News

Good afternoon. From the heart of Prince Edward County, I’m Will Pearson with your County FM News. 

The municipal campaign trail continues in the County. Last night, the three mayoral candidates were in Picton. Brenda Little was there. 

The Picton Rotary club hosted a mayoral candidates meeting yesterday at the yacht club. Rotarians submitted their questions and of course the main issues were addressed including roads, debt, water, and the Picton terminals. One exception to the format was a question raised by PEFAC Board Vice Chair Monica Alyea. [Clip]

Although Ernie Margetson, Brad Neiman, and Terry Short recognized the importance of the PEFAC, no promises were made and all agreed that the budget will determine how much the municipality can contribute. (1 min.).

In provincial education news: Ontario’s minister of colleges and universities has barred three career colleges from offering publicly-funded student financial assistance until at least 2030. Initially, Nolan Quinn had blocked six schools, including four Academy of Learning locations, from the Ontario Student Assistance Program just for this year. Quinn’s decision followed government inspections that found evidence suggesting third parties were completing the coursework — sometimes entire courses in one day — and a few students who couldn’t name their school or program. Rules governing the sector say that if an institution is found to be in non-compliance with those rules, they will not be eligible for OSAP for three years. Most of the schools are fighting the ruling in court, arguing that Quinn’s decision was unreasonable and procedurally unfair.

In provincial health news: Ontario’s medical regulator has approved significant changes to the way doctors prescribe, in an effort to reduce the amount of opioids making their way to the streets. One of the changes will require that patients take the safer supply medications in front of health-care professionals, rather than take the pills home. The new policy has the potential for a larger effect on those living in rural Ontario who are not close to a pharmacy. Another concern is for employees who might have difficulties getting to a pharmacy every day to take their medications. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario will not go ahead with an eight-week time limit for physicians to prescribe safer supply medications, a move it had previously considered.

In other provincial news: Ontario is set to move parts of the province’s northwest region, west of the 90th meridian, to permanent daylight time in order to align with Manitoba. British Columbia has moved to permanent Pacific daylight time. Alberta also switched to permanent daylight time this year in what it calls Alberta time, which means it now has the same time as Saskatchewan year-round.

Finally, in international news with regional implications: A 42-year-old man was killed while riding a roller-coaster in Georgia yesterday. He was thrown from his seat and struck other patrons before landing below the ride. Several others were injured. Similar roller-coasters in North America have been closed “out of an abundance of caution,” including two at Canada’s Wonderland near Toronto and one at Montreal’s La Ronde amusement park. Such incidents are very rare. The cause is still under investigation.

Sports

In the NHL last night, all seven Canadian teams were in action, with three of them losers. The Toronto Maple Leafs lost 5 – 4 in Utah. The Ottawa Senators lost 7 – 2, to the visiting St. Louis Blues. And the New York Islanders beat the Vancouver Canucks 3 – 2, extending their losing streak to five games. In the win column, the Montreal Canadiens prevailed in a 4-3 shoot-out win over the Buffalo Sabres. The Winnipeg Jets beat the visiting Minnesota Wild 5 – 2. For their fifth win in a row, the Edmonton Oilers defeated the winless L.A. Kings 4 – 1. And the Calgary Flames won 4 – 2 in Anaheim. Tonight, the Canadiens visit the Washington Capitals. 

Last night, in MLB’s best-of-seven ALCS, the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 3 – 1 to tie the series at one win apiece. The NLCS resumes tonight in L.A., with the Milwaukee Brewers ahead of the Dodgers two games to nil. 

In their NBA pre-season home-opener last night, the Toronto Raptors blew out the defending champion New York Knicks 148 – 98. The Raptors are 2 and 1 so far in the pre-season. 

Finally, in MLS tonight, Toronto FC hosts Orlando City, the Western-Conference-leading Vancouver Whitecaps visit St. Louis City, and CF Montreal hosts Atlanta United.