For details see page 14 The trusted voice of our community. notllocal.com OCTOBER 10, 2019 Volume 1 • Issue 39 Hockey night in NOTL! In a game of ball hockey in their Chautauqua neighbourhood, Ty Sherlock gets ready to pass to Lennox Meadows, while Tennyson and Hold- en Powell are ready to bounce in the rebound. The boys are hockey fans and play in the NOTL Minor Hockey League. (Fred Mercnik) Niagara riding federal candidates face off Mike Balsom agara-on-the-Lake, Niagara poverty last Wednesday at a the parties with seats in the O’Connor from the Chris- candidate Sandra O’Connor Special to The Local Falls and Fort Erie. The res- debate held at the YourTV House of Commons were in- tian Heritage Party were in- referred to the carbon tax ignation of current Conser- (formerly Cogeco) studios in vited to the television debate. stead offered pre-recorded as a “deflection,” promising When the federal elec- vative MP Rob Nicholson Niagara Falls. That decision left one of three-minute segments that her party would simply tax tion is over on Oct. 21, one back in April guarantees that Taking a cue from the the most high-profile candi- were played during a break the big polluters directly. The thing is certain in the Ni- outcome. Leaders’ Debates Commis- dates, current Niagara Falls in the live proceedings. NDP’s Brian Barker said the agara Falls riding — a new Five of the hopefuls to fill sion struck by Democratic city councillor Mike Strange, The first question dealt carbon tax would be just one representative will be tak- Nicholson’s seat fielded ques- Institutions Canada in Oc- running independently of with the carbon tax imple- of the tools they would use. ing a seat in the House of tions about environmental tober of 2018, only the five any party, out of the pro- mented by the current Liber- Commons to represent Ni- issues, immigration and candidates representing ceedings. Both he and Tricia al government. Green Party Continued on page 3 2 October 10, 2019 THE NOTL LOCAL notllocal.com Community safety zone celebrated in St. Davids Penny Coles Davids goes back to July, The Local 2017, when the previous council agreed to ask the The new communityRegion to look at improving safety zone in St. Davids was safety for pedestrians in the celebrated Thursday at the village. public school, where the des- York Road begins with ignation is considered a posi- an 80 kilometre-an-hour tive step for student safety. speed limit, which is re- As drivers pass by St. duced to 60 km/h as it ap- Davids Public School along proaches the village and York Road, from Queenston then 40 km/h through the Road to Concession 3, signs, school zone. which were up in time for The police have in- the start of the school year, creased their presence in the warn that fines for speeding area, first issuing warnings through the area could be from Sept. 3 to 15, Inspec- doubled. tor James McCaffery told Carolyn Ryall, regional those gathered at the school director of transportation for the announcement, and services, told those gath- then issuing fines for speed- ered at the school the goal ing and other offences in of community safety zones the weeks since, in an effort is to modify driver be- to change driver behaviour. haviour and improve safety He said most drivers on specific sections of roads have been supportive of the within the Niagara region. community safety zone — The Region approved the although not all who were designation for St. Davids ticketed. this summer, and another The message, he said, is area in the town of Lincoln. “drive safe, stay safe,” and In considering the need promised the police will for a community safety continue their presence in A group of partners from the Town, the Region, the school board and St. Davids Public School, including students, pose for zone, the Region looks at the village. a photo in front of one of the new Community Safety Zone signs on York Road. (Photos by Penny Coles) the number of safety and Lord Mayor Betty Dise- speeding complaints and ro thanked all involved for school, she said. October being International In addition to addressing School principal Tracey violations at specific loca- helping to get the designa- Regional Coun. Gary Walk to School Month, an the speed of drivers, the lack Leemet said there are about tions, collision history, and tion approved, once coun- Zalepa said the Region is annual celebration of active of sidewalks in the village 60 to 75 students who live the number of students and cil sent the request to the committed to healthier liv- transportation taking place for kids walking to school close enough to walk to families walking to school, Region. Everyone worked ing, and given the benefits around the world, he said. is another component of the school — the majority of she said. together to ensure the safe- of an active lifestyle, “stu- The community safety problem, he said. students are from the ru- The request for the com- ty of the community, and dents thrive.” zone initiative is a commit- The traffic at the inter- ral area and the Glendale munity safety zone in St. the children who walk to The event also marked ment to the safety of the section of Four Mile Creek neighbourhood, and are community of St. Davids and Road and York Road, is also bused. Even some who live St. Davids School, he said. a consideration, said Zale- in nearby subdivisions take The initiative is the re- pa, with the future reopen- the school bus, she said, sult of the partnership of ing of Mewburn Road part because of the lack of side- the St. Davids Residents of the solution. walks on their route, but Association, the Niagara “The residents of St. Da- for those who can walk, the Regional Police, the school vids can rest assured we’re community safety zone is a board and the Region work- looking at safety measures great initiative to help keep ing together. for St. Davids.” them safe. A selection of students were invited to the St. Davids Public School gym to listen to the pre- sentations about the community safety zone in the school area. notllocal.com THE NOTL LOCAL October 10, 2019 3 Candidates debate affordable housing, carbon tax Continued from page 1 He added that the NDP’s “New Deal” would also in- clude the creation of 300,000 good green jobs, investing in clean energy projects through a climate bank, and getting more zero-emission vehicles on the roads. Later, Barker went on to criticize the Stephen Harper Conservative government for pulling out of the Kyoto Accord in 2010, then said of the Liberals, “we can’t be cli- mate champions, and declare an emergency on one day, then turn around and buy a pipeline the next.” Liberal candidate Andrea Kaiser defended her party’s Liberal Andrea Kaiser, NDP Brian Barker, Green candidate Sandra O’Connor, PPC representative Alex Taylor and Conservative Tony Baldinelli debate policy. She called the carbon issues at the YourTV (formerly Cogeco) studios in Niagara Falls. (Jack Custers) tax a price on pollution, de- scribing it as a critical step estate.” He added that face- program and national school the cannery industry back Barker also wants to see Ni- control, the labour and skills toward reaching the targets to-face interviews with po- nutrition program to help to Niagara. O’Connor said agara’s wines sold across the shortages being experienced for Canada as set out by the tential immigrants is very tackle poverty. the Green Party would better country. Kaiser said the Lib- across the country, and the country’s participation in the important, and said the Peo- O’Connor recognized the protect the Green Belt local- erals have removed the barri- abilities and qualities of each Paris Agreement, which took ple’s Party would also end need to support renters, with ly, and help farmers continue er to trade between provinc- of their party leaders. effect in 2016. She pointed to “birth tourism.” a rent supplement proposed to earn their livelihood via es, and said it is actually the The debate continues to the success of Alberta’s pro- In contrast, the other four by the Greens. Her party is their land. She also prom- provinces themselves that be rebroadcast on YourTV vincial Climate Change Act candidates in attendance all also promising a guaranteed ised to look at the high taxes haven’t all come on board. and can be watched via their as proof that a tax can work acknowledged immigration liveable income for all Cana- charged on Niagara wines, Baldinelli promised a website at yourtv.tv. toward a cleaner country, as a key part of their own dians. and to guarantee local wines Conservative government Federal candidates were while also helping to boost family backgrounds, and Taylor boiled down the get better shelf space at the would look at investments debating their platforms at the economy. spoke out in favour of immi- housing crisis as a question LCBO. in rural infrastructure and an all-candidates meeting in Conservative Party gration as an economic driv- of supply versus demand. Brian Barker lamented address the labour shortage St. Davids Tuesday evening, candidate Tony Baldinelli, er of a strong future econo- The People’s Party platform the lack of local foods in our in agriculture and tourism but after The Local had gone however, refuted Kaiser’s my. As well, each of these pushes a reduction in immi- grocery stores, and echoed industries.