CHAPLEAUEXPRESS
DearPresidentTrump
ByAlanBeesley
Irecently attended the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in Vancouver, Canada. Gameshonouringthesacrificesmadebymen and women in uniform injured during war defendingtheircountries.
You are likely not familiar with these games.
Thereareno“IfakedabadfootbutIcan't rememberwhichonetoavoidthedraft”games.
Perhaps you should start one. No doubt theywillbethe“biggest”andthe“best”.
When the American Team of Veterans enteredthestadium,thecrowdapplauded,justas they did when the Canadian Team entered. The Canadian and Ukrainian Teams receiving a standingovation.
When our Premier, David Eby spoke, he reminded us of the generations of friendship between our nations. How Canadians and Americansfoughtanddiedalongsideeachother inWWI,WWII,Korea,andAfghanistan.
Ashespokethecrowdcheeredandmany in the American Team held their hands up with theheartsign.Manyhadtearsintheireyes. Idid.
These are veterans, including special forces, that served alongside Canadian special forces in Afghanistan after the 911 attack on the United States.
On 9-11 planes were immediately
diverted to Gander Newfoundland and cities across Canada. American passengers were taken in and hosted like family while we all wondered if another attack was imminent.
Perhaps you shouldhostsomeofthose American families at MaraLargotounderstand the relationship between ournations.
Perhaps you should host US veterans that served alongside Canadian soldiers fighting for our shared values and ask them if Canada was “taking advantage” oftheUS.
All NATO countries participated alongside US forces as a result of the invocation of Article5oftheNATOTreaty.
You may recall that NATO is a military alliancethatyousoughttodismantleinyourfirst termbeforeadultsintheroomtalkedyououtofit. During the LA fires Canadian water bombers immediatelyansweredthecall.
Younowseektoimposefurthertariffson the Canadian lumber needed to help rebuild AmericanfamilyhomesinLA.
Seriously?
YouarethreateningCanada'ssovereignty withtalkofusingtariffsinanattemptto“annex Canada”andmakeusthe51ststate.
ToquoteanAmericanBrigadierGeneral when,vastlyoutnumbered,wasaskedtosurrenderhistroopsduringtheBattleoftheBulge: “Nuts”.
You are also threatening to “take Greenland”,aterritoryofDenmark,aNATOally “byforceifnecessary”.
Do you really think you can make AmericansoldiersshoottheirDanishbrothersin arms?
Do you really think the American people will supportyoutryingto“annexCanada”? InfouryearsyourPresidencywillend. Andnodoubtyouwillseektoemulatethe autocratsthatyousoadmire,andstriveforathird terminbreachoftheAmericanConstitution,and ultimately,youwillfail.
Cont’donP.2
3techtipstohelpanysmallbusinessgetahead
(NC) There are plenty of tech tools small- and medium-sized businesses use to help them stay afloatandeventhrive–whetherthey’reusedfor marketing, operations, customer service or productivity. But while many of these technologieshelpsmallbusinessesfindanedge,adopting technologies without a few important precautionscomeswithabigrisk.
Here are three tips any business should employ to help ensure they really are using technology to their advantage – and are not headedforregret.
Identifyrisk
Risk is part of owning a business, that’s for sure, but some risks are more devastating if things go wrong.As we adopt more online apps andinternet-connecteddevicestostayorganized andstreamlineourworkflows,thatcanopenthe door to cybersecurity risks such as ransomware attacks.
Thisiswhensomeoneclicksonalinkor downloads a file that gives cyber criminals control of their network or data, who then demandmoneytoreleaseit.Bytakingamoment to assess the risks that your technology poses to
your business, you might discover cracks that you didn’t realizewerethere.
Establishsafeguards
Once you understand whereyourweakpointsare,beit staff knowledge, password protection or out-of-date software, you can set up some safeguards to protect your business from an attack. It doesn’t matter how big or small your business, cyber criminals are trying to get in everywhere theycan.
Safeguards can include anti-virus software, hardware updates, policies and procedures. There may be grants that can help you fund or finance these updates, and you may find professional advice andeffectivepolicytemplatesonline.
Planandrespond
Notonlyshouldyouemploysafeguards, butbusinessesshouldalsoprepareforthepossibilitythatanattackcouldoccur,andplanforwhat to do if it does. This could look like backing up your data regularly, limiting access to sensitive information and training staff on safe practices online.
Ifyoudobecomevictimofaransomware attack, don’t pay up. Instead, implement your plan. It should include isolating your devices from your network, wiping them and resetting them as well as any online networks and accounts.It’salsoimportanttoreportthecrimeto your local police, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security.
While technology can bring risks, these stepshelpensureyourinvestmentinyourfuture is well protected. Learn more at getcybersafe.ca/ransomware.
DearPresidentTrump
Cont’dfromP.1
The American Constitution, and the Americanpeople,willprevail.
And when you are no longer President, American workers harmed by your misguided trade war policies, and attempts to divide rather than unite a nation, will be left to pick up the pieces from the wreckage of your broken promises.
Our friendship and loyalty to each other aspeople,willprevailoveryourpettyattemptsto createdivisionamongstfriendsandallies.
Both of our democracies, while tested, willemergestronger.
Savourthemomentwhilesurroundedby yoursupplicantandsilencedtechbros.
Thingswillimprovenotwithstandingyou MrPresident
I appreciate that you are upset that Canada is bigger than you, and on top of you. But our geography a detail next to our shared valuesandhistoryofcooperation.
Thinkaboutthat.
In your first term in office you signed off on a new USMCA Trade deal. “The best dealever!”
That would be the same deal you now threaten to break with your tariffs because “Canada is taking advantage of the United States”.
Your word, worth as much to us as the over4000familybusinessesandsmallcontractorsthathadtosueyourcompaniestogetpaid.
Yousurelookoutforthelittleguy.
Yourowneconomicadvisorsaresaying that tariffs will harm both Canadian and Americanworkers.Whywouldyoudothatto thehardworkingAmericanpeople?
I was proud when Prime Minister Trudeaustooduptoyourthreatswhileoutlining tough counterveiling duties that he well appreciated would harm both Canadian and Americanworkers.
Do you appreciate that President Trump?
AstheWallStreetJournalwrote: “TheDumbestTradeWarEver”.
Canadians are a polite and friendly peopleMrPresident.
I would strongly advise against giving us a reasontochangethat.
Don'tbeahoserEh!
BeaPresident.
Sincerely, AlanBeesley
Chapleau Moments
by MichaelJ. Morris
When Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church was celebrating its centennial in the 1980s,HerbVezinasharedsomeanecdotesabout his family and growing up and working in Chapleau.
Inwhathecalled"shortstories,herelates that his mother was a waitress, adding more likely a maid at the Parliament buildings in Ottawa.
Apparently one day the cook took sick andnoonewasavailabletocookfishthatPrime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald was going to havefordinner.
Hismothersaid:“I'llcookitbutsomeof thegirlswillhavetogivemeahand.Don'tforget
Herb Vezina shared 'short stories' about growing upandworkinginChapleauareainitsearlyyears
I'monlyelevenyearsold."
Theprimeministertoldherthatitwasthe bestfishhehadevereatenandgaveheradollar thatshehaduntiltheirhouseinChapleauburned downinthe1920s.
After his parents settled in Chapleau in 1905, they had a teacher living with them who couldnotdrinkgreenteasosheorderedblacktea fromNorthBay.SoonthereafterChapleaustores started selling black tea, and green tea was no longeravailableinthecommunity.
Mr.Vezinastartedworkingwhenhewas veryyoungandwenttolumbercampsinthearea withhisfatherBenjamin.
He was 12 years old and working at Devon in 1918 when Sacred Heart Roman CatholicChurchburneddownatChristmastime.
Theystoodontheroofofthecamp where they had a view of the flames as the church burned.
"The flames were shooting out into the sky--wasthefireevergoing".
Afterthefiredestroyedthechurch,under the direction of parish priest Father Romeo Gascon,thepresentchurchwasbuiltandthefirst massinitwascelebratedonChristmasEve1919.
Mr.Vezinawrotethatover100menwere workinginthecampatDevon.A.L.Morsewasin charge.
They slept in bunk house that had three decksofbunksandthetoponewasjustaboutone footfromtheceiling.Fourstovesweregoingall daytoheatthebunkhouse.
Later he worked at Bolkow on the Canadian Pacific Railway line whichwasthe"bestplace".One year there were more than 560,000logsinBolkowLake.
WorkingatWhalen,they would knock off work at four p.m.onaSaturdayandhewould walk along the track home to Chapleau, and walk back on Sunday,roughlyadistanceof50 CPRmilesreturn.
When I first read this in his article in the Chapleau Sentinel,Isaid"wow"tomyself, then recalled that my grandfatherHarryMorriswouldwalkto ourcampatHealy,adistanceof 17 CPR miles from Chapleau with a full pack on his back -andofcoursebacktoChapleau.
In the same article, his sister Olive who married F.A. 'Nick'Card,amemberofanother
pioneerChapleaufamily,notedthattheirparents Ben and Bridget Vezina arrived in Chapleau in 1905. She added that he father worked for the CPR and for lumber companies. There were 13 childreninthefamily.
The article provides just a glimpse into life in Chapleau and area over 100 years ago. Pleasefeelfreetoshareanypioneerlifestories.
MargueriteandHerbVezina 1930
Mr.andMrs.BenVezinawithfamily-Don,Minetta,Dorothy, Connie, Herb, Vivian(Sr. Mary Bridget), Olive, Willard (Bo) andVida.
HerbVezinaandmother
from OTTAWA Rapport d’Ottawa
by/par Carol Hughes Federal member of Parliament Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing
Justice Marie-Josee Hogue, the Commissioner for the Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions, has released her final report, somewhat lost in the flurryofTrumpianthreatsandchaos.Itfeltlike the report was a long time coming, and while therewaslikelysomeindividualswhothoughtit would produce some sort of smoking gun and directlyimplicatesomeMembersofParliament or political staff or agencies of foreign interference, that's not exactly what happened. However,therearesomeveryimportantdetails in the report, as well as vital proposals that should be heeded and implemented to ensure foreignactorsdon'timpactourdemocracy.
Justice Hogue and her team spent the past 18 months examining witness allegations, tens of thousands of classified documents, and other related materials to produce an extensive report. You would think by the headlines following the reports release that it may have been all for naught. Hogue inquiry finds some parliamentarians' conduct troubling, but not treasonous read a Global & Mail headline. No evidence of 'traitors' in Parliament conspiring with foreign states: public inquiry read a CBC article.Whilethisisaccurate,that MPsweren't actively conspiring to aid foreign governments and undermine our nation's sovereignty, the story does not end there. Foreign interference isn't just about the internal workings of parliament and whether it's possible some electedofficialsareworkingforforeignentities, butalsotheexternalforcesthattrytoinfluence those elected officials, Canadian voters, and more.
“There are legitimate concerns about parliamentarians potentially having problematicrelationshipswithforeignofficials, exercisingpoorjudgment,behavingnaivelyand perhaps displaying questionable ethics,” wrote Hogueinherreport.“ButIdidnotseeevidence of parliamentarians conspiring with foreign statesagainstCanada.Whilesomeconductmay beconcerning,Ididnotseeevidenceof'traitors' inParliament.”Thisisanimportantdistinction. Theissuessurrounding foreigninterference are clearly about nations, people, and companies tryingtofindsomewaytoundulyinfluenceour body politic. This is where the Hogue Report
HogueReportonForeignInterferenceShouldbeaCalltoAction
focussed most of its recommendations, and exactlywheretheFederalgovernmentneedsto channel its energy to address the manipulation ofCanadiansfromoutsideourborders.
JusticeHoguepresentsagoodcollection of 51 different recommendations that could realistically tighten up areas where Canadians are most at risk of foreign interference. It proposes improving our intelligence gathering departments, like CSIS, and doing a better job of communicating findings with major governmentdepartmentsandwithCanadians.It also recommends that “leaders of all political parties represented in the House of Commons shouldbeencouragedandgiventheopportunity toobtainTopSecretsecurityclearancesassoon as possible after they become leaders,” which shouldbeanobviousrequirementforallleaders in Parliament, but one current leader (Pierre Poilievre)surelyhasn'tgottenthememo.
“While allegations of interference involving elected officials have dominated public and media discourse, the reality is that misinformation and disinformation pose an even greater threat to democracy,” a portion of Justice Hogue's report reads. Social media has
beenahotbedforthesortofforeigninterference and information gathering that creates serious concerns for the way our democracies operate. For years, intelligence agencies have been warningusaboutthepotentialforforeignactors to influence the way Canadians perceive their country, the issues that are important to them, and this has been swayed by social media. The Hogue report recommends requiring news and socialmediaoutletstolabelalteredcontent,and “creating a government entity to monitor the domestic open source online information environment for misinformation and disinformation that could impact Canadian democratic processes.” They are rational solutions toensure that Canadians can trust the information they are being provided through socialmedia.
These are just a few examples of what theHoguereportrecommendstoensurethatthe country can gird itself against foreign actors who seek to undermine our democracy. Not every person attempting to interfere in our democracy has been as blatant as someone like ElonMusk,andwemustensurethatwetakethe recommendationsofherreportseriously.
LerapportHoguesurl'ingérenceétrangèredevraitservird'appel
LajugeMarie-JoséeHogue,commissaire chargée de l'Enquête publique sur l'ingérence étrangère dans les processus électoraux et les institutionsdémocratiquesfédéraux,apubliéson rapportfinal,quis'estquelquepeuperdudansla tourmente des menaces trumpiennes. Si le rapport semblait très attendu, et si certains espéraientprobablementqu'ilprouveirréfutablement l'implication directe de députés, de membresdupersonnelpolitiqueoud'agencesdansdes affaires d'ingérence étrangère, ce n'est pas exactement ce qui s'est passé. Cependant, le rapportcontientdesdétailstrèsimportants,ainsi quedespropositionsvitalesàprendreausérieux et à appliquer pour garantir que des acteurs étrangers ne puissent pas perturber notre démocratie.
LajugeHogueetsonéquipeontpasséles 18 derniers mois à examiner les allégations des témoins, des dizaines de milliers de documents classifiés et d'autres documents afin de produire unrapportdétaillé.Àencroirelesgrostitresqui ont suivi la publication du rapport, on pourrait êtretentédedouterdesonutilité.Hogueinquiry finds some parliamentarians' conduct troubling, butnottreasonous[1],pouvait-onlireàlaunedu Global & Mail. No evidence of “traitors” in Parliamentconspiringwithforeignstates:public inquiry[2], lisait-on en titre d'un article de la CBC. Certes, les députés n'ont pas activement conspirépouraiderdesgouvernementsétrangers et miner la souveraineté de notre pays, mais
àl'action
l'histoire ne s'arrête pas là. Quand on parle d'ingérence étrangère, il ne s'agit pas seulement de savoir si les rouages internes du Parlement sont touchés ou si certains élus travaillent pour des entités étrangères, mais aussi de voir les forces extérieures qui tentent d'influencer ces élus,lesélecteurscanadiens,etc.
« Il y a des préoccupations légitimes par rapportàdesparlementairesayantpossiblement des relations problématiques avec des représentants étrangers, démontrant un mauvais jugement, agissant avec naïveté et, peut-être, possédantuneconduitedouteusesurleplanéthique», conclutlajugeHoguedanssonrapport.«Maisje n'aipasvudepreuveselonlaquelledesparlementaires conspirent avec des États étrangers contre le Canada. Si certains comportements peuvent être préoccupants, je n'ai pas vu de preuve indiquantlaprésencede“traîtres”auParlement. » Il s'agit là d'une distinction importante. Les préoccupations relatives à l'ingérence étrangère concernentclairementdesnations,despersonnes etdesentreprisesquitententdetrouverunmoyen d'influencerindûmentnotrecorpspolitique.C'est surcepointquelerapportHogueaaxélaplupart de ses recommandations et c'est exactement là quelegouvernementfédéraldoitconcentrerson énergie pour s'attaquer à la manipulation de la population canadienne depuis l'extérieur de nos frontières.
La juge Hogue formule une série de 51 recommandationsquipourraient,SuiteP.7
The‘51ststate’?
Canadians
TORONTO —Shoppingforgroceriestheother afternoonathisneighborhoodsupermarkethere, VictorMeunierreachedforaheadofbroccoli— thenreconsidered.Ithadbeenimportedfromthe UnitedStates.
Meunierditchedthebroccoliandreached for a package of mushrooms with a different label:“ProductofCanada.”
Itwasasmallactofresistanceagainstthe Trumpadministrationanditssuddenupendingof thelongtimealliancebetweenthetwonations. Since taking office last month, President Trump has turned Canada into a punching bag, threatening hefty tariffs on its goods while insisting that he is serious when he says that he wants to annexthecountryto makeitAmerica’s “51ststate.”
“Theywouldbemuchbetteroff,”Trump said of Canadians a few days ago, adding that Canadais“notviableasacountry”withoutU.S. trade.
Outraged by such talk from a nation that is supposed to be their closest friend, normally mild-mannered Canadians have been scrapping beach trips to Florida, booing the U.S. anthem when it plays before NHL and NBAgames and boycotting all things American-made, including Netflixandproduce.
With support from Prime Minister Justin Trudeauandotherleaders,theboycottisgaining
sayno,thanks.Theydon’twantU.S.productseither
ground.Shoppersaroundthecountryareforgoing California-grown fruits and veggies in favor of more local fare, and bar patrons are trading KentuckybourbonforCanadianrye.
“Trump is causing a lot of trouble,” said Mary Brock, another shopper who was keeping U.S.productsoutofhercartatthesupermarketin downtownToronto.“I’dliketodomypart.”
Tensions with the U.S. — which were fanned this week whenTrump announced tariffs on all imported steel and aluminum, a measure thatwillespeciallyhurtCanada—haveinspired bothasenseofbetrayalandpatriotism.
ApollbytheAngusReidInstitutefounda 10-point jump in the percentage of Canadians who said they are “very proud” of their country, compared with two months ago. Nine of 10 respondents said Canada should reduce its relianceontheUnitedStates.
Experts said the U.S. president’s aggression has helped unify a country that in recent months had been deeply divided over Trudeau’s leadership. It has also sparked soulsearching about what it means, exactly, to be Canadian.
This richly diverse country, where 2 in 5 residents are immigrants or the children of immigrants,haslongprideditselfonhavingwhat Trudeau once termed a “post-national” identity —withamixoflanguages,religionsandcultures.
THECORPORATIONOFTHE TOWNSHIPOFCHAPLEAU requiresa PublicWorksManager
THECOMMUNITY
Chapleauisacommunityof1942locatedontheCPRailtranscontinentalroute.Chapleauisthehometo GreenFirstForestProductsandCPRail. Fishing,hunting,snowmobiling,skiingandotherrecreational opportunitiesmakeitanattractivenortherncommunity. WearetheFriendliestTownintheNorth.
THEPOSITION
Chapleaurequiresaskilledandexperiencedteammembertoassumetheresponsibilityofseveral environmentalandtransportationserviceswithastaffofseven Thisisachallengingpositionreportingto theOperationsDirector
QUALIFICATIONS
Thesuccessfulcandidatewillhaveatleastfiveyearsexperienceinasimilarcapacity,proofofsecondary schooldiplomafromanaccreditedCanadianeducationalinstitution,heavyequipmentexperienceanda validD-ZOntariodriver’slicense. Computerproficiencyrequired.
REMUNERATION
Thesalaryrangeforthispositioniscurrently$88,358.00-$99,448.00basedonskillsandexperience withaccesstoagreatemployeebenefitpackageandOMERSpensionplan
APPLICATIONS
Typedresumeswithcoverletter,proofofeducationandexperienceattached,willbereceivedbythe undersigned Adetailedpositiondescriptionisavailableuponrequest. InaccordancewiththeMunicipal FreedomofInformationandProtectionofPrivacyAct,theinformationgatherediscollectedpursuantto theMunicipalAct2006andwillbeusedforcandidateselection. Weareanequalopportunityemployer. Wethankallcandidatesinadvanceandadvisethatonlythoseselectedforinterviewswillbecontacted.
RéjeanRaymond,OperationsDirector TownshipofChapleau 20PineStreet,P.O.Box129 Chapleau,ON,P0M1K0 Ph.705-864-1330 rraymond@chapleau.ca visitchapleau.ca February18,2025
Jobpostingopenuntilfilled Versionfrançaisedisponiblesurdemande.
But even if Canadians don’t always agree on a shared vision for what they are, the controversy over Trump has shown they can agree on what theyarenot.
“Canadians don’t want to beAmericans,”saidDuaneBratt, a political scientist at Mount RoyalUniversityinCalgary.“We share a lot of linkages with the U.S., but we have so many differences. Healthcare policy. School shootings. We like not havingasmanyguns.”
Similar reflection happened during other events, including the 1995 Quebec referendum, when Canadians ralliedtokeeptheprovinceapart of the federation, and the country’s decision to sit out the 2003U.S.-ledinvasionofIraq.
But Trump feels different to many Canadians. Although many at first wondered whether his threats of tariffs were a bluff and his suggestion that the U.S. absorb Canada was a joke, there isagrowingsensethathemustbe
takenseriously.
Trudeaurecentlytoldagroupofbusiness leadersthathebelievesTrump’stalkofannexing Canada “is a real thing” because the president covets Canada’s minerals. It also lines up with Trump’s stated desire to seize control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, possibly using militaryforce.
“This is an external threat that I don’t think most Canadians alive would have felt or seen,”saidHowardRamos,apoliticalsociologist atWesternUniversityinOntario.
Daysafterhewaselectedtoasecondterm in November, Trump said he would be ordering 25%tariffsonallgoodsfromCanadaandMexico — punishment, he said, because the countries hadn’t done enough to combat fentanyl smugglingorillegalimmigration.
Trudeau struck back, saying Canada accounts for less than 1% of fentanyl and fewer than 1% of migrants entering the U.S. illegally. He vowed to retaliate with tariffs on American goods,withafocusonproductsfromRepublican congressionaldistricts.
Heurgedfellowcitizenstostopdrinking Floridaorangejuice,cancelsummervacationsto theU.S.andavoidproductsmadethere.“Nowis ...thetimetochooseCanada,”theprimeminister said. “There are many ways for you to do your part.”
But Trudeau also expressed a sense of disillusionment felt by many here — as if the relationship they thought they had with the United States was not, after all, what it had seemed.
Canadians, he said, had fought wars alongside Americans. They had sent aid to help victims of Hurricane Katrina and planes to combatCaliforniawildfires.
“We were always there, standing with you,”Trudeausaid.
The prospect of a trade war loomed until justhoursbeforethetariffsweresettotakeeffect Feb. 4. At the last minute, Trudeau and Trump arrivedatanaccord:Theprimeministeragreedto smallconcessionstofortifyCanada’sborderwith the U.S., and the president agreed to postpone tariffsfor30days.
Crisis was averted — for the time being. But in Canada, something had shifted. The campaign to buy local expanded, with news agencies instructing consumers on how to read product labels. There was a growing sense that Canadians were in for four more years of surprises from a disrespectful and unpredictable Americanleader.
Those fears were underscored Monday, whenTrumpannouncedthathewasraisingtariffs onsteelandaluminumimportsto25%.
weekssolutions
MOMENTS IN TIME
On March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members, lost contact with air traffic control less than an hour after taking off from Kuala Lumpur, then veered off course and disappeared. Most of the plane and all on board wereneverrecovered.
SuitedeP.4 de manière réaliste, blinder les domaines où les Canadiens sont le plus exposés à l'ingérence étrangère.Elleproposed'améliorernosservicesde collectederenseignements,commeleSCRS,etde mieux communiquer les résultats aux principaux ministères et à la population du Canada. Elle recommandeégalementqueles«dirigeantsdetous les partis politiques représentés à la Chambre des communes devraient être encouragés et avoir la possibilitéd'obteniruneautorisationdesécuritéde niveau “Très secret” dès que possible après leur accessionàladirection».Celadevraitallerdesoi pourtouslesdirigeantsduParlement,undeschefs actuels(PierrePoilievre)n'acertainementpasreçu lemémo.
« Bien que l'attention du public et des médias ait surtout porté sur des allégations d'ingérence visant des élus, la menace que représente la désinformation sur la démocratie en généralestencoreplussérieuse»,peut-onliredans une section du rapport de la juge Hogue. Les médiassociauxsontunevéritablepépinièrepourle type d'ingérence étrangère et de collecte d'informationsquisoulèvedesérieusespréoccupationsquantaufonctionnementdenosdémocraties. Depuis des années, les agences du renseignement nousmettentengardecontrelapossibilitéquedes acteurs étrangers influencent l'opinion que se font les Canadiens deleurpays ainsiqueles questions qui sont importantes pour eux, et les médias sociaux ont été un vecteur de cette influence. Le rapport Hogue recommande d'obliger les médias d'information et les médias sociaux d'étiqueter les contenusmodifiésetd'envisager«lacréationd'une entité gouvernementale chargée de surveiller l'environnement informationnel canadien de sourcesouvertesenlignepourdétecterlesfausses informations et la désinformation susceptibles d'avoirunimpactsurlesprocessusdémocratiques canadiens».Ils'agitdesolutionsrationnellespour quelesCanadienspuissentsefierauxinformations quicirculentsurlesmédiassociaux.
Cenesontlàquequelquesexemplesdece que le rapport Hogue recommande pour que le payspuisseseprémunircontrelesacteursétrangers quicherchentàérodernotredémocratie.Tousceux
sont pas aussi éclatants qu'Elon Musk, et nous devonsveilleràprendreausérieuxlesrecommandationsdurapportHogue.
Local MARKETPLACE MARKETPLACE
1800-461-2242oryoucandropinattheCentre.Wearehereforyou.
(705) 942-0142
tgendron@northernlightsford.ca
MIKE C.ALLEMANO - RETIRED
CommunitytakesprotesttosaveitshospitalstotheTransCanadaHighway: Thessalon wages a valiant struggle to save its hospital
Community members are waging a valiantstruggletosavetheirhospitalandrestore itsservices.AnhoureastofSaultSte.Mariejust offtheTransCanadaHighwayonthenorthshore of Lake Huron, the community hospital in Thessalon is a life saver for its residents… literally.Yet,thelocalemergencydepartmenthas beensubjectedtorepeatedclosures.In2020,the inpatient beds in the hospital were closed “temporarily”.Theyhavenotbeenreopened.
Itisalmostanhourinthedaytimeingood weather to get to any of the nearest hospitals in Blind River, Sault Ste. Marie or on St. Joseph Island, and Matthews Memorial Hospital on St. Joseph Island has also faced emergency department closures. It can take much longer in fog, snow, at night with moose and deer on the road,orifthereisareaccidents.
Lastweek,morethanahundredresidents attended a public meeting to make a plan to demand commitments from the political parties intheelectiontofinallytakedefinitiveactionto stoptheclosuresandrestoretheirservices. This week, they are taking their fight to the
TransCanadaHighwaytoraisetheissueandget clearcommitmentsfromtheparties.
When & Where: Wednesday, February 19 at 2 p.m. community members will meet at the Thessalon hospital and march to the TransCanadaHighway. Background: The record of lack of support and planning for public hospitals could hardly be worse.
Doug Ford was elected on a promise to end hallway medicine. Yet, this year, the government’sowninternaldatashowsthat2,000 people per day on average -- more than double thenumberwhenFordwaselected--arewaiting onstretchersinhallwaysasalltheinpatientunits in most major hospitals are full.Yet closures of existing beds and smaller hospitals’ services have not been reversed and the government’s plan for hospital bed capacity is inadequate to meetpopulationneed.
While they vastly increased funding to for-profit clinics and staffing agencies to privatize public hospitals’ services and staff at significantly higher cost, the Ford government
first cancelled the special funding for northern locums, then belatedly reinstated it temporarily andthenrenewedittemporarily.Wagecapsthat meant real dollar cuts for public hospital staff wereextendeduntilthecourtsfinallystruckthem down, even as shortages worsened.At the same time, in the most recent budget year, public hospital budgets were set at levels too low to meet demand. New funding was delayed until public hospitals were pushed into deficit and it wastoolateintheyeartohireinpermanentlocal staff.
Emergency department closures were so rareastobealmostunheardofpriortotheFord government taking power in 2018. The number of emergency department closures broke all recordsin2024.
The Ontario Health Coalition has been demanding that the Ford government be held accountable for his record and that all political parties commit to fundamental change, warning that Ontario’s public health system cannot take anotherfouryearsofthis.
4thingsyoureallyshoulddothisyear
(NC) At this time of year, many of us start compiling lists of things we resolve to tackle in the coming months. Here are four things you shouldconsiderforyourlist.
Getyourfinancesinorder
Withhighinflationandinterestrates,you maybeamongthemanyCanadiansstrugglingto make ends meet. If you are, the first step to gettingyourfinancesundercontrolistocreatea detailed budget. It should include your income and a list of all your expenses. Your expenses tallywillhaveamixoffixedcosts,likeyourrent or mortgage payment and utility bills, plus
discretionaryspendingonthings likemealsout,movieticketsand other entertainment. The more detailedyouare,theeasieritwill betofindthingsyoucancutback onwhenmoneyistight.
Focusonyourhealth
Fewofuscansaywe’rein perfect health. But, rather than tryingtodotoomuchatonce,try focusing on one or two areas to improve upon. Things to consider include quitting smoking, cutting back on alcohol, eating a more-balanced dietandgettingregularexercise.
As you get older, you should also talk to your doctor about any agerelated testing you should have, including colonoscopiesandmammograms.
Writeyourwill
Nomatterhowyoungorhealthyyouare, it’s never too early to write your will. Without one, the courts will likely step in to decide who shouldlookafteryourdependentsandhowyour estateshouldbedividedifyouunexpectedlydie. Theeasiestwaytocreateawillistoworkwitha trustedlawyer(ornotaryifyouliveinQuebecor B.C.)oronlinewillservice.
Donatetocharity
Inthecurrenteconomicclimate,youmay find it hard to make charitable donations. But there is one easy way to make a difference withoutimpactingyourcurrentfinances:leavea donationinyourwill.
When you’re writing or updating your will,simplynameacharityorcharitiesyou’dlike to include as beneficiaries, and list the specific amount or percentage of your estate you’d like themtoreceive.Yourdonationwillalsolowerthe taxes that would have to be paid on your estate, makingthingseasierforyourlovedones.
You won’t be alone. More than three millionCanadianshaveleftadonationtocharity in their wills, a number that is growing every year.
Learnmoreatwillpower.ca.