Summer Edition: Alto High Speed Rail facing new hurdles as local MPP raises concerns

Summer Edition: Alto High Speed Rail facing new hurdles as local MPP raises concerns

Just this week, the Ontario government said it is rethinking its support for a high-speed rail project after the federal government rejected its plans to expand Billy Bishop Airport in Toronto. Eleven MPPs from eastern Ontario, including our own MPP David Piccini, released a statement questioning the Alto High-Speed Rail project. This interview revisits a conversation done in March with Trent Hills Mayor Bob Crate. The Alto High-Speed Rail project has him and his council very upset. So are many residents in Trent Hills. One proposed route goes straight through the heart of the municipality, impacting the village of Hastings and Campbellford, along with the surrounding area. Opposition to the rail project has gained momentum since this interview, including Alderville band council and many other residents and municipalities along the proposed routes across the province and Quebec. Have a listen and think about the Ontario government’s demands in the context of the local disapproval. Will this turn the tide?

Summer Edition: Major human trafficking bust in Halton a reminder of issue in Northumberland

Earlier this week, arrests were made in the largest human trafficking case in the history of Halton Regional Police Service. Nine individuals were arrested and 85 criminal charges laid. It is a stark reminder of the exploitation taking place across Ontario, the country and the world. The accused are alleged to have used coercion, deception, manipulation, and psychological harm to maintain control and influence over the victims. In April, Jocelyn Enright, prevention education and community engagement coordinator for the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre, talked about human trafficking in Northumberland County, especially along the Highway 401 corridor. Girls as young as 11-years-old are being recruited into sex work. Her organization had just lost a $1`75,000 grant from the federal government to prevent recruitment and help those who wish to leave sex work. Take a listen and hear the hidden tragedies in our area.

Summer Edition: Peer support worker and recovering addict Chad Valyear shares his journey and insights

Chad Valyear is a peer support worker and recovery advocate working in Northumberland. Back in May, he was the keynote speaker at the Come Together Northumberland event held at the Cobourg Community Centre. It was a major opportunity to bring a host of frontline agencies together and address many aspects of the county's social safety net. In this interview, he shares his personal journey from addiction to recovery. He discussed various recovery paths, including 12-step programs, Smart Recovery, and faith-based approaches, highlighting the need for more resources and better support systems for people struggling with mental health, addiction, and homelessness. As the municipal elections are on the horizon this fall, it is an opportunity to revisit a person with lived experience sharing his views on key issues within communities. Take a listen.

Summer Edition: Revisiting a conversation with Port Hope’s mayor about a proposed nuclear power plant

It is heralded as the World’s Largest Nuclear Power plant. It promises to create thousands of jobs and add billions to the provincial economy. So, when Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Port Hope signed a partnership agreement known as a Memorandum of Understanding in February, it set a process in motion. In this interview, Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky set out what is included in this agreement as council and residents began to debate the project. She outlined the terms, the money, the goals, and the objectives for this initial stage. Since then, there has been a lot of debate and details shared. Have a listen and see if you think this could be an issue for the upcoming municipal election.

Summer Edition: Help Centre experiences a 15 percent increase in number of seniors facing homeless in January 2026

Back in January, 11 seniors went to the Northumberland Help Centre because they were facing homelessness. One of them is a 90-year-old woman. In this interview, Kim Lauder, executive director of the Help Centre, said at the time there was a 15 percent increase in the number of elderly people seeking assistance as they faced the possibility of becoming homeless. She said the situation in the county is a crisis. It remains a concern even today. The recent Northumberland County Homelessness and Housing Report, including stats on the number of seniors facing possible homelessness, is rising. Lauder discussed the diverse reasons why seniors become homeless, including financial difficulties, lack of family support, and challenges accessing benefits, while highlighting the importance of creative solutions and collaboration among stakeholders.