Consider This (https://consider-this.ca/)
The hospital continues to operate over capacity, placing stresses on its ability to deal with patients in the emergency room, Northumberland Hills Hospital Executive Director Linda Davis says. In an interview with Consider This Northumberland, she said the hospital currently fills 135 per cent of its beds, meaning it has one-third more people than the hospital can afford to operate. While it has received an additional $250,000 in funding from the Ontario government to open four more beds, it is not enough, Davis said, but the hospital works hard to ensure nobody is without care. In a series of candid answers, Davis outlined the challenges and successes of the hospital as it prepares for the proposed changes announced by the provincial government recently.
A two-tiered health care is one of several things necessary to repair what is wrong, says Stephen Skyvington, author of a new book titled This May Hurt a Bit: reinventing Canada’s health care system. In an interview with Consider This Northumberland, Skyvington gives his critique of the Ontario government’s recent proposals to overhaul the province’s system, as well as dissecting the Canada Health Care Act. He goes on to provide his 10 fixes as recommendations to those in charge as to what can be done to change things right now.
Cobourg impresario Ken Prue, owner of the Loft, and Cobourg Councillor Adam Bureau talk about the work currently underway regarding the cultural master plan for the town. Consultants MDB Insights are leading the process with a series of focus groups and public meetings to gather input. A public meeting is set for March 21, 2019, at the Cobourg Community Centre, starting at 6 p.m.
The $65,000 study is meant to shape the town’s direction, not only to help enhance the arts and cultural life locally but to also find economic opportunities, as well. Prue provides insights into the significance of the study for those who actually work within the cultural community, while Bureau gives the political perspective.
As Northumberland County high school grads prepare to go off to university and college next fall, there are major changes taking place in regards to finances. In this podcast, Canadian Federation of Students (Ontario) Chair Nour Alideeb talks about the impact of a 10 per cent reduction in tuition for post-secondary students. While it appears to be good news for some, the results will mean no more free tuition for those in need, more loans, and fewer grants, she explained. Other proposals included in this announcement by the federal government will impact student activity fees, leaving student government and other activities on campus in jeopardy, she said.
Northumberland County Warden John Logel unpacks the 2019 budget for the county, looking at the various initiatives, explaining the details around roads, waste and the new Golden Plough Lodge. Original broadcast: Feb. 8, 2019
Cobourg Councillor Nicole Beatty, the coordinator of planning and development, outlines the town’s plans to address affordable housing. While the proposal is in its infancy, Beatty unpacks why the town has put aside $250,000 to look at the formation of a new social planning and community development advisory committee, as well as creating a new housing support policy. Continue Reading →
Hamilton Township Mayor Bill Cane talks about his vision for the upcoming term of office, along with his focus on “co-operation, collaboration, consideration, and confidence in the job they are going to do.” Originally aired: Jan. 11, 2019 Continue Reading →
Cobourg mom Kristen Ellison is an outspoken critic of a proposal from the Ontario government to fund 23,000 autistic children on waiting lists currently. Her eight-year-old son, Carter, already receives funding to help cover the approximately $90,000 annual costs for support services. Families will be eligible for up to $20,000 a year for children under 6 — up to a lifetime maximum of $140,000. Children older than that can access up to $5,000 a year up to age 18, to a lifetime maximum of $55,000. The changes are slated to begin on April 1. Continue Reading →
Entrepreneur Bolis Ibrahim, the winner of the $250,000 N100 Start-up prize, talks about his innovative company, Argentum Electronics, and the support he is receiving from Venture 13 in Northumberland County. The man behind N100, John Hayden, also joins the conversation. Continue Reading →
Northumberland County will lose 700 jobs when General Motors Oshawa plant closes sometime before the end of the year, says the president of the union. Colin James, president of Unifor Local 222, outlined the impact within the area as he explained the repercussions of the announcement by General Motors in November to close the Oshawa operation sometime towards the end 2019, putting 2,600 workers and 340 staff out of work. He warned of the economic effect to Port Hope, Cobourg, Colborne and the rest of the region. “Local politicians should be very concerned,” he said in an interview on Consider This Northumberland. “Not just about GM, but by any large corporation who could potentially just up and leave. Continue Reading →