The province`s delay of major hospital expansion projects will weigh heavily on York Region`s health care delivery system and patients, stakeholders said.
Increased demand from hospitals and a shortage of qualified construction companies is being blamed for the province`s decision to phase in funding.
The Public Infrastructure Renewal Ministry has assessed infrastructure needs of hospitals across the province and determined all the projects simply can`t be done at once, the government announced Thursday.
Richmond Hill`s village core has long been in need of revitalization and, in the air and on the ground, real progress is being made.
The performing arts centre, set to open in October, is the centerpiece of a revival that includes Tridel`s upscale Renaissance condominiums and the replica of the demolished, 1880s Lorne Block.
For the last couple of years there was little to see of the site except construction hoarding. Before that, was a dilapidated white building.
$22 million logistics centre will create 100 jobs, help the environment
OSHAWA -- With Hwy. 401 running along the bottom and two major rail companies criss-crossing their lines up above, Oshawa is a natural place for trucks and trains to meet.
Which is why, says Mario La Barbera, president of PIVAL International, it was chosen as the location for his company`s newest logistics centre. On May 20, PIVAL (Partners in Value Added Logistics) celebrated the grand opening of a $22 million facility near the corner of Thornton Road and Wentworth Street.
Performing arts centre idea built on community consultation
WHITBY -- Mayor Pat Perkins` idea of a performing arts centre may sound like something new but it`s been talked about for a while, she says. Last year a proposal came in for the development known as Ecoplace, which had a performing arts centre in the plans, she said. After speaking to members of the Whitby Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Development Steering Committee, the mayor said she heard feedback that a facility like this would be better suited to go downtown.
What is it about the 905 areas surrounding Toronto that keeps people choosing them as residential destinations? Each month when the statistics are released on new-home sales in the GTA, it`s remarkable how many occur in the municipalities just outside Metro Toronto. In fact, new-home statistics in Canada in general remain encouraging considering what`s happening in the U.S. these days. The GTA has experienced a stable rate of growth, and our municipalities have paid attention to planning so that amenities and infrastructure can keep pace with new developments. In fact, new development has paid a large percentage of the cost of new services for new and existing residents.
North York`s ample inventory of resale homes gives purchasers plenty of options in choosing a home in a preferred neighbourhood. For the first three weeks of May, North York recorded 410 sales at an average home price of $382,406 – a respectable figure when compared to the average home price of $400,817 across the GTA.
While the real estate market has cooled somewhat, there are pockets within North York that continue to be hot spots. The Yonge Street corridor is consistently sought after, in large part because of its proximity to convenient public transportation services. In addition, homebuyers want to be close to the hub of commercial activity and cultural venues, particularly in the Yonge/Finch and Yonge/Sheppard neighbourhoods.
The Ontario government is giving the Rainbow District School Board $9.4 million to build a new "green" elementary school to house students now enrolled at George Vanier and Jessie Hamilton public schools.
While the $9.4 million will not cover the full cost of the new facility, the amount the board will have to come up with is not yet known, said Rainbow board chair Judy Hunda.
The $9.4 million "is certainly going to be the majority of the funds, but I would imagine it will cost a little bit more than that. But we are very confident we have that covered as well," she said.
Downtown to get a facelift -- comment on this story
When all the work is finished, 10 downtown buildings will appear a lot different than they do today.
The former Ledo Hotel building on Elgin Street, for example, will sport a new facade. So will the Townehouse Tavern a short distance away. The Gougeon Insurance building on Larch Street will also look much different.
That`s because the 10 buildings will share in $215,000 from the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation`s Financial Incentives for Downtown Renewal Program. Launched in 2007, the goal of the program is to assist property owners with improvements to their buildings, in turn, contributing to the beautification of the downtown core.
"These businesses are the pulse of the downtown core and bring the downtown to life," said Guy Labine, corporation chairman, at a press conference at Tom Davies Square Thursday.
Council to consider 300 new homes -- comment on this story
New proposals to develop close to 300 homes in Greater Sudbury`s outlying communities offer further evidence of the city`s ongoing economic resurgence.
City council`s planning committee is expected to approve a plan next week calling for development of 133 single-family homes and two apartment blocks with multiple units in Azilda. The proposal comes on the heels of the planning committee`s approval last week of a 116-home development in Valley East.
The proposal to be reviewed next Tuesday by the city`s planning committee calls for development of 34 acres of land along St. Agnes Street and Brabant Street in Azilda. The plan by Cecchetto and Sons Ltd. is part of the Bayside Estates development.
Medical school gets $3 million; Funds for native health research chair
The Northern Ontario School of Medicine received $3 million to establish a chair to conduct research into health issues in the Aboriginal and rural communities of Northern Ontario and raise health awareness in remote communities.
The announcement was made Friday at Laurentian University. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario and the Ontario government each invested $1.5 million.
Among the health issues facing the aboriginal community are heart disease and diabetes, said Sheila Cote-Meek, director of Academic Native Affairs at Laurentian.
On June 14, RBC is inviting everyone to protect themselves from identity theft by cleaning up and bringing their old documents containing personal information to its branch at 1720 Lasalle Blvd. for an RBC "Shred-A-Thon."
RBC and Cintas will be hosting the community event and offering free mobile document shredding services and information to raise awareness about how people can avoid becoming a victim of fraud.
The demolition of Dow Canada`s polystyrene plant is almost complete, a company spokesperson said.
Mimi Long said several parts of the facility have been decommissioned – or made chemical free – and have started to be torn down, while other sections should be finished in the coming months.
"Everything`s moving on schedule," she said, adding that the Ministry of the Environment has been involved in consultations.
Plans for a massive greenhouse operation in St. Clair Township have hit an obstacle.
Township council deferred a requested zoning amendment Thursday for the project, citing water supply and storm water control issues.
Township administrator John DeMars said developers still have some work to do.
"The folks hadn`t quite done their homework," he said.
DeMars said council couldn`t make the zoning change without first knowing how the water issues will be dealt with.
"With a greenhouse project of this size you can imagine the amount of run-off during a heavy downpour," he said. "The municipal drain wouldn`t be able to handle it."
Blue Water Bridge Canada is calling for contractors to begin phase one of the Canadian border bridge plaza improvements.
The self-funded federal Crown corporation is looking for contractors with LEED (Leadership, Energy, Environment and Design) accreditation and experience.
"It`s all to do with energy efficiency with the design of the building," said Stan Korosec, vice-president of operations with the Blue Water Bridge Authority.
"We want to capture rain water for environmental purposes and make the building itself environmentally efficient."
The contract for the first of three construction phases is for a four-story complex on Venetian Boulevard. The contract is for two years and will cost approximately $40 million dollars.
Laid off workers to return; international to recall 200 employees
There is big news on Richmond Street in Chatham.
International Truck and Engine Corp. is about to call back up to 200 laid-off workers.
Joe McCabe, a CAW national representative, told The Daily News Thursday that truck production at the Chatham plant will be increased from 65 units daily to 125.
"It`s not going to happen overnight,`` he said. "It will be gradual.``
McCabe said the recall comes after a downward trend that has persisted for the past one-and-a-half years.
"It`s great news for our workers, the Chatham plant and the Chatham-Kent economy,`` he said.
YMCA is planning to expand; King Street facility will be for sale
A desire to create a recreational block has the YMCA of Chatham-Kent looking to Tweedsmuir Avenue West.
More than 50 people attended an open house Tuesday at the Kinsmen Auditorium, as the organization discussed two possibilities it is considering for a new facility.
The first option consists of removing the ball field near Lacroix Street and building there, while the second option would remove the Kinsmen Auditorium and build on the soccer pitch.
A third option would have the YMCA choose another location.
On display were blueprints and aerial shots of each choice, as well as possible parking scenarios.
Traffic staff recommends reopening Aqueduct; with three speed bumps and three centre islands
Traffic staff are recommending to council that Aqueduct Street be reopened, with the addition of three speed humps and three centre median islands.
On Thursday evening, an information session was held in the community room to provide the public with details on the future of Aqueduct, which has been closed off to through traffic since September of last year.
"We wanted to present the information from the first public meeting we had (in March) and present the recommendations for the future that we will be bringing to council," said David Ferguson, city manager of traffic and parking, on the purpose of Thursday evening`s meeting.
A report, he said, will be presented to council in mid-July.
The city is offering free parking permits to residents of Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth streets as it moves forward with plans to prevent other motorists from parking there.
Parking places along the residential streets are already being filled by people who work in the area but don`t want to pay for parking at their place of employment.
With plans underway to add parking meters to King Street, the problem could only get worse for area residents.
"Parking is at a premium for residents on Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth and we have received many complaints regarding parking spaces meant for residents being taken up all day by people who work in the area who are trying to avoid paying for parking in lots closer to their place of work," said Tom Sliwinski, traffic and parking operations technician.
