The LocalSKIM for Friday, June 18

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  • St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik is concerned with a corporation’s plan to purchase $1 billion worth of single-family homes and turn them into rental properties. Sendzik said it could erode the affordability for young families to purchase a home and also threatens to drive up rental costs. (St. Catharines Standard)
  • The Niagara Region is testing the water quality at 19 beaches across the region with the results being posted online. Currently Charles Daley Park, Queen’s Royal Beach, Sherkston Quarry Beach and Reebs Bay are all unsafe to swim. (610 CKTB)
  • Two Niagara MPs would like to see the restriction that allows only members of the same household to dine together at restaurant patios removed but Dr. Mustafa Hirji believes that dining in close proximity without masks poses a large risk of infection transmission. (St. Catharines Standard)
  • Police have seize almost 1300 plants worth about $1,294,000, as well as 3,852 pounds of processed cannabis worth approximately $3,852,000 from a Wainfleet greenhouse that is federally licensed to grow cannabis. (Niagara this Week)
Photo: Vantage Point - Freerange Stock

Region commits $44.5 million to support new South Niagara hospital

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  • Niagara Regional Council has committed $44.5 million in principle to support the South Niagara hospital’s local share funding portion.
  • The payment will follow the opening of the new hospital and is paid over several years through tax levies.
  • The local share is the portion of funding for which a hospital is responsible for and includes 10% of the eligible construction costs and 100% of the costs associated with the purchase of new and replacement furniture, fixtures and equipment.
  • The total cost of the local share portion is approximately $212 million.
  • Request for proposals for the South Niagara hospital will be issued in early fall.

COVID-19 update for Friday, June 18

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Brock offering COVID-19 vaccinations to students

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The LocalSKIM for Thursday, June 17

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  • With more people being eligible for second dose COVID-19 shots, Niagara Region Public Health clinics are now booked up until the end of June as there is currently not enough vaccine to meet demand. (St. Catharines Standard)
  • The National Advisory Committee on Immunization is recommending that people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine for their first dose receive a second dose of either Pfizer or Moderna and not another dose of AstraZenica. (610 CKTB)
  • According to a survey that was distributed to Niagara businesses, 40 per cent believe it will take two years or longer to recover economically from the COVID-19 pandemic while 27 per cent of businesses said that they are vulnerable to closure. (St. Catharines Standard)

MPP urging Premier to stop company from buying homes

Company planning to spend $1 billion buying homes and converting them to rental units
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Watch St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik and Dr. Mustafa Hirji on Morning Live

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Need help locating programs and services for seniors?

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COVID-19 update for Thursday, June 17

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The LocalSKIM for Wednesday, June 16

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  • A vacant house fire on Welland Avenue in downtown St. Catharines has caused about $150,000 in damage. The cause of the fire could not be determined. (St. Catharines Standard)
  • Niagara Regional Police are offering a $50,000 reward to help solve the case of a double murder inside a vacation rental in Fort Erie that took place almost 5 months ago. (Niagara this Week)
  • Some Ontario school boards plan to have high school students take two 150-minute classes each day instead of 4 or 5 classes a day. The new schedule is designed to minimize any potential spreading of the COVID-19 virus by limiting the number of students who come in contact with one another. (610 CKTB)