Picton Terminals – Salt Piles

The Ministry of Environment has ordered Picton Terminals to cover salt piles on its property on Picton Bay.

Snow and rain has resulted in high levels of chloride and sodium in runoff water that gets into the bay.

The ministry says leaving the piles uncovered is a violation of the Environmental Protection Act.

The salt piles will have to be covered by tomorrow.

The company has also been ordered to prepare an action plan on how to handle the issue of runoff from the salt piles by December 8th.

Pride Jersey

The Kingston Frontenacs have unveiled a special Pride themed jersey.

The white jersey has the Pride rainbow colours on both arms and across the centre of the chest and back of the jersey.

It will be worn at the Frontenacs home game against Oshawa at the Rogers K-Rock Centre on January 26th.

The game will also be the first Pride Night with the Kingston Frontenacs.

It’s a collaboration with Pride Kingston to promote initiatives that foster openness and diversity.

The jerseys will be auctioned off after the game to raise money for Pride Kingston.

Housing-Strategy

The Trudeau government has announced a 40 billion dollar affordable housing strategy.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the plan to reduce homelessness by 50% in Toronto yesterday.

25% of the fund will go to projects for women and their families.

The plan is already under fire because most of the money won’t be spent until after the federal election in 2019.

Kingston and the Islands MP Mark Gerretsen the delay is due to the need to negotiate agreements with the provinces and territories because they are responsible for housing.  The plan relies on the provinces and territories to match the funds.

Labour Reforms

The Ontario government has passed sweeping labour reforms at the Ontario legislature.

The changes include a hike in the minimum wage to 14 dollars an hour on January 1st and up to 15 dollars in 2019.  The legislation also mandates equal pay for part-time workers, increases vacation entitlements and expands personal emergency leave.

Providence Care

Volunteers at Providence Care Hospital will be raising $70,000 to purchase special beds for the new hospital.  The announcement will be made at Providence Care this morning.

Volunteers with the organization have donated a total of $425,000 to the hospital since 2006.

Hazardous Waste – Depot Closing

If you’ve been hanging onto stuff for the Household Hazardous Waste facility – it’s closing at the end of the month.  That means there are only three more days to drop off items at the facility at the Kingston Area Recycling Centre on Lappans Lane.

It is open today, Saturday and next Thursday.  After next Thursday….it won’t re-open until April 5th.

 

 

Filed under: facility, hazardous-waste, housing-strategy, justin-trudeau, Kingston Frontenacs, labour-reforms, ontario-legislature, picton-terminals, pride-jersey, pride-kingston, pride-night, providence-care, salt-mines