Consider This Northumberland

Two things related to affordable housing took place in the last week. First, phase one of the new Elgin Park housing units was opened. It is a step forward in a project to increase access to affordable rental housing. The second event was National Housing Day. People from across Northumberland gathered to strategize how accommodation issues are addressed locally. Rebecca Carmen, the county’s assoc...

Crime in Cobourg is on the increase. Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf says that is true everywhere. An analysis of recent statistics shows calls for service are up. There were 14 assault charges laid in the past two months. Two of those involved officers being assaulted. Another two of those involved weapons. Break and enters are up over the last six months. The same is true for property crimes. But t...

Currently, the minimum wage in Ontario is $16.55 per hour. But if you live in Northumberland County, that amount should be $20.60. That is what the Living Wage Network Ontario says. Recently, the Living Wage Network released its figures for 2023. It calculates how much it takes to live and work in one of 10 areas within Ontario. If you add up all the housing, food, transportation, and other expens...

Earlier this week, the federal government announced spending $162 million over the next four years to implement a National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence in Ontario. The timing is not by chance. Nov. 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. November is Women Abuse Prevention Month. On today’s show, we dig deep into intimate partner violence. The recent i...

A proposal to create sleeping cabins was before Port Hope council recently. The gallery was packed as residents wanted to be heard. When the public learned the matter was being put off to the next meeting, things erupted into chaos. Some members of the public gallery started yelling at the councillors. Decorum broke down as politicians and citizens argued. The mayor stepped in and moved the public...

A recent story challenging the Indigenous heritage of singer and songwriter Buffy St. Marie sent shockwaves through Canada. It distressed many people but also ignited a debate regarding what it means to be indigenous. In this interview, Alderville First Nation Chief Taynar Simpson will give his perspective. He will shed light on what it means to be Indigenous but also share how the Alderville comm...

According to the federal government, one in five Canadians struggle to pay for prescription medicines. Three million people don’t fill prescriptions because they cannot afford it. One million Canadians will cut the amount they spend on essentials like food or heat to afford medicine. In the next few weeks, the federal government hopes to introduce a plan to cover the cost of prescriptions. Many, i...

Over the last few months, residents of Cobourg have faced momentary power outages. There are more than expected. For many, it is frustrating. While these last only a few seconds, it is enough to affect clocks, computers, and PVRs, among a long list of inconvenient items. The reasons for the outages are varied and surprising. From squirrels to branches to a significant upgrade to the overall system...

Cobourg council wants to create a thriving community, provide better services, and be more sustainable. These are the three pillars of the new four-year strategic plan it hopes to pass this Monday. For the past 10 months, Cobourg council has worked with its consultant, Capital Park, towards a strategic plan. It has sought public input. The process is now wrapping up. In this interview, Cobourg May...

Earlier this month, there were three places where outbreaks of COVID-19 occurred in Northumberland. Besides the hospital, the Golden Plough Lodge was hit and the Victoria Retirement residence. These senior’s homes are located in Cobourg. The health unit has tracked more than 1,400 emergency room visits across its region for COVID, colds and flu since September. All this may be a bit disturbing. Bu...

Northumberland Hills Hospital announced there was a COVID-19 outbreak recently. Eighteen cases were confirmed at the time. Patients in the medical and surgical units were hit, along with some in the rehab unit. Staff were spared. Visitors and volunteers were restricted from these units. Several preventative measures were taken, similar to those in the past. This is cold and flu season looks like i...

One way to ensure a secure future for agriculture is putting farms in a land trust, says Margaret Walton, board chair of the Ontario Farmland Trust. There are 840 farms in Northumberland County. The vast majority are prime agricultural land. That designation ranks these areas as the best for growing the crops that feed us. Yet, these lands are under threat. And that has many people in Northumberla...

Farmers can advocate for change, according to MPP Stephanie Bowman, Liberal agriculture critic. There are 840 farms in Northumberland County. The vast majority are prime agricultural land. That designation ranks these areas as the best for growing the crops that feed us. Yet, these lands are under threat. And that has many people in Northumberland worried, especially farmers. On July 29, about 100...

Warden Mandy Martin reviews efforts by the county to preserve farmland. There are 840 farms in Northumberland County. The vast majority are prime agricultural land. That designation ranks these areas as the best for growing the crops that feed us. Yet, these lands are under threat. And that has many people in Northumberland worried, especially farmers. On July 29, about 100 people gathered at the...

Northumberland Federation of Agriculture Director Paul Burnham warned of the consequences of failing to protect farmland in the county both now and in the future, There are 840 farms in Northumberland County. The vast majority are prime agricultural land. That designation ranks these areas as the best for growing the crops that feed us. Yet, these lands are under threat. And that has many people i...

Lawyer Eric Gillespie reviews new regulations, policies, and legislation introduced by the Ontario government impacting farmland in this episode. There are 840 farms in Northumberland County. The vast majority are prime agricultural land. That is a designation that ranks these areas as the best for growing the crops that feed us. Yet, these lands are under threat. And that has many people in North...

On Sept. 30, many people will commemorate Orange Shirt Day. It is a time to reflect on the horrors of residential schools and to recommit to Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous people in our community and across the country. In this interview, you will hear from Taynar Simpson, chief of Alderville First Nation. He brings a different perspective. For many years, he has worked on researching re...

Calls for service are down. Foot patrols are also down. Vehicle patrols are also down. Cannabis charges are up. Violent crimes, such as assaults, are up by 80 percent. The number of frauds has grown. Sexual assaults are up. Breaching the peace, probation violations, and domestic disturbances are rising. It is a complex picture inside the Port Hope Police Annual Report for 2022. Chief Tim Farquhars...

Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, a walk-in clinic is on the cusp of opening at its former site on Toronto Road in Port Hope. In this interview with Mayor Olena Hankivsky you will get the details of this ambitious proposal. The journey to get the clinic open has not been smooth for the mayor and Councillor Les Andrews. You will hear how some doctors expressed concerns about the clinic. But you...

As students settle into school, the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board faces several challenges. The school board's chair, Steve Russell, will address critical issues on today's show. At the forefront is labour unrest. While negotiations continue, there is significant uncertainty. That is especially true for elementary teachers. Russell will explain what the board is doing to prepare. Then,...

Earlier this week, a group of people encamped at 600 William Street were removed from the site. County officials used the Trespass to Property Act to give 24-hours notice before a private security firm and the Cobourg Police would take action to clear the property. The site is owned by the county and houses offices for economic development, tourism and is a hub for ambulance services. County polit...

Last week, there were interviews with county officials. You have heard from a person who was living in the encampment. But what is it like from the perspective of an individual trying to support those living rough? Missy Mclean is a social worker for the Northumberland Legal Centre specializing in tenant issues. She is also a community organizer working on harm reduction for people struggling with...

A group of unsheltered people recently moved from Cobourg’s West Beach to a county-owned building at 600 William Street. While this may resolve some tensions between those living in tents and the public, it has created a challenge for Northumberland County officials. In this interview, you will hear how the county’s administration and social services staff respond to this new encampment at the amb...

It is a cliché to say lost causes are the only ones worth fighting for. Yet, for Tony Jenkins, it could be his motto. Jenkins hopes to convince the Ontario Land Tribunal and anyone else not to grant a demolition permit to Southbridge. The developer wants to remove several heritage buildings from its Ward Street property. In June, it received a Minister's Zoning Order, or an MZO, allowing it to bui...

Earlier this week, Cobourg Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf presented his annual report for the past year to town council. Many statistics were up. The number of calls, crime rate, reported crimes, mental health calls, drug poisonings, overdoses, break, and enters all increased. The number of complaints against police was down, as were the times when officers used force. But things have changed in oth...