Before we cast our ballots in the next election, be it federal (could happen any time, Oct. 20, 2025 at the latest), provincial (June 4, 2026 at the latest) or municipal (Oct. 26, 2026), we had better figure out what we are voting for – or against.
Editorials
Housing cost increase plays major role in rise in food bank use
News last week that more than a million people living in Ontario turned to food banks over a 12-month period starting in the spring of 2023, should be concerning to us all.
Don’t disengage now
The newspapers under the umbrella of Midwestern Newspapers Corp. have recently covered items at their perspective municipal councils that have attracted major public interest.
Area politicians push for respect from province on health care issues
A push from Bruce County council to have the province reconcile its approach to health care in this area with the region’s importance to Ontario’s economy and social fabric is garnering support from local municipalities.
Canada’s soccer stars work to overcome impact of ‘Dronegate’
With every Olympic Games there are stories of triumph and disappointment and the 33rd Olympiad currently underway in Paris will be no different.
‘God willin’ and the creek don’t rise’
A lot of our communities have stormwater and sewer systems that would qualify as antiques, were they cars.
When it comes to Alice Munro, we can’t separate art from artist
I gave myself more time to write this column than usual. I wanted to sit with the news of Andrea Skinner’s abuse at the hands of her step-father, and the revelations of her mother Alice Munro protecting him and their marriage over her daughter.
Heat is just as deadly as cold
Canada’s housing crisis has been brewing for a long time, although it burst into the headlines during the COVID pandemic.
Support for local news
We’ve been critical in recent (and not-so-recent) weeks, of numerous initiatives of Premier Doug Ford’s Conservative Ontario government, so it seems only fair to shine a light on a positive development emanating from that corner.
Butterfly effect would be a game changer
Among my favorite movies is The Butterfly Effect. The 2004 film features Ashton Kutcher as a troubled time traveller who discovers, to his chagrin, that attempts to correct mistakes in the past can generate unintended consequences for the future.
Saving Graceland shines spotlight on local mental health issues
Show on Blyth stage until Aug. 8
Allegations, innuendo, suspicion hang over Parliament Hill
The mere thought there has been foreign interference in Canada’s political process is shocking enough, but the notion there were MPs and/or senators who may have conspired with foreign governments like China and India leaves the average Canadian speechless.
Bravo to the Class of ’24 – pivoting experts extraordinaire
The Class of ’24 has been through a lot, be it at the elementary school level, secondary school,…
Why manufacturing matters
Made in China. It’s the label you see on most products sold in stores throughout the country. The odd time, you’ll see a product manufactured in some other country. But you almost never see a product that’s made here in Canada any longer.
Rising food bank use is unsustainable
The word coming from Food Banks Canada is “unsustainable,” according to recent news about the report card on the number of Canadians using food banks.