News

The County’s Planning and Development Committee will make a decision tonight on a plan by Hilden Homes for a subdivision of 31 lots with single detached homes and 12 blocks of 54 townhouse units at 233 Fawcett Avenue in Ward 2. The proposed Official Plan Amendment would also re-designate the lands from “Environmental Protection” to “Residential.” The Committee will be meeting tonight at 6 in Shire Hall, with a live stream on the municipality’s YouTube channel.

In other County news, the Municipal Agricultural Grant program is now accepting applications, until Jan. 20th. The County Foundation administers the program, which provides small grants to overcome obstacles that make farming unnecessarily difficult. You can access application forms and assistance on The County Foundation’s website. 

In immigration news, undocumented youth in Canada say they’re feeling worried and hopeless as they face decades-long processing times for permanent residence under the humanitarian and compassionate pathway, often the only immigration stream open to them. Lawyers and advocates say they fear more vulnerable minors will lose their legal immigration status in the coming years and will be forced underground, leaving them unable to work legally, study at many post-secondary institutions, or access medical care. They could even face removal from Canada. People can become undocumented when their temporary status lapses. That can happen if they fail to qualify for another status, if their application is denied, or during long waits for their application to be processed. In October, processing times stretched to decades for some immigration streams, including the humanitarian permanent residence pathway, a program that accepts applications based on special considerations such as hardship or the best interests of children.

In children’s health news, Ottawa schools are currently reporting student absence rates nearly double the peak of last season, according to Ottawa Public Health. School absence rates have been rising for the past eight weeks, and last week eight per cent of students were absent across elementary and secondary schools at the two boards Ottawa Public Health tracks. The Children’s Hospital of Easter Ontario is also reporting a higher-than-usual number of flu cases for this time of year. 

In our final news story today, there’s been some national blow-back on a provincial human-rights story. Last week, we reported that Alberta’s governing United Conservatives passed a bill affecting transgender citizens, marking the fourth time in under two months they have used the Charter’s notwithstanding clause. In response, Canada’s governing body for figure skating says Alberta is now a no-go zone for national and international events. Skate Canada said yesterday its new policy is due to the provincial law that prohibits transgender athletes from participating in female-only sports. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her Conservative government’s view reflects common sense and popular opinion, called Skate Canada’s decision “disgraceful,” and expects an apology. Skate Canada says their decision doesn’t prevent Alberta athletes from participating in its programming or competitions.

Sports

In the PWHL last night, the home-town Vancouver Goldeneyes defeated the Ottawa Charge 2 – 1. Tonight, the Montreal Victoire visit the Toronto Sceptres, the undefeated Boston Fleet face the Sirens in New York, and the Ottawa Charge move down the coast from Vancouver to take on the Seattle Torrent.

In the NHL last night, five Canadian teams were in action. In Toronto, the Leafs came back to edge Chicago 3 – 2. In Montreal, the Canadiens lost 4 – 1 to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Vancouver Canucks shut out the Rangers 3 – 0 in New York. And the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6 – 4. In a Pacific Division match, the Calgary Flames lost 6 – 3 to the San Jose Sharks. The Winnipeg Jets are the only Canadian team playing tonight. They’re in St. Louis to face the Blues in a Central Division match.

Curling’s first professional league was announced yesterday. The Rock League will begin in April next year, with six franchises, two each in Europe and Canada, one in the US, and one in the Asia-Pacific. The League is co-ed, with five men and five women on each team. The players 

were picked by strategic advisors Jennifer Jones and John Morris. At least 60 per cent of players on each squad are from their team’s region.