News
Copy by Craig Foster
Four federal leaders squared off in the first of two debates Wednesday night in Montreal, covering a range of topics including the U.S. trade war, housing, the environment and even strawberries. Liberal Leader Mark Carney, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh all took part in the French-language debate. Green Party co-Leader Jonathan Pedneault was set to take part but was excluded in a last-minute decision by the debates commission. Carney was expected to be the main target during the debate, given his Liberals have been holding a steady lead in the polls. Blanchet took a swipe at Carney fairly early on during the first discussion about U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war. After Carney made his pitch about why he would be the best to negotiate with Trump, Blanchet said the Liberal leader — who has previously not held elected office — had little political experience.
The rollout and implementation of a plan regarding zero-emission vehicles in Quinte Transit was presented in a delegation to Quinte West City Council on Wednesday. Ryan Welfle and Alexis Dunphy of Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC), as well as Executive Director of Quinte Transit, Shelly Ackers, provided the update to council on the plan that has been underway since 2023. The study that was undertaken looked at multiple aspects, including the technical, financial and environmental aspects of the plan. Welfle outlined three types of buses and the impacts they would have if they were brought into the fleet as part of facility retrofits; case one being a 30-foot electric bus; case two, a 30-foot diesel bus; and case three being a 25-foot electric bus.
There will be no exemption from prohibitions and penalties regarding cats being at large in agricultural zoning in Quinte West. Council voted to not make the exemption at its meeting on Wednesday. On January 22, 2025, council received a delegation that requested the city exempt properties designated as agricultural zoning and their adjacent areas within a reasonable radius (example 500 metres) from the prohibitions and penalties regarding cats at large. In her report, Supervisor of By-Law Enforcement Carrie West outlined that the current by-law and regulations do not prohibit the use of cats for natural pest control purposes, for protecting crops, feed or other agricultural resources, within their own property. She says the request “appears to be specifically intended to allow for the trespassing of cats onto neighbouring property.”
The City of Quinte West is getting ready for a new recycling program beginning in July. At a council meeting on Wednesday, Director of Public Works and Environmental Services at City of Quinte West Chris Angelo presented an update on the transition from Quinte Waste Solutions to Circular Materials Ontario. The transition is expected to officially begin on July 17, 2025.
The Solo Seniors initiative Prince Edward County hosted a seniors resource fair at the Andrew yesterday that included a wide variety of vendors who were happy to share information with the event goers. A panel discussion took place featuring Gordon’s downsizing, Edward Jones financial and Laura Mcguigan from Community care for seniors. They presented vital information to help seniors navigate their future. I spoke with several of the participants about why they attended.
Sports
Kaden Guhle scored twice to lift the Canadiens into the post-season on their fourth attempt to clinch, as Montreal prevailed 4-2 over the Carolina Hurricanes in their regular-season finale Wednesday night.
Mark Scheifele scored 1:11 into overtime to give the Winnipeg Jets a 2-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks
Ty Emberson had a goal and an assist, Stuart Skinner stopped 18 shots, and the Edmonton Oilers completed a four-game season series sweep of the San Jose Sharks with a 3-0 victory
Toronto starter Chris Bassitt threw five shutout innings and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his first homer of the season to help the Blue Jays to a 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
Monte McNair is out as general manager of the Sacramento Kings, The decision was made after the two sides reached a mutual agreement, The Kings’ season ended Wednesday night in a 120-106 home loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the No. 9 versus No. 10 play-in tournament game.
