Consider This Northumberland

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Northumberland high school grads face substantial changes to post-secondary tuition and fees

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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. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Education, Politics

Cobourg mom shares life caring for autistic son and her fight against proposed funding changes

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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 →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Health, Politics

Cobourg couple are two of the 700 jobs lost in Northumberland due to GM closure

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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 →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Economy

Affordable housing picture stark, but optimistic, Green Wood Coalition leader indicates

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There is a possibility new affordable housing may be coming to Northumberland County, said one of Northumberland most vocal advocates on poverty and homeless issues. Green Wood Coalition Community Director David Sheffield said he is aware of discussions going on that could lead to new affordable housing projects in an interview with Consider This Northumberland on Jan. 4. “There are a number of things that are not public information at this point – developers, folks working in the affordable housing realm that are essentially projects that would turn into some housing,” he said. Things are very tentative, he added, saying many factors will have to align, including federal government funding, before a formal, public announcement would be made. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Housing, Politics

Seeds of populist movements found in Northumberland County, local lawyer and activist says.

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Populist politics is finding its way into local politics, says a local lawyer and activist. Colin Browne said he notices locally a vast difference in attitudes between urban and rural people, which elsewhere in the world have been the impetus for the rise of populist movements. “There is a split between urban areas and the hinterland. And that has been associated with populism internationally,” he said. Populist movements, especially in the United States, are misrepresented by stereotypes and fail to provide a true picture of the group and its goals, he said in a recent interview. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Politics

Daily life can be more interesting than big picture, says local author and historian

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It is the daily lives of everyday people that make history come alive for local historian and author Gerry Brown, which he best exemplifies in his new book Memories from a Grey Wooden Box: Cobourg stories from The Great War. As a long-time high school history teacher in Prescott, Brown felt the big picture studied in class, like Napoleon, treaties, political figures and so forth, were interesting. But it did not represent his passion. “(Historians) didn’t talk about the day-to-day stuff. How people actually live in a variety of times and places,” he said in a recent interview with Consider This Northumberland. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Arts, Community

Old hospital could be converted into affordable housing, Port Hope mayor says

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The old Port Hope hospital building on Ward Street could be repurposed for much needed affordable housing, Port Hope’s mayor said in a recent interview. Mayor Bob Sanderson said he is making inquiries into the feasibility of converting the historic building with some help from the municipal government and other levels, along with private sector partners, if needed. The owner of the property, Southbridge Care Homes Inc., has proposed redevelopment of the site to create a new long-term care facility. “If we can get all the elements, it could be a win-win,” he said in a recent interview on Consider This Northumberland. While nothing is official, Sanderson said he is optimistic a deal can be reached despite months of tension between Southbridge, and others who wish to see a new long-term care facility built. Meanwhile, architectural conservationists in Port Hope want to see the building preserved. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Politics

Keeping a religious focus on the Christmas season a challenge, says local minister

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As mainstream Christmas celebrations focus more on commercialism, Santa and Rudolph, there are many Christians who are worried about the focus of the holy day is being lost. Rev. Neil Ellis, minister of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, is not overly concerned. “I see a lot on social media where people say we need to put Christ back in Christmas. I would just say, he never left,” he said in a recent interview on Consider This Northumberland. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community