Red Raider Ethan Travis signs to Lancers Football

by Sylene Argent

After a solid three-years playing as a force with the Essex District High School Red Raiders, Defensive Back, Ethan Travis, signed to play with the University of Windsor Lancers team on Friday.

“It’s exciting. I can’t wait to get on the field with the team and show them what I can do,” Travis said, pen in hand.

Lancers’ Offensive Coordinator, Joe Circelli, said the University of Windsor is happy and excited to welcome Travis to the team. His ability on the field today is a testament to the support he has received from family and coaching to date. He is looking forward to pushing

Travis to become the player he will be.

While playing for the local university, Travis will study Family and Social Relations and is thinking of a future career as a Guidance Counsellor.

Red Raider Football Coach, Badi Qawwas, said it is exciting to see one of EDHS’s athletes move onto the next level of play. He is hopeful Travis will take on a leadership role with the Lancers, as he demonstrated that ability at the high school level, due to his continuous display of commitment, hard work, determination, and

by Sylene Argent

The economic climate – due to rising inflation, fuel costs, mortgage rates, and interest rates – was the most talked-about topic of choice on Sunday, when Essex MP Chis Lewis welcomed all constituents to his office as part of his annual New Year’s Levee event.

The price of food was also a hot topic. “I hear it all the time. The same folks are going into our local grocery stores, coming out with half the groceries they did last year at this time and they cost twice as much,” he said.

“The cost of living is something Conservatives will always stand for; [and] getting rid of this crazy Carbon Tax,” Lewis said. He spoke of how Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stood in the House of Commons and said the government gives back the Carbon Tax to Canadians, “Then why take it to begin with,” Lewis questioned.

“I am going to continue to work within our own caucus to hold our government accountable,” Lewis said, and that includes working at slashing the triple, triple, tripling of the Carbon Tax on home heating, groceries, and fuel. “We can’t do it alone. We really need our constituents – the ones who are sick and tired of being sick and tired –to get out our message as well.”

Other frequently talked about topics at the event included the proposed amendments to C-21, an Act to amend certain Acts and to make certain consequential amendments (firearms). “There are a lot of people upset about that,” he said.

He added, “The underlying message I heard today, ‘will [Party Leader] Pierre [Poilievre] still stand for our rights and freedoms going forward, because we’ve lost faith in Trudeau and the country, with regards to our rights and freedoms,’” Lewis related. Some of those concerns regarded Bill C-11, an Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts.

Lewis believes there is a lot of angst and anger still built up in some Canadians, but there is no accomplishment unless there is an open, respectful dialogue. “We don’t even have to agree on everything, but if we do not have a conversation, we have nothing. And that is why today was so special, because the majority of it was very open, very respectful, but the best part was they came with some other unique avenues that’ll I’ll bring back to our party and ultimately back to the House [of Commons].”

Lewis was pleased to meet with everyone who came out to meet with him and his staff, ask questions, and forward concerns about federal policies, bills, or actions.

“People have a lot of anxiety build up. People have a lot of concerns with the direction the county is going. People are hurting. People want to be heard,” Lewis said, adding he has always believed Canadians are, “the most passionate, compassionate, and resilient people in the world, but they need to be heard.”

People came out in droves to attend the event, with foot traffic steady throughout the three-hour event and beyond.

“I was absolutely thrilled with the turnout,” Lewis said. “It happened so quickly, and people really struck around for quite some time.”

He said some of the visitors brought with them difficult questions, which Lewis loved because they are all important conversations. “Am I ever happy and excited about the turnout today.”

Looking ahead, Lewis’s Private Member’s Bill C-241, an Act to amend the Income Tax Act (deduction of travel expenses for tradespersons), has passed through the Standing Committee on Finance, thanks to support from the NDP and the Bloc Québécois. This piece of proposed legislation will be brought back to the House of Commons to begin consideration for third and final reading on February 13.