Local News Briefs
- Transit Dissent – Niagara Falls city councillor Lori Lococo will make a motion to direct staff to report back on whether transit amalgamation has met its intended goals. Lococo said there was supposed to be a 0% increase for transit for five years but Niagara Transit Commission chair and St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe said a 0% increase wasn’t the strategy that Niagara Falls council voted for. (St. Catharines Standard)
- Dr. Hirji Accepts Position In Sudbury – Dr. Hirji has been appointed as the Medical Officer of Health and CEO of Public Health Sudbury & Districts. Dr. Hirji was previously Niagara Region’s acting medical officer of health until April of this year after which he assumed his previous position as Niagara’s associate medical officer of health. (Niagara Region)
- ER Visits Increase – Niagara Health emergency departments are seeing more visits, more hospital admissions and longer wait times as we head into the holidays. On average, 83 people are waiting in emergency departments in St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, and Welland as an increase of respiratory illnesses is contributing to the higher number of ER visits. (CKTB)
- Power Lines Moved For Festival – Port Colborne will spend well over $1 million to relocate and bury power lines currently along West Street where the Canal Days festival takes place. The power lines are being moved after it was discovered that the height of the vendor displays and food trucks don’t provide enough clearance from the power lines. (Niagara this Week)