Category Archives: Uncategorized

Leading Canadian Environmental Organizations Release Responses from Federal Parties on 10 Environmental Priority Questions

A News Release from Environmental Defence Canada, a citizens’ advocacy group for our environment

Posted October ??, 2019 on Niaggara At Large

Ottawa, Ontario – This October 1st, Canada’s leading environmental organizations released the answers to a Federal Party Survey on Environmental Platforms that address the climate change, biodiversity, toxics and waste crises harming our country.

The survey was distributed to the six main political parties in July 2019 and responses were received from five of them: the Bloc Quebecois, Conservative Party of Canada, Green Party of Canada, Liberal Party of Canada and New Democratic Party. The People’s Party of Canada did not respond.

The survey represents the collective priorities of the 14 environmental organizations and outlines required actions to address the environmental protection, economic justice and human rights issues facing Canadians. Continue reading →

Greta Thunberg, left, marches with thousands of others ahead of a first of a kind Youth Climate Summit that the United Nations is hosting in New York City this September 21st

“We demand a safe future. Is that really too much to ask for?”     – from an address by 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg at a New York City rally this September 20^th, as millions of people around the world went out on “strike” for climate action ahead of a United Nation’s sponsored Youth Climate Summit this September 21st

A Brief Commentary by Doug Draper

Posted September 21^st, 2019 on Niagara At Large

In what may be the largest global demonstration of its kind for protecting our earth’s environment, literally millions of people around the world took part in “strikes” this September 20^th for climate action.

The growing size of these demonstrations, expected to continue in communities and countries around the world in the weeks and months ahead, raise hope that upcoming elections in Canada (we have a federal election this October 21^st) and in the United States next year will be used to sweep those politicians not committed to act decisively NOW on the climate emergency out of office.

Climate deniers and laggards in public office can no longer be tolerated given the seriousness of the threat to survival that the world faces today. Continue reading →

‘LINDA RONSTADT – The Sound of My Voice’

A Brief One from Doug Draper

Posted September 21^st, 2019 on Niagara At Large

Linda Ronstadt, during her Stone Poney days in the late 1960s, before she went solo.

Linda Ronstadt has, by almost any measure in the world of music, made her mark as one of the greatest singers of the past 50 years.

I confess that I have a bit of a bias here. I had a massive school-boy crush on Linda Ronstadt going back to her first hit, ’Different Drum’ with a folk-rock group called the Stone Poneys in 1967.

But bias or no bias, the boat-load of Grammy Awards, the decades-long string of hits on the Billboard charts record sales totalling more than 100 million, and the induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, speak for themselves. Continue reading →

From Doug Draper, Niagara At Large

Posted September 18th, 2019

Niagara At Large is taking a little time off to walk the beaches of Cape Cod and think about where a news and commentary site like this may go in the future, if anywhere?

I know I leave myself wide open to Trump-inspired trolls out there who hate so much of what we post here, but I will ask you the question anyway – “Any suggestions?”

We have a strong and loyal readership now, but we need to grow and we are going to need some support in the future in order to survive.

Thanks so much to all of our many readers for supporting us with your visits and comments over the past 10 years.

With more support, we can build this independent, alternative news voice into a real tour de force for democracy and for social and environmental justice in our greater Niagara region.

Doug Draper, journalist

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 –  moan independent, alternative voice for our greater bi-national Niagara region – become a regular visitor and subscriber to NAL at http://www.niagaraatlarge.com .

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

“This new hospital represents a significant and important investment in healthcare in Niagara. With the government’s support, we are one step closer to a new hospital and we look forward to our continued work with the Ministry of Health to plan the next stage.” – Angela Zangari, Interim President, Niagara Health

A News Release from Niagara Health, formerly the Niagara Health System

Posted September 18^th, 2019 on Niagara At Large

Planning for the new South Niagara Hospital took an important step forward as Infrastructure Ontario has listed the project (Niagara Falls Hospital) in their Market Update for Projects in Pre-Procurement.

The proposed site for a new hospital for Niagara’s south end is in the southwest end of Niagara Falls off the QEW. Is that a good location for people in communities like Welland and Port Colborne?

  The South Niagara Hospital is listed in the Market Update to start issuing RFQs (Request for Qualifications) in spring 2021 and issuing RFPs (Request for Proposals) in winter 2021 with a financial close in 2022.

With a Stage 2 revised submission soon to be provided to the provincial Ministry of Health, the project will move through important milestones. The submission outlines the program and service requirements, equipment and space needs and has been developed with extensive input from Niagara Health’s staff, physicians and community partners.   Continue reading →

In the Case of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, We Are Talking No More Than Two to Four Per Cent

A Commentary by Niagara At Large reporter and publisher           Doug Draper

Posted September 15^th, 2019 on Niagara At Large

To Ontario Premier Doug Ford – How about adding more to the pot, if you want to have a say in how Conservation Authorities do business?

There is an old saying that goes like this; “If you want to play, you gotta pay.”

Some attribute the line to American novelist Stephen King, although I always tied it to Bruce Springsteen, who used it as far back as the 1970s to rev up audiences at his shows.

At the risk of insulting those two guys, I could hear a line like that coming out of the mouth of Ontario’s premier, Doug Ford, because it does seem to have a bit of a free market ring to it, doesn’t it?

“If you want to play, you gotta pay,”

In other words;‘If you’re not going to put down more doe, it’s time to get up and go.’

Continue reading →