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Municipalities to get gas tax cash sooner to ease COVID-19 cash crunch

June 1, 2020

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says municipalities across Canada will be getting some financial help to deal with the effects of COVID-19.

The prime minister announced the federal gas tax funding would be released early in one payment instead of two. That works out to a $2.2 billion injection into municipal governments.

But it is a far cry from the $10 to $15 billion the Canadian Federation of Municipalities has been calling for. Many of the services most affected by COVID-19, including long term care, paramedics, recreation and transit are run by municipalities.

Trudeau told reporters at his Monday morning briefing that he realizes more will be needed but added it would have to be a joint effort with the provinces to support the municipalities.

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Welland man airlifted to hospital after Highway 40 crash

August 29, 2025

The Independent A 46-year-old Welland man was taken to hospital by air ambulance after a crash on Highway 40. Thursday, around 1:45 pm, the OPP, paramedics and the St. Clair Fire Department were called to a head-on collision on Highway 40 south of Oil Springs Line between a tractor trailer and a pickup truck. Air Ornge was called in to

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‘The story is worth more than the car’

August 29, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent Among the 143 pristine classic cars at the Oil Museum of Canada, Ron Atmore’s stands out. The 1935 Chevrolet’s story is told inside the vehicle. Atmore, from Brigden, bought the Chevy a decade ago. Unlike many of the classic cars at the Wells and Wheels event Saturday, the car has never been restored. And it is in

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Developer/PW agree to trail on Confederation

August 29, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent There will be a walkway from a seniors’ housing development on Confederation Line into Wyoming. But just how it will be paid for is still up in the air. Plympton-Wyoming council agreed to a 1.5 meter multi-use path from the Gold Leaf Developments property into town. But Mayor Gary Atkinson says the details of who will pay

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Alvinston man charged with arson

August 29, 2025

The Independent A 63-year-old Alvinston man is facing arson charges after a weekend fire. Saturday around 5 pm, Brooke Fire Service called the OPP to a home on Morrell Street. The fire was out and there were no injuries. Monday, police were called to the same address around 1 am after two men went to the home and caused a

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