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Northumberland climate activists call for big changes to vehicles, farming, and home heating during meeting with MP

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The show:

The full interview with bonus material:

While most of us are fretting about getting a vaccine to stem the pandemic, some people in Northumberland are focusing their attention on other global concerns, like climate change. This interview with Consider This Northumberland looks at a local initiative on climate change. The group is called Blue Dot Northumberland. It is a chapter of a national movement fighting climate change. Members from this group recently met with Northumberland Peterborough South MP Philip Lawrence. Continue Reading →

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

Chamber CEO praises initiatives to help small business, women and worker’s retraining

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The show:

The provincial budget delivered earlier this week appears to have two goals. The first is continuing to address the fiscal demands of the pandemic. The second is to provide ongoing support to people and the economy in the hopes of creating a path to a post-pandemic world. The result is a record-setting $38.5 billion deficit for 2020 and an additional $33 billion deficit for this coming year. In interviews earlier this week,  Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini talked about the details of the budget. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Economy, Politics

Cobourg’s mayor explains council’s decision to approve a rehab centre at former Woodlawn Inn

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Woodlawn Inn

The show:

As promised last week, when I interview Cobourg Mayor John Henderson recently about the future of the Brookside Youth Detention Centre, I also took the opportunity to talk to him about plans to convert the former Woodlawn Inn – a well-known boutique hotel and restaurant on Division Street – into a residential drug and alcohol treatment centre. The company behind the proposal is the Canadian Centre for Addictions. It runs a similar facility in Port Hope. As you would expect, neighbours and others expressed deep concerns about the location. Still, the council approved the plan. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Planning and Development, Politics

Who should use Cobourg Beach? Report looks at economic impact of tourism

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The Show:

The full interview with bonus material:

When the town decided to close Cobourg Beach last summer due to the pandemic, it was cause for some serious reflection. In fact, it drew attention to a lot of issues lying just below the surface. Who uses the beach? Is it a public place? And who has jurisdiction over it? Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Economy, Politics

The future of former youth detention centre, including historic mansion, still to be determined

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Sitting on the edge of a 70-acre piece of prime real estate on King Street, in the east end of Cobourg, sits Strathmore House. You might know it as the administration building for the Brookside Youth Detention Centre. It is one of the last palatial historic homes from the 19th century in Cobourg. It was built in the mid-1870s by a local lawyer and county court judge, George M. Clark. He was born in Belleville and moved to Cobourg as a young man to start apprentice as a lawyer. Continue Reading →

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

Controversy between snowmobile club and county over use of Northumberland Forest trails

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The show:

The podcast with bonus material and extended interviews

There is a controversy over an agreement between Northumberland County and a local snowmobile club over the use of the Northumberland Forest. I spoke with County Warden Bob Crate and with the president of the Great Pine Ridge Snowmobile Association, Steve Horner. The snowmobile club sent its usual agreement, one that is was signed by the county in the past. It is also used by other snowmobile clubs and nearly every other municipality in Ontario. But this year, it was different. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Politics

In the face of recent struggles, Port Hope Chamber CEO says businesses remains optimistic about future

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Full interview:

Keeping the economy from collapsing at the same time stopping the spread of the COVID-19 virus is a balancing act. It is complex, and it isn’t easy. Public health officials want to keep the lid on the spread of the virus until they can get needles in their arms. They hope to get on top of the virus before variants create even more problems. Last week, we heard from Dr. Ian Gemmill, the acting Chief Medical Officer of Health for the local health unit. Meanwhile, politicians and business owners are worried that we will be plunged into a recession or even a depression without sufficient economic activity. They worry it will take years before we will recover. Continue Reading →

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

Hospital CEO reflects on nearly eights years of service at the hospital after announcing retirement

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Linda Davi

 

The Show:

The full interview with bonus material:

Cobourg is a long way from a farm in Alberta where Linda Davis, the CEO of Northumberland Hills Hospital, grew up. Yet, you will hear her mention several times in this interview about her love of being in the barn. Her daughter is an equestrian. And she loves spending time with her daughter. Last week, Davis announced her retirement. Continue Reading →

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

New county warden reflects on a busy year in the face of a pandemic

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Golden Plough Lodge groundbreaking

The Show:

The full interview with bonus material:

As the new county warden, Bob Crate is taking on the job in some pretty tough times. The pandemic is in the depths of a serious second wave. The promise of mass vaccinations sits on the horizon, but there are no firm dates when inoculations will start locally. The county faced many challenges in 2020 yet still managed to start several major projects, including the new Golden Plough Lodge and a major expansion of affordable housing in Cobourg. It maintained services yet scrambled to deal with the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic during the early days and months of last spring. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Politics

MPP addresses vaccine roll out, long-term care crisis, and his successes and challenges

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The show:

(This interview is the full interview with Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini. So, there is no bonus interview. Please note, there is a sound quality difference at the end of the interview due to a technical issue. My sincere apology.)

The provincial government is facing intense scrutiny these days. This includes the resignation of former Finance Minister Rod Phillips over a trip to the Caribbean as the number of new cases of COVID-19 skyrocketed. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Politics