. . . at Queen's Park, across Ontario and elsewhere.

* Ontario Power Generation is cutting 1,000 jobs across the province. Tom Mitchell, OPG’s president and chief executive, says the move is part of a “business transformation” designed to save the company $200 million between now and 2014.

Some of the cuts will be achieved through attrition and the company will still hire people needed in key areas. OPG currently employs about 12,000 people.

* Russ Powers, a veteran Hamilton council member, is poised to take over the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. Powers will be acclaimed and officially take office for a two-year term on August 21.

Powers represents Dundas on Hamilton council. He was first elected as a town councilor in Dundas in 1982. He was also the Liberal MP for Ancaster-Flamborough-Dundas-Westdale from 2004 to 2006 before returning to Hamilton council.

Powers will take over from outgoing AMO President Gary McNamara, the Mayor of Tecumseh.

* The province has made a change in the law governing the use of High Occupancy Vehicle lanes. Under a pilot project that took effect on Sunday, taxis and limos not carrying passengers can use HOV lanes. They were previously available only to vehicles with two or more occupants, emergency vehicles, buses and certain electric vehicles.

* Kingston Police Chief Stephen Tanner is to take over as Halton regional police chief on Sept. 1. Tanner, who was born in Oakville, was elected president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police in June.

* The City of Burlington has announced it will contribute $60 million to the redevelopment of the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital, matching the $60 million in funding the hospital itself will raise. The province announced in 2011 it would contribute $300 million towards the project.

* Tory MPP Michael Harris reacted Tuesday to union backlash against the latest PC White Paper Paths to Prosperity: Flexible Labour Markets which, among other things, would require all union dues to be voluntary to increase transparency in how union funds are used outside the work place.

"Union bosses Smokey Thomas, Sid Ryan and Ken Lewenza have spoken out strongly in favour in favour of a labour market that puts union power ahead of economic opportunity," Harris told reporters. "By contrast, their friend the premier has been silent. We would welcome a clear statement on what he puts first – his union sponsors or Ontario jobs and competitiveness."

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