News
Copy by Don Leslie
In local news, Picton residents are advised that contractors will be conducting more blasting work today at the site of the new long-term care facility located at 90 Finnegan Drive. Multiple blasts will occur on weekdays from 8 am – 5 until June 11th
The Ontario Fire Marshal has been called in to investigate a suspicious fire in Bayside last night. Quinte West Fire and OPP responded around 10:30 p.m. to 1325 Old Highway 2, where a multi-unit commercial building on the north side of the road was burning. Fire Chief John Whalen says there were emergency crews at a nearby collision and fire officials were able to knock down the blaze quickly. The building houses CC Cycles and Farmer’s Daughter Sub Shoppe. Damage is estimated around $75,000.
Price war for domestic flights could be coming due to a significant decline in travel South of the border. Estimates of the decline range from 10-20% for to the States this summer. Travel to Florida and California have the steepest declines at near 30%, Some airlines have cutback routes and capacity as a result of the loss of demand. Conversely bookings between Canadian cities is up 11% from this time last year. As many Canadians reconsider their U.S. travel plans, Canadian airlines have also added new capacity to Europe. The same for travel to Canada as European airlines are reporting increases on flight bookings to the Great White North and declines to our southern neighbour.
Canada’s economy grew by 2.2 per cent on an annualized basis in the first quarter, Statistics Canada said on Friday, expanding at a rate faster than expected. The growth was primarily driven by exports as companies in the United States rushed to stockpile before tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump. But an increase in imports that led to inventory build-up, lower household spending and weaker final domestic demand indicates that the economy was battling on the domestic front. Economists have warned that as tariffs continue on Canada, this trend will persist.
Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra cited “wasteful spending” as a reason for a new bill to strengthen accountability and transparency across Ontario’s education system, but several school board chairs and an opposition MPP say this is not the root of funding shortfalls. Calandra announced broad legislation yesterday that he said would give the minister wide powers to investigate and place school boards under supervision, which would “ensure that every dollar invested is preparing students with practical skills for good-paying, stable careers.” Opposition MPPs and School Boards have counter the Government’s rationale that blaming school boards for wasteful spending appeared to be a diversion from a government that has cut funding for education.
And finally, the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF) announced yesterday that it has successfully completed its $3 Million CT Scanner Campaign, thanks to the generosity of the community and a matching gift from the Paul B. Helliwell Foundation. Each year, more than 2,150 patients from Prince Edward County must travel to other Quinte Health hospitals for CT scans. With the addition of this advanced diagnostic tool, those patients will soon have access to timely, accurate imaging services right here at home. That means faster diagnoses, reduced stress, and improved outcomes for patients and their families.
Sports
In F1 the last of the trifecta of European races winds up in Barcelona Spain this weekend. The first two practice sessions were held this morning and………
On Saturday, the final practice session begins with your early morning coffee at 6:30 am. Qualifying starts with your second cup at 10:00 am. It will be a full breakfast for the race on Sunday when the red lights go out at 9:00 AM county time.
Over on the ball diamond, the Toronto Blue Jays open up a three game homestand against the Athletics. Formerly the Oakland Athletics, the team is in the process of moving to Las Vegas, Nevada but their stadium on the site of the old Tropicana Hotel will not be ready until 2028. Their lease in Oakland expire last season so for now they play in West Sacremento.
On the golf course, is it a case of like father like so. Charlie Woods, the 16-year-old son of Tiger Woods, won a prestigious junior golf tournament Wednesday, shooting 15-under over three rounds to capture the American Junior Golf Association’s Team Taylormade Invitational. Tiger Woods was 15 when he won his first US Junior Amateur championship. Charlie Woods, ranked No. 606 on the Junior Golf rankings, beat the No. 1 junior in the country, 16-year-old Miles Russell, by six shots.
