Less Talk In Today’s Federal Budget

“This budget goes after the small fish of tax breaks, but it does nothing to catch the big ones. ,,, It’s time to address the fact that stock traders and CEOs pay half the tax rate on stock options than janitors who sweep their floors pay on income tax,” – David Macdonald, Senior Economist, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

A Budget Analysis from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

Posted March 23^rd, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Trudeau budget does nothing to stop country’s biggest tax avoiders from getting away.

Ottawa, Ontario—The federal government missed a key opportunity to walk the walk and tackle income inequality in today’s federal budget, says Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ Senior Economist David Macdonald.

“While there are some positive aspects to Budget 2017,” Macdonald says, “let’s not mistake this for the bold, visionary inequality reduction budget that Canadians were promised by this government.” Continue reading →

A Comment from Ontario’s New Democratic Party

Posted March 23rd, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Queen’s Park, Toronto – France Gélinas, NDP health critic, continued this past Wednesday, 2017 to press Premier Kathleen Wynne about her choice to allow the growth of private for-profit health clinics and services, while she continues deep cuts to public health care in the province.

 “People shouldn’t have to pay up, or wait longer for the health care they need. But that’s exactly what’s happening under this premier,” Gélinas said.  “Companies are charging people to jump to the front of the line.  They’re doing it unchecked, on the premier’s watch.” Continue reading →

Innovation investment is welcome, but Canada must do more to reduce cost of doing business

An Analysis on Canada’s New Budget from the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce

Posted March 22nd, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Niagara Greater Chamber of Commerce CEO Mishka Balsom

Niagara, Ontario – This Wednesday, March 22nd, the Government of Canada released its budget for 2017-2018. The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce was glad to be a part of the budgetary process and to provide our input through Niagara’s Liberal Members of Parliament, Vance Badawey and Chris Bittle.

Businesses in Niagara and throughout Canada have identified skills and training as one of their biggest challenges. $225 million will be invested over four years, beginning in 2018, for a new organization to support skills development. Continue reading →

Be Fire Safe this Earth Hour – 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Our Time   Saturday, March 25th

A Meesage from the City of St. Catharines/Niagara

Posted  March 22rd, 2017 on Niagara At large

Niagara, Ontario – Are you planning to celebrate Earth Hour Saturday night? Fire Chief Dave Wood urges everyone to keep fire safety in mind when the lights go out.

The City of St. Catharines will join communities around the world in shining a light on climate action Saturday, March 25.

The City is turning off non-essential lights at City Hall and some other City buildings from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. to show its support for Earth Hour 2017. Continue reading →

Get On The Bus From Buffalo!

“Ninety seven miles of new pipeline tearing through our countryside and streams, toxic spewing compressor stations and a dehydration facility to send fracked gas to Canada simply do not fit the vision we want to see, with NY leading the way to a renewable energy future.”

A Call-Out from Members of the Sierra Club in Buffalo/Western New York

Posted March 22^rd on Niagara At Large

Buffalo, New York – Are you ready to rally with us? It’s time to take our message to Gov. Cuomo, the DEC and our state representatives.

We need to make sure they hear Western NY say No to the proposed Northern Access 2016 fracked gas pipeline.

We are calling for denial of the DEC 401 Air and Water Certifications. We have groups from Albany and NYC offering to join us but we need to show that Western NY is ready to protect our air, water and communities.

We need YOU! Continue reading →

News from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario

Posted March 22^nd, March 2017 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – Research by Brock University Professor of Economics Diane Dupont has shown that reclaimed wastewater can be a reliable source for water that is more resilient to climate change fluctuations.

Tim Heinmiller and Diane Dupont are two researchers studying the future of Niagara’s water. Brock University. file photo

This alternative method for water supply is the theme of World Water Day on Wednesday, March 22 with UN-Water encouraging the population to reduce and reuse wastewater rather than leaving it untreated to pollute the environment and go to waste.

After the collection, treatment and disinfection, subsequent uses of wastewater include flushing toilets, agricultural irrigation and cooling of buildings. Continue reading →

A Stance Can Sometimes Leave You Out On Your Own On Regional Council

“Why lobby the Province to add benefits to new areas when it will cost an extra $1,121 per household per year for the next decade just to fix the Region’s existing infrastructure?” – Pelham Mayor and Niagara regional councilor Dave Augustyn

A Column from Town of Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn

Posted March 21st, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – It doesn’t happen too often, but occasionally I am the only one to vote for or against something at Regional Council. A couple of weeks ago, for example, I was the only one who opposed promoting development outside existing urban boundaries.

Pelham Mayor David Augustyn

Pelham Town Council remains committed to development inside the existing urban boundaries so that we can protect the environment and agricultural lands outside those areas. We also do this to ensure that existing urban services (like water, sewer, and storm water infrastructure) get used to capacity – instead of continuously adding additional and costly services outside urban areas.

This commitment led Pelham Council to encourage greater protection for the Fonthill Kame. Similarly, we have refused to endorse additional lot creation in the Greenbelt. Further, we continue to protect rural “lots of record” and impose agricultural-only stipulations on remnant parcels so that houses cannot be built on new severed farm lots. Continue reading →

“If this sacred land is allowed to be developed, it cannot be duplicated in any other part of the world and the future generations will never get to experience what we have experienced in our lifetime.”

An Open Letter from the Haudenosaunee Environmental Task Force to Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau

Originally Dated March 8th and Posted on Niagara At Large, March 21st, 2017

Honourable Justin Trudeau
Office of Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, On. K1A 0A2

RE: Thundering Waters Forest (Niagara Falls, Ontario

Greetings Honourable Prime Minister Trudeau:

The Haudenosaunee Environmental Task Force (HETF) sends you greetings and hopes this letter finds you and your family in good health and spirits and offer the long arm of peace. The Haudenosaunee consist of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora Nations.

The Haudenosaunee Nations have a unique spiritual, cultural, and historic relationship with the land, which is embodied in the Gayananshogowa, the Great Law of Peace. This relationship goes far beyond federal and provincial legal concepts of ownership. Continue reading →

The Following Call for Public Engagnement is from the Niagara Poverty Reduction Network – Join Them for This in Niagara Falls, Ontario!

Posted March 21st, 2017 on Niagara At Large

NIAGARA AT LARGE encourages you to join the conversation by sharing your views on this post in the space below the Bernie quote.

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 binational 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

Unveiling of Spectacular Vessel Mural Commemorates Canada 150 and Montreal 375

News from the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation

Posted March 21st, 2017 on Niagara At Large

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation marked the opening of its 59th navigation season this March 20th – the first day of spring- with a special tribute to marine shipping’s substantial contribution to Canada’s economic development and quality of life.

Welland Canal/Seaway open on first day of spring.

The CSL St-Laurent, the first ship to transit the St. Lambert lock in 2017, featured a monumental work of art work commissioned by Montreal-headquartered Canada Steamship Lines, a division of the CSL Group, as a tribute to Canada’s 150th anniversary and the 375th of the City of Montreal. Continue reading →

A Brief News Commentary by Doug Draper

Posted March 21th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – The council representing the larges of Niagara’s 12 local municipalities – the City of St. Catharines – has unanimously approved a motion calling on the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority to accept an offer it received as early as this past January from Ontario Auditor General Bonnie Lysk to perform a full and independent forensic audit on its operations.

Niagara area citizens have been demonstrating for a full and independent audit of the NPCA’s operations for more than half a year. File photo by Doug Draper

The motion, tabled by St. Catharines Councillor Carlos Garcia at this Monday, March 20th’s city council meeting, reads as follows; “Be it resolved, that Council urges the NPCA board to do everything required in order to ensure they accept the Auditor General’s offer to perform an independent, third party operational review/audit, as approved by the board on January 18, 2017, at no direct cost to property taxpayers in St. Catharines and the other NPCA-funding municipalities; and;”

“Therefore Be It Further Resolved,” continues Garcia’s motion, “that the NPCA, all Niagara Municipalities and MPPs, the City of Hamilton and Haldimand County, the Premier, the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, the Auditor General and the Ombudsman be notified. FORTHWITH.” Continue reading →

An Open Letter to St. Catharines Council from Welland Riding MPP Cindy Forster

Posted March 20th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Mayor Walter Sendzik and Members of City Council, City of St. Catharines, 50 Church Street. St. Catharines, ON L2R 7C2

Dear Mayor Sendzik and Councillors:

MPP for the Niagara, Ontario riding of Welland, Cindy Forster continues to push for more public accountability from the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority

Re: Motion 9.2  Provincial Auditor General’s Offer to NPCA – Third Party Audit

I’m writing in full support of motion 9.2 on today’s Council agenda, put forward by Councilllor Carolos Garcia, requesting that the NPCA Board reconsider the Ontario Auditor General’s proposal to conduct a financial audit of the NPCA. To help restore our community’s confidence of the NPCA board, I’m urging you to vote in favour of the motion as well.

Despite the NPCA’s motion agreeing to a fiscal financial audit in January, I was surprised to see the spirit of that motion completely transformed during last week’s board meeting. After reviewing the NPCA’s Request for Proposal (RFP) details, it became very clear that the NPCA’s tender lacks the transparency and accountability that our communities and municipalities have spent months calling for. Continue reading →

Please Do Your Part and Urge ALL St. Catharines City Councillors to Support It!

A Commentary and a Call-Out from Doug Draper, reporter/publisher, Niagara At Large

Posted March 20th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

At this Monday’s (March 20th) St. Catharines city council meeting, Councillor Carlos Garcia is tabling a motion, urging support for the Ontario Auditor General’s recent offer to do a full, independent audit of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. Do what you can in the hours ahead, to contact St. Catharines’ mayor and councilors to express your support for Councllor Garcia’s motion. A link to the contact information and the names for St. Catharines council is available near the bottom of this commentary.

Niagara, Ontario – Aside from any dim light that comes on in Ontario Minister of Natural Resources Kathryn McGarry’s office that finally sees her doing the right thing, a motion being tabled for approval at this Monday (March 20th)  night’s St. Catharines council meeting by City Councillor Carlos Garcia may be the last chance of getting a thorough forensic/value-for dollars audit of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority’s operations without having ANY NPCA fingerprints on how that audit is scoped, performed and made available to the public.

Garcia’s motion, if it is approved this March 20th by St. Catharines council and subsequently by other councils across the Niagara and Hamilton regions, may be the very last chance to count on a truly independent audit to answer a growing book of questions and concerns about how the NPCA spends millions of dollars of our tax money, before other options are pursued – like using the powers available under Ontario legislation to dissolve the entire board and upper management of the NPCA , and start all over with a new group of people guiding the work of this important conservation and environmental protection body. Continue reading →

“Clearly, these advertisements serve no purpose other than to promote Kathleen Wynne’s re-election.” – Ontario PC House Leader Jim Wilson

From the Office of Ontario Progressive Conservative Party leader Patrick Brown

Posted March 20th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Queen’s Park, Toronto – This March 20th, 2017, Ontario PC House Leader Jim Wilson charged that Kathleen Wynne’s taxpayer-funded hydro ads are in contempt of parliament.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne earlier this March, pitching her plan to slash hydro bills

The self-congratulatory ads, which the auditor general has said are out of line, are running before legislation has been introduced, an alleged breach of parliamentary rules. MPP Wilson informed the Speaker today that he will rise on a point of privilege arguing a case of contempt by the Ministry of Energy.

“What we’ve got here is a clear case of electioneering from the Wynne Liberals using taxpayer dollars,” said Wilson.   Continue reading →

Special to Niagara At Large from Karl Dockstader

Posted on NAL this March 20^th, 2017

Tuesday, March 21st, 2017, is the United Nations annually designated day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. For Indigenous people, visible minorities, and other people who happen to be the wrong kind of person this day cannot come soon enough.

The Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre isn’t waiting for racism to end and neither are the community partners who have been working with the Native Centre to promote The FRIEND Project throughout the past month.

The FRIEND Project display

This project is telling the stories of the real Indigenous people of Niagara. These stories of success in education, culture, law, employment, the environment and other areas have been part of a movement to remind Niagarans that Indigenous people are an important part of our normal everyday life. Continue reading →

“Not one dime has come off people’s sky-rocketing hydro bills … Yet, (Premier Wynne) is spending more of people’s hard-earned dollars on ads claiming the problem is solved.”

News from the Office of Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath

Posted March 20, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Queen’s Park, Toronto – The NDP is filing requests under Freedom of Information laws to find out just how much public money Premier Kathleen Wynne is spending on advertisements in defense of sky-high hydro bills and the multi-billion-dollar borrowing scheme she still hasn’t released.

 “Not one dime has come off people’s sky-rocketing hydro bills and Wynne hasn’t tabled legislation, or even a credible plan to save us money. Yet, she’s spending more of people’s hard-earned dollars on ads claiming the problem is solved,” said Peter Tabuns, Ontario NDP Energy Critic. Continue reading →

“It’s a shame the NPCA Chair, Sandy Annunziata, could not be there to address the citizens of Niagara that he labels a “special interest group”.- Ed Smith, who is facing a lawsuit slapped on him by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority and its former CAO and current CAO for Niagara’s regional government, Carmen D’Angelo

A News Commentary by Doug Draper

Posted March 17^th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

While Niagara At Large was down with technical problems over the past several days, I received a good number of emails and phone calls from people who told me they could not go to the Ed Smith Legal Defence Fundraiser this past Sunday, March 12^th due to other commitments, but were anxious to know how it went and if they could still make a contribution to it.

Ed Smith speaking at a recent meeting of fellow Niagara citizens on NPCA concerns. File photo by Doug Draper

The answer to the first question is that the fundraiser was, by virtually all accounts, an overwhelming success.

The main banquet room of the Celtic Club in St. Catharines was filled to capacity with people from all walks of life, including municipal and provincial government representatives who, to their credit, have braved barbs from some of their political colleagues for backing Ed Smith and others in their pursuit of accountability from the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority for how its boss hogs are spending millions of dollars of our tax money.

The total donations for the fundraiser soared well above a $5,000 goal and “far exceeded our expectations,” said one the event’s organizers, Peter Gill. Continue reading →

From the Office of Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown

Posted March 17th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

(You can Click on the image of following letter from Ontario PC Leader Patrick Brown for purposes of enlarging it. NAL hopes that you can then read the letter’s contents, as this is how we received it from the PC leader’s office.)NIAGARA AT LARGE encourages you to join the conversation by sharing your views on this post in the space below the Bernie quote.

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 binational 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

A Call-Out to Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne from the Province’s NDP Leader Andrea Horwath

Posted March 16th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is calling on Premier Kathleen Wynne to table her promised hydro bill on Monday, March 20th.

“Premier Wynne, has issued a news release and delivered talking points – now it’s time to deliver a plan,” said Horwath. 

“Ontario families, businesses and municipalities have a right to know what will happen to their bills and who will pay the price for $40 billion going to pay interest rather than investing in hospitals, schools, transit and roads.” Continue reading →

New GO Bus Stop Opening at Niagara College’s Campus at Niagara-on-the-Lake

“Bringing GO bus service to this campus will make it easier to get to school, home, and anywhere in between. It’s all part of our plan to expand and improve GO services throughout our region so we can bring more transit to more people.”  — Bruce McCuaig, President and CEO, Metrolinx

News from the Ontario Government and GO/Metrolinx Services

Posted March 16th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Ontario is making it easier to get around Niagara and the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area by expanding and improving local GO Transit services to better meet the needs of students, families, and commuters. Continue reading →

“A tremendous amount of progress has been achieved over the past 5 years under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and that would be lost with these cuts.”

A Statement from the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative

Posted March 16, 2017 on Niagara At Large

The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (Cities Initiative), a coalition of mayors from over 125 cities across the basin representing over 17 million people, expressed deep concern over draft White House budget cuts that would reduce funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative by 97 per cent from $300 million to $10 million and for the EPA by 25 per cent.

St. Catharines/Niagara Mayor sits on Great Lakes Initiatives’ board of directors.

The mayors work closely with state, provincial, federal, tribal, first nation, and non-government representatives from across the basin to protect, restore, and sustain one of the largest freshwater resources in the world.

Current vice-chair of the Cities Initiative, Paul Dyster, Mayor of Niagara Falls, New York, said, “It would be a tragedy for the U.S. government to step back from its commitment to the Great Lakes, a resource that is critically important to the economic well-being and quality of life of the region.  Continue reading →

 Congressman Higgins, Mayor Dyster, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper & Citizens Campaign for the Environment Stress Importance of Federal Commitment to EPA as Great Lakes Week Events Commence in Washington, D.C.

News from the Buffalo, New York office of U.S. Congressman Brian Higgins

Posted March 16^th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Left to right, Mayor Paul Dyster, Congressman Brian Higgins, Brian Smith of Citizens Campaign for the Great Lakes & Jill Jedlicka of Buffalo-Niagara Riverkeepers. Photo courties of Congressman Higgins’ office.

Over 100 people from throughout the Great Lakes region, including several from Western New York are headed to Washington, DC this week for Great Lakes Day, a coming together of regional organizations and federal policy members to discuss Great Lakes progress and needs moving forward. 

President Trump’s budget blueprint is expected as early as this week and Congress will begin Fiscal Year 2018 budget deliberations thereafter.  Preliminary reports indicate the Administration is considering significant cuts to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) budget including a 97% cut to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Continue reading →

A Message from NAL publisher Doug Draper

Posted March 15th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Niagara at Large has been  experiencing “temporary Technical Difficulties” over the past number of days – Hmm. Is someone out there trying to send us a message – and has not been able to post news and commentary.

But here’s the good news for those who appreciate what we at least try to do here to raise a little awareness about issues that matter to our fellow residents and neighbours and the communities we live in,  and call to account  those in positions of power doing things that are questionable.

NAL may have been down as far as posting news and commentary over the past week, but we certainly have been watching and taking notes, and we will be fully back on line with our take on matters of interest and concern to our communities this Thursday, March 16th.

We thank so many of you for your notes over the last number of days, expressing your support for what we try to do here to fill a void in the area of news and commentary across our region, and  – most of all – we thank you for your patience as we worked with some good technical support people to get back in business again.

One of the greatest campaign posters of these times. Keep on Pushin’ Berne!

NIAGARA AT LARGE encourages you to join the conversation by sharing your views on this post in the space below the Bernie quote.

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 binational 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

Think Tank Unveils Plan To Cut Poverty, Create Jobs, And Close Tax Loopholes

A Analysis from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

Posted March 9^th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Ottawa, Ontario —The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) is urging the federal government to table a budget that makes good on its promises to reduce income inequality and drive inclusive growth.

With the release of its annual Alternative Federal Budget (AFB), the CCPA proposes a federal budget that takes decisive action on what matters to Canadians: creating jobs, reducing income inequality, lowering poverty levels, closing unfair and expensive tax loopholes, and getting the economy moving.

The measures in this year’s AFB would lift a million Canadians out of poverty, double economic growth to 5.4%, and, at its peak, result in 460,000 new jobs, bringing Canada’s unemployment rate down to 6.4%.  Continue reading →

An Invite to All from Bock University in St. Catharines

Posted March 9th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – Data privacy, or the lack thereof, is back on the forefront this week after the leak of classified CIA documents showing everything from cellphones to smart TVs can be accessed.

A panel of data privacy experts will be discussing the significance of online data privacy and what we can do to protect ourselves on Wednesday, March 15 during a forum at Brock University.

 “It is important to create opportunities for citizens to consider the data that organizations collect and then analyze about us,” says Karen Louise Smith, Assistant Professor of Communication, Popular Culture and Film. “There are many unseen algorithms that process our data and shape our experiences online, but they operate opaquely and are difficult to understand.”   

Continue reading →

A Message to Citizens on both sides of the U.S./Canada border from Erin Crotty, Executive Director, Audubon New York; Loren Smith, Executive Director, Buffalo Audubon Society; and June Summers. President, Genesee Valley Audubon Society

Many of us are living down there somewhere and our very lives and the health of our community depend on the health of those Great Lake waters.

Posted March 8th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

The Great Lakes are five of America’s greatest natural treasures. It’s an ecosystem so epic in size and breathtaking in beauty that it instills a sense of national pride for the 85 million people who live in the region.

That’s why President Trump’s leaked EPA budget proposal, which slashes funding to protect and restore the lakes by 97 per cent, is so alarming. Continue reading →

Calls for an Independent, Forensic Audit of the Conservation Authority – from Citizens and from Local Municipalities across the Niagara Watershed – have been reduced to a Joke by an NPCA board that has gone Rogue and has Got to Go!

A Commentary by Doug Draper

March 7^th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Let’s start by saying congratulations to St. Catharines city councillor Bruce Williamson and a majority of others on the council for approving a motion at their March 6^th meeting that calls for reforming the way members are appointed to the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority board.

This motion – a follow-up to one initiated by Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn and his council in February – calls for something, should the Ontario government choose to embrace it, that has been long-needed to hopefully allow local municipalities to appoint individuals with interest and expertise in the field of conservation to the NPCA board rather than have the board stacked with politicians appointed mostly by Niagara’s regional government.

Citizens protest NPCA at its January 2017 board meeting. File Photo by Doug Draper

“This motion constitutes a positive, progressive and desperately needed change,” said Williamson to his fellow councillors. “The current governance model has not only proven itself ineffective, but has insisted in creating a regime which works contrary to the goals of protecting our unique ecosystems.”

No kidding! Continue reading →

Please Donate And – If You Can –Attend a Legal Defence Fundraiser for Ed Smith on Sunday, March 12^th in St. Catharines

A Call-Out from Niagara At Large publisher Doug Draper

Posted March 7^th, 2017

It is something that should outrage us all!

Ed Smith, speaking at a news conference last falls about the legal action the Niagara Peninsula Conservaton Authority was taking against him.

One of our fellow citizens in this region of Niagara gets sued for a total of $200,000 by a Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority board stacked with regional councillors and with mayors of some of our local municipalities, and by the NPCA’s former CAO (now CAO for Niagara’s regional government) Carmen D’Angelo.

And why?

Because the NPCA and D’Angelo found things they claim are  defamatory to them in a report circulated last fall to local politicians and others – a report outlining questions and concerns about the way the NPCA is doing business with millions of our tax dollars. Continue reading →

News from Brock University in St. Catharines/Niagara

Posted March 7^th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – Climate change is making things worse for Canada’s largest land-dwelling mammal, a research team has found.

A wood bison near the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary in the Northwest Territories.

The wood bison of the Northwest Territories is already on the country’s threatened species list, but more precipitation is forcing the animal into areas that pose dangers to them, says Brock University geographer and research team member Michael Pisaric.

For decades, the wood bison population has been living in the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary on the western shore of Great Slave Lake in N.W.T. The iconic animal lives off of grass-like plants called sedges, which are common along lake shorelines in the region. Continue reading →

A Column from Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn

Posted March 7th, 2017 on Niagara At Large

Pelham Niagara – I am thrilled that Council is set to approve the fourth year for a freeze on our residential and commercial water and waste water rates. Because of ongoing efficiencies and innovations, the Town will absorb the Region’s 8.5% waste water increase.

How are we able to freeze rates for the fourth year in a row? And, how do we compare to others in Niagara?

RF Meters Paying Dividends:

Prior to 2010 the Town measured water usage and calculated waste water charges with old gallon and cubic meter odometer-type wheel meters – many from the 1960s and 1970s. Many of the aged-meters counted slowly or were failing/broken. It took two weeks to collect readings. If a system leaked, it could take months to detect. Continue reading →