A Brief News Commentary by Niagara At Large reporter/publisher Doug Draper, followed by a news release from Ontario’s Official Opposition NDP
Posted June 4th, 2025 on Niagara At Large
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is back and after his third consecutive majority government win, probably feeling more emboldened than ever to plough ahead at whatever cost to the environment.
By Doug Draper – A little more than three months after the Fort government in Ontario won a third-consecutive majority, you had to see it coming.
All of the worst plans and pieces of legislation that Ford ever tabled to pave over more of what’s left of our food lands and other green spaces, would be back again in whatever shape or form. And this time, even after all the shellacking he and his Conservatives took (including the launch of an ongoing RCMP investigation) over taking out lands in the Greenbelt for more roads and highways and urban sprawl, this latest election win could only make them feel more embolden than ever to rev of the bulldozers and chainsaws and plough right through.
Niagara citizens protest Bill 5 and a just as menacing Bill 17 this June 3rd in front of the constituency office of Ford Conservative MPP for the Niagara West Riding, Sam Oosterhoff
So it is with Ford’s controversial Bill 5 which environmental groups, Indigenous people and a host of others have spent the better part of the past three months begging the Premier and his ever-so-loyal party members to withdraw for the sake of protecting and preserving Ontario’s natural heritage for present and future generations.
But there was never any real hint that Ford was going to do much in the way of listening to other concerned parties, partisan or non-partisan, as he pressed ahead, this time including the Trump tariff war in his arsenal of excuses for doing so. Continue reading
Toronto, Ontario – On May 22 and May 26, the Canadian Union of Public Employees – Ontario (CUPE Ontario), Ecojustice, Friends of Attawapiskat River, Neskantaga First Nation, Ontario Nature, the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE), Toronto Zoo and Wildlands League expressed our concerns and recommendations with the Government of Ontario’s proposed Bill 5 to the Standing Committee on the Interior. Collectively, we believe that economic resilience can and must go hand in hand with Indigenous rights and sovereignty, robust democratic institutions, sound engineering practices, labour laws and strong environmental standards.
The Ontario government wants to build the world’s largest nuclear plant on the shores of Lake Ontario at Port Hope.
This week is Local Food Week in Ontario – a time to celebrate the hardworking farmers who bring fresh, local, Ontario food to communities across the province.
Niagara, Ontario Thanks to an ANONYMOUS Donor, donations made to our Big Impact Backpacks program will be MATCHED! This will help us provide for more Kids to start school ready!
“Indigenous Peoples have been stewards of Canada’s lands and waters for time immemorial.
“The Commissioner of Corporate Services is a key role at the Region. In addition to overseeing over 265 staff in multiple lines of business, the Commissioner must work closely with Council as we navigate what promises to be a very challenging budget process this year.” – Niagara Regional Chair Jim Bradley.
Posted May 30th, 2025 on Niagara At Large
TORONTO —This May 29th, 2025, Ontario will introduce the Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025, that, if passed, would strengthen government oversight, accountability and transparency in public school boards, postsecondary education and children’s aid societies. 
Niagara, Ontario – Niagara Health is advising the public of a temporary service disruption at the Welland Hospital due to a recent pipe leak caused by ageing infrastructure.
Our natural areas and biodiversity are under attack — again.
He’s like the mean kid in the school yard who can’t stand anyone else having a good time. He’s just got to say or do something nasty or even threatening to try to spoil it.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON– The Shaw Festival today unveiled a Movement for Real Human Connection, a $150 million mission that will transform The Shaw into a centre for communication, creativity and curiosity.
Last year, more than 81,000 people in Ontario experienced homelessness — a 25% increase from the year before.
Niagara, Ontario – Niagara Regional Council has officially approved its Climate Change Action Plan
TORONTO – As summer nears, there has never been a better time to explore and celebrate all the beauty and culture Ontario has to offer.
St. Catharines, Ontario – Generations Z and Alpha may have spent their entire lives surrounded by screens — and the deluge of content constantly streaming from them — but Brock University experts say it’s important not to confuse digital comfort with digital literacy.
A Brief Commentary by Doug Draper at Niagara At Large
It’s been less than three months since Doug Ford won the provincial election. And he’s already showing how determined he is to unleash his environmental wrecking ball with a veracity that makes his last two terms seem like a warmup act.
In these upside-down, inside-out Trumpian times we are living in, I’m not sure that words like “shocking,” “outrageous,” or “blasphemous” pack much of a punch any more.
The people of Ontario overwhelmingly oppose building American-designed reactors at the Darlington Nuclear Station and much prefer lower cost and more secure solar and wind energy according to polling
Thorold, Ontario – Niagara Jazz Festival presented by TD Ready Commitment will host Music in the Park in Battle of Beaverdams Park on Sunday, June 29, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Single fare system
On behalf of the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Network (NEBN), and with full support from our Board of Directors, we write to formally express our deep and unequivocal opposition to the proposed Bill 5 – “Get It Done Act.”
I know this probably isn’t going to go over so well with the people out there who are so afraid they will be robbed or worse that they go to bed at night with three two or three extra bolts locking their front and back doors, but I don’t believe it is so unsafe out there that we should let fear reign over good judgment and throw such large amounts of our regional tax dollars at policing.
“We strongly oppose the expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable. Yesterday’s announcement that Israel will allow a basic quantity of food into Gaza is wholly inadequate.
City splash pads, Happy Rolph’s, the Lakeside Park Carousel and more are set to welcome residents and visitors to the heart of Niagara as the May long weekend ushers in the unofficial start to summer.
Happy Rolph’s Animal Farm – 
Toronto – With Bill 17, the Ontario government is once again choosing to ignore the most important causes of our housing shortage while scapegoating municipal policies that can actually help to improve construction efficiency and lower housing costs.
Every day we lose 319 acres of farmland in Ontario – that’s the equivalent of nine family farms.
A Brief Forward Note from Doug Draper at Niagara At Large – I trust I wouldn’t be alone if I asked – Why not bring back the gas tax and use the money raised from it to support the growth of renewable energy projects across the province?
As part of its plan to protect Ontario, the government is continuing to lower costs for hard-working families, support local businesses and put more money back into people’s pockets through its plan to permanently cut the gasoline and fuel tax rates, which would save households, on average, about $115 per year going forward.
A Brief Foreword Note from Doug Draper at Niagara At Large – This proposed legislation – branded by the Ford government as the “Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act” (Bill 17) – appears to book-end Ford’s controversial Bill 5 in terms of what it may do to unleash low-density urban sprawl and road construction over more of our natural heritage, including our food-growing lands and habitat for endangered wildlife. All in a developer’s paradise where there are fewer rules and regulations and opportunities for public scrutiny getting in the way.
BEAMSVILLE – This May 12th, 2025, Ontario is introducing the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025 (Bill 17), to help speed up the construction of new homes and infrastructure, including by streamlining development processes and reducing costs in close partnership with municipalities.
Last month, the Ontario government introduced Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act. CELA’s legal team has just completed its review of the bill, and we’re calling on the government to withdraw it.
Last time it was a pandemic that all but shut traffic crossing our border bridges between Niagara, Ontario and Buffalo and Niagara Falls, N.Y. down.
This past May 8th the Ford Government announced
Niagara, Ontario – The City of St. Catharines joins Niagara Regional Police Services and emergency services across Ontario in the first-ever provincewide campaign tackling 911 misuse. The Emergency Services Steering Committee (ESSC) has launched the
Here is to all of the good mothers out there who carried us to this life and have done so much to nurture, to teach and to enrich our lives.
Bill 5 is the most dangerous piece of legislation the Ford government has introduced yet.
In thonour of them, let’s continue to stand together against the threats to our quality of life and to our sovereignty being aimed at us by a United States that, before Trump, used to be one of our closest friends and allies. 
QUEEN’S PARK – Leader of the Official Opposition Marit Stiles called on the government to develop a plan to address the measles outbreak with a a take-note debate:
The goal is to pour on as much pressure as we can inside the Legislature to get the Ford government to finally take action to stop the closures & cuts to our local hospitals’ vital services. 
Niagara At Large 