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Doug Ford and cheesy politics
| Premier Doug Ford calls homeless ruling ridiculous Ford raged at a Judge who ruled against removing homeless from a site of a future transit project. The judge described the site as only remaining safety valve for homeless among a severe shortage of beds. Wouldn’t a reasonable politician agree. It sounds like temporary shelter for these folks and plans for permanent shelters. It might change judges opinion, not Doug ranting that he wishes the homeless would setup camp in the judges backyard. I believe the Ford cheese has slipped off the cracker. Is Doug headed back to printing labels in Chicago. Peter Woods |
Metaphorically speaking
| Where Metaphor and Satire Meet We all know Doug Ford has been rough on the education system here in Ontario. First, he took away the foreign national students who financially generously supported the expensive infrastructure, and then he took away the funding for the lion’s share of OSAP. Many of our youth will be unable to get an education or carry on as their parents did, in their inherited field. So now we come to the metaphor. I was watching the news, and they were showing the “fish city” around the Bruce nuclear reactor. At the start, the beauty of these fish made everything look wonderful. It was like a pastoral statement of beauty in Canada’s Great Lakes, meaning the lakes are losing their “Great” status. However, in all beautiful pastoral sets, there is always something of danger, hidden. You can feel it, and it makes you shiver, like when you watch something like Frankenstein or The Predator. Well, it took a couple of weeks to think about this conundrum the fish are in, and I noticed they weren’t schooling, which is normal fish behaviour. I am not a fish expert, but I know the formations they were swimming in looked unusual. It would seem the fish are also being knocked out of their typical travelling system of schools. Just like our children, the fish need their schools to pass on their elders’ teachings and proper social behaviours. Individual fish do not do well on their own, nor do our children. The massive cooling system for the reactors heats the water excessively, causing disruption. Our students also need the heat reduced on them from the Doug Ford government. Building traditional cooling towers would help the fish by cooling the water temperatures. Allowing more funding for our children’s education, rather than this onslaught of cutbacks, would cool the temperature of stress for students. I hear that before the reactors were built, the salmon used to migrate in the Great Lakes. Now that is gone. Gerry Dell |
Social responsibility
| I’m writing to highlight an urgent solution to the growing food insecurity crisis: the expansion of sliding scale grocery programs. As food prices continue to skyrocket, food banks are bursting at the seams, unable to meet the demands of a growing hunger crisis. Sliding scale grocery models—where prices adjust based on income—can offer a crucial lifeline. These programs ensure that fresh, healthy food is accessible to all, regardless of income. At the same time, we must recognize that a small number of powerful families—such as the famous four families in Toronto—who own a large share of grocery stores, are reaping obscene profits. These families have a responsibility to the city, and they can and should invest in a more equitable system. By implementing sliding scale grocery options and working with community partners, they can help alleviate the strain on food banks and build a more resilient, just food system. I urge local leaders, businesses, and these influential families to take action now—because no one should have to choose between rent and a healthy meal. Silvia Farache |
Let’s hear the full story
| Chinese EVs are coming to Canada. This will be approximately 3% of auto produced in Canada. Premier Ford feels this is slap in the face for auto workers in Ontario. One auto worker in Ontario said the Chinese vehicles are sub standard to those made in Ontario. The Chinese vehicles are actulaly far superior to those produced in Canada. Why does not Ford mention that Toyota in investing 1.4 Billion in upgrades to the plant at Cambridge and all other investment others are making in Canada? Edward Iddins |
Appreciating Catherine
| Monday, Februray 2. 2026 The Globe and Mail, Toronto Page A 13 “Catherine O’Hara was a genius …” Deepest thanks to Johanna Schneller for her appreciation column on the wonderful work and world of Catherine O’Hara. It’s written beautifully, deeply insightful too making us love her even more. I appreciate that. Eleanor James |
Rocking the Free World
| After listening completely to the Davos speech of Prime Minister Carney of Canada, I gleaned a new IDEOLOGY in World Affairs that will signal the rapid demise of the limping ideologies of Communism (new Peoples Republics and Russia) and Free World Democracies (eg. USA). Canada as the new leader of the Free World Ideology shall give birth to a new conduct of political, economic, social and cultural international relations of nations and give more teeth to the operations of the United Nations. For example, no nation can invade another for whatever reasons. This post could have been clearer and logical but lengthy if I had a written copy of the speech of the world’s future number one leader: PM Carney of Canada. Alejandro Ibay |
Flawed forest management
| FIRE: Neutering ON Conservation Authorities is a Matter of Life and Death In a 2011 award-winning book, Two Billion Trees and Counting, St. Cathariines’ historian Dr. John Bacher states that unregulated building and incompetent forest management has contributed to many lost ON lives. Examples?: * Rainy River (140 dead, 1847) * Great Porcupine Fire (75 dead, 2 million ha forest destroyed, 1911) * Matheson fire (243 dead, 2,548 km2, 1916), The 1937 Thames River flood destroyed 1,200 homes and killed 5 Londoners. Queen’s Park closed all the 11 provincial tree nurseries in the mid 1990s that supplied ON landowners with “a penny a seedling”. The U of T Faculty of Forestry is a shadow of itself. The Angus Tree Seed Plant provided critical genetic research that billions of $ of ON forestry products relied on from 1922 to 2018. CA’s must be formed along watershed (not patronage) lines. Botching an imperfect but intentionally underfunded but working system past the next election is clearly reckless. Anyone watch California wildfires this year? Les Stewart |
Fixing Canada’s nursing shortage
| Subject: Op-Ed Submission – Fixing Canada’s Nursing Shortage Requires More Than Recruitment Canada’s ongoing nursing shortage is often described as a problem of numbers—but the real issue is how nurses are deployed. For decades, hospitals have relied too heavily on fragmented part-time positions, destabilizing the workforce and driving both new graduates and experienced staff away. The solution was identified 25 years ago in The Nursing Strategy for Canada: convert unnecessary part-time roles back into full-time positions and rebuild the casual nurse pool that once sustained our hospitals. I have written an op-ed outlining this history, the evidence, and a clear path forward. I believe it will resonate with your readers, especially as hospitals across the country continue to grapple with unsafe staffing levels and rising burnout. I would be grateful for your consideration. John W. Nicholson |
Blue Jays are family
| From Last Place to Legends: What the Blue Jays Taught Us About Teamwork Watching the Blue Jays’ World Series opener, my husband turned to me, misty-eyed and asked, ‘How does a team rise from last place to the World Series? Because they’re a family.” That moment struck a chord. The Jays’ rise reminded him of his hockey days with the Dofasco Steelhawks, a Hamilton team built on shared purpose, support, and crashing on couches after road trips. Their coaches were dads, uncles, and neighbours who showed up with heart. As an elementary school principal, I see the power of team culture daily. It’s in how teachers support students through tough moments, how staff collaborate behind the scenes, and how we empower kids to lift each other up. From educators to custodians to students, everyone plays a role. This is team culture in action; distributed, intentional, rooted in care and connection. Last week, we celebrated Blue Jays Day. The school was a sea of blue and white as we reminded students that success is built on strong teams, just like the Jays showed us. Many chuckled when outfielder Davis Schneider shared that teammate Addison Barger slept on his hotel pull-out couch. A small, unglamorous moment – but one that speaks volumes about the kind of culture that wins games and hearts. The Jays reminded us greatness isn’t a solo act. Whether in sports or schools, transformation happens when we lead with empathy, show up for one another, and build a culture of connection. Julia Hayes |
Get the story straight
| As a resident of Wasaga Beach for over 12 years, I note with interest the backlash on the sale of a section of the Wasaga Provincial park to the town? Please get the story straight. This is a very small portion of the beach and will benefit all. For years town councils have debated in improving the waterfront… finally we are moving forward. No more flooding (as the beach road is being lifted), mixed commercial and residential improvements and most importantly clean washrooms and more facilities. Many kilometers of great beach and park remain untouched to the benefit of all. Chris May |
Political Land Grab?
| Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, meets with Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, in Alaska. Two untrustworthy powerful leaders are deciding the fate of millions of innocent Ukrainians suffering from three years of war created by Russian invaders. These two leaders are dividing up Ukrainian territory! Are they dividing up Canadian territory as well? How about other countries? Patrick Mason |
New Sheriff for DOGE
| Elon Musk – The DOGE of America I doubt Donald Trump or Elon Musk thought this through. The Republic of Venice existed from 500 AD to 1700 AD. Half way through the rich merchants and nobles decided that the best republic was run by them and so turned it into an oligarchy where they chose a Doge from themselves. It appears the US is now moving to a government by the billionaires, for the billionaires on behalf of the billionaires. William Roberts |
Lesser of two evils?
| James McNight, a dyed-in-the-wool Liberal, writes that Justin Trudeau will be defeated by Pierre Polyester. We all know that polyester is not the real thing! I am not a Liberal but have voted for Justin twice in the past and will vote for him again since the Liberal Party is the lesser evil. Thank you.. Krystyna Sadowska |
Too little too late
| Every day presents a new scheme, where Liberals venture to influence the public to obtain votes for their diminishing popularity, but they will soon vanish from Canadian politics. Mr. Hollands failed attempt to secure votes is as futile as winning the next federal election. Thanks for the morning smile, Mr. Holland because it’s a lost cause. Mr. Holland has moved up and is the new kid on the block, but the shameless party that intentionally wounded Canadas taxpayers, by dispersing funds to worthless causes are directly responsible for their inferior decisions. They have depleted the treasury and are scrambling to find other places they can slap additional taxes on Canadians. Ten contenders of the Liberal party wishing to represent that party are not exemplar of Canadas best. No matter who the Liberals decide should be replacements none of them are anywhere near qualified to govern and are catastrophism in waiting. Rest assured that the whole Liberal party got us into this mess which we don’t deserve. The coalition of Liberals and NDP is not beneficial to our country. Having perused the list of potential replacement Liberal candidates concludes that Pierre Poilievre, (Conservative) will become Canadas next Prime Minister, and is the crème de la crème selection for the title. Ronald J Yaschuk |
Too much debt
| This political Government policy is presently in use in Colorado US and should be applied in our country as it is the purest form of Democratic Governance. My point being, someone here should investigate this and let those politicals know that we demand a similar set up here as we had before Liberals took command. The Sun has the people and where-withal to check this out for us taxpayers in Canada. TABOR for Ontario needed. If this is not an included requirement to those elected to office tax levels will only get worse. Canadian politicians, federal, provincial, and municipal, are proven spendthrifts: TABOR and in particular its most powerful feature — legislated spending limits — would bring about some sanity and discipline. Canada ’ s federal debt is about $1.2 trillion — roughly $30,000 per person, over $60,000 per household. Even worse, the debt is growing, with the current Liberal regime forecasting a fiscal 2023 $40.1 billion deficit. In principle, applying a TABOR law in Canada could work. Manitoba’s 1995 Balanced Budget Law required referendums on major tax increases and penalized cabinet ministers with salary reductions for deficit spending.) Rupert Cameron |
Over-react Much?
| Dear America, Happy Thanksgiving from your “friends & neighbours” to the North. We understand that there was a car accident yesterday… We appreciate the apparent trauma this has caused your country. Seems that it was so horrific, it caused a fentanyl-like fueled rage of anxiety so great, it resulted in the closing of 4 international bridges, cancellation of Amtrak services, and several cancelled international airline flights. It was awe-inspiring to see the speed at which your national media machines whipped into action to help console your masses and explain in great speculative detail, what was happening to your country. The FBI was quick to deploy and begin a thorough investigation involving forensics, bomb squads, and anti-terrorism units. Your politicians hit the airwaves quicker than an AR-15 can dispense with a 60-round mag! They helped explain what was needed to ensure this never happened again! If I may be so bold, I think the only thing you might have missed is if there was a possible connection to the Pittsburgh Steeler’s firing of Matt Canada! Perhaps that lead went cold before you get it on air. Still, you might want to take a deeper look at that as there seems to be an overtly obvious connection. Or perhaps, you realized that the husband and wife involved in the high-speed car accident were simply trying to escape the hyperbolic, media-driven frenzy that has become your country. Hope you can find a way to “chill out” today. Maybe enjoy some Turkey and watch some football. Hugs from your “friends & neighbours” to the North. P.S. We have car accidents too. Typically, a patrol car and an ambulance can take care of it. John Rogers |