The Springer Market Square – OPEN

Just in time for the holidays, The Springer Market Square rink is open!

With such a mild forecast this December some were worried we’d never get to strap on those skates, but the market square rink did indeed open on Friday and by Sunday it was packed.

The rink is opened for business every day, free of charge, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Washrooms, lockers and skate rentals are available.

For more information about the rink, or to check its status, visit cityofkingston.ca/skatinginthesquare.

CRASH & BURN

Kingston Police and Kingston Fire and Rescue were busy on Friday evening with A motor-vehicle collision causing a power surge, which then lent a hand in a house fire.

Emergency Services were called to the 400 block of Kingsdale Avenue where a vehicle had struck an above ground hydro box. When Kingston Fire and rescue arrived the driver  was already out of their vehicle and uninjured.

The collision caused power to surge through nearby houses and while KFR were at the collision, they were called to a house fire on the same street. The fire originated at the house’s electrical panel and charred its basement rafters.

Two additional houses also had fires around their panels which were also put out with a dry extinguisher.

Smoke was cleared from all three houses and 12 others were checked for any electrical panel problems with no injuries reported.

NAPANEE POT

Friday morning started with a buzz for the Napanee Ontario Provincial Police as they seized $3,000 in marijuana  during and early morning search.

OPP drug enforcement unit and members from the Napanee detachments searched a residence on River Road in Greater Napanee where they  found a small indoor marijuana grow operation.

Police seized five marijuana plants, 1.5lbs of marijuana bud, and 3lbs of shake valued at over $3,000.

Dayn Dickson,  Aisha Milligan, have been charged  with production of a controlled substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Gananoque Residents Raise Funds to Bring Syrian Refugee Family to Town

The Gananoque Refugee Settlement Group, formed of a core of five residents in the area are raising funds to bring a Syrian refugee family to town.

The group, which is loosely connected to the thousand Islands Playhouse (with three of the five members as active employees), has agreed to sponsor a family under the federal government program.

They first need to raise $23,000 for a family of three to see their way through their first year in Canada and are accepting donations of clothing or food that will count towards that goal.

The sponsorship is well on its way, with volunteers and support from the Gananoque Rotary Club, the Playhouse, KEYS Job Centre and the Islamic Society of Kingston.

On Tuesday, Gananoque town council agreed to set up and manage a dedicated account for donations to the refugee group, which will allow it to give out tax receipts.

To volunteer or for more information, contact ganrefuge@gmail.com

Syrian Refugees – Toronto

Meanwhile The latest group of Syrian refugees was treated to a few words in Arabic from the Governor General on Friday afternoon.

David Johnston was on hand to greet the newcomers when they arrived at Toronto’s Pearson Airport.
Johnston tried out some Arabic, including the term for the word “welcome.”

The government hopes to accept 25-thousand Syrian refugees by the end of February. (The Canadian Press)

Finance Ministers

Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau says he hopes boosting the economy will be the main theme of his talks today with his provincial and territorial counterparts in Ottawa.

They gathered in the capital last night and will wrap up their meeting later today.
Morneau is also hoping for some consensus on enhancing the Canada Pension Plan.

Major adjustments would require support from Ottawa as well as seven of the 10 provinces representing at least two-thirds of the country’s population.

Wynne Marijuana
The province is looking for federal guidance on how pot should be sold for recreational use once it’s legalized.

The federal Liberals promised in the throne speech to “legalize, regulate and restrict access to marijuana.”

Premier Kathleen Wynne says there hasn’t been enough discussion about the distinctions between medicinal and recreational marijuana, which is one reason she suggested the L-C-B-O would be well-suited to retailing legalized pot.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised to create a task force with representatives from the three levels of government to help design a new system of marijuana sales and distribution. (The Canadian Press)

Correctional Workers

The union that represents six-thousand Ontario correctional workers has applied for a no-board report from the Ministry of Labour.

Workers represented by OP-SEU voted last week to reject an earlier tentative agreement and there have been new talks involving a conciliator.

The union says that following the no board report, a legal strike or lockout deadline could come as soon as early January.

The government says it’s disappointed the union has asked for the report, but adds it remains committed to reaching a negotiated settlement. (The Canadian Press)

Food Recall
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has recalled nine products from Ding Ho Foods.

The company’s fish balls, shrimp balls, fish noodles and fish paste may contain egg that wasn’t declared on the label.

There have been no reported illnesses related to the products. (The Canadian Press)