Wasaga Beach unveils over $45M premium hotel set to anchor new beachfront
Sunray Group unveiled that it will build a premium Marriott Hotel in Wasaga Beach on Beach Drive at Beach Area 1 on May 21, 2025. (Supplied)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Observer
20 minutes ago
- National Observer
Ontario to build world's first SMR server centre as Ford government pushes massive nuclear expansion
Ontario is building the world's first small modular reactor (SMR) engineering and service centre as the Ford government pushes a massive nuclear power expansion. Backed by a $70-million investment from GE Vernova Hitachi, the centre will support Ontario's $20-billion SMR megaproject at the Darlington nuclear site. Provincial Energy Minister Stephen Lecce said the new centre proves that Ontario is 'leading the world' in nuclear innovation. 'Nuclear attracts investment, it creates jobs, and it is the constant energy source we need,' Lecce said at the press conference in Toronto. 'By locking in this investment from GE Vernova, we are reinforcing our plan to make Ontario a clean energy superpower where our workers build with Canadian materials, operate with Canadian expertise and export the clean technology the world needs.' Lecce said the new 50,000-square-foot facility, located near the new Darlington SMR project, will serve as a global hub for maintaining and supporting BWRX-300 SMRs. It will train up to 2,000 nuclear professionals each year and create 300 jobs. Currently, around 80,000 people work in Ontario's nuclear industry. The project is the first major private investment in Ontario's nuclear expansion since the Ford government released its long-term 'Energy for Generations' plan, which emphasizes attracting private capital to help fund its costly new nuclear projects. Released last week, the plan projects a major shift toward nuclear power to meet rising electricity demand — while also showing increased reliance on fossil fuels over the next decade, with emissions expected to rise before declining after 2030. Backed by a $70-million investment from GE Vernova Hitachi, Ontario is planning to build the world's first SMR server centre to support its $20-billion SMR megaproject at the Darlington nuclear site. More than 50 per cent of Ontario's electricity comes from nuclear power. Under the new plan, that share is projected to exceed 70 per cent by 2050, as electricity demand is expected to rise by 75 per cent. The government says nuclear expansion is key to meeting that demand and estimates it will need up to 17,800 MW of new nuclear capacity, equivalent to building five new Darlington stations. Nuclear projects are complex and costly, and the province says it plans to explore new ownership models and equity partnerships to attract private capital and help finance the expansion. At the press conference, GE Vernova Canada President Heather Chalmers said the new SMR centre is an important step for Ontario's nuclear sector and the future of small modular reactors in Canada. 'This Ontario-based hub will provide the province with continued access to the best and brightest talent and innovation in the nuclear energy industry while complementing global efforts for deploying the BWRX-300.' Chalmers said the centre will also include advanced tools, such as a virtual reality simulator for refueling and maintenance training, along with inspection technology and support systems specifically designed for BWRX-300 reactors. She said the centre will support Ontario's SMR project at Darlington and help connect the province's expertise to international markets, and it's expected to add around $128 million to the province's economy each year. 'Today's announcement is not just about a new facility — it's about building the infrastructure, capabilities, and workforce needed to support the future of SMRs in Canada and around the world.' Energy experts and environmental advocates have long criticized the Ford government's heavy investment in nuclear power, saying it ignores Ontario's strong potential for cheaper, faster renewable options like wind and solar. They warn the nuclear-heavy approach could raise costs, hurt affordability, and increase Ontario's dependence on foreign energy supplies. The government, however, argues that nuclear power is more cost-effective and land-efficient than renewables. In today's statement, the government says Ontario would need to build up to 8,900 megawatts of wind and solar, paired with battery storage, to replace the output of four SMRs — an alternative it claims would carry major risks, including large land requirements and the need for significant transmission infrastructure. But recent studies challenge nuclear's economic case. The Ontario Clean Air Alliance estimates electricity from new nuclear facilities could cost up to 3.6 times more than onshore wind and three times more than solar. Another report suggests Ontario could save up to $19 billion annually by switching to wind, solar and storage, instead of pursuing the proposed Wesleyville mega-nuclear project near Port Hope. Growing skepticism over the cost of small modular reactors echoes global concerns. In the US, two reactors in South Carolina were scrapped after $12.5 billion (CAD) was spent, leading to Westinghouse Nuclear's bankruptcy. Georgia's Vogtle plant , more than twice its original estimate, making it one of the most expensive infrastructure projects in US history. In the UK and Europe, are also facing delays, cost overruns and cancellations.
Globe and Mail
27 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
AFN chief wants the Prime Minister to slow down
On Friday, the Liberals' controversial Bill C-5 was passed by the House of Commons — it's the only legislation to pass, ahead of Parliament rising for the summer. Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, aims to remove barriers to interprovincial trade, fulfilling Prime Minister Mark Carney's promise to do so by Canada Day. But the legislation would also give Carney's cabinet the power to quickly approve big industrial projects deemed to be 'in the national interest,' exempting them from some federal laws. Carney has said the legislation will not weaken the government's duty to consult Indigenous rights-holders, but many are worried. The Decibel is joined by Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak. She represents more than 630 First Nations and has been voicing concern over the bill. She'll walk us through how First Nations are responding and whether it could spark another Idle No More movement this summer. Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@
CBC
30 minutes ago
- CBC
Dal Legal Aid raises concerns about access to eviction data following info request
Social Sharing Officials with Dalhousie Legal Aid Service say the results of recent freedom of information requests heighten long-standing concerns they've had that the provincial government affords them less access than it does the group that represents Nova Scotia's landlords. The organization released documents last week showing that for years, Rental Housing Providers Nova Scotia has received data related to why evictions were sought in disputes between tenants and landlords. Sydnee Blum, a community legal worker with Dal Legal Aid, said that data is something her organization has been trying to get since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. She said some of it was accessible through the freedom of information system, but that should not have been a requirement. "We only ever went through that process because we were told that's what we had to do," Blum said in an interview. "We didn't realize that simply sending an email asking for stats would have resulted in the same results." Since Dal Legal Aid publicized the findings last week, Blum said Service Nova Scotia forwarded the same information that was going to Rental Housing Providers Nova Scotia. Melissa Mosher, the director of residential tenancies for the province, said in an interview that there was no attempt to withhold information or disadvantage one organization over another. Mosher said statistics on evictions are produced each week and, during a meeting with stakeholders in 2017 that included representatives for landlords and Dal Legal Aid, it was explained that that information was available. Although the executive director of Rental Housing Providers Nova Scotia has been routinely requesting the information via email, Mosher said Dal Legal Aid has not. "It's not something that I reach out to them to provide them with," she said. "It's more so at request." Mosher said the department is contending with an antiquated information system that makes it difficult to produce data without extracting it manually. Although a new system is being developed, it's still not ready. Meeting requests honoured by Service Nova Scotia She said there have been discussions with Dal Legal Aid officials in the past about what kind of information is and isn't available, what requires a freedom of information request and what can be released in keeping with privacy legislation. A meeting for further discussion between the two sides is scheduled for later this week. "I want the tenant and landlord groups equally to feel that they can approach us with questions." But Blum said previous attempts by people at Dal Legal Aid to understand what information and data is collected by Service Nova Scotia and what can be requested have not been successful. "We've never been given a clear answer, let alone the data itself." Blum said she remains concerned that the government is more interested in listening to the interests of landlords and homeowners than they are those of tenants. Difficulty accessing decision makers Dal Legal Aid also highlighted an email in its disclosure package where Mosher notes that representatives for landlords "have the ability to meet with senior leadership within government that the tenant groups do not typically have." Mosher, who was responding to a request from the landlords group to bring more representatives to a stakeholders meeting than the department would permit, said her comments referred to the fact that there is only one group that speaks for landlords while there are multiple groups that advocate for tenants. She said her team typically meets with groups on behalf of tenants and landlords when requested. Blum said her organization has no problem meeting with administrators with residential tenancies, but it's proved more difficult getting an audience with cabinet ministers and other decision makers within government. "Frankly, over the years we've stopped even trying just because it's been inaccessible to us."
