‘Full Bellies. Happy Hearts.' returns
Kitchener Watch
A campaign for the Food Bank of Waterloo Region has returned to ensure all kids have enough to eat through the summer months.
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CTV News
28 minutes ago
- CTV News
As N.S officials discuss $4.5B hospital expansion, CEO says a new one likely needed, too
Karen Oldfield, the interim president and CEO of Nova Scotia Health, speaks to reporters after appearing before the province's public accounts committee where healthcare facilities were top of mind. (CTV Atlantic/Callum Smith) Officials in charge of the $7.4-billion QEII Halifax Infirmary expansion and maintenance project appeared before a legislative committee on Wednesday, offering some details – but not others – about where the project stands and where it's heading. During those discussions though, Karen Oldfield, the interim president and CEO of Nova Scotia Health, said a new hospital may also be required in the coming years. 'I don't want to presuppose an outcome, but I would be shocked if there was not some indication of another major or regional hospital being required in the Central Zone over the course of the planning horizon,' Oldfield said. 'I'm not announcing that, I'm not saying that,' she said. 'I'm intuiting that.' The population growth, particularly in the HRM, 'makes it very necessary to figure out just how we're going to build out the Central Zone,' she continued. But building is only part of the battle. She acknowledged staffing, timing and budgeting are only some components that need to be considered as part of the health authority's master plan. While speaking to reporters, Oldfield said several population factors will put even more pressure on the system. 'We're almost in a race against time to prepare for that peak to have the healthcare facilities ready, to have long-term care facilities ready. 'It's the demographics, it's the age, but it's also the baby boom that's hitting – I think it peaks out at 2035 – where a significant percentage of Nova Scotians are over age 65, and then it comes back down again,' Oldfield said. Acknowledging that a larger percentage of an aging population will likely lead to higher healthcare needs and long-term care needs. Oldfield said when she was appointed to her role by Premier Tim Houston in 2021, Nova Scotia Health did not have a 10-year capital plan, which makes it 'very difficult to plan when you don't have a long-term plan.' Construction update Oldfield said the QEII Halifax Infirmary expansion project's design phase is nearly 75 per cent completed, 'and that work is being shaped by those who use the spaces every day.' The first two cranes arrived last month and two more will arrive later this summer as part of the largest infrastructure project in the province's history. Construction crews started pouring the foundation last month and the concrete structure will rise to the main floor in December, 'marking a significant milestone,' said David Benoit, the CEO of Build Nova Scotia. Benoit reiterated numerous times to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts that the $7.4-billion price tag – including $4.5-billion in construction costs and $2.9-billion for 30-year maintenance costs – is part of a 'firm fixed price and schedule.' 'If things arise, like tariffs or hurricanes, or unexpected, unforeseeable things, there are clauses in the contract which allow for a conversation to happen,' he said. 'I'm comfortable that we got value for money, but you don't have to take my word for it,' Benoit told the committee. He told reporters a long-awaited 'value for money' document will be released to the public, likely within 'days.' When asked how tariffs could impact costs, John Volcko, PCL Constructors vice president of corporate development, said they learned a lot about price volatility and escalation during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Within our bid, we've got certain allowances, certain contingencies to deal with unexpected things like that,' he told reporters. Interim Liberal leader Derek Mombourquette asked that the contract between the province and Plenary PCL Health (PPH) be tabled at the committee. The expansion will see a new, modern, 14-floor acute care tower with 216 beds, 16 operating rooms, a 48-bed intensive care unit and an emergency department that is nearly twice the size of the current one. It is expected to open in 2031. It's still not clear how many new staff will be needed and how many will come over from the Victoria General (VG) Hospital. Hotel rooms required At the construction peak for the QEII Halifax Infirmary project, there will be 850 to 1,000 workers, Volcko said. About two-thirds of those will be from Nova Scotia and the rest will come from out-of-province 'where there's just not sufficient skilled labour.' In response to a question from the NDP and Liberals, Benoit said there are ongoing discussions with Nova Scotia Community College about the void. For those workers coming from away, Volcko said 'there just was not sufficient time to put up a temporary lodging.' He said all 238 rooms at the Atlantica Hotel will be taken up by workers at some point. 'It's expected eventually we'll take over all the rooms and then there will be a tail where we don't need all the rooms again,' he told reporters. He couldn't say how many more rooms may be needed because he's not sure how many workers will be from out of town. 'Our first objective is to employ local talent, local skilled labour,' Volcko said. 'If our peak is in three years, you know, we've got some time to build a workforce.' Karen Oldfield Karen Oldfield, the interim president and CEO of Nova Scotia Health, speaks to reporters after appearing before the province's public accounts committee where healthcare facilities were top of mind. (CTV Atlantic/Callum Smith) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CBC
36 minutes ago
- CBC
New report details 'concerning' structural damage at Elizabeth Ziegler Public School
Social Sharing A crumbling façade is just the beginning of several major structural issues plaguing Elizabeth Zielger Public School (EZPS) in Waterloo, according to a long-awaited engineering report released Wednesday. The report, first mentioned at a community meeting in March, was ordered by the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) after bricks fell from the outside walls of EZPS, forcing a closure that at first lasted just two days, then two weeks, and now the remainder of this school year and next. But according to the report, engineers have discovered additional issues with the building, including steel-beamed headers, floor and roof joists that are moderately to severely corroded, posing "safety concerns to any occupants inside or around the building." The report continues by saying "repairing the deteriorated structural members is a critical step to reinstating occupancy for the school." School board's plan The board says they plan to repair the school by installing a new steel frame on the interior, with new foundations to support it. Once that has been completed, repairs to the façade can begin. Bill Lemon is the associate director of business services at WRDSB. He told CBC News the report is encouraging, mapping out "a way forward to restore the school and regain occupancy for the staff and students." "What I'm excited about is the proposed steel frame that's going to be incorporated into the building," said Lemon, adding that it "will allow us to use that building for a much longer period of time." But before work can begin, a design report for the restoration and repair of EZPS needs to be presented for approval to the City of Waterloo Municipal Heritage Committee. "We're hoping that we can have that sooner rather than later because that is an important step in this process for us to make sure that our proposed design meets with their expectations," said Lemon. Funding the repairs and restorations is also a concern. "It would be a capital project and we would be drawing on whole number of fiscal resources," said Lemon. "For the potential size of a project such as this, we would need to engage the ministry [of education] and make them aware," he said. Lemon said that "as it is right now … with some support, we would be able to manage that within our own resource envelope." A full cost of the project is not yet available. For parent Suzie Taka, the report finally being released brings some relief, but doesn't exactly put her fears to rest. "I don't love the idea that we need entirely new steel beams," said Taka, whose son had been attending EZPS for the past two years. "That feels concerning about what the state of the school was." However, despite news that damages far exceeded what she originally thought, Taka said she is glad to finally have some answers. "I'll be honest, I was actually thrilled when I first opened the email," she said. "We've all been most concerned about it being a tear down and the timeline." Now that the report has been released, Taka said she's curious what the next steps are. "I have big questions about what things will cost, what their plans are for funding, any timeline would be great and any contingency plans, if things become ongoing and they uncover more concerns," she said. "I think it's very hard when we keep getting these direct communications and we don't get to have an actual conversation." Communication and timelines are concerns shared by parent Ian McDonald, who has been vocal in his quest for answers from the school board and its trustees. He's concerned repairs won't be done in time. "There are only 15 months until the start of the 2026-2027 school year," he said in an email to CBC News. The WRDSB release containing the engineering report said the next update is expected on June 25.
CTV News
41 minutes ago
- CTV News
New photos of the moose calf on the lam in Timmins
Timmins police were called to help the Ministry of Natural Resources try and capture a baby moose that was roaming around without its mama. Tim Trevenna took these photos of a moose calf that managed to escape capture Tuesday in Timmins. Police and the Ministry of Natural Resources tried to capture the calf in the area of Rae Hill but were unsuccessful. Moose calf1 Tim Trevenna took these photos of a moose calf that managed to escape capture Tuesday in Timmins. Officials said the surprisingly 'speedy' young moose is without its mother. That's a problem because moose calves generally stay with their moms for at least a year and a half, with the females staying even longer. Moose calf2 Tim Trevenna took these photos of a moose calf that managed to escape capture Tuesday in Timmins. Moose calf3 Tim Trevenna took these photos of a moose calf that managed to escape capture Tuesday in Timmins. (Photos courtesy of Tim Trevenna) A call to the Ministry of Natural Resources looking for an update on the search for the calf wasn't immediately returned Wednesday. Timmins police said they are ready to help the MNR try again to capture the animal if they receive a request to help.
