Hinton News

The financing program aims to reduce barriers for property owners to install energy-efficient and renewable energy upgrades to their homes. The participating municipality finances the upgrade, and the owner pays the cost back through property taxes.

A 100-unit cap was initially proposed, but council raised it to 130 to accommodate existing operators.

Simon Sharp, a field officer with Fish and Wildlife, reported there had been multiple sightings of black bears looking for easy food before the winter.

"If it's allowed to keep going forward unchecked, it would be the largest thermal coal mine in Canadian history."

"I think it’s taking a bit of a load off of our citizens in the short term, but it’s also putting away money for the inevitable capital projects that are coming forward.”

"I don't think the wild-west approach of not having a cap and just letting the market do what it will is actually appropriate in this case."

Nursing staff will remain on-site to provide triage, assessments and referrals for patients to alternate emergency rooms in nearby communities, if needed.

The action plan also includes an $800,000 grant program to help establish new Medical First Responder agencies, and a $600,000 grant program for communities with existing emergency medical services stations to recruit and train a local workforce.

"Most people who live in smaller areas recognize that they're a far distance away from specialty care, but they do expect – and should expect – to have good primary care."

"Is the regulation of stand-alone short-term rentals (STRs) such as Airbnbs or VRBOs the solution to Hinton’s availability of housing or affordability crisis?"