Poverty is no one's friend
An article we ran last week about families facing financial issues as winter approaches has engendered vigorous and varied responses from readers. Because the article focussed in part on two cases of people who are struggling, the responses have included offers of help as well as questions about the details… READ MORE
The numbers tell a story
It has occurred to me over the years that there is an office in Sharbot Lake occupied by about 18 people who do the administrative work for Central Frontenac, a jurisdiction that has 4,000 houses and somewhere around 4,500 full-time residents, and probably about as many seasonal residents. There is… READ MORE
Fractured Limestone
The most interesting aspect of the 2014 municipal election in Frontenac County and Addington Highlands thus far has been the races for Limestone School Board Trustee. In the Township of South Frontenac, the election has become bitter and personal thanks to the arrival of Kingstonian Lindsay Davidson onto the campaign… READ MORE
Bud Clayton – one memory
One of the sad parts of Bud Clayton's passing this week won't hit for another year or so. When the Pine Meadow Nursing Home redevelopment project is complete and the ribbon is cut, he won't be there to share in the accomplishment along with a handful of other people who… READ MORE
Marilyn Crawford made a difference
Over the weekend, Marilyn Crawford died after a battle with cancer. From what I've been told, she had been dealing with cancer for several years, but apparently was able to do some travelling with her husband and co-conspirator, Buddy. For those who don't remember, she was a founding member of… READ MORE
Policing Costs Will Rise, Details to Follow
In North and Central Frontenac there are two police officers scheduled to cover policing needs at all times. In the daytime they sometimes patrol in two cars and at night they double up in one vehicle. The same level of service is provided in Tay Valley. In South Frontenac, where… READ MORE
A leopard is a leopard
The published photo of Kathleen Wynne greeting Dalton McGuinty at the Ontario legislature with open arms on the day of the swearing in of her new government, coupled with McGuinty being quoted as saying the recent election was a vindication of his time in office, was a bit hard to… READ MORE
Pride in Canada
Far be it from me to praise the City of Toronto, under any circumstances. But I have to make an exception. Last week the City hosted the World Pride conference, which culminated in a parade that was attended by 2 million people. Compared with all of the difficulties that result… READ MORE
What came first, the sustainability or the resiliency?
... if something has a lot of resiliency it is more likely to be sustainable, but even things that are very resilient are not always sustainable over time. Then again, how sustainable can something be if it is not resilient? When push comes to shove, is it better to push… READ MORE
Local campaign slowly getting underway; and what is Hudak up to?
While local election campaigns have been slow to ramp up, Kathleen Wynne and Tim Hudak have already set up a polarizing debate that each hopes will lead to their own success. Wynne went first. She put out a left-leaning budget, fully expecting to campaign on it, and then began the… READ MORE
Is there a Conservative Party candidate on the ballot in LFL&A?
The short answer is yes. Randy Hillier is a Conservative MPP, a former leadership candidate for the party and until the dissolution of the legislature last week he was member of the Conservative Party Caucus. But at the very least, Hillier is about as likely to become a cabinet minister… READ MORE
GREC Opened Too Soon, & The Children Paid The Price
Editorial by Jeff Green Granite Ridge Education Centre is a few days away from its formal ribbon cutting/grand opening ceremony. A lot has been said in the community about the decision to build a comprehensive school for the region (which drew a mixed response); its location (a mixed to negative… READ MORE
There Are Lots Of Trees, But This One Will Be Missied
Two machines have been slowly, steadily, inexorably dismantling the former Sharbot Lake High School over the past few weeks. The school, which was built in three stages over decades, is being taken apart one attached building at a time. Its replacement, Granite Ridge comprehensive school, built in a style that… READ MORE
Quebec & Ontario Elections And That Odd Lawsuit
Editorial by Jeff Green Among other things, the Quebec election demonstrated that a poor campaign by one party can shorten the attention span of the electorate. The massive corruption scandal that forced the retirement of Jean Charest and sent the Quebec Liberals into the penalty box of the opposition benches… READ MORE
A Strategic Plan For An Organization In Flux
The draft Frontenac County Strategic Plan, which is being promoted to local councils this month, focuses on three unfortunately named Wildly Important Goals (WIG). As someone who has attended too many municipal meetings in Frontenac County, “wild” is not a word that should be associated with anything to do with… READ MORE
The Quebec Secular Charter Does A Disservice To Secularists
One of the great things about politics in Canada over the last 30 years, in my view, is the gradual move away from a religious based laws and the ascendancy of the charter of rights and freedoms. A good example of this is the way the same-sex marriage issue has… READ MORE