News
We have a snowfall warning in effect for parts of the region today, ending this evening. We can expect heavy snow of up to 15 cm., with local blowing snow reducing visibility. We’ll have more details in our weather report following sports.
Last night, County Council reconsidered its plan for the Wellington Town Hall. Brenda Little has more.
[The local community groups in Wellington are happy this morning as council gave the thumbs up for the Wellington Town Hall Foundation to get going with their plan. The Committee of the Whole had voted to put the heritage building up for sale but in the mean time, several councillors had a change of heart and voted to give the group 12 months to come up with a
memorandum of understanding that could lead to the group acquiring the building for a nominal fee. Several people spoke supporting the plan and outlined the ideas for future use declaring it a significant part of the Wellington community.]
Also at council last night, the spotlight was once again on the Picton terminals. Council heard a deputation from Bill Beckett regarding the zoning of the Sophiasburgh portion of the property. It is zoned RE1 and a ruling in 2018 allowed for equipment storage only. However, residents witness noise, light, and sound pollution from the area and satellite images show what appears to be quarrying. The Ministry of Natural Resources has not been forthcoming in answering inquiries about the use of the property. A resolution by South Marysburgh Councillor John Hirsch easily carried to have staff investigate the current usage of the property and to send the 2018 decision to the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Premier, the local MPP, and others, asking how it was concluded the terminals are not operating as a quarry.
The Committee of the Whole will be meeting tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. in Shire Hall, and will be live streamed and recorded. They will receive a deputation from Kate’s Rest Foundation regarding the Home and Farm Initiative and the proposed organics processing site. As well, the Operational Services Department will report on the Organics Processing Facility Feasibility Study, and a recommendation that Council direct staff to offer backyard composter giveaways biannually.
In economic news, the Bank of Canada has decided to hold its key interest rate at 2.25 per cent, a move that was widely expected by economists after an encouraging round of economic data. The central bank said that “the economy is proving resilient overall,” and the current rate is at “about the right level” to give the economy a boost while also keeping inflation close to its two per cent target rate, even as the steel, aluminum, auto, and lumber sectors have been pummelled by U.S. tariffs.
Finally, Alberta’s governing United Conservatives stayed up into the early pre-dawn hours this morning to pass a bill that marks the fourth time in under two months they have used the Charter’s notwithstanding clause. Members of Premier Danielle Smith’s caucus used their majority to pass on third and final reading a bill affecting transgender citizens. Smith’s government will police names and pronouns in school, ban transgender girls from participating in amateur female sports, and restrict gender-affirming health care for youth under 16.
Sports
The Wellington Dukes were in North York yesterday afternoon, easily winning 6 – 0 over the Rangers, the East Conference cellar dwellers. The Dukes are now tied for sixth place with the St. Mike’s Buzzers, with two games in hand.
In the AHL, the Belleville Senators host the Rochester Americans tonight. So far, in their eight-game homestand, the Sens have lost four out of five.
In the NHL tonight, the Calgary Flames host the Detroit Red Wings on a modest three-game winning streak.
In women’s international hockey, the Canada – U.S. Rivalry Series picks up again tonight and Saturday night in Edmonton. Canada was outplayed and outscored in the first two games in the U.S. last month.
The New York Knicks advanced to the NBA Cup semifinals by beating the struggling Toronto Raptors 117-101 last night. The Raptors have just lost four of five games at home.
Burlington’s Victoria Mboko was named women’s player of the year by Tennis Canada yesterday, while Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime took the men’s player of the year honour.
Mboko rocketed from No. 350 in the world rankings at the start of the season to her current No. 18 position. The 19-year-old was also named women’s singles player of the year and women’s most improved player of the year. Auger-Aliassime was also selected men’s singles player of the year after moving to a career-high No. 5 in the world rankings, and became the first Canadian to record multiple 50-win seasons.
