Author: Sam Allcock

Mission Memorial Hospital will temporarily scale back the operating hours of its Emergency Department starting next week, a move health officials say is necessary to ensure patient safety and service reliability amid ongoing staffing challenges affecting hospitals across Canada. Beginning Monday, Dec. 29, the Emergency Department at the Mission facility will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The adjusted schedule is expected to remain in place until Tuesday, Jan. 6, with full 24/7 emergency coverage anticipated to resume at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 7, according to Fraser Health. Health authority officials emphasized that the change is…

TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford used his Christmas Day message to extend holiday greetings to residents across the province, emphasizing family, faith and appreciation for essential workers as communities marked the holiday amid ongoing economic and social pressures. In a statement released Wednesday by the Premier’s Office, Ford reflected on the meaning of Christmas for Ontarians of different backgrounds while underscoring the role of frontline workers who continue to provide critical services throughout the holiday season. The message, dated Dec. 25, aligns with a long-standing tradition of seasonal statements from provincial leaders, offering both personal well-wishes and broader reflections…

A Vancouver-based citizens group is using a holiday-themed protest to call out what it describes as weak climate policy by Canada’s federal and British Columbia governments, urging residents to send symbolic “lumps of coal” to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier David Eby. The campaign, launched by environmental advocacy organization My Sea to Sky, features festive postcards depicting the two leaders as “naughty” politicians waking up on Christmas morning to find coal in their stockings. According to the group, nearly 500 postcards have already been mailed to the Prime Minister’s Office and the B.C. premier’s office as of late December.…

Energy ministers from around the world are set to gather in Paris on Feb. 18 and 19, 2026, for the International Energy Agency’s biennial Ministerial Meeting, a high-level forum focused on the evolving state of global energy markets and the policy choices shaping energy security, affordability and sustainability. The meeting comes at a time of heightened uncertainty in global energy systems, as governments balance the need for reliable and affordable supply with accelerating clean energy transitions and geopolitical pressures. The Paris discussions will provide an opportunity for ministers to assess recent developments in energy markets and review how policy responses…

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Ontario and New York have taken a significant step toward deepening cross-border energy cooperation, signing a new agreement aimed at accelerating the development of nuclear power while supporting economic growth and long-term energy security in both jurisdictions. The agreement, signed Thursday by Ontario Premier Doug Ford and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, formalizes collaboration on advanced nuclear technologies, including large-scale reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs). At the centre of the deal is a memorandum of understanding between Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and the New York Power Authority (NYPA), which will allow the two public utilities to…

The U.S. dairy industry is welcoming the Senate confirmation of Dr. Julie Callahan as Chief Agricultural Negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, a role widely viewed as pivotal for advancing American agricultural interests amid intensifying global trade competition. Industry groups representing milk producers, exporters and food manufacturers said Dr. Callahan’s appointment comes at a critical juncture, as the United States seeks to expand market access, resolve long-standing trade disputes and protect the use of common food names in international markets. The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and the Consortium for Common…

The Ontario government has appointed longtime Niagara Region public servant Bob Gale as the new chair of the Regional Municipality of Niagara, a move it says will support economic growth, improve municipal service delivery and help lower costs for local taxpayers. The appointment, effective Dec. 18, 2025, was announced by Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack in a statement released Wednesday. Gale succeeds the late Jim Bradley, who served as regional chair from 2022 until his death earlier this year. “I am pleased to announce Bob Gale as the new Chair of the Regional Municipality of Niagara, effective…

Ontario and the federal government have signed what they are calling a historic cooperation agreement aimed at eliminating overlapping environmental assessments and accelerating major infrastructure and resource projects, including development tied to the Ring of Fire in Northern Ontario . Announced Dec. 18, the agreement introduces a new “one project, one process, one decision” model that removes duplicative federal impact assessments when projects are already subject to Ontario’s environmental assessment regime. The change is intended to shorten approval timelines, provide greater certainty for investors and proponents, and help unlock large-scale economic opportunities tied to critical minerals and infrastructure development. “With…

Arts Orillia has announced a new partnership with the Orillia Opera House that aims to reduce barriers for young people seeking access to live performance and hands-on experience in the performing arts, marking a significant collaboration within the city’s cultural economy. The partnership, unveiled during the holiday season, brings together Arts Orillia (AO), the municipally operated Orillia Opera House and local educators to create mentorship-driven performance opportunities for youth. The initiative reflects a growing emphasis on workforce development within the arts sector, particularly as cultural organizations look to cultivate talent and sustain audience engagement over the long term. As part…

Strong pre-leasing performance has validated Trevian Asset Management’s strategy to target premium family rental housing in the Greater Helsinki area, as the firm’s first residential investment in Finland with global asset manager Nuveen reaches a key milestone. The €42 million investment, comprising a four-asset portfolio of family-oriented rental homes, has achieved what Trevian describes as exceptional leasing results ahead of completion. Additional units are already under development, underscoring continued confidence in the segment and in long-term demand fundamentals within Finland’s largest urban region. The investment marks Nuveen’s entry into the Finnish residential market and reflects a shared focus on energy-efficient,…