Category Archives: Uncategorized

NDP Leader Horwath Has Again Written To Ontario’s Integrity Commissioner

News from the Office of Ontario NDP and Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath

Posted December 21th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

QUEEN’S PARK — Showing just how necessary a public inquiry into Ford’s political interference in Ontario’s police force is, Doug Ford continues to refuse to answer the questions the people of Ontario have for him.

Three days out of three, Ford has dodged question period, and dodged accountability.

“It’s time for Mr. Ford to come out from the back rooms and secret meetings, and start being accountable to the people of Ontario,” said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath. “It’s becoming absolutely clear that the only way to find out what really happened when it comes to Ford’s interference in Ontario’s police force is to hold a public inquiry, so the public can see the evidence, and hear the testimony of those involved — including Mr. Ford.”

Horwath has written to the Integrity Commissioner again, asking him to invoke a rarely used section of the Public Inquiries Act to launch a public inquiry, a power usually reserved for the premier and cabinet.

Proving Horwath’s point, Ford has responded to the Integrity Commissioner’s investigation in writing, but the public is not allowed to see that response.

“If there’s any circumstance that shows exactly why the Integrity Commissioner was given the power to call a public inquiry, this is it,” said Horwath.

Questions the Official Opposition NDP MPPs have been asking in this week’s question periods include those about Ford’s involvement in the appointment of close friend and ally Ron Taverner to head the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), as well as Ford’s order that a secret “camper style” vehicle be bought and tricked-out for him, and the expense of that be hidden from people.

On Wednesday, the NDP revealed documents accessed via Freedom of Information laws which show that Ford met with the then-OPP commissioner Vince Hawkes on July 25. Presumably on that day, the commissioner told Ford of his coming retirement. Five days later on July 30, Ford met with Taverner over dinner.

Ford has also refused year-end interviews, choosing to only speak to his own publicly funded propaganda network.

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

A News Brief by Doug Draper

Posted December 6^th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Niagara Region’s new Chair, Jim Bradley

In front of a packed Niagara Regional Council chambers that included ex-regional chair Al Caslin, former St. Catharines MPP and recently elected Regional Councillor Jim Bradley received the support of a majority on the new council to serve as its chair.

Bradley was elected to a four-year term as Niagara Region’s chair in a three-way race this December 6^th with new Welland Regional Councillor Leanna Villella and Lincoln’s new regional council member Rob Foster.

A total of 19 votes went to Bradley, seven to Villella and five to Foster before the council voted one more time to unanimously support the outcome of what was the first contest for chair held completely in the open in the Region’s almost five-decades-long history. Continue reading →

Wayne Gates to Table Bill In Ontario Legislature for More Funding People Struggling with Mental Health and Addictions

 “People deserve better services, and no one should ever deal with mental health struggles without the support they need.” – Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates

News from the Constituency Office of Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates

Posted December 5^th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates

Niagara, Ontario — Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates will be tabling a motion in Queen’s Park on Thursday that could secure funding to operate three 24-hour, seven-day-a-week mental health and addictions drop-in counselling programs across Niagara.

“Front-line staff are doing everything they can to ensure that every resident of Niagara has access to mental health and addictions help when and where they need it – but they can only stretch a dollar so far,” said Gates. “People deserve better services, and no one should ever deal with mental health struggles without the support they need. I believe this funding could help our front-line providers ensure that everyone in need of treatment can get it as soon as they need it.” Continue reading →

“It’s time for defeated Fort Erie (Regional) Councillor Sandy Annunziata and the rest of the board to step down and allow the individual municipalities to make their appointments to the NPCA Board as set out in the Conservation Authorities Act.” – Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch

New from the Constituency Office of Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch, with an Afterword from Niagara At Large reporter Doug Draper on who should be made to pay the legal bills for this.

Posted December 2^nd, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch

Welland/Niagara – MPP Jeff Burch confirmed this December 2^nd that the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authorities’ attempted use of an outdated Order in Council from 1994 to oversee new appointments is not valid.

An official from the Ministry of Natural Resources stated in an email to the MPP’s office that the power to appoint and replace members of an authority now supersedes any direction provided within a previous Order in Council, or other past process governing the appointment of authority members.

The statement outlined that the Order in Council in question was made under a previous version of the Conservation Authorities Act that has since been revoked. New provisions of the act have come into force that provides participating municipalities with the clear authority to appoint and replace members. The Conservation Authorities Act was amended in 2017. Continue reading →

A Public Service Message from Niagara’s Region’s Public Health Department 

Posted November 30^th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Free quit smoking patches are available to Niagara residents for a limited time.

The STOP (Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients) Program offers eligible participants in Niagara five weeks of cost-free nicotine replacement therapy and smoking cessation information to help them in their quit attempt.

• WHAT: Free patches for adults in Niagara to quit smoking
• WHERE: STOP workshops will be held in Welland and Thorold
•  WHEN: December 12 (Welland) and December 18 (Thorold), 2018

Continue reading →

News from Ontario’s Niagara Parks Commission

Posted November 30^th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Canada’s longest running fireworks series set to return beginning with the Victoria and Memorial Day long weekends in May 2019

Updated schedule to feature 110+ fireworks shows, including daily fireworks throughout the summer

Niagara Falls, Ontario – Daily Falls fireworks return next summer as part of the 26th Falls Fireworks series in Niagara Parks. Launched from within the Niagara Gorge, 114 incredible displays will captivate visitors from around the world. New for 2019 is the introduction of low-noise fireworks on select weeknights. Continue reading →

Includes a Balanced, Made-in-Ontario Climate Change Solution to Preserve and Protect the Environment for Future Generations

News from the Ford Government and Ontario’s Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks

Posted November 29th, 2018 on Niagara At Large

Today (this November 29th), Ontario’s Government for the People released a new made-in-Ontario environment plan to protect our air, land and water and reduce litter and waste while lowering greenhouse gas emissions and helping communities protect themselves from climate change.

“This plan strikes the right balance between a healthy environment and a healthy economy,” said Rod Phillips, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “It contains solutions that will protect our air, land and water, reduce waste, address litter, increase our resilience to climate change and help us all do our part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Most importantly, it does all of this without imposing an ineffective, regressive carbon tax on hard-working Ontario families.” Continue reading →