News

Members of CUPE have released a new report claiming that the province’s plan for two per cent annual funding increases over the next three years is not enough, leading to a shortfall in staffing and capacity. A report titled “Driven To The Brink: Projected Cuts To Intensify Hospital Crisis” presented numbers collected and presented based on estimates from a report from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAFO) regarding health sector spending in the 2025 provincial budget. FAFO estimates a reduction of 9,000 health care staff and 4.6 per cent of beds across the province. Locally, the numbers for what would be affected at Quinte hospital sites using the FAFO methodology and based on the assumption that all hospitals would be affected equally. In its recommendations, the CUPE report calls for an increase of core provincial hospital funding by $3.2 billion starting with an initial top-up for this fiscal year before it ends in March. It also calls for the hiring of 48,000 full-time staff across the province to reach the national per-capita average. Last year, the board of directors heard that the deficit would be around $9 million, up from $6.6 million in 2023/2024.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s fate will be put to delegates at the party’s convention in Calgary on Friday. While those around him are confident he can avoid being turfed, the leader’s loyalists are doing all they can to ensure he easily clears this must-win vote. Poilievre has been busy working the phones and dropping in to ridings across the country to meet members who will decide if the party stays the course or holds a new leadership election. Poilievre needs a majority of delegates to vote no on triggering what the party calls a leadership selection process to hang on to his position, but barely clearing 50 per cent would be catastrophic.
The day Oshawa, Ont., autoworkers have dreaded for months has arrived, as GM Canada is poised to cut a shift at the city’s plant, costing over a thousand workers their jobs. Up to 1,200 workers are expected to complete their final shift on Friday as the company scales back its Canadian operations, according to the union president who represents them. GM is cutting the plant’s midnight shift, which is one of three shifts. Seniority rules will apply, Gray said — meaning high-seniority members will be bumped to the remaining shifts, while lower-seniority members across all three shifts will lose their jobs.
Prince Edward County Radio Corporation held their annual AGM. As we move into our 12th year on-air in Prince Edward County, 99.3 County FM is excited to announce the appointment of two new board members to the sitting Board of the radio station. Randy Coker and Barney Brucker will join the current Board of Directors comprised of: Mike Harper (Chair), Mary Ann Farrell (Vice-Chair), Phillip Knox (Secretary) with Directors, Geoff Craig, Mark Despault and Astrid Young. Leaving the Board currently are Lynn Pickering, Shelagh Hurley, Christine Winlarz Searle and Nancy Griffin.

Sports

A standout game from the net out gave the Wellington Dukes a gutsy victory over a top-flight West Conference opponent on Wednesday afternoon. Dryden Riley was the man of the hour with a superb 52-save performance as the Dukes downed the third place Milton Menace 3-1.
The Ottawa Senators proved they can hold their own against the league’s best Wednesday night coming up with an impressive 5-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche.
Mikal Bridges scored 30 points, including 19 in the third quarter, as the New York Knicks rolled past the Toronto Raptors 119-92
That’s your CountyFM sports.