Consider This Northumberland

Farmers can advocate for change, according to MPP Stephanie Bowman, Liberal agriculture critic.

There are 840 farms in Northumberland County. The vast majority are prime agricultural land. That designation ranks these areas as the best for growing the crops that feed us.

Yet, these lands are under threat.

And that has many people in Northumberland worried, especially farmers.

On July 29, about 100 people gathered at the Best Western in Cobourg to listen to five panelists. They outline the challenges facing those wishing to protect farmland in Northumberland County. The event was organized by residents and farmers known as Northumberland Rural Coalition.

The event was recorded live by Northumberland 89.7 FM. It became a weekly show called Protecting Farmland in Northumberland. It is a five-part series that airs every Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. from Sept. 5 to Oct. 3, 2023. You can hear experts explain how to save prime agricultural lands in the county. If you care about the food on your table, this is a series you will want to hear.

Warden Mandy Martin reviews efforts by the county to preserve farmland.

There are 840 farms in Northumberland County. The vast majority are prime agricultural land. That designation ranks these areas as the best for growing the crops that feed us.

Yet, these lands are under threat.

And that has many people in Northumberland worried, especially farmers.

On July 29, about 100 people gathered at the Best Western in Cobourg to listen to five panelists. They outline the challenges facing those wishing to protect farmland in Northumberland County. The event was organized by residents and farmers known as Northumberland Rural Coalition.

The event was recorded live by Northumberland 89.7 FM. It became a weekly show called Protecting Farmland in Northumberland. It is a five-part series that airs every Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. from Sept. 5 to Oct. 3, 2023. You can hear experts explain how to save prime agricultural lands in the county. If you care about the food on your table, this is a series you will want to hear.

Northumberland Federation of Agriculture Director Paul Burnham warned of the consequences of failing to protect farmland in the county both now and in the future,

There are 840 farms in Northumberland County. The vast majority are prime agricultural land. That designation ranks these areas as the best for growing the crops that feed us.

Yet, these lands are under threat.

And that has many people in Northumberland worried, especially farmers.

On July 29, about 100 people gathered at the Best Western in Cobourg to listen to five panelists. They outline the challenges facing those wishing to protect farmland in Northumberland County. The event was organized by residents and farmers known as Northumberland Rural Coalition.

The event was recorded live by Northumberland 89.7 FM. It became a weekly show called Protecting Farmland in Northumberland. It is a five-part series that airs every Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. from Sept. 5 to Oct. 3, 2023. Experts explain how to save prime agricultural lands in the county. If you care about the food on your table, this is a series you will want to hear.

Lawyer Eric Gillespie reviews new regulations, policies, and legislation introduced by the Ontario government impacting farmland in this episode.

There are 840 farms in Northumberland County. The vast majority are prime agricultural land. That is a designation that ranks these areas as the best for growing the crops that feed us.

Yet, these lands are under threat.

And that has many people in Northumberland worried, especially farmers.

On July 29, about 100 people gathered at the Best Western in Cobourg, to listen to five panelists. They outline the challenges facing those wishing to protect farmland in Northumberland County. The event was organized by the group of residents and farmers known as Northumberland Rural Coalition.

The event was recorded live by Northumberland 89.7 FM. It became a weekly show called Protecting Farmland in Northumberland. It is a five-part series that airs every Tuesday at 12:30 p.m., from Sept. 5 to Oct. 3, 2023. You can hear experts explain how to save prime agricultural lands in the county. If you care about the food on your table, this is a series you will want to hear.

On Sept. 30, many people will commemorate Orange Shirt Day. It is a time to reflect on the horrors of residential schools and to recommit to Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous people in our community and across the country.

In this interview, you will hear from Taynar Simpson, chief of Alderville First Nation. He brings a different perspective. For many years, he has worked on researching residential schools – locating graves, finding names, and gathering information about those impacted. He knows residential schools intimately. He will shed a fresh light on Orange Shirt Day and its meaning.

Calls for service are down. Foot patrols are also down. Vehicle patrols are also down. Cannabis charges are up. Violent crimes, such as assaults, are up by 80 percent. The number of frauds has grown. Sexual assaults are up. Breaching the peace, probation violations, and domestic disturbances are rising.

It is a complex picture inside the Port Hope Police Annual Report for 2022. Chief Tim Farquharson will guide you through all the numbers and their meaning. You will also hear his to-do list. You decide if he is getting the job done.

Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, a walk-in clinic is on the cusp of opening at its former site on Toronto Road in Port Hope. In this interview with Mayor Olena Hankivsky you will get the details of this ambitious proposal.

The journey to get the clinic open has not been smooth for the mayor and Councillor Les Andrews. You will hear how some doctors expressed concerns about the clinic. But you will also hear of the outpouring of support from other doctors, community organizations and the public. Like any epic journey, there are ups and downs. Yet, the mayor thinks they are 99 percent there. Have a listen and see what you think.

As students settle into school, the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board faces several challenges.

The school board's chair, Steve Russell, will address critical issues on today's show.

At the forefront is labour unrest. While negotiations continue, there is significant uncertainty. That is especially true for elementary teachers. Russell will explain what the board is doing to prepare.

Then, there is a lot of talk about gender identity. The Premier and the Minister of Education have both said they wish to ensure parents are involved when students wish to transition. You will hear Russell's response.

Finally, there is a lot of new curriculum this year. He will also address what is changing.

Earlier this week, a group of people encamped at 600 William Street were removed from the site. County officials used the Trespass to Property Act to give 24-hours notice before a private security firm and the Cobourg Police would take action to clear the property. The site is owned by the county and houses offices for economic development, tourism and is a hub for ambulance services. County politicians approved the removal plan at a special meeting on September 5.

Before any of this took place, two people intimately involved with the encampment provided their side of events. Virginia Bailey is familiar to many who have followed the story of the encampment from its formation at the West Beach in Cobourg to William Street. In this interview, she will tell her story about how the encampment started and how she got to this point. She will also reveal other aspects of this story that are not often, if ever, told.

Last week, there were interviews with county officials. You have heard from a person who was living in the encampment. But what is it like from the perspective of an individual trying to support those living rough?

Missy Mclean is a social worker for the Northumberland Legal Centre specializing in tenant issues. She is also a community organizer working on harm reduction for people struggling with addiction. She has worked directly with Virginia Bailey and other people at the encampment from the very start. Her efforts will provide yet another view of what has unfolded and what needs to be done.