In this edition:
- Cap on student visas could wreak havoc on Ontario universities, colleges
- Area hospitals using loans, lines of credit to pay for care
- Community health, collaborations at heart of Brock Functional Inclusive Training Centre
- Ontario’s decision to expand beer, wine sales levels playing field for grocers
- More growth on the agenda for Town of Lincoln in 2024
- Competitive pay for Welland city workers falls below council target
- University of Niagara Falls signs UN Sustainable Development Goals Accord
- Focus on Climate
Cap on student visas could wreak financial havoc on Ontario universities, colleges: officials
Universities and colleges across Ontario are concerned about the federal government’s plan to reduce the number of international students granted permission to study in Canada.
Organizations that represent the post-secondary institutions say the cap will put a strain on their budgets.
Steve Orsini, president and CEO of the Council of Ontario Universities wants the government to reverse its decision to cap the number of new study permits it issues over the next two years.
He said many universities are already in perilous financial situations.
“We think a more refined, targeted approach would be better policy and not impact the good performers that rely on that funding or revenue from international students to operate,” Orsini said in an interview.
Area hospitals using loans, lines of credit to pay for care
Area hospitals are projecting deficits totalling tens of millions of dollars at the same time they are struggling with severe staff shortages and significant overcrowding.
“Efficiency has become deficiency,” Doris Grinspun, CEO of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO), said about more than a decade of cost cutting. “It destabilizes the health system.”
Community health, collaborations at heart of Brock Functional Inclusive Training Centre
The popular Brock Functional Inclusive Training (Bfit) Centre, which offers exercise programs aimed at improving the health and quality of life of older adults and those experiencing a wide range of health situations, officially opened its new, state-of-the-art facility Wednesday.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony held for the Centre, previously known as the Brock-Niagara Centre for Health and Well-Being, was attended by industry and community partners, Brock employees and student volunteers, Bfit Centre members and representatives from all levels of government.
Ontario’s decision to expand beer, wine sales levels playing field for grocers
The Ontario government’s recent announcement to end the Master Framework Agreement (MFA) with The Beer Store levels the playing field for all grocers in the province to begin carrying wine, beer, cider and ready-to-drink cocktails in-store.
The Retail Council of Canada’s National Spokeswoman Michelle Wasylyshen says it only makes sense for government to remove the cap on the number of grocery stores with retail licenses given an already proven record by Ontario grocers in successfully bringing craft beers and VQA wines to the market.
More growth on the agenda for Town of Lincoln in 2024
Growth and development are expected to continue in a big way this year in the town of Lincoln.
“The municipality has operated from a strategic plan for decades,” said Mayor Sandra Easton. “We are prepared for the fact that we’re going to have an average of 327 new residential units that will be coming on into our housing supply each year over the next 30 years.”
Among residential projects council will be grappling with this year is the proposal for a mixed residential subdivision, including affordable housing, on Hixon Street behind Calvary Gospel Church.
Competitive pay for Welland city workers falls below council target
Welland isn’t competitive when it comes to compensation for full-time and seasonal non-union employees, coming in below targets set four years ago, a recent pay review has found.
On Tuesday Marianne Love of ML Consulting laid out compensation for non-union employees based on an analysis carried out last year that looked at current job information, market competitiveness, and other factors.
Her presentation during a general committee meeting of city councillors fell under a non-union compensation and pay equity review update report.
University of Niagara Falls signs UN Sustainable Development Goals Accord
The University of Niagara Falls Canada (UNF) has joined more than 360 other post-secondary institutions from across the globe in committing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Accord (SDG Accord).
Led by EUAC, this international initiative launched in 2017 and aims to demonstrate the commitment of the higher education sector to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 17 interconnected goals were identified by the United Nations as part of its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to address a range of economic, social, and environmental challenges. They serve as an urgent call for action by all countries.
Did you know?
The Ancient Egyptian economy ran without cash for thousands of years.
Focus on Climate
Canadian tar sands pollution is up to 6,300% higher than reported, study finds
Toxic emissions from the Canadian tar sands – already one of the dirtiest fossil fuels – have been dramatically underestimated, according to a study.
Research published in the journal Science found that air pollution from the vast Athabasca oil sands in Canada exceed industry-reported emissions across the studied facilities by a staggering 1,900% to over 6,300%.
Academics said this means that damaging reactive pollutants from the oil sands are equivalent to those from all other human-made sources across Canada with severe health implications.
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