Erin O’Toole removed as leader
DURHAM: The Conservative Party of Canada has chosen to remove their leader and have announced the choice of Candice Bergen as their interim leader. Erin O'Toole was the Party's third leader since Stephen Harper stepped down. Recently, on Wednesday, February 2nd, the Conservative Party caucus voted to remove Durham MP Erin O'Toole as their leader and hold a leadership race again. He added he would continue to serve as Durham's Member of Parliament (MP).
Brock starts budget deliberations
BROCK: The Township of Brock started deliberations of their 2022 municipal operating and capital budgets, on Monday, February 7th. At that budget meeting, councillors saw a budget which included a proposed 3.91 percent tax increase. If that were to be approved, it would mean a $54 increase on the municipal side of the tax bill for the average taxpayer.
Strike begins at local university
DURHAM: Ontario Tech University’s faculty members have hit the picket line. The UOIT Faculty Association started strike action, on Thursday, February 10th, at 11 a.m., after further negotiations with the University didn’t lead to a deal.
Ontario makes educator criminal history public
DURHAM/KAWARTHA: The Ontario government is taking a step to making criminal proceedings involving teachers more transparent. On Tuesday, February 8th, Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced the provincial government is “becoming the first Canadian jurisdiction to publicly disclose and make parents and guardians aware of educators [who] have been involved in sexual abuse and other serious criminal proceedings.”
HKPR closing two clinics
KAWARTHA LAKES: The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR) will be closing some of their mass immunization clinics this week. In a press release, the local health unit stated, “with the majority of eligible residents in the region having already received their booster dose,” they will be closing the clinic at the Lindsay Exhibition site, on Friday, February 25th, and the clinic at the Cobourg Community Centre, on Saturday, February 26th.
Ontario eliminates license renewal fees
DURHAM/KAWARTHA LAKES: The Ontario government plans to get rid of license plate renewal fees. “We are eliminating license plate renewal fees and scrapping the requirement to have a license plate sticker for passenger vehicles, light-duty trucks, motorcycles and mopeds. On top of that, we are going to refund what you’ve paid to renew your stickers for the past two years,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced at a press conference, on Tuesday, February 22nd.
University strike ends
DURHAM: The faculty strike at Ontario Tech University has come to an end. On Sunday, February 20th, the UOIT Faculty Association (UOITFA) announced they had reached a tentative bargaining agreement with the University. Four days later, the UOITFA announced, via social media, the agreement had been ratified by their members.