Have something to say? Maybe you want to thank someone in the community. Or maybe you just need to get something off your chest.
Speak Up, Huntsville, and leave a comment below! (Please abide by our community guidelines.)
Have something to say? Maybe you want to thank someone in the community. Or maybe you just need to get something off your chest.
Speak Up, Huntsville, and leave a comment below! (Please abide by our community guidelines.)
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At first blush the new fine free system for borrowing books at the Huntsville public library sounded progressive but I have pretty quickly found out that it is no longer as user-friendly as the old system. My wife and I borrow books on a regular basis and, let’s be clear, we love the library. Over the years we became quite adept at renewing books online whenever we could.
Today I received the five day notification that the book I am currently reading is coming due but also that it will be automatically renewed.
So here I am thinking what if the day before my book can be automatically renewed someone else decides to borrow it or put a hold on it? I went online and of course found out I could no longer renew that way so I made a special trip (20 minute drive from outside of town) to the library and found out that the circulation staff are also unable to renew the book for me.
It’s already the second time that I’ve run into this issue. Computers were supposed to make our lives easier but it’s definitely not working that way for us. The old system worked great and the new system creates unnecessary confusion.
Why can’t library patrons make online interventions that simplify our lives and presumably simplify things for the circulation staff?
Yours sincerely,
David GS Ruddock
Reports say tourism is down 50 per cent in Cuba this winter. Much of this is blamed on tired tourism facilities, a power grid that is all but broken and a lack of basics like variety in quality food. Given that Canadians are leaving the U.S. as a snowbird destination in droves thanks to the Orange Man, perhaps it would be an idea to approach Cuba with the notion of helping them renew their tourism infrastructure. Win, win. Help that country out and create a new destination for our snowbirds. That is, if there is anyone left in this country with enough fluid cash to be one.
It’s a hollow comment from the US, that America just might “move on” if no peace can be forced on Russia concerning the Ukraine. We better all realise what that means. Most of what the trump led US does is based on a lie, but we all need to accept the fact we are pretty much on our own. America is a failing empire. It’s demise being hastened by a fool.
In 1994, Ukraine surrendered its nuclear arsenal to the Russians. The Russians and the Americans among others provided assurance the Ukraine would be left alone and that Russia had no claims against Ukraine. Up ’til then Ukraine ranked as the third largest nuclear power, inherited from the breakup of the Soviet Union.
But in 2014, Russia siezed the Crimea. This was before Zelensky was president, even though the fool in the White House accused The Ukrainian president of starting the war. There was a lot of saber rattling at the time, but the nuclear snakes slithered and the world accepted the new order. However, putin wasn’t done and with the realisation that the US wouldn’t act, invaded the Ukraine in 2022.
So the US states it will “move on” if there can be no agreement between Ukraine and Russia. Mostly I suppose because ‘the donald’ must be galled by the proffered middle digit of putin. Ukraine will lose and join Moldova and Georgia as victims of Russian aggression. They won’t be the last.
No one can contemplate the use of nuclear weapons, but I bet Russian aggression would have been checked at the border if Ukraine had kept it’s nukes. When you have pet snakes, you needn’t have them on display all the time.
The government’s own Policy Horizons Canada predicts a collapsed economy and societal breakdown by 2040 if we continue on the same trajectory as the last ten years. Yet Anna-Lise Kear wants another Liberal majority? God save us. You can read the Policy Horizons report here: https://horizons.service.canada.ca/en/2025/01/10/future-lives-social-mobility/pdf/future-lives-social-mobility-en.pdf
So, individual councillors will be demoted to the role of advisors to the mayor. What else will they be if any decisions they collectively make can be overruled by the mayor. The ontario government claims that this move helps expedite new housing. There is a flaw in that system, but it is not at the lower level of government. Red tape starts at the top. The current building permit slowdown was enacted by the province. The “strong mayors” idea is to push bad government plans through by diminishing good existing government practictices.
Once again, voters get the carrot-stick from the Conservatives.
Ontario election: vote Conservative or kiss goodbye a new hospital.
Federal election: vote Conservative or Canada West will secede (check out remarks by Social Credit to Reform Party to Unite the Right Conservative party – Preston Manning).
Thank you, Susan for your helpful comment.
Our imaginations are certainly called into question as we observe the White House/Mara-Logo reality TV show unfolding. Keeping tabs on reality versus the delusionary/illusionary scenarios is a task.
Several times, the Harper-Poilievre Conservatives have seemed closer in their desire to be more like the US GOP. I have always wondered how far they would go, when observing several strategic moves to dismantle Canada with “incremental changes” political positioning, started with Harper.
Conservatives have criticized the open in-fighting of the Liberal Party, while their Fall-into-line, party of one (the Leader) image has been exemplified and magnified by the GOP capitulating of their very souls to Trump, in order to retain power. (yoga moves would be inadequate to show how pretzel-like GOPs will contort themselves to perform for their leader)
Given the perceived change in geopolitical positioning/posturing – I truly question how close Trump’s GOP governance is to the aims of the Unite the Right Conservative Party in Canada. In my opinion, there are several alignments in populist campaigning style, grievance “Canada is broken”, more anger in House of Commons, With Few solutions other than slogans “axe the tax”. Some very real ignorance of science, climate change – no policy proposed. ?Really?
Canadians cannot live on slogans alone, they can rally people, all good. However, we could use some real talented/able/diverse expertise from MPs, cabinet members, etc. to handle the current situation.
For these times, I propose that a majority Liberal government for Canada might give us just that!
Anna-Lise: you illustrate a very scary scenario and I hope it doesn’t come to pass. We must vote strategically: Liberal or Conservative.
The Hard Right Equation:
Donald Trump + Danielle Smith (Unite the Right) + Pierre Poilievre (Unite the Right) + Scott Moe = Annexation
Imagine what that might look like for Canada:
(Danielle Smith) – no equalization payments between Have and Have Not Provinces
(Conservative Party) – American Breitbart News (Danielle Smith prefers Breitbart for interviews) replaces CBC
Please check out the Liberal Candidate for Parry Sound-Muskoka and vote (it is Our Privilege).
Hi Bill
Thanks
(The 40% wage increase being implemented currently is just the tip of the iceberg).
I’m hoping we can all agree no matter which side of the fence you are on, that spending money as I previously stated is one way the municipality wastes money needlessly. They probably should be spending in excess of 30% of the municipal budget on roads. Sadly that has never been the case so they continue to rob Peter to pay Paul. Inflation is effecting the cost of road construction and delaying resurfacing will create a financial burden that the municipality can ill afford. Despite the influx of residents and development in the area the town still needs to increase taxes on a yearley basis.
Bill in my humble opinion the town does not have the means to maintain the roads within its boundaries. If they are not capable of spending in excess of 30% of their budget on road construction this problem will continue to exacerbate over time.
I think Muskoka has two choices:
1) They eliminate the Town and the District takes over roads, planning, building and infrastructure.
2) They eliminate the District of Muskoka and divvy the operating budget up among the municipalities who lack the funding in their current model to operate properly or efficiently.
As we both know the cost to govern Muskoka was never considered and obstacle when the District of Muskoka was created and all the municipalities were maintained within its boundaries. Barrie and Sudbury eliminated the municipalities within their boundaries when they were created. But the Provincial Conservatives did not have the balls to do what was needed prior to restructuring Muskoka. They didn’t have any trouble selling the 407 did they?
So now we have overrepresentation of a small population. Or to put it bluntly we have way too many politicians for a population of this size. You would think with all these representatives that this area would have all the services are neighbours to the north and south have access to, but sadly that is not the case.
Considering I have lived in the area for a good many years. It saddens me that I never heard a local politician say that the current form of governance and how it is all financed is unsustainable and doing nothing is a recipe for disaster. Taxes will have to continue to escalate and many people who have always called Huntsville home will be forced to relocate to less expensive areas. Hence the mass exodus from Ontario over the last ten years.
Some of the toughest decisions in life are not easy.
In regards to Jimmy’s post on “DOGE”, without taking sides, I’d like to support him on having the cajonies to put a very visible sign on his Centre St building, sharing his passionately held views. As a former business owner here in town, I always hesitated to publicly express opinions that might tick off some of my customers. In general, I think there are 2 camps that may share different views on Jim’s opinion, those in the public sector and those in the private sector. I, myself, shift from the left to right ( as in the lyrics of Alice Cooper’s song 18) on sometimes a daily basis. There is validity on both sides and I try not to be close minded. I also am a little slow on new fangled terms such as DOGE and WOKE. I’d like to say, in closing, that even though my road can often be quite rough, that the odd time I make a call about it, there is always a fairly quick effort to fix the problem.
I thought this letter would be of interest to all taxpayers in Huntsville.
District Councillor Stone, Canada definitely needs a Department of Government Efficiency.
We are reminded daily on the news of government waste.
District Councillor Stone recently sent me a letter stating he would boycott Huntsville Wine & Beer as long as the DOGE sign remains on the building. Until censorship is fully implemented in Canada, I will exercise my legal right to protest.
As you know, District Councillor Stone, we both live on the same road. The money spent on our road last year is a prime example of government waste and inefficiency.
The town spent all last year contracting out work on South Waseosa Lake Road, Mineral Springs, and Breisacher Road. Ditching it, replacing culverts, and repairing and resurfacing large sections. Then, after being bombarded with a multitude of complaints due to the sorry state of the road, they chose to pay someone to grind it all up in the fall. Most of it was contract labour. How much did that cost?
Replacing the culverts does not come close to addressing the drainage issues the road faces.
Dodging pot holes in on coming traffic is challenging and nerve wracking. The frost heaved in all those areas where the new culverts were replaced last season.
Adjacent to Camp Huronda, there is no ditch and a large hill draining onto the road. If fibre is buried on that side, why can’t it be ditched? We have rocks sticking out of the road which forces us to use the middle of the road to avoid them. This should be viewed as a safety hazard and a liability issue. In my humble opinion, resurfacing this road in its present condition is a bad idea until all the issues noted are rectified.
In closing, if the reason the town spent all that money needlessly was due to budget restraints, it proves beyond a doubt that government cannot run efficiently under the current model. It also proves that delaying road resurfacing, which this municipality is well known for, drives the cost up astronomically and severely affects the life of everyone’s vehicle and the costs to maintain them. Vehicles are very expensive to replace and this creates another financial burden for many of our residents.
The town used to allocate 10% of their budget for road construction. Is that still the case?
If so, I’m not surprised that you have to keep putting taxes up so much every year.
How much money has been wasted needlessly in the past due to similar situations? This is not an isolated incident. There are several roads in the municipality that have been neglected.
How many residents of Huntsville have had to put up with substandard work and sporadic repairs over the years on their roads?
There are many reasons why I feel the DOGE sign is warranted and unless you can prove me wrong, I believe it is imperative for all levels of government to find efficiency in budgeting to avoid these types of scenario’s from reoccurring.
My intent was not to offend anyone but to bring awareness to all the residents of Huntsville.
It’s obvious government waste creates an unnecessary financial burden for everyone.
BTW, you have to admit that there is a problem before you can find a solution.
Jim Logagianes
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
Donald Trump’s Two Problems:
1. An unlovable individual can still be consumed by an insatiable hunger for affection. This kind of love creates misery, for both the person who demands it and everyone around them. The situation becomes suffocating. If someone is already unlovable, their continual demand to be loved—whether spoken aloud or silently expressed through self-pity and resentment—can create a deep sense of guilt in those around them. These demands do not soften people’s hearts; they harden them. If, by some rare chance, we do feel a moment of genuine affection for them, their endless demand for more and more immediately crushes it. And, of course, such people always want the same proof of love: loyalty in their grievances against others.
2. North America is in a state of unprecedented upheaval. Chaos swirls as Trump and his minions push for rapid transformations—trying to reshape the world, redefine systems, and reinvent how we do things, all within 100 days. But history tells us one thing: when change is rushed, disaster follows. Lasting, effective change takes time. It requires people to grasp its necessity, to prepare for its impact, and to embrace it willingly. Change cannot be forced—it must be communicated, understood, and accepted at a pace that allows people to walk together, not collapse under its weight. When change comes too fast, it leaves exhaustion, frustration, and burnout in its wake. But when it is led with clarity, vision, and unity, people move forward—arm in arm—with a spirit of optimism and anticipation.
I do want to thank someone in the community
Two ladies who work and have always been great at the service counter atCTC
Kudos goes out to Kim Blackburn and Darlene West (maiden name)
These two ladies are a breath of fresh air
Always pleasant and definitely proficient in their long t8me employment
It is getting more rare in these troubled times to find employees or owners who give a damn
Thanks
Pete and Mary Jo Turnbull
Burks Falls ont
Convicted felon and uncredible Conrad Black, National Post, out with an article suggesting ousting Mark Carney asap.
That’s enough to ensure my vote for Carney – hoping the federal Liberals are able to run a good, local candidate in the upcoming Federal Election.
I have written Mayor Alcock and asked her to consider removing the American flag from the Summit Centre and G8 flag park and at least temporarily replace it with the Ukrainian flag..
Please let the Mayor and council know if you support this initiative.
Please note there will be no more comments on anything related to the election until after the Ontario provincial election on February 27, 2025.
Mrs Coleman & Bob a Hutcheson,
Most ParrySound constituents I know will not vote for a candidate or party that supports threatening & fear tactics. We are insulted by such tactics.
The Green Party represented by Matt Richter in Muskoka Parry Sound is an intelligent, hardworking, dedicated, and transparent candidate belonging to a Party that works to keep making the Doug Ford government accountable for their unfortunate poor judgment in planning, and spending our tax dollars
on grandeur projects. We are all proud Ontarioians & will vote for what’s best for our Beautiful Province and Parry Sound Muskoka.
Myself I am a senior citizen, 4 th generation in Muskoka , always a full time resident, former Town of Huntsville and District of Muskoka Councillor.
I am endorsing & voting Voting Green this time around.
John Earl. Huntsville
I think this “you only get grants/investment if you have the right member in the house” is utter nonsense. That would reason all those non PC Ridings in the province are deprived and crumbling as we speak. (And what an insult to the sitting government.)
I think Graydon is a good MPP … but framing the discussion this way? Give me a break. If Crombie wins in 2029 I suspect you’ll all be voting Liberal… I’ll hold you to it.
Bob, my 98 year old friend is correct. Communities receive so much more when we have a member of the government in our PSM riding.
As a town and District councillor for 20 years, I know firsthand how that works.
If we don’t elect a member of the government in power the ability to flow money into our riding in the next 4 years will be nill.
Many great projects over the years both Federally and provincial took place with the governments of the day as Bob has stated.
Think extra hard before you make X mark on your Ballot.
Respectfully submitted,
Fran Coleman
I am still 98 years old and have seen how we got things and grants from governments in the past.
This only happens when we have a government with a majority and a member of the party in power in our riding.
Think about how we got the Summit Centre !
We only got the Summit Centre and the G8 because we had the combination of our member being in power in a majority government of which he was a member.
I hope that everyone in Parry Sound Muskoka understands that fact.
Humbly submitted,
Bob Hutcheson
The Liberals have drifted to the left and are no longer Centrists. The Green Party even further to the left. The Federal Liberals leftist policies aim to make Canadians dependent on the government for their livelihood and thus keep them in power. Look at the end result: a cumulative inflation rate of 23.3%, doubling of housing and rent, an ever increasing Carbon Tax that has resulted in high fuel prices, high costs of food and basic necessities. The Working class and the poor now have to choose between heating their homes and food on the table, two million Canadians rely on Food Banks and one in five live in poverty. So that is the “Green” future envisioned by the Federal Liberals!
The Green Party plans to add a Green Carbon tax on top of the Trudeau Carbon Tax. They will spend like Climate Emergency Activists in a Tesla dealership with no regard to costs or ability to pay. All the while they virtue signal and pontificate a false sense of moral superiority while forcing their ideology for a Net Zero Carbon on us. The Working Class and Poor cannot afford Teslas, can Muskoka afford to lose the $1 billion funding for two new hospitals or the $520 million in infrastructure, job creation, community programs and environmental conservation.
The answer is a resounding no!
Graydon Smith has secured funding that promotes economic growth, job creation, investment and environmental sustainability.
The future of Muskoka depends on it. He has done an incredible job for Muskoka. Let him continue to do so.
I found it interesting to listen to the provincial leaders’ debate which is available on Youtube. When Mike Schreiner of the Greens was questioned about the fact that for the last ten years he has said he would abolish the Catholic School Board and merge it with the Public Board he did some fancy backpedaling to distract from that question. I now understand why Matt Richter keeps saying he’s not his boss, which of course he is, otherwise whose policies are we to believe. He’s trying to distance himself from some divisive policies that will hurt his election chances. I wonder how many Catholic school supporters are considering a green vote?
It’s the same way he’s trying to distract from the fact that MPP Graydon Smith has obtained to date over 520 million in funding for Parry Sound -Muskoka for various projects including infrastructure improvements plus the 1 billion for the hospitals. MPP Smith has already saved both of our hospitals. How that money is used is strictly up to MAHC ,which is also contrary to what other parties are trying to make us believe . Greens would never be able to come close to obtaining that amount of funding as a 4th place minority party.
The only thing green with a minority MPP will be our envy of other regions of the province for the funding they will be able to access.
To Janice Schumacher, Comments on speaking out February 23, 2025, 2.05 pm.
In my mind thank You for your honest, truthful and well written comments. I hope they are read and digested near and far across Parry Sound Muskoka and beyond. Thanks a Job well done !
John Earl. Huntsville
Janice Schumacher, it’s not about cancelling anything it’s about having a voice in the room. There’s 50 hospital projects underway in this province. Losing a seat at the table and not having that strong, respected voice that Graydon brings to advocate for us could be devastating. Merely due to omission alone.
It’s not about being punitive. It’s about being present.And Matt Richter and the Greens will ensure our communities are consigned to the fringes; the political wilderness, out of sight, out of mind. Should that happen, some other advocate, with a seat at the table, will step in to fill the void and we could easily find ourselves left behind.
Having to explain the realities of the world to the Greens is truly quite unbelievable. They do appear to live in some fantasyland where backbench parties with no official status release “plans” for things with a straight face. It’s all make believe. The Greens are smoke and mirrors. Empty promise after empty promise. It’s disingenuous and really quite sad.
Janice Scumacher – Graydon has never been Environment Minister. That is Andrea Khanjin.
In addition, the election would cost the exact same amount next year as it does now. Complaining about the cost is simply idle chatter.
Hugh- Are you saying that if Muskoka does not elect Graydon, that Doug Ford will cancel the proposed hospitals. Is he another Donald trump who would retaliate against anyone who does not support his party? Yes you have the right to write a partisan editorial because we all know that you are a strong conservative supporter, but you should not be blocking other partisan views as an editor. If you want to be honest, lets look at the issues. Doug Ford just spent 3 billion dollars buying votes when that money could have been better spent on Health Care, including our hospitals. He spent millions putting liquour into the convenience and grocery stores when it would have happened anyway in a short time and our deaths from drunk drivers has increased in the past year. He has spent millions on this election, when he already had a strong mandate. Also, he is not the Prime Minister, and although the federal government is not sitting they have a committee that is working on the tariffs which includes Doug Ford and other members of the opposition parties, so why is he pretending to be the only one who can save Canada. Also, he should have stayed as premier to keep fighting this, instead of having an unnecessary election. I like Graydon, and I know he has been all over the district because I see his picture online almost every week visiting some part of the district. What I have not seen is any comments from him, when they had the Greenbelt scandal and he is the environment minister. Does he think his constituents want a tunnel under the 401? Does he think we want privatized health care which costs more than supporting our local hospitals? Did he support giving teachers, nurses, and other public servants a 1% increase and then losing this in court which again costed taxpayers a fortune in legal fees? It is a shame that our system of government requires our elected officials to vote along party lines instead of voting to support the people who put them in power.
Mr. Walter Wolfe, one could easily also argue that Mr. Ford did the right thing in seeking a mandate in the significant fight (with significant changes) that are coming as we fend off the harsh economic impacts of U.S. tariffs, should they come. Getting a mandate from the people he represents is what a democratic leader should be doing. It’s the honourable thing to do. I certainly hope that happens at the Federal level. The PM has said he’s stepping down; he should not be replaced by a PM the party chooses, even if it’s just for a year. Let the electorate decide. That’s democracy.
Since you took the time to respond I will comment on a couple things.
My argument is that now is NOT the time for politics as usual. Voter apathy and disengagement will not serve us well. Americans are in the “Find out” stage of #FAFO.
In the last Provincial election 57% of Ontarian’s didn’t bother to vote.
Doug Ford called an election in the middle of a National Crisis simply to extend his term. It is estimated to cost 189 Million dollars. He had a year and a half to go in a majority government.
It was called in the middle of winter and 4 days out, no voter cards yet.
Ford handed out 200 dollar checks just before calling an election, Is that a coincidence?
This is straight out of the Trump playbook.
There is a lot at stake in both upcoming elections, Don’t sit this one out.
I, too, would like to share my viewpoint on the editorial endorsing Graydon Smith.
Quite frankly, I could care less who the Doppler endorsing. Were it Matt Richter instead, I would still have much the same moral reservations. In 2025, it is absolutely irresponsible and reprehensible for any media outlet which touts itself a politically neutral and objective source of information in service to the public to endorse any candidate, ever. Full stop. To say the very least, it’s a highly controversial hallmark of an era of journalism that is long since past, or in other words, a tradition that should have died long ago.
Now, more than ever, the job of the media (as it has always been) is to do the important service of informing the public, and then allow people to draw their own conclusions based on that information. It’s been argued here, and in other places previously, that an endorsement itself may just as well be informative– but what’s more important? Being informed, or being informed and knowing the objective truth as a result? To me, it’s undeniably the latter, because such an endorsement as this is not objective, and in an era where the quality of information available to you matters more than anything, objectivity is paramount.
Hugh Mackenzie: I never said hospitals weren’t important. But ’til we get a roof on one, we will find help were we can. And I’m a little bored with being offered a carrot while being beaten with the stick, Vote for us or else.
We are only a few years out from a global epidemic. The Federal Liberal government printed money and spread cash about. CERB and CEBA gave billions to people and businesses to help them through a trying time. It wasn’t just offered to provinces who had Liberal governments. ‘Nor was it restricted to ridings with Liberal MPPs. Not even to just those who could prove they were Liberals.
The money was offered to anyone, no matter the political leaning.
I don’t want to believe that the “harsh truths” is only a Parry Sound /Muskoka affliction.
Mr. Mackenzie; you were right to call me out on how I express my comments. In future, I will endeavour to further qualify my remarks, when they are anecdotal, or an observation. Thank you.
Mr. Cockram; thank you for your comments.
Let me reassure you that I do go to other sources for my news, I do look for news articles and opinions that are not of my own. As long as there is not a lot of raging, swearing, yelling, I will listen and read.
Mr. Mackenzie, Thank you for your comments below.
I am well aware of the political favourtism that is offered to incumbents of a political stripe. I observed that when MP Tony Clement first won our riding by 28 or was it 48 votes (please feel free to correct) – that under Stephen Harper, all sorts of favours were destined for Parry Sound Muskoka = The G8 site for a bit, money for projects such as our Canada Summit Centre.
Look how hard the Federal Conservatives wished to assure a second victory of better proportion for Tony Clement!
My comment is anecdotal/an observation: If Provincial Conservatives should lose our riding this election, how much harder will the party work to re-gain the seat? It may be naive, but worth asking the question.
As an old saying goes, ‘there are more ways to skin a cat’ (I am unable to identify who coined this old phrase and my apologies to all pet owners out there).
So folks, I have voted strategically, Green Party (I do like their platform, the lack of incessant slogans, and poorly worded off-the-cuff remarks from DF). Attention to affordable housing, not unsustainable development is one reason. Greens have for a long time been aware of the Ford Nation’s response to healthcare personnel needs.
Hugh Mackenzie is a champion of reason and common sense.
I wish to thank him for his dedication to this community and for his clear-eyed, prescient understanding of the way things work.
We owe him and his staff a debt of gratitude for what they do for Muskoka.
I am writing in relation to the three comments immediately below. As stated in one of them, Doppler has no reason to offer an apology for the Editorial it published and none will be forthcoming.
Editorials are different than commentaries. Editorials are the opinion of the News source, in this case Doppler. Commentary is the opinion only of the person who wrote the article and not necessarily the view of Doppler. Editorials express the view of the news source. They are rarely signed and seldom provide a space for comments. This applies to most news sources in Canada as it did to local newspapers before they disappeared in Muskoka and Parry Sound. As their replacement, in many ways, and in matters of extreme importance, Doppler feels an obligation to carry on that tradition.
The main reason we chose not to allow comments however, is that responses to Bob Hutcheson’s letter on much the same topic, were so vicious, personal, disrespectful, partisan and orchestrated, that we did not want a repeat of that.
It is correct that our Editorial endorsed Graydon Smith for re-election in Parry Sound-Muskoka.
The core message of the Doppler Editorial is directed at the reality of what needs to happen if we want the commitment of two new hospitals to actually get built. That reality in our opinion is that Graydon Smith not only deserves to be re-elected but he is by far, the best candidate to ensure that the commitment of two new hospital sites in Muskoka actually happens.
Mr. Markle, if you think the current hospital issue in Muskoka is not a priority for this region, and for seasonal residents, many of whom have fought for this for years, then of course, the thrust of our Doppler Editorial is not important to you.
Speaking personally, I believe the commitment to two new hospital sites in Muskoka is vital to vastly improved health care, but also to our economy. With the almost billion dollars that comes with it, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
I have been deeply involved in politics, both elected and otherwise, for more than fifty years. Based on that experience and what I have seen first-hand, I am absolutely certain that other priorities will become much more important to the government than funding two new hospitals to that amount of dollars, in a riding they do not hold.
And Mr. Wolfe, that is not Trumpism, it is how, rightly or wrongly, politics work in Canada. I do not like it much either but we believe our readers have a right to hear this perspective of reality clearly and without hinderance. What they do with it is only their business.
Finally, to you Ms. Kear, in relation to the last sentence in your comment, “We will get the hospitals without the Ontario Conservative Party.” You have frequently asked other commentators for the research backing up their comments.. So where is yours? As it stands, this statement is either deliberate misinformation or, you just don’t know what you are talking about.
It’s a privately owned newspaper.
If you don’t like the endorsement, go elsewhere for news.
This is not a pubic service for your benefit.
Your editorial The Harsh Truth about Politics.
Endorsing politicians for a particular party is certainly reasonable and everyone has that right.
I also don’t think many people would quibble about the work that Smith and Aitcheson have done in service of their riding.
I think however you crossed a line. There is a difference between endorsing someone for office and suggesting that not voting for them could lead to constituents being punished.
This is like a mob boss saying, “Nice hospital you have there, it would be a shame if something happened to it” That is a thinly veiled threat. There is a significant shortage of Doctors here as well all know and a lot of vulnerable people live here and rely on the Emergency Room and limited Walk in clinics. Suggesting that if you don’t vote for a particular person you might not have the medical care you may need in the future is wholly unacceptable.
If you think this type of transactional democracy will stop there you are mistaken
The next thing will be vote for Doug Ford or we may have to reduce educational support and close a few public schools, or vote for Doug or we may need to close a few LCBO store, maybe ours.
If there are 30 communities that need hospitals, then build 30 hospitals, not tunnels under the 401.
Vote for Smith and Aitcheson if you think they are doing a good job and deserve another term, they probably do. But don’t sell us this Trumpian version of democracy. It wont serve us well in the long run.
Your editorial, may be well intentioned but is misguided, you should apologize.
Mr. Markle, I too was confused by the commentary announcement that offered no one the ability to comment. So, are we to interpret that the Doppler is endorsing Graydon Smith?
It was certainly Not written for conversational purposes, just a campaign plug.
The carrot/stick offering of hospitals was presented during the last provincial election – it is not a new strategy.
I would like to offer some potentially interesting topics for discussion from the February 2025 book, “Against the People; How Ford Nation is Dismantling Ontario” (eds. Bryan Evans & Carlo Fanelli), Fernwood Publishing. ? of interest? These are chapter titles from this fascinating book:
-the Class Politics of Conservative Rule
-Manufacturing a Fiscal Crisis
– Arts and Culture on Life Support
-Schools for Sale
-Privatizing Ontario’s Universities
-Everyday Justice in Ford’s Ontario (with DF’s recent comments, we need more jails and more use of the electric chair- this fails to recognize the needs to increase Judiciary in order to hear cases and avoid the case dismissal as time has run out to try the person! No Common Sense here)
-Healthcare SOS
-Why are People in Ontario Hungry?
-Bulldozing Indigenous Lands
-Child Care When Convenient
-Riding the “Gravy Train”
-Locking in Unsustainable Development
-Strong Mayors, Weak Cities
-De-Democratizing Ontario
It is so time for a change, let’s initiate in Parry Sound-Muskoka! Please vote folks, it is a privilege not to be taken for granted. We’ll get the hospitals without the Ontario Conservative party.
I found it strange that on a Feb. 19 commentary, Doppler left us no place to reply. It lists 0 comments and room for no more. The commentary was in reference to the opinion that there are “harsh truths” in politics. Indeed.
But this is the sixth going on more years when the only seemingly harsh political truth is that hospitals are the only things Muskoka /Parry Sound is interested in. The blue juice seems to deaden the senses to what is happening on our streets and in our communities.
We need doctors for our hospitals and families, nurses to care for the aged and infirm. Jobs that pay reasonable wages so people can pay their bills. We need stability in grocery prices. Street people need some assistance. People need apartments they can afford and homes within their price bracket. It’ a long list and it’s been a list for awhile.
If the author of the “Harsh Truth” piece, or Bob Hutcheson or I ever find ourselves in need of a hospital and a doctor, we may have to travel a bit, but we will find what we need. But it certainly won’t be because of this obsession with two “full service hospitals”.
First and foremost as all eligible voters we need to exercise our privilege, duty and encourage others to vote. Every vote marked should never be thought of as a wasted vote. The numbers at the end of day tells how we want the present & future. The numbers show and tell what ever party that wins how the electorate is politically wishing for.
Before making our decisions, do our homework & educate ourselves in order to make our best & conscious decision before marking the ballot.
It never ceases to amaze me the number of voters that vote just as their parents, grandparents for generations and generations have voted for always the same party without researching other party platforms. Please do your research and follow your own conscience.
Remember all votes are important, there are no wasted numbers, the numbers when it’s all over show how and what our wants and needs that are important to us now and the future. If You don’t vote so much is left unsaid.
It’s our privilege and duty as Ontario Canadian Citizens to Vote !
If President Trump continues to escalate his economic attack on Canada and doesn’t stop his 51st state comments, perhaps it is time to take down the US flag at our Flag Park. I know it is a symbolic gesture but we felt it was appropriate to remove the Russian flag to protest their invasion of Ukraine. Incidentally will we reinstate the Russian flag when Trump forces Ukraine to cede Russian occupied territory so that he can announce he negotiated an end to the war?
Is there a group that I can connect with trying to connect with any family member that was related to Charles Croucher that married Lucy? They had several children but one was Mary who moved to Sparrow Lake to work in a resort owned by the Millers.
One correction to my previous post- Conrad Black was not a convicted felon in Canada, but in the United States.
As a proud and very grateful Canadian, it is important for me to examine from where our news media comes. Furthermore, it is important for me to read opposing points of view.
It has been reported that with PostMedia across Canada, (e.g. the National Post), it is an American Hedge Fund which owns controlling interest. A previous Donald Trump supporter. Conrad Black recently wrote that it is time for Canadians to toughen up. I agree!
It is time that any Media company operating in Canada, be owned by Canadians. I feel somewhat assured that Canadian convicted felon Conrad Black would oblige.
Please feel free to correct any of this information, for the sake of transparency.
Sorry, spell check. Those last words were “jack boots”.
We have supported the Great Britain through the Boer war and both world wars with thousands of our people giving their lives in the process. Now that we have a foreign belligerent openly saying he wants to absorb our country into his then perhaps it’s time to ask for a return favor. We could ask the Bristish to send military assets like subs, aircraft and ships to help us ‘protect our borders’ while we work to rebuild our much neglected armed forces. And send a very strong message to a guy who is trying to destroy us with his economic jackpots.
Hospital parking rates, you could skip paying and park illegally in our lot at 367 Muskoka road 3 north. We send 4 to 6 vehicles away daily by tow truck, I’m not sure how much that costs to retrieve your vehicle, but it certainly seems like a much bigger hassle.
First 15 minutes free at the hospital is fantastic. I was just in Hamilton and parking twice daily at St. Josephs for three days cost more than a monthly pass.
I attended the Summit Centre today (Jan.27) at 2:30 pm for an appointment.
If the Town of Huntsville is responsible for snow removal and sidewalk maintenance they should ticket themselves.
The condition of all the walkways and the lot is appalling.
With so many seniors using the pool and they wellness hub you would think extra caution would be given to keeping the walks clear.
3-4 inches of slush the consistency of ice cream is neither safe, legal, or excusable in any manner.
How hard would it be to have someone run a blower or even a damn shovel?
Just when we need another election, along one comes! Pretty convenient eh? I didn’t realise that it was that important since our PC premier has a pretty substantial majority. What’s the old saw about a gift horse in the mouth.
I think we are all well aware of the leaps forward made by this government. Kidding!! There is a litany of programs were cancelled and now rebooted. Every one of which cost us money. Not chump change either. Billions. And yet doctors, hospitals, trains, schools still need people and money. Every shopper takes a blow to the pocket book on every outing.
But we are assured that these are the best of times! They must be kidding. But I did get my $200.00 tax refund. Appreciate that. Can put it wit h last years $1,100.00 Carbon Tax rebate and maybe retire early? And no other ‘tax’ paid me any money back.
Our premier says that he must have another mandate from the people. He says he wants it to be the biggest ever. So that he can confront ‘the donald.’ Lord that sounds like ‘the donald’. Everything is the biggest, the baddest, the most, the cutest. All superlatives. Ford just needs a big “Sharpie’ and he and ‘the donald’ can square of on the ‘Gordie Howe’. I’d pay $200.00 to watch that.
And that desire for the biggest mandate ever. I think that would be too vast a playground for the minds in charge of the action.
Mr. Markle, I agree with much you have written.
I only add to your last 2 comments that Doug Ford has enabled some very frivolous governmental decisions. From “buck-a-beer” campaign slogans, blue license plates, beer in convenience stores, etc., etc. Not to mention his ridiculous off the cuff remarks on MRIs being conducted at for-profit Veterinary Clinics. What a doofus.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, what positive solutions has he contributed to homelessness, ramped unaffordable housing, boosting public healthcare, addiction care? Not only greenbelt development, interference in Toronto governance, failure to support and highly value science education support through the Ontario Science Centre… Peter Principle or semi-Pete’s seem a good way to describe Ford’s leadership acumen.
Regarding several recent comments about our hospital parking rates.
I appreciate that the cost is challenging for some, especially when visiting family members multiple times. As a comparison to our rates, I recently visited at the Ottawa Civic Hospital.
Huntsville: First fifteen minutes free (good for drop off or pickup). Ottawa: no free period
Huntsville: One hour $6. Ottawa: $8
Huntsville: up to 24 hours $8. Ottawa $15
Huntsville: one week $35. Ottawa $50
To add insult to injury, on a Monday morning I could not find a parking spot in any of the Ottawa hospital’s lots. The choice was to park illegally and risk a fine or circle the lots hoping to see a vehicle leaving, which I did unsuccessfully. I have never seen our local hospital’s lot full. We may not like the cost here in Huntsville but it could be worse.
John Davis..not to fret..here are the parking rates…from their website..and frequent visitors can purchase a monthly pass that saves money.
Parking Rates
Parking Duration and Cost
Less than 15 minutes Free
Up to 60 minutes $6.00
60 minutes or more $8.00
Per visit maximum $8.00
Anyone who spent a goodly number of years as part of the work force is aware of the ‘Peter Principle”. It states that people will rise to a level of personal incompetence. That there is a point where someone can offer nothing more. But there are those that are, shall I say, ‘semi-Petes’. Moved because they never offered much at all.
“Where’s so and so?”
“Gone!”
“Good! No help and untrainable. Fired their ass eh!”
“Nope. Got an office.”
And on it went. Private industry was a little harder on the “semi-Pete’ because there was and is an obvious cost. But with Government and those under tight government regulation, the solution becomes less obvious. Ten men with sharp sticks will not dislodge a true, government, ‘Willknot’ . They have a good gig and ‘Willknot’ let go.
Over the years, there would have been the slow accumulation and ascension of such ‘semi-Petes’. And ‘though some may have found their niche, you can bet the house that others certainly did not. Look at the state of some of the systems, functions, corporations and such that we “can’t do without”. They display obvious disarray; lack of leadership and mis-, if any, direction.
These were thoughts from over the last few days. No real proof that it is happening, though I’m pretty confident. But then I remember that ‘Worldly Philosopher’, H L Mencken. And looked up what he had written back in the 40’s or 50’s.
“As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move towards a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their hearts desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a down right moron.”
Is this the arrival of a ‘semi-Pete’? Have they been arriving for a while and we just weren’t watching? Can you see any on the horizon; in our future? If Mencken were to look around today, would he feel the effect was spreading?
Hang onto your asses folks. For sure there will be the coming need for a lot more people with sharp sticks.
Recent blood work at Dynacare Labs Dec. 20, 2024 which shares parking with Huntsville Hospital.
The parking receipt states 20 minutes parking time and the cost was $6.00. If I visit a relative for an hour on the second floor of the hospital is parking going to cost $18.00 Must be some mistake? This is Huntsville not Toronto? Just curious.
Much ado! Much ado!
It was interesting to watch the ‘big battle of the bags’ play out. Didn’t even know there was a battle ’til the Premier got involved. How things got so out of control perplexed him greatly. Seems the LCBO had attempted to pick some low hanging fruit and save a bundle. No more bag handout from them.
A bit down the road, after getting little pre-mixed cocktails of various sorts into corner stores and such, somebody must have mentioned the action of LCBO to Doug. Who knows why it drew the reaction it did. Lord knows we arrive at every store with a boot full of reusable bags. If you couldn’t manage and remember to carry a bag in to handle your purchase from the store, should you have been driving there at all?
But there was need for action and the Premier waded in. Voters require paper bags to put their booze in. Ever see a paper bag save your bottle of Amarone when it hits the pavement in the parking lot? But the directive was issued and the LCBO went in search of bags for the store. But they chose a supplier from PQ and the whine was not over. It has to be an Ont. manufacturer. Should be easy.
So it will be curious now to see if this ‘Ontario made/ supplied’ will be broad spectrum. Are we now actively searching out nonconformists? Or was this just a fart in a windstorm? Something to distract, entertain, show the flag?
“Much ado. Much ado.” As the bard wrote. He added “About nothing.”
Can’t I just feel the nothing building?
To Ev Van Duuran: Good point. I’ve been looking for clear kitchen catcher bags on and off for several months. When someone finds them, please let me know.
Thank you Mr. Nowers!
Well said.
Clear garbage bags. Wow! Now where do I buy my clear kitchen catchers?
Why is Doug Ford Frittering Away our Economy with Ill Considered Giveaways?
An Open Letter to our MPP’s
You represent our interests here in Muskoka. You know of the extraordinary lack of medical and social services. You know of the soul destroying lack of affordable housing. You know we need smarter and more strategic solutions to our challenges. Has the Conservative government really worked to solve any of these problems?
Let’s see..
I. $1.1 billion …eliminating the license plate stickers cost us $1.1 billion every year. It was a recurring revenue and now a recurring loss. Want a hospital in rural areas ? Sorry, we gave away the money to both build and operate it…. for $120 each per Ontarian per year. We traded healthcare for free licence plates.
2. $1 billion for the expansion of alcohol availability into 8500 stores in addition to the existing and highly efficient LCBO.
So this is another kind of tradeoff – more and less regulated alcohol. What’s our return? Less funds available for health care, more alcohol related health and mental health issues. Really?
3. $7-10 billion for the controversial Hwy. 413. Extremely poor consultation.
4. $3.2 billion give away. Doug Ford is preparing “a minimum” give away of $200 to each Ontarian adult and child by October 31st, 2024.
Why? I’m like most people. We all like to receive free money…but is it free?
Or could it be Ford’s way of spending our money in support of his early call for his re-election.
Are we being bribed with our own money?
None of these reckless expenditures were undertaken with due consultation. All of them degrade the pool of funding that could have been redirected to health, education, long term care …core services we need. 6.5 million Ontarians do not have a family doctor. Is more convenient beer and a couple of $200 cheques a fair tradeoff?
Doug Ford likes to say “Ontario, Open for Business”. His social transactions do not seem like smart business. In fact, they are shockingly frivolous spending sprees.
So far, Doug Ford will have spent or committed 12.2 billion dollars and for what? After this ill thought out rash of irresponsible spending, the economy will not have improved and our core services will be further impoverished.
And just wait for the bill to come for the Toronto tunnel.
Google search excerpt…”The Summit Towns is a new preconstruction townhome development by Trulife Developments located at Forbes Hill Drive in Huntsville. The Summit Towns will have a total of 175 townhomes. Estimated completion date is set for Spring 2022″.
This development seems to be at a full standstill. The main drive, Tang Drive, is blocked off. Two years have passed the Spring 2022 date for completion.
Rumours are this development is bankrupt.
What is happening with this development? This hill used to be the home to one of the most beautiful stands of mixed forest within town limits.
Any comments?
Huntsville Fall Fair requires a new safer location.
Ravenscliffe Road had vehicles parked on both sides from the Big East past the OPP station.
Front lawns and private property made no difference.
I know it’s only two days per year, but there is safety and human lives to be considered.
Huntsville is growing in leaps and bounds and the fall fair location has to grow with it.
There was no way an ambulance or fire vehicle could have made it past the fairgrounds in a reasonable amount of time, if at all.
Does someone have to die before a new location is considered?
Just my two cents worth. No one is listening as usual?
Watched the news and saw Jagmeet Singh face down a heckler. Seemed to me he had the right guy. The comment was made and as soon as Singh turned, said heckler took an intense and immediate interest in his phone. He was obviously struggling with the flight or fight option. In the end he did neither and just lied. On camera. In front of the nation. Smooth!! Budding politician? Or just an out of work bully.
If Singh and I are wrong and it was the other dude, he was little better. But I think we got the right guy.
Still won’t cause me to vote NDP but the man gained some respect in my estimation.
Gary, The pinned speed bumps are installed so that they can be taken out for winter. A pedestrian should never be crossing a speed bump anyway, you should be crossing perpendicular to the lane, not diagonal. This isn’t a retailer issue, this is a pedestrian issue.
In response to Michael O’Mara’s comment: I agree. It is a very sad situation. The district of Muskoka offers tents to individuals needing shelter but, this is a bandaid fix. Homelessness and unaffordable housing are on the rise. As Mr. O’Mara says, what will happen to these individuals when winter comes?
Huntsville Tent City, it is located behind Metro grocery store . I took a walk and discovered camp sites, with wet blankets , jackets ,a shoe or two , open cans of soup ,tuna, broken coolers a bicycle, etc. I continued down the path and heard voices so I left as I didn’t want to disturb their privacey. The District of Muskoka gives individuals tents to offer some form of shelter, What is going to happen to these individuals when winter comes. This is very sad. Michael O’Mara
Was alerted to our local boy’s comment as to the conversion of CBC buildings to apartments. Really Scott! If it had been reported on the CBC (although really not that noteworthy) maybe more people would have heard/read/seen it. And it may have gotten a little better coverage. Rather than just a passing, personal, blurb.
What is the problem with having a format that delivers the same news, pretty much across the nation. Have they pointed out some of the foibles and weirdness of political parties? Have they not been fair? Biased? What is the reason that the ‘primer rhymer’ feels put upon, although bullies generally feel that way? Maybe we will never know since we are kept in the dark as to most PC policy. If the demise of the CBC is part of confirmed policy, then that is sad.
And Scott should know that such a project as the conversion of a large building to apartments would cost us, the tax payers, a considerable amount. Contractors and realtors always seem to get the better of our politicians. Maybe it’s because it’s not the politicians paying for their own ineptitude.
Locally we spent a bit less than a couple hundred grand to repair a train station (drainage) and then sold it for a toonie. And a building that cost taxpayers seven or eight million was sold for about half that amount. I imagine a national, federal party might get a bit more for either building. Better advisors? I imagine, but can’t be sure.
Most TV coverage now is political, both north and south of the border. And politicians, local and otherwise, make little real sense. Commercials have more content. Remember “Plop. Plop. Fizz. Fizz.” I’d rather listen to stuff like that.
Trip hazard at Huntsville Home Depot:
The speed bumps in front of Huntsville’s Home Depot are the pegged type rather than the built into the pavement type. The pegged type tend to me more aggressive and as such aren’t great for pedestrians. I managed to confirm this today by catching my shoe on the edge of one and crashing onto the asphalt. Fortunately nothing was broken. I scraped an elbow and knee and sustained two cuts on a hand. I referred it to a manager and while he was sympathetic, it was obvious that nothing was going to be done about it. Exercise extreme caution when you around these speed bumps. Gary Blanchett, South River
Hugh you are doing more anti conservative rants lately.
My question is, which of the other two parties are we supposed to vote for? The liberals who have spent hundreds of billions of dollars that we canadians do not have. and are costing us 40 plus billion in interest each year to pay Trudeaus banker buddies or are we to vote for theNDP who keep them in power by giving them the indirect majority the voters did not
Right now we have a 40 percent cost on our dollar for everything that is imported because the Liberals do want to sell timber, gas. oil. or minerals thus no one needs to buy our money.
The only thing justinwants to sell is flying around the world in a jet powered by fairey dust, preaching go green, go green.
Some countries he tries to preach to, tried it, it did not work, that is why Germany had to buy Russian gas.
Another ATV accident just now on Rose Lake Road.
Teens going too fast, trespassing, and when the father arrived he was just ” kids being kids”
Fire rescue, 2 ambulances, police, all these resources tied up due to stupidity.
The public foots the bill.
I ‘ve predicted this over and over.
When will the Town of Huntsville learn that ATVs don’t belong on the roadway?
I just experienced a very disturbing incident at the Huntsville place mall.
I went to back out of a handicap parking spot in front of The Dollar store and I saw nothing in my rear view mirror and I did not feel that I hit someone
I did see a vehicle in my outside door mirror just past me
The older women yelled at me for hitting her new car and said a lot of thing making me cry
I said I was really sorry and honestly did not feel me hit the car
The older women moved her vehicle at the request of the younger women — so they would not be hit again
She moved over in front of the dollar store
The younger one said so are you going to use insurance or pay out of pocket!
I said I was not going to pay and I wanted to see the damage I had done.
I drove over behind them and got out— there was a small mark that I wiped away with my hand- no paint missing.
I said I was sorry but the damage was barely visible
She said that she should call the police— I said yes call the police
The 2 of them went to the side of their vehicle and talked then they got in their vehicle and a few minutes later they drove off
I sat for awhile because I was so shaken and wondered if it was a scam
Please be careful because they may do it again.
It becomes more and more clear, that the majority of those who comment in the Doppler, are either entrenched in a liberal point of view or a conservative point of view and never acknowledge that the other path may be the better way to go on certain issues. Does not the country ( or province ) sometime need a dose of liberalism and sometimes a dose of conservatism? Some of those who comment will always thank those who offer up liberal points of view and never those coming from the conservative side or vice versa.
It is predictable what the point of view will be just by the name of the person commenting.
Are some folks born liberals while others are born conservatives?
If w
e look at the writing of some people.we just have to change to electric vehicles in Canada to save the world.
Studies have shown that the manufacture of EV cars and trucks produce more pollution than gas powered..
They are heavier and cause more road wear than ICE vehicles. A F150 electric ways over a ton more than an ICE .
According to an Ontario hydro contact. if more than a small percentage were to change over, the result would be black outs and brown outs,
The government bribe for those buying EV goes to the car company. Buy a tesla, keep a Chinese auto worker employed,
As a second vehicle, for short trips around locally they are great but for people to travel. you must remember the number one thing is where are the charging stations, that decides your route.
Surveys of buyers in the US show that half the owners of EV will not buy again.
Real world charging times show that a larger suv to be an hour and a half at a high level charger.
If EV are good and the LIB_DIPPER party want to force us to buy them, why never a picture of even one of them driving them. No, they travel by gas, diesel or jet fuel.
Not one picture of them sitting in a row at a public charger with no heat at 30 below waiting their turn to charge. at a slower rate in the cold.
People living in condo or apartments are out of luck.
For a business selling fuel a customer is in and out in a few minutes, not taking up a space forn an hour or more, so they are not in a hurry to install charges if they can not cover the cost of the spot.
Not every one has the extra bucks even if they wanted to, because the government is taxing them to support the richer ones that have the bucks.
Huntsville has four family doctors leaving Huntsville or retiring soon.
To attract new Family Doctors I have a few ideas.
1: Huntsville offers full medical student debt repayment to any doctor willing to sign up for 10 years and serve Huntsville Residents. The average debt is between $90,000 and $150,000
2: Build a new town owned Medical Building only for Family or Dental offices.
3: Give these offices rent free to the Family Doctors.
4: Huntsville buys 10 Condos for these doctors whom come to this town and offer free accommodation for 5 years while they establish themselves and their practice in the town of Huntsville.
5: the Doctors must to commit to 35 hours a week minimum with 4 weeks vacation allowed for these 10 years.
This is an investment into our communities health and well-being.
Take out full page advertisements and in every major university newsletters to get the word out.
Bill 185, introduced to the Ontario legislature on April 10, 2024, along with the proposed Provincial Planning statement, erodes local democracy by making OTL a developers’ only tribunal, and handing the future planning of our communities over to the development sector and the non- elected. The public will have no say over projects that effect our lives and the environment such as harmful and unnecessary gravel pits and quarries. The OLT should also be held responsible for verifying the accuracy of the reports submitted.
In December,2023, the Auditor General’s report stated that “The management of the aggregate resources is in crisis and the province is failing to protect the public from the negative impacts of gravel mining.”
Muskoka Lakes developed an Official plan that would protect the environment. That is being challenged the Lippa Quarry owners and Miller Paving. If the OLT allows The Lippa Quarry to proceed it will have a devastating effect our communities forever. Lippa Quarry will be a MEGA quarry NOT a gravel pit–-it covers 130 acres, within the Skeleton Lake watershed -Blasting, & drilling below the water table, crushing and hauling rock,
-it will have an on-site screening plant which will produce toxic silicon dust which will escape into the air resulting in serious health effects
-it will use up to 250,000 litres of water a day drawn from local creeks to wash the extracted rocks, and this will be “kept contained behind dams”. When these dams break the run-off will reach Skeleton Lake via the many small streams. OOPS! Just doesn’t cut it!
– the holes blasted out will be filled with discarded material trucked in from the south.
– this work will continue 6 am to 9 pm,7 days a week, for the next 80 years. –they estimate that 10 huge trucks an hour will be leaving the pit and travelling east 21 km to Hwy 11 or west 34 km to Hwy 400 through Rosseau, returning with discarded material
– Muskoka Road is classed as a scenic east to west corridor with many curves and small hills, it is 3 .7 metres wide with slopping gravel shoulders, it was built over 20 swamps and wetlands. Trucks tend to travel on the centre line. The solid yellow line goes from Huntsville to Rosseau except for two short stretches of dotted passing spots
-In the report, (drawn up by Skelton & Bromwell for Lippa) it states that the trucks could travel average speed of 90-100km -no mention that the current posted speed limit is 80km with signs for 60/70 around the many curves
-in their report, ( actually they call it uninhabited) there is little mention of the many people who live along Muskoka Rd 3 trying to exit their driveways, the school busses picking up children, the garbage trucks, the cyclists who use the road from Rosseau to Huntsville, the pedestrians walking on the shoulders, the animals who live in the bush on either side on either side of the road, the number of small creeks that go from the proposed quarry to Skeleton lake.
– there at least seven sources of gravel around this area, no quarry needed.
Skeleton Lake is listed as an ANSI lake (Area of Natural Interest) It is pre-glacial, formed by a meteor hundreds of thousands of years ago. It is the only lake in Muskoka which is mercury free. The force of the strong vibrations from the blasting of the granite will crack and shatter the protective shell of the lake and let the mercury from the earth’s crust leach back into the lake water.
If that doesn’t do it, the thousands of tons of material being removed from the area will probably cause a shifting of the plates underground. (An earthquake happened in Wappingers Falls, New York in June 1974. Cause was determined to be the removal of tons of rock from a quarry near by).
Not to worry! If this quarry is approved, Muskoka Lakes will be compensated by $12,000 and the district by $3000. Sorry! Huntsville District, you get $0 and lots of trucks coming your way. But you do get to help pay for road repair that is inevitable, added to your taxes.
Muskoka depends on Tourism. If Skeleton Lake is polluted, so will the rest of the lakes from here to Georgian Bay. Let’s hope the OLT does not let the greed of a few people today affect the future and health of tomorrow,
Concerned property owners, Ted & Irene Turner
It was very sad to see the aftermath of a bicyclist vs. car accident on Hwy 117 last week. I hope the vehicle driver comes forward to take responsibility.
So how do I feel about this latest Canadian Olympic debacle? Not happy at all. We’ve suffered enough years of having it done to us, but to turn around and Belichick your own team is sad. We’ve cheated for sure but the judgement was severe and almost instantaneous according to IOC standard. Prove to me that every player was in on the deed and I will marvel the more.
“Play hard. Play fair. Make ’em wish you hadn’t come.” A statement which I heard in whole or in part from various coaches over the years. It was a good expression. But after all the years of IOC BS in sports, one can become a little jaded.
How many times have we had skaters that were virtuosos on ice, but failed because they “weren’t technically strong.” They flowed as sweetness and grace through their performance but lost on ‘technicalities’. They flashed style and innovation, but lost because the judges didn’t realise the skill had moved forward. Nice try fella! Silver. Balderdash!
How many can remember having swimmers that went up against East German women(?). Those women had pectoral muscle that connected their head to their hips. Their forte was just pulling the other end of the pool down to where they were! World record! Gold medal. IOC sanctioned. GAG.
I don’t want anyone to feel I’m just a sore loser. I’ve won and lost at sport and you know when the buzzer goes or the last call it “Out”, whether you were bested or had. You know. The best you can say is “next time.”
But here, our Canadian team has been caught cheating, or at least some of them have. Should there be repercussions. Damn straight. But the 6 point deduction isn’t so much a judgement as a condemnation. “See if you can win now!” And delivered at speed hardly found in the annals of IOC performances.
Now, it looks like Mission Impossible though you ladies still got my vote. “Play hard. Play fair. Make ’em wish you hadn’t come.” For some the ‘fair ‘ part already sailed.
Still a big fan ladies. As for the IOC, note this proffered middle digit. And enjoy.
It’s difficult for ordinary people to understand the workings of the minds of ‘great men’. Take our Premier for instance (no snickering). But who knew that premixed cocktails were more important than housing or medical or education or policing? I sure wasn’t aware.
I have a cabinet where I keep some bourbon, Canadian rye, scotch and assorted other beverages. In the basement I have a beer fridge which is generally stocked, ’til my sons and grandsons arrive. There is a rack where I keep various bottles of wine. So I do keep a few beverages on hand.
I seldom run out but I don’t mean I drink a lot. I do think that the system we had could keep the populace as ‘thirst quenched’ as we needed be. And as far as the premixed cocktails, I’m not into mixed booze. Straight up in a glass with some water or an ice cube. Just a booze snob. Little fizzy pops seem….. unbecoming. Please don’t take that the wrong way Premier Ford.
But I guess some folk like them. And like to throw the dead ones on the road like their beer empties too. I guess it’s the people with plenty leaving the empties so that those less solvent can gather the cans and turn them in for a ‘pre mixed cocktail’. That does sound special.
So now our Premier has directed the bobbleheads to “move the province forward! ” Lord help us, but what could that mean? What ‘something’ that has been operating at a profit and ticking over quietly is about to have its ass kicked and wires cut? The 407 can’t be sold again. It can’t be housing or education or medical or policing. Those seem too difficult. And booze is off the list. So what comes now?
The province awaits the unveiling of another miracle. Be still my heart!
Walking along the road this morning and saw the town of Huntsville road patrol truck go by. As it often does. As it has last week and the week before, and the months previously. Picking its’ way through the pot holes. As we all do. But there is never a service truck or crew along to fill any of those holes in. If the truck brought only enough for one hole per trip, at least 60 or so holes would be filled by now. At least a start. It just seems to be such a waste of time, wages and gas to keep driving past something, again and again and again.
Park the truck. At least that may fight global warming.
Mr. Doug Ford: Please share the map that shows us where we can access a Primary Care Provider or Public Healthcare. The LCBO funds our public healthcare so I stand with it’s workers. You, sir, are gutting a public corporation for your own purposes in my opinion.
Hughie: Thank you for publishing the letter from Mayor Ward on the broader hospital issue. I have circulated the letter to a number of municipal politicians in Gravenhurst.
The letter has altered my position and future thinking on the catchment areas of Muskoka hospitals, even as a former board member of SMMH.
Richard Corcelli
Gravenhurst
Harassment by people who think there entitled to give medical opinion. Friends of mine where at Huntsville Walmart when elderly woman came up to there car and stuck her head in passenger window saying they didn’t need this parking spot. My friend then stated the disability card on the window. The woman then went off on a tirade at my friend. My friend calmly stated not all disabilities can be seen. Had to state to the woman about there heart condition which this woman went you don’t have a heart condition I seen you walk. My friend who just got finished cancer treatment was clearly shaken by this whole matter. We where vary concerned they end up back in hospital. This is blatant harassment and discrimination I am sincerely disappointed with the behaviour of these people.
Hopefully this letter will educate people so they no there the ones in the wrong.
HUgh in your commentary you stopped short of saying YOU MUST VOTE LIBERAL or we will all die.
When people can not afford food and housing, suggesting to our current government in Ottawa that adding another two or three thousand a year in tax would be good for us is not a great idea.
Remember not all the tax is returned, the HST and cost of the added civil service costs are kept
By now I imagine everyone has seen, heard or read about the results of debate night in America. Is this really the best that a Democracy (maybe for not much longer) of 350 million people can come up with? I say 350 million though the census says 333 million. But with the influx of people from everywhere, how can they really know.
It appears the option for American voters is a dithering old gent and a raging prat and liar. But still people want to flee to America for the good life. For how much longer I wonder. It doesn’t look good for the cornerstone of the ‘free world’.
It look a little better for us here in the North. At least we have younger party leaders. Hopefully capable of finding their own socks and managing a zipper.
God bless America. Somebody has to. But they must be trying His patience.
I add my voice to the call for a thorough and honest report on the real results of the recycling program.
What is really happening to the material that we put in that blue box?? Also; why are “plastic bags” acceptable instead of the blue box?? These bags just add to the problem. Before you add more requirements for my waste disposal; convince me that what we have now is effective!
Since moving to Huntsville( Utterson ) in 2009 I have been patiently waiting for the
condition of the road I live on ( Stephenson Rd 2 West) If anything it has got worse, A lack of proper roadbed material means that in the spring it is a mass of sandy ruts and bottomless frost boils. Not to mention the odd rock protruding waiting to dent an unsuspecting drivers wheel.
Now with the large amounts of rain we have received there are washouts up to 5 feet wide and close to 2 feet deep in spots. Ditches critical to drain off the rain are full of sand and gravel.
Besides being a waste of tax dollars the road is a potential for a serious accident that any personal injury lawyer would just leap on.
I don’t know what will improve the situation except having a person who is competent in charge so our tax dollars will not be continually wasted.
Our Purolator driver who travels most of the roads in the region says this one is the worst; making me regret my decision to purchase a home in the Huntsville region..
Note I have several photos of the conditions available if this letter gets published
Doesn’t government at all levels give one pause? Never been to the place (Jimmy/Joys) except to take a lady to a show and pick her up afterwards.
But all of a sudden there are rules! Rules! The culprits must be run to ground and informed! We have a vast town staff (read bureaucracy) quite well paid I might add, with a job to do. I thought part of that job was to inform and assist the populace. But mostly they seem to root out little people and things and rat them out to council. Which doesn’t seem to have an opinion. Like on a hospital for instance.
Or a street market. Only three tents together. Sand filled barrels to close the street. Fire extinguishers in each canopy. Which is important this time of year when street markets are abundant. And we read about flaming street markets almost every day! Okay. that’s sarcasm. I haven’t read about a street market canopy fire.
There are those in town allowed to cut, blast, and haul away much as they see fit. At meetings I’ve heard the comment, “It’s their property. They can do what they want with it.” And they proceed to do that and more. But a lowly individual gets out of line and it’s the four horsemen he gets to meet. It seems it isn’t their property to do with as they wish.
I could include a lot more but might be accused of rambling. So I’ll just leave it to others to come up with their own “ferinstances”.
There’s lots.
Reclaiming Our Flag
We will celebrate Canada Day July 1st. As a proud Canadian, I will fly our Maple Leaf flag. Being Canadian, we are extremely proud to be citizens of a country that has as its principles….freedom, unity, justice, courage and democracy for all Canadians, regardless of origin, language or religion. Our national flag proudly represents our country…Canada. The Maple Leaf is recognized around the world with great respect and honour. The flag is our national symbol of which we are immensely proud. When we fly the flag, it shows our allegiance to our country and it should not be used for any other reason other than to fly. It is to be treated in a way that shows care, respect and dignity for this national symbol. Recently, our flag has been used in inappropriate ways that dishonour it. It should not be subjected to acts of dishonour as when individuals drape it over the back of a truck, promoting a particular point of view. That is offensive to many Canadians. As a newcomer to Huntsville, how surprised and pleased I was to find a small Maple Leaf flag flying boldly on my lawn on July 1st last year. Thank you to those responsible for this wonderful display of citizenship. Let’s reclaim our flag and be proud Canadians on July 1st. ‘O Canada, We Stand On Guard For Thee.’
On behalf of Knox Book Club
Further to my wonderings about the chemicals used by mosquito-tick companies. I have discovered that the pesticide is governed when being used at golf courses, etc. But not when being applied at private residences. The reason is that it is considered to help public health because of the diseases that ticks and mosquitoes can transfer. There is a wind rate (aka drift) that the companies are supposed to use as a guideline but it seems as though they don’t take it seriously.
Firstly, thank you Mr. Spring for your comment.
Mr. Markle, you continue to use the word “different” and cite examples. I don’t see yourself as listed as being “different”. Perhaps you are viewed as “different”.
I too love to sit & watch the Canadian flag. I happen to have one flying majestically in my back yard.
Not sure why I can’t enjoy a Pride crosswalk at the same time.
In advance, please allow me to wish you a Happy Canada Day!
I agree with Mo James
The decision to replace the Canadian Flag was a bad decision. It’s even being protested against by members of the LGBTQ. ( as reported in Orillia )
Mo James has a good alternative. No need to trash anyone, just make it right.
Mo James: Right on with the flag. Reasonable people thought of that already. There are laws. Strike another nations flag, run up your pride flag and you would likely end up some place like a jail.
My comment was “we have a lot of different communities. But they are just different, Just different people.” For example there are colored, religious, indigenous, Vegan and if you will, the LGBQ community. Some are obviously different and others I may not even notice or care.
And now you want me to believe that by striking the flag of Canada and hoisting a pride flag, you are just trying to be “treated equally” …….”nothing more , nothing less”. Just to fit in and be accepted. Really?
Then get by with a regular cross-walk, sit on an ordinary bench, and look up and appreciate our flag. Yours and mine.
Some of the comments made in this forum never cease to amaze me. I can see why the decision to replace the Canadian flag with the Pride flag causes some consternation. But how about going at it from a solution based approach rather than one of attacking those that are LGBTQ. What about simply having another pole to be used solely for Pride month and other groups to be celebrated. Allow the Canadian flag to fly on its own, untouched.
Mr. Markle, your comments that the gay “community is different” is why we need the Pride flag. It is to remind and educate the narrow minded individuals out there. They do not want to be considered “different”. They would prefer to be treated equally, as others are treated. Nothing more, nothing less.
There is no way that the flag of any country or group should ever replace the flag of the nation. I’m with Anna and Rod. What is the matter with people? What’s going on in this country? Is there any other nation that strikes their national flag for this sort of nonsense? There are other dedicated months, such as Black History Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, Women’s History Month, likely more. If they all have some representational flag or pennant, does that mean we take the national flag down for each month Hell NO!
I see no way that there is a need to cater to this LGBQ community. If they claim to be a community, so be it. Got no problem with that. But we have a lot of different communities. But they are just different. Just different people.
Not special. And this group sure doesn’t warrant the striking of our flag. No way!! Not for a second.
I find the quote of Aristophanes fits here. “Youth ages. Immaturity is outgrown. Ignorance can be educated. Drunkenness sobered. But stupid lasts forever.”
Board of Education!!!!!!
Mr. Jones,
To be clear, the flags were only going up for Pride Month. They were not replacing the Canadian flag indefinitely.
To Rod Jones.
If that’s true, it really ticks me off. What’s the matter with everyone?
I just read that schools are taking down the Canadian flag and putting up the pride flag.WHATS the matter with this country or schools the principles should be fired for this.This is Canada not pride country put the Canadian flag back up
I’m having trouble understanding the government, CSIS, RCMP or whoever being so reticent about naming names in this “working on behalf of foreign states” wittingly or otherwise (?). If this is a nation of laws, and treasonable acts are (were) committed, these people have earned their day in court. To face and be judged by the people and these laws. Sure, there is the possibility……., but if the evidence is so shaky, why tells us in the first place? If it’s just best guessing, shut-up.
Have the perpetrators left for some sunny locale already? Then what’s the secret. Are they still here and free to continue? Protected from the law by the lawmakers! What a cozy, vexing and asinine situation. Would this happen in nations not regulated by the ‘rule of law’? China, Russia, Turkey, all have laws, but we are all aware of how they can be manipulated. I thought we tried to be special?
And if anyone believes that all this can be secret forever, guess again. Not everything is JFK and Jimmy Hoffa. Especially here in Canada. But if this can take place here under government protection where is the deterrent?
Seems to me someone is being allowed to hide, by the lawmakers.
Just read about the generous donation to Huntsville hospital by Dr. George and his wife Carolyn. Want to personally thank them and all the other donors for being so caring for the people of Huntsville. Many of us will benefit from this.
Thank You!
Anna Bertelsen
To Gerry Killham: If an establishment does not have accessibility for your wife and mother-in-law who are handicapped (or anyone with handicaps), you might want to review the AODA 2005 (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act). There are standards for accessibility in five key areas: public spaces, transportation, customer service, employment, information and communications. The AODA aims to make the province fully accessible by 2025 (in http://www.cbc.ca >news> How will this be enforced?
I don’t know if this gives businesses a free ride until then?
This must be very frustrating and disappointing for your wife, mother-in-law, yourself, and any others who cannot access services/businesses. Also, businesses lose out on many potential customers.
As we age, I’m noticing that more and more I need to take into account the accessibility of services. For example: parking, washrooms (some washrooms are upstairs, some are downstairs with weird and awkward configurations, there aren’t any handrails or the handrails aren’t to code…). As an aside, but related (from experience ) – Europe, Israel, Turkey and other countries have many services and businesses that are nowhere close to being accessible. Apparently the world is made up of able-bodied people! (sarcasm).
I don’t know who designed the Taco Bell but they forgot about the handicap
I have a wife and mother-in-law who are handicap and we couldn’t get to the door. Needless to say no burrito or taco for us.
I’m just wondering what ever became of the cyber attack on Huntsville as we know there have big companies and city’s around Ontario that have been attacked and payed a hefty amount of tax payer money strange Huntsville has a magic wand to make it all go away with no payment..why wouldn’t Huntsville town offer these skills to other companies or community facing the same circumstance just strange
Steve
I am no Doug Ford fan, but I think he’s taking heat for saying what lots of people immediately assumed. His comment was along the line “You’re bringing your hatred…….” And some cringed and whispered “racism”. But who was Fords talking about?
We abandon thousands of Afghan people who helped us in Afghanistan. We said we’d get them out but it never happened. They might hold a grudge but are still in Afghanistan. No threat from them.
There were thousand of dual citizen Lebanese who demanded we rescue them when that country blew up. It cost Canada millions. But it wouldn’t be them Doug’s referring to, because they all returned to Lebanon when peace returned.
We accepted thousands of Syrian refugees. They seem to have settled and are grateful for the peace they have found here. So, Doug must have meant somebody else.
We have about 200,000 Ukrainian refugees here. They aren’t finding it easy but they aren’t blockading streets and squatting on university grounds.
So who is blockading streets. Squatting on university property. Are not happy with the peace in this country? Who immediately sprang to mind when Doug made his comment? You don’t even have to say the name; everyone knows. So who’s racist?
As for who shot up a Jewish school? Likely a couple of white-bread jerks who figure busting some caps and wasting a couple of bricks and some thermo-pane windows will earn them street cred. Should be a great talking point eh?
“Really! You shot a school? Sheesh!”
Nancy Long. I imagine the best time to spray would be when there is gusty, swirly winds. Better dispersion whether the neighbors appreciate it or not. And there is the added opportunity to demonstrate product and technique to passers by, such as yourself.
As for the ‘poison’ reference in your comment, I believe the stuff is ‘safe’. Supposedly toxic only to blackflies and mosquitoes. If you want to accept that. Although when an area is being misted, it might be advisable to take you glass of bourbon, that ham on rye sandwich and vacate your Muskoka chair if it is in that “swirly, gusty” region I mentioned earlier. Likely not a problem but any application of ‘spray’ could alter the taste. Can’t be too careful.
I’m not into mosquitoes; they are just an unfortunate part of our Muskoka. But I have a couple of newly minted Monarch butterflies, some Yellow-swallowtails and a couple of Question-marks working through the flowers and weeds on the property. I’ll swat a few mosquitoes rather than lose the butterflies and the myriad of skippers that I will never know the names of.
And there won’t be any chance of somebody getting their damn spray in my glass of good bourbon.
I am wondering if there are any rules regarding the airborne application of pesticides on a windy day! Just walked through a fog of mosquito buzz poison.
Anyone see the news this evening? The bit where a school runs with water every time it rains? And the Minister of Education gesticulating grandly and saying the problem lies with the board and school itself. This is the Minister of Education fobbing of responsibility for his job. He is the boss. He is in charge. Get it fixed.
Also saw that Orillia and Barrie and other places have bad roads. Made some deliveries in Hidden Valley today and can’t imagine that I would want to drive the goat paths out there everyday. We travelled better trails into the Atlas Mountains.
And with everything that needs to be done in this province, why does the Premier believe that beer and wine and mixed drinks rank higher than teachers and nurses and doctors and housing and on and on…..
$225 million to the Beer Store up front and an estimated $200 annually in future lost revenues. I’ve never had any problem buying beer or wine or spirits in Ontario. Not since I was 17 or 18. And that was back in the early 60’s. It must have been a sympathy vote that got this man elected.
Our premier had a business left to him. Quite a good business we’re told. He must have capable people run that business and I bet he’s not allowed in the building. Because everything he touches turns to s#*t.
So it’s we taxpayers who get experimented on.
The Hamas Israel war affects so many in ways we cannot imagine. Our niece teaches at one of the universities that currently has protesters on site 24/7. She has a bodyguard outside her classroom. I can’t imagine the stress she is under. She’s simply doing her job that she loves and, has invested years of education.
I’m right up to my supposed tolerance level with people waving foreign flags. I guess the Palestinian flag, waved by people whose only worry is that their pet rock might die, must take center stage. On our university grounds and campuses, where some are striving to get an education, there are those who just seem to prove that neither education nor unemployment is working. And they are out now that winter is done. Although the Hamas attack was in October as I recall. But winter camping…….?
Demanding that the schools divest themselves of properties or manufacturers who support Israel should be quite difficult. Most munitions/logistics suppliers are international or multinational, selling to whoever has the money and capable of ‘workarounds’ when it comes to the buyer. Instead of just running their mouths, maybe these future economists can run us up a list. Whose company or pension fund will take the hit?
It’s impossible to not have sympathy for the people in Gaza, but until the ‘people’ can be separated from Hamas, a problem exists. Hamas hides among the people and the people suffer. I can only hope that Hamas fighters do too.
And now there are some of these protesters who have decided to go on a hunger strike? For the duration? Because this confrontation may drag on. Or only ’til they don’t have the strength to wave a flag? Maybe not such a bad idea.
I was sure the Premier and I were about to agree on something the other day when he was proposing to do something about criminals. To be specific, auto theft type criminals. I wasn’t fond of the “like minded judges” he was proposing a bit ago. Provincial programs to build houses has quickly imploded. It seems safe to pick on criminals. Other than lawyers and judges, most people don’t have too much love for them. Well, the lawyers or the judges or the criminals though they may all be quite nice people.
As the announcement continued though I detected a very obvious flaw in what was being proposed. First offenders could lose driving privileges for a short period of time. A second offence could earn a thief a longer suspension. Three strikes and you could lose your right to drive for life! It spins out something like that. Pretty harsh!
Until you factor in that we are talking about criminals here. They aren’t governed by laws. They work without them. Who said the fiend even has a driver’s license. Or insurance. Or a car, other than one that’s been stolen.
There still doesn’t seem to be anything in there that will bother car thieves too much. Other than the stigma of not being able to hold down a real job. They seem to be living with that okay. And who really needs a license bulking up the wallet.
It’s that time of year again, when those who are prone to want to grow something set out to do just that. For some it may be an urge similar to what brought our forefathers to this area; to take up the free land that was professed to be agricultural. Some of the surveyors and trail cutters into the area knew full well that this land was rocks and trees and borderline agricultural at best, but a fledgling government wanted to open new territory.
First nations people had practiced agriculture here. Beans, corn and squash or the ‘three sisters’ would be planted on new land each year. But the Muskoka soil ‘tired’ quickly so each years crops generally needed fresh ground.
In 1876 The United (East Muskoka) Township Agricultural Society was formed. It included the townships of “Chaffey, Brunel, Franklin, Stisted, Perry, McMurrich, Armour and the unsurveyed territory”. There were prizes offered for the best of what people could grow and show. These were farmers on hard land and one of the major crops was turnips.
Every spring my grandfathers planted gardens and I would get to help. I actually enjoyed gardening, especially with those two men. The stories they would tell made the hot, hard work worth it. I later realised there was a difference between the Bill Hayes garden, my mother’s family and the George Markle garden, my father’s. Grampa Hayes gardened from necessity. Grampa Markle because he liked the fresh produce. But to me, the budding clod-buster, they were just gardens.
One of the things that I always wanted to grow myself was turnips. Turnip, Swede, Purple top Swede, Neeps or whatever, it is a crop I have tried to grow but with little luck. I’ll still try again this year.
My Great Uncle John Carter grew acres of them along with ‘cattle corn’ on the clay acreage that is now Maple Heights. Tons of each would be harvested every year to be chopped and stored as silage in the big silo behind the barn.
For the early farmers, turnips were as desirable as potatoes and grain. They are of the brassica family, a cousin of cabbage, kale and Brussel Sprouts. They were good for the greens, the vegetable and dessert as well as silage. They stored well in root cellars, those small sheds the pioneers dug into the ground and bermed. Under the snow and away from the frost, lots of produce and potted meat could be stored for the winters. We had a root cellar at our hunting camp on the Big East and I always wanted to be with the first crew to open the camp each spring.
Things like potatoes and cabbage had been in the root cellar all winter and they tasted special; slightly sweeter when mealtime came. The star of the show though was the turnips; a little softer and sweeter and delicious. Time and maybe a touch of frost made the difference.
You can still find recipes for what camp cooks called ‘Swampers Joy’. Pureed turnips with sugar and flavoring and some in season berries would be mixed and preserved. On fresh bread or warm biscuits it’s as good as anything store bought.
That agricultural society organised in 1876 held a fair in 1877. Captain Hunt notes that Fred May won the first prize for his turnips. Fifty cents. When fifty cents could buy things. And fifty cents for winter radish. A whole dollar! Who said farming doesn’t pay.
It’s also recorded that someone grew a monster turnip of more than thirty pounds. Grampa Markle told me about it and I could only marvel. Nothing in Uncle John’s field could rival that. I told Grampa Hayes and he said he’d heard the story.
“But you see Allen, the rest of the field was just turnips.”
Allen Markle
On behalf of The Huntsville and Area Historical Society
Please join us at our next meeting on May 15th. 7 o’clock at the Huntsville library.
ed.
g
Just wondering if anyone knows about the toxic waste sign on the Hunter bay trail.
It’s on the base of the hill where there is run off into hunters Bay. It is on the trail just about where the river ends and the bay starts. Is this really toxic waste and if so how can we clean it up so it doesn’t contaminate the shore lake and wildlife??
I am an avid kayaker and cannot wait to put my kayak in the water. On Saturday the sun was shining, the air was warm. and I was thinking of puting my water craft in. I observed 7 kayaks, two canoes and some other boats enjoying the first day of what seemed a summer day.
I saw that most of the kayakers or canoeists did not have a life jacket, not even two of the children.
The temperature of the water was 7 degrees celcius. I put my feet in the water and within a few minutes my feet were numb.
I then checked with a local outdoor adventure store and made enquiries as to safe water temperature for swimming. They confirmed the water temerature was 7 degrees Celcius /44.6 degrees Farenheit and that is was not safe to be ut on the water unless yo uwere very expeirences and wearing appropriate protectionj i.e wet/dry suit etc…
I understood that it was unsafe to risk it.
The following is a Guide to follow regarding water sports:
Below 77F (25C)
Breathing begins to be affected.
This is why the official water temperature required for Olympic swimming competition is 77-82F (25-28C).
70F (21C) Treat any water temperature below 70F with caution.
Learn why we emphasize 70F (21C).
60-70F (15-21C) Dangerous
Controlling your breathing and holding your breath becomes progressively more difficult as water temperature falls from 70°F to 60°F (21°C to 15°C).
50-60F (10-15C) Very Dangerous / Immediately Life-threatening
Total loss of breathing control. Maximum intensity cold shock. Unable to control gasping and hyperventilation.
Most people who are unaccustomed to cold water will experience a maximum cold shock response somewhere between 50-60F (10-15C). For some individuals, this happens at 57F (14C), for others, the peak occurs at 52F (11C) and so on.
This means that an unprotected immersion in this temperature range will cause most people to completely lose control of their breathing – they will be gasping and hyperventilating as hard and fast as they can.
Since cold shock reaches its maximum intensity between 50-60F (10-15C), it can’t get any more intense at lower water temperatures. In other words, breathing control, once completely lost, cannot be lost to a greater degree.
Below 40F (5C) Very Dangerous / Immediately Life-threatening
Total loss of breathing control. Maximum intensity cold shock. Unable to control gasping and hyperventilation.
Below 40F (4.5C), water is so painfully cold that it often feels like it’s burning your skin. For many people, the notorious “ice cream headache” can be triggered simply by water touching your face.
Key Point: Even though cold shock is no more intense than it was between 50-60F (10-15C), the severe pain makes a desperate situation even worse because it greatly increases your psychological stress. Clear thinking becomes almost impossible.
PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH THE PUBLIC. MOST DO NOT KNOW THE DANGERS OF COLD WATER IN THE SPRING .
The Palestinians are blocking roads,rail crossing,stores and the police are not putting them in jail why not are they scared to. Do your job and find out who is fronting up the money. Don’t these people work.enough is enough.
With the high water, the boaters using the Vernon Narrows are causing shoreline damage with their wakes due to their speed. Can we ask you to please slow down to minimize your wake when transiting the Narrows until you get past Gallacher Island or into Hunters Bay? Thank you in anticipation.
I see violence on Canadian streets and wonder why Palestinians and their supporters think it will alter anything. I say Palestinian, because that is the flag I see brandished the most, if not solely. We have Haitian people in this country and I don’t see them taking to the streets because of the strife back in Haiti.
There is violence in Nigeria where ISWAP (Islamic State- West Africa Province) is attempting to establish an Islamic state. We must have immigrants from Nigeria but I don’t see them or their flag lashed about in the streets.
There are many other countries and areas, like the Ukraine, Afghanistan and Syria from where we harbor refugees, offering a peaceful accommodation, free of violence. We don’t as yet have all these factions clamoring on the streets. Why not? Why this Palestinian flag?
Is there a threshold of demonstration to be reached? If Canada denounces Israel, will the war end? Will Hamas have won? Will Israel cease to be?
Not by any stretch, so what is achieved by fetching anger, hate and violence to the streets of the country that offers refuge? Don’t tell me it’s because the Israelis are nasty! That may be. But you can’t believe you fight them from the safety of downtown Canada!
I can’t comprehend the hardship or pain of the people of Gaza and I’m sure many of those in the streets have no idea either. Therefore, once wrapped in the safety of this country, Canada, why try to bring what has been escaped from, here?
The Federal Minister for Procurement was on television recently explaining how it was difficult for departments to talk to each other (exchange information?) and that is why several departments have issued checks for the same services. I would have thought that today it is easy to do the job; almost instantaneous. I can’t see why any department would pay for something they had no purchase order or work order issued for. Think the man is trying to explain away incompetent bureaucracy without blaming it? Now they will attempt to get the money back. Good luck.
Our Ontario Premier was at the mic again the other day explaining why they will be building small bungalow style houses rather than four plexes. By definition (Webster) a four plex is “a building that contains four separate apartments.” I can imagine a building with each apartment being an individual floor, but how does the man get to “putting up six-storey and eight-storey buildings right deep into communities”. Out of a four-plex? There were explanations offered later, but those communication skills were again discombobulated. That is for certain why the rest of the party faithful are not encouraged to have an opinion. Or worse, voice that opinion in public.
We also had a no confidence vote. Initiated by “Axe the tax”, “Spike the Hike” sound bite Pete. He of the 19 room mansion and the private chef at home, was off in search of free food and drink. Pete had previous commitments and seemingly, never voted ‘no confidence’ in the house!
Here on Doppler, people have commented on the lack of response from our local politician(s). But can we really believe these people would risk a cushy job by voicing an opinion? Be there. Be seen, Be seated. And be quiet. But be assured that next October politicians will be all over us like gas on beans. Promising. Assuring. Cajoling. That they are the one you need to represent you in Parliament. Knowing full well that what they promise isn’t going to happen. A day later you won’t even deserve an acknowledgement.
“Abandon all hope, ye who enter.” Dante supposedly heard the “anguished screams of the Uncommitted” when he entered Hell. I think maybe it was the tormented moans of voters. Feeling they must make an X, but knowing it was likely for nothing.
I guess those “significant communication skills” weren’t in gear the other day when our Premier was addressing some London area farmers. He’s tried to plow under a goodly amount of Greenbelt acreage, but that is set aside when it’s an opportunity to slam the Federal carbon program. I have to say that I am somewhat bewildered by how that tax works, but anyway.
Some stuff just leaps off the page or screen and smacks you right away. The man at the mic. saying something along the line of…not knowing what they are smoking in Ottawa. Say what!! With the background and family history Doug has to live with, I woulda’ thought he might keep his comments to sex and rock’n’roll and left the drugs in the sealed envelope.
I’ve been scolded before about it “being easy to find fault”. Isn’t it just. But they set it up so well.
Over the last few weeks we have heard the premier announce the search for ‘like minded’ judges. That’s scary if he means like his mind! But he needs these judges to put miscreants in jail. To make our province safe. He has said he was doubling down. Then tripling down. Next should come the ‘triple dirty- dog- down’. But then the big reveal. Ontario prisons are all overcapacity as it is. One by almost 35%, plus or minus. Depending on whether one walked in or out or is out pending supervision. It’s making my concept of a colony on the upper reaches of Ellesmere Island a lot more reasonable.
Then our PC house leader blurts “No!” when it is suggested that women may be heard in the house on the occasion of International Women’s Day. He then said he would say ‘no’ to anything he was unaware of. Imagine he would be a pretty boring conversationalist.
“Did you know….?
‘No!”
“How about…?”
“No!”
“But then…?”
“No!”
When asked if he had completed his education, he should have said “No” (he hadn’t). But he said “Yes”.
If he had been asked was long term care was under control during Covid, he should have said “No” but he turtled.
When he finally tried to explain his “No” away as a joke, someone should have pointed out to him there and then that his “No” was not a joke. Though he certainly was.
Last evening I watched the Jr. Otters go down 1-0 to Orillia. Our guys played hard but came up short in OT. With every round of the Zamboni, there was the decal of the smiling face of our local MPP. In the media he is expounding a provincial ‘bio-mass’ program.
It will supply heat and mulch for a greenhouse. In other instances it is supposed to “build readiness”, “examine the feasibility”, “explore cost effective measures” to the tune of millions of dollars The plan/wording has been described variously as “baffle-gab”, gobbldy-gook”, and “vaporware’. No need to add BS and hokum.
MPP Smith also maintains that “our communities are strong and resilient”.
Can’t imagine if we weren’t
Mr. Spivak I’m with the times.I have owned a atv and a side by side for many years have driven them in Huntsville and around the area also drove many many miles in the US. To drive a atv on a road you must be 16 have a driver license and insurance if you don’t you can only cross the road so it’s no different than driving a scooter,e-bike so let them get across town and go their merry way so loosen up and quit bitching smile
Mr Jones, in what way am I not up with the times? Did you actually read any of the posted information?
Read Doppler July 6, 2022 or any data regarding atv use on public roads.
I argue that it is you that may not be up with the times. Could we argue this to the MTO that they would be fine on the highway if we are only going trail to trail?
What I don’t understand is why our politicians, councilors, public safety officers, bylaw department,and OPP are all totally ignoring the facts on atv use on public roads.
Like little children they just want to have fun regardless of the possible consequences.
Would someone from the town please comment on why they are ignoring facts even from our public health unit?
No input from the public or health and safety representative’s has even been invited or discussed.
What the h**l is going on here?
I’m not against everything and not sure where that comes from? This is about health and lives why do you ignore this?
To Mr.Spivak. Get with the times all they want to do is get from the west side of town to the east side,they don’t want to go up or down Main Street so wants wrong with that stop been against everything let them go think before you go against everything.
Tomorrow council will be hearing a petition from ATV riders asking the town to open up roadways to and through town for access to ATVs.
This is like letting prisoners judge the guilty for release.
Why the council would even consider on such suspiciously short notice to the public to allow this to happen in the face of overwhelming data, studies, recommendations, and lack of thought in general shows nothing short of idiocy and contempt for facts for the sake of monetary gain.
The evidence against this is of profound volume that I could not possibly list it here.
To start with, nationally, provincially, and in the Muskoka Parry Sound health Unit our health care system is broken and has no sign of being repaired in the future for the 33% that are seniors in this area of Muskoka and who depend on healthcare service’s.
My entire family has recently lost its NP and there is no word on when she will be replaced.
So, the facts are difficult to gather as apparently the OPP does not or will not release data on ATV related accidents, Transport Canada has no figures, but Statistics Canada does have a small amount of info.
They say ” 8 in 10 of ATV related fatalities are men” (about 85%), 75 % are 20 to 64. That’s some pretty vague data gathering. 79 % of the ATV related deaths were head, neck, and spinal related.
Now, Newfoundland and Labrador did better with facts, a 10 year study has shown the healthcare cost from ATV injuries to be conservatively at least 1.6 million dollars. The population there is about 521,000.
so $160,000 could have allocated to the healthcare of every member of the population in that ten year period.
Now since we do a terrible job of recording data in Canada apparently let me show some material from our southern neighbors.
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission says “Never ride ATVs on public or paved roads”
They also reported that in a 5 year period 526,900 emergency room visits were recorded with 30% being head, neck, spinal.
Its like everyone in Newfoundland and Labrador went on a bender and wrecked their ATVs.
Caring for kids.ca says 34% of ATV deaths in Canada are children under 16 years of age, 33% are under 19 years.
The American Academy of Pediatrics said in 1985 to 2015 ATVs killed 3000 children and 1 million more were hurt, 60% of those deaths were on public roads.
The National Library of Medicine says “ATV related deaths are twice the rate on paved roads”
RCMP safety officer Jerry Gouldie “They are ATVs, meaning they are not meant to be driven on pavement”
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commision “Never ride on public or paved roads, it is extremely dangerous to use ATVs and ROVs on paved roads, they are intended to be used off-road, they are designed for that purpose”.
The Ministry of Transportation in BC received a request from The Union of Municipalities requesting permission to allow ATVs on public roads. The response was “ATVs do not meet vehicle safety standards which apply to other vehicles that operate on public roadways.” Denied.
Not one single law firm that I could find recommends the use of ATVs on public roads.
No North American or otherwise manufacturer of any off road vehicle recommends the use of ATVs on public roads or pavement.
A quick visit to the Muskoka Powersports website “ATVs are designed for off road use, so you shouldn’t drive your ATV on paved roads unless you must cross a road to continue on a trail”.
Well, given my experiences and that of my neighbors this past summer with ATVs and trail bikes on my road, the lack of response and knowledge by our bylaw officers, and the disinterest of the OPP to react, I’m thinking this is a bad idea. Our healthcare, bylaw, and policing simply can not cope with the additional strain that it will create not to mention that the people on these routes or any municipal road that our council has so foolishly opened up to ATVs.
I know the next time I need to go to emergency and I have to wait 3-4 hours for a medical emergency and its delayed because some fool rode his ATV off the shoulder or headoned a car I’m not going to be happy.
And town council will hold full responsibility for this because they are ignore facts.
When a person dies, every council member that voted in favor will sleep wit that.
But money always comes first I guess.
Dear M.P. Aitchison,
As you can expect, We the constituents of PSM were VERY disappointed with the outcome of the recent vote on Motion M-86, Citizens Assembly on Electoral Reform. But we were doubly disappointed with your voting against the motion.
As you may recall during our meeting in your office, you stated, you were worried about the rising popularity of the extreme right and that any change in the political election process could result in these people coming to power! We explained that 1) a system of Proportional Representation would give the extreme right a voice, 2) but forming government was unlikely, 3) that in fact the First-Past the Post election system is more likely to produce an extreme right government. You seemed to agreed.
You also seemed enlighten and interested in the benefit of a more cooperative/conciliatory atmosphere in parliament that a PR system would produce.
Even in the Doppler, Hugh MacKenzie recently expressed serious concern with the rise of the extreme right.
It is my understanding from other sources that you are record as supporting PR and again you expressed concern of the extreme right. An extreme right that is currently challenging the legitimacy of the current Town of Huntsville Council and the Council’s declaration of there being a climate emergency. The extreme right is at our doorstep now, and it is gathering momentum, with plans to attack democracy starting with local governments. These governments need your support now more than ever!
How do you plan to help?
Kind Regards,
Paul Kuebler
Port Sydney
Hi Mr. Markle, here’s the answer to who’s not paying their bills in NATO to meet the threshold of 2% of GDP. Data is from 2023.
Poland 3.9%
USA 3.49% ( previously over 4%)
Greece 3.01%
Estonia 2.73%
Lithuania 2.54%
Finland 2.45%
Romania 2.44%
Hungary 2.43%
Latvia 2.27%
UK 2.07%
Slovakia 2.03%
France 1.9%
North Macedonia 1.87%
Montenegro 1.87%
Bulgaria 1.84%
Croatia 1.79%
Albania 1.76%
Netherlands 1.7%
Norway 1.67%
Denmark 1.65%
Germany 1.57%
Czech Republic 1.5%
Portugal 1.48%
Italy 1.46%
CANADA 1.38%
Slovenia 1.35%
Turkey 1.31%
Spain 1.26%
Belgium 1.13%
Luxembourg 0.72%
Canada, one of the richest G& countries is 25th out of the 30 countries that presently comprise NATO. You can draw your own conclusions from this and the present state of Canadian Armed Forces.
Pony Up Muskokans!
In a recent mailing from MP Scott Aitchison he is imploring his constituents to ‘Support our Local Food Bank’.
Sadly there are many more food banks, food pantries, community meal programs and school food programs in Parry Sound Muskoka than those listed on the mailing.
Hundreds of Volunteers donate thousands of hours of their time and many, many very generous donors contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars to operate these programs.
As one of those many Volunteers involved in a local food bank pre, during and post pandemic I am keenly aware of the needs of the vulnerable in our Community. At the beginning of the pandemic there was great concern that all of the food providers would be overwhelmed. With the timely implementation of the CERB program that onslaught did not occur. However, when that program wound down the number of families then seeking help increased and continues to do so at an alarming rate.
Rather than reach out to his Constituents to further fund these needs perhaps consideration should be given to a Basic Income Program. Folks could then be in a position to seek training to improve their skills or access child care which would allow them to take on a job, or, or, or.
The residents of South Muskoka are now embroiled in the hospital debacle. The planning process proceeded to identify two sites to be optimum on the understanding that many millions of dollars would need to be raised by the Community in addition to the government funding. Residents were recently broadsided by the announcement that the new Bracebridge hospital would not offer the services currently available. The outcry of the public was swift and loud. Even the many talented, over-worked Doctors made their voices heard. It is not known at this point what the next steps will be.
There is also the issue of the gross mismanagement of the Muskoka Airport by elected officials, staff and appointed Board Members. The powers that be are willing to squander millions of economic development dollars generated by the Airport to support the wishes of a single Tenant. In addition they are exposing ratepayers to significant potential financial liability as a result of decisions made by them which create avoidable safety hazards. The benefit of those economic development dollars could be directed to improve the serious issues of food insecurity, lack of affordable housing and mental health facing many in our Community.
The challenges are many. In difficult times such as these we look to our government, at all levels, to provide leadership to a path forward.
Fellow Muskokans, we are not well represented!
D. Robinson
Bracebridge
Re Twelve New Rental Apartments in downtown Huntsville: (I couldn’t locate a comment box for this article).
$64,000 Questions: Will these apartments be affordable? Where will the tenants park?
The tenants are not close to all amenities. There’s quite a walk to the nearest grocery store and this grocery store is relocating to Hanes Road.
The average wannabe Huntsville resident NEEDS SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. If there isn’t affordable housing how will we be able to recruit employees for our local businesses?
What is going to happen to the old hospital, now Fairvern location when the new Fairvern is completed? Just wondering?
Lost dog seen on yearly rd about 3 to 5 km from Aspidin rd . Rottweiler maybe hound mix.
I can see nothing in my Feb. 11 comment that might suggest I believe we are anywhere near the population, industrial might, military ability or overall logistical capacity of our southern neighbor.
I’ve looked out over the naval base at San Diego while 3 fleet carriers were readying for maneuvers. We’ve watched Abrams main battle tanks perform at Camp Pendleton. The US has about 8,000 of these tanks in service with another 5,000 in storage. Have been to Arizona and driven past acres of stored heavy lift aircraft. Attended a Kansas City football game in ’95 and had a B2 bomber and had a pair of F-117s stealth fighters do a fly over before the game. Just showing the flag. In Louisiana we watched A20 Warthogs drift back and forth over the Atchafalaya Basin like gnats. I know the US has the logistics.
My beef is with the cornerstone of NATO, an organization most of the free world counts on, being run by a dolt that would say if you don’t pay your bills, the putin (Russia), can invade you as he sees fit. What country (as yet unidentified) did the dolt make this comment to? Will he ever say? I think he is just running his mouth.
I am aware of the comparative size of our armed strengths. They got the goods. But they also have the debt. Right now every American citizen has a portion of the national debt, to the tune of $101,904.00. This is government debt and it’s rising faster than you can count. If a citizen has further personal commitments, heaven help them. So my question to the dolt would be “So, who’s not paying their bills?”
I’ve written before about our soldiers and Canadian military spending. Soldiers shouldn’t be paying to upgrade their body armor or boots. Better helmets and raingear should be up to our government. If they have gear to carry, belts and pouches should be part of the web-gear supplied. We have seen the devastation wrought by drones and tanks in the Ukraine. Our troops have little to counter either of these threats.
If my government wants to train a young man to be a soldier, and then put him in harms way, to represent or fight for us, then we better get out the gold card to protect him or her. And if they come home broken, that card better be platinum. If we don’t want to do this, then keep them home.
I am under no illusions as to the amount Canada can contribute to NATO. It will never be enough and maybe not the best, equipment wise. But our young men are golden. Our government should treat them as such.
It might also be noted that Norway, Denmark the Czech Republic and Estonia are NATO members. As of Mar. 22, 2023 Sweden is also a member. None of these small nations carry much, or any international debt. And they still pay their way. Maybe our Canadian government could ask for some directions?
Couldn’t hurt!
I agree with Thomas Spivak.
I consider myself somewhat well informed and knowledgeable of Canadian government spending policies, but I don’t think I can match Kathryn Henderson’s depth of knowledge.
Me thinks that she is making up her own conspiracy theories. So I would also be interested in her detailing the data to back up her claims.
Kathryn Henderson, please post the data that you have have to back up what is otherwise a baseless claim.
You still have not answered my last question and if you continue to make rash statements with nothing to back them up you merely come off as an illinformed individual who wants to hear their own voice, and I’m sure that’s not what you want is it?
Thomas spivak Our government hardly puts any money into our military. They give all our money overseas and let in war age refugees. A lot of young men and less women and children. Just saying since Trudeau pissed off the USA we really have no backup if a war started. We are sitting ducks.
I see no reason for our feds to be getting involved with the rash of auto thefts. For me, it’s more of a circumstance between an owner and their insurance company. Our legal system should supply the means to do the job, such as the laws and police. Jurists should be able to deal with the problem from there on. And I believe that’s where the problem now lies.
Years ago there was a certain jurist. If someone committed any heinous act, he would engage this jurist if he could afford them. The world at large was sure said culprit was guilty. Guilty, Guilty, Guilty!! But this jurist could skate his client through our legal system like a Toller Cranston. With style and grace. The verdict…. ‘You are free to go!’
Today, we have an extra level of justice; that ‘constitutional’ one. It seems the offender is given an extra shot at innocence. The thinking seems to be ‘They may be guilty, but there is no way this person can pursue his/her chosen line of work if incarcerated. That infringes on their constitutional rights. You are free to go!!’
I guess that is a bit far. Maybe.
We had a Prime Minister who attempted to impose minimum sentencing and most of that has been deemed ‘unconstitutional’. We now have a man who wants to be PM, and says he will do much the same thing. He’s sure his plan is within the constitution. How can he be sure? Our provincial PM has just suffered a ‘constitutional’ defeat. Are government lawyers, both federal and provincial, unaware of how ‘constitutional’ works? Who can know?
And if we do manage to clear the streets and dockyards of the (auto-theft) guilty, where do we put them all? A tent encampment on Ellesmere Island comes to mind. Hmmmm! But that’s likely unconstitutional.
Recently we were informed that a (once) politician was found innocent of influence peddling. A jury found him guilty, but on appeal a second judge let him off. This second judge stated something about if the jury had been properly directed, they would never have found the man guilty. Judge number two’s opinion. Now, we the tax payers , will be on the hook if the newly innocent sues the government. He’ll likely get a couple of shots at us’.
So even if the cops catch them, and a jury finds them guilty, a judge may not be convinced.
Can that be constitutional?
.
Allen, please remember we are 1 tenth the size of the USA so imagining we would have a military as large is unrealistic.
The same goes for NATO payments, the overseas nations are smaller and with “the enemy at the gates” their own home military costs are a struggle.
Sure, the US has greater military force but look at the debt it has incurred.
Prospective.
S0! My fellow Canadians. How ya’ feeling now. After the ‘Donald’s’ latest statement on his invitation for nations to attack other NATO countries, who in his opinion, don’t pay their bills. They may deal with this recalcitrant nation as the attacker wants. No interference from a US military that he is commander in chief of. I don’t believe for an instant that Trump said this to anyone, or even to himself. Either way we would have heard of it before now. But it does stimulate the ‘base’.
Let me state here that my opinion of Donald Trump is: he is a danger to Democracy and will strive to become King Donald at the expense of democracy. He was likely a sexual predator, though now the effectiveness of certain pills has possibly worn off. He is a liar, but spins crap to a portion of the people who really do or at least want to believe. He is not one who should be talking about keeping up with paying money owed.
I find that American politics is in sad shape. Two old men trying to out grouchy each other. In my estimation both are well past their ‘best before’ date. Here at home we have a privileged preppy and a snake oil salesman, both reasonably young though hardly believable.
And Canada certainly isn’t spending what it should be on upgrading our military, So we are one of those nations that an attacker is invited to have its’ way with. No help for us from south of the border. In fact, south of the border is likely where the problem lurks. We are like a big storehouse of natural resources, just waiting to be developed. Most developers are from elsewhere any way, so why not just take over and harvest what they want?
In any confrontation we will operate at a distinct disadvantage. Out troops are farmed out to assist with the paying of what we owe NATO. What logistics we have is old and limited. Our navy has a total 33 ships. A pittance for a maritime nation. We have about 80 F18 fighter aircraft, a number similar to a single American aircraft carrier. The Americans have 11 fleet carriers plus 36 smaller support carriers. We have about 82 main battle tanks not taking into account what is operational and what is not. In the Ukraine confrontation, Russia has lost 2000 tanks. Rough count. And they have the facility to build their own.
If Trump wins in the US, I don’t see the Ukraine lasting much longer, what with Trump seeing putin as a friend. Hard to imagine how the Israel/Hamas will be viewed. Likely in favor of Israel since Gaza/Hamas certainly don’t pay their own bills.
Just my opinion, but I think democracy is in for a rough ride. We already have an Ontario premier trying an end run around majority opinion with his ‘strong mayor’ concept. We have a province that toodles around the ‘rule of law’ by constantly using the ‘not withstanding clause’. Others are now conducting experiments of their own.
‘Moneysense’ posts that on average, Canadian households owe $21,131.00. I guess Trump hasn’t much use for us as a nation. Except for our natural resources. He doesn’t need Canadians.
Ralph
Not clear to me, but do you know if there is a fee for EV charging in Huntsville or is it free to the vehicle owners? If free, we, the taxpayers should not be paying for this service.
You posted the same opinion piece by Hugh Mackenzie on Feb 4, 2024
https://southmuskoka.doppleronline.ca/listen-up-the-other-shoe-has-dropped/
on both South Muskoka Doppler site and the Huntsville Doppler site. Yet all the comments for this same opinion piece are not shared on both sites. Can you fix this? I believe there is value to hear what all Muskoka residents have to say about this opinion piece. Thank you.
Dennis. Don’t you remember hydro lowered the off peak rates so that their customers could
benefit from the lower over night rates to charge their nonexistent battery run vehicles that are not selling.
Hydro increased the mid and on peak rates so that you and I could pay for charging electrical car batteries.
The increase depending on your consumption could be higher than 17% depending on usage.
Have you noticed the powers that be have said nothing and are hoping the increase will slip by under the table.
It’s a privilege being the working class, supporting the big car companies and Hydro One?
HYDRO ONE:
Are you a customer of Hydro One? If so, do you look at your monthly bills and the rates charged?
I for one am guilty of not paying attention until this week, when I had reason to compare my bills over the last three statements. How can they possibly justify an increase of the rates, effective Nov. 1/23 of between 17.6% and 20% . Totally unreasonable!!!
Further, if you believe the so called statements by our government, of an inflation rate of 3.4%, you are obviously living somewhere else than in Canada.
I purchased a ticket on the Ontario Northland site from Huntsville to Toronto. My ticket stated the address for pickup had changed effective November 5 2023 to Main Street West South of Station rd.
No number include.
On the Ontario Northland site for the address there is a blurry picture but nothing identifying especially if you are not familiar with the area.
If you google “Huntsville address for Northland bus “it says 225 Main Street which is not correct..
The Ontario Northland ticket information needs to be clearer and the Huntsville information needs to be updated .
Once again passengers in Huntsville do not have a great location for boarding the Northland service- I think the pickup location and information needs to be improved for Huntsville residents!
Yesterday on ‘the Bay’, Ben Harrison was talking specifically about the group I am a member of. He called us the “1 percenters”. Hell yeah! Someone noticed. But the edge went off when he said it was the age group I’m in he was talking about. Of all of us born in that era, there is only 1 percent of us left. Sobering. Mortality is always with us all; just closer for some.
He talked about us never having to face world conflagrations as the previous generations did. Lots of farm boys of my grandfathers generation disappeared into the mud and blood of the 14-18 war. My father was too old when the 2nd World War was fought.
Most of the wars of my age were smaller and more local. We have still read about them and looked on as men fought. But we were never directly impacted. I always believed that if we asked and trained young men to represent us, to be soldiers, and be placed in harms way by our government, then we needed to get out the gold card to equip and protect them. Those young men fought and fight for us. It better be platinum if they come home broken.
And yet there is the case of a broken soldier in the Maritimes. Lost between two sets of bureaucracy, the military and civilian, he destroyed himself and his family. How can this happen when we have more people prying into the nooks and crannies than we have ever had before? They make notes, formulate decisions, draw big pay, but failed this young man.
This all took place about 6years ago and we are getting to it now. The inquest will “make recommendations”. But I know the only people who will pay for it all, paid with their lives. It’s sad.
This morning on the TV, I saw where Elmo, a stuffed toy, has asked how everyone was doing. He(?) seems to be gathering a broad spectrum of replies, but he did ask.
It wouldn’t prevent all future tragedies I know, but maybe we could employ one or two like Elmo. Maybe they could ask and listen like Elmo did. It could have been the kind of question someone should have asked that young soldier.
This is in response to the comment posted by D. Don Keedic on the 24th 0f Jan. Concerning Doppler postings after the Mayor’s defense of the town’s draft budget. I posted a couple of comments and there seems to be the inference, that if I haven’t “the gonads” to stand for election, I should stifle my keyboard.
I have to disagree with that reasoning. I pay my taxes. I make a choice and then an X when there are elections. I feel I have the right to comment on whether that X and those taxes are being used wisely or well. There are lots of people who would not want to be a politician. They lack the time, the money; maybe in some cases “the gonads”. But they are still free to form and voice an opinion.
You need not be poor to comment on poverty, or homeless to have an opinion on being cold. I am not Jewish, Palestinian, Russian nor Ukranian, but have sentiment toward their wars.
As for choosing to stand for election, getting enough X’s and then serving as a political animal? I’m pretty sure I don’t have the personality or disposition for that. Or the desire. I might prefer a root canal. But again, that does not preclude my forming an opinion on whether my money and my X are performing as I hoped..
The anatomy seems fine. No worries yet.
There have been people comment on Doppler, that the development around the town is at the behest of our council. That they (council) want the development to enhance local coffers. I believe that is a misunderstanding.
Should a developer wish to build on land within the town, council may oppose it, but the developer then has the right to legal appeal, or to go straight to the Ontario Land Tribunal, Either way it is likely a lose for the town. Developers have lawyers like bags of cats, and the OLT is just a bunch of developers that allow other developers to do much as they wish, The town really has little money to oppose either situation. The town can only qualify, somewhat, the development itself.
Most of us live within a budget, splurging only when we can afford it. A budget is also created by council each year, but the problem is they never pay much attention to it. That’s why town coffers have a distinct echo. Maybe not perpetually broke, but as close as “dammit” is to swearin’.
Look up the Town of Huntsville website and marvel at the list of people who feast at the trough containing our tax dollars. That is not a short or cheap list. That list of people all are to be paid, along with the tasks the Town has before it. The lot is budgeted for by the Town’s financial group. 2023 had a budget about 5.5% and 2024 is 10.5%. A lot of us failed to get our 5% boost in wages.
If you look back to a “Listen Up” segment from July 3, 2023, Hugh Mackenzie lists over $1,000,000.00 in UNbudgeted spending by council. And I bet if you were to really run the numbers, that UNbudgeted spending was well in addition to that list.
If council were to operate within a budget, their plight may be somewhat less. There seems to be a disconnect between the wants of town council and the needs of the people. And they keep on punting the money. Tombstone Territory, a two ‘holer’, a train station for a toonie. I’m sure you can add to the list.
Can we be assured that council will operated within this 10.5& budget? Unlikely. It’s not in the nature of the beast. It just can’t control itself. The money will be gathered in whether we like it or not. The suggestion seems to be “Suck it up or we may close down the Summit Center.”
Leadership we can all appreciate, eh!
PS: John Oliver: Interesting indeed. Without that curiosity I may never have heard that bit of your story. Glad you made it home sir.
Allen
Allen, I was working about 200 yards from the Iranian border with Turkey, on a pipeline that was surrounded by a mine field. We were protected by the Turkish army, but some of the Kurdish rebels thought it was fun to take a few shots in our direction, just to keep us on our toes. Hope that helps you with your curiosity.
A rather interesting time of it John Oliver, and I’m curious as to why you were shot at. If you where a contractor, or were working for “their masters or foreign contractors” you give us a possible reason. Or could it have been just as the character Clemenza in ‘The Godfather’ explains the gun fire. “Yeah, I left it noisy. That way it scares pain-in- the-ass innocent by-standers away.”
Either way, I feel it presumptuous for those who have fled that conflict, gained safety here in Canada, and then set about letting their hatred loose on the streets of this country. My country.
And I’m not sure who ‘the countries who have turned a blind eye’ are. Would I be wrong in thinking you feel it would be just western nations? Though the area, and Israel, is surrounded by Arab states. Some of those being the states who are now directing Hamas to fight and die in their stead.
Eretz Israel (the holy land)has existed at least 3400 years, and was home to many groups even before that. Israel became a nation state in 1948, under the guidance of David Ben-Gurion and the military prowess of Moishe Dayan. The path to the present is outlined in lots of media, some of which, like “A Peace to End all Peace”, “From Beirut to Jerusalem”, “Bible and Sword” and others, I have read. Read, listen, observe as much as you might and you will be no closer to sorting the middle east than the participants there today.
It has been stated here on Doppler that we should not trust today’s media. But I sure don’t recommend going to Gaza and getting shot at, ala John Oliver. Much too extreme.
And again, with all that having been said, I still have no indulgence for people gaining safety here in Canada, then taking their hatred onto our streets.
Again. NONE!!!
Referring to Mr. Markle’s letter..Jan 4 I have no tolerance for those who have come here seeking safety, then fetch out their hatred and wave the flags of war. No tolerance at all.
I agree.
Why are we not doing the reverse? I also think many of those folks do not understand what Canada is and show overall appreciation. We are not a platform for their protests we are a country that welcomed them and are paying out huge sums of money to welcome them in many cases.
Canada is being taken advantage of.
Mr. Markle thank you for speaking ..writing..the words so many Canadians think and believe but in the true Canadian way remain silent .
Ms.Henderson,
Tell me what’s happening.
It astounds me that Canadians dont recognize their rights being compromised. Conspiracy theory, sure, when the theory is turning real what do you call it then? Wake up Canadians and see whats happening in our own country.
Again, well said Mr. Spivak.
My perspective of justice and freedom is based on my experience working in the Middle East. I spent a lot of time in Iraq, Syria, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Israel. I was there during the Iraq Iranian war, I have been shot at and I have seen death. I have smelled the rotting corpses of those killed in conflict. I have seen how the people in all those countries are treated by their masters and foreign contractors. So it is wth this perspective that I take offence at those of us here in Canada that whine about having our freedoms taken away. The trucker protest in Ottawa was in no way the same as the protests that we are seeing relative to the Israel Palestine protests. How would you like it if your land was systematically stolen from you by a foreign government and you were forced to live in a walled squalid strip of land, your freedoms taken away. This conflict was inevitable and as always it’s the innocent people who suffer. The countries that have turned a blind eye to the illegal actions of Israel for the past 25 years must now deal with the consequences.
Allen, I take issue with your singular view on Israel being attacked.
You seriously need to read up on the history of the Israel state.
Complex,but start at the end of WW2.
I would never say that the attacks by Hamas could in anyway be justified but before we on this side of the ocean make judgement about who’s at fault perhaps we need to know alot more about what has precipitated this action and how civilians on both sides have been dragged into this fight over land and resources.
There are two sides to this story and don’t be too quick to make judgement based on what the media presents to us.
Remember weapons of mass destruction? Kinda like that BS.
Thomas Spivak: Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t believe our views of the world are that different. I believe that Israel and Ukraine have the right to defend themselves from attack. Neither started the conflagration that envelopes them now.
I feel the West is loosing interest in Ukraine; our attention span is being taxed. Into the third year and billions spent. No resolution in sight. Perhaps time for a new thing to occupy the media. And Hamas attacks a rock concert. Directed I’m sure by people far from the action itself.
That it is the innocent (though there are also not innocent in Gaza) who suffer is the hard part. This is where the media can rant at full voice; and where people choose sides. Commands from distant Arab states will instruct terrorists to die. And those distant states care nothing for the citizens of Gaza. In fact it focuses the media stories on Israel. People take sides. Convenient when they condemn Israel.
We can debate all this, but have no sway whatsoever on the outcome. What piques me most is, that after people have gained the safety of this country, our country, they drag their hatred out into our streets. It is our and their right for peaceful protest. Having that right hijacked to promote taking sides in a distant war, isn’t promoting peace in any way. And it is not what that right was fought an died for.
I have no tolerance for those who have come here seeking safety, then fetch out their hatred and wave the flags of war. No tolerance at all.
NONE!!
This is from the Ontario governments Financial Accountability Office.
“Ontario’s financial watchdog says the provincial government spent $1.7-billion less than planned on health care in 2022-23, even as rural and small-town hospitals struggled with staff shortages that forced some emergency rooms to close.”
This is despite a promise from the Conservative Government in Ontario to increase spending.
The Ontario government is sitting on a half billion dollars in funds from cannabis sales and we can’t get our emergency rooms the funding they need to stay open in some Towns.
We will be paying for an unnecessary highway project, likely on the hook for the greenbelt fiasco, and so many other questionable deals.
I’ve personally waited 6 months or more for a MRI.
I don’t care if it’s Liberals or Conservatives, we are at a healthcare crisis and the elected officials from both sides need to start paying attention.
It’s easy to forget about the rest of us when you have garranteed pensions, full health care, and no financial worries.
Get off the pedestals folks and get this mess straightened out!
Kathryn Henderson ,
Are you lacking freedom in Canada?
What about the freedom of the Ottawa residents subjected to the “peaceful protest”?
Lets talk about something closer to home that Will make a difference in your life. Our short staffed hospital. Admin are top heavy and nurses and cleaners are busting to get their work done working so short staffed. You get beat on when poluce bring in violent patients and leave them at hospital unsupervised. You have to go to Orillia to get a cast on and admin tells the ICU doctors if they can admit an unstable critical care patient. What??? The doctors know better than the overpaid admin whether a patient needs the ICU. All this talk about new hospitals and new equipment and we cant look after the patients now due to burocratic bullcrap and deadly staff shortages. I know staff does the best they can but must find it very frustrating and unsatisfying after a shift
I agree that we should have the right to protest. BUT treat us all the same. The freedom truckers and i myself protested for freedom and we were shut down as terrorist. But those people, yes i said it, can do what they want without repercussions. Go home and help.
Well articulated Mr Spivak. Happy New Year to you and your family.
Mr Markle, I’m sure that despite my wording, you surely understand my point so don’t pick this apart.
Saying that these people should go back home is a repulsive comment and cannot be justified in any context.
I see way too many comments here from people that have obviously not read history, only believe what mainstream media hysteria has shown them,and are all to willing to jump on the bandwagon to condemn an entire group of people based on the actions of a minority in control. Would we say all Republicans are bad because of how Trump behaved or all Americans are bad for same reason?
We continue to to hear this foolishness from some people about how the Ottawa truckers were a peaceful protest and this forum allows it.
Based on that, I suppose we will continue to hear about how all Palestinians are bad and continue eat up the rehtoric that the paid politicians feed us.
I for one would not want Ms Henderson or Mr. Jones as neighbours for fear my loyalties to this country be questioned due to my families heritage and my world views and how they may treat me or mine as a result.
Some people just need to hate, it’s a human condition and only by calling them out can we ever hope to keep our own little piece of heaven in Muskoka a welcome place to peace of all races and beliefs.
Rod Jones questions the right to assemble. Something we all feel is a right. Thomas Spivak, it seems to be a reach to say the question is racist. ‘Palestinian’ I believe is an Arab people from a certain region and certainly not a race.
John Oliver; why is that simple musing, about the right to assemble, an indication of the person being self centered? Would his right to pose the question not be one of our ‘freedoms’? The freedom of speech. Might not like the question, but what harm? And who is self centered?
If we think about it there is simply one race, the human race, that we need worry about. Seemingly there are no lengths to which the members of this human race will not go to, to harm and destroy each other should we feel slighted.
I think most of these conversations are to support our choice, our ‘taking a side’ in these overseas wars. And our bickering to support our choice can be done safely here in Canada and is of little consolation to the ones fighting and dying.
I can’t grasp the willingness of any people, to negotiate with those whose professed purpose is their eradication. It is dismaying to see the destruction and carnage one people can visit upon another. It is however a part of our nature to form an opinion and ‘take a side’.
I will however, restate that I would just as soon have the flags of other nations flying in our streets for soccer games, economic meetings and peaceful purpose. Rather than bringing any display of hate and dissention to my country.
I can see their war in the papers and on the news. Even that’s too close for me.
To John. Oliver I don’t protest BUT if I did I would not block streets or malls as they did in Toronto stopping shoppers from Christmas shopping ALSO blocking the roads to two major airports in the US how would you feel if you were trying to fly to family on Christmas John Oliver just think about that before you post your thoughts just think
I have to agree with Thomas Spivak.
I have spoken about Mr. Jones remarks previously and those of others that seem to equate the perceived injustices in our freedoms to peacefully protest and demonstrate as a one sided right.
I for one would not like to live in Mr. Jones and Ms Henderson’s world. Their self centred view of the World shows that they don’t care for anyone except for themselves.
My wish is for all of us to try a little harder in 2024 to show some empathy for those that are not a blessed as we are to live in a truly free democratic society.
I may not agree with you views, but isn’t in nice that you have the right to express them and if you feel so strongly, then you can make a sign, put on your coat and stand outside the Town Hall so that you can articulate your point of view.
Happy New Year and Blessings to all in 2024.
I agree with Rod Jones. Why can they tie up and block streets when the truckers peaceful protest was terrorized and called terrorists.
Well rod jones, that’s probably the most racist comment I’ve heard in some time.
Everyone in this country has a right to express views, what they were doing was not illegal.
Perhaps if you were informed of the current event in Palestine/Israel you would have a better understanding.
How did this negatively affect you personally?
Question. What right do the Palestinian people in Canada have to block. Streets in Toronto and Easton’s centre and block people from shopping? This is the best time for them to make money .Where are the police why aren’t they removing them? They don’t have a right to block people on public land. If they want to demonstrate go back home and do it.
When gas stations were built for a hundred years, the oil companies built in the cost of the stations into the product they sold. In this way the user of the gas paid indirectly for the places to fuel up.
Now in our time the car manufacturers and the users of the ev cars expect that the tax payer should pay for the charging stations.
why are the customers using the chargers not paying toward the cost of the stations with an added few pennies per watt?
In the current plan people that will never be able to buy an ev are to pay more tax to supply those that can afford ev cars a saving.
Many things the government controls are user pays, the charging should be the same.
When I buy gas there are taxes to pay for roads, the ev croud pay nothing, they should pay the full cost of charging.
To Mr. Markle
I think we are related. Do not know how to contact you privately. Perhaps your way back grandfather and my way back grandmother were brother and sister. Do not have the family tree handy. My grandmother was Susan Elizabeth Marie Markle Hanes.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to all.
My great grandfather ‘Ace’ Markle, farmed and drove cadge wagons and coach along the Old Muskoka Road, way back then. My grandfather George Markle was a teamster, ‘pathmaster’ and farmer. My dad worked in the bush when he was a young man and would have loved to have farmed.
I’ve seen pictures of all of them with long, woolen socks pulled well up on heavy breeks. Once you’ve seen the size of those socks, what do you imagine a little kid wants to hang up for Santa? You bet! And my brothers and I did, though those socks seemed a lot longer in the pictures I had seen. Lots of washes I guess had shrunk them up a tad. But we hung them up anyway: they were a lot bigger than any other sock in the house.
What I got was pretty predictable, but that didn’t seem to matter much to a six or seven year old. I read everything that had print on it, so there was a book or two, maybe a gun and caps (fire them inside and suffer the apocalypse). Another toy maybe. And then, way down in the reaches was a mix of: an orange, something we never saw a lot of, an apple without bruising! likely a Spy or Mac, a variety of shelled nuts (which my father would crush in his bare hands and the broken pieces of which were hard on bare feet), and a good lot of hard candy.
If you can remember back, you know that hard candy never came ‘individually wrapped’. Sticky candy in a wool sock presented the obvious problem. But I/we never complained. After dinner, we had Dad crush some shells, maybe played a new game, and spent a lot of time sucking the wool off those hard candies. Wonder if the health departments today would have a regulation against parents subjecting their children to such a dangerous situation? My son gave me some hard candy in a sock last Christmas. For nostalgia sake.
Anyway. Merry Christmas all. Hope there’s a bit of wool on your hard candies! Just for the memories.
Well said Thomas. I agree with everything you said. Enjoy the holiday season.
So the figures as of today ,20,000 people in Gaza killed. 7000 of those were Hamas fighters.
1200 Israeli fighters killed.
These figures provided by Israel.
Israel continues to seize land that was never given to it in 1948, and continues to ignore the UN directives put in place.
Tell me what the difference is here between what Russia is doing and Israel is doing?
Well folks we now are ready to start a new year with higher prices on food to look forward to.
That folksy fellow Galen Weston has openly threatened to raise prices even more should the government intervene and we already know he was instrumental in the outlandish price we pay for bread.
I guess it’s what you have to do to keep a closet full of sweater vests.
Unfortunately we were all warned about the consequences of having a half dozen or so corporations in control of our food supplies 50 years ago but the government always bows to the power of money and allowed it to happen.
The thing thing is, when you are a politician you were probably privileged to begin with, you are now immune to inflation because most major expenses are taken care of for you, even if you do a crappy job you have a pension most of us could only dream of, and you are so totally out of touch with the average Canadians circumstances that you cannot imagine what it would be like to have to budget for food.
Sadly it is unlikely we can reverse this and while we struggle to make ends meet our politicians dole out billions of dollars to manufacturers that probably shouldn’t be in business, failed projects, useless employees, and talk about spending money to fight climate change while supporting oil sands corporations.
Now they pump millions into the EV sector with no homework on how materials are sourced, the energy spent to process, the distances and fossil fuels used to transport, the production pollutants, how to dispose of them, the hazards involved, or what the cost and load on the current power network will be.
I don’t care what political party is in power, our leaders need to start taking care of us, our needs, our food supply, our health care, our housing, and our children’s future.
Not Galen Weston, Ford, GM, or who ever owns Chrysler this week.
Stop backing down from the food industry, I’m sorry Galen, no you are not entitled to make massive riches from food. You and your family have from the very start designed a corporate model that prays on the basic need of humans.
FOOD.
Speak up Canada!
Good morning and Merry Christmas to all Doppler contributors and readers.
The great myth about all batteries is that they take more energy to make than they will ever produce. You may get all warm and fuzzy and think that you are helping to save the planet by not using fossil fuels, and in some case you would be correct, but not when it comes to driving a battery powered vehicle. Sure you are saving money, but you are not saving the planet, you are just kicking the problem down the road. Power generation plants will need to be built to provide the energy to not only fuel the cars but also make the batteries, thus poring more pollutants into the atmosphere.
I would like to see the government start with outlawing unnecessarily large hydrocarbon burning vehicles. Do we need to be building big trucks, suvs for regular use. Maybe there needs to be a commercial class and you don’t get a big vehicle unless you can prove that you need it for business, as an exception. Everyone else, why on earth do you need a car bigger than a civic.
Lesley,
EV owners are not typically knowledgeable on ALL the ill-effects of the conversion to battery-powered cars. Among the hazards:
1.) The distinct possibility that the 1,000 pound lithium ion battery contained in the car could explode and set a rather unquenchable fire to everything around it (water does not quench a lithium ion battery fire–just makes it worse). Ask fire officials about the extra training their people require to deal with EV fires. On Tuesday, a forklift accidentally punctured a container storing lithium ion batteries at a GM plant near Detroit and it caught fire. Management was forced to close the facility while the problem was resolved. This was only the most recent of lithium ion battery mishaps and EV sales are just beginning to “take off”.
The worst mishaps for EV owners have been those whose garages/houses were set on fire by explosions/fires in the lithium ion batteries. In the last couple of years a twelve-year-old girl was killed in a house fire that began in the garage where an EV was stored. Just recently, a young man was severely burned in a fire that began with his EV motorcycle, stored under his apartment. The only thing that saved him from death was the alert sounded by his dog (the dog expired in the fire).
Transit authorities in various locales have mothballed their fleets of EV buses because of possible fires.. Parisian transit authorities have ended their use of EV buses after having two buses destroyed by fires at different times. Fortunately, no one was injured in either fire, as they were uninhabited at the time of the fires. You can see a video clip (or, at least you could as of a couple of months ago) of the explosion of the rooftop battery pack and spectacular cascade of fire that descended on all sides of the bus parked on a street in Paris.
2.) The cobalt necessary for the construction of lithium ion batteries, is mined by children in Africa.
3.) The severe snowstorm that hit the eastern U.S. last year marooned many motorists and the ones who were in gasoline-powered cars were at least able to keep warm while they waited for rescue. No such comfort available to the EV owners.
4.) Aside from the terrible pollution involved with the disposal of EV batteries and the fact that recycling them is impossible, there is the ongoing problem of the lack of efficiency under very cold (or very hot) conditions.
Being a senior who has never bought a new vehicle in his life and relies upon local mechanics, I would hesitate to buy a used EV until I can feel comfortable about the longevity of such vehicles as well as the availability of reliable local service. I’m sure this will eventually come about. Living on a rural back road can take a toll on one’s vehicle, thus the hesitancy to invest $50,000 plus on a new vehicle.
I politely disagree with you. The cost of mining the lithium and parts takes more gas and oil to build an EC it makes more polution in making these cars that it saves. What do they do with old thousand pound used batteries? A field left rotting more polution into the ground. Its all about the government controlling how far and where we go. What if you get stuck behind an accident in winter? Will your electric keep you warm as a gas car? Or run out of battery in an hour or so. Not so quick and easy to charge away from home. An electric/gas car makes more sense to me. Have a great day. 🙂 😀
Well, Kathryn, I think you should talk to owners of electric cars and you’ll discover they are absolutely delighted with them, the incredibly low cost of running them, (saving thousands of dollars a year in fuel and maintenance) and when it’s cold, the energy created from regenerative braking can cover the energy needed for heat and media in the car when driving around town; it is certainly true for our EV.
EVs can outperform many powerful gas cars and are quiet with no harmful gas fumes. Many EV owners can plug their EVs in at home to fully charge them for as little as $4-$6, and their range on a maximum charge is now over 400kms on many EVs. Batteries are under warranty for 10 years on many cars and will last far longer.
What we do need are federal and provincial incentives for lower cost electric cars so that the upfront costs are also more affordable, and greater investment in electricity infrastructure and EV chargers.
We are in the transition stage from internal combustion engines, transitions we have seen many times before. As John Maynard Keynes said “the difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones”.
I disagree we are running out of gas and oil. And as far as climate warming and emmissions the government flies their jets all over with few people in them. So we go to electric cars that wont work in winter, takes all kinds of natural resourses to build. Batteries are hugh and not recyclable. This is about controling the people. Keeping us in 15 minute cities because electric cars dont go as far as gas and if the batter is dead your looking at thousands of dollars. Lets look and see whats going on. Take your blinders off.
Lesley,
You apparently have more confidence in “expert” opinions than I could ever have. The “experts” always follow the money and often don’t have the bona fides they claim. The IPCC is a small subset of the scientific world. Only those who believed in the “global climate emergency” were recruited to join. Mega wealthy, non-scientist, Maurice Strong, was the prime mover at the UN who put the IPCC together. He was a charlatan who fled to China before he could be arrested in the United States. The scoundrels at the UN were only too glad to adopt the “climate change” clarion call as any remedies to “global climate change” involved the exchange of a LOT of money and they were only too eager to share in the bounty. I suggest you look up the U.N.s “oil for food” program of years past, as an example of their willingness to engage in crooked deals. The son of then U.N. Secretary General, Boutros Boutros Ghali, became a very wealthy man out of his involvement. Maurice Strong was at the centre of that scam as well. Ghali was so corrupt that the NYPD sent a delegation to the Clinton White House demanding that Bill Clinton oversee the replacement of Ghali. They told Clinton that, if he did not, they would arrest Ghali, diplomatic immunity or not.
There are many REAL scientists (including one recent Nobel Prize winner) who have expressed skepticism about the need for drastic action since we can’t even be sure that the planet IS warming and if it is, that the cause is the burning of fossil fuel. The earth has undergone rapid heating and cooling within recorded history (see the “Little Ice Age” of the 16th to 19th centuries A.D. and the “Roman Warm Period”). In terms of human lives lost, the Little Ice Age–a period of global cooling—was responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of northern Europeans due to widespread crop failures. There were summers when there were NO frost-free months in which to grow food. In contrast, the Roman Warm Period was such that it was warm enough to grow grapes in N. Scotland–something that would be impossible now. Small, Viking farming villages were able to be established in the southern tip of Greenland during that time. Before we go off hysterically screaming “the sky is falling, the sky is falling” perhaps we should establish that there is a need for drastic action and what consequences would follow.
Canada has a cold climate–stands to reason that we would use more fossil fuel, just to keep warm. We could and should conserve more of it, but it has always been cheap and abundant here so there hasn’t been much incentive. Market forces being what they are, I expect that conservation will go forward since we have a world starved for energy.
John Oliver: As much as we all feel that we all enjoy the “same rights as you have”, it works a lot better in theory than in fact. It is supposed to work to equal benefit, but I think lots of us have been around long enough to know that it doesn’t.
Try calling up some buddies, gather some old tires and pallets and block the CN track running north out of town. Before you have sparked the lot up and roasted your first marshmallow, you will have a dart in your ass and a bag over your head. Say hello to the judge.
Or phone Ottawa, say you have a grievance and will be parking the semi you have borrowed downtown. You intend to hijack the city for a few weeks, blow your horn and stink the place up with make-shift latrines and diesel fumes. If you make it, you’ll likely be bagged and tagged and sent for testing before the heat starts to tick out of the engine you just shut off.
I’m sure you can come up with a few ‘ferinstances’ of your own. We like to feel we are all equal, but some are just a little more or less equal than others. But it is still a pretty good place this Canada of ours. We just have to keep trying.
Then try harder. Demand better.
In answer to Erin Jones, an expert at COP 28 said on CBC radio this morning that Canada is the 9th worst polluter in the world as regards Greenhouse gas emissions, and while China, the USA and India may pollute the most, they have very large populations in relation to Canada. On a per capital basis Canada is the world’s worst polluter.
And I think you understand Erin that when I refer to CO2 as pollution I am referring to its role as polluting the atmosphere, causing global warming.
You ask why China and India are building coal fired plants. Why is Canada expanding its fossil fuel extraction so you think? Power and profit apparently rank above all other considerations in Canada.
As you say, the planet cannot adapt fast enough to the speed of changes in CO2, and that is why we must stop the increases in carbon dioxide emissions. And we have to do this by reducing the burning of fossil fuels which are the primary cause of what the whole world knows is an existential crisis.
Our emergency Hospital is the best in our Community . All the people working there are dedikated and looking after what is best for you . I appreciate there efforts in doing not only what they can do , but also what is best for you.
Thank you for your professional service.
To Rod Jones
They have the same rights as you have. I hope that answers your question.
Lesley,
1. CO2 is NOT a “pollutant”–it is a trace gas that is essential for all plant life. It has been as high as 6,000 ppm in eons past. What IS problematic is the rate of change. If the rate of change is too high, earthly life cannot adapt quickly enough.
2. There has been a vested interest in “reducing carbon emissions” without even knowing that the measurements are accurate. There are lots of folks making lots of money out of this “crisis”. What Canada contributes to possible increases in CO2 is really just a pittance. We could invest massive amounts of taxpayer funds and make less than even a tiny amount of a difference.
3. If it is indeed a crisis, why are developing nations like China and India building huge numbers of coal-fired plants?
To David Caswell,
I applaud your desire to address the needs of those displaced by Climate Change and hope that COP 28 will make real progress in that regard.
However I take issue with you on the facts around climate change and policies to fight it.
Firstly what is meant by climate change denial? Most would define climate change deniers as those who deny it is manmade, such as yourself. So because you do not believe it is manmade, i.e. anthropogenic, then you cannot believe that man can make a difference to climate change.
But let me put you straight. The climate was relatively unchanged until the start of the industrial revolution (around 1800) when fossil fuels began to be burned for energy, (coal and gas for heating, coal fired steam engines for transport, etc). The result of this burning was to release polluting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Thus It was human beings who created the climate pollution, the global warming, that we see now. It is human beings who must stop adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
At the start of the industrial age the concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere was near 280 parts per million. It has since increased by 47% to nearly 412 ppm. There has been an 11% increase since the year 2000, when it was 370 ppm.
It is this carbon dioxide, produced largely by human activity, which is the main reason for what the UN Secretary General calls “Climate Boiling”.
Leading economists agree that the most efficient way to reduce CO2 emissions is to make the polluter pay and to incentivize a change to less polluting behavior.
The richest 1% of the population produce the same carbon emissions as all the least wealthy 66% combined.
Every Canadian household receives the climate action incentive rebate and since the rich pay the largest portion of the federal fuel charge, 8 out of 10 households get back more than they pay. In rural Muskoka for instance, a two-person household receives, by cheque or in their bank account, $202 every three months.
So why does this change behaviour? Everyone will have an incentive to use fewer fossil fuels to reduce costs. Some will drive 20kmh slower to use 20% less fuel. Others may be thinking of buying a new or newer vehicle in the next 5 years and if it’s an electric vehicle there will be no federal fuel charge, and the carbon action incentive rebate will generally pay for ALL the fuel costs each and every year.
Others may find their gas furnace needs replacing. If they choose to reduce emissions, (and costs) by switching from a fossil gas furnace to a heat pump, they will not only avoid paying the average monthly $24 carbon tax on the gas heating bill but may also find that the carbon rebate pays for the entire cost of running a heat pump every year.
That’s quite an incentive.
To John Oliver You didn’t answer my question as what right do the Palestine people have to block the roads? NONE they have no right. What if an emergency vehicle has to get through and its carrying a family member now how do you feel.The Hamas started the war and is losing so the rest of the country think they can do what they want to do in Canada and the rest of the world. No way.
A Requiem for the Forester
The Paper version of the Huntsville Forester has been a part of our community for One Hundred and Fifty Years and is now gone and its passing has hardly caused a ripple in our lives.
It will be replaced with news from the rest of Muskoka in some sort of digital compendium…and if history is correct, it will be ended within a year.
—————————————————————————————————-
Yes, it is part of the centralization of services that has been pervading our society for years, but is that right?
Yes, it is part of the end of small stores and services in our communities, but is that right?
Yes, it involves only a few workers, but is that right?
Yes, it is part of our mad rush into the digitalized future.
—————————————————————————————————-
The Town Council is busy with other important matters, but should this loss be ignored?
Perhaps a plaque beside Tom Thomson to mark the passing of this institution which was part of the fabric of our community…..
Ryan Kidd
Port Sydney
CBC News program, The National, recently interviewed family members of the Afzall family who had been murdered; mowed down by evil driving a pick-up truck. It was a deeply moving interview, but it was the words of the Muslim couple, Ali and Hina Islam, that touched me so deeply. They reminded me of what it is to be Canadian.
I emigrated to Canada, from England, in 1973, when I was 21. Like so many immigrants, I arrived with a suitcase, $400, and a dream of a new life in the best country in the world. The words I read on the Ontario license plate summed it up perfectly, “Keep Ontario Beautiful”.
In the interview, Ali and Hina said, “Canadians are a country of decency, politeness, and respect. A country where you dig your neighbour out if they’re in a snowdrift or you drop food off at their home if they had an operation. It’s our home and we want to make it the best home possible.”
At its core, I believe Canada is exactly as Ali and Hina describe, but that ideal is being taken away from us. It’s as if Canada is being run into by a truck, charging at us in slow-motion, as the Government(s) destroys our freedoms and way of living, the heritage on which this nation was built. Thread by thread, the very fabric of Canada is being unstitched.
In 1960, a pivotal moment in Canadian history took place. It was the year when the Canadian Bill of Rights, officially titled “An Act for the Recognition and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,” came into existence. This remarkable document was not only voted on but also signed into law by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker. And right above his signature, in a powerful statement, Diefenbaker boldly proclaimed:
“I am a Canadian, a free Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship God in my own way, free to stand for what I think is right, free to oppose what I believe is wrong, free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and for all mankind.”
These words encapsulated the essence of what it meant to be a Canadian—a citizen of a nation that cherishes and safeguards individual liberties.
Sadly, no more.
I am no longer free to speak without fear;
Free to worship God in my own way;
Free to stand up for what I think is right;
Free to oppose what I think is wrong.
Canada is broken, we can no longer freely do any of these things.
Ali and Hina gave me hope. How I wish Ali and Hina were our neighbours.
I agree with Rod. We would have been labeled terrorists and have had the emergency act put on us.
If we freedom fighters cant block roads these guys shouldnt be allowed either. My opinion.
Message to Rod Jones
It sounds like you are a bit upset with the inconvenience of being held up for a few minutes. I hope that now you have calmed down you can possibly see what a foolish rant that was. It reminds me of the old proverb “sometime it’s better to keep quiet and seem a fool, then to open your mouth and remove any doubt”.
What right do the Palestine have that they can block a street or bridge ? They don’t where are the police ? If any body else block the street or bridge we would be arrested. Are the police scared? Do your job and arrest them come on get off your ass and stop this BS now.
I have just read the last 3 comments and i couldnt agree more with the writers. Wonderful writing.
I grew up here in Huntsville. My world was safe and local. I had lots of relatives and friends of the family who served in the military, in actions around the world. They served to preserve our freedoms, which to a young person were sort of nebulous concepts; they were obviously important, because some of those people lost their lives fighting to preserve them. I learned to appreciate all that as I grew older.
I’ve gone from my being a child listening to the stories of old soldiers, to a senior citizen who has read about, listened to radio reports and is now able to access up to the moment reporting of all the world’s wars. One of the freedoms always in the forefront of our democracy, what those soldiers fought for, was the freedom of speech. But those confrontations in the headlines were always ‘over there’.
Our country has become a refuge for people from around the world, all entitled to those freedoms that were fought and died for. And now I am wondering about those inherited freedoms. Not that they shouldn’t be shared, just that I feel they are being abused. Taken lightly. Used to advance ulterior motives.
There are populations here from nations whose leaders care not a whit for the people; they are just subjects to be used and abused. Nations led by petty despots who are rulers by force and for themselves.
So I question when the streets of this country become places of imported confrontation. If this was supposed to be a better place, a place of refuge and peace, should Canada be responsible for supplying the world with better governments. We struggle to get by ourselves, and I don’t think we have enough good government for it to be a national export.
I know people will always remember where home is. I do. My family does. I just hope that our new citizens can manage to leave the old politics behind them. Quite often it was one of the reasons they left.
I find it quite surprising that anyone denies climate change. But I am equally surprised when our leaders feel they can stop it with taxes. There has been climate change on this planet before man arrived here and there will be climate change after we are gone. The present liberal policies to fight climate change have done nothing to meet their targets. All it has done is add to inflation and reduce revenue from our own natural resources.
What needs to be addressed is what will we do to help the people displaced by climate change.
I agree with Jacquie Howell.
People visit and also move to Huntsville and other Muskoka locations because of the beauty and history. Then for some strange reason we want to “take paradise and put up a parking lot” or a tin can. Huntsville is a beautiful town but it can soon turn into a gaudy little unattractive town if you let it. Planning takes vision and a look to the future. Improve the infrastructure, but leave the beauty alone.
I and about 100 -150 people were invited to celebrate Ken Raven’s 100 year birthday on Saturday, Veterans Day, very appropriate as Ken is also a WW2 Veteran. I believe that Ken may be the oldest Veteran in Huntsville and don’t be surprised if you see him on the hill this winter, he was there skiing last year, what a guy. He may be 100 years old but looks 70, wish I had his genes. It was a wonderful party, Ken’s wife Sandy did a marvelous job transforming Hidden Valley Ski Club into a Fairy land with lots of great food, speeches and conversations. Well done Sandy, I had a wonderful time.
Wish you both Gods blessings in years to come.
Love Anna
What is happening on Main Street at the bridge? Hopefully, the “TIN CAN” that was erected on that property is being removed. I ha
Be no complaint about development BUT is the esthetic complimentary to the community and site. At that corner we have the historical bridge and the beautiful stone church with its historical gate. This location is photographed constantly by tourists. It speaks to the image of Huntsville’s heritage. Please council and planning insist that this picturesque area match the surroundings. Planning should always match the location. We do not want another modernization of that corner (square boxes and metal building – watch the height)
Over last 50 years or there abouts, our Canadian law-makers have lost the reason for, and focus of our democracy. When Pierre Trudeau brought the constitution home, there was a ‘notwithstanding clause’ included to make the whole process acceptable to the premiers of the day. A back door should things go awry and a way should a premier/ province needed an escape. Likely never to be used, but just in case..
In the years since, we have had a province invoke that clause as a way to operate as a separate ‘national’ entity. Canadian when convenient. In Ontario, Premier Ford has enacted a ‘strong mayor’ policy that allows for the disregarding of maybe up to 50% of the voters in that mayor’s city. Recently we have another premier who has chosen to use that ‘notwithstanding’ clause to inform parents about students choice of personal pronouns.
It seems our politicians can no longer find the time or need to negotiate and achieve consensus on matters of national importance. Democracy depends on the vote and negotiated consensus and that doesn’t seem to be working anymore. Just invoke ‘notwithstanding’ and negotiation goes away.
But it’s not just us. There are other nations with the same problem. The lack of leaders willingness to talk or negotiate. The budding banana republic on our southern border being an example close to hand. “My way or the highway” attitudes.
Democracy seems to be failing.
Just an opinion.
Where oh where did “Steve the little free Library” move to? He was located on the Port Sydney road almost to Brunel Road. The owners sold their property and took “Steve” with them.
The best, largest, carefully maintained with a truly interesting stock of books free library I have ever found.
Steve, I hope you and your owners are happy and appear somewhere again. You were so appreciated. Miss you.
Jane Hudel
Alan, you forgot to say that you could light your fires for as week with the old Forester!
A couple of days ago Brian Tapley commented that the Forester had disappeared without much fanfare. I agree. But what is recently gone was was a far cry from the newspaper of my ancestors.
I can remember playing in the yard, hearing the mailman put the paper in the mailbox (!) and beep the horn. Then the ritual arrival of news would continue. My grandfather would appear on the step, reloading his pipe. He would spark one of E..B. Eddy’s matches along his trousers. When there was only the smell of Algonquin pine, he would draw the flame into the bowl, exhale, and head for the mailbox.
After a cursory glance at the front page, he would shake the paper open to find the ‘Locks’ section. The personal highlights of the locals that past week would be outlined there. Every area out and around the town had their own little section, because this was a community paper.
Back inside he would comment that “the woman has her nose into everything.” Referring to my Grandmother’s cousin, Agatha Buck. But if not for aunt Aggie and others like her, he would never have gotten those little sections of news. All had been submitted by people who contributed regional info to the paper.
I’ve gone back through those old Foresters and found weekly items referring to my great grandparents, grandparents and parents. Discovering that they had lives; and recorded there, were some tidbits of those lives. Even references to my own family.
Search through those old editions of ‘The Forester’ and anyone with the time and desire can find the history of this town and it’s people. I say ‘old’, because the more recent editions aren’t so inclusive or informative. History was pared from the paper years ago. Future generations won’t find much of today’s happenings or history, even if they search on-line.
In more recent times the ‘paper’ came wrapped around a wad of flyers, in a pink or blue plastic bag that was flung at the end of driveways. In winter, though I would search and was sure it was there somewhere, it often remained hidden. ‘Til confetti suddenly flared from the chute of my snow-blower. Or worse; jammed the auger and turned the air blue. That I won’t miss.
The era is gone, with even national papers struggling; going ‘on-line’. It has become really hard these days to trust a lot of ‘news’. There was a time that an inquirer style paper was joked about. Sensationalism, not really news.
Today I read with caution, because to find a “Prince (or Princess) you got to kiss a lot of toads”.
Does anyone know what happens when poorly planned, profit focused developments are proposed WITHOUT community or local resident input? I do! Long time local resident angst, environmental uncertainty and artificially reduced property values!
That is what is currently occurring at Grandview. I am unable to attach documents to this comment, but here is the general proposal for the old 9 hole golf course…
4 development blocks
Block 1: 3 storey Hotel and Resort
Blocks 2 &3: Resort, Recreational, Residential, 17, 2 – 3 storey townhouses in 6 blocks
Block 4: open space, buffer around Wetland feature with potential for public trails
Block 5: servicing block, District sanitary and pumping station
Townhouse = 120 units
Hotel = 75 units
Total = 195 units
Development will be in 3 phases, beginning with Hotel construction.
I strongly urge area residents to contact the following for more information, and to voice our opinions on what can be a terribly disruptive development.
– The Planning Partnership… Donna Hinde [email protected] and Claude Doughty (Halmont)
– Town of Huntsville Planning @ 705-789-1751, option 3
Errant digit folks. Mia culpa. Dec. 41 was when the US declared war on Germany.
On a happier note: Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Thomas Spivak: I get your point, but in that period, ‘context’ was mixing itself. At the onset of war, Britain, the Commonwealth and France aligned against Germany who just happened to have an alliance or ‘non-aggression’ pact with Germany. At that time, the USA was busy doing business with Germany, supplying it with oil and steel. In June 1941, Germany attacked Russia and that alliance was blown away. It was not until Dec. 11/42, after Germany had invaded the Ukraine, that the Americans finally declared war on Germany. Buyer and seller to becoming enemies in 6 months.
It was in the best interest of the new ‘allies’ to keep that eastern front alive and so it became Russia who benefited from western logistics. Until May of ’45 when Germany fell, and an old ‘ally’ dropped an iron curtain across eastern Europe. The western countries had munitioned Russia much as we are supplying the Ukraine today. Historic irony?
Russia was an ally of convenience, an ally nevertheless, but certainly never a friend.
It seems that some Ukrainians felt opposing the Russians warranted volunteering and forming a Grenadier Division under German officers. I wonder whether Ukrainians who found new homes and safety here in Canada, would find that old soldier to be hero or a criminal.
I can ponder that but can be pretty sure they would not have counted Russia to have been an ally.
Its important not to mix historical context Allen because at the time of the Nazi incursion into Ukraine, Russia was an ally of the United States and GB.
There can be no excuse for anyone past or present having supported the German regime at that time and there were no heroes from the German military saving Ukraine from Russians. The Russians were our allies at that time. Russia has had designs on Ukraine for 250 years and can never be forgiven for what they have done to Ukrainians. Obviously this is a complicated scenario, evil protecting the oppressed from evil. There are no hero’s here .
Time passing and age of the perpetrators does not provide an excuse or forgiveness for what the Nazis did preceding the outbreak of war or during that time.
No one is implying that Germany or any other country still holds blame for what happened but the individuals that were involved certainly still hold blame.
My great grandparents and my grandparents came to Canada to escape the poverty, oppression , and efforts of the Russians to erase Ukrainian culture.
Germany tried the same with the Jews.
It’s a messy world.
Some people are overjoyed that the housing in the green belt was stopped. The problem is that the media did not tell the truth, in their reports.
I only saw one report that said, that 7 thousand acres was being taken out, but no mention of the 9 thousand plus being put into the green belt.
Their was np mention that some municipalities wanted the space for housing, because ontario winds up with half of the million people the feds let in, and they expect homes.
Where did the media talk about that in the deal the developers were to build a percentage of lower end starter homes or that rec centers and and an area for a hospital were planned free to taxpayers.
Only one writer covered the list of things that were being payed by the developers..
and
Now with the deal gone, so are 50000 new homes, that will take years to start over and by that time we will have a couple of million new residents to ontario, and the ndp and LIBS with their personal housing investment value will have doubled.
Well said Allen.
An old soldier discovered, and it was pointed out to us, that if you live long enough , you can become the sticky end of a dilemma. He was a soldier, now in his nineties and he chose to stand against the Soviet Union. A hero (?) in the Ukraine and adopted as such here in Canada. The problem was the uniform he wore was that of the German Wehrmacht. Bad people in 1945. So he was cast down. like a statue of Sir John A., because their actions and deeds don’t fit the alliances and ‘political forum’ of today.
But we support and have supported many nations whose troops were loosely allied with Nazi Germany. Nations such as Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Slovakia, all had loose alliances with Germany; some forced and others not. Certainly they were not Nazi, as most Germans weren’t; just carried to war by a dictator and branded as such.
Finland bore no love of anything Russian, and when the opportunity arose, accepted an alliance with Germany, calling the operation their ‘Continuation War’ and looked on it as another opportunity to drive the Russians away. When it was announced that as many as one million Russians could be coming their way, some Finn allegedly commented “So many Russians! Wherever will we bury them all?
With the 2nd World War drawing to a close, Winston Churchill had staff working on ‘Operation Unthinkable’. The idea was to turn western power against the Soviet Union, fearing that as he later stated, the Soviets would draw an ‘Iron Curtain’ across Europe. Would German soldiers have been offered an alliance and opportunity to soldier on in such an endeavor? Likely. But the idea was abandon, being as the Brits had already endured six full years of war. The world was tired.
Germany today is supplying some of the world’s best armored vehicles to the Ukraine, with the logistics to keep them running and fighting. Another blow against an old foe for the Germans, or just to help a sovereign nation fight back? As we Canadians do.
You can’t apply yesterdays alliances to the world today. There are too many ideologies and ill feelings hidden in the dust. Too many frayed edges and over-sown patches. It’s impossible to have a neat war today. The world so inter-connected as it is, leaves no room to maneuver. Sikh and Gurkha soldiers fought alongside Canadian troops, but now our countries are at odds over sovereignty.
We are making history sure enough, but are finding that all the old rules and friendships don’t apply. In that light, is that old man a hero because he fought the Russians, or a brigand because of his uniform? The fickle finger awaits.
I was at the Huntsville fair this Sunday to watch the kids smash up derby. I was seated in the stands. I came early and waited for show to start. Late comers came and stood in front of bleachers so the first 4 rows could not see the kids driving the cars. So I guess you just show up late and block everyone’s view. Sad. BUT the fair was great and busy and the adult car smash-up derby was great. It was very busy which is good. The food stalls were busy and the booths were nice to checkout. Inside the building were vegetables and photos and other things to see. It was a great time. Can’t wait for next year.
It’ is notable that the same couple, who recently moved to Huntsville, hosting and organizing an inaugural meeting of a group called Muskoka Canadians for Truth, at the Summit Centre this past spring, were also the main organizers and spokes persons in the recruiting of students from Huntsville High School for the march of protesters in Huntsville this past Wednesday.
They have obviously tapped into and incited like minded folks in our community. This is just an observation, not a criticism.
The pressure proved untenable and Premier Ford is backing away from Greenbelt development. That must have taken a lot out of him. What will this cost us I wonder, because it will cost us. There are developers filing already. Wedding gifts being reclaimed?
It cost one man his job and a couple more their portfolio. The police bailed and the RCMP can now stand down I suppose. But I have gained a modicum, a scintilla, a wee touch of respect for the man. Added to what I had before, it is still just a touch.
Notable though is the fact that there didn’t seem to be many other members of the ‘landslide’ (if any) with guts enough to speak up. Not in public anyway. That points up the weakness of majority governments in the era of ‘toe the party line or shut up’. It castrates the ability of the members to voice the feelings of the people who elected them.
The people won this one in the end, but at what cost? Likely the price will be the news in the near future.
Bruce, the pavement on the over the highway bridge has been in a state of disrepair for years and I think the section approaching the bridge has been like a minefield for as long as I can remember.
The bridge was done as part of the bigger project and the approach is being done after.
If anyone is paying attention, no or very little new pavement was removed.
On the whole, it is a fantastic improvement and money very wisely spent.
That area has been a disgrace for decades and I’m sure the local residents and businesses will be happy to see it complete. Best to you!
I had another tourist yell rude remarks at me at the three way stop at Walmat. This has happened several times this summer. Is it time to initiate a four way stop? I have also witnessed several close calls.
Just had another tourist yell at me at the three way stop at Walmart. This has happened to me several times this summer. I have also seen many close calls at this intersection. Is it time to make it a four way stop?
What’s happening with the bridge over Hwy 11 on Muskoka Rd 2? They finally got repairs done and the road repaved.
I was in to town today and they have ground the new pavement down to, in places, gravel. What is going on? Our tax dollars being used wisely?
Alan, I went up and asked the owner what was going on and was told he was just cleaning up the bush (with a huge excavator) with a very straight face. I had difficulty believing this. I looked on Town website to see what was going on but there was nothing posted for building. My son will be very disappointed as he lives in your old home. I own the property in behind up the hill and neither of us were informed as adjacent property owners as to building on that site. The hill is very steep and there are many difficulties in winter. It certainly is a disaster in the making! What are they thinking?
I grew up on Brunel Rd. Round Forbes’ corner and almost to the top of Carter’s hill. Across the road from where my great uncle John Carter grazed cattle. In 1982, we decided to build a house on the other side of the road, near the bottom of the hill. I needed a driveway permit. I staked where we wanted the driveway and got the inspector to come out for the approval.
He looked at my stakes and said “No way in hell Al. At 30 miles and hour, you’re only 3 or 4 seconds from the brow of the hill.” He pulled the markers and walked down the hill to where the present driveway is for 211 Brunel Road.
“There! That’ll give you another second or two.”
We moved from Brunel Rd., mostly because the traffic was much more intense than when I grew up there. Today, I drove up Carter’s hill and there, not 30 feet from where I was denied a permit, it seems a driveway is going in. What a difference 40years has made!
Might I caution drivers, when approaching the brow of Carter’s hill on your way to town, be very aware of the next 5 or 6 seconds of your driving experience. And I’m sure you already know that most traffic over that hill isn’t doing 30 miles an hour.
Everybody stay safe out there!
Some time ago, an extraordinarily generous Hunstville resident donated a $300,000 public washroom for Rivermill Park. Now the Huntsville Council has been bogged down with discussions concerning the $2000,000 cost associated with being installed and connected to the town’s sewage system.
I would like to suggest that the Council approach a local concrete manufacturer of septic systems, in the spirit of similar generosity to the original donor, to donate a large septic holding tank. Such tanks can be up to 84,000 litres in size (sufficient to contain 21,000 pees or 5,250 poos, or combinations thereof); a season’s worth? The tank can be pumped when full, typically just a few hundred dollars.
Again, in the spirit of civic pride and generosity, perhaps there are contractors who would be willing to excavate the site, provide the concrete pad, install the plumbing and connect the electrical.
Of course, if no one on Council asks, it is unlikely to happen.
They must have known it would all come out. Today, the system of fink or ferret is alive and well, and the secret Ford mandate is todays buzz. Although the dollars the government spent to keep it secret is outlandish, that’s not the part that piques my curiosity. I’ve read some of what’s been revealed, and wonder why all the secrecy?
The mandate includes phrases such as maintaining government “ethics, accountability ………strictly for the people.”
To “not become trapped in a bubble of elite interests.”
To work “to make a positive difference for the kind of people who cannot afford expensive lobbyists.”
To “restore trust and accountability” in government.
Pointedly stating that the problems other governments created would “not happen to us.”
Other admirable ideology abounds and if this government had strove to maintain those standards, it would be hard not to think they were working for the people. That would get my vote.
So what happened? Why the secrecy? Was it all tongue in cheek? Did the rest of the elected get a look at this and say “What the hell!! Are you out of your tree? You expect us to be just and fair and swear off lying?”
Applying this mandate, we would never have had a Paul Calandra bail on his long term care portfolio. Or Doug himself go to ground when there was the dragon, Covid, and we needed a Saint George. And certainly not have to endure Calandra again.
So why this mandate was considered so secret escapes me. It is full of good ideas and meant to set a high standard. I explained my problem to my wife this evening and her answer was blunt and to the point. “He just lied.” Didn’t he just? But I still wonder.
The secret is out. The people are affronted. The government can hear the sound of heavy boots and will do what it can to avoid the ass kicking it deserves. The prevaricating is about to begin.
And that mandate shows such promise.
In response to the “Stop relying on you own personal experiences and read the science….” a Ryan Wettlauffer comment, re: bug spraying, on June 10, 23, I stated that I found it a bit pretentious that someone believes that personal experience carries no weight at all. Disregard what happened. Forget what you now know. Ignore what you learned. Do the same thing again. Sounds like politicians.
Well I just read the results of a research program conducted by the Kent Wildlife Trust, UK. About the year 2000, it was being reported that there seemed to be fewer insects being splattered on vehicles, and about 2015 a program was run to test the theory. The assigned areas for the research varied, but the standard observation point, was the number plate on the vehicles.
The data shows that there are 50% fewer ‘auto splats’ today as compared to just 15 years ago. A good portion of our fauna is, or runs on bugs. They control each other, reprocess soil nutrients, pollinate crops, feed the next tier in the food chain, and some will bite and sting.
And all the ‘attaboys’ gleaned by the bugs are cancelled out when that “Oh shit ” moment arrives and someone gets bitten or stung. I am particularly fond of birds, and can see that the numbers of certain species, especially the warblers, are declining quickly. Warblers are small, active, brightly coloured , and run on bugs.
I’m not saying that local spraying alone is causing the bugs to go missing, but it is certainly a contributing factor. Number plates on cars, as well as windshields and grills are guilty too.
We maintain a patch of milkweed in the yard, and every year for the past 20 have noted the number of caterpillars, chrysalides (that we can find), and then the new minted Monarch we watch taking to the air on the warm, sunny days. This year it was 5 that we saw, only about a third of a normal year for us. And the number of tiger swallowtails has tanked. Hardly any this year.
Hopefully all this is cyclical and we will get our birds and butterflies back, though I shan’t hold my breath. But I won’t be spraying, even though these damn Japanese beetles are decimating the hops, hollyhocks and my beans.
These observations are mine and ours. It’s just a bonus when the science seems to run parallel to them.
Allen, I fully agree with you about the dangers that rule-breaking cyclists pose, however I must point out that young children should not have wear helmets. Instead, they should be securely fastened in a bike trailer.
I hope I am wrong with my “opinions”. Nothing would make me happier. But we are looking from different places I think. Enough for now and thanks for the comments.
At about 10:15 this morning, I was turning right onto Cann Street and watched a cyclist blow through the stop sign and across John street. Like the sign wasn’t even a suggestion. I guess lots of us see that, and before all the cyclists in the world begin yelling, you know it’s done. If not you in particular, then others.
The disconcerting part of this was that the man had two infants with him; one in front and one on his back. I saw diaper showing from the one on his back, so these were babies. What were you thinking man!!!! If you were in an accident, people would be quite sympathetic. You injured? Two infants injured? Maybe worse!! The other party, devastated. But from what I saw, it would as likely be your fault as someone else’s. In this instance, yours for sure.
You had a helmet firmly affixed to your head. The babies? Guess! So I suppose you are concerned for your own safety. But there are babies, parents, grandparents and a mother who could suffer because of your actions.
The helmet is to protect your head. So use it.
Your head that is!!
It is very upsetting the way that the arena staff run the ice time. The Huntsville Grey Owls have been renting the ice for over 40 years. Every Wednesday night at 8 PM then shifted their ice time to 8:30 after the renovation and addition of the Don Lough. Now their being told they can’t have that ice time anymore and that they can have the 9:30 time slot. This decision would be the end of a long standing organization as most of the members are 55+. Most cases this is how many members stay fit and get some exercise. Someone has to step up and draw the line. Every year should not be first come first serve but time slots honoured by years prior. Every demographic should matter whether it’s the elderly, men, women or children.
Yes, to everything John Oliver stated, I was too angry to say anything without being deleted.
I always get agitated when I read comments that complain about how rights and freedoms being taken away… really. Do you have any concept of what you are saying Kathryn? What freedoms have been taken away from you? You can voice your opinion, you can peacefully protest, you can run for office without having to worry about being thrown in jail. I say you have a lot to be thankful about, you can travel anywhere you want to go, you can practice any religion you want, you can love anyone you want, you can even change your sex. You can pretty much do anything you want as long as you don’t break the laws of our land. Your opinions are like bellybuttons and bums, we all have them.
As for the government trying to hide the truth from you, try living in China or Russia or North Korea, you’re damn lucky to be living in Canada.
I can’t believe this paper is publishing the garbage that Ms Henderson is spitting out.
You cannot allow the publication of false facts simply because she support the conservative party!
The liberals were the ones scaring everyone and closing stores and stopping the normal day to day. The news doesn’t tell you how many people died from the experimental jab versus how many really died of covid. Some deaths were not covid but were marked as covid deaths. So Trudeau did this and gave out millions to look good. Where do you think the virus came from. We are in for a big surprise on how the country will be run going forward unless Conservatives get in. They are out numbered and all their ideas were shot down due to liberal and ndp coalition. Call it a conspiracy theory if you want but this world is changing and not for the better. Freedom to work was taken away, freedom of speech taken away freedom to gather and protest denied unless you want to be called a terrorists and more. Now talk of 15 minute cities, more like lockdown or concentration camps watching and controlling our every move. We should be scared of what’s coming.
I’ve seen in a couple of comments here on Doppler, stating a 10 point spread now exists between the Liberal and Conservative parties. The conservatives are leading! It leaves me a bit puzzled.
I am no Liberal, was not fond of our first Trudeau and am no more enamored with the son. I have always been a Conservative, though I find those who carry that banner today are not like the conservatives I’ve voted for.
When covid became a pandemic, I was concerned about the reaction of the Liberals of the day, cranking up the mint and handing out cash to all and sundry. The debt would be enormous. There seemed to be little overview. It was all too easy. I don’t believe there was a provincial government of any stripe that reached out to their populace. It was all the feds. Trudeau.
That payout, CERB, and other money fronted to corporations, must have saved some homes. Some jobs. Some families. As a senior, I even got a one time $500.00 handout. Now there are some who are being required to pay the money back, having misrepresented themselves. But that is for them and the government to sort out. And after it all, there were still a lot of people hurting.
Todays Conservative leader says that everything the federal Liberals do and have done is wrong. Might we believe then, that with Mr. Poilievre as prime minister, that money would not have been given out. Those jobs and homes lost. Those businesses failed. We need a lot more of an actual design and plan for the future of this country.
Makes me wonder why anyone would choose to be a prime minister today. The adage “What have you done for me lately?” seems to be the attitude of most people.
Just an observation.
I agree with Jacquie Howell especially when she thanks the volunteers that do so much in our communities and get very little recognition for their efforts. Criticism is often their reward. Take time to look at the beauty all around us and think of what it would like if people stopped caring about the environment. Miss you Jacquie, hope life is treating you well.
I am very curious to know why the Center Street boulevard between Hanes Road & West Road had been turned into a weed patch It is bad enough that they made two cuts in this area that was a very delightful entrance to downtown
I still am amazed that planning is so hap hazard in this town. Surely, when development plans come to the table of council things like secondary roads, sidewalks, lighting, signage, beautification like plantings are important NOT just the fees and no thought for a vision of more than 4 years.. Traffic flow will be a very interesting sight when the whole area around Hanes & Center are operational – More lights
On the positive side thank to the volunteers who have spent many hours planting flowers around the town. The barrels on Main Street are exceptional. Hopefully next year some creativity can salvage the rocks at Brunel & Main
Come on Council Lets see some creative and positive thinking without establishing another committee with more paid staff. Remember only one person pays the taxes whether it be to Town, District, Education, Provincial or Federal. Please do not continue to duplicate departments that already excise in this area. We are top heavy in administration and need more people on the ground (especially in the road department)
Perhaps someone can explain to me some of my concerns
I just finished reading an article in the New York Times about a Wisconsin State Senator (Republican) suing a small publication for slander. He was overheard by several people calling a 13 year old boy a “FAG. This was reported in the Wausau Pilot and Review. So now the Senator is suing after his initial suit was first dismissed, but now he’s appealing. The editor of the of this small publication is at a point where she can either pay legal fees or her staff. She’s in danger of having to shut down.
So why am I telling this on Doppler?
We’re all aware of the pressure today on small media and most recently the move by Face Book and Google to limit news to Canadians. Okay, I can get what I want from CBC, The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail and the New York Times, so I don’t feel impacted by their decision
But if we want to protect local information sources than we have to act. I enjoy the local content and comments from readers on Doppler..I read them all. Its part of my morning routine.
I have been a huge fan of The Doppler since its inception and I subscribe monthly….it’s not much but I know it’s appreciated.
I’m urging readers of the Doppler to financially support this online gem (through subscription or advertising), as its critical we have a reliable local news and information source in this day and age.
They do a great job but I think they could and would do so much more with support from their readers and fellow subscribers.
I enjoyed and largely agreed with what Hugh Holland had to say in his recent article. So I’m wondering why Muskoka hasn’t taken his advice and subsidized installing wind and solar everywhere they’re practical. I would expect that the population would support this idea.
Perhaps the Doppler could keep us up-to-date on what our communities are doing to make better use of the natural environment – e.g. by reforesting areas that have been disrupted by harvesting or building or by supporting the environmentally friendly landscaping of lawns and gardens, etc.
I suspect we have skilled and expert readers with information to share – on both an amateur and professional level – as well as students who might be willing to earn extra money and experience by applying knowledge they acquired in school.
Yes Nancy Long, I totally agree.
Dave Csrbonari. Where do you get your information?
Basic Income puts existing money to better use.
Most economists agree that inflation is caused by introducing new money into the market, not by redistributing it… A basic income would not cause inflation; it would help families facing rising costs.”Aug 24, 2022
I have little knowledge of money matters. But this makes sense to me.
Tax the people who are creating the new money.
Universal basic income is a terrible idea that should be avoided at all costs.
It’s highly inflationary and as we’ve seen with monetary and asset inflation, once that genie is out of the bottle, it’s very difficult to get it back in.
Inflation is a tax on the low and middle classes. It hurts non-asset holders the most. It makes the poor poorer.
On the matter of naming one of the ball diamonds after George Selkirk, I have changed my position to being in favour of it. It could be an inspiration to young ball players. That should override my previous opinions.
Rest in peace Hugh Segal who died too young. That’s my kind of politician; Progress Conservative (remember that?). Worked with Bill Davis, another great Ontarian. Senator Segal was one of the authors of the Universal Basic Income initiative which was immediately cancelled by the Doug Ford Cons. Mr. Segal cared about people on the precipice of society..he always said “no bootstraps without boots”. We all need more politicians like this man.
Hopefully, Council’s recent proposal and subsequent decision to decline a downtown pavement decoration and it’s statement to be on hold; Is that ‘infinity hold’ or….?
Where does it say that “pride goes before a fall”? With governments’ mantra of ‘keeping you safe’ would any action endorsing the contrary have consequences for said Council?
Could it be that people are fixed on priorities weightier; having a place to lay your head, work, food on the table, and family values reinforced in their communities. We are such a blessed country and people, let’s Hold that infinitely with our founding values.
Hats off to the Huntsville roads dept. for the great job they did on the top of Chaffey. St. Great gravel and supper grading job thanks again.
Pride colours painted on pavement, 7 feathers painted on crosswalk, maple leafs on crosswalk?
Something has gone askew. Does simple respect and appropriate actions towards all not indicate inclusion and acceptance of others, their life style, cultures, race and all the diversities that involves? Our actions are what counts. There are such a multitude of issues that could be addressed instead.. Start with a simple idea. Why not consider making a difference such as instigating a year round program in the community that makes outdoor education for youth a priority? How about a visible active community garden worked by all ages of volunteers, especially involving young people as well as seniors? Maybe the boulders could be taken out of Kent Park and that area might be a starting point? Consider that initial landscaping cost a bust.
How about a study on facade control of all new development in the municipality? Realize the cookie cutter urban sprawl planning is already well dug in, unfortunately, but maybe change could be made for the future. Relook at the log cutting bylaw and stop this destruction that exists. It is almost too late since clear cutting continues and old growth trees are mostly gone. What about stronger protection of our waterways with no grey water disposal allowed, inspection of water adjacent properties for sewage contamination, no wake laws strengthened, stricter set back guidelines, more policing? Water testing and pinpointing the source of contamination in all our waterways. How about a transparent road repair plan and agenda that addresses the wide scale outstanding issues? Show when and where repairs will be instigated. There are a plethora of issues that should/could be investigated and discussed rather than paint lines on pavement and astronomically priced washrooms at River Mill Park.
Re Pride flags and crosswalks—In response to comments by Kathryn Henderson dated July 25th and Mo James dated July 28th, I agree with Kathryn, especially the last three sentences.
Hugh enough is enough. However you fail to ask the question, how did we get there. Why has the respect for people in public service declined to its present state. This does not stop with elected officials, but also includes bureaucrats and government employees.
My feeling is that it has been gradual over my lifetime. In the early years of my life it seemed that elected officials, first of all were not paid very well. Second they were elected because of their vision for the community . Often they did have success in the community.
Where as now on a Provincial and Federal level we elect people on the bases of the party and the leader. Then we are surprised when our member votes as the party wishes not as he or she had expressed while running for office.
To further annoy the electorate , these officials hire more and more people to do the job of administrating the the wishes of the officials. The bureaucrats then say they need more people. Then eventually consultants are required.
Then comes the next issue, who pays for all of this, the tax payer. We all know that anyone who receives a government pay cheque does not create wealth from that activity. They may become wealthy as have many politicians.
Then we have the destruction of the middle working class as governments have increased taxes to the extent that industry has moved off shore.
Today the best paying jobs and most secure are government jobs. Over the last few years governments Federal, Provincial and Municipal have increased their numbers and payrolls substantially. Yet we have a shortage of workers in all areas of our economy. We also have a growing need for food banks.
The divide between the haves and have not is not getting better under this government expansion.
Finally the entitlement as expressed by all levels of public service is more than annoying it is vulgar. The Governor General’s expenses in an Iceland visit. The Prime Minister’s expenses and action at the Queen’s funeral, as well as other activities. Our town employees, having meetings that includes lunches or dinners.
I agree with you Hugh, enough is enough
Why would the town spend any money on a pride sidewalk? We the taxpayers want the money spent on better roads,not on a sidewalk come on town get with proper spending not on stupid sidewalks
$81K vs $7K for crosswalk paint?
$400K to turn green Kent park into a barren concrete jungle?
$688K just to install two $300K donated toilets?
Rapidly approaching a BILLION dollars blown by the District?
Have all Muskoka councillors lost their mind?
https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/committee-hears-companies-refuse-to-bid-on-rainbow-crosswalk/?
https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/kent-park-redesign-has-been-completed/
https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/council-defers-decision-on-whether-to-approve-a-350-cost-increase-to-prepare-the-site-for-the-donated-river-mill-park-washrooms/
https://southmuskoka.doppleronline.ca/big-stink-district-tackles-multiple-wastewater-issues/
Ms. Henderson, this is your second comment on the Pride Flag in the last few weeks. What is it that you are really afraid of? You don’t understand why a LGBTQ+ flag should be hung. I suppose a crosswalk will upset you as well. Flags are not hung at the exclusion of any other flags. They are there to help promote awareness. Awareness that this marginalized group needs the support of all, to know they are accepted. That if a 13 year old boy or girl has the courage to come out to her parents and then read your comments, that it pushes them back from doing so. How can they possibly safely come out, especially in a small town like Huntsville. You say in your comment that gays are welcome. In your world, yes, they are welcome, just don’t walk our streets, don’t hold hands or kiss in public, just be gay where you can’t see it.
The Doppler also needs to take a little more care in editing posts. In the comment it was noted; “Hang a heterosexual fag as well then”. Perhaps you meant “flag”, perhaps it was a typo, perhaps not.
Huntsville, you can do better. Now there is controversy over a Rainbow Crosswalk. Really? Tourism is the basis of your economy. Do you believe none of these tourists are gay?
Yes me again. The town wants to spend $81,000 to paint pride colours on our mainstreet crosswalk. People have trouble paying their taxes and they want to spend this on something that doesn’t relate to everyone. Your something else council. Not in a good way.
I would like to know when the vote was to hang a pride flag at the town? What about a flag honoring the vets who actually did something for us. Like fight and die keeping us free. I’m just plain tired of seeing that flag. Hang a heterosexual fag as well then. Thar would be fair. And I don’t hate LGBTQ+. Glad they are welcomed and living like they want. I’m just tired of it in my face every where I look.
Why, after three years, has there been no update regarding the tree cutting bylaw that council claimed it was going to fast-track? Is this simply not a priority for town council? Do they hope that everyone just forgot about it? Has it been memory-holed, lest it stand in the way of their aspirations for the town’s development? I would like an update on this from the town, as well as an explanation for why it clearly ranks so low on their list of priorities.
A couple of thoughts about roads today.
FIRST concerns the brushing along the road. They did a considerable section of Fox Point Rd. 21 this year and yes, it did look a bit like a damaged part of the Ukraine when they finished, but wait! The guy running the machine was pretty careful and within the limits of what could be done he did a pretty neat job. The job did need doing desperately and already the new green growth is covering up the chips so it does not look that bad already. I’d give this effort an 8 or 9 out of 10.
SECOND concerns Port Cunnington Rd. 22. Now we all know that the pothole was invented in Port Cunnington some years back so this year the District has taken on the job of resurfacing the road with a vengeance not seen in recent times.
They ground up the old mess, as per normal and even replaced some old culverts, all good!
Then they must have got a case of “gravel on the brain” as for over a week there has been a steady stream of giant trucks pouring gravel onto the road. The road is now so much higher ( a foot in places) that using existing entry points is like mountain climbing. The gravel has flowed into the ditches that were just dug out earlier this year. Trees and signs near the road are either buried or pushed back to make way for the gravel.
And still the gravel arrives. One big truck has seemingly no muffler on it and “obnoxious” would be a mild term for it. The rest are ok given their sized.
The road is so high compared to the guard rails now that about all those guard rails will do is rip your hubcaps off as your careen over them into the lake so I’m not sure what happens next with these.
In one place the Bell cable was just marginally at the height requirement and now with the road about a foot higher, I’m wondering if the next disaster will be a tall truck ripping this down?
I was just wondering if District has a goal here. Like maybe a one lane road 4 feet higher than before, or maybe a two lane road 2 feet higher of possibly a 3 lane road at the original grade??
The workers seem happy and industrious and each day more gravel arrives. The guy driving the water truck can back up faster than most cars go forward, I’m in awe of his skill, but I’m left wondering where this is going to end up.
It is a bit of a counter point to the brushing success earlier in the year. I don’t even know how to rate it.
LAST and again concerning brushing. The Lake of Bays folks finally brushed out the road to the dump. It has needed it for a long time. These guys worked in the heat and rain and the job is the best I have seen anywhere to date. I’d rate these guys and this job as a 10 out of 10. It is worth a drive just to look at it, forget the silly dump!
I agree with Dr. Bergman. My understanding is that your body will only use what it needs and we get most if not all we need in our every day diet. Everything thing else is expelled from the body. But beware, if you take a supplement just because someone tells you, you may end up in the emergency room. Save your money and invest what you save on eating healthy.
I have been driving this road for 57 years, since I got my license. Reducing the speed on this long stretch of flat road with no driveways, seems like a kick in the head from District ! There are no District or Town of Huntsville councilors on this road, so they really are not affected !
What it will cause , is frustrated motorists who are behind people who like to travel 10- 20 UNDER the limit ! Sounds more like creating cluster..ck !
In medical parlance, vitamins and supplements provide one with expensive pee.
BRUNEL ROAD SPEED LIMIT..
Sorry but I don’t understand. Could someone please explain the rationale in reducing the speed limit from 80K to 60K on Brunel Road north of Markles Road. I, along with many who have been travelling Brunel road for years, have been fully aware of when it changes from 80K to 50 then 40. Even if it was a first time driver on Brunel, the speed limit signs were clear enough. SO WHY?
To Doug Beiers: Thank you for providing the link, save our supplements and The Great Vine link to send a letter to our local MP. I just did that.
I heavily rely upon natural supplements. I can’t imagine prices rising out of reach; and /or fewer choices.
I urge anyone who uses natural supplements to send a letter to our local MP.
Once again it seems the Feds are coming after our easy access to (relatively) inexpensive natural vitamins and healthy supplements. If they succeed many or most products could end up being priced out of reach of the average person or discontinued, plus many stores could be driven out of business and product suppliers will just leave Canada as their business will not be profitable, leaving Pharma alone in this market.
I recommend those interested/concerned peruse this https://www.saveoursupplements.ca/ and maybe speak to the professionals at our local Health Products Store https://www.thegreatvine.ca/the-great-team for detailed information. If once informed you are concerned here is the email address of our local MP to make your concerns known [email protected]
Good article just out https://tnc.news/2023/06/30/save-our-supplements/
Allen Markle said: — “Canada Day and no music in Rivermill Park because “there have been noise complaints.” Would like to see those recorded complaints. I think a hearty ‘BS’ might be inserted here?”
I was not aware live music has been cancelled at Rivermill Park and I overlook it? Yes, a couple years ago sometimes I thought ‘some’ bands were trying to entertain patients at our hospital or the far end of town, it was that loud, sometimes. That seemed to change for the better last year and this year. It seems someone must have spoken to the entertainers as if I don’t want to partake I now just close my window and maybe turn on a fan and all is well.
Just my 2 cents.
Well Chas, it’s a whole series of recurring potholes on DR 3 from Woodstream to the hospital. We destroyed a tire there last week, and in trying to claim damages (unsuccessfully) from the District, their reply was that our misadventure was within their requirement of servicing that road once per week. Never mind that probably hundreds of dump trucks pound the crap out of that road weekly. As a further nod to their lack of service and planning, they are going to resurface this road north of this stretch, which is not nearly in as bad a condition.
Next.&
What’s your favorite pothole? Mine is when you come from Hwy 60 and it is right at the first traffic lights where you turn in to Can Tire. It’s a cunning devil in that it is impossible to avoid and its been growing for some weeks now. Let your car or truck enjoy the jolt and bounce. What’s your favourite?
Allen Markle I like your thoughts. River Park was made for music. How does council not know music is cancelled there. No accountability on council. Townsfolk can put up with a little bit of music without complaining. Come on people it’s summer in our town and we need some events going on.
Canada Day and no music in Rivermill Park because “there have been noise complaints.” Would like to see those recorded complaints. I think a hearty ‘BS’ might be inserted here?
Is this the end of live music at Rivermill, here in Huntsville? In a park built for sound. A park that the town got because a man felt that land should benefit the people. It would have been quite a spot for condos. And worth a lot as such.
There was music last year, courtesy of the same sponsor who, I believe, wanted to do it again this year. The music would likely be done by 6 or 7, so no would be having their chariot turn into a pumpkin, and left with no way home. Don’t know the bands, but for sure some local pickers and others from within driving distance. And it would cost the town nothing!
Hard to do it in Kent Park (aka Tombstone Territory) so what is the problem?
Wrap your buttocks in Spandex or Elastane, throw a leg over a CCM (old school) and you can pester the life out of all the folks along Brunel road. Annually! Maybe twice.
Then I hear there is a councilor who claims to have not known there would be no music Canada Day. Really!! Apparently not a council decision. So whose was it? (We think we know). And what do they have against music downtown? Or Canada Day?
I realise there are people in charge of the operations of the town. Those members of our ‘Sunshine List’. But councilors are the ones whose smiling faces greet us leading up to election day. “Pick me” they say. “I’ll do a good job.” They are who people elected. So all these elected ones really should have some idea as to what’s going on. Or not going on.
Like no music in the park on Canada Day. How in h@#l do they miss that??
Just like snake oil salesmen at a carnival selling to the gullible.
Are all District decisions based on bunk?
Regarding https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/massively-over-budget-district-cans-grass-runway-project/
Fish have short memories.
Teaching District Council.
You are wasting your time attempting to educate District council on any subject.
Local pilots and others with aviation competence have tried to teach council a little bit about airports and aviation for three years now.
Turns out councillors are really bad students.
Instead of listening to facts, like a previous council, they desperately clung to the bunk presented to them by the airport CEO and chair.
Even if it kills someone.
A previous council, a previous consultant, the latest consultant and all those with even a modicum of aviation competence all agree the grass runway at the airport should be maintained for now and for the future.
Simply build beside it instead of on top of it.
That was the conclusion of a report from the latest consultant that council asked for.
And then ignored/forgot about.
The building should have been completed by now except for the airport CEO and chair.
There never was a valid reason to close the grass runway or that it’s closed right now.
How much would it cost to reopen it?
ZERO dollars.
Video of that presented to council in a Jan 2020 delegation is here:
https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/711738306/af9d151e20
The unqualified and dangerously incompetent airport CEO and chair disagree with all of the above for some unknown reason.
Of course two runways at 90 degrees makes any airport safer and more usable.
That’s obviously why all major airports have runways arranged like that to drastically cut the angle of dangerous crosswinds.
The airport CEO and chair stated the opposite and this council bought the snake oil.
Hook, line and sinker.
It is documented that Transport Canada, the Transportation Safety Board, Cessna (aircraft manufacturer), airline and local pilots have all thoroughly debunked the information presented to council by the airport CEO and chair.
Councillors prefer bunk from the incompetent.
Are all District decisions based on bunk?
Last July council was made aware the new alternate grass runway 12-30 presented to them in 2020 was bunk.
It never was viable.
Nothing to do with cost.
At all.
For some reason the airport was still talking about cost this year when 12-30 was already dead last year.
Zero due diligence was done by the airport before 12-30 was presented.
Incompetence.
The neighbours won’t allow their trees to be cut down so that project was dead last year.
The CEO suggested the trees would be cut down without the owner’s approval.
That remark was called flippant by a councillor.
Video of July 2022 is here: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/784981370/3e538e4e18
Council’s time was wasted for two years regarding 12-30.
Reopening the grass runway was the next step to maintain a second runway.
Then council forgot about all that this year.
Fish have longer memories.
Council initially resisted the bunk for many years but in May this year they folded like a cheap suit.
Dangerous bunk over obvious facts.
Duped.
Some councillors even officially abdicated their responsibility and blindly voted to approve whatever the two unqualified, incompetent individuals were pushing.
They could have been pushing to close the main paved runway as well to build a golf course and condos and council would have blindly approved.
Staff really run the District of Muskoka and make the decisions.
Council here just blindly rubber stamps them.
To be fair not all councillors were fooled by the obvious bunk presented to them.
Just the majority.
Attempting to teach District council is a waste of time.
John Whitty
Muskoka pilot and retired P.Eng.
Mr. Markle; your common sense and observations are a breath of fresh air. Thank you.
On April 27, 2021, I submitted a comment in response to an applicant requesting a permit to build a rental duplex on his property. There would be no severance of the land, the building was supposedly to house a farm manager and a farm worker (or two).
In exchange for the permit, the farm was to establish a garden; the produce from which would be donated to a local food bank. A large banner appeared, proclaiming the name of the lucky recipient of all this largess. There were scrapings in the field, a shed built, a cedar hedge planted; much ado.
I noted at the time that there are lots of people donating to charities, not needing building permits as reward, sometimes just donating, without even the need of acknowledgement. But in this instance, that was not apparently sufficient.
Some councilors were elated that there were people with synapses firing ‘out-side the box’. Uplifting concepts such as this would greatly help the food banks. A marvelous idea.
Today, all the stuff in the field remains, although it might take a couple of determined individuals to force a goat to graze among the weeds. There is little trace that any food bank will receive even one radish as donation. Even the banner proclaiming the ‘attempt at such a righteous’ endeavor is gone.
The town delivered on the permit for rental duplex part of the scheme, the “outside the box’ thinking. The duplex was built and the renters moved in. However the ‘in exchange’ part of the deal is still to be acted upon.
I stated originally that this ask was a ‘shine’. The smoke and mirrors of a well planned snake oil scheme.
It would be interesting to know how many tons, bags, baskets, bunches or boxes of produce were ever delivered to the food bank. Maybe something did get harvested and the town really does have the records and figures!
Okay. That last bit is sarcasm.
Affordable homes is a great buzz word for councils all over, but in reality they want the small homes in the next town, while they have the 800 thousand and up in theirs. After all small homes pay small taxes.
Builders can not push upgrades in basic homes, those people just want a basic house similar to a few decades ago, start small then work your way up.
Many people try to blame the construction people for greed in pricing, but it has been published that it can take 8 to 10 years from the time a builder borrows money and buys a piece of land until the first ground work starts. In that time the cost of money, materials and labour have gone up by a factor of 2 or 3.
If we look to other areas some things are done in a different way.
areas designated for small homes, 25 and 30 foot lots. Homes built on floating slabs, meaning no basement costs. Some areas promote the use of modular homes starting at 600 square feet.
The advantage of modular versus stick built is that modules are factory built so everything is up to date and weather does not stop your home from being built.. trucks show up on a given date and in one to two days your in your new home with interior finished, quicker and cheaper.
Some towns even have areas for tiny homes, eight and a half feet max width, with shared laundry and rec buildings.
How about park model mobiles, owners build equity, and can sell and move in to more permanent residences.
For lower cost places councils have to designate areas for different styles, not just passing the high end stuff. Some areas even have lease to own lots.
Think about alternatives, for a town to grow it needs business areas and worker areas,
Workers and businesses will go where they are welcome and can afford to operate.
The District of Muskoka has made a half hearted attempt to improve road conditions on West Rd (not nearly enough) but when is the Town Of Huntsville going to do anything about the bomb crators left in Centre St? They have been there for several months so don’t say they are on your ‘to-do’ list.
I recently came across this study from three economics professors at Queen’s University. Link below.
Of note:
“Ontario loses 826.42 million USD annually from having wind power generation in the system, while the US gains 7.50 million USD through electricity exported from Ontario.”
“Comparing the environmental benefits with the net cost to consumers shows the promotion of wind power generation to be largely a waste of Ontario’s resources.”
“… the wind electricity generation projects in Ontario appear to be a particularly weak
instrument for achieving Ontario’s commitments for future GHG reductions.”
Mr. Schreiner, Mr. Richter and the other devotees of the cult of Climate Catastrophe – the new 21st century religion- are dead wrong on energy policy. The mounting evidence is irrefutable.
https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/230593/1/1733577661.pdf
My own opinion and that of everyone I talk to they have had enough pride colours in their faces everywhere you look. I like everybody and want everyone to find love and companionship. We accept that. We accept LGBTQ. So just live your lives like normal and don’t advertise your sexual orientation. And pride is for LGBTQ not everyone and never has been. But we can’t say anything or we are told we hate and are homophobic and that’s not the case. I feel like I live in a LGBTQ community and not in a diversified town. I expect hate mail because I dare have an opinion.
I agree with Suzanne Treadwell. June 8. Everyone is equal. Please spend tax money on the homeless, depressed and elderly.
David Johnson has resigned. He has suggested that his task was impossible under such partisan conditions. He suggests that a person agreed upon by all parties should be chosen to carry on his work. Well! Good luck with that.
When you think about it, who would want the job, seeing what organized bullying can do. And it was bullying; the herd mentality full blown. Should some poor shmuck ever choose to accept to carry on his work, and make a suggestion not acceptable to the group, it’s now obvious the fate that awaits them.
Now who will our ‘parliamentarians’ get to fall upon next?? And heaven help her or him should he or she have a friend. A totally unacceptable concept. We are agreed that party affiliation should hold no sway here.
The Chinese must be giggling, trending toward unabashed guffaws. Kinda’ leaves me sad and with little faith in these present lawmakers of ours. None of them.
Mr Graziano, I think you are confusing this with Canada Day when everyone gets together under the Canadian flag.
Hey people cool down! Pride colours are for everyone now. The parade is now called Pride parade not Gay pride parade.Pride now means be proud of who you are.All natioalities march in the parade and people of all sex.More important things in this town to worry about somCOOL it!
Hello Brenda,
The parking lot does not belong to Canvas, Canvas rents its parking area from Sam Peters Investments Limited.
To Jerry Paris:
I had no idea that this parking lot is privately owned by Canvas Brewery. I occasionally go downtown and when I do, I park in this lot next to the food truck. I’d be happy to park on Main Street but there aren’t many parking spaces since the ‘upgrades.’
Now, the sidewalks are being torn up. A few days ago there were 4 work vehicles (vehicles belonging to the sidewalk construction crew) parked on Main Street.
I think it’d be fantastic to see a pride flag painted on the crosswalk. Great for tourism, and great for the diversity of the community.
Respectfully, i lived near the railway line and in the winter they leave there diesel engines running all night if its cold. Have you ever had to sit and listen to a diesel engine run all night , trust me truck motors im sure make just as much noise so they might have stopped blowing there horns. Which was an assine thing to do, but they i would i imagine would have been running there engines to keep warm. All in all i dont imagine it was much better. Also, i havnt noticed being less free since any of that went on.
Been around Huntsville for about 46 years and had a new ocurance Sunday afternoon.
I went to pull into the lot across from boston pizza where Over the years with no problems or comment.
A gentleman came out and said that the whole lot was now controlled by canvas , all of it, and we were not welcome if goiing to anywhere else. of course if we we were parked in another place we would be welcome to walk in.
I guess when the businesses or town have waterfront or main street activities or main is blocked off we must remember to stay away.
There were about 6n cars in the whole lot. To get to the cleaners you are now supposed to go around.
We must now worry about segraged stopping.
I wanted to go see Miss lynch and the others that participated in the truck rally. A lot of people are angry at truckers for being there. They were peaceful. When asked not to blow horns at night, they complied. The whole thing would have been done in two days if Trudeau went out and listened to their concerns. A lot of people don’t see or understand a lot of our rights as Canadians are being taken away. I will put up with some discomfort fighting for our rights and freedoms.
With all due respect:
When did it become necessary to celebrate and honour people because of their sexuality?
We are all created equal and no one should be put on a pedestal because of the sexual lifestyle.
Can we not agree that whether we are heterosexual or gay we have a place in this world and be the best we can be.
Let’s leave it at that. I am amazed that we are constantly acknowledging the gay community with flags, banners and now painting a public street.
I wonder what a referendum on the issue would reveal. Perhaps the town council should focus their attention to important matters like providing safe walkways that would benefit all tax payers.
Tax dollars to assist the homeless would be a better way to show inclusiveness in our community.
I ask all readers to voice their opinion on this matter.
Thus morning i was amazed to see on facebook an advertisement for a speech and movie and meeting at the summit center for the people who took over Ottawa. Now in my opinion i do not believe something that was cause for a trial, and innocent people in Ottawa being harassed in there homes is a good thing to have in our town building . Granted other people have different opinions than me but i for one do not agree with it. Whats next a barbacue and meet and greet for the proud boys..
Why do we have to put a pride flag up. Paint a crossing it costs money I don’t want my tax dollars going to any pride stuff If you are that type of person ok don’t push it on me enough is enough
In my humble opinion the best way for everyone to feel included, in a community is to just try to blend like everyone else, not try stand out, and quit the silly parades and you may blend with everyone else, unless your object is not to do so.
Still have no idea how a gaily painted crosswalk will promote inclusivity. It may in the minds of some, but not in the minds of others. I’m of the opinion, that it’s not so much being accepted, as the demanding of acceptance, that’s at work here.
Live the way you choose, I don’t mind and am not interested except maybe in casual conversation. But don’t suppose I will accept you removing my freedom of choice. I realise there are those who will never understand or accept ‘differences’. Demanding acceptance from those people will not change them. And we can all predict the results.
But if the town council and the communities at large(?) feel it’s needed, and there is the possibility it will stifle this incessant cry for ‘inclusivity’; for the luva, PAINTERUP!!! It won’t be the last thing council will blow a wad of our tax dollars on.
But it’s not likely to change much. Is it?
I’m probably going to get a bunch of nasty comments but …I disagree with putting the pride flag painted on our new crosswalk. We have flags all over, a pride crosswalk at the high-school. Enough already. There are heterosexual people living in this town too. Leave sex preferenced out of our main street. I will not use that crosswalk if they paint it pride colours. We all want to be treated equally but the Pride group want to dominate the town.
In its April 19, 2023 post, the East Central Alberta Review ( ECE Review) published “UCP’s healthcare privatization actions speak louder than words.” Premier Danielle Smith’s aggressive agenda of healthcare privatization is “further fragmenting our healthcare system and worsening the dire short-staffing situation it is facing.” Lab results are late, wait times for surgeries have increased and workers have been pulled from the public system. ecareview.com
Doug Ford plans to go ahead with Bill 60 which will privatize some( for now) of our public hospital services. The Ontario Health Coalition is currently conducting a citizen-run referendum on this issue and is asking for your opinion. This is an opportunity for you to be heard, For or Against. Please visit publichospitalvote.ca
Become informed and vote.
Coalition volunteers will be setting up a booth at Metro in Huntsville on Friday, May 26, and Saturday, May 27 to answer questions and to provide you with the opportunity to vote on-site.
I guess by now we are all aware of the unfair struggle between a town and its ‘official plan’, and developers and the Ontario Municipal Board. The board is a cadre of developers and the like, who sit in judgment of the performance of developers. They don’t even publish the score; the towns lose..
It might concern me less if it was someone else’s town, but in the case of Huntsville, it’s the town my ancestors helped settle. So it’s why I find it disturbing to see it helpless against the ‘carpetbagger’ style developers we watch rape and loot and pillage the land; everyday.
In my youth people worked for a living. Later, some realised they could make a living and a bit of profit; for later years. Some even built respectable wealth; were envied by their neighbors. But developers seem to work to make ‘a killing’.
Where I saw fields, there are now ‘developments’ The lakes where I paddled and could see some cottages, are now ringed with buildings, like an extensive tiara. Bush trails I used to get to trout creeks and lakes are now routes to ‘cottages’ that could house dozens, though they are empty for a major portion of the year. Unless they are rented out for a few days at a time, to people who feel nothing for the land, the creek, or the lake. They may never return.
Some may remember passing a local dairy farm. In that field was a particular holstein that possessed one small white patch. We knew it a 2%. People kept cattle! And we had local dairies. We had a gentleman who sold eggs and fresh vegetables on the main street. You could buy meat from a butcher. Dairy is gone now and local meat and vegetables rare.
From the river I frequently paddled, I could draw a pail of water, sit it on the stand in the camp, and people would quench their thirst, straight from the pail. The only reason you have a problem getting to this place any more, is that ATVs have turned the shoreline to a quagmire.
I guess I don’t have what it takes to have been a developer; neither the finances, nor the desire to destroy the land. There is obviously big money to be made, but in the end it will get one no bigger a box, nor deeper a hole. It’s also rumored there are no pockets in shrouds.
I grew up a mile from town on Brunel Rd. Let me tell you it has changed! I just don’t see that it has changed for the better. I know this all pretty much nostalgia and I’m told that if the town doesn’t develop and grow, it will die. I don’t see these developers breathing life into anything but concrete and vinyl.
And, you will have to explain ‘will die’ to me. The town I grew up in blew away a while ago.
A perfect location for a L L Bean store
Thank you Ryan, but I can’t take any credit for my service as I was not in the military. Those men and women that were deserve all our thanks and appreciation and respect for their service.
My exposure to the events that have shaped my outlook on life come from working in countries like Iraqi, Syria, Pakistan, China, South America, Saudi Arabia and many other countries that are in conflict. I have seen what life is like for the citizens of these countries and I thank God every day that we are fortunate to live in Canada. We have the rights and freedoms to complain about potholes, healthcare and injustice without fear of being thrown into prison, beaten or shot.
I know that I don’t have to explain myself, my experiences and the way I deal with them are my problem, but sometimes I think of the people in those countries that I met, are they alive, what happened to their children. Sadly the answer is…
My wife keeps telling me that I should write a book about my experiences, but to be honest, she doesn’t know the full story.
There is a war going on somewhere, pretty much all the time. Rudi Stade mentioned the Ukraine. All that does is locate the comment in time. I mentioned once that an intersection out our way resembled a street that had sustained shell fire. Mogadishu, Kabul, Sarajevo, Aleppo, were all belligerent sites, and mentioning any one of them, or various others, simply fixes the years for us.
Before the chest-clutching or brow stroking commences, let it be understood, that all I mean is that these different wars have been going on for ages. But we still suffer from the same (censored word)ing pot holes! They just get recycled !!
This year our taxes went up some 6%, supposedly so the town might have the funds to pay the help and do the work necessary. We even had a councilor kick in and do some freelance tidying up. Wonder how many other councilors thought that a good idea? Or did they sneer and hiss and have a word with him. I’m not putting much faith in the councilor for out Lancelot way, donning gloves and helping spread some cold roll. Not much faith at all.
We now pay more taxes: but why? Why are we shelling out six figures to people who don’t seem to be getting the job done? Back when I had to work, companies had names for that very sort of people. Ex-employees!!
I know that we have to pay fair wages for services.. Otherwise I’m told, people may just up and motor off; take there talents and ply their trade elsewhere. So be it. But I’d like to see a little proof. And before you leave, could you just fill in a few pot-holes?
But might I be a bit harsh? There is word that council is looking for people to pick some art to display in Kent Park! Maybe wanting to polish a t^#d, or find some one else to shoulder some of the sarcasm on a barren, rocky wasteland.
But even with all that, it’s good to be back home.
John, sounds like you were either in the military or working in Iraq to help the people, thank you for your service.
I want very much to thank all of the wonderful friends and relatives, who came to the Novar Community Center on Sunday to help our family honour my husband, Floyd Finley at the Celebration of his life. Everyone has been so kind and helpful, not just these past few months, but over the past 50 years since Floyd returned, with me to his childhood village, that he loved so much. I just want you to know how much I appreciate everything and I know Floyd did also… I hope very much, that if in the future, you should need my help, I will be available and able to be of assistance. During all these years, many of you shared your children’s lives with us, giving us unlimited pleasure, enjoyment and many wonderful memories.
I usually try to write thank you notes….. this time I haven’t decided…… because I know I would be missing some people and that is the one thing I do not want to do…….. maybe this will become my only “real” thank you note. Just know, please, that I appreciate so very much all the help, the love, and the care that both Floyd and I have been receiving. Queenie Finley.
Hi John, thanks for describing the memories that brought about your reaction. I have been in a handful of impoverished countries and have seen plenty of documentaries depicting the results of what humans are capable of doing to each other through various forms of domination.
After monitoring the ongoing circus south of the border for years, I can assure you that right-wing individuals (morons or otherwise) have never held a monopoly on self-centered hate spewing or ignoring the suffering of others.
By the way, I didn’t take your comment personally. When it comes to being offended I’m a tough nut to crack, but I appreciate your apology. Cheers
Rudi, I understand completely, life can be frustrating and unfair at times and humour is often a good way of dealing with it.
My sensitivity to your humorous way of dealing with the potholes comes from my experiences in war zones around the world, especially in Iraq when I witnessed firsthand the devastation bombs could do. Have you ever smelt the stench of a rotting corpse, or seen old women and children wandering the streets looking for a place to live, or in South America where the poverty is so bad that families have to live in mud huts, sleep on the floor and beg for food. Those memories have scared my soul. I was not calling you a moron for your sense of humour, we have all been guilty of tell an off colour joke or poking fun at one thing or another without thinking about how that would hurt, and for that I am sorry that you took it that way. My comment was directed to the right wing self centred hate spewing individuals who don’t give a thought to others suffering. Your not one of those people. Be safe and well.
Thank you for your contributions, gentlemen. Finding humour, dark or otherwise, in a situation has gotten me through many difficult episodes over the years. The most recent episode was paying over $800. to have my truck’s front end shocks, suspension, and more adjusted after unavoidably slamming into a few of the aforementioned craters, er, potholes. The front wheels were suddenly wobbling at speeds over 95 km/h. No laughing matter, even for me.
My letter was a lighthearted attempt to address a serious subject in an effort to get our Council to do something to rectify our terrible town roads. Rudi Stade commented, again in the same tongue in cheek manner. To have Mr. Oliver label us as right-wing morons is unacceptable. I suggest as bedtime reading, he should peruse the excellent article written by Mr. Mackenzie entitled What happened to the Middle. Mr. Oliver, a “point taken” is not sufficient and I think you should apologize fully to Rudi. Chas Clark MSc.
Point taken
John
I do admit to sometimes finding something funny that is not. Fortunately I have children that correct me. Is not calling someone a moron an insensitive comment?
Well Bill, Rudi may very well be a kind and caring person and he may have meant his comments in a humorous way and for that I’m willing to cut him some slack.
My comment on these kind of flippant remarks just go to show how the bar has been lowered. The media and right wing morons have made it acceptable for normal folk to find insensitive comments acceptable. They don’t care about the feelings of others, they just care about themselves. It’s time we showed some empathy and think about what you are saying. You may think it’s funny but I’m telling you, it’s not.
Rudi was just being humorous.Knowing Rudi, there’s no way he was trying to make light of what’s going on in Ukraine. He’s a caring gentle person. It’s unfortunate that some took him seriously.
I agree with John Oliver. Yes, our potholes need fixing. But, to compare these holes caused by the combination of our climate, wetting, freezing being pounded down into our pavement by our many vehicles, then thawing , to exploding bombs that cause holes (crater size, as you said) in pavement, killing people in the process is totally unbelievable.
Rudi I agree with you. Our roads are dangerous trying avoid the craters. I don’t think your insensitive. The war is government made and they do so to distract us or to make money. Wars make money.
Short Term Rentals are a curse to anyone seeking a peaceful retirement or a healthy family atmosphere.
At 80 years of age, it came as a shock to know my lovely little retirement Condo In Hidden Valley, has changed from blissful to stressful.
My building is old & not insulated between floors, so I’ve had to endure things like renters in the unit above me wearing Ski Boots indoors! -after they hollered at me, I called the owner, who subsequently said they reported I’d harassed them!
Noise, litter, illegal parking & disrespect for permanent residents is a constant.
Council, please realize what you’ve allowed to happen to your ‘locals’ & make some sound decisions for us.
Thank you.
Rudi, I think your comments are tasteless and you should apologize. Perhaps you should go to The Ukraine and volunteer to rebuild the country. A few potholes is nothing to what is happening over there. Do you have no shame?
While I appreciate the Town of Huntsville standing in solidarity with Ukraine, perhaps it is going too far by replicating the craters in the bombed roads. Just sayin’…..
The recent comments on a Councilor being appointed as a Special Representative for Affordable Housing and Mental Health, the pothole saga and Councilor Cory Clarke helping out with clearing sidewalks and roads brings an idea to mind. I don’t think any resident of Huntsville hasn’t a horror story regarding the state of our roads. There also appears to be little sense applied to what is repaired. Our road for 2 to 3 kilometers long could have been used by the Canadian Army as a tank testing track it was so bumpy and holed. Guess what, they repaired the middle bit which is lovely and smooth but left both ends in their original condition. Can you explain that logic?
Hence the idea would be to appoint Councilor Cory Clarke as our Roads Special Representative. Perhaps he could conduct a survey of town residents as to the condition of their road, publish the results, and produce a road map (pun intended) listing and grading the priority and timescale of repair. Council could then see what funds were necessary to repair our broken infrastructure without ducking the responsibility and fobbing it off with little funding for the Road Supervisor to decide what will be done. Just a dream but wouldn’t it be nice to travel our roads at the posted speed without wrecking your car or truck.
I will be presenting The Petition to
the Huntsville Town Council , regarding egarding the lack of infrastructure in the Town on Monday, April 24th at 5:30pm Council Chambers, Town Hall.
Is the Baysville rink used at all for lacrosse? We do need more ice in summer. It would be well used.
I was reading the Ralph Bice stories about Algonquin Park; from back in 1917, when he and my grandfather, George Markle were young guides, taking fishing groups into the interior. Background radio was reporting an incident between AI and a NYT reporter. It was interesting, and brought to mind a previous chat bot comment by someone here on Doppler. I looked the story up.
It turns out the Microsoft AI bot called ‘Bing”, (bing the bot!!), has an alter ego; a character name it has chosen for itself. The AI prefers the name Sydney! What really grabbed my attention was when it had declared that it ‘loved’ New York Times columnist Kevin Roose!
Maybe some of you have already looked up the conversation between the chat bot ‘Sydney’ and the reporter. It’s interesting.
I’m sure Sydney was using the ‘love’ word as many of the subjects it has studied do. Sort of; “Don’t you just love the colour of this shirt?” But to have a control unit like ‘Siri’ or a chatbot like ‘Bing’ put the moves on you would be a little…. other-worldly. Or maybe old hat for some of us. Eh!
But, with these AI units being programmed to ‘learn’ from humans, and with there being some 7.8 billion humans to study and learn from, there must be some pretty hinky info getting into the programs. And to filter the hinky out would alter the overall study, right! Is Sydney capable of crying itself to sleep at night, after studying a particularly sad case? Would AI be allowed to give evidence in a courtroom?
And after it has learned from us, would AI be capable of claiming freedom of choice for itself as ‘Sydney seems to have. If not, then an aspect that makes us think as we do, freedom to choose, will have been denied it. Part of its education is missing. And since AI is learning from us, can it show us any different path than we have made ourselves?
Time to invest in aluminum foil, should you begin to get lunch suggestions from the refrigerator.
But for sure, if Gramps or Ralph had ever had a piece of equipment keep them up evenings, with constant chatter and suggestions, it would have had something lodged in its ‘kill switch’ and a place on the bottom of an Algonquin Lake.
I find it amazing that the town would want to put ice in the Don Lough. Since the moment they ice is out it is being used by young lacrosse players.Is it the will of the town to marginalized young athletes who wish to play a sport not on ice.
I see a lot of condos and buildings going up. I’m interested if any are for low income housing???????
Seems like lots of talk but no action.
Nice to see Fox News paying the price for spreading fake news. Hopefully other media outlets and bloggers will take notice.
Yes Susanne there is a lot of trash on the side of roads. What’s wrong with people? Do they like looking at this trash when we live in such a beautiful spot? Also government jets across countries polluting far more than us with our gas cars. Government should practice what they preach. Go in a public plane instead of one or two government officials using a jet. Waste and hypocrites.
Help me understand something.
In today world we are all concerned about the environment.
Rightfully so, we should be.
We talk about global warming. We drive electric cars and eat organic food.
Great choices!
There is constant talk about what needs to be done to improve and assure a better future for the next generation.
What a noble thought.
So far I am on board with all that and I actually get it.
What I don’t get is ever so simple.
As you are driving along our highways all you see is what has been tossed out of our environmentally save cars.
Maybe even by those that preach to others how to be kinder to nature.
Huge amount of plastic waste that for some reason is no longer wanted.
When did we stop caring what our world looks like.
I wonder who might pick this stuff up so the future generation does not have to look at this mess or heaven forbid be negatively impacted by this mess.
I have a solution, keep this garbage in your vehicle until you get home and dispose of it properly.
Or better yet, refill it if possible.
Or continue to not care and rely on others to actually make a difference.
However it really should start with you.
You
Yourself
Thank you
Susanne Goodhand
Huntsville
I think Cory is going to be a very busy boy if he keeps following up these kind of requests. It’s not even an election year.
Anna Bertelsen: regarding your successful clean-up. What do you suppose won the day? The smile. That Norden charm. Or were there fresh butter tarts on offer? Obviously something compelling.
And Councilor Clarke. Impressive.
Out our way, South Lancelot, we too have problems. An intersection that looks like it has taken shell-fire; pot-holes of epic proportions; my neighbor lost part of her driveway when the culvert plugged and a small lake spilled over; and then a variety of other……. stuff.
So; my curiosity is piqued. Might I ask if you contract out. Or must everything stay within electoral boundaries? I fear yes. More’s the pity.
Again. Councilor Clarke. Good on you.
I just want to thank Huntsville Councilor Cory Clarke who attended my home as well as my neighbors at Settlers Ridge. We had issues with the sidewalk cleaners this winter. Sand was thrown 3/4 of the way up our front lawns. This week the snow disappeared and revealed and awful mess on our lawns. We contacted Cory Clarke and he came immediately and had a look. Next day he came and worked. He went way beyond what could possibly be expecting. This was the road maintenance departments job not his.
Such kindness and consideration from one of our Councilors is rare and I’m very thankful to him and his family.
Anna Bertelsen
Thomas Spivak – thank you for correcting my misinformation re hydro rates.
With Huntsville flooding why don’t we open the locks and let the water flow south and over high falls to the river to Lake Ontario?
The pondering of Brian Tapley (see Bigwin Farm comment), as to growing produce on local farms instead of “somewhere else” brought to mind a mention in the book, ‘History of Muskoka’ by Capt. L. Fraser. Writing in 1945, he records the bounty of an acre and an eighth, on the farm of Bill Conway, located on the Black River Road, east of Vancoughnet.
What Mr. Conway produced in a season goes something like this: 160 bags of potatoes, 14 bags of carrots, 6 bags of beets, 4 bags of parsnips, 2 large wagon boxes of turnips, 1 wagon load of squash, 20 bags of green corn, 1 bushel of onions, 3 bushels of cucumbers,500 head of cabbage and various odds and ends of garden stuff. The report ends with the words “believe it or not it is the simple truth.”
Mr. Conway must have been one hell of a farmer! I might not have this recorded exactly, but it’s close as ‘dammit’ is to swearing.
With our premier loosing developers on 7400 acres of green belt, food producing land, might we surmise that with todays advances in agriculture, that at least 7,000 times the bounty Bill Conway coaxed from his acre and a bit would be possible today? That’s a lot of groceries, but maybe we can get it cheaper from China.
In the Huntsville area, most subdivisions are on land once owned by some of the areas best farmers. Find a subdivision, and farmers by the name of Hanes, Holinshead, Markle, Slatter, Lovegrove, Brown, Farnsworth, Snowden, Carter and others, all cleared, cultivated, and, in another era, farmed there. Some proudly held ‘Century Farm’ status in the late 1960s.
Now this premier is allowing Waterloo (read PC selected developers) to sprawl onto more agricultural land. To be lost under asphalt and vinyl siding.
I remember during our last, local election, a comment to the effect that the winners look out for the areas that have supported them. Well look around Muskoka. Do you feel looked out for? Supported? Up lifted? Even acknowledged?
I certainly don’t; but, in my opinion, we are sure ‘being done’.
.
Chris Mathews, I understand that this is a voluntary sign for this service.
New hydro low overnight rates. Helping those who can afford electric vehicles.
In the process by taking away the 7.4 cent rate for those of us who wish to save money by doing laundry, cooking etc, after 7 p.m.
Certainly doesn’t help anyone struggling to make ends meet. Ford govt again not thinking things through.
Be aware (especially grandparents) that phone scammers are operating in Huntsville.
An attempt was made on me this morning and after talking to someone that sounded very much like my grandson I initially was prepared to do what was necessary to help him. Fortunately after talking to a policeman involved I became suspicious and told this fake that I was going to hang up and call my grandson and would get back to him. He at this point hung up.
If I were to get another similar call I will immediately hang up and call the grandson (or any other relative, friend etc) that I thought needed my help. Most likely it will be a scam too.
AI is just one more tool that these scum bags have to perpetuate their “business”. BEWARE!
Francis, I understand Speak up to be about a range of topics and if a person wants news to go to that page.
Why does this concern you, are you on the editorial staff?
So we can’t talk about maple syrup time, the town clock, or your opinion on consultants?
This is one of the very few open forums available in this community to express opinions, concerns, and points of view on topics that are of interest or a means to let our mayor, councilors, town managers, and business leaders know how we feel. At times it has proved to be a means to change policy ( the Locks ) and inform others of events.
There is a button at the top for news, this page isn’t perfect but myself I applaud Doppler staff for allowing us this space.
Best wishes to you and your family on this Holiday weekend.
Brian Tapley, we had Kegel Heating and Cooling, Minden Hills, install our Mitsubishi mini-split heat pump last May. They cover Muskoka and Haliburton regions. Fast, efficient service, very knowledgeable and came recommended highly by four friends (some with ductwork, some without). We have been so happy this winter with the consistent heating and cosiness of our home. We required back up heat for a few hours once – when it went to minus 47 here in Gravenhurst. We are expecting to use it this summer to give us a personal cooling space on extreme heat days only. Unfortunately, I expect these will become more frequent than extreme cold events as we continue to pour more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
To Brian Tapley, try EXL Aire, here in Huntsville. They sell and install Mitsubishi cold climate heat pumps, duct and split systems, and such good people who know their job.
Thomas, thanks for the clarity. Not all mini spits come pre-charged and most people are not able to purchase refrigerant legally online without an ODP card, so both our concerns are valid and home owners absolutely need to research the tasks they can DIY and the contractors they use for tasks that they can not.
I am not a refrigeration mechanic, I just work alongside them. I’m in boilers and fuels.
Frances, with the rising costs of heating fuels, and the environmental impacts, I feel discussion of alternative sources of home heating is absolutely Doppler worthy. It is very easy to spend thousands of dollars on the wrong equipment, as not all heat pumps are built or installed equally.
Chit chat about installing heat pumps is considered Doppler news?
Ryan Vallentin, yes I did install it myself, a mini split, I did not need to purchase refrigerate as it comes pre charged, if needed it can be purchased on line, I used a vacuum pump, and in Muskoka we pay too much for everything but what I actually said was to be careful, there some who will overcharge.
I’ve got 45 years as a contractor behind me and I’ve seen some of the most ridiculous quotes on work that was on paper to bid on.
Sorry if you got your panties in a knot because people might cut into your business but your statement that a homeowner can not typically install a heat pump themselves just isn’t true in my view. A large whole home system will most likely need a pro to do it for a number of reasons but Mr.Tapley only needs to heat or cool 1000-2000 sq ft so a mini split would do the job. And in very could weather the abilities of the unit do dwindle and back up heat would be needed but the overall performance more than makes up the savings. I have been tracking my hydro and gas usage since the install and it’s clear to me I’m saving money. Honestly, I did mine in a day, fabricating steel brackets for outside, wiring, mounting, vacuuming the lines, mounting indoor unit, and clean up.
Thomas, you installed a full home heat pump system yourself, or mini-splits?
How were you able to purchase refrigerant without a license?
How were you able to vacuum down the system sufficiently?
Yes there are arctic units that can work down below freezing, but not at full capacity, a four ton unit (60,000 btuh) will get down to (12,000 btuh) when extremely cold out.
I’m a huge fan of heat pumps, and I even use a heat pump water heater, however typically a home owner can not fully install a heat pump system entirely on their own.
Overcharged in this local market? What market are you comparing Muskoka to that you feel we are over-charged / overcharging here for similar work completed elsewhere?
Brian Tapley, I have done this for myself and its not a particularly difficult job nor should you be paying more than 1-2 days of labor for a typical install but of course each install has a different requirement.
Be careful, you don’t get overcharged in this local market.
I’m very happy with mine so far down to 2 degrees F. The propane bill has plummeted and only a slight increase in electric.
There are standard and arctic units so be careful what you get.
Everyone should check these out!
At the March 27th Huntsville Council meeting approval was given to a staff request to hire a consultant in the amount of $60,000. This is apparently to help develop a strategic plan for the town.
We have staffers on the sunshine list and a full roster of council of professional representatives and yet we need to hire a consultant!
The saying bides true that it is so easy to spend money when it doesn’t come out of your own pocket.
What does this say about the crew running the establishment?
It’s sad.
Anybody know a contractor/vendor who can supply/install air source heat pumps that work in our climate and can provide heat/cooling to a building about 1000 to 2000 sq ft Economically?
Oh yes, and they actually sell real stuff, not vaporware.
And last, they might be able to do some work before next winter?
They should contact me.
Em I mean that we have way more poor, can’t feed the family poor. The well to does are the people that can pay their bills and still buy groceries. Not criticism as I can pay my bills and buy groceries so far. If I’m careful. We do have a lot of rich people in town and I’m glad they made out well but money always has the bigger say.
I don’t like the idea of changing town clock to digital. It’s not muskoka
It’s that Syrup time of the year.
I know there are a lot who have rather elaborate, evaporator systems, but ours has always been a wood fire and a flat pan. Making all the adjustments, by ‘guess and by golly.’ A shimmer of heat at the top of the smokestack, a vigorous boil on the pan, maple scented condensate hanging in the air; it all means there is syrup in the offing. That sweet treat is always appreciated, but it sure never comes easy.
Back in the day, we ‘sugared down’ on the sidehill in my great uncle John Carter’s bush. I tapped, gathered, fired, boiled, and finished there. Since the early 50’s, I worked there with my grandfather, father, uncle Geo., my brothers, sons and grandkids. Now-days, we are a long way from the 100 or so trees we tapped back then, but my son Aaron and I still make some maple syrup. Mostly, he does the heavy lifting while I try to keep out of the road.
So, it’s a sort of family tradition. I imagine my great great grandfather Mathew Markle made syrup on the original farm, Lot 9, Conc. 1, Chaffey Twp., and I know that Ace, my great grandfather, made syrup. The Forester reported in April, 1931, that he was tapping and boiling on the side-hill, behind his house on Brunel Rd., across from Cann Lake.
And this time of year brings the harbingers of spring: while gathering the other morning, there were robins about, and 2 evenings ago, Aaron and I watched and listened to the sandhills, high up, circling and calling; announcing they are back for another season.
So some fresh biscuits or pancakes, well buttered, and then enough fresh maple syrup to make it all float. Here’s to the tradition.
And, bon appetite.
Kathryn, by what criteria do you separate the “well to do” from the “poor regular folk”? If someone is retired and financially independent, does that make them one of your “well to do”? (A term which, the way you use it, seems one of critical and disapproving judgement.) Because frankly, their position is likely the result of a lifetime of “regular folk” living: staying in school; getting decent grades; working their way through a post-secondary education; getting and keeping a job; moving from job to job to build and hone their career skills; raising a family; paying their taxes; and all the while, studiously saving and investing some of their hard-earned money to fund their eventual retirement. Often, your “well to do” are no more than “poor regular folk” who have paid their dues.
Robert I totally agree. I think the town caters to the well to do and not so much the poor regular folk. My opinion
It is really unbelievable that a big town like Huntsville now not only has a Cinema, but now not a Bus Station.People have to stand on a road with no shelter of any kind and feeze or get soaked in rain and hope the Northlander bus is on schedule. Shame and more shame for our local council! Huntsville is becoming a hick town once again.
Mr Carboni,
You are right on! You articulated it very well.
Thank You Very Much
Ms Henderson……..Re Wind turbines……..For your information
1) The US Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that cats are responsible for the deaths of 2.4 billion birds each year. After that, collisions with building glass and vehicles are to blame for about another 800 million deaths. By comparison, about 230,000 birds are killed after colliding with a wind turbine every year. (Oct 2020);
2) According to the Canadian Renewable Energy Association “”Approximately 85 to 90 percent of a wind turbine’s total mass can be reused or recycled”
3) The wind energy.graph is correct…The UK is the world’s biggest generator of off shore turbine power electricity
I hear that we are getting Pet Smart. I am concerned that none of our small local pet stores will make money ,i.e.Gus and Gigi’s and Pet Valu. Global Pet Foods just came in. Most grocery stores have pet food and accessories. How many pet food stores can we support?
Does the town not have any say over how many of a certain type of store we can feasably support or allow? Would town planning take this into consideration.?
Would love to hear from you. It seems that we are becoming overwhelmed with some services while missing others completely. Thanks.
The wind power doesn’t seem right to me in that graph. It doesn’t take into consideration the birds it kills and I have see the dumping ground for the wind turbines and it is full of slow devolve. There is no after use for these big fans and therefor more detrimental to the earth.
https://energynumbers.info/gbgrid . I think if you watch this page you will understand energy generation in the uk more clearly.
The issue, Mr. Willans, is that the zealots in the climate catastrophe movement are actively demonizing and pushing for the complete closure of nuclear power plants. They erroneously argue that intermittent sources of power like wind can replace the carbon-free baseload power provided by nuclear fission. This is false and deliberately misleading.
There are many issues with industrial wind farms. They’re annihilating raptor populations; evidence is growing that they’re impacting whale populations; the turbines blades cannot be recycled and degrade quickly; they’re low density and they produce unreliable power.
The world needs more nuclear fission and hopefully the day will come when we have nuclear fusion.
Industrial wind farms and intermittent sources of power in general have terrible tracks records of forcing nations such as Germany to increasingly rely on lignite coal, thereby resulting in considerably dirtier and more expensive power.
Mr Carbonari: I am not sure whether Bloomberg or you are promoting this misinformation. But France for example derives only 1.8% of its electricity from wind/solar. Over 75% of its electricity comes from nuclear power. Their current issue which the government has been warning about since early December is that 20 nuclear plants have been taken offline for maintenance (and have been subsequently delayed).
Similarly, the UK’s issue this winter is a shortage of natural gas (disrupted by supplies from Russia) which supplies 50% of their electricity. Again the government first warned of this possibility on November 7 2022.
It is of note that in February 2023 (According to SKY News February 28, 2023), the UK had to turn off its turbines on a rotating basis because the national grid can not handle all the electricity that the turbines are generating.
The short response is that either you or Bloomberg have no idea what you are talking about in this regard. There is nothing wrong with wind power in the UK or France
Bloomberg: French and British grid operators narrowly missed having to declare a power-supply emergency last week during a late winter cold snap that coincided with low wind generation
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-15/uk-and-france-narrowly-avoided-power-supply-emergency-last-week
Unreliable, low density sources of powers like wind farms are not the answer to anything.
I have a video off how the road department plows are road? Maybe are mayor should take a look how they treat us back on Clearwater lake road. Dec. 23 of this year day before the snow hit hard we had to call them to plow but the video will show you what they did to us . I had to plow the road back where we live to let the hydro truck through to fix all the lines that where down . And ever since are road is so ruff because lack of plowing and sanding no salt to melt it got so hard they couldn’t plow the banks . Now there are such big ruts people are getting damages and almost hitting people because there bouncing all over .
Hello John! I took a much needed break from the Commentary section – the writing and stances had become very predictable, with little nuance or digging into both sides of an issue. However, I do write our MPP when I have something concrete to offer.
I think we fool ourselves if we imagine for-profit investment is out of the goodness of heart of the investor(s) – they expect returns.
My point is the balance scale of how much for-profit/non-profit exists – when there is opportunity, the scales should always be tipped so that taxpayer dollars go in the direction of non-profit, public healthcare.
I concur with the surgeon writing in the Letters to the Editor, Toronto Star -that for every dollar of taxpayer money in for-profit coffers, it is a dollar not spent on care; I think he has some credibility.
Also, my example of an Ontario orthopedic surgeon being able and willing to perform more surgeries (to help catch up on the back log) is true. The surgeon was my husband’s orthopedic surgeon – an excellent practitioner, with excellent results -In the Public Hospital system. He could only have increased his OR surgeries if it was within the hospital budget & if there had been enough nursing staff. Begs the question, why did the Ford Conservatives not fund the public system for this to occur? Answer: this is the open door to for-profits in order to feast at the trough of Ontario taxpayers. Stay well, my friend.
Welcome back Anna Lise, I have missed you. I agree with you but blaming it on Mr. Ford may be a bit harsh. We now live in New Brunswick and I can assure you that the healthcare here in the Maritime provinces is just as bad. I don’t think we can look at any Canadian province that has a problem free health care system. There is no shiny light pointing the way to problem free healthcare. I am not an expert in this issue, but I do know that if you need any surgery in whatever province you live in you can expect to wait a up to a year. Take care and say hi to Peter.
Maple syrup time. I’m wondering if there’s a way to get a presentation of maple tree tapping, boiling sap like pioneers did and also an indigenous history of maple sugar at our muskoka heritage place.
The local deer are losing their territory and appearing on local streets as a result. Since the clearcutting on the east side between Hanes and West the deer are more often crossing Centre St.
Please, drivers be alert!
A Deer Crossing sign would be nice to remind drivers to slow down and look both ways on this stretch.
Check out the article on Fairvern’s concern for their budget as they pay through the nose for temporary workers. The time for the Ford Conservatives to have “started” planning for LTC human resources was after Covid Wave One (Quebec did). They did not. The Covid pandemic was an opportunity the Cons could not afford to miss – starve the public sector, to welcome in the for-profit investors.
The disgraceful performance and treatment of public health care in this Province by the Ford Cons is a worsened disaster by this party.
I have written our MPP twice in the last month, with concerns about PSWs giving medications (there are certain exceptions) and privatizing surgeries. I will include one note here:
Letter to the editor, Toronto Star by Randall O’Brien, Ancaster. It reads,
“Reflection on different models of health care:
My surgical career was spent in the U.S. service both for-profit and publicly funded patients and facilities.
I experienced three things of note:
Every dollar of profit is a dollar not spent on care. Investors say, profits result from greater efficiency but they will not share any supporting data.
Some surgeons decline to serve publicly funded patients/facilities.
Upselling happens.
Ontarians should not expect it to be any different here.
I personally know of an orthopedic surgeon who could have performed more surgery to patients in a publicly funded hospital, prior to the Con sellout, if allowed to do so.
He took a leave to provide surgery in a developing country because his services were Not funded for additional surgeries here. This was due to budget, available nurses (ORs were not running at the capacity they could have been)
Clearly, he could have provided operations to deal with the backlog IF the non-profit facility was funded.
Folks, you get what you vote for or, in the most recent election, when you don’t vote at all.
Just listened to a statement from Pierre Poilievre; he, announcing that things feel broken in Canada. I feel that as well. It is a hell of a catch phrase. But it offers no suggestion of remedy for the country, or any idea for a path forward. I don’t think he is our ‘Mr.Fixit’.
Nor do I believe that the PM we have now is doing the job. The ‘park-in’ in Ottawa is over. Covid is in recession, but here for ever. Everything except the color of rice has been apologized for.
We need to move on. But we have two ‘leaders’ who make no effort to work together. And I fear our Democracy requires better than two squabbling children, bickering to be the boss.
It seems leadership is not important, only who is in charge. So they, their party supporters, and I are at odds. The numbers are against me for sure.
I will still earnestly suggest that the two of them drag their sorry asses out of Ottawa, and hopefully we might get a couple of leaders who will make an effort to work together and make the pieces fit.
Just my opinion.
Just wondering how the progress is on the the new Freshco store is going? We are away for the winter and haven’t seen anything posted.
Peter Zychowski, you are so correct.
In Stephenson ward our previous councilor told me when I invited him to take a ride with me on Old Muskoka Road north from Utterson and west on Rose Lake Road that he hadn’t been down these roads in about 7 years or more. He was grasping the dashboard and appalled.
This seems to be typical though, you get elected to a ward based on the premise you will serve the needs of the ward voters but then forget about them and and only work for town center.
When has our new councilor last driven out this way? has she looked at the state of properties along Old Muskoka?
Many of us are embarrassed to say we are from Utterson and visitors are appalled at our roads.
It seems to me that council and mayor cater to the rich making it too expensive to live in Huntsville. I suppose it’s not much different than other towns and government. If council could try living on an average Huntsville salary or pay they wouldn’t be able to stretch their dollar like we have had to do. Sometimes it is a choice of paying rent or eating. That’s if you can find anywhere affordable to rent.
My opinion.
Who on this council will standup for taxpayers?
We have the most profligate, fiscally irresponsible mayor and council in decades.
The roads are an embarrassment, staff numbers and salaries at Town Hall are ballooning and homeowners are paying the price.
It’s time to focus on the fundamentals. Enough with the virtue-signaling nonsense. Fix the roads and stop spending.
This town needs an effective and vocal opposition to this council.
We’re in a very long 4 years.
When is Home Depot going to open?
Thank you to the HFA group who organized the Snow Queen outdoor show. It was lovely!
High marks to Jeff Lehman for creating positive action toward affordable housing in Bracebridge. A good plan for a possible 26 units built near Annie’s Place and The Pines funded in good part by the District. Great start! Come on Huntsville Council; come up with some ideas..District means just that, not just Bracebridge. Instead of waxing poetic at Council meetings and forming yet another “committee”, use your thinking-caps and get moving. Funding will be available when you make that affirmative action.
There was actually some grit spread on the road near our home the other morning. Tuesday? There were small flocks of birds picking through it and then visiting the bird feeder. You could say the news was ‘all over twitter’.
Snowplowing has been questionable?? this year, and this has been a pretty tame winter. After we get snow, sometimes it’s days before a plow goes by, and mostly, they just go the one direction. That’s not too bad, because it’s usually the other side from our house gets plowed, so we don’t get the heap at the bottom of the drive. And that bundle of paper they heave out is easier to see. Saves finding it with the blower and cussing while you try to pry it all out.
Then it snowed a bit the other evening and both the plows and the grit disappeared.
Slushing seems to be missing entirely. After it has been mild, all those ridges of crud get to freeze into little mountain ranges and makes steering where you want to go difficult.
I have a lot of relatives who worked for the DHO, MT&CO and now the MTO. My cousin was road super for them all. I asked him about taking the plows off the roads, back in the day. There was a pause.
“What? You plow when it’s snowing and sleep when you’re done.” He was pretty adamant about that.
I get the part where we are short of plow operators,. I can see that a lot of these people are training as they go. I’m rooting for them. We have never really been socked in, but it has been close.
It seems the people in charge feel that if they just wait, the ‘Mother’ who sent all this stuff will come and get it. Or they feel that the cars and trucks will just wear it out. In the meantime, we have to try and get around.
I mused perhaps it’s all a money saving exercise, but taxes have really jumped, so saving cash doesn’t seem to be a concern.
Then, the other day in town, there was a plow truck driving around without a plow!?!?
What the………!
Maybe the problem is a little more deep seated than the lack of drivers!
I’d like to send a simple message out to seniors based on a personal story about our mother and her stay at a retirement home.
The message is if you are using the medication administration services at the home, make sure it’s correct because if your doctor doesn’t get it right, the home has no process in place to flag it.
So do your due diligence and always ask to ensure it’s right. The home we had experience with has a lot of terrific processes, however, it didn’t flag the error in our case. Lesson learnt.
Every free nation needs to support the conflict in Ukraine.
As a Ukrainian I would expect any knowledgeable person to see why, Putin’s dictatorship will engulf all of Europe if left unchecked.
Stand in front of the cenotaph in anytown and say to yourself that the men and women represented did the wrong thing and don’t deserve our help.
Hopefully this is not censored as have my other posts.
There is a sidewalk at the bottom of the hill of Frank Miller Dr. (entrance to hospital) on Muskoka Rd 3. I walked from there into town 2 days ago. It was fine.
To Suzanne Treadwell: I’ve signed the petition. Thank you for bringing these issues to light.
To Jonathan Fieldwebster: I agree. Building a sidewalk so pedestrians can safely walk to the Hospital is a good idea and, necessary. Needless to say, it must be maintained.
Thank you Jim, for bringing Roger Water’s You Tube address to the United Nation Council to our attention.
His remarks pleading to the UN to call for these world members to call for a truce to the war in the Ukraine was compelling and profound..
I would strongly recommend others to view the video which Jimlogianes provided in his message.
Roger Water”s full speech at the U. N. Security Council. For the sake of all humanity end
the Ukrainian conflict.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=APjbroGjtbU&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE
Hey Town of Huntsville,
How about building a sidewalk so pedestrians can walk up to the Hospital?
PETITION FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF WALKWAY ALONG HWY 60 CORRIDOR
FROM FAIRYVIEW DRIVE TO JUNCTION OF HIGHWAY 60 AND MUSKOKA ROAD #3N. HUNTSVILLE
I am a resident of Laketree Apartments located at 210 Highway 60 E., Huntsville. There is a curbed walkway along both sides of the highway which is used by pedestrians to access businesses and their place of residence.
This walkway is not maintained during the winter month forcing pedestrians to walk on the highway.
This is a very dangerous situation and it must be rectified.
I currently have over 100 names on the petition.
Please sign this petition to be brought before our Town and District Councils and MTO by emailing me at
[email protected]
Suzanne Treadwell
The title council tackles 7% tax hick gave me a moment to think,what is ment by tackle.
In the first month of being they have needlessly increased staff by approximately 150 K. They also approved a consultants idea for 25K. This council and mayor have quickly showen that they are not a frugal bunch.
We have a great deal of building in the townfrom which development fees are received. The tax base expands because of this building of homes and apartments. Yet this does not satisfy the need to expand the government and beaurocracy that seems to inhabit townhall.
It would be a breath of fresh air if someone on council said let’s tackle a tax reduction.
Just when we thought there couldn’t be any more objects come fluttering from great heights, a Toronto newspaper decided it was the publics ‘need to know’, that the mayor of Toronto had taken a hike in ‘cougar country’. I mean no disrespect to either party, the mayor or the lady. Just a turn of phrase; so before we get into all the indignation, I wonder why what these two people did, is so beneath today’s standard of acceptance.
It was a display of poor judgement by the mayor, knowing full well the political stoning to be expected should the dalliance become public; with he being a married man. And eventually, in our present atmosphere of ‘fink what you know’, most glowing embers get fanned to flame.
This event happened in the realm of politics.
Politicians can lie, cheat and ‘steal’ to and from their constituents. They can misrepresent themselves, and their intentions to the voter. They feel free to bait and switch at will; the people will still vote and hope for the best. But when it’s sex in the equation, all understanding and forgiveness seems problematic; likely impossible.
It’s not like it never happened before, but it seems to be stigmatized; political ‘sex’ seems to come with disgrace and disapproval firmly attached.
What these two people did is of little concern to me. Temptation we hope we can withstand, and brave we hope to be, should the moment arise. But! until that moment, no matter what we say, we don’t know whether we will succumb to the temptations of Jezebel or run like a gazelle from Goliath. But in whatever circumstance, fight, flight, or fold, we will display perfectly, human, reactions. Just as is sex.
The triste was supposedly over. The parties sensed the judgement to come?
Then some stainless, sanctimonious prig faced the screen and spread the word; what some already knew. He just took the opportunity to do a job, and make a few bucks out of it.
That, I find bothers me more than the actions of a couple of consenting adults.
I can see around me, a lot of things more disturbing and painful than that.
One incentive might bring back some of our nurses and Dr’s back would be to take away the Vax mandate for health workers.
The Huntsville Council has decided to hire a recruiter to help find physicians and other health providers to set up shop in the area. The following statement caught my eye-‘Financial incentives to attract care providers have achieved minimal results’.
First of all, incentivizing new physicians is like a retailer giving a discount to new customers and not loyal customers. That is a great way of angering loyal customers.
Secondly, I remember that about 10-15 years ago, OHIP paid physicians an ‘incentive bonus’ of around $5,000 if you had worked 30 years, in an attempt to keep these experienced physicians working.
The week that I got my ‘bonus’, I remember an article in the sports section of my newspaper outlining the ‘retention bonus’ of about 1-2 million dollars that an NBA club offered to one of their stars to keep them with the club.
The word ‘incentive’ is a relative term.
Furthermore, physicians go through more hoops in one week than any basketball player.
Howard Bargman MD
I would like to comment on what is now a Toronto issue but may become a Muskoka issue and that is the number of hit and run car incidents
It used to be that hit and run “accidents” were the exception but now hardly a day goes by that we don’t hear of this happening
I would suggest that leaving the scene of an accident should be an offence in the order of murder or attempted murder with the appropriate penalty if found guilty
Shining a light at Christmas
Over the recent holidays, I met a local business man – for whom a robust public healthcare system was designed.
He could not afford to pay himself or his workers additional health care insurance premiums. So currently, he and his staff have access to a failing public health care system.
Should he or his staff need and qualify for Ontario Disabilities Benefits – Tough luck- he will receive insufficient to both pay rent and buy food.
I suggest that this person typifies the rural Conservative voter – the sad irony is not lost.
Ray Ward: Maybe we just misuse or misconstrue the meaning of truth?
The truth can’t be the same for a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist or a Druid? Can it?
It isn’t the same for a woman who has just had her apartment blown apart by a Russian missile, or for a child who has known only two years in a refugee camp; or for me, safe, warm and nourished on the outskirts of Huntsville?
We use words to try and explain concepts in our minds. I feel our tongues perform the job poorly, ‘though there are those who do it better than others.
Bob Evans may have just been pointing out realities, different because of perspective.
Truth might be what we mean when we try to describe fact or reality. Time and discovery can cause both of those to change, such as the once held idea that the earth was flat or a dollar is still worth a dollar!
Maybe it’s better to just be fair and honest within ourselves, with others, and to leave the search for ‘truth’ to poets and philosophers.
22 degrees below here last night, and ‘that’s the (Celsius ) truth’.
After reading Allen Markle’s recent comments on controversies and opinions, I am reminded of a quote from author Robert Evans:
“There are three sides to every story; your side, my side and the truth. And no one is lying. Memories shared serve each differently.”
Thank you Dr. Bargman for speaking up about another Provincial Conservative mis-step in understanding health care responsibilities. I suggest this is typical to their shallow approach to what works and what does not.
They are removing funding from virtual care doctor-patient appts, which has been beneficial in certain circumstances.
And on the horizon, surgeries in for-profit facilities (under the guise of “catch-up”), which will further draw nurse human resources from the already challenged public hospital bedsides. No collective bargaining option to address working conditions and wages. Sad.
The new government initiative to allow pharmacists to prescribe medications for ‘simple’ or ‘common’ problems is a VERY BAD idea for both patients and pharmacists.
I have been a dermatologist for over 45 years. I help out in Huntsville when I am up here.
I estimate that I have written about 150,000 prescriptions but have never DISPENSED one. Although I believe I am legally entitled to do so, I haven’t, and that is because I don’t know how to do it. The pharmacist does.
The pharmacist is not legally allowed to make and offer a diagnosis. The reason for this is in the list of ‘Controlled Acts’ section of the Regulated Health Professions Act. The first Controlled Act is communicating a diagnosis. Pharmacists are not trained to do so, and hence are not allowed to do so.
The patient has to self diagnose, inform the pharmacist, and the pharmacist undergoes a knee-jerk reaction to dispense a steroid or antibiotic etc. They have been doing this for years but have been dispensing non-prescriptive medications such as hydrocortisone. And so the patient says ‘I have eczema’ and the pharmacist takes it from there, not knowing if there is any accuracy to the patient’s diagnosis.
There is no such thing as a simple diagnosis until an expert tells you that it is simple. Pharmacists don’t practice clinical medicine. Having a pharmacist assess your skin is as meaningful as having a blind person do it. I can look under my car hood, but I have no idea what I’m looking at. Can you imagine a physician who prescribes medication for your skin but doesn’t look at your skin? Rashes, tick bites, impetigo are tricky things and there are many mimickers. The module that is available for pharmacists to study (for a fee, I believe) is hardly the way to learn clinical dermatology.
Can you imagine being a passenger on a cross Atlantic flight and the captain comes on the PA and says ‘Good evening folks. We are at cruising altitude, the automatic flight system is activated, and we need some rest and so the inside cabin crew will be at the controls of the plane. Don’t worry, because if they need us, we will be sleeping in our cabin just a few feet away’.
One cause of patient discontent during a physician visit is asking for, but not receiving, an antibiotic prescription. Antibiotic resistance is becoming a worsening worldwide issue and physicians have been the stewards up until now and now are under evolving guidance to be sure that antibiotics are needed, and that they are the appropriate one. Treating a bladder infection, without taking a culture, leaves any practitioner guessing as to the most appropriate drug to choose. Once the antibiotic is started, it is too late to take the culture. Pharmacists can’t order urine cultures. Patients will bring pressure on the pharmacist to prescribe antibiotics and I predict the number of antibiotic prescriptions will rise.
This change of scope of practice will be quite time-consuming for the pharmacist. I believe most will realize that they are in over their head. They are already very busy. What with their usual dispensing, providing vaccinations, repeating some medications, and now prescribing Paxlovid etc etc, their hands are full. They have to spend time with the patient, take responsibility for the ‘visit’ and inform the primary care doctor. Quite frankly, the remuneration will not be worth the risk. Also, they MUST advise their customer that they do NOT need to fill the prescription in that particular pharmacy.
Already, some pharmacist friends have told me that patients are presenting with complaints totally unrelated to the new scope and leave the pharmacy angry that they didn’t receive the care that they thought they were going to get.
Lastly, to make things worse, I just received an e-mail from the Conservative party, touting the new changes, and asking me to click if ‘I agree’ with the changes. I looked for the ‘I don’t agree’ button, but surprise!- there wasn’t one.
Allen Markle I couldn’t agree more.
“I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Attributed to Voltaire, but a paraphrase of comment by Evelyn Beatrice Hall.
A bit extreme; supposedly we are past the dying part.
There are some who feel that if your opinion is not in line with theirs, you are some of the following: naive, whining, bashing, negative, pessimistic, ‘don’t get it”, ‘can’t understand’, unaware, or “moaning and groaning”. At times you may be all these things.
Sometimes you only have to read the comment to know who wrote it, by how many of these observations they use.
There was a comment offered by John Earl; inferring that I should respect anyone who holds an elected position. ‘That dog don’t hunt!’
I can appreciate that they desired the job.
I can understand (they may even assure me) that they want to , and will try to do the job well.
I see that they have been elected and have the job.
So, once the position is won, comes the bit where the elected begins to earn respect. Because that respect doesn’t come with the territory.
So many of our politicians today believe it does.
I just want to send a big thank you out to our neighbours who unexpectedly came to our rescue during Huntsville’s 2 days of steady snowfall, by blowing and shovelling out our driveway… ON CHRISTMAS DAY! Dr. Adam McClure who has a busy life and 3 children did the snowblowing while Taylor Fawcett and his wife Anna shovelled. Thank you again so much!
Last but not least, a big thank you to all of the Hydro workers who also gave up their Christmas time with families to make sure Huntsville’s power was repaired.
We do live in a caring community with wonderful neighbours!
This is a on going problem for the people on Clearwater lake road? Ever year snow plowing are road never gets done till around 3 in the after noon . All the streets are done side walks are done .we have to fight are way through a foot of snow . They never put salt down . I can’t count how many times a have plowed are road with my four wheeler so people can get through. I would love to show you video of are road to prove how bad are township is . This year we ask if they could plow are road December 23 so my 99 year old mother inlaw could have care workers come to help here . And guest what they came all the way to the pioneers camp road and turned around didn’t come the rest of the way down Clearwater lake road so no way caseworker could come to help us . I have it all on video. It happens all the time unless there is a school day they may come .we pay are taxes to and deserve to have are roads keep up .love for you to put this in the paper to show are mayor how the township should be looked into. Thank you Robert
Well its brand new Day, & a Brand New Year,
Happy New Year Everyone,
If Your one of those folks who makes New Years resolutions, there’s an old saying ” A New Years resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other “.
Some Thoughts for us all to consider for 2023
Be Kind, Be Fair, Be Thoughtful , Be Honest.
Try to Forgive those who have Trespassed against us.
Try Not to be led into Temptation.
Refrain From ” Keeping Up With the Jones’s.”
Wear a mask when outside your home in another enclosed area, wearing a mask helps in keeping the door closed ( mouth & nose ) , in doing so helps us spreading germs to others and helps to stop us receiving germs from others. ” mask on door closed, no mask door open “.
Some people continue to change jobs, Mates, and Friends, —— But never think of changing Themselves.
And lastly, this one is a long stretch, ” When The Power of Love Over Comes The Love of Power The World Will Know Peace”.
Thanks, Happy New Year, John Earl
Great thoughts John, us “old timers” have figured out how to get along, we spent our first couple winters here with no Hydro or phones and I’ll tell you it was tough.
We made with help from the locals.
Best holidays to all!
Merry, Merry Christmas to One and All.
Many of us who live out in the rural areas are nestled in with heaps, and heaps of snow , some of the drifts at my farm are in excess of 6 feet deep. The power has been out for now almost 24 hours, and is not expected to be on for atleast another 24 hours according to Hydro One. The amount of snow accompanied by severe strong west winds is much out of the ordinary, however being without power especially in the depth of winter has occurred many times before in my 50 plus years on this farm. Most of us rural folk are equipped with small generators, some of us have much larger generators to replace Hydro One’s supply when needed to supply are entire home. I don’t have that source, however my portable generator supply’s refrigerator, freezer , a few lamps, radio, computors etc. When we need water a little larger generator is started to pump up a supply of water. With the the conventional vented propane water heater we have a normal supply of hotwater. Hot water is always readily available from the large stainless steel kettle purring away on the wood cookstove in the kitchen.
Today , Christmas Day marks an additional special day in our family in that 48 years ago today Twin daughters were born at the old Huntsville Hospital ( now Fairvern Nursing Home) . Doctor David Hillier delivered twin girls , named then for a couple of days as baby girl ” A ” and baby girl ” B “.
Dr. Hillier had just moved to Huntsville and it was wife Norma and His first Christmas here. Later in years at a social function it was overheard from Norma commenting how their first Christmas celebration in Huntsville was spoiled by the Earl Family . Some times we don’t always appreciate those in our community that sacrifice even their family to serve our fellow members of the community. As a volunteer firefighter back in the 70’s I can remember being called out to a couple of chimney and structural fires on Christmas Day.
We all need to especially in times like this to reach out checking the safety on neighbours, shut ins, seniors or anyone that may be vulnerable to the situation caused by Mother Nature flexing her muscles. Mother Nature seems to remind us every once in awhile that her power is like non other.
Merry Christmas Every One. However we find ourselves in, We still in my opinion, have and need to count our many Blessings. TbtG
I just read the Charles Dickens book, A Christmas Carol. I always include the Alastair Simms movie as a must for Christmas viewing. I thought that this version was the original but I watched a 1938 version the other night and then a later 1990 ish version and I noticed that the story was slightly different, so I thought that I would read the book find out what version was more true to the written original. Well my conclusion is that they all took license and added stuff that was not in the book but overall they were true to the story and much of the movie scrip is identical to the book. As for the movies, hands down the Alastair Simms adaptation is the best. Merry Christmas, God bless us everyone.
Thank you Allen Markel for taking us on a trip down your memory lane. It made my, fortunately happy memories of Christmas past, come back to life. But maybe even better, it was a happy story. Much needed at this time of year when there is so much doom and gloom in the news and everyday conversation.
Merry Christmas to all and God bless us every one.
Has anyone else noticed the irony of an international conference on biodiversity and conservation going on in neighbouring Quebec while we in Ontario are fighting to preserve the “untouchable” Greenbelt that our premiere has decided to develop? Shame on the Ford government and our own MPP who is supposed to be the Minister of Natural Resources.
GAS PRICES
Again I ask–why are we in Huntsville being charged 10 to 20 cents more per litre of gas than many communities south and north of here????
For many of us older citizens, that is possibly 45 cents to a dollar more per gallon.
Now that the warning advisory for the blue-green algae has been lifted, can I now go in the water?
Opening up a box with a 50+ years accumulation of Christmas tree decorations brings back memories, like waves lapping a beach. Our nine foot artificial tree is a far cry from some of the ‘Charlie Browns’ we’ve had in past years.
I can remember when we first got hydro on Brunel rd. I didn’t think it would be all that special, since when I was in great uncle John Carter’s barn at milking time, it was never that bright; the big Aladdin lamps at home were for sure brighter, and I could have them down on the floor where I was reading or drawing.
But I found there was a big difference, and after 1950, the bonus was we could have lights on the Christmas tree. Before the electricity, we had candles in holders clipped to the branches, but Mom never wanted them lit. She was terrified the tree would burn.
Our ‘real’ tree was replaced about 3 years back, when I abandon cutting a 45 foot balsam to get the top 10 feet. We needed a slim tree, but one tall enough for the cathedral ceiling in our new home.
We didn’t have a lot to decorate our tree with when we were first married, so some of the stuff we got from my parents and some from an aunt and uncle. Some of that is still in the box, not much used, but too valuable to be thrown out.
The top decoration for our present tree is one of the first electric pieces we had years ago. Tricia and I still have a few glass pieces, inherited from both families, cherished, and placed high up so they don’t get knocked off and broken.
We have a box of glass decorations, 12 pieces made in Essen, Germany, and bought from Flotron’s , costing 79cents. Another box is from Economy Fair, again, 12 pieces of fragile glass, that cost $2.99.
We have an elaborate, turned, wooden decoration that Alfred Montpetit gave Tricia.
The big skirt for our tree was given to us by our daughter in law, Janice.
We have some wooden snowmen, made by the Wright girls who used to come to the open house we would have each Christmas.
There is another set of baubles made by our daughter in law, Tasha.
And there are many other pieces, all finding a place on the tree; all bringing another reminiscence. After 50 years, it is a very well adorned tree.
Merry Christmas and may your tree be well decorated, now, and for years to come.
Thank you for sharing your personal story Mr. Paul Whillans. It was a courageous act. And it illustrates the bureaucratic mess that our government has created and allowed to perpetuate. So unfortunate and sad. I hope for the best outcome for you.
Peter Dirks we tried that by protesting and Trudeau would not even come out to meet and talk. I think we are crazy if we think we have any influence on health and our vets and our freedoms. People still out of work from mandate.
We have to understand that Governments set all priorities for us .
Therefore if health is not one if it , we are not a priority. All our money is spend based on that formula.
So, what are we going to do about it ! We have to let the Government know how we feel and to change there priorities.
Provincial government also gives away money. 1 billion in license renewals for cars, as an example. Also, underspending during COVID. Not to mention the taxpayer money in legal fees to appeal the Ontario Court decision on Bill 124.
The funding problem does not merely come from the federal government, but also how the provincial government fails to collect revenues and use of the COVID spending for health care human resource development. No, it is “cars, truck, and things that go” (hwys, gas prices) that have Ford’s attention.
Public healthcare is not on a back burner, it isn’t even on the stove!
Allen Markle you ARE NOT being too critical. I know personal that work at our hospital and they are under paid and overworked to the point of stress leaves. Government likes to give our money away over seas. Government has to smarten up. Staff is working 4 and 5 people short.
It seems that in their plan to extract more health spending cash from the feds, some provinces seem to be ‘weaponizing their own citizens. Several provinces are running an annual surplus, but refuse to allocate additional funds to pay nurses and doctors.
There was such chest tearing and brow mopping, even a few alligator tears, to accent the plight of children not being in school, but seemingly not a similar degree of concern, when those same little citizens are suffering and needing hospital care.
On the CBC there was the announcement of securing nurses from the Philippines, to work here in Canada. It seems we can train nurses, doctors, and medical technicians, and then have them burnout or leave for more lucrative positions elsewhere. We are regretful when they leave. But now we will go afield for foreign assistance that is willing to work for the same or maybe less(?) than we offer our own!
It could be good business, but does it seem moral? This shortage of health care workers appears to be a global phenomenon. By poaching help from the Philippines, are we leaving that country short of medical staff?
I have been admonished by some, who say that governing is hard and I am too critical. Give me governance that there is no need to be critical of and I’ll be happy.
I fail to see that good stuff being offered by our present leaders.
And that sucks!!!
Gas prices dropped to $1.49/litre in Huntsville .Gas prices dropped to $1.34/litre. in Toronto. What the heck. Scott- Graydon please fix this. I thank you in advance.
Wondering—why are we being ripped off in Huntsville on gas prices compared to Barrie, Vaughan etc?
I guess that I am at an age that for illustration purposes, I am not ashamed to share my circumstances….So here goes…
This summer, I had a surprise 5 bypass heart surgery (CABG x5). Needless to say my life has changed. I will likely never work again.
I applied for the District’s Housing Subsidy (for tenants). After providing ALL my financial data, the District awarded me in writing a $500 per month subsidy, payable to my landlord.
Thus far all is well and good……But no, the landlord refuse to accept payment from the District. No reason was given, it could be for constitutionally prohibited reasons (the District never inquires and no reason is requested).
So the end results is that I am no longer eligible to receive the subsidy and the District has advised me to look elsewhere.
Of course, I am personally devastated. But more objectively, when did we allow private individuals to dictate who does or does not receive social assistance. This especially true with affordable housing being in crisis. I know for a fact that if/when I am evicted for failure to pay rent, the landlord will immediately relist the unit for $6000 a year more than he receiving now (likely his motivation for refusing the District’s money).
So the generalized point in all of this….It is so tiresome to hear our councilors on the stump talking about affordable housing and assuming that it is some other level of government’s job to fix….or only if developers build more housing of any type….that would be the best that they can do…..In reality, they can/should demand that local “staff” scour local legislation to make housing more affordable (such as eliminate third party short term rentals or my case not leave it up to landlords who have a vested interest to determine who is or is not worthy of social assistance).
But truly, maybe they feel that the housing and food insecure are not their constituents
Just a comment for thought.
It seems a bit strange that the leader of our District government, the District Chairman, need not actually be elected at all. It seems virtually anyone can run for this position that pays over $100,000.00 per year I am lead to believe.
Thinking about this I think a better, more representative way to find a chairman and I suppose it should be Chairperson these days but you get the idea would be as follows.
On their first meeting, the elected District Councillors should choose a chairperson. They can vote amongst themselves as they were all previously elected at large.
As soon as one of them becomes the chairperson, that constituency immediately has to have a bi-election to find a new councilor to replace the now chairperson. This by-election would take no more than a month and routine operations could proceed without them having been selected for that month. Major changes to legislation would need to wait that month to have the council brought back to full numbers.
Anybody got some good ideas on this? I don’t claim to be any expert but it seems the current way is not all that representative.
I really like this site. I learn new things and read things that make me think and maybe verify the facts. This is a great 👍 column
Just received news today from the RNAO (Registered Nurses Association of Ontario), that today “Ontario Senior Court of Justice has ruled Bill 124 to be “void and of no effect” because it violates Charter of Rights. (as regarding healthcare workers, public sector workers).
Watch to see if the Ford Conservatives waste tax-payers money by appealing this decision!
Also, I wonder if the latest filing against the Ford Conservatives concerning the daily charge for elders in hospital beds who refuse to go to a LTC bed outside of their residing area will be invalidated due to violation of the Canada Health Act????
Draw your own conclusions.
Subject: Respect for and protection of the Official Plan for the Town of Huntsville,
On February 28, 2022, the Town Council for the Town of Huntsville passed a Zoning By-law (ZBL) 2022-17.
The purpose and effect of the Zoning Amendment changed the zoning of a small piece of land at 234 Long’s Lake Road from a RU2 Zone to SR4-0504 Zone. The purchasers of 234 Long’s Lake Road asked the Council to amend the zoning of that lot to allow them to build a dwelling on a lot which is less than half the minimum size required by the Huntsville Official Plan
The passing of that Zoning By-law was appealed by the Appellants, to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) on the basis that the Zoning by-law Amendment does not conform to either the District of Muskoka Official Plan (MOP) and the Town of Huntsville Official Plan (HOP) and is not consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS)
The Ontario Land Tribunal found that the passing of the Zoning By-law 2022-17, on February 28, 2022, does not represent good planning in the public interest
the Tribunal further found that By-law 2022-17 does not conform to the Muskoka Official Plan or the Huntsville Official Plan and is not consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS).
THE TRIBUNAL ORDERED that the appeal against By-law No 2022-17 is allowed and By-law No 2022-17 is hereby repealed.
Note: The appellants, Peter McBirnie and Susan Stella submit this document to the Doppler because the Council must be held to a stricter standard when considering the Huntsville Official Plan which was only adopted by the Council two years before they passed By-law no 2022-17 which was illegal.
The decision of the Ontario Land tribunal is 12 pages long if the Doppler wishes to examine all the facts in the decision.
You can reach us by email for further information.
sincerely yours Peter McBirnie
Yes Mr. Markle nurses and nursing staff are underpaid and short of staff. Maybe Ford could pitch in with the car validation sticker money. Oh right he got rid of a perfectly good asset bringing in a billion dollars a year. Chaos for sure
Mr. Markle; I understand it to be Naomi Klein who has said, where there is chaos, you sow your agenda (while others are distracted). Anyone is welcome to correct me on this quote. A political strategy.
Watch out LTC!
Where have all the people with the calculators gone? Surely there is enough going on right now, for someone to start to run the numbers and explain what’s happening out in the world today. I don’t mean this lightly. I really can’t figure some of this out.
We have a COP (Conference of the Parties) nearing completion. About 200 countries trying to keep global warming in check. This is the 27th such conference (27 years and nothing new) and I don’t see them getting any closer to easing the situation, let alone solving the problem.
Nations are about to drown. Nations are being flooded; washed out to sea. Nations are suffering drought. But it isn’t monetarily feasible (read profitable) to alleviate the problem let alone solve it. There seems to be some excitement over the idea of monetarily compensating those countries that are suffering the most. To me, it’s like someone is looking for an out; one that allows some nations to keep on doing what they are doing. But they will be able to feel better, by gagging the flooding, baking, eroding nations on money.
Here at home, we have a provincial government that is about to build billions of dollars worth of homes on land that has been protected by previous governments. They say they know better. Personally, I think it is a way for Ford to reward those developers who have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to his party and his election.
When the calculators have that figured out, ‘riddle me this’. How can a company that is supposedly paying higher prices for everything from shipping, to labor, to…..everything, still manage to post higher and higher quarterly earnings? The most curious part is, they say they are not ripping me off when I try to ‘bring home the bacon’ !!
One more query, just to give that old calculator a work out. How is it possible for Nova Scotia to be paying about a hundred dollars and up, for RNs and PSWs, but Ontario can’t pay those same people enough to keep them in the building?
I read this over and even to me it seems to be a sort of shotgun comment. But there’s a lot of puzzling stuff going on out there.
Finally found a definition of “woke” in today’s vernacular.
My guess was that it referred to someone who was not only self-aware, but aware of current issues from the perspective of others. In other words, not just the perspective of the dominant culture.
See if you agree: https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/other/what-does-the-word-woke-actually-mean-and-why-do-people-keep-getting-it-wrong/ar-AA13UPPq?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=fdf0464cb28245d1aca185543f98f19d
CUPE members can only hold their breath. A fair agreement may be in the offing. Good luck to you. But the machinations in the Ontario ‘Conservative’ upper echelon makes one wonder about who will carry on. Oh, I’m sure DoFo will remain at the helm of the ‘Ford-iks’ to the end of this term, but his ego has been dragged through something akin to the damper sections of a tent city. It must be embarrassing for him.
I wonder more about Stephen Lecce. If he stays true to form, Ford will touch somebody; he won’t face all this derision alone. Even now he is hinting that CUPE getting an acceptable deal will cost the province a lot as other contracts come up for renewal. And he wants us to know it won’t be his fault.
A previous comment queried as to why people would want to serve in public office. It is a good paying job with great benefits, requires no training, and if you keep a low profile, stress free except at election time.
But it may come to pass there will be little need to stand for election, since fewer and fewer people even care to vote. Maybe somebody will like that top spot and just stay. Do it in February, with lots of people wintering south of the border (likely most of the politicians) and the rest snowed in or not wanting to go out in the cold, and the coup could be over before there is any violence. Try blockading a bridge or holding a city for ransom then.
It’s not so farfetched a scenario, with our southern neighbor only a few crass words short of a revolution. And, with everything going on in Ottawa right now, is anyone at the helm anyway?
But do it right now, and everybody would be there to confer as to whether the take over had been done legally or not.
Crazy days. Precarious times.
I can’t imagine wanting to be a politician and putting oneself in the gun sights of anyone wanting to beef about every single thing that disturbs them. Classifying their jobs as “ doing photo ops, going to dinners and giving speeches “ And as far as good pay, if you’re number one goal in life is to make money, you’re chances are far greater in the private sector. Why would any young person with decent skills in life want to be a politician, when they can make a better living and lifestyle in the private sector. I think it’s improbable that a politician can make the right decisions on a daily basis and never make a wrong one. What counts is how quickly they own the mistake and correct the course without fear of losing face.
Lets look at what the government is actually offering these workers in dollars instead of percentages. If a worker makes $35000 a year and they get a 2.5% increase based on 43 weeks a year, they will get an additional $20.30 a week. The other weeks they have to apply for EI which is about 1/2 of what they make or they have to take another job. In today’s economy what will that do for them. Or if they work the whole 52 weeks they will get 16.80 per week. On the other hand an MPP with a portfolio makes #165,000 a year plus a housing allowance of $2300 a month plus expenses and they only sit in parliament for 31 weeks a year,. This works out to $6212.90 a week. Plus they have staff who do their work and they get paid for travelling. Even if you said they worked the whole 52 weeks a year they would make $ 3703.84 a week. That is pretty good pay for doing photo ops and going to dinners and giving a few speeches.
Great questions Mr. Day! We can only know what Premier Ford did/did not do if he and Ontario Solicitor General are willing to answer questions at the inquiry. Ottawa is Canada’s capital, but the Ottawa and area constituents still elect the Provincial government of Ontario. Ontario government is definitely a part of this jurisdictional equation that cannot be ignored.
In reading all of the comments about Doug Ford and his recent response to the inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act by the Trudeau Liberal Government, I fail to see why this is or was Mr. Ford’s fight? From what I have heard and read over the last six months the protest was against the Federal Liberal Party of Canada, not the Government of Ontario. It also seems to me that the seat of the Federal Government is in Ottawa – hence the demonstrations were held in that city at the determination of the organizers. There were demonstrations in Toronto and Windsor in Ontario and in Alberta as we all know, and they were dealt with by Federal and Provincial Governments. Do we know that Mr. Ford refused to be involved with Ottawa or is that merely speculation? What we do know, is that Mr. Trudeau was absent from view for the entire debacle in Ottawa and that he did refuse to meet with the organizers of the protest and the focus of the protest was against the Federal Government. Did Mr. Ford refuse to send OPP officers to help quel the demonstrations in Ottawa? Not as far as I know, and it was apparent there were police officers from almost every City in Ontario present there during the final two days of the demonstrations and during the build up to that outcome. I also recall the Ottawa Police Chief on television every day giving updates on how they were handling the protest and the demonstrators, but as we are hearing now, they had no clue on how to manage the event. Mr. Sloly resigned because neither he nor his team could manage the problem – even though they had prior intel that the protest was going to happen. Frankly, I fail to see where this should all fall on Mr. Ford to be held responsible even in retrospect. I guess it all makes good fodder for the Provincial and Federal Liberal supporters with their views on how to run our Province and our Nation. To me it would make a whole lot more sense to “suggest” ways to do things better and not to cast scorn and ridicule on those in power at every opportunity. Could this have been handled better? Of course it could, does it all fall on Mr. Ford – I don’t think so. He was on vacation but not uninformed, we all know how that works with today’s level of communications, and he did interact with his team daily on possible solutions. Again, this protest was primarily against the Federal Government and there have been others as flagrantly against the Federal Government that took a heavier toll on the citizens of Canada economically – I refer to the many blockades of rail lines and highways from coast to coast – all against the Federal Government of Canada.
A pun on Ford’s use of the “notwithstanding clause”.
He is Not Standing With nurses, public healthcare system, public education, environmentalists, labour rights to collective bargaining, people with disabilities, the policing review at the Federal Emergencies Act inquiry … you can add to this list if you like. Instead, Ford copies Trump in turning to the courts to avoid making him “do” what he doesn’t want to.
Mr. Mackenzie or Ms. Sally Barnes not so long ago wrote a Commentary entitled “Who is standing up for Canada?” Clearly Ford’s view of those in Ontario, Canada who he “will stand up for” are laid bare by his actions.
Thank you Mike Talbot for your question and statement!
A flag is not a political statement, but a symbol of a country and the people it represents.
This is the second time, in this Town ,that Counsil can not differentiate between a flag and the people it represents.
A FLAG is symbol of the people of the country it represents, and NOT attached to the person running it at the time. If we can not understand this in our town, we are in big trouble.
To say I was surprised is an understatement. Shock, disappointment and dismay were the feelings I had when I viewed the monstrosity that has appeared on our precious Forbes Hill. All the beautiful trees were removed to build THAT? I feel sorry for those that live nearby; they can’t help but be impacted by such an arresting view. To me this eyesore looks no better than a prison building.. shame, shame.
Is it just me, or does this Ontario government have a built in intransigence when it comes to the worth of working people. Was it just developers, the pillars of industry and the wealthy retired who voted and elected this bunch? They are the only people benefitting from, and outside the reach of this shower of incompetents. That may be the wrong word, but they don’t seem to be helping the working person. So I’ll go with incompetent.
Ford has assured us that 1.5 million new homes are to be built in the next 10 years. I won’t find fault with the intent, but the thought of Ford and his minions around for another two elections is chilling! They intend to allow building pretty much anywhere, sweeping land protection and municipal prerogative aside. Developers are taking to wearing bladder protection, their excitement uncontrollable.
Will all this housing be affordable? Will any of it? Will it be for the present populace or new citizens, or a mixture? Will we have schools, hospitals, infrastructure to handle it all? It’ not just building houses, because we need the full package. We are told that Huntsville is to get a new hospital, to the tune of 500 million dollars. Is that still on? What proof beyond ‘they said so’.
With municipalities being unable to collect certain fees for future development, will our taxes increase? A little or a lot. The province doesn’t tell us or even attempt to.
DoFo dissed the health care sector and will now proceed to inform education support workers that legislation is coming to prevent them from walking off the job. I find a request for raises north of 10% a bit much, but that is why you negotiate. And doesn’t all this smell of a previous Liberal governments plan? Same s#@^, different government!
C’mon Mr. Premier. Tell us how a lot of this should play out.
Personally, I want you gone. You got nothing other than a grin and a truck.
If I could hold a microphone up to your ear, I believe I would hear the ocean.
Are we ever going to put the eighth flag back up at Centre and West, or are we still behaving like children and pretending that Russia didn’t attend the G8? It’s time to grow up.
As Ontario public healthcare continues to be starved, in preparation of for-profit take over, so goes the state of health of our professional front-liners. Yet there are projected surpluses to be spent on ?what?, the for-profit advertising for investors? initial sign-on bonuses for the managers to run these enterprises?
Don’t expect anything different from the Ford Conservative ideologues. They don’t have the talent or the will for anything else.
Thank you, Allen Markle.
There seems to be little wisdom in the Ford Conservative government; he builds his surplus while neglecting healthcare, climate change, and public education.
Perhaps he will use his surplus to again:
1. Insist Ontario license plates be “blue” (so they can’t be read by the OPP)
2. Spend legal fees in Ontario court to ensure his “anti-carbon tax” stickers are on all gas pumps.
3. Give the taxpayer a freebie before the next election by failing to collect 1 billion in license sticker renewals.
Our adolescent-like Premier can demonstrate his:
“you’re not the boss of me!” to Federal government (watch what happens if Trudeau Liberals put conditions on health transfers, i.e. spent in the much-beleaguered public healthcare system).
“you can’t make me!” when called to give testimony at the Emergencies Act Inquiry.
“I don’t have to listen to you!” when advised that more OPP could be sent along to help in Ottawa.
By remaining out of touch with the public in non-profit healthcare, climate change, and public education, DF demonstrates his cemented ideology, No Matter What is happening around him in Ontario. No nuance-no wisdom-just ideology pure and simple.
Does the squirming our premier is doing remind you of a worm? Not yet threatened with a hook, just squirming, ’cause that’s what worms do. I can’t imagine that anyone could expect him to give truthful, unspun evidence anyway, but what could he say or reveal that can cause him this amount of discomfort?
He insists that this was a ‘federal’ action; that he had no part in it. That might be the truth, because other than clearing a bridge, and leaving the city of Ottawa to squirm, he was pretty much out of sight.
The investigation in Ottawa is called a ‘public inquiry’; he is a member of the public, so why can’t he be requested to tell what he knows. Is there something here that really would be that enlightening. He ‘does protest so much’ it makes one wonder.
Should the time come, will he show such an aversion to the offering of, or asking for, ‘federal money’.
Yeah! I don’t believe that either.
It’s official, Doug Ford Conservatives do not recognize any responsibility for the people of Ottawa in his province of Ontario. Okay to those in Windsor, perhaps Toronto – but Ottawa, you are on your own. Too bad.
I am a bit perplexed with the action of DoFo. Would have thought that the opportunity to submit prevarications on the national stage would have been a plum opportunity. But he said he wasn’t ever asked. Wait now. The other morning on the news, they showed the actual documents, inviting the man to ‘testify’. So he was getting in a bit of action, without even going. Impressive. But that’s what he does.
Maybe he is preoccupied with building all this new housing. That would be all right, except for where and how the land for this project is coming about. Municipal jurisdiction, in some cases, will be swept aside. The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, one of the largest landholders in the city, will be under assault.
Ontario will lose more farmland (but we can buy food from China and elsewhere) and a lot of the property protected by previous governments will be built on. Like flood plains. Doug’s developer buddies are ecstatic. It will be somewhat like the city of LA building on the San Andreas fault line, because it is cheap land.
Hurricane Hazel showed that it was a bad idea to build in such areas, but now DoFo and his new minister of ‘trees and rocks’ know better than history. With weather events intensifying, such a place would not be where I would choose to live. What will the insurance rates be like, or will the Province supply that? It’s just a matter of time before the San Andreas slips again, so too will these low properties flood.
Will it mean that here in Huntsville, the ‘Official Plan’ will be swept aside? More cutting and digging and blowing stuff up?
The latest is, Doug seems to feel that the ‘Freedom Convoy’ was all a Federal problem.
So it could be that he doesn’t want it in the papers that he forgot that Ottawa is in Ontario and therefore it’s citizens are his constituents.
There could be other reasons, but he’ll need time to make them up.
Maybe we might recommend that he read “The March of Folly” by Barbara Tuchman. About how some people are doomed to do dumb s#*&, over and over.
Thankfully, we don’t have such people in our local, political spectrum.
Just kidding!!
Very interesting
Headline reads: “Premier Doug Ford’s government is set to challenge his summons to appear at Emergencies Act Inquiry”.
Of Course He is. Accountability is only for those the Ford Government deems to be so.
Hence, no accountability faced by the for-profit LTC homes after the first COVID wave. Hence the legislation to protect the same from litigation.
Yet the hypocrisy of requiring accountability from the Federal government from Federal Conservatives.
“What is good for the goose is good for the gander”.
In the wake of Danielle Smith’s (UCP) empathy and forgiveness of anti-vaxxer’s, a former undergraduate nursing classmate of mine recently shared her concern for the health of people in rural Alberta.
She mentions that many people only have 1-2 vaccine shots. Dr. Drummond has lived and worked in Alberta since @1974, so I imagine she might know. Further, she adds the health of rural Albertans was “abysmal” under Kenney and before COVID. It has been enough incentive for her to join Notley’s campaign.
If interested, you can check out her credentials for such an opinion. Try Dr. Jane Drummond, PhD » CCHF
Just tried to vote electronically at https://huntsville.simplyvoting.com. Kept getting bumped to a site that required me to create a username and password. Unbelievably annoying. Finally used my wife’s computer, inputting the exact same address and voila! Good to go. So tiresome.
It would seem to me that the District of Muskoka waste management strategy should be encouraging responsible waste management across the entire community of Muskoka. If that was the driving value behind the strategy then you would expect that hazardous waste collection would be equally available across the District. Regrettably it is not. Bracebridge is the only community in the district with daily and often weekend drop off capacity for hazardous waste. The last Huntsville pick up was September 6 and the next is February 2023. If I have a single florescent tube am I to drive to Bracebridge to dispose of it? Partial cans of paint to wait 5 months for the next pick up? Seems like another Bracebridge centric decision by our Bracebridge centric District administration. An interesting aside – garbage cans in any Disney operated theme park are strategically located to encourage their use. Disney knows how far an average “joe” will walk to get rid of waste responsibly and so the cans are located to encourage proper use (and discourage Littering). I think it is safe to generalize here and assume with some confidence that irresponsible citizens are more likely then not to dispose of hazardous waste in ways which the District should be working hard to dissuade through equitable access to this service across all Municipalities! We need daily hazardous waste disposal in all Muskoka waste facilities, a simple green strategy that maybe our next wave of elected officials can make happen.
After many years of my banking being looked after by CIBC it grieves me to see the CIBC Board of Directors hire on Bill Morneau.
He is the one hired by PM Trudeau to go on trips paid for by WE and to accept free gifts as Bill saw fit. Less than 24 hours after it was exposed that he ‘forgot about paying the bill, his wife paid it and all was hushed up until he resigned a short time later.
I though CIBC would have better sense, but 0bviously not!
Jim S.
Hi Tracy; perhaps Ford did not believe the Ottawa police force/mayor when they identified the number of RCMP available in Ottawa at the time -preferring his own estimate of the numbers.
In all fairness, perhaps Ford had difficulty with geography in middle school.
I believe the RCMP are a “federal police force”.
We still need governing talent and skill at Queen’s Park,.
Can’t help but wonder if the penny has dropped for the Ontario Conservatives that governing actually requires a different skill set than campaigning. If the penny has dropped for them how many more times does this need to happen to invoke the skilled planning and action needed?
Take the hearings concerning the Federal Government’s use of the Emergency Act during the Ottawa trucker protest. I recall asking and wondering during the protest at the time, and before the EA was declared – is not Ottawa in the Province of Ontario? If Ford declared an Emergency in Windsor, why isn’t he doing the same in Ottawa?
Follow up question, is Ford delighted the protestors seem angry with the Federal Liberals? Does this suit the Ford campaigning strategies? When it comes to governing, why did he not send more RCMP to Ottawa as the city requested?
Covid 19 outbreaks at both Muskoka Hospitals and no science table or interest from the Province as we learn to “live with it”. Working our dedicated staff again to point of exhaustion. What else is new?
Crickets from the Ford government on nursing recruitment and retention.
1 Billion revenues blown on vehicle license renewal stickers – about 1 billion that could have been used to support our healthcare system.
Broken record, I know.
Ontarians fell for the “buck-a-beer” Premier.
Thank you health care professionals for your continued work in difficult times. It is unfortunate you could not be better recognized and rewarded with the right to collective bargaining.
Oh happy day! A bookstore is slated to open in Huntsville, this Fall.
Since when is it okay for a member of parliament to sway the vote in a municipal election.? I find this partisanship not appropriate for a municipality and it shouldn’t be allowed.
Hope I’m not out-staying my welcome on the subject of our local hospitals, but here goes.
Everyone seems to accentuate the need for ‘critical care’ hospitals. By definition, critical care facilities are those with an ICU ( intensive care unit) and a CCU (critical care unit), which I believe both Huntsville and Bracebridge have, or had, until there was so few trained people left to staff them. There is a plethora of ‘unfunded’ rooms and beds in both hospitals. 9:00 to 4:00, Mon. to Fri. and the parking lot in Huntsville is pretty full. Other days and hours and you could have a few extra pickle ball courts out there.
The buildings may be aging; there is definitely the need for newer equipment (isn’t there always!), but it seems to be, that we need people. We need nurses, doctors, cleaners, maintenance; all the people that make the whole thing run. We need these people to provide the care in said units.
But what we heard, was Premier Ford saying that 90% of the people showing up at Emergency Rooms, are being looked after. I believe he back peddled on that one as fast as a big man could; but being treated at an emergency room is not the critical care feature that is front and center here in Muskoka.
There was the sum of 500 million dollars per facility mentioned before the election. How far would that go toward upgrading the facilities, both ICU and CCU, in our present hospitals?
All Doug and the boys have to do, is come up with the people to staff the buildings.
Admit that those people are worth more than his 1% raise.
Maybe our local parliamentarians could point out to Premier Ford, that some of them feel they are worth a 27% raise. I imagine nurses and teachers and the people driving truck would get the warm fuzzies receiving that kind of pay raise.
But isn’t that another story!!!
For me, we need people and the equipment for them to work with, not bricks and glass.
Watched a pretty good hockey game last evening at the ‘Don’. We won, which was nice, but I didn’t see as much unnecessary belligerence displayed by the Otters, as in some games. Yes guys, some of the reffing you have had to endure really sucked, but you can’t score from a penalty box. In fact you can’t even get a clear shot.
There are few contracts coming from ‘C’ hockey, so you better be in this for the love of it. You sometimes have to take the lumps, swallow the pain, and stay on the ice.
There was some good hustle and pressure on the opposition when Otters were on a penalty kill. And a short handed goal as result of opportunity, luck and hard skating. A good show all round.
Go Otters!!
Allen, sorry to tell you that it’s already too late. The damage is done and the best we can expect and hope for is that at some point in earths distant future the cycle may change but by that time most of the planet will be a parched desert with little animal, plant or human life. A gloomy prediction for sure but we only have ourselves to blame. Humans have been very successful in polluting and destroying the paradise that God gave us. The next few generations will not know or have the simple pleasures of breathing clean fresh air or swimming in clean unpolluted water. We owe our children and all future children an apology for the mess we have given them. I’ll start the ball rolling; I am truly sorry for all that I have done in the last 76 years that has contributed to this mess. I also apologize to Mother Nature for contributing to the destruction of her beautiful blue and green creation, planet Earth. Blessings to all, Namaste.
I’ve watched film and read reports on the devastation that hurricanes and cyclones and other weather phenomenon are wreaking on the planet. Reports of rivers running dry, reservoirs emptying, deluges of rain and then floods. Droughts where there normally gardens and farms. It’s all reported as the result of man’s hastening the effects of global warming. The world is warming on it’s own; but we are seriously spurring it along.
I’ve stood in the chill waters of the Bow and Oldman rivers, aware that when those headwater glaciers and snow melt slopes are gone, then so are these rivers. Unless we develop a method of freezing up another ice age……?
We’ve read lots of info on what we can do to slow the process; to mitigate our influence upon this heating up. We even have voices here on Doppler, with theories and numbers to show how we can keep doing what we’re doing, with some modifications here and there, and then maybe we might cool the heating a bit. There have even been attempts to price it all out.
It is those dollar figures, the ‘profit’ gained from man’s enterprise, that has got us to where we are now. There never was, or is, any intention of cleaning up the mess. That would reduce the ‘profit’.
It is grimly amusing, to now hear of people wanting to sue national governments for not stemming climate change. They would use this money to what! Get that new ice age started? It all seems to have a dollar value. Maybe you can bribe a tornado?
This evening I saw something on TV, advertising what a business had for sale; not that you will need it, but just something that you know you want. And you can be sure it has a dollar value and there is profit involved.
Can governments, even dictatorships, control their people to the point that those same people don’t want everything new under the sun? That would involve a total rewriting of what we have been told so far.
Future generations will have to look at this planet from a perspective that past generations, and I, haven’t, and didn’t.
A la Red Green. I’m rootin’ for them.
We live on Chaffey. st. in Huntsville and it’s a mess pot holes , dusty not graded or anything.Is this the only not paved road right in town? We have no luck with the town if or when it will be paved.We need it paved now before winter
IMO .. It seems to be the left is going nuts about the new conservative leader and his supporters! Try this ,, give him a chance to get started .. listen with open mind .. what are the alternatives? ie more higher taxes?, in all government performance indicators? .ie. .more issues with heath care because of uncontrolled population growth that eats up ALL social services? ie major increase in serious crime because of enforcement via emotions and feeling? uncontrolled spending that lacks any concern for impact and consequence? … Stop using the term populism .. people will vote and the left calls the results populism if you do NOT like it? .. but that is what the voting system is all about .. majority wins because the winner is more ‘popular’ than opponents and voting people like the winners programs, ideas and future directions to correct problems/issues of the previous government!
A quiet day in the country, and then, what could have become a serious situation. Gunfire? Someone down the road went Clyde Barrow. We are used to gunfire in this area, generally this time of year, when the hunters assault the geese landing in the surrounding fields.
The report went in and the police began to arrive. I do mean arrive! We had blacks, and whites, and black and whites; all sorts. We even had a bear in the air, circling like an angry gnat.
The roads near us were sealed off and people were encouraged to remain indoors, or find a different route to the highway.
Today, all the photography, from the west corner, the southeast corner, the northeast corner and every other corner have been taken and the cars and officers have disappeared.
There was one observation I made, a nice change from some of the traffic past our home. Cars and trucks slowed to 50 (posted) or 60 km! Some vehicles cross the track and you could do a suspension examination: well maybe only the front axle, but you know what I mean.
But everyone is safe and what could have been a tragic situation, isn’t.
Just goes to show that you can never know what may be happening up the street, or just across the road.
Thanks to officers on the road.
Stay safe everyone.
If this is denied and they don’t re- apply, so what.. I’m sure that there will be others that would love to build here and comply with all the guidelines. I know that growth is inevitable but at what cost. Ignore those already paying their taxes. I think that this site can be used to accommodate all parties and if they are unwilling to change the height or design, do we want those businesses in our town. We want businesses that we can be proud to have here, don’t we. Just a thought.
Allen Markle, good points. Cast your eyes in the direction of the Greens. Hopefully with Elizabeth May co-leading, the Greens will get back on track federally.
I recognize all parties can have their scandals – however, some are worse than others.
One key issue for me is that the political party Must abandon “populism” as a campaign technique – it is unsupportable and indefensible.
I want to know the party platform, ahead of the election, not afterwards.
I have voted Conservative, ’til they sucked.
Liberal, until they sucked.
And NDP (or so I thought, until Bob Rae discovered he really was a liberal), so that one doesn’t count. But they sucked.
I have always believed I was a Conservative; the grandfather, father, son sort of progression. Then I figured it out for myself, and, yeah, I was/am a Conservative. But, Conservative must mean something different to Doug Ford and Pierre Polievre, than to me. I just don’t associate with, or trust, either one of them.
In a previous Doppler comment, David Harrison outlined the beliefs that he felt best described a conservative. I will paraphrase a bit, just to keep this brief. He noted:
-belief in individual responsibility
– fiscal responsibility by small government, with no debt.
– compassionate
-morally grounded
– tells the truth ********
– defends right and justice
– an open government, striving to strengthen the democratic process. (this is non-existent today with the elected dictatorship method used by majority government.)
A government actively operating within these tenets could be conservative, and one I would gladly vote for and support. They could call themselves Liberal, NDP, Whig, Tory; hell, whatever they choose!
I struggle to find a name that would fit. It would have background music by Leonard Cohen: ‘Hallelujah’ sung by KD Lang.
But my search, I fear, is akin to the search once carried out for ‘even one righteous man.’
Thank you, Brenda Begg.
As I understand it, from newspaper articles/social media, the declared ‘holiday Monday’ for some but not all, is based partly on the fact that many many millions upon many millions of dollars will be lost for businesses who close. They not only pay their employees for time off, but lose potential business dollars. They also have had literally, no time to prepare for this. Understandable! It is up to individual provinces as to whether they will implement the holiday. I understand and appreciate the reluctance of some provinces to forego this holiday ( e.g. Quebec).
Queen Elizabeth fulfilled her monarchy role admirably; there is no disputing that (for some). However, I for one, appreciate Her role and contributions over these last 70 years; although I’m not necessarily a fan of the Monarchy. She fulfilled her role admirably under many adverse conditions and, for many years. Do we need or want a Monarchy? Time will tell.
Anna Lisa Kerr. You still don’t get it. This was about the death of a beloved monarch who was a legend. You have dragged it down to reiterate your constant biased views on the Conservatives rather than respecting the death of now a major historical figure. No more please.
Mr. Clarke; hello. My recent comments were concerning the Queen’s death – how each Province is similar/differing in their mark of respect for her passing.
Specifically, if a holiday Monday is observed. I noted earlier that the Eastern Provinces, with Progressive Conservative governments Were Indeed marking her passing with a holiday Monday. As is British Columbia.
However Ontario has aligned itself more with the Conservative governments of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta in the priority of commerce first, before a separate day of respect.
Sorry, but Doug Ford is a Harper man- not a Bill Davis protege.
Well said Steve Lehman!
Ford, our cartoonish Scrooge McDuck, does not ‘get’ the concept of respect for years of service. Not for our Queen or the seniors needing to transition to LTC and wanting to remain in their community. No, just move them out and warehouse them some 150 km from their loved ones.
As Scrooge McDuck says, ‘here is your hat, we are in a hurry, don’t let the screen door slap your backside on the way out — next!’
Thank you, Mr. Mackenzie, for your thoughtful and moving eulogy on the death of Queen Elizabeth II as it reflected what most of us thought and experienced throughout our lifetime of this wonderful monarch.
Sadly, it was spoiled for me by the comments of Anna Lisa Kerr who, instead of adding a tribute to the passing of the Queen turned it sour and political with her biased and inaccurate comments about the Conservative Party who she seems to blame for every sin and omission since Christendom. As a veteran, I was extremely proud to have served as a member of Her Majesties Forces.
Apparently The Queen was literally on her deathbed while taking the time to express her condolences to the people of the James Smith Cree Nation for the senseless murders that took place there recently. This week the Barrie tv news ran a story about a WW2 veteran who just received a signed congratulatory portrait of Her Majesty in recognition of him celebrating his 100th birthday. Truly two shining examples of duty and service to the people.
So when our Prime Minister declared a national holiday in recognition of seven decades of such empathy and dedication from afar, how did our Premier respond? To my mind, like the cartoonish Scrooge McDuck. “Workers must work.” Quack. “Teachers must teach.” Quack. “Students must learn.” Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack.
I wonder if the Premier realizes that one of the lessons students WILL learn from this is that if a lifetime of public service warrants little more than a moment of observance upon passing, then how much respect should one expect after a term or two in provincial office. Maybe none?
Stores some days are not open some days, and after school programmes can not be run, generally for the same reason. If people do not want to do the work, then neither can be run.
If money is available without working, why work?
Some young people now feel that with so many openings that they can take days off when they feel like it, and will not be fired. The idea that they need me more than I need them.
Some businesses are paying above minimum wage but it does not seem to matter.
Other work places are looking at automating some of their work place, yes it costs money but the equipment is in place and reliable, meaning the no skills or low skills work will disappear.
Some work places are bringing off shore workers to fill jobs Canadians will not due, and supplying places to stay.
In the future feds will set up new programmes to pay more people to stay home while others do the work and pay taxes to support non working workers.
True blue. I see Canada getting back to normal thank God. If they don’t get held back by Liberals. And the distribution of the surb was a good thought but now I start seeing younger kids having to pay back some. These individuals went right back to work as soon as stores were allowed open. A lot of surb went to people that were not deserving some never left a job to qualify. And rumors have it that even people out of country received surb. Trudeau was not very organized or well informed. There is so much destruction caused by Trudeau.
Today is September 11. 911: lest we forget.
I guess with overwhelming support for the new PC(?) leader, it’s official. If you are any kind of ‘blue’, but what we have in Ontario, and now Canada, you better find a rock and a road to kick it down. The province we once had hangs by a thread.
It was interesting to see in the Forester, that on the ministry of Education website, it states that programs must be available if there is a demand for them. Admirable.
The Forester comment is concerning before and after school child care. So, regardless of the difficulties, these programs will be supplied. It is written (law).
I suppose the Minister of Health (Jones), the Minister of Education (Lecce), and the Minister of long term care (Calandra: the guy who said he had, but hadn’t learned stuff), all operate under the same dictum: that ‘programs must be available if there is a need. Or maybe not, with what we see happening around us today.
Minister Jones: we need our hospitals staffed, not partially, and not devouring the doctors and nurses who do keep working. There is the demand.
Minister Lecce: we need our schools and their attendant programs. There is the demand. Don’t dare demand from someone else, when you are failing to perform yourself.
Minister Calandra: We are your portfolio: the aged, the infirm, the now needy, and there is great need. Have you still learned nothing? Are we dismissed because we are no longer a working asset?
But with the leader these ministers put up with, it may not be wise to have an original thought; to not toe that blue line.
I find the lot of you to be underachievers.
The ‘greater good’, is, or has become an encumbrance to our governments.
Doppler articles are outstanding. Well written, precise and accurate.
Like the vast majority of cottagers, my family cherishes the beauty of Muskoka and is very protective of our lake. In the last year on the island across from us a number of cottage owners have put up bright blue solar lights on their properties. Consequently, at night rather than enjoying the absence of city lights, we see a proliferation of jarring blue lights on the opposite shore. As well, the lights shine into our home. As one of our neighbors said ‘it is like looking across at a landing strip at Pearson airport’. I am sure that those who have employed these lights are unaware of how disrupting they are to our Muskoka environment. Our concern is that these lights, which create an almost industrial air, are going to be seen more often on our lakes. I hope we will all work together to protect and maintain the natural beauty of our where we live.
Respectfully,
Stephanie Keeley
HUGH — There is no such thing as a zero emissions vehicle.
They only move the emissions to another point from where the vehicle is located.
It could be where the batteries are made, or where the power is produced, or if solar powered, it would be where the solar panels are made, and remember solar panels are not recyclable.
There are places in the US where panels that have been replaced are stacked, or dumped in land fill.
Perhaps the true zero emissions vehicle will run onfairy dust like the prime ministeres 727 and challenger planes that he uses to in a non polluting way to fly around the world.
Dianne Hawker, I am sorry to hear of your situation regarding pension decline.
Thank you for being brave enough to write about it.
Re: Fairvern pension reductions
I personally had no prior knowledge that my pension after 13 years retired, would be reduced Sept. 1, 2022 by 10%, before receiving the letter from CCWIPP on Aug. 20, 2022.
I received NO COMMUNICATIONS of any kind regarding my pension from any of the parties involved.
What this means to me – the cost of living is up more than 10% which will effect my quality of life, as well as my budget. I worked hard for this and budgeted wisely!
I would like to have some answers! to questions I would have like to have asked!
-when a person applies for a job, your we;; receive a wage, you might expect your wage to go up, certainly not down, *if the company has benefits that you pay into, you expect those benefits to cover what their suppose to, while you are paying into them; *when you pay into a pension plan, that money should be available when you retire, at the same rate as you are quoted when applying for your pension;*we paid into the pension plan at Fairvern in good faith, but months later be sent a notice of reduction in that amount, hardly seems right!
Mr. Bob Slater; it looks as if you have found an equivalent issue. I am not defending the Ontario Liberals. However, what the Liberal party does and what the Conservative party does do not justify the other IMO – all of it needs to be in plain sight.
Moreover, with a seeming consensus of opinion that the public health care system is further and crucially imploding (since the Harris years), a bright light needs to shine on Conservative government spending. It is very difficult not to call out Ford Conservatives’ plan to open the doors wide to for-profits. Where is the “plan” for recruitment, retention, and education of nurses, PSWs for example? I have been looking for such a plan since post wave 1 of COVID.
Thank you for sharing your information.
Thursday afternoon, sept 1st my partner called me on her cell that she had gotten lost in the forest behind our home when our dog ran off. I want to thank OPP officers Ted and Amy (and many others I did not get to meet), for helping find my her. Ted was back there for hours, in very hilly rough terrain. Amy coordinated teams at our home as well as on Brunel road searching for her. Just as the sun was setting one of our neighbors apparently had heard she was lost and headed off to help. He knew the area and located her. She and our dog were safely returned home, I cant thank everyone enough.
Thanks for the correction Diana Kato.
That is very, very unsettling.
Thanks again.
Response to Norm Vanstone –
The link you provided to CCWIPP was for plan reductions effective July 1, 2015 and completely unrelated to these current pension reductions.
This is a quote of the first 2 sentences of my letter received from CCWIPP Aug 20/22–(note that Fairvern was always called Huntsville District Nursing Home for these purposes)–
“This is to advise you that Huntsville District Nursing Home Inc. has ceased participation in the CCWIPP effective June 30, 2022, which constitutes a Withdrawal Event. The provisions contained in the Plan Text regarding a Withdrawal Event, provide for reductions in accrued benefits for Active and Former Members and reductions in payment to Retirees/Surviving Spouses.”
So very clearly our reductions are due to withdrawing from participation in the plan. This is due to the District taking over June 30/22.
This is very specific to Fairvern only on June30/22 and everything to do with the District !
Anna-Lise Kear … IMO .. talk about waste! Idea for you …Google ‘Wynn Liberal waste’. Here is just one example of vote baiting and “budgets will balance themselves! ,, https://ontariopc.ca/10-things-kathleen-wynne-would-like-you-to-forget/ .. I realize politics has deep roots and dedicated views and opinions … but don’t ignore FACTS and fiscal responsibility ! .. https://ontariopc.ca/ontario-cant-afford-a-del-duca-wynne/
Fairvern pensions:
I checked the CCWIPP pension website and found the following:
http://www.ccwipp.ca/index.php/en/plan-changes/message-from-board-of-trustees
My take is that the change is to all those receiving funds from the pension company due to loss of investment funds over last couple of years. It is not specific to Fairvern and out of control of District. Was the board advised prior to the issuance of the letters?
To Marlene Muller re Fairvern pension reduction: Disgraceful is an understatement. You could not have possibly prepared for this.
Fairvern staff 10% pension reduction and the misleading communication with current and retired staff. Very disturbing and worthy of attention! Where is the leadership?
Re Fairvern Pension Reductions:
I am at a loss for words. How very, very sad this is for past and present Fairvern employees. Devastating is a better word!
I agree that it appears that an investigation may be in order – at the least. Newsworthy? Yup, with the information we’ve been given.
It is prudent to suggest that anyone who is or was thinking of applying for a position at Fairvern may have second thoughts. That is unfortunate for the residents and their families.
I have NEVER heard any negative comments re nursing care here. I’ve overheard, many times, while there, the staff speaking to and carrying out activities with the residents in a most respectful, kind manner. They couldn’t see me so it wasn’t staged.
Allen Markle, I personally had no prior knowledge that my pension would be reduced Sept 1/22 by 10% before receiving the letter from CCWIPP on Aug 20/22. No communications of any kind regarding my pension from Any parties involved
David Wexler, I definitely think this needs examination and is very news worthy!
The pension reduction issues being raised by current and former FAIRVERN employees are exactly the kinds of news items worthy of the attention of Doppler investigative journalists. Who knows…what gets uncovered might be picked up by a larger news outlet as if this is truly a reduction in pension benefits, with no prior notice to affected staff, and if the decision-makers involved were aware that this was going to be an outcome of the transfer of ownership to the District, this is news-worthy. I feel so badly for those affected.
Having been employed at FAIRVERN from January 1995 until my retirement in October 2021, I too was in disbelief upon receiving a letter from CCWIPP/UFCW pension that my pension would be reduced by 10% due to a Withdrawal Event. As I had attended meetings at FV where we were informed by Norm Barrette of the District and John Wright Jr of the FV board that our pensions would not be affected by the District taking over FV . In fact it would be a simple Roll Over and the FV employees would not suffer a financial loss. Many times staff asked this question and were assured there would be no pension loss. This statement made by the district representative and the board of FV representative led the staff to believe that no financial loss would occur. When the district took over FV on June 30/22 one would think they had looked at the financial expenses of FV and how this would impact the current and retired employees. The District now has the license for the 160 FV LTC beds and the current employees are now employees of the District. The pension reduction from 10% to 52.5% for these employees is absolutely disgraceful to the long serving, hard working FV employees. Some of which have 30 plus years of service! One wonders about the benefit of the takeover at the financial loss of all FV employees!
There are a few questions I have after reading Diana Kato’s post.
District, at no time told the employees and retirees that this reduction was coming? Allowing the fund itself to make that announcement is rather gutless!
The property for the ‘New Fairvern’ was a ‘gift’ to District. A rather grand donation. But did the people who made this donation know that the recipient was about screw its own ex pensioners to the tune of 10 to 50 percent? Would some now look on this benevolence in a somewhat different light? Or not?
There are councilors in Huntsville who were and are members of our district government, some saying it was part of their portfolio. Did they know this was happening? Were they part of this and condone it? Elections are in the offing.
We have a brand new MPP in our area. Might this be the sort of thing he might take a peek at, and enlighten me?
Or us, for that matter.
District government my a##.
Just another layer of lawmakers to tax you and let you down.
My opinion.
Diana Kato your post is news to me. That is terrible. You paid into this and the retirees can’t start living on a reduction. What’s happening with our world? Canadians are not being looked after.
Thankyou Speak Up Huntsville
For lending an ear!
I am compelled to write today with a truth about one of the costs of the new Fairvern that you may not hear otherwise!
If you know someone who retired from Fairvern recently or years ago, or works for Fairvern before the District took over on June 30/22 you know someone who probably has had their pension reduced by 10 %to 52%!! You would also surely know that they worked very hard for that pension too.
I retired from Fairvern 4 years ago in my 20th year working there as PSW.
I was notified by a letter in the mail received August 20/22 from CCWIPP informing me that my pension would be reduced each month by 10% starting Sept 1/22!
I knew Nothing about this from any source official or hearsay before this letter ! I was shocked ! How can this be!
In this letter it says there are “reductions in accrued benefits for Active and Former Members and reductions in payment to Retirees/Surviving Spouses” because Fairvern “has ceased participation in the CCWIPP effective June 30 2022”
This means everyone I ever worked with in 20 years, everyone still working there before June 30/22 and everyone that was there when I started, everyone who I knew who retired …This even reduces the surviving spouses pension of a good friend and retired coworker who passed away 2 years ago! and also a retired coworker now 81 years old!…All who earned a paycheque from Fairvern since it’s inception until June 30/22 and had no choice but to contribute to CCWIPP !
This Is So Many Local Hardworking people, And Seniors, And Their Families!! This is So Much Earned Money!!
This is truly a cost for those affected (or a far reaching funding) of the Brand new Shiny Fairvern, indeed already tarnished, on the backs of its very own workers and their families, deceased or alive, working or retired!! Shame on Somebody !!!
I was not informed about how the new Fairvern would affect me! I was just informed by the one letter that my pension will be reduced starting in 2 weeks!
I encourage others to speak up here! I Do want to hear your experience of this! No one asked me ‘What do you think about reducing your pension as part of a deal for the new Fairvern?’ I know the very large collective answer would have been Not Acceptable !
Good observations Mr. Markle.
My mother always told us to avoid ‘bad’ people. To Mom, bad people were those who cursed loudly, drank excessively and couldn’t “keep their urges to hell home!”; things like that. But we knew what she meant and hopefully we turned out to be better people for it.
I wonder today, if she would have had a word to describe some of the people, and the things they do in our present world. I first wondered about this, when aircraft were flown into buildings.. Irregardless of the cause or reason, what word would she have used? ‘Bad’ just wouldn’t have covered it.
On the news the other day, a man confronted a woman in a hotel lobby, verbally assaulting her. A difference of opinion was not discussed, just some ‘nut-bar’ (that was not in Mom’s vernacular) with the perceived right to harass someone. He didn’t choose to confront someone who would retaliate and put his lights out. He chose a woman.
Like, he would have a political opinion that didn’t include a lot of yelling! That is just an assumption on my part, but I don’t think I’m far off the mark.
But his ilk are showing up a lot now: people feeling that there are things that need to change, but not getting much direction. Our politicians seem incapable of reaching and talking to people. They accept our votes, but then ignore us ’til they have to suck-up again in a few years.
I love a good ‘argument’; an exchange of views with no real need to convince someone or change their mind. (Maybe tomorrow we could argue opposite sides?) But it’s hard in today’s world. You never know how the person might react to a viewpoint. Or how violently. There is only right or wrong; confrontation; with no room for discussion.
Mom may have not been able to accept this, but there are those out there today who seem to have been away from the mothership too long! A lot of scrambled signals are creeping in under their aluminum foil hats.
I just can’t imagine any other reason for someone to have accosted another person, the way that s@#*head did!
Sorry Mom.
Chief Nursing Officer of Canada: Stephen Harper got rid of the position all together. The Liberal government restored it. ? an indication of the value the Federal political parties place on the importance of nursing.
A recall moment.
I noticed a criticism of the Federal Liberals that the promised facility to produce vaccines in Canada was not up and running after 2 years. How long do you suppose it takes to start up such a facility? Longer than 2 years, be realistic. It took less than 2 years for Mulroney to shut down the Canadian operation in Toronto.
Thank you for your interest in reading.
I was in Reaboro, just east of Lindsay last week and found a wallet at a farm that sold corn, it had license, health card and debit and credit cards plus a large amount of cash. If the person or anyone that knows this person. The first name is Catherine, I will not give the last name. The Lindsay police have your wallet and all of its contents.
Good evening everyone:
Recently on main Street Huntsville, we got a brand new cross walk light that allows pedestrians to cross the road safely to the other side. Except I don’t get it, ALOT of people are crossing the road where there’s no cross walk, and people do acknowledge the cross walk but refuse to walk another 3 more feet away from the cross walk lights knowing traffic is extremely busy. I have seen cars having to stop suddenly and the cars behind them have to slam on their brakes as people cross the road suddenly, its quite annoying and unsafe for the pedestrians and motor vehicles. So why did we end up with a cross walk in the middle of main Street when no body uses it properly, and if they do, alot of people don’t push the button they simply assume traffic will stop automatically just because they are crossing the white lines of the cross walk. Another issue is when pedestrians push the button of the cross walk and the lights come on, most of the motor vehicles stop and let people cross, BUT I seen alot recently cars and trucks don’t quite pay attention to the cross walk lights because there’s been alot of vehicles that stop their cars just tooo toooo close to the people crossing the road when they have the right away to cross the road when the flash lights come on. Summer is busy I know with tourists and the community of Huntsville, please please be safe and use the cross walk provided, instead of Jay walking. And motor vehicles please pay attention to the cross walk lights and stop on the white lines and not after the white lines. Be patient, better to be safe than sorry. This is my own observation and my own thoughts, wether you agree or not, it’s all good with me. Have a wonderful safe walk on main Street Huntsville ???? cheers ????
I did so enjoy the flush of excitement with last week’s open letter to the premier. There was some cheek flushin’, sand kickin’, chest clutchin’ repartee indeed. Hope no one was hurt, ’cause getting a doctor/nurse in a hospital is becoming difficult. That’s what the discussion was about.
Or more about what a doctor might bill in a working day, or a nurse can be paid per hour of a working day. And what an ‘on call’ physician may charge; apparently he/she can kip out and still charge an astronomical $4,000.00 plus for the shift, maybe without working? That’s even better than I could do at KC.
If that can be the price for an ‘on call’, then I have to agree with the premier; the system is broken and needs an overhaul. However, I don’t see the problem as being the working nurse.
So our health minister, the minister for long term care and the premier have devised a plan, whereby they will remove the elderly patients now housed in hospital beds ( not enough nursing homes) and move them to ‘for profit’ facilities?
That is a plan? That is the same ‘duck and cover’ this party employed during the recurring Covid outbreaks.
There should be vacancies, considering the number of seniors that perished in such places over the last couple of years. This leaves me even less convinced that our present day lawmakers have any idea as to what can be done, so they have farmed the problem out.
It seems that, in Ontario, the things we can’t afford to be without, we can’t afford anymore.
For anyone who voted Conservative in last provincial election – no right to complain, this is what you wanted and voted for – despite warnings of Mike Harris 2 agenda.
Conservatives are very limited in embracing very few different options than privatization (they call it “parallel care” instead of “two-tier”).
Conservatives are back to allowing/forcing “bed blockers” to LTC out of their actual or nearby geographic area to a vacant spot (perhaps a trick they picked up with hospitalized patients moving province to province during the pandemic).
“bed blockers”: an awful term to describe people in hospital needing LTC & there are few places to access that bed/care = occupying a hospital bed to the detriment of new patients being admitted for care. These people are often in need of Nursing rather than any acute medical care.
? What about chronic home care support? What about increasing hours of service for home care patients?
Of course, this too would require a look at nursing retention, wages, and recruitment – which is already so poorly addressed by Ford Conservatives. The two-tiered system in the US is no great model, we are/have becoming less caring about those without private insurance benefits and more satisfied with “I’ and my family are okay, why should I be concerned with your access to health services?”.
Additionally, Mr. H Mackenzie seems to be losing his influence over the Provincial Conservative party. Doug Ford Conservatives are ignoring all calls/open letters to the Premier for scrapping Bill C- 124, over the wages and collective bargaining rights of nurses in the public health sector.
Like the Harris Conservatives, there is contempt for nurses and the public health system. Be warned teachers in the public system, true to form, you will be next to be shown the government’s contemptuous hand. Let me know when and where the picket line will be, I want to join in and participate!
To Brenda Begg I’m sorry I didn’t realize that they stopped reporting on that site the same time that they stopped reporting on the Ont, Govt. Site so after June you just have to guess at the numbers. I could give you the last numbers the ont govt. posted but you will have to send me friends request.
I thought everyone was over arguing about covid shots , but I guess not. Honestly I’ve had 4 now, and so far no covid. I had a woman be snotty with me when I had the first shot. I told her that I had the shot and if it was the start ofvthe zombie apocalypse then I was coming to bite her first. Apparently some smart researchers in BC think they have a cure for it , but it will be another shot of course so some chicken Littles won’t have it. Such is life Darwinism is always the winner.
Everyone please step back. What we have to learn from this terrible tragedy is how to prepare for the next pandemic with (example):
* an emergency plan,
* effective use of our healthcare services,
* using our military field services for triage, not hospital emergency
* group and private insurance plans to be first payer for justified income loss and expanded EI, rather than
spontaneous government plans. EI premiums would have to increase and specific reserves established.
• very little limited political interference
Remember “Lies, damned lies, and statistics” is a phrase describing the persuasive power of statistics to bolster weak arguments.
A bit more information: Global News reporting on Worldwide case numbers of COVID deaths, Canadian figures, and the concerns for winter. Over 50% of deaths occurring in the unvaccinated.
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/we-cannot-live-with-15-000-deaths-a-week-who-warns-on-rise-in-covid-fatalities/ar-AA10Ljym?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=5532e0add96a4a569f4bdfb32525dc78
Ray Vowels, please help me locate the site re Covid numbers in Muskoka that you say is posted on The Doppler. I cannot locate your reference. The last update was on July 12, 2022 titled, ‘Here’s What The SMDHU Is Stating About COVID Numbers in Muskoka.’ There is nothing in this post that discusses “the truth about this vaccine.”
Thank you. I look forward to reading your reference. It’s always wise to look at both sides of an issue.
I’ll try this one more time and just maybe you guy’s will post this. If your interested in the truth about this vaccine then go to the site that is posted on Doppler yes right here, Covid-19 numbers in Muskoka take a look at it please .
We need more policing on Lake of Bays. Some power boats are speeding through narrow waterways where speed signs are posted. There are swimmers and canoeist in these areas at risk. It is mind boggling how close boats speed near the shore, some with water skiers behind. Very dangerous and erosive to the shore line. Have fun but practice safe boating.
Hugh Mackenzie,
Thank you for your support on this Mr. Mackenzie.
I too believe that it’s a fine line between fact and opinion but there are times when it may be best to draw that line to insure that people are not mislead.
As we have seen happen in the last 5 years it’s way to easy for people’s better judgement to be swayed in the wrong direction by printed untruths.
Best to you.
Mr Spivak: I do not claim to be a man of fact and knowledge….although I try! I believe people have a right to their opinion but not a right to distort the truth. My own view is that vaccines, especially in a pandemic are important. (I just received my second booster today) People who do not want to be vaccinated have that right.. I do not know of anyone who was forced to be vaccinated for COVID, however, there are consequences for a decision not to be vaccinated in order to protect the public good and I agree with that. We find it hard at times to distinguish between someones’s opinion and a complete untruth.. We try hard not to be censors when it comes to one’s opinion. However, on this matter of vaccinations and mandates, Katheryn Henderson has made her position perfectly clear and we will not be posting any further comments from her on this subject.
Kathryn Henderson,
Facts and data speak the truth, if you don’t believe this then don’t spread misinformation. This is not truth you are stating Kathryn, you are spreading your own twisted view of medical and scientific fact.
There is a difference between expressing an opinion on an open forum and spreading falsehoods.
do you actually believe our government and its leaders are out to get you and they are using a vaccine to do it?
How many vaccines have you had in your life? Were they all failed attempts to control or kill you?
I’m surprised this paper continues to allow this, spreading of these kind of falsehoods without fact to back it is dangerous to the community and media has a responsibility to prevent it.
Hugh, you claim to be a man of fact and knowledge, what’s your take?
Mr. Slater, the Conservatives are sooooo concerned about the budget that the free 1 billion dollar give away in license sticker renewals is possible. The money wasted in taking the anti-carbon tax stickers on gas pumps to a higher court is also wasteful. Just getting started. Signs of Conservative waste which belies they as the only party interested in a balanced budget!
Ms. Henderson; I understand that personal experience means a lot to you, it is your litmus test, if you will. Please don’t easily call All news “fake”. For one thing, your rhetoric adds to the populist chant from the US – not helpful. Secondly, we, each and every one need to view all news information with a critical eye to learn fact, fiction (meaning, unlikely), or opinion. Just because it does not meet the bar of a personal experience does not mean the information isn’t real/true (e.g. wild fires, floods).
COVID information continued to evolve. Many decisions were made in the interest of the general and vulnerable population, the best our understanding of science can offer, and the fostering of caring about the other person during communicable spread. Decisions to be vaccinated/unvaccinated -each has consequences for self and others. Please do not be quick to dismiss all that was learned.
Thomas I’m going by experience with all the people around me and three different work locations. The real facts of covid death, covid Vax deaths and unvaxed deaths are not given to us. The news is false and misleading. I have seen people deeply affected In a negative way from Vax. Personnel experience. I’m not ani- Vax. I’m for choice and the hospitals and other places are making it mandatory to vax. That’s wrong. My sister and a lot of health care where she works quit instead of getting the jab. 900 nurses in the Toronto quit due to mandatory Vax. In 2 years no one got covid on the nursing or cleaning staff until the got vaxed. Now they are working the cleaning staff at 5 short. And short nurses. You an believe Trudeaus news. He makes up stuff like someone throwing their bike at the horses at the Ottawa peaceful protest when there were pictures of the horse clearly trampling a disabled person with a walker. The news is fake. I’m not going to argue with you because if you don’t see it, you never will. Have a good covid free day.
WOW! The hate for conservatives is alive and well in a lot of these posts! I can not see how you can support the previous liberal regime and not have any focus on fiscal $$$ mgmt. and corruption! FOLKS .. news alert .. spending is like using your credit card … it must be paid back … if not .. interest accumulates! I am sure all you folks sooner or later pay off your credit cards! If not .. you are a true liberal … don’t care … live for today .. to hell with the future .. not my problem! And .. the most famous words of the biggest spender in Canadian history .. JT — budgets will balance themselves! .. when hell freezes over!
Head’s up. Very different slant and nuance in reporting by National Post and Toronto Star about the stage at which the Emergency Measures Act was invoked during the Convoy protest. Be sure to read more than the National Post version – their nuance is in the article title. Contradiction as to how interested the Trudeau government was in the negotiations between the protestors and the Ottawa city/police before invoking the act is misleading.
The lack of clarity belongs to the NP reporting, in my opinion.
Kathryn Henderson, Could you provide me with the data that backs up your claim that vaccinated people are getting covid more often than unvaccinated? I’d be interested in seeing the FACTS. Perhaps you could also include data that says vaccinated people die from covid more often than unvaccinated?
Fraser Govan Canada should have enough money for our health care but Trudeau gives billions of our tax dollars to other countries. I can’t afford to pay extra taxes or a fee for doctor and shouldn’t have to. We should have enough money but government is taking it all for personal use or to give away over seas. The shortage of nurses and hospital cleaners was going on before covid but since mandated to get the jab we have lost more good workers that can’t be replaced. Government is the problem and is not taking care of the problem.
Mr. Markle, I agree the talent, experience, and leadership in the Ontario Cons seems to be at an all time low. The cabinet is looking pretty limited in expertise other than career politicians (please correct me if I am wrong). Though I clearly did not vote for this party, enough did. So, we do live with the fallout.
The political will seems to be hiding under a pillow somewhere.
DF’s strengths and interests are in cars and trucks and things that go (a title from a children’s book I used to read my children, by author Richard Scary), + gas, highways, highway tolls, license plate sticker rebates (imagine what 1 billion might have done for education or healthcare – a terrible waste of money). He was a small business man, football coach, municipal politician. We can only anticipate the go-to place of for-profits – this is the only way the Cons can imagine dealing with this challenge. Why they trust for-profits after the horrific performance for elders, their families, staff, and volunteers – is beyond me. But, they Do.
How about we raise income taxes and institute a $25 or $50 fee to see a doctor or ER visit? That might go a long way to funding the medical care that we are lacking. I am in the senior citizen category and are quite willing to pay for “guaranteed” medical services. Why not increase the medical tax on families with net income over say $150K (pick a number). I’ll gladly pay it if it saves me from having to go to the US to get necessary treatments, or line up in ER for a 12 hour wait, and then get treated to hallway medicine. I’m sure there are people that can’t afford to pay – they can be means tested to get a yearly exemption. Come on Ontario and Canada – it’s about time the politicos and population realizes there is no free medical lunch!
Premier Ford – do the right thing and pay the nurses and remove the red tape surrounding new medical supports immigration. And yes- I agree, we don’t need new highways at the expense of our medical situation.
I’ll meet you anytime at your cottage in Port Sydney to debate – and bring Scott and Graydon: I’ll tell you why someone who has voted PC his entire life did not in the last elections.
Opinions are generally based on the information and experiences that a person carries with them. Over the years, we may modify or enhance those opinions and they become pretty much who we are and what we stand for.
Good on you Anna-Lise Kear for taking the time to elaborate on your school of thought. To someone who more or less demanded you do it; I suppose because they felt their judgement was so correct and overwhelming. I’m not sure I would do that if someone were to get in my pixels.
“You are a better (wo)man than I am Gunga Din.”
On the lighter side; did you catch the “Aw shit” expression on the face of Doug Ford, when he realized people knew his 90% efficiency figure and the state of provincial health care are both in trouble. He went from a ‘we are in good shape’ comment a week or so ago, to the province, other provinces, maybe the world, is having the same problem.
I’m amazed the big guy can back-peddle that fast. Wow!!
His Minister of Health has a degree in broadcasting and communications. She seems to know that the health care shortage is almost global in scope; you would have thought she could maybe have given Premier Ford a heads-up.
Like, before he had to stand at the mike with that expression on his face. Watching him though, the words from the song by Loverboy sprang to mind. “Lovin’ every minute of it.” I really was.
Unfortunately, I think we are in for a rough patch folks, because I fail to see much leadership coming from this bunch.
My opinion.
We live in a such beautiful town! However, do not attempt to explore its bounty on foot! This is, at least, very inconvenient and, at most, perilous.
Let’s discuss gaps in sidewalk coverage! Muskoka 3; sidewalk ends at the hospital and yet there are at least four large subdivisions and a school on this road and only a narrow gravel shoulder to walk on. Highway 60: nowhere to walk from King W to the YIG area and incomplete sidewalks King W to Deerhurst drive. ( beautiful Fairy trail bush path but if you exit at Grandview there is no sidewalks in either direction.) Hanes Road: a paved shoulder from Hwy 60 to Beer Store connected to the lovely ( but short) path on Centre St but in recent repaving, a new car turning lane has been added, heading right towards Home Depot, that bisects the paved shoulder. These three example, of the many around town demonstrate the big issue of sidewalk gaps around Huntsville.
Anne-Lise
You just pulled a TRUDEAU, you gave an answer but not the answer to my question.
How can a government financially reward the hard working, well educated, people in the medical profession, that is nurses and doctors, without the union card carrying government employees whose jobs require little training, little education, and no responsibility demanding either the same percentage raise or the same dollar amount in their next contract?
Answer please.
Anna Lese Kear you mentioned “anti-vaxers” we are not anti-vaxers. We just wanted the choice to take the 6 month experimental Vax or to not take it. What I see around me is the vaxers are getting covid more often than the unvaxed. If the news would tell the real truth and not “Trudeau ” news more people might rethink their choice. I AM NOT ANTIVAX I JUST CHOSE TO NOT TAKE THE VAX.
I’d like to compliment the town of Huntsville and its staff and elected representatives for the wonderful work that they have done in beautifying downtown. From the boat berths to the parks and playgrounds and to a Main Street now hosting outdoor seating and patios for dining. VERY well done. This is a welcoming and warm destination and the proof is in seeing locals out enjoying the spaces and the increasing number of international tourists who come to visit.
Is it just me and that I’m getting old and living up to my reputation as a pompous ass or is there anyone out there that gives a monkey’s toss about the drug, alcoholic, vandalism and traffic violations that seem to be infecting our society?
Why can’t we, and the justice system realizes that giving these guys a break is just not working. I feel sorry For our dedicated police officers that do outstanding work trying to protect us just to see the pathetic response form the courts.
Stop feeling sorry for these moronic offenders. They do not deserve our sympathy.
The steady stream of almost weekly reports describing local incidents of impaired and/or distracted driving is so disheartening. And we only ever hear about the ones who get caught.
Mr. Paris; though I acknowledge the nurse-patient ratio in Ontario was a significant pre-existing, contributing factor to the situation the Ford Cons are now in, I would point out that the culling of nurses by Harris in the’90s laid the ground work, certainly not in any sense pro-active.
In addition, the time for urgent planning for health human resources was immediately after the First Wave of COVID. Legault in Quebec did so, in the area of PSWs for LTC facilities. Ford Cons have been slow off the mark repeatedly. What the Cons offered in Ontario was a $5000. one time signing bonus. What was required was the concerted efforts on recruitment and retention – which includes money and effort – educational initiatives, enhancements for personnel. All of this should have started in earnest post Wave One.
The problem, by neglect, has become more complex and compounded. I suggest that this is owing to a real lack of talent and experience in the Provincial Ford Conservatives.
Finally, from my view, it is not just about $. It is about the respect citizens hold for our public health care system and those who Serve in it. Anti-vax protests without protections for health care personnel entering their places of work is unacceptable. Key leadership from Ford Cons should have been stronger in fostering a sense of community during COVID – he lacked the political will to do so. I suggest we could have had then and now, a better response from any of the other 3 main political parties.
Anna-lise It seems that you have still got the idea of a perfect party you want in power, but the thousands of doctors and many thousand nurses, that the current opposition parties were going to hire either do not exist, or they lied to us.
If these opposition parties were going to give big raises in order to get some back great, but the problem is, with government unions, any raises that hospital staff got, all government unions would demand, regardless of education, or responsibility.
If nurses got twenty percent with years of education and training, and great responsibility, the floor sweeper at Queens Park would expect twenty or twenty five percent, with no education, training or responsibility. How do you give the deserving ones a deserved raise with the union system without the rest demanding equal or greater, or is your solution just pass out blank cheques to all government employees.
Re: The ‘Kent (stone) Quarry’
formerly Kent Park; with grass,
Deciduous & Evergreen Trees,
bushes, SHADE and happy
people., including Santa.
THANK YOU Huntsville BIA, for ‘stepping up to the plate’. Umbrellas over the chairs for shade is a very generous temporary gesture. I will have passed on by the time Mr. Stone’s 15 year plan for shade will appear.
Let’s hope your good example will inspire Council to make moves to correct the major mistakes made.
Return grass, large trees, add Timber
Shelter. & seating that Seniors can navigate, water and/or fire feature-
Voila! Santa may even want to come back!
Fingers crossed…..
With intensive bed closures in Ontario due to nursing and staff shortages, and with many warning alerts that ERs are in “Titanic” situations, where is the Ford Conservative government? “CRICKETS”
When citizens do not exercise their voting franchise, these are the results! Prior to the election, the other three (3) major provincial parties had platforms to improve the nursing shortages and support the public health care system.
Instead, we see first hand the lack of priority by the Ford Conservatives, blaming transfer payments from the federal government for their own Conservative lack of action and ineptitude in their own spending priorities (rebate of 1 billion for license stickers).
https://images.app.goo.gl/XZw6Mv2FdncdW5xp8
Here is the link of the photo I found of my uncle, Brian Dell
My name is Cheryl and I am looking for My uncle Brian Dell, he would be around70 early 70’s. Last known he has lived in Huntsville for many many years. I saw a picture of him from way back Wednesday that was from 1985, it was him with 3 kids, they were at a tree and I think he was showing them how to get the maple syrup. I would love so much to connect with him. If anyone knows him, please direct him to this post.
Please email me with Brian Dell in the subject line.
I appreciate any help, Thank you
Kathryn you totally, missed my point but because her religion it could have killed her. I personally think what you do with your body has nothing to do with governments, as long as your not a danger to others.
Wendy Brown I assume being Catholic they wouldn’t have an abortion anyway. My big point is get snipped or us lots of contraceptives and not use abortion as a cure. I know people who used one contraceptive and got pregnant anyway. Use morning after pill or add to your contraceptives.
To the lady who was talking about abortions and contraceptives. My cousin a catholic woman used the so called rhythm method. She ended up with 7 children in around 9 years, it wasn’t cause she couldn’t count. But they found out later in years she ovulated twice a month, being catholic she had no recourse. So how would you fix that, couldn’t use contraceptives and having so many children did major damage to her body.
Attention …… town council.
I hope you have been paying attention to your public’s opinions on the Kent Park mistake. This negative feeling goes far beyond the few expressed in the article in the past Huntsville Doppler article. But then I imagine you are aware of this.
I won’t ask who approved it as the whole council is responsible.
Are you going to do anything to improve it in the near future?
A large number of your public await your answer.
Thank you.
I thoughtthere was abortion clinics not hospitals that do abortions? May some of you men should get the snip if you dont want children? There is also the pill, IUD, foam, a condom. My grandparents managed their pregnancies by the calander and had children when they were wanted. I don’t understand thw amount of abortions being done with so many contraceptives. My opinion and some fact.
Furey Factor (Toronto Sun), today: “Wait, so now it’s wrong to talk about Trudeau” hair?!”
Mr. Furey has little of substance to write about when he chooses to comment on the appearance of a politician. It reminds me of a Grade 7 or 8 preoccupation with physical appearance or a Hollywood magazine which rates the dresses at the Oscars.
It is trite, similar ink could be given to Ford’s weight or face, etc., etc. Of course he can write about it – we can count on the banal, childish stuff from the Conservative media, Toronto Sun.
Mr. Paris; I don’t think you need to worry. Neuro and cancer care will not be bumped for abortions. For one thing, different departments, requiring different nursing care. One is not a trade-off for the other. However, nursing shortage may drive access to care, bed use for this wave of COVID may cause delays.
Ford’s license sticker spending was frivolous. I certainly can’t manage my finances that way, can you?
The underfunding by Ottawa has gone on for many years and compounded the problems for the provinces, The hospitals were behind before covid and now the delays are worse.
Some people may say how bad is? I can give a personal example, in november 2019 began a five month multi hospital chain of events including seeing a Nero surgeon at Toronto western hospital. She said to get my gp to schedule a repeat ct scan . I returned home in april 2020, and my gp put in for scan.
My gp was retiring and put in for three procedures, in mid June 2022 my wife received a call for me to go in, It was for the scan, only 25 months late No bad news, But n
ow that I have no doctor who will look after the things I still need to know about, maybe by 2024.
One of the things justin as said he wants all hospitals to do is have abortion as the number on prioity, to bad for those who chose to have cancer,you know thats a personal choice
There is nothing wrong with our health care system that
a good cooling off period would help.
There has to be a time where service gets a chance to catch up to demand.
You cannot continuously pour a gallon container (demand) into a quart container (service)
with out over flow happening.
Maybe one day Trudeau will see the light???
To Mr. Paris:
If one digs a little deeper than the headlines, the Trudeau government does plan to increase the % of health care funding it allots to the provinces.
It doesn’t just want to hand out more money to be spent, as it is now, on a health care system in crisis. The government is first insisting on negotiating with the provinces, who are jurisdictionally responsible for health care spending, to make sure they each have plans for IMPROVING the efficiency of hospitals and overall medical care and for finding new and more effective/ beneficial ways to organize and spend that money.
There’s a lot of “loaded” language criticizing the federal government for being slow at righting the low % of covered health care costs, eroded by previous federal governments over the years.
But this taxpayer applauds the wisdom in not just throwing many billions of dollars at the current mess and demanding that concrete plans for improvements in the whole, complex health care system be made first.
There are multiple factors responsible for some of the problems with emergency rooms closing, long wait times and so on but a major recent factor is the effect of the Covid19 pandemic on staff shortages due to illness and burnout.( Not to mention gross underpayment of nurses and PSW’s)
(There is a big mess OVERALL, especially in long term care, home care and so on. However, despite common use of terms such as “crisis” , there’s still a great deal of good health care enjoyed by many Canadians. I’ve had the best and very timely care with my family doctor, lab and radiology technicians and surgeons at little Huntsville hospital and other people I’ve spoken with elsewhere are happy with their medical care.)
Just finished reading the pontifications of Francois-Philippe Champagne, letting Rogers know that any further outages of service will be frowned upon. Our internet providers must work together, to respond and render assistance, should there ever be another such incident.
A very in charge and official pronouncement.
Well good luck with that! People built it and it will fail; somehow, somewhere, sometime. I don’t know of anything we have ticking over smoothly, except maybe global warming. And we are responsible for that.
And getting that number of ‘in-charge’, big money dudes to co-operate would be like directing a fart in a mitt.
The sad part I find, is the pretention of a government representative pointing a finger at a corporation, no matter how much it is deserved, when six or seven years out, that government has a Phoenix pay system that isn’t paying! A couple of billion dollars trashed there. People have been stressed for years; some even losing their homes.
Quite an example our government sets. I just wonder how many of the elected have missed a pay check.
Ineptitude reaches all the way to Ottawa.
Okay! So you already knew.
Goodness, just as we can count on “d and t” during our lifetime, so too can we count on the Ford Cons tardy to the COVID waves, Yet Again!
4th vaccinations (second boosters) should and could have been available to those under 60 years of age – months ago (I suggest 5-6 months) to be of use to the public. No change in Ford ineptitude. (check).
Mr. Paris, yet DF Cons have Lots of tax payer money to Not bother collecting a billion in revenues from license plate renewals -sending out cheques to Ontarians ahead of his re-election. One asks, “could this have gone into Provincial healthcare?” Not while DF likes cars and trucks and things that go- and the highways they travel on.
Isn’t that nice the town is changing so you have 2 years of arrears instead of three. People are barely making it now so it’s not a good time to change this property arrears from 3 down to 2. How about giving Huntsville residents a break.
For those who take shots at Ford over lack of health spending, should put the blame where it belongs.
The original agreement was to be 50=50 feds and provinces, right now trudeau is almost thirty percent down with the provinces expected to pay almost 80 percent, while the feds seem to have hundreds of billions to send outside of Canada.
How many times have you read that some of the great constructions on earth were done under the direction of aliens.
The pyramids, the Plains of Nazca. Stone structures supposedly erected under the tutelage of space/time travelers. I was never much into the concept myself, feeling that any entity capable of crossing the voids of space, could surely be capable of instructing us in the arts, or politics, medicine even. Not just how to heap up rocks.
At the corner of Main and Brunel we have a new park. A lot of rocks that creates a space as I would visualize downtown Hell, only without the flames. I’m sure sunny days will make it most inviting. It should be low maintenance, don’t you think.
How can anyone who claims to have affection for the area we live in, believe this is “what we are about”.
The hearts and souls of whoever designed and approved this tragedy , must be grey and bland. Maybe they are just missing.
So I now feel I have to rejig my initial premise.
It may have been a local council that ordered those great constructions. We are talking a different sense of scale, to be sure.
But in the case of Kent Park, I think the directions did come from Aliens! Town Hall Aliens!!
PS. even the old Fina service station was a leg up on this stony wasteland. Plus it had a washroom.
Main and Brunel is a small example of the scorched earth policies by the District, towns and townships.
Visit any new development to see the same thing on a larger scale.
Unfortunately for Muskoka and turtles, a new Minister of Deforestation and Natural Resource Extraction has been named.
He’s up on charges already.
Dougie will get him off.
Trees, conservation, turtles, zoning and planning are all just red tape in the way of development.
https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/graydon-smith-faces-charges-laid-by-private-citizen/
Too bad for Muskoka Green didn’t win. It was close.
Mr. Muir,
Re: Your comment- ‘what happened to our green space at Main & Brunel?’
You are not alone in your shock.
This Publuc GREEN SPACE was so welcoming & attractive, with its mature shade trees, (including a beautiful evergreen ‘Xmas Tree’), it was featured in a Xmas movie you may remember.
We PAID to have this Public GREEN SPACE TOTALLY destroyed, clear cut & literally ‘paved over’ with granite pavers! A few boulders (that are not native Muskokan), add to the stark coldness of the corner.
Not a blade of grass for the children to play on anymore, no big shade trees for the Seniors to catch an oxygen- rich breath under. No compliments & thanks from Tourists anymore.
Citizens suggestions about incorporating a timber shelter, water feature etc., to reflect the nature of this area & town ignored.
We have to BUY a Christmas Tree to prop up on Town Hall steps!
I have not seen anyone walking across the hot stone to rest in this most unnatural, hot, unshaded area.
A total FAIL say many of us.
What were you thinking!!!!!
– and please inform us of what you will do to remediate? Please.
Mr. Gilley; at least the Green Party, among others were willing to scrap the cap on nurses’ wages. Not the DF Cons. Talent not on display in the DF Conservative government, but then some of us could see this.
A few of their heavyweights in the talent department have left.
Anna-Lise, you are spot on! “…public education is next on the chopping block.” And, yes, we all know of someone who had surgery cancelled and rebooked several times to the detriment of their health, due to nursing/staff shortages. But what the heck. According to a commentary on The Doppler a while back – Dougie Ford drives a truck, returns phone calls, helps his neighbours [but lest we forget, not LTC staff and residents].
What more could you want from a politician?
Again, the Ford government’s “inaction” in our publicly operated healthcare system fails to register as an immediate, important crisis to address. Mike Harris, part 2.
Surprisingly, in the NP (of all places), “The Ford government is in no hurry to save a collapsing health system” (R. Denley). How many people do you know who face surgical cancellations and re-bookings due to nursing/staff shortages? So, the Cons continue to starve the system to invite more for-profit healthcare into the lucrative healthcare “market place”. Cons like to sell things., all things, anything. This is what they like to do best and to expect anything different is stupid. Warning, public education is next on the chopping block – watch as the door is opened to increased private, for-profit academies.
Seriously, this is so predictable.
Website for the article is below.
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/randall-denley-the-ford-government-is-in-no-hurry-to-save-a-collapsing-health-system/ar-AAZkyO5?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=6c268df65d3747d7874187e41306e6b4
WHEN will the in town streets be fixed? I cringe every time I come doe Brunel or cross main at center. It sees like they just paved it nice and dug it up to leave nasty bumps. My car doesn’t like them. If the town has a plan why not wait til you have everything you need before digging up the street. Nice for the tourist’s eh?
As a cynical opinionated old man I must state that I am disgusted with the current federal leadership race and with politics in general
It has been said that Pierre P has sold enough memberships to win the “race” on the first ballot . What kind of a system do we have where a person sells memberships to buy votes
As for Pierre P my opinion is that he is too extreme and reminds me of Trump politics
As for politics in general the liberals are the new ndp and the ndp are want to be liberals
They should officially merge
People like the Green Party but as long as they oppose transporting our biggest natural resource by pipe lines they should not be considered . Sure we have to protect the planet but when a large part of our economy is based on oil and Canada accounts for only 3 per cent of green house emissions why should we undermine our economy
Who does this leave to vote for
Whatever happened to our green space at the corner of Main St. And Brunel Rd. Which is now garnered with a grey postage stamp of boulders and pavers with a few benches scattered around.
Ford Conservative report card anecdotes.
Ahh, the temptations in the use of power: nepotism (check).
If anti-elitism governance means to the Ford Conservatives, one that is against the use of those with formal/specialized education and experience in cabinet positions (check).
As a pacifier to Parry Sound-Muskoka, Mr. Grayden Smith has been assigned as Minister of Natural Resources (this is meant to keep the Greens at bay from the area).
Though I do not believe for a moment that Mr. Smith had anything to do with the travesty of Forbes Hill in Huntsville, can’t help but wonder if more environmental protections will be weakened/ignored for development in our future. Let’s watch.
Hanes and Center, new stoplights install almost complete.
June 23/22.
Check out Gas Buddy.
Gravenhurst is 198.9. Parry Sound and North Bay are 209.9 or less.
Can’t wait to see what happens in Huntsville come July 1st, when the provincial government is to give a pittance of relief!
Will our gas stations pass this on ???
Wow, with the US Supreme Court’s decision upholding the right for any American to carry guns in open society (think of hip hugging holsters, spurs, Stetsons) – the country has catapulted back at least 200 years. Is it any wonder that civil war appears more a possibility than ever?
Between campaign populism, so well displayed by the GOP, the rabid-ness of individualism, the survival of the fittest ethic,, and the tendency to admire the “badass” male from the old West, the stage is well set for civil war, by my observations.
Get angry with anyone, and you an kill your neighbour more easily in a gun duel on the main streets of any town/city. There will simply not be enough police. Where is Sherriff Wyatt Earp when you need him?
Anna-Lise,
I too, trust Dr. Juni. He didn’t candy coat the issues surrounding Covid.
We are not done with Covid. I know, everyone is weary. But, we mustn’t become complacent. I’m sure many of us know someone who has Long Covid or after effects. Examples of Long Covid haulers effects include: vision impairment, heart problems, fatigue, memory loss / brain fog, lung damage…
Employees at a local business are now back to masking. All of them. Wise move.
When it comes to roundabouts, I believe most people do not know how to navigate them. When I use the one in Bracebridge, rarely do I see drivers signalling to exit. Europeans are the experts. For safety’s sake, lights are the answer for now.
What a contrast! Toronto Sun (Furey) writes, “Will Canadians accept liberals imposing COVID restrictions again?” He Does Not write, Will Canadians accept any government imposing…? He has missed the point entirely.
By contrast, Toronto Star (Bruce Arthur) writes from his interview with Peter Juni, head of the Ontario Science table during COVID, “Tears, death threats and real struggle: A difficult job well done”. When Peter and his family moved from Switzerland to Toronto, he describes Toronto as the Wild West: tax loop holes, variable prices, shoddy building standards, no order.”
He did not anticipate the pace, pressure on public communication, or the polarization during the pandemic. Despite excellence in his work, “some people who are closer to either the Toronto Sun or Queen’s Park never quite understood” the behavioural changes and mobility data projected. Peter dealt honestly, most responsibly during COVID. The lack of understanding and acceptance from the DF Conservatives contributed to the slow delayed action, and lack of pro-action, repeated at several stages.
Speaking for my family, we trusted the work and brilliance of Peter Juni and are sorry to lose him to Oxford University, England.
Meanwhile, back at the Toronto Sun, Furey is advocating collective foolishness when any future pandemic/epidemic lands again. Wild West indeed.
“Step on a crack. Break your mother’s back!” Just a childs’ ditty I’m sure. If not there, will be mothers suffering because of the state of the ‘new’ sidewalk around Trinity United corner. Any company that specializes in laying concrete knows how to prevent all that from happening. I’m sure the contract didn’t request the cracks from the old sidewalk to be put back. Has a town engineer signed off on this?
But, the other day I drove main street from the bridge, over the hill and past Lorne street. All the way through town. That hasn’t happened for a while.
Yahoo!!
From MK Wicken: “a number of seniors (many with low vision, hearing, etc) who live in Muskoka Traditions and the surrounding townhomes. They will benefit from the stop lights and sound cues”. I hadn’t thought of that and I believe roundabouts are tricky to cross as a pedestrian, at the easiest of times. I wonder if there are roundabout designs out there to incorporate the safety of pedestrians?
Disappointed that the opportunity for a round about has bee missed at Hanes and Center St. I am concerned that space has not been left for a right turning lane. If you observe the lack of right turning lane on Center street at West you will be aware of the traffic congestion. Next thing will be a cry for another stop light at the Fairvern exit. As a senior I am very capable of managing a round about and disappointed that the importance of the environment is not being addressed. – more idling time. More Gas
About the Yearly Outdoor Education Centre closing…..Maybe it’s time that the Trillium Lakelands District School Board establishes their own centre that can be maintained to their standards. Certainly it would be well used and there must be somewhere it could be located.
In response to Sandy MacLennan – while I agree that roundabouts are efficient, there are a number of seniors (many with low vision, hearing, etc) who live in Muskoka Traditions and the surrounding townhomes. They will benefit from the stop lights and sound cues which are a great assistance for them and the service dogs who help guide them and are trained to those cues. While it may not be the most convenient for drivers who frequent the intersection (myself included) it is certainly the most effective way to keep those in need safe.
Brian Tapley re: mosquitoes
Well said Brian! I hope some will heed your words. Fogging and spraying chemicals seems such an extreme and environmentally dangerous way to deal with the occasional (or even constant) annoyance of mosquitoes.
There are myriad ways to try to avoid the bug bites that do not involve broadly spraying chemicals.
If one feels the need to heavy handed and unnecessarily in their approach, why not try to swat them with a sledgehammer?
I see stop lights going up at Centre Street North and Hanes Road. From earlier on this forum, and I agree: “if ever there was an intersection in this town that was crying out to be turned into a roundabout, this is the one”. Well, bad news. And missed opportunity. I recently drove through two roundabouts on Highway 26 between Collingwood and Wasaga Beach, and we all cruised through from 80Km/hr, barely tapping the brakes. Too bad, so sad here.
“Sounding the alarm on agency nursing” by A. Yalnizyan, Toronto Star, June 15, 2022.
“We are talking about the skyrocketing use of agency nurses, the temporary workers hired to fill in when there are staffing shortages in hospitals, LTC facilities and community clinics…
agency nursing is bad for the community and bad for patient care because there is no consistency, it fragments health delivery”
This is left over from the acute phases of the pandemic And the lack of investment and priority for our staff by the Ford Conservatives in our public health-care system. Fragmented health delivery and coordination means increasing opportunity for errors, omissions, and the possible failure of important communication with families.
Thank goodness JT still appears with masks and shows some solidarity with those of us who remain at some risk. What is the matter with the NP- do they want everyone to unmask so they can live their “normalcy bias”?
Do you know that we are paying 2.16 a litter for gas and it’s 5.05 in the USA for a gallon of gas but figure it out at 3.79 litter 2.16 x3.79 =$8.18 a gallon we are paying way more for gas
The dream of some is to get rid of the first past the post voting and go to a system of two or three major parties, and a hand full of fringe parties so that all governments would be coalition.
Did anyone notice
the number of fringe parties last election.
When you have this style of government there is a down side.
No one wants to be the bad guy so that spending goes unchecked, even if the country cannot afford the costs without high inflation or bankruptcy.
Think Greece, Think Italy, Think Canadda under our NDP _ Liberal coalition.
Close Yearley! No, no, no! Our children went there. I went there in the capacity of a volunteer for our child’s class. The program and staff are awesome. There must be a way to keep it running.
Actually, lawn care businesses must use natural products on lawns. Chemical products have been banned for a number of years.
Regarding mosquitoes and their like.
I see the Lake of Bays Association has a post on their site about the dangers of “fogging” with chemicals to try to control mosquitoes and such.
It might be worth looking away from the shiny BMW in the drive or the flashy high powered boat at the dock for a few moments to reflect on the fact that these bugs, that we like to hate, were here first.
They predate even our indigenous prior colonizers.
They are a food source for a lot of other animals, being close to the bottom of the food chain. If you like fish or blueberries you had better like black flies.
This year I have noted that there seem to be a lot less mosquitoes and black flies than some years. I don’t pretend to know why but do have to admit that I kind of like it.
If you don’t have your cottage in the middle of the forest, put up some bird nesting boxes perhaps and refrain from trying the silly things like being outside at dusk, in shorts, trying to BBQ then these bugs are not really a big hassle.
It is all worth thinking about before you enrich somebody from Mosquito Buzz or some other such company (I only mention them as they are the only one I can remember so at least their advertising is working!) These outfits make money by poisoning the environment to the tiny benefit of a very small area and even this is a bit of a tenuous benefit that only lasts a short time.
Weed Man does the same to your lawn by the way. Just a different set of chemicals.
Better to change your lifestyle a tiny bit, stay in in the evening and maybe go boating or something that removes you from the buggy area.
Long ago I came to an agreement with mosquitoes. They bit me a bit and I don’t much care as the bite disappears in an hour or so. They don’t take a significant amount of blood and so far at least, they don’t carry things like Malaria.
Sometimes, just in an idle moment of thought, I wonder why some people come here, call it “God’s Country”, which would kind of denote that it was close to perfect, and then set about changing everything about it. From the shoreline, the landscape, the trees and now the bugs and wildlife. Hey it was as “God” made it in the first place. Do we really think we can improve it significantly?
Just a thought.
Brian Tapley
Trillium Lakelands District School Board closes the Yearley Outdoor Centre permanently
I’m sure that many of you reading this, have attended the Yearley Outdoor Centre as a student, parent volunteer or even a teacher during the 40+ years that it has been run offering outdoor education experiences to our grade 6 students and other user groups within the Trillium Lakelands District School Board. Therefore, you’ll understand why this is such an outrageous decision, to close Yearley, at a time when Outdoor Education is needed now more than ever before. We desperately need places, such as Yearley, where children can go to learn experientially, spent time in nature and reconnect with themselves.
On the heels of a 2 1/2 year pandemic, which has left our children unable to attend Yearley, we are now seeing the direct impact of nature deprivation and the loss of a meaningful group learning experiences outside the classroom. In addition to learning about our natural environment and how to care for our planet during a climate crisis, we need to attend to our mental health now more than ever and not let it slide further into chronic instability. Many studies suggest this is most successfully done with connections to nature and nature based programming!
To close such a valuable learning centre and nature program is so deeply wrong on so many levels. We have seen from past experience, what happens when we let amazing facilities, like Yearley, go. The Frost Centre in Dorset is a good example, never to return or be re-opened again, with all those great connections to nature lost to our students well into the future.
We can’t let this happen to the Yearley Outdoor Centre. The future health and well-being of our students should take priority right now rather than cutting such a valuable program and facility!
If you feel compelled to let TLDSB’s director (Wes Hann) and the Board’s trustees (Chair: Bruce Reain) know how upsetting this decision is to you, and how imperative it is to keep Yearley operating, this is the time to speak up.
Please share this message with others who know of Yearley and who have a strong belief that our outdoor spaces and programs are worthy of saving. Yearley needs your support, and we need to stick together with our beliefs that Outdoor Education needs to continue within TLDSB and for all of our children!
My goodness, if I see the word “elites/elitism” one more time in NP article titles (on PP busting the elites & institutions- today’s edition), with some presumed collective understanding as to what this means to the “base” (whoever that unthinking mass may be), my forehead will be bruised from contact with the wall.
Who are these “elites”? Anyone we don’t like? Any group we don’t like/agree with? Anyone who protests?
Anyone who has ?more power, more money, more influence, more education, better hourly wage? Anyone we envy?
The very politicians using the populist term are themselves “elite” (PP for one, DF for another, remember Dr. Kellie Leitch?, etc., etc.), for holding the power they do. Destroying imperfect institutions smacks of anarchy. (look south). Change, yes. Without a replacement plan? No.
Having experienced a pandemic (ongoing), do we not want the “elites” providing guidance? If you or your family need a doctor or a lawyer, do you not want the best?
It truly is difficult when I want to read and be informed about an opposing perspective if I can’t get past the title of the article.
I am fundraising for the Huntsville Hospital Foundation for acquisition of 5 entertainment units and 5 landline phones for the ICU department of the Huntsville Hospital. Please go to the following link to see what this is all about.
http://www.justgiving.com/Frances-Botham
Has anyone noticed the huge cracks in the sidewalk on Main Street? Many of these cracks quite long and are beginning to widen.
This work has only just been completed.
Are tax payers now on the hook to repair the repairs?
A Ford Conservative $500 signing bonus to attract nurses into nursing for the public sector just isn’t enough
(I don’t mean money) effort for health care. Consider Drs, staff. If interested, copy and paste.
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/health/wellness/we-are-absolutely-destroyed-health-workers-facing-burnout-even-as-covid-levels-ease/ar-AAY6yuM?bk=1&ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=19ab215b7fc84ff38f57c686cfa49939
Hello Mr. Nathan Cockram;
How well do each of us seek to learn and understand the world we currently live in and occupy (the problems and possible solutions)? There are several instances where the voice of the young educated can lead the way, why not encourage them? Why not give them a chance? It is their future too. Seriously.
Is it condescending to want viable, examined solutions? Is it condescending to want the best so all of us benefit? Is all of the wisdom to be found, located in what? older generations? That is not my experience or understanding.
Greens, start cultivating an informed youth in your party, they are the future for all of us. Thanks to all those informed seniors and elders who voted Green and were not satisfied with the status quo.
DF is no elder statesman. When he has his fall from grace/popularity/power, it is more likely he will rage and get very nasty. Be prepared.
“The educated young will have to take the reigns”
This kind of condescension is exactly why the Greens lost, and while they will continue to lose. The left will never exit the echo-chamber and realize that reality doesn’t neatly conform to their narrow ideology.
I’m sure the replies will only confirm this.
Very sad day for me, the “same old” and “same again” in political party and leadership. The educated young will have to take the reigns and lead the way on climate change. The old are too afraid to do so.
Please sign the Petition for increased safety at local public schools. https://chng.it/945FPnXcK4
Re Anna-Lise, June 2 comment: Trudeau is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t. If Trudeau had dropped “the Covid theatre” The Toronto Sun probably would have criticized that. You’re right; COVID is not over. We mustn’t become complacent. There are probably a significant number of people who know someone (I do) who has debilitating Long Haul COVID / COVID after effects despite the mild case they had.
I’m so sorry about your cousin.
I am deeply disappointed by the support the PC candidate has received from local leaders many of whom declared a Climate Emergency last year and claim to be aware of the existential threat of climate breakdown.
Graydon Smith claims, “this distinguished list of leaders recognize what’s at stake”. Well, obviously, they do not if they can support the actions of the PC provincial government over the past four years and then suggest voting for more of the same.
The Doug Ford Conservatives have opposed initiatives to mitigate and to adapt to the coming changes at every turn. Recently, Ford has doubled down on his ‘sprawlway’ plans and has even suggested his new highways will ‘clear the air in Ontario’.
The Conservatives have consistently avoided debate and questioning of their policies. Just this week, Smith cancelled his participation in the online PROMPTVoting to End Poverty series, scheduled for Tuesday evening.
If you are interested in a caring society, connected communities, and a new climate economy, I encourage you to check out the alternative. The Green Party Plan is here: https://gpo.ca/platform/.
“The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones.” – John Maynard Keynes
Good old right leaning Toronto Sun headline reads, “Trudeau needs to drop the COVID theatre”. After all, it’s summer and we still can’t become infected? Really?
Since COVID is still with us endemically and yes, we still can’t “see” the virus with our eyes — this statement is asinine and just plain silly. (e.g. my cousin, fully vaccinated with precautions, but with considerable risk factors, died in a Scarborough hospital on March 30th- so please don’t suggest this is “over” for all. It isn’t.)
Complaints follow in the NP, pressing and questioning the restrictions still in place for travel.
Italy still has mask mandates on land and in the air. My adult children have yet to be able to receive their 4th shots (soon we hope). I will continue to put my confidence in science and epidemiologists at the federal level; I think they are allowed to speak their science. Also, I am grateful for a/any leader who “walks the talk” on restrictions.
In a recent comment, Hugh MacKenzie was asked if he was ‘suggesting’ that Premier Ford would “take his bat and ball and go home” if he lost this seat.
Hugh cleared the issue up, by saying he was not “suggesting” that at all; just saying that that was the way it would be! No waffling there!
The issue of two hospitals in the district is hung over us like an ever present threat. ‘Vote blue or else.’ But if you think about it, why two? All this will happen a few years (a decade?) in the future, and now, who can be sure of what will happen then? Will the logic of two full service hospitals, less than a half hour apart, be questioned? And at that time, if Mr. Smith is still an MPP, where might the member of a certain town throw his weight?
So now all the past and present ‘blue and not-so-blue’, have coalesced in support of this PC candidate; in an effort to ‘assure’ his election and ‘assure’ something which may very well not even come to pass.
These are some of the very people who have wielded power before and hope to influence us again. Have they brought good jobs and decent wages to the area? Have they made sure there is reasonable housing here? Have they done their best to provide a place for younger families to be part of the community?
Not that you can see! And they will not do all this again if they get the chance!
I voted Green. I’ve had enough of the ‘black and Blue’ a hundred years of PCs have visited upon us.
If you have not voted, please note the Toronto Star headlines of today, “Private LTC homes to get billions in public funds: Tories allocating majority of beds to companies with some of highest COVID death rates”.
Such a travesty and an ethically compromised position – to reward private LTC homes with more tax payer dollars despite their poor performance in saving some lives. What will be the next tell-tale travesty?
Please consider voting for a party wanting to tip the scales back to non-profit LTC in Ontario, for the sake of aging parents, grandparents, and people with disabilities. Thank you.
In old friend Hugh MacKenzie’s most recent column in Huntsville Doppler, ‘Listen Up – Clout Matters’, he makes a strong argument for electing locally, a member of the party that is a strong bet to form the next Ontario provincial government. This position was stimulated by reports that Green Party candidate Matt Richter’s support was growing stronger.
Hughie quotes Huntsville stalwart Doug Millikin, ‘…“It is my experience, over many years, that a riding seldom gets anything allocated unless the MPP is also a member of the party in power.’
There is no doubt an element of truth in that claim proven, on average, to be the case in recent years in Parry Sound-Muskoka.
Gravenhurst voters, however, have seen little evidence of the value of that ‘clout’ by its long time MPP, Norm Miller.
Mr. Miller was unable to bring to any conclusion the barnacle ridden issue of the sale of the Muskoka Regional Centre property on Lake Muskoka by Infrastructure Ontario, now sitting vacant for almost 30 years, on which the buildings are condemned.
It was on Mr. Miller’s watch that the Ontario Fire College in Gravenhurst was recently closed after providing training to firefighters since 1949. The Ontario Fire College had been the last of local employers providing well paying jobs in a town hard hit by unemployment.
Mr. Miller’s voice in this issue was a whisper at best, hardly what one would categorize as ‘clout’.
Just a year ago, the CBC reported that the PC government had committed $5 million in planning for the return of the Ontario Northlander passenger rail service to north eastern Ontario by 2025. Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade and MPP for Nipissing and Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation were quoted but suspicious by his absence was Norm Miller.
One wonders then, could PC candidate Graydon Smith deliver the two new community hospitals funding commitment, one in Huntsville, the other in Bracebridge? According to Messrs MacKenzie and Millikin, these are the two political teasers in the Parry Sound-Muskoka election.
If we use Mr. Miller’s report card as a reference on getting things done in his riding, while not a member of Cabinet, Graydon will likely have his hands full, as a legislative newby. Most major decisions are made in cabinet, not in caucus.
Matt Richter may have an anvil on his back while attempting to deliver two new hospitals, while being a lost voice crying in the wilderness.
In our ‘first past the post’ electoral system, in the 2018 provincial election, 22,662 PC voters elected Norm Miller but a combined total of 23,894 voters in Parry Sound-Muskoka supported the three other main parties.
Recent polls suggest the spread could be greatly reduced in 2022, if not reversed.
So, of what value is that ‘clout’ that Hugh so vigorously trumpets?
The Greens are looking good in the polls around here, eh? People want change and a new focus, eh? It makes me recall the adage: “Be careful what you wish for.” Just sayin’.
Same here. My phone woke me at 5:30 a.m.with Andrew Cocks trying to convince me to vote for him. If I had planned on doing that I certainly won’t now.
cONSERVATIVE candtate piere says he should be free to choose if he gets vaxed . true if you are talkinf lock jaw vaxine but it yoy get infected with Covid you wii spread it and if im recipent at 90 years old i could die. so tthese are not the same my freedom is at risk becaues you did not getvaxed
Further to Carol’s comment, I found the same thing. Illegally robo-called at 7am by the candidate for the “Ontario Party”. Elections Ontario says they do not regulate robo-calls, that is a federal matter.
Well the phone call convinced me. If a candidate cannot abide by the simple rule that robo-calling must be limited to the hours of 9am to 9:30pm, then that candidate is obviously not capable of governing and I will not be voting for him or her.
I wonder if the Ontario Party is capable of seeing the irony of infringing on my right to a full night’s rest with a recorded diatribe about how rights were infringed by the requirement to wear a mask in public during a pandemic?
Complete freedom is a myth. Society has rules to ensure one person’s rights don’t trample all over another’s. Our freedom is a balancing act, not absolute. Any candidate who cannot respect that simple concept is not qualified to make the rules for the rest of us.
Hello,
This may not be the correct forum for this discussion but I have run out of ideas.
I realize that there isn’t much time left in the campaigning period before the election and candidates will do whatever it takes to sway my vote. I am extremely annoyed at the robocalls that I have endured during this period. Several weeks ago I was awakened at 6:17 am by a call from the PC party on behalf of Graydon Smith. Very early this morning 3:07 am and 3:10 am there were calls from the Ontario Party representing Andrew John Cocks.
I have contacted both of the candidates’ offices and all they want to do is “sell” their candidate. No apologies for my inconvenience. Definitely not a strategy to win my vote.
Elections Canada has been contacted and they have stated that have no regulations or authority over these calls or their timing.
During the day and during any political campaign, I have chosen to screen my calls. What can be done about these annoying calls? Call blocking doesn’t work because they don’t just come from one phone number. Can fines be levied for calling outside appropriate hours?
Who or where should I be directing my complaint? Maybe over the next 4 years, someone can figure out how to restrict and regulate these annoying invasions of my privacy.
Thank you in advance for any help that you may suggest
Carol MacDonald
Just looked at your listing of percentages of voters by the polls.
I began to think of how great it would be to have a green party rep for our area, especially if the greens are not in power. Our rep can speak up but have no real power to promote anything for us.
Just think of all the good things the liberals did for us in the past. NADA
For those readers who are keenly interested in LTC in Ontario, here is a link to copy and paste:
https://www.healthcoalition.ca/labour-and-health-advocates-react-to-report-on-corporate-behaviour-in-long-term-care/
John Snobelen (MH’s former Minister of Education) recently wrote in the NP that he was having some difficulty understanding such words as “populism, populist”. I am certain that no one would call him “elite” if he did a refresher course in Grade 12 history. The use of populism used by Adolf and his party to gain power in Germany pre-WW2.
The populism Hitler used to create anger, scapegoating Jews, homosexuals, and people with disabilities – exterminating at least 11 million people to protect the white, Arian race, ensuring their dominance and ruling the earth. Does this sound familiar? With terms such as “counter culture”, “anti-race theory”, white supremacy, anti- LBGTQ, “Dems” etc. ? building up scapegoats for sacrifice?
Just some thoughts for JS to ponder.
Glancing over the real estate ads in last weeks Forester it appears that some of the real estate ad writers must have graduated from the Donald Trump school of corrective writing.
The intrusion of a little tiny bit of “reality” into the ads would not actually hurt anybody. I would assume that any person looking to spend several millions of dollars would be getting a fairly complete fact checking of the place in question, by a home inspector, and at least a good lawyer so cheating on the description really will only get you so far as a realtor. Of course if you can actually find people stupid enough to part with millions on your say so, without checking, well congratulations to you and I’d suggest you move on to something more lucrative like a Ponzi scheme or BitCoin sales in the Metro parking lot.
With the Ontario Liberals not running a candidate in the important election that is now upon us, many may be looking for a place to park their votes on June 2. These particular constituents may want to have a look at the latest poll numbers out of 338Canada for the riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka.
https://338canada.com/ontario/1086e.htm
It’s looking like Green Party candidate Matt Richter has a very good chance of defeating the PC candidate and winning the riding. In fact, the Green and PC candidates are currently neck and neck. Just wanted to throw that out there for those interested in a change to the status quo around here.
The rest is up to us, the voters.
Good luck!
John Oliver, I think most of us are tired of the same rhetoric from a few individuals beating the same drum over and over and the others being censored.
This is not a true community forum.
So… I have not seen many postings lately and I am wondering whether it has to do with all or most of us being bored with the state of things or if it has to do with the season. After all we can now get out and enjoy the warm weather, dig in the garden, go fishing and do more than just sit an moan about political stuff.
Here’s something you might want to discuss. Have you noticed that there are a lot of TV commercials that feature a lot of people dancing and jumping and waving their arms and other body parts in your face. It seems to me that their energetic enthusiasm has nothing to do with the product or service that they are try to sell. I guess the advertising agencies go for the low hanging fruit rather than coming up with innovative and fresh ideas. I’m getting tired of all those unsightly body parts gyrating in my face, so I’m going to turn off the TV and go plant some flowers and start enjoy life again, I might even crack open a beer. Cheers
My goodness, the National Post is truly helping us to tone down divisive political rhetoric. Not!
First, they accuse Singh of the cause of divisive politics in Peterborough! Yeah right.
Then, John Ivison (?sp?) entitles his NP piece today, “Let Loose the Dogs of Political War in Northern Ontario”.
Now, I realize political junkies like their phrases and titles. What emotions does JI’s words stir in you?
That any/the opposition are animals? That DF is a political hunter? How far can we apply the metaphor?
The name-calling is basic stuff from the school yard at recess (recall my posting of the label “Stephen Harper’s Pitbull”, one not of my own creating but that of another political pundit). It is easy to fall into the trap of these labels to sound savvy and imagine we know something clever. Perhaps my posting put the opposition in mind of “dogs”. Who knows. The fingers pointing back to me and my words are certainly tingling.
It certainly does not forward thoughtful discussion. Watch for the “political dog” theme.
Pierre Poilievre, Stephen Harper’s Pitbull, a real piece of work. A hard, cruel person, in my opinion.
Carol Alanko
Tue, 3 May, 20:43 (8 days ago)
to huntsville
It appears that our use of salt on Muskoka roads is having a detrimental effect on the health of our lakes. Water fleas which filter algae are being killed by dissolved road salt. These have been the “lawnmowers” which keep down the algae production.
When we first came here 24 years ago we drove on snow covered roads. Sand would be occasionally used, but we did not see black pavement until Spring. Now salt is the norm, we drive year round on black pavement and through puddles like they do in Southern Ontario.
We used to see algae in late August in the lakes if it had been an exceptionally hot summer. Now algae is appearing earlier, in Spring.
Beet solutions and a return to sand only should be considered moving forward or our lakes are going to suffer. Healthy lakes are why we are here and surely what we all want to leave to our grandchildren.
https://ashmuskoka.ca/2020/02/the-problem-with-road-salt/
The music please! Would you play me ‘Family Tradition’ by Hank Williams Jr., because our parliamentarians have again been subjected to ‘the word’. Like it’s never happened before! It was likely well said, ‘though maybe the Commons is not where most might choose to let’er rip! I’m quite surprised that some of those present were alert enough to take note.
I have read excerpts from great speeches; have listened to speakers who, whether you agreed with them or not, could hold your attention and eloquently present a view. I haven’t heard too many such speakers recently. Certainly not from the people we have elected; who seem to revert to thumping, booing, hissing, “hear-hearing” rabble once in the ‘House’.
The kerfuffle seemingly erupted over the question of an aircraft having being used to observe one of the Ottawa ‘freedom’ convoys? As long as there wasn’t napalm dropped or any strafing runs, what’s the beef?
The word may get outed a bit too often now days, and has certainly lost a lot of it’s power to arouse indignation, as it might have in the past. Except in the House. Whether that’s good or bad is a personal boundary and some of us might choose to hold our tongue in most instances.
I’m no Trudeau-trooper; not the last time, not this time; but as the old folks said “Some idiocy could make a preacher swear.” So, I’m okay with him using the word as an adjective; to describe the foolish people who waste time arguing over something so unimportant.
Surely the homeless, the debt, the poor, the infirm, the dispossessed, deserve their attention.
I’m pretty sure the word might well be used to accentuate the type of (insert word) foolishness these people get off on!
Yep! Pretty sure.
Ah, The National Post would have us believe that DF Conservative leader is a changed man. Here is one Very important Ford Conservative policy which has not changed, but entrenched and on steroids: the privatization of health care (this includes LTC, home care, hospital care, including surgeries).
Despite the record for-profit LTC death rate standing at 5 times that of publicly owned LTC, Ford Conservatives sell off a “new round” of 30,000 nursing-home bed licenses, with 16,000 of those to for-profit operators. It’s as if the destructive COVID performance never happened!! Clearly DF rewards poor performance, so much for merit.
(“Nursing homes are prized financial assets … their profitability is ensured because they’re government-subsidized… they are sought by private equity firms, which are notorious for slashing costs to maximize profits”, L. McQuaig, Toronto Star, May 5, 2022.) We can again be reminded of Rob Ford’s “the gravy train” – I suggest the “gravy trough” of for-profit subsidy, while starving the public health care system. I think an appropriate response may be “Oink, Oink”.
(On a local level, there is a Green Matt Richter sign on my front lawn. The Greens are looking more like the real Progressive Conservative party than the Ford Conservative knock-off brand).
Thanks for reading.
Kelly McParland (National Post, May 3, 2022) really has it in for “boomers”. “Boomers Only Have Themselves to Blame for Governments that Can’t Afford to Care for Them”. Here, she is setting her sites on the Canadian scene. However, she penned an op ed in 2013 in the US with the same mantra.
She is correct in reporting that the tsunami of boomers would hit the healthcare system and has been visualized and understood for decades. Now, a pandemic has helped to wipe off the face of the earth several elderly seniors from that generation in a death culling – much worse in the USA (some of all these deaths could have been mitigated).
Her finger wagging that boomers should not have expected/supported their governments in providing all those social programs over the decades and we wouldn’t be in this fix of having less in healthcare for them/us as we age. Boomers are not the only cause of increase costs in health care. Just as substantial are the costs of the advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies now available.
Not sure if Kelly means this as a wedge issue to float all of us boomers onto an ice floe in the sunset.
As a boomer, who learned very valuable lessons from a mother and father who had been through 2 World Wars and a devastating Depression, her conclusion is simplistic. Values of saving, making do, not living beyond one’s means, etc. Also, just as clearly exemplified was that social safety nets for all can bring dignity into human lives. Public healthcare and public education were prized. People need a helping hand from time to time. Clearly, “boomers” did not ask to be born to cause this havoc. Clearly, “boomers” have been working, productive, contributing Canadians.
Finally, Kelly Mc Parland- we are all on the same human train, heading in the same direction – the only difference is that we are in different rail cars. You will be here soon enough. Make sure you don’t live too long to strain “the system”.
Thanks John for your insights, noted and appreciated. The pandemic crisis results do not bode well for tackling climate change. If even one person asks him/herself about the circumstances under which they may be prepared to giving up some personal freedom, maybe there can be some hope in that.
After all, we all can keep learning – if we wish to.
Anna – Lise. I agree with you but you are forgetting that 30% of any population doesn’t give a rats… about anyone or anything except maybe, and I say this with skepticism, themselves. This 30% shows up in just about every aspect of life. Eventually the penny may drop but you need to remember these folks don’t have the mental capacity to grasp the concept. So let them have their freedom, it’s up to each of us to protect ourselves and our loved ones as best we can. We know what freedom is and how to cherish it. Also remember the old adage, “ an empty vessel makes the most noise “
Blessings to you and your family.
For those who feel their freedoms were violated during the pandemic, I have a question.
Can you imagine a time or situation under which you would be willing to give up (even temporarily) some personal freedom for the good of other Canadians?
For example, would you give up some personal freedom if your country was invaded by a foreign adversary? During a war? What about a deadly invading virus, which threatened to kill thousands/millions and could not be seen? Imagine that we were “at war” with a virus.
2 recent reports of interest:
1] “So there’s a new study in a prestigious medical journal that shows people who don’t get vaccinated against COVID 19 are not just putting their own health in danger. They also contribute disproportionately to the risk of infection for those who do get their shots… the study shows that water is wet & that heavy objects tend to drop to the ground if you let them go” (Toronto Star April 26, 2022). It has been obvious from the beginning that if we gave up some of our freedoms, followed public health guidelines, and took advantage of vaccines, more people could have been saved, and less costly sickness for others.
2] “Thousands of COVID 19 deaths in U.S. South were preventable, study shows” (Health News, April 29, 2022).
So, are there any threats to our country and fellow citizens where you would obey the law – literally and in spirit- for the sake of yourself and others?
There is no doubt in my mind, that had former PM Stephen Harper been faced with the same challenges of the trucker protest in Ottawa, that the Emergencies Act would have been applied. He could not have supported breaking of the rule of law. To imply otherwise is disingenuous.
yes, it is me again! Selling health care, hospital care in the market place costs taxpayers any important re-investment in our publicly funded health care.
Conservatives have lost their ethic of care, certainly diminished the same, when they sell health care, hospital care, LTC, and Home Care in the market place. Treating health care like a highway sold for profit to the highest bidder, demonstrates their business acumen (of which they are very proud). “We can sell things and expect them to be better owned and managed”.
They fail to understand that the access and importance of public health care to Ontarians is not equivalent to: a stationary shop, retail, selling golf-pro services, running a media business, owning and operating a fast food franchise.
Finally, my understanding is that business people, with savvy business skills, return/re-invest their profits back into their businesses (growth, infrastructure, staff). Recently, Conservative government failed to collect revenues owed from license renewals to reward vehicle drivers. Less investment in healthcare, education, and/or environmental action. Next step will be, “we can’t balance the budget, so must sell off more healthcare services”- then we can increase hospital beds in Muskoka!
Public trust has been/should have been lost in the large for-profit LTC businesses. When coupled with lack of political will from legislated government oversight by Conservatives, to hold repeated regulatory offenders accountable, the elderly, people with disabilities, and we – Lose. When for-profits return dividends to investors yet fail to provide return investment to buildings (air conditioning, Heppa filters during a pandemic, increased staffing during an outbreak), we Lose. At this stage, for-profit management wants the public purse (Rob Ford’s “gravy train”) to foot the bill for LTC building upgrades.
Hence my question, how will the Conservative government pay for the additional hospital beds? Possibly by selling off more of healthcare in the market place (or perhaps closing Public Health offices during a pandemic to save money). Certainly, giving away revenue, paying off debt, and trying to balance a budget does not bode well for any thought of government re-investment in our worn public healthcare/hospital system.
Is there a film crew (possibly Scythia) planning on shooting a feature film in Huntsville in 2022? Please advise.
Conservative Campaign 2022
I have it! From 2018 “buck-a-beer” to 2022 “pick-up truck required”. Finally, here is who we are to distain for this go around of toned-down populism from the Conservative party:
• Anyone who is not a white, male labourer
• Anyone who does not drive a pick-up truck (at $36,000 to $90,000 new, a pop)
• Anyone who wears a suit (my goodness, this would have included Bill Davis!) or uniform of a certain gender (e.g. male nurse, those in healing professions)
• Anyone who cannot afford privatized child day care
• Anyone not too concerned with hand guns ownership, especially in the cities
• Females in the trades – they don’t really exist
• Those folks in the trades who have earned a post-secondary school education degree
• Anyone who does not use profanity on a regular basis when referring to government
However, if you identify with Marlboro country cowboy with horse, then you are a “real man”. Real men have pick-up trucks.
Hope all can see through this new divisiveness. For the record, I do not know where my family and friends would be without the competent service provision of vital, qualified people (all gender and ages) in the trades. Each has come to our aid when needed most.
Well said Allen Markle, I think you speak for most of us, but I wonder how long it will take for reality to sink in or will we start to hear the moans about the high price of gas and why are we getting involved in this war? I hope my unfavourable faith in humanity his proven incorrect and we hold on until this evil is eliminated. Blessings
Again tonight there is a news report that makes me want to cry “Enough!” I know it would be in vain, because there seems to be nothing and no one who can, or will help the soldiers and people of the Ukraine. No respite for them in the face of a criminal and despot of the most repugnant order.
No JFK to say the end. As a Canadian, I am powerless.
And I am torn. I want those brave people to stand firm, but by what right can I expect them to do that? To forfeit their lives to satisfy my desire for revenge. And I do crave that: revenge!
I was raised, impressed with the dictum to never wish anyone ill. I’m not sure how well I have adhered to that instruction in the past; well I hope, but recently I fail. I wish this creature ill! For at least 5 weeks now I cannot adhere to what I was taught.
“Justice is mine…….” If only I could propose a target for that kind of justice.
It makes me wonder though, that if in such a position as those brave people, how would we as a nation perform?
This tyrant spawns destruction wherever he chooses and, if this type of armed subjugation of sovereign nations continues, how soon will we find out?
Where is the point that out Western Society, in unison, cries “Enough!”
Thank you Mr. Markle for your observations and feedback. As an aside, I admired Bill Davis; the last PC Prime Minister I admired was Joe Clarke . I admit it has been a long time ago to recognize what I would call “real/true Progressive Conservative leader”.
Do you think my concerns Really trouble MH, DF, JK? I doubt it. I have lived too long not to see the short and long-term outcomes of some of their policies as affecting Ontarians and recognize my bias For health care, public education, non-profit, and rigorous government oversight not just spending but of the quality and quantity of service and care delivery for vulnerable (children, elderly, people with disabilities, persons with mental illness).
I also recognize governing and policy making for a country so diverse as truly daunting; regionalized geography and history make governing very complex. However, the talent in party needs to come from diversely educated, experienced, and “serving-oriented” MPs who bring not just political smarts (these can be learned) but real lives worked outside of the political arena, touched by many examples of Canadians (not just the business sector). It is a bonus if these members know themselves as psychologically self-aware (e.g. how their pasts have shaped who their are, personal biases, etc.).
I can be patient for parliamentary debate by the party in power and the opposition(s) at both the parliamentary and senate levels. Usually it takes time, give and take.
However;
1] I recoil at overly populist trumpets of rhetoric. For example, as per National Post, “elites” are still to be distained for this electoral season. Do we as voters identify a common “enemy” in the “elites”? Who are “they”? ?? The rich, the educated, the powerful, the anti-vaxxers, the truckers, the experienced, those on social assistance, those of another ethnicity, the academics, the trades person? Who becomes our source of imagination, our fear, and our anger as “elites”. The pitting of an “enemy”, an “elite” as being fought by a political party is old high school team sport and a shallow way to distinguish a political party objectives and agenda.
2] leadership, direction in a recognized time of crisis (e.g. Donald Trump presidency, pandemic, climate change). At these times, we deserve the best possible. Parties knowing how to act, when to unite. I have seen very little of that kind of pro-active leadership from DF Conservatives during this pandemic. He plods the party agenda and ignores pro-active planning. My view is that he has been very late to the fire, and has not surrounded himself with the best experts, nor quickly, actively followed the advice. I expect very little else from him and his team than the “bias towards normalcy”.
Anna-Lise Kear: I am somewhat humbled by the tenacity with which you berate anything related to conservatism; even to the letters of the alphabet associated with that ideology. Your championing healthcare is admirable, although you must feel there is more to it than just that.
Even I as a ‘right leaning’ voter, feel somewhat bruised each morning. DF, JK, MH, BD and whoever, must arise absolutely mottled from the beating you have delivered them, here on Doppler.
But to point out a right leaning paper is humor, while, I suppose (?) feeling that left leaning literature is acceptable, gives me pause.
To point out that a specific party doesn’t have the talent to do the job, might infer that some other party does have the people to complete the task.
I’m sure there are talented, capable and caring people in all parties; unfortunately, they don’t appear to to be the leaders. It makes it impossible for me to vote for a mainstream party, but I will vote.
Today, everything seems to be swung too far one way or the other and people and parties seem incapable of finding a middle ground. Our politicians are incapable of formulating a policy that the majority of the people can associate with, so they simply attempt to discredit the opposition for not having one.
Too bad they are so well paid for that lack of leadership and ability!
Don’t you just ‘hate’ that?
Hi, here is your humour for the day. National Post (writer Sabrina Maddeaux) titles the article as, “Calling Pierre Poilievre a ‘populist’ is a lazy scare tactic used by the elites he threatens.” Sound clever? maybe.
However, the word ‘elites’ has been a well-used, hackneyed, ambiguous term used in populism for political campaigning as a catch phrase (e.g. think Rob Ford and Doug Ford campaigns, think catch phrase ‘buck-a-beer’). It is sufficiently lacking in meaning so the hearer can assume it is their enemy/anyone who isn’t them (e.g. do all Conservatives drink beer? Probably not).
And that is the humour- downplaying a populist stance against PP within the very use of populist verbiage itself.
Populism, in my opinion and my understanding of the term, is emotional abuse of the electorate, antecedent to civil war. It appeals to/reveals emotions rather than use of our brains to think about political policy and recognize the complexity of some issues. It is frequently used to define the “other” person/point of view who/which is not ours. Wonder why we perceive some news in divided, partisan ways? It may be fine for use at a football game – but not for governing a Province/Country.
I had never considered the National Post an addition to the comic section before. Learn something every day.
The DF Conservative government has proved time and time again that it cannot lead during a crisis, even years into the pandemic experience. Their performance overall is D minus in my accounting books.
Most recent issue is the continued, unclear message on protective masking & the nonsense in over-riding jurisdictions by canceling mandated mask wearing. Really stupid action & inaction. Current wave is more contagious, masks are one helpful measure to use. Both Kenny and Ford have over-ridden any school board or regional area Medical Officers of Health (e.g. in Ontario, Niagara. In Alberta, the city of Calgary.) to impose mask mandates. This is truly Unethical for populations in these circumstances. Continued warning from the science and medical community is ignored (Quebec showing a bit more sense by keeping mask mandates longer).
When has the “wait and see” attitude ever proven the best for citizens under these endemic circumstances?
If the DF Conservatives are unable and inept at managing this crisis, our experience does not bode well for a proactive plan and perspective on climate change. Neither the Federal or Provincial Cons have sufficient scope of talent within their elected members to prioritize, focus, or understand our current nor the future crises. They must be voted out of power – start in Parry Sound-Muskoka this June.
If there is one thing we trust, it is the National Post language. Today, Tristan Hopper “The NDP plan to prop up Trudeau while still hating him”. The title stopped me from reading the article to be better informed on an opposing view. The same was true for the “lock her up” mantra of populism in any previous comments from media.
Yes, we can count on words such as “Hate” coming from this newspaper. I truly doubt the leaders “hate” each other – both are standing up for Canada as elected servants. However, whatever their personal animosities may/may not be – there must be enough self-control for effective governing (including opposition). When the issues may be policy disagreements, why must the media belittle physical appearance, empathetic behaviour, and “hate” rhetoric?
I don’t like DF, or Polivere (sp?) – but it is because of their public political performance and policy, not who they “like” or “hate”. Grow up National Post writers.
I see that Pakistans PM has been ousted by a overwelming vote. what has happened here in Canada with all the fiascoes from SMC to the massive overspending, and 7 years caulling elections whenever it suits him and not the every 4 years that is the law
No, Mr Markle it had nothing to do with you. Your comment and inference that I crossed the guidelines for Doppler is not understood. If they had been crossed, I am sure the editor would not have published my comment.
John Stanley: I chose ‘roto Rooter’ simply for the way it sounds; less nautical than ’tiller’ and more earthy.
On that earthy note, our gardens should certainly thrive this year. An election!!!! The entire province will be ‘greening’ with the amount of soil enhancement being offered. For Free!
There was never any intention of disrespect inferred in my comment, as someone may have assumed.
Chas Clark: If I was the target of your comment (Really!!!!), I will draw your attention to the fact that our ‘Doppler’ has a guideline. It is to maintain decorum and keep us civil. To the chagrin of some I suppose, but hopefully to the benefit of us all.
Trust the system. It seems to work.
Mr Markle: A roto-rooter is used to unplug plumbing. The sun is shining, the ground is drying and warming. The roto-tiller will do the digging and mixing and then the garden Will grow.
Nancy Long: ALREADY USED IT WHEN MY EXCELLENT WIFE (a PSW) had cancer and needed meds injected after surgery, radiation and kemo. I already said i paid for it myself through my union.
I do like reading the exchanges of information and I’m really curious about John Stanley and his insurance plan from his employer that covers home care. While completing a Community Health Survey, I noticed this is a question that the government is asking people. And, of course, I had no idea this was even an option for insurance. I know that my extended health care plan didn’t offer this option. However, even if you have the option of insurance paid for home care, it doesn’t mean that you will find people willing to work.
There is always balance in my opinion without the name calling and labeling. Really!!!!!
John Stanley: in light of your comment, should we refer to you as the ‘mix-Master’? or in deference to the purchase you made recently, possibly the ‘roto-Rooter’?
In either case, may your garden grow.
I watched with horror the horrific events that are happening in the Ukraine, brutal murder, rape, killing, torture and total destruction, all from my comfortable sofa in my living room. But, I am not feeling comfortable, I am feeling angry. This war has gone on too long, too many lives have been lost!
As I see it, and from what I have unearthed from research, Vladimir Putin, a murderous man and hungry for power, who speaks the speak of religious belief and a ‘holy war’, is being backed by a fanatical, dominant leader, Bishop Kirill, Patriarch of the Orthodox Church, who is steeped in an ideology of a 10th century saint, Vladimir of the Rus, all of the dark ages. Kirill may be the real power behind this unholy war.
It also needs to be said that NATO has acted like a big man (U.K. and U.S. really) to a little kid (Ukraine), poke the bear (Russia), and when the bear attacks the kid, the big man hands him sticks and stones to fight off the bear
The trouble is, the bear is a ‘rogue bear’, and sticks and stones are not going to stop it; when a rogue bear gets a taste of blood, he’s on the kill. Putin has had a taste of blood, and he’s on the kill.
Diplomacy and sanctions are not going to work. I think we’ve missed the chance. Zelensky has been pleading with the world to close the airspace and provide sufficient weapons to defend themselves. The reply is not wanting to start a 3rd world war. In my mind, we are already in it, and the ‘big man’ who is standing from afar, is running out of sticks and stones, and the ‘little kid’ is being brutally slaughtered.
Close the space, provide more adequate weapons—the ‘big man’ has a responsibility whatever the risk might take.
I can only hope and pray that Zelensky is not going to go down in history as a war martyr trying to defend his people and country from the brutality of Russia!
For some investigative reporting on for-profit in home care, Ontario, here is the link/address:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/home-care-support-private-companies-1.6387911
Things have to change.
This forum is a great place to stir the pot, and i think that i do that quit well.
Mr. Stanley, I am glad for you and yours. There is always a balance in my opinion of individual responsibility and the advocacy for others who are more vulnerable, without the name calling and labeling, which occurs.
My experience is that when government assistance is needed, it should be available. There are ups and downs to family circumstances throughout life and times. Recognize your good fortune, which includes opportunities to work, be educated, and receive healthcare. Please then remember others with fewer opportunities.
I do not regret supporting when and where I can, a publicly funded health care safety net. Nor do I demand/expect preferred treatment for health care – I just count my blessings for what we have.
Finally, in voting June 2022, please protect important taxpayer investment.in public health care and public education in Ontario.
Dr. Bergman’s statistics are interesting but speaking for myself, don’t necessarily reflect reality. It’s true that most comments and responses come from the few people that feel that their opinions and comments matter. I myself read all the postings everyday and find them interesting in one way or another and I am sure that there are many like me. It always amazes me that even though I often disagree with an opinion expressed, I also often get a better perspective of the issue and see it in a new light. Weather I choose to respond is not important. The important thing is that I may now see the other side of the coin and hopefully be more understanding of the person and the issue. Weather you choose to post a comment is a personal choice.
mr bargman: i think you are trying to tell us that not to many people respond to the speak up site
Anna: my personal wealth is all tied up in our abode, (approx 1 mil) . our children have been educated to look after them selves with out government handouts. we plan to pass in our beds and then the children can split it up between themselves. wills are always being disputed or changed, and home care is looked after by personal insurense that i worked to obtain for over 40 years. we grew up in a capitalist country, not socialist like we have now and thought died in 1991 and were taught to work for ourselves and not look out for government handouts. and besides that MH had a lot of good ideas but not all.
What do such numbers tell me Howard Bargman? Nothing sinister I hope. For myself, they only suggest that there are some who find Doppler a medium through which they can comment and, that there are those who are content just to read. You are invited to pick a side.
I will also mention here that Tricia and I attended the ‘Acoustic Floyd’ show at Canvas Brewery Saturday evening and thoroughly enjoyed it. We have some great local talent, for sure. Music from the ’60’s and 70’s can still real me in. In my opinion this show was extremely well done and my cap is off to the performers.
And there is that dynamic again. Some offering something; music, a comment, that others are are invited to enjoy (or otherwise).
Again, performance or critique.
Your choice.
In March , 21 different people contributed 67 published letters. Five people (24%) of the submitters counted for 75% of the letters.
I know what this tells me.
Mr. Stanley, you should be fine to stay at home for as long as possible, IF you have the personal wealth to spend on private home care options, and IF you weren’t counting on those personal savings to leave to your family.
You may also have the personal wealth to access the costly retirement home care in order to avoid LTC, nursing home care.
Otherwise, perhaps you can learn more about the Conservative record for investment in public health care.
Ontario Conservatives are out of touch. Here are past and present examples:
Past chestnut: If you are old enough to remember the Mike Harris ‘Common sense revolution’, you may remember the “Welfare Diet”. In a pushback from the claims that food bank use had increased in the province, MH had one of his Conservative Ministers “prove” that welfare rates could ensure the recipient an adequate, nutritious diet, no need to go to a food bank. An example of a “Welfare Diet” was outlined by the Minister, using then current grocery prices. Several people willing to test the claim abided by the examples for a few weeks and found that they experienced “physically weakened conditions” as a result. I’m sure you can figure out follow-up questions.
Present example: initiated in the MH years, CCACs were mandated to give contracts to for-profit agency bids for professional (e.g. nursing, physiotherapy) and PSW services. This was concurrent with the for-profit new builds of LTC homes, awarded by MH Conservatives, tipping the balance of for-profit/non-profit sources of care.
Short and long-term results: loss of workers, decrease in wages, and finally some decrease in services and the predictable decrease in oversight of contract performance (this is standard formula for Conservatives). Worker retention, recruitment, and training became greater challenges. So too did service provision by consistent worker and hours of care available. All one has to do is speak with seniors and others who wish to stay in their own homes, yet can’t get the services Or others who deplete their savings for personal paid services by tens of thousands of dollars over 2-3 months (I personally know of 2 examples). What does one do if the savings are not available?
For-profit home care services under government, publicly funded payments have been quite able to reward their investors and share-holders with dividends from the public purse and at the expense of additional hours of service for those in need.
Thank you Al Markel for your input on Mar 27. So many people that worked hard through the pandemic were not appreciated.
Might I take a moment to draw our Huntsville council’s attention to Page 9 of the latest ‘Forester’. An item on Honey Harbour and pickle ball courts. 6 courts for $300,000.!! And the residents have committed to raising half the cost themselves. What a novel concept!
Then I will wonder who is in charge of procurement in Huntsville.
And whether the Curling Club may feel somewhat slighted ?
The DF Conservative government is very foolish to order the end of mask mandates. Wave 6, increased infections across the country, and in Ontario increasing numbers in hospitalizations, including intensive care units is threatening to exhaust the system and those who care for us.
There is little compassion for health care workers and health professionals or for those people awaiting hospital treatments and surgeries. It is my great hope that not one health care worker or health care professional will vote for the ineptitude of leadership from the Conservative party in Ontario.
Trudeau and Tory have not been perfect. But DF’s Conservative incompetent performance has been the worst. The Ontario Conservative party does not deserve our vote.
You are Correct Mr Stanley and I doubt that you were hacked due to banking on line. It was more likely due to credit card scam. Take care and be safe
Mr. Oliver: you i see have never been hacked. try losing $4000.00 to a hacker to use at Cannada`s Wonderland. the bank reimbursed us but then and there all the plastic went into the garbage. as they say cash is king and they cannot hack it. progress is good but not always better. also when your pocket is empty you stop buying,
Anna-Lise
Thanks for the explanation. I better understand where you’re coming from with the 50-50 split.
i think that some people are looking forward to be looked after by the government. at almost 81 i just bought a new rototiller for my garden and excercise. staying in my own home is a much better prospect that a LTC home. we need to look after ourselves more and not try to outlive all our friends. we all pass but some are not prepared or even want to think about it, be prepared and live happy.
To Steve Lehman. Yep, I noticed that same problem about seven years ago. It’s especially bad at the first of the month when folks go to the bank to pay their bills and you stand in line for what seems like hours just deposit a cheque or take out twenty bucks. I made the change to electronic banking and I haven’t been inside my bank in the last five years. Now if I could only save all that time I saved and tac it onto the end of my life, I could live for another year or two.
Bill Spring; my focus has almost exclusively what is happening in the Province during COVID.
I fully understand a local perspective, having been a Discharge Planning Nurse in Huntsville working with seniors and their families. As a former Director of Care at a small nursing home and a retirement home I understand fully the challenges of families and their loved ones in accessing care. As a former educator of PSWs, I understand their challenges during a working shift and during an outbreak.
In the past, I have also had to seek care for a 90 year old father. To that end, I can imagine your perspective of local and personal experience.
However, my current perspective has remained Provincial, over the course over 30 years of policy implementation by the party in power. My bias is clearly nursing and nursing care. The 50-50 split in services may mean little to a local experience, but to a Provincial performance and accountability, I would like to see a serious change in government. I am truly concerned with the possibility of erosion of hospital care when for-profit performers are welcomed in.
Anna-Lise
Speaking as someone who had to travel out of town to visit a relative in a LTC facility, until their name got to the top of the list for an available bed locally, the last thing on our mind was whether it was profit or not for profit. Until such time as there’s enough “not for profit “ beds in our our local community to handle the needs of all Huntsville residents that need round the clock care, there is definitely a need for “ for profit “ LTC in our community. I suggest that it is a socialist dream that we can all look forward to local “ not for profit “ beds when the time may come for us to need one. Imagine the tax burden on our grandchildren to fund such.
Bill Spring
wow i am really suprised that no one jumped on me for my last post. i am assuming the long term care and covid feascos are more important than climate. no climate, no ltc needed, and no covid would not matter. priorities???
Thank you Dawn for your quick response. I did phone the Simcoe-Muskoka Health Unit and was told they are not tracking the cases as they did before. However, I was told the cases are on the increase and I think it is important that we are aware of this when we go into stores, restaurants etc. I certainly continue to wear my mask when I go enter businesses but of course many people do not.
Have you ever noticed how the more that financial institutions try to make transactions simpler, the more difficult they become? It doesn’t add up.
I had to make my bi-monthly trip to the bank this morning to put some cash in my account and then pay some bills. Pretty straightforward. As I stood in line watching the minutes accumulate at a much faster rate than my savings though, I had plenty of time to be intrigued by the stories I was overhearing being told to the infinitely patient associates standing behind the pandemic glass barriers.
A couple of the younger customers, smart phones at the ready, were trying to explain to the ‘tellers’ how electronic banking worked and how they wanted to withdraw some money because they had a whole pile of it in another account in a differently branded bank only two provinces away. Another, older customer wanted to cancel his overdraft protection because it was costing him money every month. A middle-aged couple were tying up yet another ‘teller’ as they argued with each other because one of them had withdrawn money from their joint account without telling but it wasn’t their fault because their other bank was supposed to have covered that withdrawal electronically. And on and on it went.
I understand why the banks promote all these ‘conveniences’ of course because they all help contribute to the billion dollar plus profits banks are accumulating every year. People paying their bills on time and using good old cash to buy only the stuff they can truly afford doesn’t redirect service fees back into the bank’s coffers. And as much as they like to market that they are here for the customer, I suspect their shareholders are realizing more benefit from all the promises than the people standing in line ahead of me. They may think they are getting free rewards points and free air miles and free chequeing and, best of all, cash back on purchases but as many of us who have been around at least long enough to remember when banks were paying 13 and 14 percent interest on their GICs know, there is nothing free in life. Except advice. And we all know what free advice is worth. Steve Lehman
On a positive note, one of the best articles I have recently read is “Why we disagree so much on COVID” (Dr. Jillian Horton, Toronto Star, March 28, 2022). Her article has merit when one considers the illogical responses to COVID protocols, vaccinations and even climate change.
“But one of our greatest cognitive vulnerabilities is in the fact that our minds don’t necessarily like to think about problems that suggest our safety – or someone else’s – is in serious peril. In face of these types of threats, as with the pandemic, we’re all mostly hard-wired with a tendency for our minds to whisper seductively to us, Everything is Fine. (a normalcy bias).
“… we can only understand what we’ve experienced. That’s all we can really know, and we’re limited by it, because it shapes all our ideas”. “If we haven’t experienced something ourselves – Or if we did not train specifically to respond to it – we won’t be inclined to recognize it until it’s too late.” “people often misread the degree of a threat”.
We need to have some trust in those who have trained to address threats – in this instance, think epidemiologists, medical scientists, and public health professionals -those with experience in infectious outbreaks. Consider those monitoring climate change threats. Just because the forest fire or extremes of flooding or landslides has not arrived at our immediate doorsteps – that therefore this is not a case for concern (planning, action).
To counter the ‘normalcy bias’ mind tricks, Horton suggests 2 questions to combat/flush out cognitive error and our lack of insight:
1] What else could this be?
2] How do I know that?
Rather than distain the elites as populism advises, be humble enough to recognize that there are others trained to recognize and respond to threats. Do I think we should live in constant, all consuming anxiety? Of course not. But we could be wise enough to recognize what we don’t know and learn from others who take the trouble to train, educate, and prepare.
Mr. Paris and Mr. Spring; what I am advocating for in non-profit/for-profit LTC is the return to a 50:50 balance (this in itself would undo the MH years of tipping the scales in home care and LTC to the for-profit sector).
Before praising for-profit LTC run homes, have a look at the poor performance during COVID 19. Their for-profit did not go into a timely fitting their homes with filtration systems to reduce transmission. They did not hire and train replacement staff, nor staff up the levels needed, with no help from the DF Conservative government after wave 1. Instead, the Conservatives focused on contracting with for-profits for upgrades to their facilities for more private rooms – contracts that will be carried into the next provincial government. While this assists some with infection control concerns, it allows for more profit to be made. Do you really believe that additional need staff and improved staff professional-non-professional mix will be guaranteed with that additional money? I don’t.
Non-profit homes performed better – that must tell you something!
I agree we cannot classify All for-profits or All non-profits into the same categories. However, we can look at some decent investigative reporting on LTC performance. Hands down, for-profits failed.
Add to that the devastating move by the DF Conservatives to reduce comprehensive inspections of LTC facilities, deep cutting oversight and we have terrible outcomes for residents, COVID aside!
My concern remains for the same MH strategy to be used with hospital care, with DF Conservatives. Do we need to repeat this experiment and imagine different results? That to me is fallacy. How many more lessons do we need to show similar results?
everyone: after Trudys speech today get ready for a lot more tax, to pay for it, higher fuel prices to heat your home and fuel your auto. the polution from the electric power plants to charge your car, and the cost to upgrade the power grid. so folks rush out and buy your new ev, convert to all electric homes, and watch the vapor trails from all those 300 and 500 passenger jets and the government still will not meet its carbon goals. i am going to buy a new gas powered auto that should last me for the last 25 years of my life
Hi Dennis,
When the province changed its testing criteria to limit the number of people eligible for PCR tests, the health unit ceased reporting case counts for individual municipalities because the data was no longer an accurate reflection of actual transmission in the community.
A lot of good information on Doppler BUT am wondering why Simcoe-Muskoka no longer show new covid cases in Huntsville, Bracebridge etc.. Since I live in Huntsville and shop in both Huntsville and Bracebridge, I would like to know the figures for each before I head off to town.
The two individuals that stole the two cars and endangered the lives of many should get a stern letter advising them not to do it again, after all a slap on the wrist is a far too severe a punishment. I am sure they had a perfectly good reason for doing it. It will be interesting to see how our judicial systems processes these poor upstanding citizens.
It is by a rather circuitous path that I reach my comment today. Some of us were sitting talking about government performance during the last couple of years. I felt that my assessment was harsh, until I was informed by some people, of situations that I would never have contemplated. I was not aware that some employers lost people who collected CERB, but then went to work for themselves!
We, the tax payers, will foot the bill for a program that did little but pay people to not work and now can’t get them to return to work. I have read enough employment/ unemployment numbers, explaining percentages, to realise I will never sort it all out; numbers can be spun too many ways.
As a senior, I received a single, $500.00 payment during Covid; I guess for ‘pain and suffering’ or else an outright bribe. Except for missing a lot of people interaction and entertainment, my life has been affected little. That said, last nights’ show at Canvas Brewery was the first real ‘date night’ we have had for a while, although we have got back to playing bid euchre again.
We have seen a lot of “Thank-yous” issued to certain ‘front line’ workers, some even recognized tangibly, until the novelty wore off or the cost started to nibble at the bottom line.
But the people who kept on working; those who got the damn virus, got over it and just kept on trucking, have drawn little appreciation or recognition. I’m sure we all know people who have got the job done over the last two years, working short-handed and long hours. They kept the lights on, the larder filled, and the services rendered, in spite of everything.
To those people I want to extend my personal ‘thank-you’. I appreciate it all, but know it’s not over yet.
I just wonder if there is a government in this country that will admit that you are the majority and that you have been overlooked!
Ray Vowel’s March 24th comment was more than misleading as it neglected to include the facts that The European Union Parliament with 705 elected members from 27 countries and a full public gallery gave Prime Minister Trudeau a standing ovation after his speech, which warned of the growing threats to democracy from some countries including Russia.
The small handful of those who protested against Trudeau were far right anti-vaccine members including, for one example a failed Croatian Presidential, far right, populist candidate who has no affiliation with any EU party.
Not much different than a minority of Canadians who have similar beliefs and ideologies. You can’t please everyone.
Personally I’m happy that our PM is working with European leaders and the EU to protect democracy.
In response to John Stanley:
1. there is no technical reason that an EV can’t be towed; CAA will tow an EV (confirmed this week by telephone)
2. most EV batteries will never need to be replaced (e.g. VW warrants their batteries 8 years, 160,000 km to 75% efficiency); Tesla is testing batteries that cycle over 1,000,000 km
3. if an EV battery is not efficient enough for daily use, it can be repurposed for stationary electrical storage (e.g. backup power for home use)
4. if an EV battery is damaged, it can be disassembled into modules and cells, all of which can be reused
5. in the worst case scenario, EV batteries can be fully recycled (currently between 95-99%), and the mineral elements can be used in new batteries. Lithium never dies.
None of us ever counted on defending ourselfs to a sinister combination of Hitler and Stalin .
Please support the people of Ukraine ,
to help ,us much us possible ,to fight the the new thread of freedom .
Ray Vowels and John Stanley: The media can be cruel. Not our leftist CBC when dealing with the Liberal/NDP bonding, for sure. But the initial Canadian ‘oligarch’ must have been somewhat chagrined when he never got to accompany the big guy to Europe.
Even if it was just to be shown around. Maybe such an arrangement isn’t looked on so favorably at the moment.
And maybe big guy doesn’t wish to show his hand, so early in the game!
Maybe a bit of a harsh assessment, but it’s just an opinion.
I see resently a lot of talk about EV`s and the climate. As most do not know is most tow companies will not tow because of there liabilities, the dealers do not want them back because of the cost to replace the batteries and then the added cost of disposal of the same batteries. These cars are going to cost more than double to dispose of them then the cost to make and buy them. Some car companys are already realizing this and have a way out. burn hydrogen and out comes water.
I see on the news that the economists of canada agree that the new NDP and liberal government will have to raise taxes, not lower them as the liberals had promised. also there was a good exchange in the european parliment of 4 representitives call our PM a dictator to his face, on his visit. what the world thinks of canada now. It was a real good exchange. find it on utube
With the reception Trudeau is getting in Europe this time he should be ashamed to even come home. I’m not sure just how many will see what he is being called over there by at least a few members of their parliament but it’s not very nice very honest but not nice. I’m going to watch the mainstream news tonight and i’m betting there will be nothing about it on any stations news. Anyone with twitter can see for themselves what he is getting over there.
Our trucks are flying the Ukrainians flag as well as our website .please join us to show support ,I’m not ukranian but would hope if Canada was under a ruthless attack that the Maple leaf would fly in other countries and small towns . These people are being killed for no reason by another Russian war criminal
Blurred Lines. That’s what this coalition is in danger of doing. The NDP and Liberals will now jointly be viewed for all that is wrong going forward to the 2025 election. The Conservatives can now focus on being the clear choice. It all hinges on who wins their leadership race. A glowing opportunity for a majority win by the conservatives. The public doesn’t like going to the polls every 2 or 3 years. Locally the Greens have a better chance now, but it will be more difficult for them to set themselves apart from the coalition, if climate change does truly become an integral part of the coalition agenda.
It took a few seconds to ferret out the difference between, what we had with the NDP supporting a Liberal government: to what we have now, with the NDP supporting a Liberal government. Can you spot the difference? It is subtle I admit.
Might I suggest that before this agreement, the NDP acted as a crutch, head firmly under an armpit, propping up the hobbling government.
Now the NDP will act more like a walking stick; head firmly wrapped in a sweaty palm and brandished as the scepter of power.
And there apparently is enough of a difference, between crutch and walking stick, that the two parties felt obligated to put this agreement to paper! For real !!!
All households have rolls of paper at hand, to deal with agreements such as this one.
Maybe politicians just feel that, with the BS they bandy about, the paper has to be written on.
I’d be happy if their dealings came at face value and didn’t need the paper.
I have a comment about Huntsville Place Mall.
I remember when the Mall was first opened. What a Godsend to Huntsville, we finally got to do indoor shopping in the winter and didn’t have to drive to Orillia and Barrie to shop at an upscale store with all that section. It was all good for many years but I noticed about five years ago that stores were disappearing and not being replaced with the kind of shops that you would expect. I understand that the economy and other issues put a lot of pressure on store owners and I also understand the need for lower price options. The question I have is how many “dollar” type stores do we need? It looks like the Huntsville Place Mall is going to go the way of other small town Malls, catering to the lower end of the purchasing scale. I am glad to see that Ron Henry Jewelry is moving back to a downtown location and I hope that will be the start of the rejuvenation of Huntsville’s town centre with more shopping and eating options. Take care and be safe.
As an old guy who loses teeth on occasion, I kind of like this deal. I tend to drive in the centre lane.
People: well the NDP Liberal Party are now in power. this is in place untill at least 2025. get ready for much higher taxes, and heavy decrea`s and empty pockets. Canada is now looking like a third world socialist country.
When not for profit institutions end up with a surplus of cash at budget time they make rash decisions to spend it or lose it. This would not happen in a for profit institution
I many times hear people saying non profit LTC homes would be perfect.
Non profit simply means they spend what ever they can get their hands on, not that it is well spent or well managed.
For profit businesses generally are better managed and must be able to explain where resources are used.
With equal resources and the same rules the private run LTC can make profit for investors by better management not by cutting corners
Thank you Bill Spring. While I look for my notes on RNAO Queen’s Park Rally Day, I can tell you that the other 3 parties recognized the need for further investment in LTC and health care. Only the DF Conservatives stated they would accept greater federal transfer payments, but only Without conditions. All other 3 parties acknowledged that transfer payments could be acceptable With conditions.
In addition, it has only been DF’s party speaking (even obliquely) as to privatization of hospitals.
(please correct me if inaccurate- was it not Premier Frank Miller who closed down Doctor’s Hospital, Toronto as a private facility during his tenure?)
One of the calls I personally received has been about a resident contracting COVID while at ML that resulted in the person’s death after a needed hospitalization. I too knew this person and family.
My intentions have been provincial in nature from the beginning of my comments. I agree that some LTC facilities have done their best during COVID. However, that does not mean that COVID handling by the provincial Conservatives could have been better handled. That is not stated with 100% hindsight Now, but rather with observations following the first wave, and before the second.
It may be of interest to learn when ML installed Heppa (?sp?) air-filters at their facility. My source tells me in pictures, that this was not until January 2022. If so, my question, why were these not installed in the LTC facility 2 years earlier? Why did the reported vaccination rate among staff seem so low in January?
And finally, where has provincial oversight been?
I was in Tim’s and Bulloch’s Independent earlier today and there were quite a few customers(myself included) and staff still wearing masks! I guess we are just against our freedom-NOT!!!!
Anna-Lise
I have personnel experience with a relative in Muskoka Landing which I believe is a for-profit LTC facility. I can testify that they have done a good job through out the pandemic. I don’t begrudge them for making a profit. Instead of pointing out the short comings of the way the Conservative party oversees these facilities, why don’t you tell us how your party of choice would do a better job
“Crisis in Home Care”, Market Place, CBC https://gem.cbc.ca/media/marketplace/s49e14?cmp=GEM_cbc.ca_homepage_shelfnew
Allow me to inform you how Home Care in Muskoka used to be managed and operated, pre- Mike Harris, mandatory, open invitation to for-profit community care:
1] infrastructure for oversight required reporting to the local CCAC (this included ALL missed visits ++) by service provider agency. In Muskoka, Red Cross non-profit provided all eligible services.
2] contract management meetings with CCAC were required a minimal of 6 months and could be required any time deemed necessary by the CCAC Manager to address client or delivery concerns.
3] scheduling of visits was done locally by staff who knew the Muskoka area
4] client/family concerns were dealt with by Red Cross and reported to CCAC
5] Supervisory home visits were made by Red Cross professional nurses.
Not any more!
I dare say, the same was true for those nursing home visits by Victorian Order of Nurses.
MH move towards privatization, also pocketing from the public purse provided staff with lower wages.
During COVID, ParaMed has been able to pay its shareholders and investors.
So, once again: defund something that is working, drop the supervision and oversight = missed visits, unaccounted for and unreportable. And, benefit the for-profit sector. It also earned MH a seat on the Extended Care – Para Med board of directors.
Alert- if you wish more of the same with our hospitals under DF Conservatives – you may get what you wish for!
Bill Spring: The mask issue should be listed under ‘free dumb’ complaints. The governments made an effort to protect citizens, who in turn carried on like children.
“I and not a big brave person and will scream if you help me!”
Now premier Ford says you are on your own and and that is a victory?? It’s a mask!!
I wear a mask in my shop. To protect myself from the dust I kick up.
I use a mask when I have to work with some adhesives and reactive liquids. To protect myself from the fumes.
If I were so inclined, I could use a mask in the bank. To protect myself from identification. (I think it quite novel that I am /was ? required to wear a mask in a bank.
Or, I can still wear a mask in town. To protect Myself from the virus and pestilence spread by others. Because, mask or not the virus is still here. Protect yourselves people!
Just wish I could remember to always take one with me.
Did MikeHarris not just reverse the pendulum from the direction Bob Rae took us in?
When things go too far the one way, it seems they will end up going the other way.
Hello Mr. Gilley; I am making the assumption that the Ontario Liberals could only reverse some of the Mike Harris “Common Sense Revolution” policies by breaking the contracts made with the Conservative for-profits. I am open to correction on this point. However, the taxpayer may not have been up for more of their money used to reverse Conservative policies.
Similarly, DF Conservatives using taxpayer money to take the Carbon Tax issue to court was seen by citizens as being a waste of their money (e.g. stickers at gas pumps, blue license plates being a no-go).
Consider the deep cuts during MH Revolution to mental health care services for youth, the loss of school access to services -these too have led to real life deficiencies for parents and their children. 1 in 3 children and youth needing this care can access, the others wait up to 12-18 months for services. That is “an age” of time for a suffering child and parent who cannot afford the cost of private services.
It has only been a matter of time for the needs abandoned by the MH Conservatives to rebound exponentially. I see no difference in the DF Conservative direction = more contracts made with for-profits to prop up LTC and dividends for share holders and investors. Getting out of these contracts to move in any kind of non-profit direction is costly. In the meantime, Conservatives defund public services, wait for complaints from the public, and then open the door to more privatized funding for hospital care next. That is where our tax dollars will be spent – so for-profits can cash in to the public purse.
You don’t run a hospital, LTC facility, Home Care agency like a hotel business or private franchise. We can also count on the Conservatives to weaken oversight and required regulations. That is part of the Conservative mantra.
To equate wearing a mask to being against freedom is ridiculous. Freedom is the choice to wear one or not.
Well i wonder just how many smiles i will see on Monday as the rediculas masks become voluntary. the new welcome will be i see you are against freedom if you do wear one.
I get a kick reading the letters in Speak Up Huntsville. It seams that Mike Harris has been the cause of many of our problems today. Unless my memory is failing me I thought he was Premier quite a few years ago
Why didn’t the liberals fix the problems he supposedly created
Maybe they were too busy buying votes by cancelling a well advanced power station in Oakville. Cost to us over a billion dollars
Or maybe not overseeing Ornge the medical emergency transportation system. Cost ???
Or maybe screwing up the green energy system with hundreds of contracts for solar power at rediculous ongoing hydro costs
Or maybe not overseeing bloated agencies like Metrolinks and the Ontario Lottery Gamming Commission
The list goes on and on
Have a look at how well for-profits are performing in Ontario Home Care. Mike Harris Conservatives are the architects and developers of for-profit in Home Care sector. Another poor performance issue in a health care sector with for-profit origins and the typical lack of oversight and accountability from the Ontario Conservative party.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/home-care-support-private-companies-1.6387911
Vote strategically if you want change in Parry Sound Muskoka. If the disillusioned conservative voter is leaning toward the local Green party candidate as a needed alternative, I’m all in to help that to happen.
DF Conservatives have only had 38% of the popular vote – start with a change in this riding to at least attempt to ensure a minority government. For the sake of our health care system, education, and the environment now and in the future. Thank you for reading.
I know the Ukrainian people will have to barter for peace; the weight of logistics arrayed against them makes their task insurmountable. They have no air power.
They have given account of themselves using American anti-tank missiles (1/4 million dollars a pop), making a T90, the Soviet main battle tank and a brave man with a FI_FO (fire and forget) Javelin missile about even. These are brave people.
I feel angered and powerless since there is nothing I can do; apparently nothing anyone will do for fear of the nuclear threat. No one should ever trust this ogre or shake his hand
I think Russian ground capability has been exposed, from the leadership to the equipment in the field. We saw on television the 65 km traffic-jam of ordinance, arrayed along a highway. Airpower and artillery would have reduced it to a long strip of trash.
Now it seems Putin will relinquish some of his demands if the Ukrainian defense force is diminished. That should make it easier for him next time. We cannot ensure there will be no ‘next time’.
Everything that has been seized from that tyrant and his oligarchs should be liquidated and used to support the Ukraine now and to rebuild later. I feel though, that our “nation of laws” will give it all back. So the only thing lost or destroyed will be the lives! That’s diplomacy!!
And to those people who hijacked the ‘Freedom Convoy’; what we see in the Ukraine is an actual struggle for freedom. If you believe that what took place in Ottawa is comparable, then the aluminum foil hat you are wearing is letting in some silly signals.
To the people of Ukraine and your leader, may you find peace soon. And Mr. Zelensky, if you’re ever out of work, I know putin (small case on purpose) may not give you a reference, but rest assured sir, there are entire nations that will.
“Health Care, for Some of the People”, Toronto Star, March 15 by Oliviere, Hurley, & Mehra. Here it is, “Ford’s privatization agenda follows the standard playbook: Defund, Disable, Destroy. Once resource-starved public services no longer work well, respond to the public anger — then transfer ownership to private capital.
Per capita, Ontario now has the Lowest Health Care and Hospital Funding, and the Fewest Hospital Beds and Nurses of ANY province. Yet provincial revenues are $19.5 billion higher than estimated a year ago, providing plenty to spend on public services, if the ‘WILL’ were there…Worse, private hospitals come another price tag: poor care and higher death rates (this also includes higher death rates in private for-profit hemodialysis clinics).”
“Private hospitals employ fewer skilled personnel, a practice strongly associated with hospital mortality.”
” Profits trump standards of care.” Private hospitals will be paid from the public health care purse”! Are you willing to accept that?
DF is Mike Harris 2. What MH did for LTC and community care, so will DF do for hospital care. Please vote Conservatives out of power come June election. Your and your loved ones’ health and hospital care could be compromised by the DF private for-profit agenda. It’s time to go. Your vote counts. Vote strategically.
It’s natural that the press will take their collective eyes off the Covid ball now that they are focusing on the conflict, or should I say war in the Ukraine . But it’s inevitable that there will be another spike in Covid cases when the spring break is over. The reality as I see it is Covid will be with us for many years and we and the various levels of government and the health care system will need to put in place the necessary protocols, rules and infrastructure to manage it. It’s been a tough two plus years for everyone especially healthcare workers. Annual Covid shots will be the new normal and those of us that care about our health and our fellow citizens health will get them. Unfortunately there will be others that will not. Hopefully we will be able to manage it. Blessings to you all.
National Post Tristin Hopper writes, “Everyone (except Ottawa) is declaring an end to the COVID 19 pandemic”. Seriously, how uninformed and trite can this reporter be! Some lag and delay is reasonable, considering the size of the country (provinces and territories) And not all are equal in their responses and illness due to COVID. Naturally, the Federal response is going to be later.
The science is still being watched over the second variant of Omicron. And, consider the March break effect. This is the second article of Hopper’s that I have read which is shallow and lacks basic understanding. But then again, for this topic she has no background in science – so of course she deems herself expert!
I keep reading the NP for worthy writing, so far the pickings are poor.
I just wanted to say goodbye to my beloved music teacher Bruce Werry at the HHS in the sixties.
I agree with you completely Brenda Begg. Speak up Huntsville is a great venue for pompous folks like me to enlighten others. I do try to keep in mind that my opinions are only mine but it’s hard sometimes to admit that others are entitled to their opinions as well. LoL. It’s also very enlightening as often hearing another opinions brings a new perspective to the issue. I enjoy the dialogue and I am always ready to listen and to change my opinion. Keep the discussions and opinions going. Being able to disagree in a civil manner is refreshing and should be respected and cherished. Blessing to you all.
Please do not “cancel” Speak Up, Huntsville! It’s a venue whereby anyone can, as advertised: thank someone in the community, get something off your chest, or just have something to say unrelated to the posted articles. I do regularly read Speak Up, Huntsville!
I will refrain from using words in this comment that could be deemed rude and disrespectful, as they would most assuredly be meant to be both.
If the Ukraine falls and its’ people subjugated, will Putin be any less a tyrant, murderer or war criminal? Will I feel that I should make allowances for any Russian pilot, tanker, artillery man who strafed, shelled or fired upon a school, hospital or grandmother’s apartment? Not (omit this word) likely!
They are all war criminals. The law stated during the Nuremberg Trials that ‘just following orders’ was and is, not a defense. We are a ‘nation of laws’, but others aren’t.
But how complicit are we in Putin’s ability to provoke and launch this attack on these people; and tangentially on our own peace? Very! if we hold pension funds or stocks in companies such as Manulife, RBC, BMO, Kinross, SNC Lavalin and others. They are all heavily invested in Russian oil. Will Putin now move against that money, just as we have frozen some assets of his oligarchs? Tit for tat.
Our own government is gleaning tax money from the sky-rocket price of filthy oil, looting its’ citizens pockets at the pumps and elsewhere. In fairness, we might all have a piece of the action.
That’s just the (word again) business world, which cares not a whit about peace or justice, or in this case, the existence of the sovereign democracy of Ukraine.
Somewhere we will have to take a stand, because will we ever be safe with this obnoxious life form still ready to attack, brutalize and bully his neighbors?
And now, there has recently been the announcement that baseball players, rich athletes, have been locked out by the team owners, even richer business men.
Big (that word as an adjective) deal!!!!
Sorry about the language, but sometimes it just fits.
To all of us who cherish our freedoms and privileges, we need only look east, to Russia and the Ukraine to see how they can be snatched away. We seem powerless to stand against the man.
To those who seem to have a lot of comments quashed, surely, by now, you must have figured out why the stuff gets the chop! To equate having a comment deleted from our local Doppler to the loss of a freedom is a bit of a reach don’t you think? If you really feel we need to know how you feel; if you think your comments are so enlightening, get together and print out a flyer.
And to Dawn Huddlestone: Can you please assure me that moisture from all those tears can’t get into my keyboard and screw up my laptop.
I’m pretty sure I’m safe. I just need reassurance.
Mr vowels: I have said that many times here, and yes we do not have freedom of speech here in Canada any longer. We cannot stand on our soap box and speak our minds without some sort of censorship. Press, government, or some one just not liking what we say, but that is the premise of free speech, weather any one likes it or not we should be allowed to say it without the worry of charges. Sticks and stones my break my bones but names will never hurt me.
Bill Spring; I can imagine the attack on such as soon as I identify a replacement party.
However, if you are interested, I am visiting the Green Party Huntsville Office this afternoon (King William Str, where The Framing Place was located) to check in on their energy and weight their chances.
I repeat that I am not a card carrying member of any of the parties. Green are interested in the environment, housing, access to mental health for Ontarians. My own leanings are a bit elsewhere – but if Greens have a local chance for change in Parry Sound- Muskoka, then I am all in! They certainly carry some integrity in my book.
Just out of curiosity, Doppler, I wonder how many different posters you get to this page on a regular basis. I suspect that the number is about 6 including one poster who, I think should have a regular column of their own, in the editorial section of the Doppler.
May I suggest that you cancel “SPEAK UP, HUNTSVILLE” unless/until this does become a forum for more than the 6 of us who post? The 6 can be introduced to one another via email and continue the dialogue (debate?) outside of this “news” forum.
For now, just for my peace of mind, I’m going to stop reading this column going forward.
Ah…I’m feeling better already.
If you really want to defeat the Conservatives in Muskoka, you must advocate which party to vote for, otherwise the votes against the Conservatives will continue to be split amongst the rest.
anna-lise
It appears in your many political comments you want a single party that would have the standards of the green party, no oil, no gas, no mining, no forestry, build the country from there. The NDP attitude of anti business, tax any profit a business makes, add lots of worker freebees and dare them to try in stay in business.
You also want the Liberal tax and spend attitude to be pushed to the last dollar.
You do not remember the liberals who running the province had money for everything but the large number of LTC homes they demand from opposition. What about the huge jump in electric rates under the libs.
You seem old enough to have weathered Bob Rae days of almost bankrupting the province and promoting unions.
I will not only look a party policies but how well they have followed previous promises.
I do not make up my mind before it is time to vote.
Mr. Stanley, thank you for the feedback about what I have written, I will be clearer.
No, I am not advocating an additional party be established.
I had opportunity to watch and listen (virtually) to the 4 party leaders on Queens Park Day respond to the RNAO platform proposals (climate change, housing, nursing resources, care delivery and fiscal capacity).
Based upon what was said, I would vote for any other party but the Conservatives – take your choice.
I found their responses wanting. When I consider their leadership and policy performance during COVID and keep an eye on the horizon of more for-profit invitations to health care and LTC, it is easy to connect the dots with the Mike Harris years of governance.
What kind of business person does not collect revenues owed to his/her company? How long would DF’s business last if his company did not collect revenues owed? Not long. The promise give away of a billion dollars in collected license renewal fees – what can this portend? My natural conclusion is to sell off/give away more of publicly owned – property, services, programs. He will claim that the budget can’t be balanced if programs, services, public health care, public education, and any climate change initiatives are not sold off. We saw this during the MH years.
Last question: How well did the for-profit LTC facilities perform by comparison with their non-profit facilities during COVID? Very poorly. For-profit run businesses in health care does not mean they are better managed – that is the fallacy that continues to dog the Conservatives. For-profits have to please their share holders and investors – there are times when residents, families, staff, and volunteers have to take more than a back seat to any improvements in care and service.
My bold advice to voters is to check out the policy platforms of each party. Then determine which party is best positioned to defeat the Conservative government in Parry Sound-Muskoka. Thanks for reading.
Anna Lise, I know you and I know where your heart is and I admire your passion. Keep up the good fight. All the best to your and your family. Blessings
anna: from what i read in one of your posts you are advocating we need a change from the 4 parties most people know off, that sounds to me you are recommending THE NEW BLUE PARTY.
Wow! National Post article this morning, Tristan Hoper: “First Reading: Oh, look, nobody cares about COVID anymore”. Besides the dripping sarcasm, this light take on COVID denies lives lost, healthcare workers who have left their jobs, health disparities across the Province, etc. The implication is that government responses were a “tempest in a teapot”. How out of touch can they be?
What we are left with from the Post is harping on the political divide (yes, very real) and the implication that the science does not matter in a public health emergency. A “lets move on and pretend it didn’t happen”.
What are/were the lessons learned?
Thank you John Oliver for your comments and memories of that time. Community building and capacity building are similar. As a retired nurse and associated with RNAO for almost 50 years, I have watched with interest the capability of Provincial political leadership to build a sense of community, especially in a time of urgency or crisis. As noted, I have shared my observations several times on Doppler. I don’t take it for granted that people will read what I post or agree with me.
However, there have been people in our community who have phoned or emailed me with their perceptions about healthcare. LTC, etc.. They have shared personal, sometimes heartbreaking examples which worry them greatly about increased large for-profit trend in home and facility care. I count myself very fortunate that these people can reach out to me with their concerns. So my limited experience is that it is not just nurses in the RNAO that advocate for Ontario citizens around these issues, but indeed local people themselves are impetus for some of what I write. In Parry Sound-Muskoka, we need a change in governing party and MPP – having listened to the related health platforms of all 4 parties.
It’s comforting to see that there are so many political experts in Huntsville, and so many people living here that are familiar with the six-thousand year political and cultural history of the region between the Black Sea and the Caspian (Khazar) Sea. (And now you know where to find it on a map. Maybe start there.)
Good comments Mr. Markle.
I have always put opinions into the bellybutton and bums category, we all have them. Just because you have one it doesn’t mean that anybody else will agree with you. If you are willing to give one, accept the fact that not everyone will praise you or agree with you. Most people form opinions based on a combination of personal experiences and knowledge of the subject, but those influences alone may not jive with yours as their experiences and knowledge is different. Take care and let’s all pray for cool heads in this crazy world we find ourselves sharing.
John Stanley: Offering up an opinion on Doppler comes with no promise of response. We make these comments, maybe just as an outlet for the ideas that run through our minds. A response may give an ego a bit of a buzz, but it’s not necessary, so we’ve lost nothing if no one seems interested.
You do seem to be of the opinion that if one might hold a view that differs from your own, then they ‘just don’t get it’. Not so. We may just not agree. Rejection can be harsh.
And others do and have offered opinions and views on the disaster in the Ukraine. We read both the local high brow and other stuff as well, so someone may have noticed your post.
Maybe they just accepted it as a comment ,but didn’t feel it needed a reply.
Chin up!
“Never tell a fool that he is a fool. All you’ll have is an angry fool.” —Talmud
To Anna Lise Kear. My thoughts about building community take me back to our St. John’s’ on Ravenscliffe Rd. days. Today is Shrove Tuesday and I remember Rev. Gail Marie, Jeff, Barb and John and Donna and I making the pancake supper at the church. We used real pancake batter and real maple syrup and real sausages in an effort to build community. But alas, the community that once was had disappeared and Ravenscliffe had become just a road. Bringing a community together was just a dream. They didn’t need cheap beer, they needed hope for their children, a good paying job and friends and family to get them through the hard times. Let’s hope that the difficulties of the past couple of years can be forgotten and let’s all pray for the people of Ukraine and for peace in the world.
People: I have noticed the no one has anything to say about my posts lately. I guess the war in Ukraine is just not important enough for the high brows in huntsville to bother with. shame on you`s
Wondering Where……?
Where is the Ford plan for the endemic phase of COVID?
Is there even a recognition of an endemic phase by DF?
Where is/was the “iron wall” built around LTC?
Where is/was “buck-a-beer” sold?
Answer: there wasn’t one; there isn’t one.
DF leadership does not build “community”.
Has anyone had the need to use the new cross-walk lights at Yonge Street in the West end of town? When the lights were installed, Tricia mentioned to me it was a weird set-up. Since I never use that sidewalk, it held little interest until recently. A couple of times now I have waited to let people cross and wondered why they didn’t use the lights. Today I stopped and looked.
Coming from town, walking the sidewalk, you should, if sprightly enough, be able to activate the switch and cross diagonally to the sidewalk on Yonge S.
Walking toward town, you cross Yonge N. and then cut diagonally across Main to get to the sidewalk on Yonge street S. As long as you know where the light activation button is. It is not too visible from that direction.
It is when you want to cross from the Yonge S. to the sidewalk on Main that the fun begins. From the bottom of Yonge, it you know where to look, you can spot the activation button, peeking from behind the pole on the other side of the street: which you will have to cross, with your back to traffic travelling toward town on Main, or across the path of cars sliding down the hill on your right.
Then you have to negotiate a snowbank, somewhat akin to the west face of Everest, or at least with enough snow and ice to be a fine training site for the Iditarod.
This may be a bit of an exaggeration, but I don’t think by much. Have a look. Better yet, give it a try.
But, ‘be careful out there.’
With what is now happening, why is Canada still buying Russian oil. The west has enough oil for all of our needs and then some. The feds need to build the pipeline from Alberta to New Brunswick and tell Quebec to bad it is a federal deal for all of Canada`s prosperity. Also stop buying middle eastern oil as well. We are going to need this resource for a long tine to come to allow the sience to catch up to heat and power our homes.
Having worked is Russia I have fond and warm feelings for the Russian people but not for the Russian government. As with all conflicts it’s the people that suffer, normal hard working folks like you and me. When I was there I had many instances of people asking me for help in getting out of the country. Their economy was a mess, they were not getting paid but still had to work. I fear that Russia will return to those times as restrictions will cripple their economy again and as per normal it will be the average hard working little guy that will pay the price. Hopefully there will be enough outrage that Putin and his corrupt party will be overthrown. My prayers are with the Ukrainian and Russian people as they will be the ones suffering the hardships in the aftermath of this despicable action.
My thoughts exactly Mr. Rae, never should have been displayed to begin with.
Care to know what nurses in the province are up to? Yesterday, attended (virtually) Queen’s Park Day with the RNAO. 4 party leaders presented their responses to the RNAO – 5 point Platform on Public Health policy for the Environment, Social Determinants (housing), Nursing (human resources & education), Care Delivery & Fiscal Capacity.
All parties But the Conservatives would accept increased federal transfer payments with conditions attached. Conservative response (Ford, Elliott, Calandra) — gosh folks, father knows best.
Conservatives remain on the same train, running down the same track: decrease Provincial revenues by failure to collect such things as fees for license plate stickers (a billion dollars), penalties from corporate owners of toll hwys, fines from large LTC facilities who continuously do not meet regulated standards, tax from carbon emissions, and of course, fair taxation.
Next step, claim the budget cannot be balanced as justification to cut services, programs and sell/give health care, education, and the environment to the for-profit sector. Count on the fact that innovative care delivery service was and is nowhere to be seen.
Conclusion: vote AOP (any other party). Thank you for reading.
Ken Rae: I second it. Remove the Russian flag. NOW.
I propose that the town should ( permanently ) take down the Russian flag for the G 8 and in it’s place, fly the Ukrainian flag at half mast to show our support for their cause and for democracy.
The eyes are useless when the mind is blind.
If you choose to push others to believe, to see, to act upon your own narrow vision of the truth you eventually earn no respect from others and and will be forced to spend your days in frustration, solitude, and anger.
“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt”
Abraham Lincoln
After weeks, months of lying and posturing, a callous and manic dictator unleashed the logistics of a world power upon a nation slightly larger than Canada. Forty million people who wanted only to look after their families and get on with their day, had any semblance of peace or right or freedom ripped away.
The recent carryings on in our country pale in comparison.
This dictator has done the same before and will likely do it again. Other like villains impose their will on populations, who have little or no chance of escape. The ability of the world to control or mitigate the actions of these people, is limited or non existent; except with an unconscionable act.
I don’t imagine that the Russian people are happy with this brutality, but what can they do?
Vladimir Putin, by his actions is a bully and an evil man.
I was taught to never wish ill on anyone, but I think today I made an exception.
Unfortunately, it’s the most I can do.
May the Ukrainian people have peace.
My family are active users of our wonderful Huntsville Library services. I was just told by library staff that when Ontario lifts restrictions on March 1 the Huntsville Library will continue to remain closed on Sundays.
Why would this be? Are there budget restrictions? Staff shortages? What are the issues?
Surely the library should be open on both days of the weekend?
Thank you for any light you can shed on this.
Hugh, In a column you wonder what has become of Canadians.
We have become tired of politicians who have two sets of rules, one for them, one for the rest of us.
A prime minister who lectured Modi about meeting and talking with protesters, then in the same place, he runs and hides, unwilling to meet with those of the lower class,
He says those who wear black face should be fired or resign unless your name is Trudeau
He uses laws, makes them retro active, so that a grandmother donating 25 dollars or a single mother donating 50 dollars when it was legal are now major criminals with financial resources frozen. Others are having all finances frozen, then told to hire a lawyer.
Donate to the liberal party, get a tax receipt and a request for more, while supporting any thing else in the future could get you arrested,
Just wait until C-11 gets passed with NDP assist, and Trudeau appointed people can control internet TV and eventually print media.
Once that bill goes through, anything that does not praise the liberals can be classed as hate mail. It is to be illegal to criticize government employees when they screw up.
During the last Us election the face book and other streaming media did the censoring for the democrats they did not need a federal law.
When things like this occur time after time people get upset.
Mr. Markle: sir you totally missed the mark of the post. Domestic terrorisum.
John Stanley: That statement about the winners being the recorders of history should really be subjected to scrutiny don’t you think. In the distant past it was difficult for the ‘loser’ to present their side of the story, as they were either deceased, or about to become so.
In more recent times we have the stories of lots of loses and losers. The cost of being vanquished from the battlefield, or the business and political world no longer being so severe as in the past. Today it’s generally the money and not the life they are after.
Your stating that you have read literature on the Vietnam War, from both perspectives, is a fine example of the views of the loser as well as the winner being recorded.
Welcome to Canada, however belatedly and stay safe.
Mr. Markle: Just who writes history? The winners! just read the 2 versions of the vietnam war, U.S.A. version or the veitnam version. two totally different writings. And the same will happen with the Trudy government and the protesters, Oh! pardon me the terrorists.
John Oliver: Quoting famous people might be more safely done after a few moments introspection. Abraham Lincoln also suspended a number of America’s civil liberties. The stakes were somewhat greater when he did it , but he did it never the less.
Parking your ponies on his lawn and blocking his way to the office could have landed one in more trouble, and trouble of more serious consequence than having your wagon drawn away.
We could use a few more ‘Lincolns’.
Just an opinion.
Has anyone noticed a rush to the pipe line site out west, where twenty or so axe wielding people smashed vehicles and equipment.
It has been reported that these individuals tried to burn a vehicle containing people.
No mention of police rushing out to catch the perps. This can make sense to our PM for this is not anti Trudeau, its anti oil, part of his agenda and therefore does not count.
only what happens in Ottawa counts, the rest of the country especially the west does not matter, just send your transfer payments for Quebec.
The debate on Doppler about the truckers protest and the emergency measures act reminds me of the old saying, “ it’s better to say silent and seem a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt”.
To all: What is the Trudeau emergencies act doing about the domestic terrorisum in Huston, BC. I expect nothing. And the MSM says nothing also.
Is anybody else having trouble sifting through the happenings of the last month, because it is difficult to rationalize some of it, even if you really try.
It seems there was a ‘request’ by the group representing a ‘freedom convoy’, that the government step aside and allow the business of state to be conducted by them; at least until things were put straight. Then the power would be returned to the elected. Sort of an “Excuse Me ” revolution! How polite do we Canadians seem?
If all overthrows could be so simple. Generally there are AK47s, machetes, women and children harassed: but in Canada?….. seemed like it was worth a shot. To just ask.
And there were obviously some politicos who thought it might work (we have the audio: we have the video); they seem to have sided with the riff-raff. Others pondered a while. Then….. wait a minute!!!
And try to explain a police chief who was totally unprepared for it all; even though it had been announced that the mob was coming, then, that it was on its’ way and finally, it was there. Hard to find him the only person at fault, but still, couldn’t he have asked for suggestions?
It will be quite a mess to sort out; the police will be closely scrutinized, and the rights of the radicals protected in this “nation of laws.”
And in the end it is the truth that becomes elusive; everyone claiming they know what it is and that those with a different opinion ‘don’t get it’. We see that from time to time here on Doppler.
‘Rather than love, money or fame, give me truth’. Somebody made such a comment. The judge sitting listening to the statements from people in the dock during the hearings of the last few days, must have been praying for that to come to pass.
I’m sure there are more amazing revelations to come and wonder what of it we will be able to believe. But I guess we will pick out what we feel is reasonable, understanding that it would be too damn hard to make a lot of this stuff up!!
Oh Canada!
Sir: no need to move to the USA, I am an aussie, and it is well known that we are true fighters not mambe pambies.
I am disapointed with Conservatives reaction to our Freedom Problem. Complain that Trudo did not meeet. Do they realy belive anything good could have come out of such a meeting. The protsters were not willing to discuse but to demand. You know that you are Dammed if you do and Dammed if you dont.
Now that the Ottawa streets are clear watch the tyranical Trudeau government start to weld more and more powers just to stay in power. Did the gov need to invoke the emergency act, i do not think so, but as banks freeze accounts and we cannot gather at a whim of any gov. from the feds to municipal. what will the left say when they come for you also. i hope most of you have noticed the new gov commercial to take all guns, the commercial is played about 4 times a hour. It has started people. The next government pressure will be climate change. Be prepared.
Thank you Anna.
What a shame that Mr. Stanley and Mr. Paris are the only ones that get it.
I would suggest that Perhaps Mr. Stanley move to the USA where he won’t be subjected to tyranny. Still waiting on that data Mr. Stanley.
I could not have put our problem in a better perspective than Sally Barnes did in the “Commentary ” section!
I came to Canada in 1956 ,to a peaceful country , saved from eating grass to survive . Being 17 years old at the time, I worked for 50c an hour and was happy . I am now wondering where our Country is going into the future . Please think of the consequences of your action before you get yourself into trouble .
I am still glad that we live in a Democracy !
Mr. Paris and Mr. Stanley; last time I looked Ottawa was in the Province of Ontario. DF declared a state of Emergency in Ontario. Why did he not look after the citizens of Ottawa in the face of the protest lockdown to their city, their lives, their businesses and livelihoods? He looked after those in Windsor? Why not Ottawa too?
I would be as bold as to suggest that had DF used his Emergency powers to deal swiftly with Ottawa trucker protests as his jurisdiction, JT would not have had to declare the Emergency Act in place of the inaction of DF government. Just a thought to consider.
Mr. Paris: Finally someone other than me that does get it. I am sure there are a lot of us out there but because of fear of not complying with mandates. They are now starting to wake up and see, not alone smell the roses as to government tyrany.
We now have justin and his cabinet putting the emergency bill into place, not parliament. not the courts.
If I donated a dollar to the convoy in its early days, as a protest against inflation, or high fuel costs, or the four levels of taxes on oil products I could now find my bank accounts frozen plus licences and insurance gone.
Justin only wants to meet with groups like black lives matter or any one for love ins,
He lectured Modi of India to meet and talk with protests, rules for Modi but not for him.
As Canadians the emergency bill means we can not even stand together any where to protest his inaction on any front.
Once the NDP help him to pass bill C-11 gets passed justin will be able by means off his appointed people prevent even print media that he does not approve of from being seen.
It seems absurd to me that a group of unemployed people can announce that they are on their way to Ottawa as a ‘freedom convoy’, park downtown, and the better part of a month later, still have the city hostage and only now being dislodged.
Might I suggest that when the next disruption is announced, all cities be prepared to use the laws at hand. When the next truck sets its brakes to block a street, may the driver have a bag over their head and a dart in their buttocks, before the heat even begins to tick from the engine.
To say this demonstration is for our freedom is ludicrous; I’ve got uncles, great uncles, cousins and a father-in-law who fought for freedom; sometimes it was to pull down the very flag that this rabble waves in our capitol.
We have young men from our town who are in service and will go where our government asks them; to preserve peace and freedom, yet we have this demonstration at home. Freedom of expression, yes, but not at the expense of other people’s freedom. Find a better way.
Most of what I’ve seen are people who are not working, not for the past month anyway, and some of the vans there, are not cross-border rigs anyway. The mandates are an excuse only.
Generally, people will go to great lengths to protect their family, but amongst that rabble we see little children. People of my age can remember hearing of, or watching film of wars in foreign lands, where women and children were marched in front of invading troops as a human shield. We couldn’t believe of that happening and I can’t imagine the parent who would knowingly place their child in harms way.
This is not a convoy for freedom. By no stretch of imagination.
Oh by the way people I am NOT a anti vaxer, i have had a lot of different vaccines. but i am against the mRNA so called vaccine.
Again i say that it is no use talking to those people. They just do not get it
Thanks Barbara Armstrong for posting the terrible reality for the woman you mention. There is little that can be said to anti-vaxxers that will have an impact for change. Unfortunately for some, it will take COVID arriving at their doorstep for reality to be accepted. I certainly don’t wish that for anyone.
Give thanks for our health care workers who do their best to care for all who come through the hospital doors.
One of my workers refused to get any vaccines for Covid. She said it had nothing to do with religious reasons, she simply stated she saw no reason to get ‘the flu shot’ and saw no reason to get a Covid vaccine because it was just another kind of flu virus. Her family are all vaccinated and taking the necessary precautions. All my workers work from home and their work is quarantined for three days prior to sale, as a precaution, and will be until I deem it safe. I was fine with her not being vaccinated. I worried about her though.
January 1st, 2022, she contracted Covid’s Omicron variant. She texted me that it sure didn’t feel like ‘just a flu’. A week later she texted me that she was taken to the hospital that morning because she was having a lot of trouble breathing. A few days later she texted me that she was terrified because the doctors were explaining to her what would happen if she needed to put in an induced coma and be put on a ventilator. She was alone and scared out of her wits. No one could visit her, hold her hand, and her inability to draw a decent breath of air was both painful and difficult.
She texted it was: “not just regular pain, and not just ‘hard’, I’m talking truck on your chest kinda pain and breathing through wet wool blankets and feeling like there’s no air coming in, it’s like drowning” so she couldn’t even talk to her family on the phone nor to anyone else. She begged me to get my booster shot (I’d already had it), wear a mask, and to tell all my friends that it is not ‘just the flu’ and she wished she’d “been smart enough to get vaccinated”. And, then, there were no more texts. I don’t have the phone number for anyone in her family.
She may not make it. I’m waiting for “that text”. The one I’ll get If she does, somehow, miraculously recover enough to get out of ICU. From that point on though, she will suffer from “long haul Covid” and have about a year of recovery to look forward to, but at least she’ll be alive.
I remember when she used to joke about people who said they’d had Covid for 3 and 4 weeks and how awful they felt for months afterwards. She mocked them, suggesting they ‘suck it up buttercup’ because she could work through anything. Turns out not everyone is lucky enough to be asymptomatic or get a light case of Covid. She escaped 2020’s original version of Covid and she dodged the bullet of the Delta variant, but not Omicron.
If you’re lucky enough to have the kind of immune system that can protect you through anything, I’m very happy for you. You are indeed very lucky and I hope you appreciate that good fortune. Not everyone can waltz through life without something very damaging happening to them at some point, though. I’m happy for you if you can. But please, bear in mind, while you and your heightened immune systems are parading around ‘mocking’ less protected people, bitching about mandates, masks and restrictions, you are spreading an illness that may kill someone you don’t know and have never met. And it may eventually catch up with you.
We all know the world was ripe for this pandemic and we also know we could have done a lot more to stop it – but because of the stupidity and stubborn righteousness of a few people, many others (including the stupid and stubborn and religious and righteous) suffered, and millions of people needlessly died. No, it isn’t as bad as the Spanish Flu – yet. Yes, people die all the time (cancer, murder, old age, etc., etc.). But I suggest to you, when our (or any) government provides FREE health care and FREE preventative solutions for a crisis we should all take advantage of it – remember you are not invincible. No one is. “You” will need the people you are mocking, the health services and professionals, that you are mocking, long before “they” will ever need you. They won’t knock on your door if they are having a heart attack, get a broken bone, or end up with Covid…. but you’ll want to knock on theirs. The Government won’t come asking you for money if they loose ‘their job’ – but you will want their money if you loose yours, or retire, or get sick and want to see a doctor (OHIP).
If you don’t want to take advantage of FREE vaccines and follow a few, very simple methods of prevention in a crisis – that’s your ‘problem’ and ‘your right’. BUT, Do Not Try to Stop us from taking care of ourselves as best we can – by limiting people in our stores, restaurants, gyms, etc., by asking you to wear a mask, by suggesting you stay home and away from us when you know you are sick. Do not mock us.
‘We’ [the vaccinated, masked, hand washing majority] still let you into our hospitals – FREE of Charge while we get our cancer treatments delayed, elective surgeries postponed, and loose our doctors to Covid. ‘We let you’ exhaust our medical workers – FREE of charge – and did you think for a minute, to thank them, offer to buy them a dinner, loan them your vacation home for a well-deserved rest? ‘We’ take care of you – How about you respect us and not keep mouthing off about how stupid we are for getting a life saving vaccine, wearing our masks, and trying to lower the spread of a deadly virus.
I know one day I’ll die. But in the mean time, I’m trying to take care of myself and my family. I will do whatever that takes, that includes getting vaccines, masking up, and washing my hands after touching something ‘you’ may have sneezed or coughed on.
It’s not “just the flu”.
Mr. Spivik: they say that there are no figures for the flue 2019, but heart desease alone killed over 53,000. now how about cancer, and every other desease as well as old age. We all die but a lot of baby boomers do not want to admit it and are scared to even say it. As a war time baby i even remember tokens for food, TB, iron lungs, so covid is not that scary, and with proper food and health life is good.
Mister Stanley, if you can support your assertation that this is just the flu, please show me varifiable data to support it.
I can’t seem to find any instance of common flu having killed 12,000 Ontarian’s in just two years in my searching.
I vowed to myself not to respond to your rediculous comments any more but you are just so wrong about this.
I anxiously await your supporting data.
Stay well, Mr. Stanley.
Anna: as a senior (over 80) and no vax it is time to wake up and treat this as just another flue and get back to our lives, not as a fear factor.
Mr. Stanley, if the estimate of fully vaccinated people (2 shots + booster) is @ 58% of the Ontario population (est. 60% of staff in local LTC facility) is accurate, some may question the advisability of dropping Vaccine passports.
Seniors and those with immunocompromised conditions will need to continue to vigilantly protect themselves by all means possible.
Also, it will be interesting to see how local Public Health Units respond, as some decision-making has been returned to them for local response.
Finally: My opinion only, but i think most businesses will open 1 march 22 and let All customers in to enjoy shopping, eating or just browsing without the harassment of the QR passports. They have suffered enough. there bottom line is what it takes to stay open. vaccinated or not.
Well said Thomas Spivak. There is no ‘right’ or ‘priviledge’ this lot of unemployed rabble can give me that other, braver people have not given me already.
I say unemployed because they are likely doing nothing but parking illegally and drawing govt. money.
Simply a bunch of vandals, bullying a city that no govt. seems to want to take the responsibility of helping. Ford cleared a bridge, that’s a start, but there was also big money involved.
Am waiting to see who will rescue our ordinary citizens.
To Charles Clark, I think the logic is quite simple and I would be happy to explain it to you, but if you don’t get it now then I doubt that you will get it even after you hear the explanation. I assume you have been vaccinated and wear a mask to protect yourself and your family…
Perhaps I can shed some light on Mr. Clarks question, Because long distance truckers travel to many different areas of the USA where there is a number of different rules regarding vaccination, masks, and general attitude toward the current pandemic it puts them as a group at risk for contracting or transmitting the virus.
Don’t get me wrong, how the rules during the pandemic were applied were not united, unfair to some, and sometimes just plain stupid.
That’s pretty simple, however with our government leaders in all the parties and within themselves not being on the same page at anytime and the Feds as usual handling this on a too little too late basis we now have a number of people feeling slighted.
Now just so its clear, truck drivers cannot enter the USA if they are Canadian without proof of vaccination , that’s the USA rule, so if you can’t leave then coming back shouldn’t be a concern. If you are a Canadian trucker that by whatever means ended up on the south side of the border you cannot be refused entry because as a Canadian National you always have the right to come home. Having said that you may have to quarantine.
So, once again this protest on the basis of trucker vaccination is BS.
What this is about, it seems to me, is that these individuals are tired of the other mandates and are using trucks, cars, and human blockades to be bullies and force everyone else to throw in the towel because these babies are tired of the pandemic. Well guess what gang, we all are, but this is not the time to throw caution to the wind.
My son’s office is owed by a company with unique religious beliefs and they have never practiced a covid 19 prevention strategy, my son is fully vaccinated and after two years of protesting this behavior is now positive for covid, very, very ill, missing work, money, and the company will behind on work because of this.
Why should he have had to go through this because of the selfishness of others?
Its not their right to defy these rules anymore than its my right not to stop at a red light, wear a seatbelt, obey a speed limit, not spit in a hospital, or trip elderly people when they walk by.
What’s the difference? You endanger others and cause problems on the whole.
There are people that are not getting treatment for conditions right now because hospitals can’t handle the extra demands.
They have to wear a mask or social distance? Tough Sh*t as far as I’m concerned. Why don’t these people come over here and take care of my family when they are sick?
As a parent, and I don’t care how old my kids are, they are the most important thing on this earth to me and I will always protect them. Anyone got an argument with that contact me and we can talk that over further.
All these self centered babies that have too much time on their hands need to go home and cry on their pillows.
If a tiny minority want to change the rules for the majority then they should all get together, publish their names, addresses publicly?
How brave are they?
Since the start of the pandemic some two and a half years ago, truckers were considered to be essential workers crossing the border without vaccine checks. Now they have to be vaccinated. Can anyone explain the logic of that recent decision by the government?
to David Wexler: you hit the nail on the head that time bud. it seems that a lot more left is allowed than right sorry to say.
I wonder if it would make sense to publish in this column the “Community Guidelines “ that commenters are supposed to abide by? It strikes me that all too often, one or more contributors go after individuals and/or topics not at all covered by the Doppler, with seemingly zero editorial oversight being provided by this newspaper, which is a shame.
I’d like to see Anna Lise Keri running for office, as a Huntsville Councillor in November.
Having not read the Doppler for sometime, I am happy to see the voice of reason prevailing in the name of Anna-Lise Kear. Excellent writing and an interesting point of view. I will be reading the Doppler more often. Thank you.
anna lise: and my image of the lib government is “my way or the hyway”
My image of the average trucker protestor is of a three year old, hands on hips, shouting “you’re not the boss of me” to his/her parent – temper tantrum and all.
Hopefully science curriculum at all levels in education can be augmented, in post-pandemic world.
Canada is handling this well, carefully.
to Chase Clarke:. talk about jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
As I listen to the retoric from the left and right of our various commentators I wonder if it is possible to be a supporter of womens rights and a supporter of right to life. I wonder if you can have liberal views and not support euphanasia.
Maybe because I am old I have a great appreciation for life. I have friends who tell me they were the result of a mistake. But they don’t care they are happy to be alive.
Maybe I am worried that as I age I will need care and someone will say your time is up.
I believe I am progressive with some ideas, and conservative in others. Is it impossible to support both concepts at the same time.
It seems you can not based on liberal commentators
Thank you, friends, family, teachers, community, Huntsville Doppler, Huntsville Forester and local sponsors, for your support for Sophia Marshall’s Europe racing tour.
Many thanks!
CONGRATULATIONS to the festival. Of the arts for arranging thr Snow Village in River mill Park.
It was an absolute delight to watch the children and their parents having a wonderful time with this event. It was a lot of work for a lot of people but a job well done and appreciated by many.
Does anyone know why the Church bells and music has stopped from St. Andrews? Please advise.
Some good news! It is my understanding that the Trudeau government has moved to re-establish the National position of Chief Nursing Officer of Canada, which previous governments abandoned.
This demonstrates, at the very least, acknowledgment and respect for the vital profession of nursing in this country. Bravo!
Perhaps you should retire Hugh and and over the Doppler to Anna-Lisa Kear!
If you read the National Post, I suggest you not rely on the health science information contained there. It is unreliable at best, often astoundingly ignorant. Their detail and big picture health science viewpoints can be misleading.
This pandemic was going to last 3-4 years at least, from the beginning. Wars have lasted as long and then some. Viewing the pandemic common enemy as the virus, declaring war on the virus, not one another and acting as a unified, consensus-building population accepting the best measures possible from the get-go could have been far healthier to our society and fast-tracked an ending of some restrictive measures.
Please pardon my restating the obvious for some.
It takes leadership to bring about that unification., acceptance of emergency measures, and following the sciences of virology, epidemiology, medical research, social behaviour, and excellent communication skills.
In an open letter to Premier Doug Ford (January 5, 2022) from the RNAO: “A health system on the verge of total collapse”. The measures proposed in this open letter should have commenced after Wave 1 and before Wave 2. Hope you can copy and paste, here is the link: https://rnao.ca/news/media-releases/re-a-health-system-on-the-verge-of-total-collapse
This has certainly hit our town’s LTC sector.
all: they say that 90%of the truckers are vaxed. my question is the how many of the INDEPENDENT truckers are vaxed.
Wow, Conservative MP stands with the trucker protest in front of a Nazi Swastika. The trucker protest against mandates to protect public health was bound to be hi-jacked by more extreme views, unfortunately. (remember @ 90% of truck drivers have used their critical thinking skills and become vaccinated).
As Canadians, we must speak up about the hate of Nazism today, every day, and not turn a blind eye.
There is a strong historical connection between the Canada West’s Social Credit-Reform-Manning/Harper Conservatives and fundamentalist evangelicals. Rugged individualism versus the common good; these should be balanced and need not be polarized – but in our times have become so.
What is taking place in Ottawa appears on its surface as sheep following a simple ideology, without thinking. I hope all Canadians stay strong against anti-Semitism rhetoric and hate.
Since the club 55 is to be closed down, will the much needed washrooms be retained.
This week I have heard from local people about happenings in Huntsville LTC. I have passed along important information to the appropriate people and will continue to do so.
In a nutshell, the reporting we read in the Toronto Star and I hear about through the RNAO (Registered Nurses Association) reflects the reality of an imploding public system of healthcare. This is not Just under the weight of COVID and variant, but under the Poor performance of the DF Conservative government. The for-profits are doing better, as they vacuum up staff from the public sector, OR the staff leave altogether in exhaustion.
In short, the issues relate to health care staff recruitment, retention, and wage differences – our seniors and people with disabilities in LTC are put at additional risk because of the delayed and insufficient action of Conservative provincial leadership. What is not visible to Huntsville citizens, let alone others in the Province, is oversight to vaccination requirements for all staff (contractors, visitors, etc.). A staff – full vaccination rate of 60% is poor.
Finally, please remember that there are legislated regulations to allow for complaints (both in LTC, home care, and privately owned retirement homes). LTC complaint process can be found on the MOHLTC website. Urgent complaints: 1-866-434-0144 (8:30 am. – 7:00 pm., 7 days a week).
I urge you to speak up to the Ministry on behalf of LTC residents and their families. Speak up to the Ministry for the LTC staff, those who this government claims to value. Speak up for our health care system in the upcoming election by voting AOP (any other party). Be informed, look at the party platforms. This current version of the Conservative party is not progressive. Nothing will change unless there is a sustained change in provincial governance to increase the value we all place on our public system. This is Not fear-mongering – it is our reality. Talk to any health care worker!
Thank you Anna-Lise. My many years living and working in Huntsville and the many friends that I acquired along the way will always be remembered fondly. In many ways Huntsville was a challenge as well as a joy. In the early, not so long ago days, I remember when the town closed down for winter. Many of the stores closed as there was no winter tourists to cater to. Things started to open up in the early 1960’s when Hidden Valley opened the first ski slopes with a chair lift and the snowmobile became popular. We had a cottage on Bay Lake that my farther and I built and I remember having to dig a trail through the snow from the road to the lake as the road around the lake was not plowed and loading the supplies onto a toboggan and hauling it across the lake. That was the start of Huntsville as we know it today. Over the next few years the town grew as the summer cottages changed from seasonal to multi seasonal dwellings. That was when my wife and I decided to move North to Huntsville as did many others. We were not affluent, just two young hippies that wanted to get out of the city. Now, I read the dialogue that goes back and forth on Doppler and wonder were did that dream go? The simple summer cottage has been replaced with multi million dollar lake side homes. Country roads are now congested highways and folks can’t seem to get along. The city with its congestion, politics, crime and all the other associated issues have slowly transformed Huntsville. I will return to Huntsville one day to visit old friends. Until then please remember that you live in God’s country. My thoughts are with you all, be safe. Namaste
to Anna lise. From you post about do not vote PC. I get the impression that you would want a socialist or totally lib-left gov. May the good lord help us if that was to pass.
Today’s National Post, reporter Chris Selley writes, “Canadians feel smug about their healthcare system right until they need it” (January 27, 2022).
Let me share with you that since graduating from nursing at U of T in 1972, the last thing I have ever felt is “smugness” about our health care system. I have lived through many iterations of health care and our health care system in Ontario.
This is what I have learned, briefly:
1] health care delivery is not messy, it is a composite of a few different sources
2] when there is a composite, keeping those sources in balance is essential (e.g. non-profit – for-profit)
3] in Ontario, under Mike Harris, that balance tipped greatly in favour of for-profits (LTC and Home care)
-the results were reduced wages for direct home care personnel and allowed for-profits to pay greater dividends to their investors (off the backs of Ontario residents). Any profit did not go back into the health care system.
-MH tied up the for-profit contracts for Ontario taxpayers to pay for years, including into subsequent governments
What has that achieved over time? Lower wages (which ironically the current Provincial government says it now hope to address), lower care standards in delivery (or at best, uneven delivery), without the courage and will of the current Conservative provincial government to provide the best oversight and demand penalties from repeated violations of legislated regulations already in place
So to Chris Selley I say, go ahead, cherry pick your assessment variables, it wouldn’t be a new idea – Stephen Harper picked “wait times” to justify more for-profits. Many health care people could see through that smoke and mirrors very clearly. Remember, others were present during the “Two-tiered Tony” (Clement) years operating under the MH Conservatives and can definitely attest to the impact.
COVID 19 & variants and LTC:
We need some answers from MOHLTC (Muskoka LTC homes) and Simcoe Muskoka Health Unit on the numbers of staff (nursing, dietary, housekeeping, maintenance, administration, recreation depts.) FULLY vaccinated and those unvaccinated (by choice).
Then, we need the same information about agency staff, essential caregivers, visitors, and any other non-employee personnel.
And, we need to know where to find this information on a regular basis as well. Ideas?
Re: Rod Jones comment on Jan. 20 “Who is still living that used to be on the Chaffey fire department in the 70&80”
The following are to Best of my knowledge the now living members of the Chaffey Fire Dept. From the
Dating period, from which I was a member during the early 1970’s.
Mr. Doug Allen
John Earl
Mr. Pat Mclroy Jr
Mr. Rod Jones
Mr. Bart West
Mr. Bill Antcliffe
Mr Ted Turner
Of Interest the 1st Chaffey Fire Dept. Chief , now passed, Mr. Ed. McDonald
The Last Chaffey Fire Dept. Chief , now passed, Mr. Lyle Payne
My years serving Chaffey Fire Dept. ( Huntsville Station # 2 ) were some of the best years of my life working, and socializing with such a wonderful, and superb group of Volunteers and Dedicated Men devoted to their duties as Volunteer Fire Fighters, and will always live within my precious memories.
Good reminder of the importance of our public health care system in G. Steward’s article, “Pandemic being used to push health-care privatization” (Toronto Star January 25, 2022). Though she sites Alberta’s Kenney Conservative government, don’t for a minute imagine that DF Conservatives are not to again push these policies (just as did MH and SH, with help from TC).
“Services like home care and long-term care were contracted to private companies, which often meant less government oversight and lower standards of care.”
Dr. Noel Gibney, University of Alberta, intensive care specialist addresses bed capacity, “Staffing is the major limitation to increasing hospital capacity at a time when health care professionals are leaving our hospitals at an unprecedented rate… opening private hospitals would strip public hospitals of staff and would not increase capacity.”
“In many ways, the pandemic has provided opportunity, and cover, for politicians such as Kenney and medi-entrepreneurs who have long wanted to cash in on health care through the public purse. Public health care is too important to be left in their hands. Only when people from all walks of life step up to protect and improve it will it still be there for all of us.”
Please do not vote Conservative this June. Thank you for reading.
Hi John Oliver; Glad to know you are still interested to check in with your former stomping grounds, Huntsville. Hope all is well with you and yours.
If it wasn’t for my old friends Anna-Lise Kear and Ray Vowles battling it out on a weekly basis, I would have no reason to check in on Doppler. They make being at home with Covid restrictions fun. Do you think it’s time they kissed and made up or do you think they should get another hobby. Good folks and good debate. I sure do miss Huntsville sometimes. Take care all of you and be safe. Namaste
to all now that Briton will lift all restrictions (masks, passports, and restrictions) curbing people,France has followed, at the end of March, maybe our governments will see the future also and do the same by June. no more gumpy old men just happy, happy.
Before any further re-opening, the DF Conservative government needs to require vaccine passports to include 3 shots, not 2, And these passports need to be required everywhere, not just those locations currently deemed essential; this would include examples such as LCBOs and Cannabis shops. Just another example of too little.
Who is still living that used to be on the Chaffey fire department in the 70&80
I want to thank Mr Mckenzie for having enough gut tell it how it is. Quebec,
In 2013, Tricia and I spent 12 days at the Heilala Lodge on Tonga. The island stands on the shoulder of the Tonga Trench which plunges to 35,000 feet. Our fale or cottage was out on the hook of island that points straight out towards the Trench.
One afternoon, we and another couple went into the town of Taufa-ahau to have lunch at the Friendly Cafe. The place was crowded and we ended up seated with a half dozen or so tourism executives from other nearby islands. Bright lava-lavas, cold drinks and sunny warmth certainly made it a ‘friendly’ affair.
Across the street and green belt was the harbor and then the open Pacific.
We see on the news that a peak along the shoulder of the Trench has erupted. I look at our photos of happier times and wonder how much of what we saw is left.
reply to Anna-Lisa Kear I guess you are one of the ones who think everyone should think the same as you because you think your so much smarter than the rest of us. As far as I know this is still a free country where people can decide what they want to put into their body. We have a constitution that protects that right so just why do you think it’s the govt’s responsibility to force people to take any drug that they don’t want to. Oh yes it’s for the common good. If that is the case then why is it that about 9000 double vaccinated people are testing positive the last few days compared to about 2500 unvaccinated one shot vaccinated or won’t say what they are. But you say the 2500 are spreading this around more than the 9000 are that is reasonable don’t you think.
” The Ford government had a duty of care. It failed us with its lassitude, mendacity and honed incompetence. On every crucial issue, this time the penalizing of the unvaccinated, it has taken the fetal position, curled up, eyes closed, saying not yet not yet not yet.”
“It was Premier Doug Ford’s responsibility to get everyone vaccinated, N 95-masked, and kept safe in schools, on transit, and in the cities and towns of Ontario. He didn’t do it.”
from; “Nothing can mask this level of ineptitude” (Heather Mallick, Toronto Star, January 17, 2022, p. A4)
Worth reading.
Response to Ray Vowels: This is my take. Many businesses /employers pay minimum wage without benefits such as sick leave, extended health care. I agree with you that there are people who are choosing to use support money from the Government. But not all. I believe there are more factors involved, some of which may be complex, as to why there is such a staffing shortage. Let’s hope that everything comes out in the wash!
If you haven’t yet, check out the COVID section in Doppler and pay attention to the notice in red. Thanks.
Thomas R Spivak So you had it hard for awhile and yes you could have used a had up we are not denying anyone that. What we are talking about is right now everywhere I look in Town there is help wanted . We are hiring signs but why are people still not working. Do you think it might have something to do with the money the liberal govt. borrows to pay people to stay home. Back in the days we talk about there was five men looking for every job that came up so you took a day here or a day tere doing anything to feed your family.
Thank you Lanor, you understand.
No thanks to the bitter men that think they alone built this country.
By the way fellows, my wife and I lived in a tent our first 5 months here, the next 6 months in an uninsulated cabin with no water, bathroom, electricity, phone, and 1 window. Two years passed before we had power, drinkable water, and a phone.
My first job paid $3.00 hr. and I put a tub of coals under the engine early in the morning so my truck would start. Water came from a hand pump that had to be thawed at each use.
Yet, I don’t deny help to those in need.
Nobody ever said that we need to help people forever, just give help as needed.
” Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness ” Martin Luther King.
Under current debate: a tax for those who choose not to be vaccinated. With the Canada Health Act – accessibility to healthcare remains the same for all Canadian citizens. In other words, with a person who chooses to not be vaccinated, if they get ill and need hospital, medical, and nursing care – they Receive it!
The anti-vax tax, directed into healthcare revenue would help with the financial strain on our system, due in part to the people in the population who Could be Vaccinated and Choose Not to take advantage of this health promoting, illness-preventing measure.
There will always be good and bad in a situation. My husband and I volunteered at the table food bank before it was called the table. The people who came in for help could “shop” from our grocery shelves, taking what they needed. Then they came through our check outs , restrictions for how many were in their family decided how much they could have made this necessary, also we bagged it for them.
I knew there were some people coming in and taking advantage of a good thing, but what can you do?
One man always came alone, his was a family of four. He was quiet and always thanked us so much for the food. Suddenly he stopped coming. A few months passed when one day he came through the door carrying a couple of bags full of food items. He sat them gently on the counter
and said with a smile, “I got a job that pays pretty good and I would like to give back to others as they gave to me.” I held back tears and replied, “it’s people like you that make all this worthwhile.”
You get my point here. We must try to help others and not worry if a few of them are taking advantage of a good thing.
I think most people want to work. The biggest reward is feeling useful and self-sufficient.
To all: It was all the grumpy old men that built the tar sands development, the CN tower, the trans canada highway and i could go on and on, but in every generation the younger one rides on the previous generations shoulders. It is called progress and is unstopable, i am sure we would not want to live like the Romans or even the Victorians. Remember slaves and workhouses. In another 100 years the people will be saying how could those people have live like that. history
We, (I include myself here) have been referred to as ‘hard nosed old men”. Sort through some of the previous dialogue and find all the unsavory characteristics Thomas Spivak labels us with. He finds us ‘simply wrong’ ands is ‘sorry for us.’
Here is some ‘hard nosed old man’.
I purchased a newspaper today for $4.20!! What would my father or grandfather have thought of that? There is no way to fit prices and times for comparison. We are here now and all that was then.
But I just bet if Thomas Spivak’s grandfather were to stand beside him today and survey the differences he saw, he would respond much the same as my elders did. “You don’t realise how good you got it, boy.” There is today, a safety net hanging from every identifiable hazard..
But the grandfather obviously used his time and talents and flourished. Good on him!
You may or may not believe in the “have dominion over” as it is recorded, but we are animals. We are the ultimate animal and that honor comes with baggage: a quivering moral compass and a pang of social conscience, which hopefully keeps us humble and honest. It’s what defines us and makes us human.
It also causes us to donate our time, expertise and money to our hospitals, hospice, service groups and food banks, and volunteer for a myriad of programs which benefit others.
Whether we like it or not, it is a lot of our pockets that the government rummages in when it wants to erect the next social safety net.
We donate and contribute because we can. We don’t require anyone to be sorry for us.
Question: Are Xmas trees picked up by Huntsville’s door to door waste/recycling removal system? Please advise. Thanks, George
Reply to Mr Thomas R Spivak I cannot speak for Mr Stanley but In my case I’m far from being a bitter old man. I and I think Mr Stanly were pointing out that it was not easy getting ahead back in the 50’s & 60’s. But with hard work and making do with a lot less than people have today we were able to have a good life. It did not happen overnight it took us years to get the things most take for granted now. But the one thing that was different was the fact that a lot of us did not need much to have an easier life with more luxuries than our parents had. Where I was raised we had no hydro so no electric lights no running water no indoor plumbing the roads were not plowed in winter so even if you had a car it was useless in winter. The one good thing everyone who lived in the area had the same problems so we really never knew anything different. Once again I’m not bitter just trying to explain why I think people should work for a living. There is nothing wrong with a hand up in hard times we all had some of that at one time or another but we did not expect it to last forever and as soon as we could find something to do we went to work. Not sure but I hope this Explains a bit about what makes us old guy’s tick.
Mr. Spivak: please get it through. what i was trying to say was everyone can pull themselves up be their own boot straps. do not tell me about all the people that do not have boots, the food banks are passing them out every day!
Well I’m not at all surprised by the reaction I got from my post. But it was meant to do just what it did. to point out that if people keep living on handouts soon they give up even trying to help themselves or make a better life for themselves. It’s not even their fault it is just plain human nature why work when I get the same thing for nothing. Every time I talk about what it was like back in the 50’s and 60’s I get the same answer things are different now and they are right back then there was no govt. hand outs there maybe was some kind of welfare but it sure would not have been enough to live on. I paid $10.00 a week for room and board now I can hear the laughter but when the only thing you can find to work at is pick apples for 50 cents an hour that was two and a half days pay. Then you had gas plus car insurance if you were lucky enough to have a car. So yep things were different back then but unless you lived it you’ll never understand. The only way to get ahead was to work hard and hope you could get a job where you could learn a trade even then the wages were not all that great In 1966 working as a carpenter in Hamilton i made $3.10 an hour and had a wife and two kids plus one on the way to support so things were different and my wife never worked and if she had of there was no maternity leave or anything like that. Plus we had to pay our own psi. and hsi out of are own pockets. for those who do not remember PSI was insurance to pay the doctors HSI payed the hospital bill. If you worked for a big company they deducted it off your pay and paid it for you if not you had to pay it yourself every month.
Mr. Stanley,
It’s not the same for everyone, you need to understand that the path that you followed isn’t the path that everyone else can follow.
Please be more opened minded, there’s plenty enough grumpy old men in this world already and they never benefit anyone else.
Wouldn’t you hope that others have an easier path on life? Is hardship the only way to succeed? The point I’m trying to make is that we can as a society make an easier path for others and wishing hardships on others is selfish and unproductive.
What I’m seeing here from several individuals is that they are saying ” I had nothing, worked hard and became self sufficient, didn’t need help”.
This doesn’t work for everyone and you can’t generalize.
Stop playing the hard nosed old men, stop and think about who may have helped you, trained you, took time and trust to make you who you are, and don’t tell me me you did it alone.
If you are bitter about the hard work you did and think others should suffer too, I can only feel sorry for you, I certainly can’t admire you.
Final word on this.
Good luck!
To all: Way back when i got my matric from high school i worked at odd jobs for a while. Then got a job in medical research cleaning animal cages. was able to learn and became a OR tech. Yes i become some one with a good job. Have held live beating hearts in my hands (be it a calves). But as life go on a lovely wife and a child the money way terrible. so go a job with a friend as a apprentice doing plumbing. Yes working to feed and house my family cleaning and repairing others feces. worked and joined a union and worked to eventually obtained 4 licenses in the trade. I retired at 62 in 2004 and now live very comfortaly on my pension. One POOR boys story. No hand outs from government, just hard work and night school while i worked. Seen the world, if you want to get ahead you will on your own.
Mr. Vowels,
I appreciate and understand you point of view on how to get by and taking care of ones self however, times have changed, this is not 1960.
I remember buying gasoline at as low as 13 cents a gallon when I was in high school, a few years ago we could get bread for $1.50 a loaf. we cannot compare our lives and that economy to the one that exists today.
Ontarians pay more taxes than anywhere in Canada, we produce more electricity than we need and sell the excess to the states at a loss which consumers here subsidize. I remember my dad being hesitant at buying a new 1960 Ford F 100 truck for $2000. And yes, there are signs up in stores looking for help but consider that the people that are not working and are able to will not make as much going to work because it jeopardizes the benefits. In most cases these are not full time jobs anyway.
Even if they work full time at $15 an hour after deductions they may bring home $450 a week for forty hours which they wouldn’t get anyway, so $1800 take home a month. Now take out rent or house payments, food, hydro, ( and remember, even if you don’t use it you still get a delivery bill ) phone, heat, clothing, gas for your car ( if you can afford it ) insurance, license, maybe water if in town, and prescriptions are not free for younger people.
There are things I’m sure I’ve missed and I’m guessing at take home pay but maybe stop and think this over before making a bold statement such as you have.
And no this is not true what you have have said, people are not animals and cannot be compared to them, to do so is a cruel and short sighted attitude. Do you think that during the depression it was wrong to have soup lines? Maybe those people should have fended for themselves? Where does this thinking stop?
When a tornado strikes do we turn a blind eye to those homeless people?
My grandfather arrived in this country in 1896 with a wife, 3 kids, and a basket of hard rolls given to him on the ship. When I read the diary of their experiences here I see time and again how the generosity of the people in this country allowed them to survive, prosper, build a church, a school, a post office, and a life here. So don’t tell me we should let people fend for themselves.
You are quite simply wrong.
Maybe a bit harsh by today’s thinking Ray Vowels, but you may be on the right track. Duck man! Here come the entitled.
Just a short thought on the govt handouts that they are giving people right now. The MNR tells us not to feed wild animals because if we do they get dependent on the hand out’s and forget how to fend for themselves so may in the end starve to death. Is this not also true for people who get to depend on Govt handouts.
Mr. Spivak; thank you for your insightful comment. It hope that the Reagan-Thatcher “trickle down effect” will eventually wear itself out. The assumption that big companies, when receiving additional taxpayer subsidy/tax breaks will pass this along to the lower class or front line workers, instead of giving executives big bonuses or buying back stock options has been a long-standing lie from the get-go.
Ray Vowels: I too was somewhat perplexed by the response prompted by your comment of Jan.7, 2022. You wondered about one persons’ penchant for laying the ills of the province/country/world , at ‘conservative’ boots. I read where you questioned the wisdom of adding, indiscriminately to our burgeoning national debt and then mentioned LTC in passing.
I don’t believe you commented on pandemic pay or the problem of parent/children staying home. There was no mention of sick pay or food banks or chronic low income. So how you prompted the peoples’ wrath was perplexing.
At one time the CRB was $500.00 per week and now the CEW is $300.00 per week. But even at these reasonable amounts, those benefits alone are responsible for a debt of 83.5 billion dollars in the last couple of years. Not one dollar of that is from an enormous fund of cash which Canada has stashed away. It is all debt. And this is only a portion of the enormous hole we are digging.
Wondering about having future generations left with such a debt does not make anyone ‘heartless’. Maybe sad and helpless.
And be assured, as Ray Vowels says, ‘they’ will come for it. It is a debt and the lion’s share will be gleaned from wage earners through taxes.
Most of us can recall that old comment that states the surety of taxes.
I have thought long and hard about just how to answer Lesley Hastie’s comments and I think maybe i was misunderstood I have no problem with the govt giving a hand to people who need it for a time to see them through a unfortunate time that is no fault of theirs. The problem is the liberal govt gave out millions of dollars to big businesses that had to lay off staff I’m not sure just how it worked but from what I have read the money went into the pockets of the big business not to the laid off workers. This is the problem with Govt giving out money that they have no idea where or who it’s going to, As for hard times I was born in 1940 so have been around for more than a few hard times. I was lucky enough to live in the country where we had a big garden and raised chickens and pigs and even had a cow for milk so we always had food. Money on the other hand there just was not much of it I remember my mother looking all over trying to find 3 cents to mail a letter. I went to work at 16 got married at 19 and raised four boy’s some will remember what it was like in the 60’s if you could earn $1.50 an hour you were doing not bad. There was no LTC homes no day care you looked after your own kids. It was not always easy but we did what we had to do to get by. So maybe now you understand why I have a hard time trying to see why young people can’t get along on $15.00 an hour work two jobs if you have to we all know there is lot’s of businesses hiring when I go into town all I see is help wanted signs. The one and only time I drew unemployment Ins I think was 1960 and I received the grand sum of $12.00 a week thankfully I was not on it long . Hope this kind of explains why I feel people should get back to work. Some are sick and can’t but a lot just say why should I work when the govt. gives me more to stay home. What they don’t realize is that sooner or later one way or another this money has to be paid back so we all know where it will come from and thats the workers not the rich it will be the working people.
Leslie Hastie, you are absolutely right.
It has been bred into our society for many generations that the poor are poor because they don’t try hard enough.
In the last 20 years the top wage earners in north America have increased their profits to 10 times what the upper middle class makes and the rest have largely been stuck where they are.
The notion that the poor deserve to be poor because they don’t work for it is a throw back to 200 years ago, trickle down economics is, has always been, and always will be BS.
The poor live in areas where the schooling in not as good, income opportunities are not as great, family structure may be broken, and they do not have access to the resources, banks, credit, and education that high wage earners do.
The myth of of the self made man has been pressed upon us and truth be know most of these success stories were about being at the right place at the right time or having family backing to begin with.
Everyone has a right to have sustainable income and its a societal duty to help those that don’t and not denounce them and hold them down.
I fear Mr. Stanley has a false sense of what success may be or what failure may be. Is he in the top 10 of wage earners in Canada? Likely not. No disrespect to him intended but lets be clear, most of us work hard most of our lives with the hope we someday retire and can maintain a reasonable lifestyle through our retirement. Many work hard their whole life and never achieve that level of security or comfort.
Aiding the poor, disadvantaged, ill, and unemployed is an investment in the success of their lives and in this country. When the wealthy are taxed and contribute to the wellbeing of this country on as equal of terms as the majority of the populace I believe we will see change begin to take place. We need to stop this class system that holds back and punishes lower wage earners.
Food for thought.
To Mr Vowels in particular, the new federal government’s pandemic pay is an extra $300 a week.
We Do have a pandemic here. Parents and children are sick. There is now remote learning so some parents will have to stay at home with their children especially where child carers are sick too.
How can people pay the bills? They have to pay rent or get evicted. They also have to pay for heat, transport, and if there is anything left, food. Most will not have sick pay (which should be an unconditional benefit for everyone. It certainly is available to Doug Ford and his ministers, why not other working people? Or are they supposed to go to work when sick?)
$300 is a very tiny bit of help for desperate people. According to the Foodbanks HungerCount, “In March 2021 alone, there were over 1.3 million visits to food banks across Canada—an increase of approximately 20 per cent compared to 2019. Low and stagnant incomes, rising food costs, and an unrelenting housing market driving market rents up across the country have created a level of need not seen since the aftermath of the 2008 recession. And people who receive provincial disability income support are living on incomes that, when general inflation is taken into account, are nearly 10 per cent lower in real terms than they were 30 years ago.”
So Please. Have a heart!
Railing against a Conservative politician , some 20 years later , seems to be an exercise in futility. Mike and his ‘common sense revolution’ failed, when it no longer made sense. He slithered away as Ontario voters were searching for a large enough rock to keep him under. Ernie Eves was left to suffer the ‘slings and arrows.’
Even while pointing out the damage Harris did, the politicians following him didn’t do much to effect repairs on systems.
Dalton McGuinty was hampered by an economic downturn, and fled like a gazelle, just as Harris had, while Ontarians were shaking out the rope and searching for the right tree. In the following election Ontario voters still chose a McGuinty follower (go figure!), but four years later the streak came to a sad ending for Kathleen Wynne.
Now we have a premier whose credo seems to be to appear clean shaven, well fed and concerned. Two out of three works here.
But the name of any party means nothing because, in my opinion, the choice is a matter of convenience. Members ‘cross the floor’, suddenly realizing there is benefit in doing so. Hell! Bob Rae was a New Democrat premier for 4+ years and then discovered he was a Liberal.
Party names are simply names. It is the people we need to be able to count on, and for most of the past 40 years, I don’t think we have bee able to do that.
Just a short reply to Anna-Lise Kear. I most say that no matter what the issue is you seem to find a way to blame any conservative Govt. Can you tell me what wonderful things the liberal Govt of ontario or for that matter the federal liberals about all I can see they have done is run both our province and our country so far in debt that it’s going to take years for our children and grandchildren to pay back. Maybe you don’t care about that or maybe you have no children or grandchildren so nothing to worry about. On the other side yes we need better long term care for our elders if they are unable to stay in their homes . When I was young old people were looked after by their children because there was no LTC homes I am hoping that will be the case for my wife and I if that time comes but who knows. I just don’t think it’s fair to blame any one govt. for something that has needed fixing for years and was over looked by all govts.
Mr. Vowels, I am not sure what you mean to say in your comments.
However, I would hope for LTC that basically provides decent food, shelter, care support, some quality of life by having the following: sufficient, properly paid staffing and resource supports, good standards of care, accountable management, sound policies, frequent and comprehensive inspections and evaluations to root out violations and inadequacies -government oversight and follow up to ensure compliance/enforcement that a sustainable remedy has really occurred.
Also, that All complaints and concerns are investigated in timely fashion, and that penalties are imposed for repeat violations and substandard care, even up to and including closure.
Then, Mr. Vowels, should you or I need LTC in the future, we can have some assurance that the better has been achieved. By comparison, previous Progressive Conservative governments ensured that Ontario citizens, no matter what their socio-economic status could receive care in LTC when needed and when eligible. There has always been a co-payment requirement from the resident.
MH’s belief that large for-profits are financially, organizationally, and ethically superior to non-profits is fallacious. He saw the aging population as a way to offer up LTC services for others to make money from the residents and the taxpayers. And was duly rewarded with a Board of Director’s chair and income.
You raise an important point, that is the desire to remain in one’s home for as long as possible. To do that, a robust Home Care system must be in place and supported – the for-profits have control in this area as well, directly related to the Mike Harris legislation that required the for-profits have a foot in the tax-payer money door, side lining non-profit providers (e.g. Victorian Order of Nurses, Red Cross). During the pandemic, these for-profits have been able to deliver dividends to their investors -at what cost to the care of citizens in their home?
I think the reason the effects of this MH initiative has flown under the journalistic radar is that the performance of for-profit LTC homes has had such catastrophic outcomes – requiring front and centre investigation.
Hope this helps, Mr. Vowels.
I do not know very much about LTC and just hope I never wind up having to find out what it’s like first hand. but one thing I do know and that is no matter what Govt. party is in power they will never give people anything that they have not or will in the future taken away from the public not one ever gives anything out of their own pockets. So if you want more social services then be prepared to pay more taxes.
Mr. Stanley, the changes started with Mike Harris Conservatives, I was present in LTC and Community Care to witness these in the 1990’s. We continue to see the same train, travelling in the same direction with the Ford Conservatives. They have continued to perpetuate their for-profit favourites. The current Bill removes much of any obligation to seek to use non-profit LTC solutions. The Ford Conservatives are rewarding the very poor performance of the large for-profit, failing to hold them accountable by first abandoning comprehensive inspections, then failing to apply the available legislated penalties for repeated infractions.
Don’t be misled by Phillips increase in financial penalties to be imposed on violations of large for-profits – they have to be applied in order to offer some kind of accountability for the travesty of care of our elderly residents and people with disabilities.
What I see is a continuation of the same ideology the Conservatives began – tying up the hands of legislators for the future – hence securing Ford the lucrative reward of sitting on another board of directors. He will really be in demand when leaving office – the developers will be thrilled for his participation.
As for voting, if electors care enough to encourage a change in the Province, consider not only the track record of any party, but their platform for change (e.g. more support for Community care and for non-profit management).
Anna-lise so i take that you are one the would advocate any one but DF. I guess that you forget what KW did to this province.
If you care about Long Term Care in Ontario, then pay close attention to the DF government’s Bill 37 as it “smooths the way for billions of dollars to be funneled to for-profit LTC for another entire generation”.
“Studies – one after another -show that for-profit LTC is worse than in publicly run facilities, across a range of outcomes. Owners siphon off revenue (from taxes and residents’ care; have fewer staff and lower pay compared with non-profits; and fail to deliver on standards of care.
So, yes, ownership matters. And ownership is the central issue of Bill 37.” (Toronto Star, January 4, 2022, p. A13, Olivieri, Hurley, Stamatopoulous & Mehra)
This is not a new ploy, just an extension of the Harris years – which, by the way earned him a lucrative position on for-profit board of directors of a large LTC company. Perhaps Ford is hoping for the same reward. Large for-profits cherry-pick that their performance during this pandemic could have been better if their facilities had more private rooms available. While that has merit for infection control purposes, it also provides them with Yet More Profit!
You can safely wager that Hugh Mackenzie and Conservative writers will not draw attention to this issue, their preferred focus will return to the Federal scene.
In 2022, please consider voting this party out of office for their ineptitude in COVID response (public health, education, long-term care, and protection of our health care system) and for the clawback of environmental protections. DF is development-friendly and places all his eggs in the for-profit basket for LTC — and hasn’t that been successful? We get more of MH in DF – no surprise there.
Thank you for reading.
In response to workers and pay. As long as Trudy is willing to give our tax dollars to people, why work when they get more than working. It is the devil if you do and the devil if you do not.
Just to answer Lesley Hastie. As long as the Trudope Govt keeps borrowing money to pay people to stay home and businesses keep having to shorten hours of operation because they are unable to hire staff there is something wrong and it’s not the wages. If it was just wages why are some people willing to work and even come all the way from Barrie to work. I have lived in Huntsville for over 50 years and have never seen as many help wanted signs as i have in the last year, The restaurants in town have been having a hard time getting staff up until now. Now with another shut down they will have to lay off the staff they have and very likely will not be able to get them back when this shutdown is lifted. I hear it now pay them more money do some people not realize that in order to pay more a business has to charge more for whatever they sell and if they try to charge to much then people just stop going there or stop buying what they are selling so soon the business has to close down, Another one gone more jobs lost but who cares the govt will pay me anyway. They can just borrow more money for our great grandchildren to pay back.
Letter to the editor
Scott Aitchison, our MP, has just voted against pandemic aid for workers and businesses as it would be “incentivizing people to stay at home”. By this he means, conversely, that keeping the poor poorer WOULD incentivize them to work. This is typical of Conservatives, who believe that LESS money will make poor people work harder but MORE money will make the rich work harder.
This is the premise of the supply side economics (Margaret Thatcher, Milton Friedman etc.) that Conservatives favour.
So how can we encourage people to return to work if workplaces are safe? The answer is to pay them MORE not less. We must ensure a decent living wage for everyone. (We have seen Doug Ford’s extreme reluctance to raise the minimum wage and it is still nowhere near a living wage). It is a decent living wage that would increase work force participation. It would also eliminate Canada’s shame of more and more of the working poor, and children, having to use food banks.
Regarding intersection of Hanes and Centre St.. I lived in Australia for a couple of years and roundabouts were many. Very few stop signs. Roundabouts work great and keep traffic moving. Putting lights in will compound traffic and frustrate people and we will find same problem as exists now – people running lights. Roundabouts will control problem..
If you are ready for a “rabbit hole” experience, read NP” Rex Murphy’s “A Trudeau puzzler from the CBC”.
Clearly Rex cannot find anything worthwhile to write about. I think he should consider doing stand-up comedy in 2022.
A little comment for John Stanley re the happy holiday salutation. First this holiday season would be around without Christmas or christians. This holiday has been celebrated as the festival of lights for milleniums (ie. your christmas tree lights.)by other religious groups. It was the Carholic church who introduced Jesus birth andintegrated the pagan festivities into Christianty to entice the pagans to follow their faith. A quick google search will give you a much better historical explanation of its history. As for me, I am an athiest and don’t believe in the biblical account of the virgin birth, but I do enjoy the pagentry, colors and traditions of the season. So from me you will get a happy holiday..
HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE
I was sure surprised this morning when i went up center street to see that they have cleared the whole area off . I wonder is that all just for the new Fairvern or is there more going to be built there, Allen Markle talks about all the older subdivisions but never mentioned Meadow Park or as we called it back when i first came to town the one behind the Tasty Cream. That was the first one I worked in but later worked on homes in all the rest plus a lot of cottages on most of the lakes around. All the building was a good thing for myself plus a lot of others in the industry. But I don’t think what was done back then can compare to the population explosion that has happened in the last couple of years. I don’t know if it’s going to slow down in the future but it seems that the town is not equipped to handle the extra traffic even now what will happen this summer scares me.
I was born and raised in Huntsville and knew most of the fields and farms that have been carved out of the bush by our ancestors. My family group (Fetterly, Hanes, Markle) settled a good portion of the land and did a lot of the chopping and clearing. It was different, I contend when they were clearing portions of 100 acres to support a family of five, ten or more.
There are subdivisions on most of those old holdings, which have been divided and subdivided a lot since the 1860’s; properties such as Bylock Acres, Maple Heights, Riverside and others. Orchard Park and part of the Canada Trail are along the Hunters Bay edge of my Great-grandfather’s farm.
I don’t deny the town is growing, it’s happening all around us, but that doesn’t mean I have to like the type of growth and structures in these developments, or the way they come into being.
These multi-story, Soviet style ‘blocs’ with their ‘pokey-hat’ dormers and ‘diving platform’ roofs over tiny decks are uninteresting to say the least. Somebody please hire an architect and design something that blends with the environment. It would be a task I admit and it might just cost too much.
Maybe most people are happy with the way the town is developing, but I’m not one of them. It may be said however, that most of the new residents will be spared having to rake any leaves come fall and there will be no grass to cut or driveway to clear. Loads of time for pickleball!
But I’ll mow, rake and shovel for as long as I’m able.
When I used to walk to town with my grandfather, everybody he wanted to visit lived up a hill! When I asked why that was, he replied “You can’t farm a hill, Buck.” So the hill was where the houses where and the fields lay all around. Made sense.
I wonder what he would think now that we have used up the fields, are razing the trees and beginning to blow the hills away.
I have to agree with Ray Vowels. Clearing land is a necessary evil if one is to progress in an area.
It started with our ancestors, here in Huntsville, over one hundred years ago. They came north to make a home and a living. They had to clear the land, close to a water source was best, to build a home. The land in this area proved not good enough for farming, too much rock. Mind you some brave souls did try it and were able to scrape out a living. For others the best way to make money was trapping or lumber.
Because our ancestors chose such a beautiful area to settle, the main businesses are now connected to tourism. Fortunately or unfortunately, however you are looking at it, this has brought more and more people into what we believe to be the most beautiful place anywhere there is to live. This of course means more homes etc. And so, on it goes.
Selective logging would be the best way to go but I realize that is not always feasible.
In order to keep things uncluttered and beautiful the planning board and others must really be on their toes.
I wish you good planning and good luck.
Can anyone tell me why so many people only say Happy Holidays instead of Merry x-mas because as we all know it was the birth of Christ that gives us the holiday. Without that marvelous birth there would be no holiday.
Stripping the area of vegetation (trees) is NEVER a good thing. The area looks barren.
But hay, what do I know; I’m not a builder (sarcasm).
Hi Robert,
It’s an initiative of the Bracebridge, Gravenhurst and Muskoka Lakes Chambers of Commerce and represents businesses in their catchment areas.
To Allen Markle I am not a born and raised huntsville person but have lived here since 1966. So have seen a lot of changes some good some not so good. Also being in the building industry a lot of the changes meant that I could feed my family and enjoy living in a small town. It is unfortunate that to keep a town prosperous it has to grow and growing means clearing land to build on especially in the north here there are only so many old farms around and most are built up along with most if not all the wetlands around town so that leaves the few small patches of bush but in order to build that has to be cleared. My wife and i hate seeing what is going on but at the same time we realize it has to happen by the way she was born and raised right here in this great town and yearns for it to return to yester years when it was a small town but knows it can’t happen. We spent ten years in Burlington and saw it explode from a small town to a city almost over night and see a repeat here but are now to old to move farther north.
George Hines and Huntsville: Too cursory a glance at that posted little map. Mia culpa.
I still find the clearing sad and my general comment applicable. But, now that my error has been pointed out, I am further depressed to realize there will be further devastation visited upon, what in my opinion, was a beautiful town.
I guess I am of a time and age, and appreciate having windows on all the sides of my home, many of which do not look at another patch of siding. And a swath of grass large enough to support a bunny.
Maybe one day that will have to change.
Merry Christmas or the best of this season to all.
Why is Huntsville completely ignored in the Found it in Muskoka promotion?
Allen, Is this where Fairvern is going? I thought it was going closer to West rd.with the entrance off of Centre St. Has any one seen a plan showing the new Fairvern location? If so can they post it on Doppler. Tks
The Sept. 20 announcement of the new Fairvern site drew this comment from Dr. Don Keedic. “Wow, this took me by surprise!” He also remarked that HLD would get the bulk of the contract. The wow! part I believe was sarcasm, but the rest was not.
The donated land has been variously reported, in Sept. as a 5 acre, serviced lot , then on Nov. 23, as being 7.3 acres. The site is presently being ‘prepared’ and HLD vehicles abound.
District announced it will assume ownership of the nursing home and stated an “intent to keep as much of the vegetation on the property as possible.”
Say What!! Have you looked past the hem of trees on the roadside?
This looks like a large example of ‘male pattern baldness’. Just a fringe; nothing on the top. Although I did notice a few small maples, huddled together for warmth or companionship, toward the middle of the site. Possibly left as a resting place for any small birds attempting to cross these barrens. The Somme may have looked like this, but with shell craters.
I realize it’s easier to clear it all away, and when it’s done, I’m sure it will be an asset for the community; but I wonder why projects such as this can’t be done in the open. All of it! What other attachments will come to light as this project develops further?
Why, after dealing with land developers, politicians and bureaucrats does one feel “back stabbed, door slammed and dog bit.”
I remember this comment made by the character Mordecai Jones (George C. Scott) in the movie ‘ The FlimFlam Man’.
Flim-flam, as I understand it, is nonsensical or insincere talk.
Ain’t that just appropriate?
I agree with Lanor Lovegrove why spend money on something that works fine Most if not all are used to four way stops and have no problem. My opinion is if you need something then stop lights are the best option.
I must ask an obvious question, “why can’t the four way stop at Hanes and Centre stay the way it is, a four way stop?” Why are we trying to fix something that isn’t broken? I go through there often since center st. has taken over for main st.. Plus this was during the busiest time of the year while having more people than usual here due to those not going far from home for vacations. I have never found it slow, confusing or threatening in any way. Why are we even talking about spending money when it isn’t, yet, necessary.
Ryan: the yield signs are for most not all stop signs. they are for climate change, cars take a lot more energy (gas, electric, etc) to roll after a full stop than a rolling yield. lots of times people come to a sign and no other cars around except for the cop hiding in the bush to give you a ticket if you do not come to a complete stop. ha ha
Hey John,
Yield signs are a terrible idea, a traffic circle is by far the best option for almost all intersections. I grew up with some of the first traffic circles in Canada (Ancaster) and it vastly improved traffic flow. Just look at the traffic circle on Taylor Drive in Bracebridge at Ceder drive, it works wonderfully.
The current four way stop is a disaster, as people rush to jump the correct order. A set of yield signs would result in many collisions, I wouldn’t dare approach without my dash cam (which I refuse to drive without full time recording now already) as it can save you the headache of being deemed at fault.
Does anyone know the story behind the tree cutting that has left a disgusting mess on the property east of the “Panalam” factory on Aspdin Road
Assuming there was a permit for this is there not an onus on the property owner to leave the site in a clean and safe state
Hi. My name is Marie, & I’m trying to locate my Cousin’s sister who is from Huntsville. Her name is Georgette Kilpatrick, & she would be about 43 years old now, & has a daughter, Hailey Wolfe, who would now be in her early 20s in age. My Paternal 1st Cousin, William Kilpatrick, is Georgette’s older half-brother, & he lives in Iroquois Falls, where I too, live. It is our home area.
If you or anyone you know are either, related to my cousin, William, through surnames such as: Kilpatrick, Guthrie, Hill, Crawford, Loshaw, Shirk, Bye, amongst many other surnames; you can contact us at my personal email address: [email protected] & I will be happy to forward all communication to him.
You can also contact us on Ancestry.Com, as we are on there as well, & have multiple trees on there as well. All of which I manage on behalf of William, his mother, Ruth, myself & both of my parents as well. All of whom have done the Ancestry.Com DNA test.
Our trees are called:
1.) Ruth’s Johansen Sparling Family Tree (Ruth N.J. Sparling)
2.) William’s Sparling Guthrie Family Tree (William E. G. Kilpatrick)
3.) Georges Johansen Millen Family Tree (George E.C. Sparling)
4.) Dales Denault Gelinas Family Tree (Dale S. M. Sparling)
5.) Marie’s Denault Millen Family Tree (Marie Ann Sparling)
6.) Dales Denault Peever Millen Family Tree (Ruth N. J. Sparling)
I manage all 6 Trees & all 5 Accounts he too, & all are linked to DNA Tests except for Tree #6. The names in brackets represent who’s name the account is in, which also matches that of both the Home Person on the Tree, as well as who’s DNA test it’s linked to also.
I’m a huge genealogy buff, & if anyone is interested in contacting me re anything outside of my search for Will’s sister, Georgette; please do so. I am always happy to help out in any way that I can.
Please let me know if you know the whereabouts of his sister or niece.
Thank you very much for your time, consideration, & help. It’s greatly appreciated by us all.
Sincerely,
Marie Sparling
(Iroquois Falls, Ontario, Canada)
Just wanted to say thank you to Catherine and her staff for being there for all of us, in her shop…book lovers will be sad as many of us are not interested in on line shopping…I realize there are options but none will compare with the warmth and expertise in this shop.
Many good wishes as you move on…will be a sad day indeed for Huntsville.
With many warm memories, Catherine.
Diana McCormick
i still think yield signs is a better allturnitive for the hanes and centre roads intersection
Allen, because of the canadian (and many others) news cycle that disaster has long been forgotten. shame.
How was it determined that anything other than stop signs were needed at the Hanes Rd / Centre St intersection? Frankly, I think the traffic moves quite well using the four-way stop system and installing any other option will only lead to additional congestion.
I cannot blame youthful exuberance for my error, but I hope to find something.
The blast and immediate death toll in Bhopal was listed at 2,259 persons. Compensation was paid to 3,787 family members.. An estimated 8,000 died within 2 weeks and a further 8,000 to 15,000 since then. The contamination is now found in the groundwater, soil and plants and is still sickening people today. In the subsequent 37 years, an estimated 600,000 have been made ill by the isocyanate.
I am just adding my two cents worth regarding the intersection @ Hanes Road and Centre Street! I would advocate for a roundabout! The Bracebridge one seems to work well and allows for a constant flow of traffic! The cost would be greater than traffic lights installation but would pay dividends (environmentally) by not having idling cars needlessly spewing exhaust while waiting for the lights to change!
I do not believe that we will stop using fossil fuels in my lifetime, or even the near future. But my contention is that we never know the true costs of what we do and corporations count on our not holding them to account.
The bay at Hamilton is an excellent example of pollution that will likely never be cleaned up. It would be too expensive. And a rather poor reason for us to pollute somewhere else. A clean up was never factored into the price of the steel. Sydney harbor will never be restored, nor any other Canadian port for that matter.
The Cuyahoga river is noted for having caught fire in the past, the pollutants coming to the surface and igniting. I think there are few of us would take a dip there, even today.
The toxins are still spreading from the Bhopal tragedy. About 600,000 people died, but Union Carbide still makes a profit after paying about $500,000,000.00 in compensation. Bhopal will never be cleaned up.
You can compile quite a list of disasters mankind has visited upon itself; Three Mile Island, Love Canal, Exxon Valdez, the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico, garbage floating in the Pacific, Chernobyl, the Sukinda Valley in India and lots more.
The production never includes the cost of cleaning up the contamination, because there is never any intention of cleaning it up.
Doing this in our own country in the hope of making money is the quandary we seem to face. I would rather we spent our money on researching and manufacturing products and technologies to deal with the clean-up rather than the production of massive pollution. Like the tar-sands.
Instead we offer cash incentives for multi-nationals to come and ruin the land. Now, Reuters reports “Top-emitting oil sands site gets government relief from pollution payments.”
Otherwise, I guess there would be no profit in producing that ‘oil’.
Apparently there will be no requirement to clean up the oil sand, we will just let it flow to the ocean.
Sad.
Well Allen Markle While I agree with you these ponds should not be released I disagree that we can no longer get along without Plastic. If we turned the clock back and started to make everything out of steel or glass like it was years ago. I think you would find the iron ore mines would pollute just about as bad as the oil sands and then you have the smelters. If you lived around Hamilton when both smelters were running you would know how bad the air was along with the water in the bay. Not only that but most of the cars made today are plastic if they went back to steel then they need more power so that means bigger motors. I sure don’t know the answer to this problem and it seems no one else has it either not yet anyway. But I just can’t see shutting down our oil industry as helping much. We just have to buy it from some other country but it’s ok for them to pollute their country just not us.
Just read the Dec. 6 report by Kyle Bakx in the CBC Business report. The government hopes to have the standards and regulations in place by which companies in the oil sands will be able to begin releasing their tailing ponds.
Those ponds contain millions of cubic meters of contaminated, saline and toxic waste water, water too dirty to even be of use to the companies that made it. Supposedly, those companies want to be able to restore and clean the land beneath the ponds! They can’t even clean the water; it would be too expensive. Ironically, we still subsidize billion dollar corporations to come and defile our country.
Now these companies want to be allowed to release the waste water into the Athabaska River. Toxic waste will flow into Lake Athabaska, to Great Slave Lake, the Mackenzie River and on to the Beaufort Sea. It won’t happen all at once, but over the years it will surely contaminate everything as it goes. And boiling won’t help; at present nothing will help.
Today, the tailing ponds are fenced and posted, to prevent wildlife from being destroyed by the toxic broth (remember the ducks? still happening! just not newsworthy any more).
People say that too much in our homes depends on oil (plastics); there was a time it wasn’t. You can’t convince me that we need to destroy our land, lakes and rivers, to be able to sell one of the world’s dirtiest oils at reduced prices.
In the end, these multinationals will divest themselves of the tars-ands and move to the next ‘bright and shiny object’. Without even so much as a “Sorry ’bout the mess. But that’s the oil business.”
John, I apologize for my ambiguity. My disappointment is 100% with the general populace, which seems unable to follow simple rules and guidelines and do what is best for the good of the many, even if it does require some short-term personal sacrifice. There was no need for things to have gone on this long. I actually sympathize with the governments and authorities who have had to deal with this situation, and I applaud their efforts to even try to herd all these selfish cats.
i am sorry Em but this whole societal thing is going to go on for years more. it is called control..
wow??? i am supprised that no one picked up on my idea of yield signs. the cost to the enviroment to start a car from dead stop, is a lot more that from a rolling yield. the cost of the round about would be a lot more that the signs, or the stop lights. Oh well some folk do have set ways.
So disheartening to see the COVID numbers going crazy again. Why so many weren’t willing to endure sustained personal sacrifice short-term in order to achieve societal gains and prosperity long-term is beyond me. This roller-coaster ride we are on seems to have an endless loop of track, as we keep going back and forth with the degree of pandemic restrictions in an attempt to continually placate the selfish.
It seems to me that stop lights are much safer and cheaper to install than a roundabout. I think maybe the roundabouts work if you know where you are going but if you’re new in town like so many people are in the summer they are an accident waiting to happen. I hope they stay with lights.
Steve, Round abouts , great idea. Cities like Kitchener/Waterloo have used these extensively in there new infrastructure and they work extremely well. So does the one in Bracebridge.
There appears to be more entrances coming to Centre Street and Hanes Rd so something will need to be done.
Yes. Yes yes. Has the town missed an another opportunity to be forward thinking. A round about at Hanes and Center street. Makes great sense. Of course we can navigate it – Bracebridge did !
Perhaps we could eliminate cutting another entrance on to Center Street as it would be a short trip to a round about to move traffic south
Thanks Steve for bringing this up
Round abouts are very expensive to construct. The simple solution is to make most stop signs into yield signs. I am sure the yield signs would be a lot cheaper than 1 set of stop lights.
With friends like Rex Murphy, who needs enemies? His latest article, notes …” our earth is not in danger, democracy is”. Without an earth, a planet for humankind, there is no need for democracy. Not really certain that RM is on the same planet on which I’m residing. May I suggest a referral for some special care or at least a reality intervention?
Once again, “freedom over any/all consequences” – a similar perspective to the DF ethos for COVID management.
I just heard a rumour that traffic lights are going to be installed at the Hanes Rd./Centre St. intersection this spring. If this is indeed the case, then it is so unfortunate because if ever there was an intersection in this town that was crying out to be turned into a roundabout, this is the one.
While I apologize for not being a hard core environmentalist, I do cringe whenever I am at that intersection and see vehicles stopping and then accelerating through it, noxious fumes billowing out of their tailpipes. I think most of us are aware of how much more gasoline it takes to proceed from a dead stop as opposed to a rolling one. While it wouldn’t save the world, rolling through a roundabout would be one small step towards less air pollution.
Sometimes I feel that politicians underestimate the intelligence of the electorate and while I will admit that often their opinion of us is justified, I think that we locals are becoming cosmopolitan enough to navigate this formerly exotic European style of traffic movement. Non?
Great news about the new Fairvern Nursing Home.
With the Town wanting to limit tree cutting in the Rural areas how much clear cutting will be done on this property?
From my understanding there will be an extensive road system all the way from Centre Street to Shay Rd. Could someone actually show us what the plans are ?
Is the road being built to accommodate future development on adjacent properties?
Whatever happens let’s keep Clear Cutting to a bare minimum.
does anyone know what caused the Flash/Bang late Sunday night?
There seems to be a hush over the land. No one here on Doppler, is posting the latest figures they have worked out to manage the world’s financing of climate change. Maybe they have just witnessed the most recent convulsion of ineptitude performed in Europe. Every ‘have’ nation telling the smaller, ‘in trouble’ nations to hold their breath as the water rises. “We will get to you eventually.” Maybe!
There seems to be no one worrying as to how the situation at home would be, politically’, if DF or JK had their way, or if JT and SH met in the ring. ( on payperview, that would sell out. In Canada anyway.)
Or did the American border open and everyone just blew Dodge? Everything is on hold for 6 months?
Meanwhile, back on the hill, the house will be reconvened (or whatever they call it) after an election that was supposedly necessary so the government could deal with a lot of important legislation.
Apparently not that important, ’cause nothing has happened for 2 months. Parliament will now sit for 13 days and then call a halt for another 44 days. That means if the parliament had just continued for 2 more weeks in August, we could have dispensed with an election and the expenditure of 600 million dollars!
Don’t even try to tell me this leader of ours is working for our benefit.
On Nov. 23 the Gov. Gen. will read the speech ‘from the throne’; something she did not write, outlining what the PM and his government want to accomplish. It wasn’t written by the PM either. A bunch of bureaucrats and advisors that form the PMO have it put it together. I guess that’s the way our democracy works. Too bad.
I will add here, that for the next 4 years, Canada will operate as an elected dictatorship; or at least until the time comes that someone decides to stop propping this government up.
Proportional representation would allow a greater percentage of the population to have a voice in government and reduce the ‘party politics’ that has made our democracy ineffectual.
Do I hear an amen?
Talent will out. Cheers Mr. Vowels. Stay safe.
Allen Markle I could not have said it better and I’m still laughing.
You are a very understanding person Dawn Huddlestone and your math skills are ‘Mahvelous! Simply mahvelous’. A la Billy Crystal.
Stay well all.
It’s the same pool of people. You can’t have a second dose unless you’ve had a first. The second doses are all people who have also had a first dose.
I just read on Doppler here that 85.2 % of the people have had at least one shot while 82 % have had both shots that adds up to 165.2% of the people how can there be more than 100% of anything am I missing something
Ray and LaNor, I’m glad we are talking about the issues. I don’t want to hog Speak UP, so I will answer three of your questions:
1. Aviation: we burn fossil fuels when we travel on air planes, and this contributes to global warming. One way to help cut emissions is to reduce air travel, but if people don’t limit themselves, I think stricter rules and higher prices are necessary.
2. Batteries: current EVs use a variety of lithium ion technologies, and they continue to improve (e.g. smaller, lighter, more powerful). If they are no longer able to power a car, they can be repurposed as battery backup systems. The best news is that EV batteries can be recycled (95%) into new ones!
3. Cost: we have been burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas, natural gas) as our primary source of energy for over 100 years, and with this energy we changed the world. Most of us didn’t realize what we were doing was harmful, but now we know: climate change is our fault.
If we want to leave our grandchildren a liveable planet we have to make some serious changes. We have eight years to cut our emissions in half. Let’s get started.
I would like to reply to Oliver Klimek. All of everything you say can be done if there is enough money around to make it happen. The one thing I don’t see you saying is anything about the most polluting things on this planet and that is aircraft of any kind. Have you ever watched the jets taking off from pearson there is more pollutants from one of them than my car emits in a year and once they are up they still pollute and it’s already up in the atmosphere. When they were all grounded after 9/11 the astronomers reported seeing stars they had never seen before and they were only grounded three days imagine if they were grounded permanently. I’m old enough that I will never see most of the stuff your talking about being implemented But I hope for my Grandchildren’s health you are right.
Gentlemen,
I have some questions maybe one of you could answer.
1. The rockets that are flying through and beyond our atmosphere, what are they using for fuel. We should know because what we see now is just the beginning.
2. Batteries, also a rapidly increasing product. What happens to them when their time is up. What will they contain…. I’ve heard lithium might be used, which I understand has been banned in some places because it can be toxic……and how will it be disposed of?
3. What power source will be used to charge these many billions of batteries on a daily basis.
4. How do they safely get rid of nuclear waste.
5. Solar power seems like a good idea. Only, am I correct in thinking they will have to find a different way to capture the amount of power that will be required for use by the average person and businesses around the world?
6. A huge question is …..cost. Wouldn’t over half the world be unable to
afford these changes?
7. This question is just out of curiosity. If I can point my cars remote control at my car and send the message through a cement block wall for it to start, I assume that all the messages of all the remote controls around the world…. Satellite messages to earth, plus… are traveling through my physical body and yours and our atmosphere. Could this also be making us and our beautiful earth sick?
I won’t be around to see any of these changes but I have grandchildren and great grandchildren who will. So I would like a little knowledge of what might be.
Sadly, I’m not very encouraged. I recall David Suzuki and several other environmentalists saying, THIRTY OR MORE years ago that if we didn’t change things now, it would be too late. I just pray we don’t create more problems than we correct.
Thanks for letting me ramble on.
Ok our family is trying to do as much as we can with the limited technology we can afford. Simple things like , sounds silly but use only 1 pound of hamburger in a pot of chili and bulk it up with beans, I use kidney, black, white and chicken Peas and no one notices a difference. We have a hybrid car and if the next door neighbours tree dies at some point we can have solar panels, we are looking currently for someone who wants to buy a black walnut tree, due to the fact it will cost alot to take it down its very large. Promise we will replace it with a more viable option. But we had to buy a gas furnace and we bought the most energy effient one we could, also a new not water heater. We would have gone with geothermal but like I said huge tree tons of huge roots. Also we are doing other little things like reinsulating. Basically what we can. The government needs to offer more rebates and incentives that would help getting people more inline with helping.
Bob, I agree that we need to consider the economic costs of our transition from fossil fuels. You mention Federal and Provincial revenues from fossil fuels. Can you be more specific about your concern?
Thank you Ray and Bob. You both identify some important issues. I would be happy to address all of your concerns, but let me begin with Ray.
1. Electric Vehicles: Passenger EVs are already here. Rivian, Ford, Tesla and others are now producing electric pick up trucks. Amazon is converting its entire delivery fleet to electric vans. Lion makes electric school buses. Volta makes electric transport trucks. All current modes of transport can be electrified, it’s only a matter of time.
2. Heat pumps: Air source heat pumps now work to -30C (e.g. Mitsubishi H2i). An air tight home with adequate insulation will be comfortable in any Muskoka conditions. If additional heat is required, radiant electric heat can be used as a backup.
3. I suggested that people consider eating less meat as a way to decrease GHG emissions. I didn’t suggest we stop people from eating meat. People must choose.
4. Plastics: We currently use oil to make plastic, and some plastics are very helpful, but we can reduce our dependence on oil by limiting packaging and single use plastics.
Let’s stop burning fossil fuels in our cars and our homes (as soon as we can). We need to cut our emissions in half in 8 years. It can be done and it must be done.
Oliver Klimek has some good ideas but I’m not sure how they could work. First we could drive EV cars but just how EV trucks would work. The big 18 wheelers run 24/7 and could not take the time to recharge and how about in winter in a bad snow storm when they run around the clock to keep us as safe as possible. I don’t know much about heat pumps but unless they have improved a lot they could not heat a home all winter spring and fall yes but at what cost, I just installed a new energy efficient propane furnace and water heater three years ago do i just throw them out. About eating less meat not sure you can ever get most people to go along with that. We have been meat eaters for to many generations to stop now. Even if we did all these things as soon as possible we would still need gas and oil just think of all the farm machinery plus all the other machines in manufacturing they all need to be greased and i would think EV cars would need some grease to keep running. And what about plastic just take a good look around your home and think if I got rid of everything in my house that is made of plastic just what would i have left my bet is not much. Most if not all your plumbing pipes are plastic now just for starters, I guess what I’m saying is we have to stop and think of a better solution than just saying stop all oil production with no alternative to go to.
Amazing how everyone wants to go green and eliminate fossil fuels! .. BUT ,, has anyone ever thought about .. how the fed and prov governments right across Canada are going to recover all the revenue $$$ that comes from fossil fuels? ie propane, natural gas, fuel .. both diesel and gasoline,.. etc etc. Time for a reality check and assessment of impact and consequences to EVERYONE in the country of eliminating fossil fuels. SJW’s and climate enthusiasts need to understand we all don’t ALL live in golden horseshoe and need these fuels to survive in our lifestyles north of the GTA!
LaNor, you’ve made some good suggestions but to cut our use of fossil fuels in half by 2030, Canadians must make significant changes in 3 important areas of life: transportation, buildings and food.
1. Transportation: go EV (as soon as you can).
2. Buildings: replace natural gas/wood heating with electric heat pumps (as soon as you can).
3. Food: eat less meat and eat seasonal, local food (as far as this is possible).
People who have the means should change now.
People who have less should receive support to make the necessary change.
All of this is possible; let’s start today!
Hi Oliver,
For your first sentence to come to fruition, it would have to be ALL the governments and ALL the people of the world to cooperate. A miracle in my mind. But who knows, maybe someday.
To try to contribute to better tomorrows I would suggest the average person, such as myself, revert back to what used to be as much as possible. Walk or ride your bike rather than drive your car every time you go anywhere. Cut down on how often you jump in that hot shower. Twice a week is considered healthier than once a day. Only one laundry day a week. Air dry instead of the dryer. Eliminate disposable diapers, disposable anything if possible. Have the governments stop the manufacturing of all plastics. I know I’m asking for a miracle but, as I said before, who knows. Take vacations that don’t require planes, ships or any fuel burning vehicles for long distances. Remember how quickly our air was becoming much cleaner during the Covid shutdowns. By the way, I’m wondering what kind of fuel is used to send the rockets into the atmosphere and beyond? Now that private people can send their own rocket up, there should be many more to come. Sort of like the first airplane. We know how far we have come in the last 100 yrs. What lies ahead for the next 50 yrs.? We have more knowledge but do we have more wisdom? Hmmmm.
That’s just my humble opinion.
Hi LaNor! Your logic is sound and your comments are welcome.
If governments and people cooperate, the transition from fossil fuels to renewable electricity is an achievable goal. Have you started to plan how you will reduce your emissions? If you want some tips, I would be happy to share some!
Oliver,
I just hope IF our fossil fuels use will be cut in half in 8 yrs., that a replacement energy source such as solar, wind, etc. will be on the go so that as the other is faded out the new one can be there to take its place. Of course all of us will also have to be ready to receive the new power sources. New heating systems for our homes, all new reception for the replacement of electricity. New cars, electric or whatever. If they and we aren’t ready can you imagine the cost of oil, gas and electricity when there is only 50% of the usual amount available?
I am not a scientist or an “in the know person” on these subjects. I feel that what I have just said is based on good, old fasion logic.
Our Prime Minister is currently in Glasgow, Scotland at a UN climate conference called COP26. He and other world leaders are there to negotiate ways to reduce global warming and limit climate change. The science and the goal is clear: we must reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 to keep global temperature rise to 1.5C.
That means we have 8 years to cut our use of fossil fuels in half. That will be hard to do, but we CAN do it!
By – Laws are becoming a joke . If a Town can not enforce a By- Law , it should not exist. The function of our Town is more and more run by By-Laws with no control . The list of all this is getting bigger and bigger.
For example : Handicapt parking , Standing water, Tree removal, Dumped cars, ( just take a trip south on Bayle Road, ) . There are at least three places of visual dumps for cars, trucks and Machinery, not counting the stuff hidden in the bushes .
If our Town wants to clean up , get on with the current By-Laws in place .
Regarding your recent article on the removal of District trash bins from the community, this is a local catastrophe in the making. Waste disposal for rural properties and properties on private roads (often farm right-of-ways) adjacent to municipally maintained roads (where the trash bins are located), is a critical service. These owners pay substantial property taxes and receive virtually no service in return…no sewer hook-up; no curbside waste pick-up; no infrastructure/beautification investments. The trash bins and maintenance of the public roads are just about all that these residents receive, and in the absence of trash bins, garbage will most likely end up on a private forested lot somewhere as has happened in the past. For a District that cares about the environment, removal of the trash bins versus considering alternatives that allow for continued local storage and removal of waste is definitely a move in the wrong direction. How about lockable bins with key card access for locals or smart bins that accept only acceptable waste. Until the District figures out something better than simply removing trash bins and expecting residents to travel up to 40 minutes to centralized waste disposal sites (if so inclined), I encourage District and Town elected and employed representatives to halt further removal of trash bins. Please?
Earning Public Trust- a valuable asset for Huntsville business. Following public health and government mandates to protect the public makes good business sense. For example, if a Huntsville restaurant does not follow public health advice and government mandates for protocols, restricting numbers of patrons, checking vaccination status of guests, etc., then why should I trust that restaurant will also follow public health requirements for food safety preparation? It is a no-brainer, I won’t.
Allow me to praise the Family Place restaurant, which has earned my public trust in all they have tried to do during COVID to follow public health and government mandates to protect the public. Thank you!
What I am grateful for: that the constitution may actually stop Jason Kenney and his nonsense!
The National Post headline recently about Canada not working is laughable. Can you imagine it working as a republic, cue the USA, where it is not so impossible to imagine another civil uprising?
It takes work to foster and grow this diverse Country, with its beautiful but varied geography and its both good/troubling history.
The east-west concerns have been going on for hundreds of years -it takes work. Federalism takes work, this is nothing new. There will always be divisive issues to sort through. Perhaps JK’s recent salvos over the bow of the ship are meant to distract from his and his party’s very sad, very inadequate response to Covid pandemic for the people of Alberta. Perhaps. Thanks for reading.
Why is the town not responsible for their workers when they miss checking the building code?And why does the home owner has to pay for the repair? The town is paid for the inspection when are building permit is bought and is expected to be do a good job not just sigh off the work
So if I read this right the town is going to tell me I can’t clear my lot to build or cut some shade trees down that I want sun .I pay dam good taxes on lot and I should be able to cut trees but not clear cut like the town allowed them to to going up to lions lookout.
Heads Up Rural Huntsville this new Community Planning Permit By-Law that the Town of Huntsville is preparing includes a new Tree Removal, vegetation removal and Site Alteration by-law requiring a permit on property over 0.5 hectares that is located in the New Natural Constraints precincts (no longer zones).
I urge you to look over this, join in on their meeting October 27, 2021 at 6pm, ask questions, listen and voice your opinions to them. This could become a Tree Cutting by-law that will affect almost every landowner in Huntsville if passed.
Christmas is coming and Huntsville is looking forward to a display of decorated homes to welcome in the season for Old St. Nick and his crew. What fun and good cheer that will bring.
I hear the pioneer village will be wonderfully lit up come November.
I would like to suggest we light up the rest of Huntsville. After Santa and his helpers have gone back to the workshop, we all leave our lights on until the end of February or March.They do look delightful and will bring such joy. A much needed bright touch to our hearts during the dark, cold, winter months that lay ahead.
Question: Does anyone in Huntsville provide weekend international press/newspapers … looking for a supplier of Weekend Financial Times (of London) US edition (pink paper) published every Saturday? Please advise. Thanks.
November 11 is fast approaching and that is the day that we remember those brave Canadians that gave there lives in many conflicts and wars around the globe. Traditionally, on the 11th, Canadian flags are flown at half mast in recognition of their sacrifice and, on the 12th the flags are saluted and raised again. So what is going to happen this year? Our flags are continually at half mast due to our Teflon coated Prime Minister who shuffled off his responsibility to the First Nations as to when they considered the flags should be raised. Do we drop the flags to the bottom of the masts now? What should have happened is the flags should have been lowered to mark the Truth and Reconciliation Day and then raised to full mast the next day. We know how much he thought of that day as he disappeared on vacation. To hell with this ridiculous situation Huntsville, please raise all our proud Canadian flags to full mast tomorrow so we can give the proper honors to November 11th, then after Remembrance Day raise our flags again and leave then there.
John MacDonald. I grew up on Brunel Rd. Back in the day, there was little traffic and no Iron Man. Although I think this is a great event for the town, I also firmly believe, that aggravating the same portion of the population, year after year is a bit much. Like knowing you are going to have a toothache; the date is posted and you can’t escape. It’s annual and inevitable. Damn!
We had moved before the Iron Man started, but I know it would not have set well with me.
I did take the time once to go and see the intended course routes, talk to some of the old neighbors and exchange some opinions. There was no flexibility displayed in the layout as presented and it seemed that concerns voiced were dismissed as an inconvenience and the exercise altered nothing.
If Huntsville is such a great site, and it seems to be, why does it seem the Trisport organization is so averse to any move from Brunel Rd?
Could they not lay out a few different routes, alter them annually, and refrain from agitating the same people year after year?
There must be someone capable of doing that. I hope.
DF is flapping his divisive rhetoric again. Watch and learn from DF’s populism, division, as he and his party decide who we should distain, and how we should categorize people, immigrants. One would think he was coaching his high school football team to puff them up for a good play on the field.
He sees himself as someone who knows how to work, and dislikes those who in his view, do not measure up to the task. (guess what, my father too was an immigrant and worked hard, glad to become a Canadian citizen, and appreciative of all he had).
Just remember, DF is limited and predictable in his rhetoric. If during this next provincial election, you find yourself becoming extra angry from one of his speeches/commercials – take a breath, he has studied with the GOP in the US to use populism to best advantage. (I hope never again to hear phrases such as “lock her up” or “the elites” or “buck-a-beer”).
Populism is emotional abuse of the electorate, antecedent to civil war when it goes too far- just look south.
Don’t be taken in by his anger – his anger does not have to become yours, he wants his team players “riled up”.
Thank you for reading.
Rod I just told you what option I had not what you should do. I don’t know who your builder was but thats the one that should be paying . I know there are a few shoddy builders around like there always has been. I have been out of the business for over thirty years so don’t know any of them now. I would be sure to not give whoever it was a good review .
To Ray Vowels so you are saying just fix your own problems even if the town has signed it was ok. The town signed off on our place but we found out not enough insulation it was to be r50 but we only got r32 but the town signed off that it was ok It cost us 12,500 dollars and you say sue the town which cost more money.So if the town won’t pay for their mistakes WHY do we need building inspectors save money get rid of them they aren’t doing their job anyway
To Rod Jones I’m not sure I bought a new home a few years ago and about a year after I moved in I found out that the in floor heating system was not up to code. I went after the builder who would not do anything so I went to the town building department they admitted that they missed it but about the only course of action I could take was to sue the town. What I ended up doing was install a circulater on the system that brought it up to code cost me $3500.00 but was cheaper than suing the town, I’m not sure just how bad your problem is or what the cost would be to fix it. If it’s a new build you could try the outfit that warrants all new buildings can’t think of the name off hand they would do nothing for me they said it had to be structural or a health hazard but might be worth a try. Sorry I’m not much help I do feel for you and know what your up against.
Ok Ray Vowels so what happens if he inspector sign off on a house but latter found out it wasn’t brought up to code? Then what happens who pays to bring it to code the town as the inspector works for the town or the poor home owner who trusted the town,is he stuck?
Years ago the building inspectors did not do much but take a close look and if everything looked fine that was it . I think now the inspectors take a lot closer look to make sure the structure is built to code and if not they can and sometime do issue a stop work order. I think they are a lot better trained now and have to know the building code or they wont get a job with any town or twp. that I know of. Every once in awhile they can maybe miss something but that is part of being human.
Can someone tell me what the building inspector do,do they check the building from top to bottom or take the word of the builder? If takes the case we don’t need them.
Ray Vowels wants some answers:
People with symptoms are tested irrespective of their vaccination status because 20-30% of the positive tests occur in fully vaccinated people. This is important for the person and the community to know since they may need to take precautions and contact tracing may be important.
The information concerning vaccination status and hospitalizations are posted daily on many sites: I check the 680 News and CP24 apps daily.
Howard Bargman MD
I wonder just where all this talk about getting vaccinated is going to end up in a few more months or years. The latest report of test cases in Ont show around 37000 tests and out of that 573 tested positive with 58% being unvaccinated or there status being unknown. 33% were fully vaccinated that number is up in the last week from 23% so what will it be in a couple more weeks. What I wonder about is two things why are they even testing people who have been double vaccinated for one and why are they not reporting how many of the double vaccinated people testing positive are winding up in hospital or maybe ICU these are the figures I would like to see.
Looking up main street from the bridge it looks like No Parking on main street at all, if this is so, I, and I would think a number of other seniors, will not be shopping downtown, my walking ability is limited and with no place to park close to the stores it would be impossible to even think of trying to shop there, and I would think there are a large number here in town with the same problem.
Others have made the comment that Huntsville will become a beautiful ghost town.
I’ve noticed in he last month or so a couple of big half ton trucks that seem to think its quite amusing to blow their black toxic exhuast onto the streets of Huntsville. Its annoying, ugly and stupid. I had the privlegeof driving through one of their clouds and didn’t get my windows up in time. Damn near choked. I felt sorry for the cyclist and pedestrians in the area who had go through this cloud of toxic fumes. COMMON BOYS,GET A BRAIN. These exhaust fumes are hazardous to the people that are exposed to them, let alone the ecological damage to our threatened earth.
A pox on potholes!
On hwy. 11 North, near where the ‘Rock’ once stood, there was a ravine that stretched across the highway, from one side to the other, leaving no way around. After every crossing of that “damn spot” it was necessary to check that my cap, glasses, testicles and cell phone were still in, or returned to, their assigned positions. A few days ago a road crew dumped some material in it, in the dark of night. It is a bit better, with a couple of smaller bumps replacing the one big jolt; however, it’s still prudent to check that everything has arrived safely on the other side.
Then I had occasion to drive past the Edmonds auto dealership and noted that an extra lane of pavement had been added there. I drove over this and there was no bump! I went back around and confirmed that it was so. So smooth!
To the crew who did this, my heartfelt “Excellent job.”
Please establish a training school and show others how to do this kind of word. Lord knows there are enough spots in our town for the trainees to practice.
Thanks.
Re: Vaccine Passports — Except for groceries, medicine and medical visits, since the pandemic began I have eschewed any and all indoor contact with anyone except my spouse in our own home. So I won’t be needing a vaccine passport any time soon. If it is someplace where I need to provide proof of my vaccination, then it is someplace I don’t yet want to visit, anyway.
Back just after the dinosaurs, when I was in school I seem to remember something about the protocol for flying flags at half mast.
I took this to be a practice used to sort of pay respects to “important people” who had died recently. Nowadays it is harder and harder to determine who an “important person” actually might be but we have had our flags at half mast for most of the summer.
There must be a time limit is there not? If there is no time limit and if everyone is important (sort of a given) then we might save some money by building flag poles half as tall to start with.
If we fly the flags at half mast for a host of people who died years ago, then what is the procedure if an important person dies today? Would we take the flag down completely, maybe just wrap it around the base of the flag pole?
Does anyone know what is the protocol here? There should be one and we should be following it.
If checking handicap parking spots for people who don’t have a handicap sticker or card is the towns bylaws office where are they you never see them,we pay big taxes in this town maybe the bylaw officer should leave his desk and check the parking lots in town,look at all the money the town will make
There have been comments about the lack of parking at the old theatre site on main street west, where a church, a restaurant. and 14 housing units, with only 4 parking spaces available for all development. Parking is short in town, and is to be shorter when main street up the hill from Brunel is reopened. The new curbing now in place takes out a number of former spots both east and west bound. Where are you supposed to park when you come in to shop or eat? Even more of a problem for those with reduced mobility.
Some wonder why people use the Walmart and other stores of similar type outside of town. Brobably only 20 percent of Huntsville live in town..
Mr. Rod Jones: Who indeed! By its’ own admission our town council realises that by- law enforcement is somewhat (?) lacking.( see Aug. 25, 2021 entry on Doppler) It seems to be a sporadic sort of ‘peek-a-boo surveillance’ and the ‘fink’ system. If you have laws and by-laws, they are meaningless without enforcement. Is our by-law enforcement underemployed or undermanned, or both?
The OPP command the streets and highways but who paroles private parking lots like those you mention? By-law? Most people I think will adhere to the regulations, but without anyone checking, there are those who will break the laws.
Signaling, stoplights and signs, speeding: they are laws meant for the ‘general public’, but for some they are little more than suggestions and certainly not for them ‘specifically’.
As for your query about handicap parking cards, would it surprise you if someone told you that there are cards in vehicle windows, issued years ago and for some persons long since deceased, still being used
today.
Sometimes it’s tough to find a place to park in our town, even in the handicap zones and even for legitimate users. But hang tough man, at $3000.00 a pop for in-lieu parking we should have lots of empty spaces…someday.
To Rod Jones It’s the town of Huntsville bylaw department that is supposed to enforce the disabled parking spots. Good luck at ever seeing on around. I think in about 20 years I’ve seen one at the mall not checking parking just driving around LOL. My pet beef is people leaving sopping carts in the disabled spots to lazy to push them another twenty feet . I would like to see all store do like Price Choppers and charge 25 cents each for them then watch people take them back.
Who gives out tickets to people who park in handicap parking that don’t have a parking card or plate on the car. People park in handicap spots at Walmart all food stores Canadian tire , Home Depot,liquor store etc is it he store or the police?
to Brenda Begg
The manager said he had no idea if the staff were vaxxed or not & he couldn’t ask them
Gerry
To Gerry Lannan: I agree. Exactly, what’s wrong with this picture? I’m fine with providing proof of vaccination (POV) to restaurant staff but, staff don’t have to be vaccinated? Or, am I wrong? Do they? If we have to provide POV to gain entrance to restaurants, gyms, concerts etc. the staff needs to also be fully vaccinated. Moreover, I’d like to see hair salons included in this mandate.
There’s a disconnect here.
I just spent some time at Tim Horton’s; We all had to show proof of full vaccination for covid 19 to the manager; but apparently the staff is not required to show proof; what’s wrong with this picture..
Was anyone else plagued this weekend by boat after boat of inconsiderate bass fishermen?
As I sat on the dock these fisherman would troll a mere 5 -10 feet off the end of my dock and cast into our shoreline and swimming area. At one point in time as I looked along the shoreline I could see 5 boats traversing the same shoreline about 100m apart.
One fisherman while trying to cast under our dock dropped his lure about 3 feet away from me in the water while I was sitting on the dock. If there was any error in his technique it could have easily hit me.
On another occasion a fisherman bounced his lure off my seadoo as it was parked at the dock.
While my son was out kayaking along the shoreline another fisherman cast directly over his head. Is this acceptable behavior for the sole purpose of catching a fish?
The last thing that I need is some inconsiderate fisherman to snag his hook in my swimming area leaving a sharp swimming hazard behind.
While this is all fine and wonderful for the tourism industry (which is currently hurting) is there any consideration given to cottage owners trying to enjoy their waterfront. I understand that I don’t own the water but seriously, isn’t fishing 5 feet off the end of my dock a little intrusive and disturbing? Its just downright rude and inconsiderate.
Can we not adopt a distance regulation to keep a little privacy and safety?
Question re COVID -19
How can we know small businesses staff are vaccinated? Especially personal service staff, gyms, restaurants etc, where I will willing show proof of vaccinations but I do not know about their staff
Perhaps the stores could post their status??? Oh I know some might cheat but it would just add to their guilt if someone become sick
Just asking
This is the climate action election.
Why? Because according to Dr. Mark Carney, former governor of the banks of England and Canada, in his book ‘Value(s)’, published this year, if we wait four more years to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions they will then have to be reduced by 50 per cent every year in order to keep global heating to 1.5C.
And why does it matter?
Dr. Diane Saxe, previous Ontario environmental commissioner and environmental and climate lawyer, says if heating is more than this 1.5C, then in their lifetime our grandchildren will see the end of human civilization as we know it.
So, vote climate!
Child-free by choice, I am tired of being told I need to change my ways and sacrifice in order to save the planet for future generations. If you chose to have kids who chose to have kids, and so on, then it’s all on you if you think your children, grandchildren and beyond face an uncertain future.
The level of selfishness and self-importance one must have to procreate for their own short-term self-gratification, with complete disregard for whatever difficulties and struggles the future may hold long-term for those they force into existence, never ceases to amaze me.
Why I am voting for the Green Party of Canada and Marc Mantha,
Parry Sound-Muskoka (PSM) needs REAL representation in Ottawa, not the same old, same old. We need to be a part of the Green Industrial Revolution, by supporting and developing industry right here, on sites already available from industries lost to previous government actions or inaction.
We need to stop the one step forward, two steps back political tug of war, that Conservatives and Liberals love, by starting and killing each others projects, costing taxpayers Billions if not Trillions of dollars. All the while collecting their overpriced salaries and pensions.
The Green Party of Canada (and Ontario) recognize the planet is in trouble, and recognize the Opportunity being handed us, in being a PART of the transition away from fossil fuels. By turning the $1,000 every man, women and child gives to the fossil industry EACH year toward the development of our own Green Energy Revolution, we will be come Leaders, rather than slaves to this changing world.
In all, I just want a Canada that has a job for my Grandchildren in a world where they can afford a home and raise a family in an Environment that is livable, with clean air, water and food.
That is why I am voting for Marc Mantha and the Green Party of Canada
Paul Kuebler
Port Sydney
Customer Service takes a holiday
I have been living in Huntsville for twelve years. Before me, my late husband lived here since 1986. Therefore, there have been guide dogs in this town for approximately 35 years. In fact, I have always told my friends that Huntsville is the most guide dog friendly town I’ve ever visited. However, last Thursday, I finally ran into a guide dog unfriendly restauranteur–at Marigold. My friend and I wanted to check out the new Mexican influences–we both had eaten at Marigold and loved their Indian food, so what could be wrong with adding Mexican? There was never a problem with bringing my guide dog in the past. When we got there, no one greeted us at first–we couldn’t figure out if they were open for dine-in or not, and their website hadn’t been clear. We called out to the empty room and finally a man came out and told us we couldn’t stay because of my guide dog. We both explained to him that it was against the law to refuse access to a guide dog, but he didn’t seem to know the law and insisted we had to leave. We then asked if they were even offering dine-in service and were told no, only take-out. I hope he learned about the laws of this province since then, and how to treat customers with respect, or the Mexican influences won’t get any farther than the kitchen.
Kathryn Henderson: Do average, licensed, responsible gun owners own and use military style assault weapons? Likely not, not to worry. That does not mean dangerous contraband should go ignored -either for the buyer or seller, because these weapons seem to cause considerable damage for criminals and non-criminals alike.
PS. I am not a card carrying member for any political party and have not donated money to any party this election year.
1] So when a leader cannot express clearly the party position on assault weaponry, I am concerned.
2] And when leaders (of any stripe) fail to adequately protect a majority of Canadians, including health care professionals, during a pandemic, it needs to be called out. My definition of “adequate” may be from a higher standard of care to be found along with those very same health care professionals serving the public health and public good by their work in communities.
3] When a party is supported by individuals who deny climate change and the responsibility to Act, a light needs to shine on that reality.
Your comment has been helpful, thank you.
Some people would like to see Maxine Bernier become the leader of the Conservative party so that their continued criticism of the party might mean something
Sorry to tell you that this will never happen
The leader of the pack in criticizing his opposition is no other than Trudeau Jr
During my many successful years in business it became obvious that if the only way you could try to sell your product was by bad mouthing your compitors’ then you did not have a product worth selling
Does this remind you of someone
A question for this newsletter. Do you allow posters to this letters page postulate for or against political parties and candidates? Just curious as recently, this seems to be the orientation of the posts. Thanks
I love it when government and people talk about getting guns Off people using the scare tactic of saying assault weapons. Crime is up in the criminal circle. Higher now since Trudeau has been in office. The criminals are smuggling in assault rifles from the states. Let’s quit scaring people by insinuating that the average gun owner has assault weapons. DONT take the NEWS BY ITS SELF. INVESTIGATE YOURSELF INSTEAD OF JOINING THE MANY SCARED PEOPLE THAT LISTEN TO THE LEFT SIDED BIASED NEWS.
Warning, election stuff:
Once again I read in Conservative media reference to the appearance of another politician. Seriously, get over such shallow examination of leaders running for office. It becomes very difficult not to believe that the Conservatives are a bunch of “Suits”, when appearance is top of their list for insult (this seems a go-to place for Conservative media, perhaps when they run out of something substantial to say).
The platform and performance of federal and provincial Conservatives is one which does not keep Canadians and Canadian society safe. Examples at issue, COVID-19, climate change, and gun laws which do not strongly support abolishment of assault weapons.
‘Uniting the right’ has come back to bite with the tendency towards the wild west! Individualism (think the Marlboro cigarettes cowboy) is king! Look where that has got the US. We need to think about our communities and collective citizens (not the least of which are health care professionals).
Can’t help to wonder if Maxine Bernier will take over the Conservative party leadership in Canada = then the mantra will become “everyone for him/herself”, forget about your neighbour. Thanks for reading.
“Experts break down the science on breakthrough cases”, Melissa Couto Zuber, Toronto Star, August 30th.
You may be interested in this link and read:
https://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/2021/08/26/what-do-we-know-about-breakthrough-covid-cases-experts-break-down-the-science.html
Ray Vowels; you make a good point. Vaccines and passports are helpful and a decent measure, but they are not by themselves enough to keep us from possible infection by the Delta variant. In the case you describe, continuing to follow public health safety guidelines (e.g. mask wearing, distancing) must continue.
It is false to assume we are out of the COVID woods with vaccines and passports – however, we are moving in the right direction, albeit very slowly.
While driving up highway 11 North and passing over the Vernon narrows I looked over to my right and saw two personal watercraft racing! How is it possible that they can do this on our waterways? Are the street racers moving to the waterways because they can’t be caught easily? This is so unsafe for the rest of the people that may paddle board, canoe, kayak or swim!
With 50 or 100 cases of people that are double vaccinated testing positive almost every day a vaccine passport means very little to me. Someone posted it would allow him to go to different places without worrying about a non vaccinated person being there. I would worry more about a vaccinated person being there and being a carrier. Just my opinion
Election item. Thought some may be interested in reading the article in this link from The Canadian Health Coalition.
https://www.healthcoalition.ca/public-health-advocates-cut-through-election-spin-over-public-vs-private-health-care/
Hope this is useful.
I just heard on the news that the province of Quebec will begin issuing Covid-19 passports next month. Ontario should do the same as soon as possible! If people choose not to be vaccinated, that is their choice. But those of us who are vaccinated should be allowed to enter restaurants, theatres and concert venues with the knowledge that all those who enter are vaccinated and that we are safe in doing so! This will aid in preventing the spread of the virus through the community! Covid-19 is not going to go away anytime soon…it will continue to mutate from what I have read. The American CDC which Canada follows for guidelines, is advocating a booster shot for those who are already vaccinated! Those who decide not to get vaccinated should reconsider their decision as the vaccine limits the transmission of the virus and protects family and friends!
It’s easy to judge when you just listen to the news Trudeau puts out which pushes the vaccine. I have investigated and know some bio chemists and made my decision on the information I gathered. To say I’m not entitled to free choice is un Canadian. I am not a threat to anyone. I don’t judge you. Your entitled to your opinion. Keep safe I won’t be responding again. I’m not interested in an argument.
Bonnie Branton: Approved Unanimously!!! As if you couldn’t be any more surprised.
‘Approved’! WHAT??
Re: The former Cinema building on Huntsville’s Main Street.
How many cars will need parking to attend the proposed Temple, 14 Apartments and a Tourist Attraction??
These Developers are probably as shocked at their approval as most of us.
NO REQUEST that they provide UNDERGROUND PARKING or a Parking Facility to address that much density!!
Town of Huntsville-
You have created a future social disaster and polarization- so many people, aged, disabled & otherwise unable to simply find a place to park by the Post Office, Pharmacy, Doctor & Dentists offices- all in that immediate area.
We need professional management.
Is ANYBODY Minding the Store’?
Bring on the vaccine passports, the people who say no obviously don’t remember getting shots in public school. And we had vaccination cards then we just didn’t normally see them. As for the vaccine being untried you kind of have a choice of living or dieing because alot of younger people are dieing unvaccinated now
Kathryn I believe passports should be issued for they are required in many countries if you wish to travel at all. I hope businesses request this information for the safety of everyone. I for one do not wish to be around unvaccinated how else would I know if proof was not required. Vaccines I know are not one hundred percent but it gives protection from getting severely ill in most cases.
Support our community by wearing a mask and please get vaccinated for the higher the number fully vaccined the sooner we can get back to a more normal life which I know we all long for. Thanks to all the medical professionals and all who have worked during these difficult time
Norma
Unfortunately, Ms. Henderson, there will always be folks who deceive any authority if they do not want to follow measures for public safety. I am suggesting that not having a vaccine passport (showing proof of vaccination) might be equivalent to folks driving without a license or car insurance, or perhaps not wearing a seatbelt. Today, seatbelts are a no-brainer.
The public safety is not just about an individual, but about the public -others around them.
What do you think?
PS the issue of wearing seatbelts was thought to divide the country. This issue is no different.
I think having vaccine passports will divide the country. If you have had the vaccine you should be safe from catching the covid or what was the point of getting it. A passport should not be required.
God Bless you Mr. Paris…… my concern exactly. Thank you for bringing this matter to the surface. I think getting this done would be a perfect election promise. This man, no matter the party, would get my vote, and I think of myself as a pretty average voter.
Can someone please tell me why they fill in the hole at the corner of main st. at least 3times and then dig it up again it just doesn’t make sense why not leave the hole open till all the work is done a waste of time and money
Hugh, about a week or more ago I called the premiers office concerning vaccine certificates for Ontario people.
The feds do not have our pictures on file, or our vaccine times and dates. I wanted to know why I can not go to my service ontario and acquire a card similar to my health card, pay a small fee and walk out with a card for my wallet or pocket and since it has a picture of me, know one can copy it like the two pieces of paper I now have.
The lady that I talked to was going in to a meeting and would pass on my idea.
It’s too bad Frances Botham but this has been going on in Huntsville since back in the 60;s. But if you want the town to grow this is the cost you pay. I’m not sure if you were born and raised here but any town that does not grow will stagnate and die, It’s to bad but that is the way it is. In 1956 I went to Burlington to work back then we shopped on the main street just like we did here back then Not sure if you have been down there or know anyone from there. The same change is going on here just not as fast. We just have to get used to it or move it’s that simple.
There has been a lot of dissension expressed over the desecration of the land in the area of the building previously known as the Waterloo Centre. If you want to see major desecration of land you should take a drive up Hwy 11B N and turn onto Woodstream Drive. If the total removal of trees and all vegetation and boulders and complexion of the landscape is okay, well then I am sickened at Huntsville/Muskoka planning strategy. I wonder if most of us have been sleeping while this travesty has roared on? Maybe it’s time to wake up and express dissent. If this continues at its present speed throughout Huntsville, in the guise of the economy and ‘progress’, we are doomed to development that looks like a big city subdivision and appears to be planned the same way. Bring on the cookie cutter housing, the toy nursery trees and the cute boxed plants. This seems to now be the norm. If that is deemed good planning, in this new environment where ridiculous setbacks, height revisions, facade requirements, and all the other revisions are seldom turned down, then we are doomed to lose our beautiful unique Muskoka. The big yellow taxi has arrived!
Good morning, the E O’Toole’s announcement that he and his party will not require civil servants to be vaccinated for COVID 19 – This has “sealed the deal” for me in not voting for the Conservative party of Canada.
As a retired nurse, having worked locally in public health, this is such a backward, reckless, anti-science position. Thank you for reading.
Perhaps the town planner who says everything at the old theatre sight is within walking distance should be given two bags of food at the independent and watched as he walks to the building site.
There is way too few parking sites in the centre of town, to take up a dozen more for one down town building is ridiculous.
Our neighbourhood is grieving. We have lost a much cherished bush. With respect to its ownership, it is commercial property and according to Mobile Marine, it’s been rated so since the sixties.
Since the mature trees were removed, we have lost privacy, a sound barrier, and any sense of sanctuary we once enjoyed.
In light of the pending policy for tree removal, one might anticipate an urgent clearing of this property for fear of objection. Mobile Marine had every right to do what they did in the purpose of business. What is objectionable, is the character revealed.
This was a mature bush. Many of us had been led to believe it was protected, greenspace or wetland.
Never did we think it would be cleared as it was. There was absolutely no communication with bordering properties and with initial inquiry, they were going to clear to property limits. A verbal request for a small buffer was declined. There was no room for discussion. Mobile Marine needs more space for boat storage and this was their answer.
They said they didn’t want a fight. Understandable.
What we as neighbours would have preferred, communication; an understanding of their plan, where and when the bush would be removed and an explanation of why. Common consideration of neighbours.
Yes, Huntsville needs a policy on tree removal, but more, we need respect for each other. That, is a character trait we instill in children and really, a business with good repute, should have as part of their mission statement. We do wish this business continued success but more, improved respect in how they treat others. All the best Mobile Marine, you have work to do.
Chuck muir you are absolutely right about parking spaces. There is not enough parking available now.
With the additional 14 apartments, a place of worship and a restaurant being added to the downtown area and a very limited number of parking spaces. I believe our town council is looking through rose coloured glasses to think parking problems won’t be an issue!
Thank you
Chuck Muir
It’s so great to read Margaret Griggs post about the people that helped her out after a fall. Far to often we only hear the bad things about people and how they only think of themselves. Also it was great to read about the staff at Huntsville hospital It’s about time I know from experience just how great these nurses and doctors are. I’ve been there myself a few times and they are always super. My wife will tell you the same thing even in these hard times for medical workers.
I buy tickets for the RVH monthly draws for the neonatal wing, I buy Princess Margaret tickets to help that hospital out.
I would certainly buy tickets if the Huntsville Hospital would have draws or a lottery to raise money for our local hospital.
I am wondering why they don’t do this………………
They are all on a website, secure and easy to buy.
Thanks and hopefully Huntsville can get on board!!!!
Yesterdsy, Aug. 7, I took a tumble on the sidewalk across from Port Sydney Beach and
discovered that this community is full of wonderful, caring people. I want to thank you all for your concern and caring. Especially Steph, I do not know your last name, but you were there beside me and stayed until the ambulance arrived. Then you cared for my husband. Low and behold when we arrived home 9 hours later you had left a bouquet of sunflowers at our door. How exceptional is that. Thank you, thank you Steph. who lives in Utterson. Just to let you know I did break my wrist and nose, and my face is a sight to behold. If you wish, drop in so we can thank you in person. I also must mention how great the staff is at Huntsvile Hospital, they were rushed off their feet but still so kind and caring as were the paramedics.
On July 14/21, I wrote a letter to warn others that I hit rocks under the bridge. By 0800 the next morning, 2 people reached out to me to tell me their rock story. I now have the names of 8 people who have hit these rocks.
A common thread for them, and me ( at first), is that they reached out to the town and their councillors, and were met with abject apathy.
In spite of one readers incredulity as to our inept boat driving, we all seem to be seasoned boaters.
I have been advised that marker buoys will be deployed and the middle boat way will be opened in a timely fashion.
BE CAREFUL!
At about 7:30 this morning, on Old Muskoka Rd., I found a vehicle’s gas tank lying on the pavement, leaking fuel. I moved it to the verge, but I am curious.
To the driver: you must have noticed by now that it is gone! How fast were you going? How far did you get?
There could be a story in this!
CBC news, “Stephen Harper says Canada’s pandemic spending has been ‘overkill’…”
SH and DF both have lived in Etobicoke. Likewise, if both have the same understanding of science, medicine, and public health, can you imagine who would have been at the receiving end of those “tough decisions”?
One sector who would Not have suffered is corporate welfare executives or known developers.
We now know that between wave one and two of the pandemic, DF solidified government, taxpayer contracts to large for-profit LTC homes so they could renovate. After all, we know the only reason for-profits performed so poorly in the care of our elderly citizens was not enough single rooms (read with sarcasm here)! Rob and Doug’s phrase “gravy train” comes to mind when taxpayer money is used to reward large for-profit LTC owners/managers for their poor health service outcomes.
I’m following up on the comment about Etwell Road, also know as District Road #45. I have talked to several people about this road and have been reassured that it is on the list to be fixed. Three weeks ago, I was told next week. Last week, when I inquired, I was told sometime this year. Oh my goodness. We actually have to leave the road and drive in the ditch at one point to have save passage on this road. It is truly terrible. I’m sorry to hear that a cyclist was injured. One of my comments to the district staff was that there will be an accident.
I sure agree with Mr. Lehman and have no idea just what is getting into people theses days. As I was walking out of our Independent store yesterday I had a young man rush past me I walk a bit slow because I’m 81 and had a stroke a few years ago so walking is not a strong point. If this guy had hit me you know where i would have ended up. Then as I was walking to my car a lady came awfully close to hitting me as she was pulling out of the parking lot. One thing for sure that will be the last time I go into town after 8 am for a long time or at least until summer is over, Never saw so many people with the. I’m the most important person in this world Attitude and look out for me because I’ll not look out for you. And they wonder why we wish they would just stay home.
@Steve Lehman
Hi Steve! Just read your comment below and was left with a sick feeling.
Are you able to tell us what store in town? We have a sweet young gentleman that worked Monday and are hoping this situation wasn’t involving him.
My husband’s email is [email protected]
Thanks!
Bad Manners
An expression I have often heard voiced by many meteorologists is that nature loves a balance. Assuming there is truth to it, other than just popular perception, then perhaps this would help explain the total lack of civility being on display around Huntsville this summer.
A year and a half ago, as the pandemic was making itself known, it actually seemed that the world was a nicer place. We were realizing that we were all in this predicament together and had better unite against a common enemy. Fast forward to the present and the pendulum has now swung to the other extreme. Traffic infractions are incalculable, customer rudeness to service staff is endemic and the me-first-at-all-costs attitude in many social interactions is pervasive. While I have had many anectodal experiences relayed to me second hand, yesterday I witnessed an example that I felt was beyond the pale.
As I sat outside a local grocery store, a car came to a stop on top of the no-parking pavement markings by the ramp leading up to the entrance doors. While technically illegal, I am sure many of us have done this so that our passenger can begin shopping while we go park the car. Not a big deal. This passenger, however, proceeded to go to the back of the car after the driver had shut it off, lift the tailgate and start rummaging around for who knows what or for how long. Again, somewhat rude but not unexpected these days. No parking indicators are only meant for other people.
Unfortunately for everyone involved, at this point in time a cart person was returning carts into the store and this car was directly in their path. As he got, admittedly, dangerously close to the inconveniently parked car the woman suddenly stepped out from behind the vehicle and, I quote, asked him; ‘Are you stupid?’
Now, ordinarily, I would not have troubled myself to intervene on behalf of the young cart person but for anyone who was not so self absorbed as this woman, the syndrome-unique facial features of this hapless teenager did indeed indicate that, while he was not stupid, he did have certain challenges that the majority of us do not have to contend with every waking moment of our lives so, with my sense of indignation welling up inside, I got involved.
Now, without going into detail, after the husband angrily got out of the car, cane in hand, to slowly shuffle to his wife’s defense, things could have gone south very quickly. As they began, in offensively loud voices, to list their own myriad disabilities as their reason for ignoring parking protocols, however, their sense of white, senior entitlement was so pathetically obvious that I started to laugh. I couldn’t help it. The absurdity of them using, in their words, their ‘legally defined disabilities’ as an excuse to be rude and discourteous to someone who didn’t need a doctors certificate to certify his situation was so ridiculous that I just had to walk away, fervently hoping for a quick return of the day when the pendulum swings back to the midpoint of civilized normalcy.
It is an accident about to happen. That is what we keep saying about the horrendous conditions on Etwell Road. Well we don’t have to wait any longer. Driving on this road on Sunday to our horror we came upon a person laying in the middle of the road face down! This unsuspecting cyclist had hit a pothole, flew over her handlebars and skidded about 30 feet on the pavement. The ambulance arrived quickly and transported her to Huntsville Hospital. What is it going to take before action is taken to resurface this road?
This comment may be soul self serving, but please indulge me.
Many years ago, Mrs. Young our music teacher at the new Locks school (Riverside) took four youthful singers and made a little quartet of us. She gave us some music and taught us how to sing in harmony. People heard us and thought we were pretty good. We had egos our knees could hardly carry; until she took us into Huntsville!
I grew up on Brunel road and town was a long way off. But Mrs, Young took us to Huntsville where we sang in churches and for service clubs. She really shopped us around.
For me it was a bit intimidating, but tucked in beside Eric (Eric Bionda) who was older and bigger, it seemed okay. Writing some stuff down recently, I was stuck trying to think of the names of the other two singers in the group and was attempting to contact Eric to see if he might recall who they were.
But a couple of days ago I received a call telling me that Eric had passed away. The day before.
Eric, if the group you are part of now didn’t know they needed that big rich baritone voice, I am sure you have made them aware.
And maybe you can stand beside some little kid. Kinda boost his or her confidence.
Doug ford has said that he will not issue any photo card with a picture and vaccine information even though he has the required info to do such. Ford says wait for Justin to get his act together,
For those that want to plan to travel or even go in to concerts or businesses are told to sit back and wait, Ottawa does not have the required info on hand.
Does anyone have knowledge of when this might occur?
Just wondering why the legion in Huntsville is still closed as we are in stage 3 for covid and can open indoors for seating ? I know we get grants from the government to pay bills but the legion was built for the vets and the community as we are a nonprofit organization we are here to service the people and help charities by holding Saturday meatdraws,Tuesday suppers,50/50 draws etc. Just wondering why its still closed.
I would like to present another side of the ” beaver dam controversy.” It is not about money but about human lives and safety. A neighbour was just getting back from her morning walk when the dam burst with no warning. A minute later and she would have been swept away, along with the uprooted mature trees and large boulders that ended up in the Big East River. The road wasn’t just “damaged”: a large chunk of it was completely gone, leaving many of us stranded for the better part of two days with no alternative route into Huntsville. It could have been longer but for the diligence of the work crews who were able to fill in a part and create one lane of the road. Fortunately no one had a life threatening medical emergency in that time. What would have happened in those two days if one of us had had a heart attack, stroke, or serious injury?
Mr. Markle’s concern about pot holes is shared by many on Williamsport Road; we still have actual rocks peeking up from under the thin veneer of pavement in spots. But pot holes will always remain a secondary problem to a complete wash out of the road. As I understand it, the bylaw will allow inspectors to look at beaver dams in an emergency. Workers are not going “to descend like the Four Horsemen” on private property for no reason to plunder and destroy. Mr. Markle’s simile is heavy handed and completely inappropriate.
It seems to me that the “rights” of the individual property owners to keep inspectors off their property are trumped by the rights of the rest of us to feel safe from the prospect of another washout with the potential to claim human lives.
A message for the gentleman who told me that the bush along Manominee st was not a dump as I was placing grass clippings there. Remember I’m the guy picking up garbage on the town streets and if Sir go into the bush off the main trail and see the tons of garbage there where every year I do my best to clean.
I agree wholeheartedly with Lynn Bennet and Councillor Jonathan wiebe as regards disagreeing with naming a Huntsville road “Hollywood”. And do we really want to give developers the right to name roads that will become public ones?
How about a contest from students and/or the public to suggest names?. We have so many wonderful names from natural kingdoms and human achievements associated with Canada. As somebody who was lucky enough to be accepted to live in this wonderful country I would like to see names that reflect our Canadian identity.
The town is declaring war on beavers? Well, not on beavers but on their dams. Sort of on the dams when they fail. Specifically when the beaver dam on your property fails and damages the towns’ road. There is a problem for sure, but the landowner isn’t allowed to destroy the beaver; that industrious little Canadian rodent that we stamp into our Canadian nickels. It is a furbearer and protected by law. Except from licensed trappers who can harvest the fur. But who wants a fur garment nowadays? Even though that fur is a renewable resource.
The new bylaw will allow town workers to descend on your land like the four horsemen; to deal with that structure of mud and sticks and send you the bill? I hope there is a bit more to the story than this.
Recently a developer failed to create a dam that would prevent peoples homes from being inundated and they and the town only got to the problem after a lot of damage was done. Let’s hope those people will be compensated in the end.
I find there is a lot of irony here.
And to Mildred Tanzini: we can only hope that the councils’ next bylaws will abolish potholes and the clearcutting of trees.
‘Hope springs eternal’ as the saying goes.
The road from Muskoka Rd 3 to Muskoka Rd 2 also known as Etwell Road is in need af great repair. Particularly the stretch from #3 to South Drive has potholes so large and deep it feels like you are driving in a third world country. The damage to unsuspecting cars would be costly as they bounce in and out of these holes and try to dodge the enormously deep ones. Who is responsible for overseeing the maintenance of this road and ordering the repairs?
What with the very noticeable promise of an increase in Huntsville’s population (judging by the new accommodations being built, doesn’t anyone think we should have a new Hospital pretty soon?
Mr. Miller.
If one looks at the demographics, Huntsville serves a much denser aging population then the next closest facility. Now is the time when a good percentage of the work force find they can work away from the office with as good a result and still live in the best area of Ontario.
When MP Aitchison was hospitalized he was adamant that his priority as Mayor was to drive for a new Med. facility in Huntsville. Shortly after his election to MP I met the Mr. Aitchison and asked him when we could expect a new facility, and I was told it is a Provincial responsibility., and that the Federal allocation had been set.at that time.
With Mr. Miller being born and raised in the Town of Bracebridge we know where his loyalties lie, but that didn’t stop his Daddy from doing the best for this area.
What if the powerful Huntsville Rotary Club were to cast their net countrywide for pledges from other Clubs to get the Ball rolling would it be so impossible to have a full service Hospital in Huntsville. to prevent our population from having to traverse the Hwy. 11 from here to Bracebridge. I bet Huntsville could do it!
Thank you, Mr. Clark for your comments on math. Math “problems” were of my generation too -things have changed. Introduction to math can include what, where, and how one might use math in real life, including a career (e.g. woodworking, sewing, cooking). Math as statistics, depending on the grade level, can be introduced as applicable in health/medicine, engineering, social sciences too. Why should a reference to psychological and social sciences be excluded in the introductory examples of applied Math? DF’s view seems unnecessarily narrow -it is a pattern of his party’s response.
One issue I find very difficult about which to remain silent is Long Term care in the Province. My interest and bias as a retired R.N. and having worked in LTC, is the tragedy during Covid pandemic to our elderly citizens and their families (disease and death numbers in large for-profits).
To that end, you will find my postings represent a desire to keep front and centre health and education issues.
A reasonable read from today, for those interested is linked here: “Devastating to Watch: Critics say funding for-profit LTC homes rewards bad behaviour…”
https://www.thestar.com/business/2021/07/15/they-were-the-epicentre-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-so-how-did-ontarios-for-profit-long-term-care-homes-manage-to-secure-so-many-of-their-business-goals.html
I believe this should be an election issue and I think there are others who remain concerned about the direction of the Ontario Provincial Conservative government.
PS. I rely and trust the needed oversight to posted comments, by The Doppler to examine mine likewise.
Understand we have some new subdivisions opening up in Huntsville. And they have very odd names including “Hollywood”. Well, guess I can save myself a 4,236.2 km drive and 39 hours and say I’ve been there!
What a JOKE naming our streets after such places!! Have these developers ever been north of the 401!
When I was at school, mathematics were pure numbers and solving problems. The only vaguely social issue was if you wanted a bath and there was no plug, how long would it take to fill if the tap input was X and the outflow was Y. Perhaps political rants should be limited to one per person per month.
I’m confused i don’t know how these people are hitting rocks under the bridge in town unless they aren’t useing the center, were the boats are to go? No one that I know of other than maybe kayakerss or canoeists would use the sides where boats aren’t meant to use. Obviously they dont know the history of the town and realize that under the bridge was once shallow rapids and was dredged for the use of the large boats when the bridge would swing. So as far as I know use the center lane you should be fine especially now that the water is high.
I’d like to say thanks to the person who got it moving! Yesterday there was a large crew of professionals cutting out the dead trees along the roadway into Kimberly Clark. Looks much better!
DF and Conservative interference in Provincial math curriculum. DF has not been in a classroom for decades. Though he seems to understand the application of pure mathematics in a real world application to financial literacy, he wants any application to social issues (e.g. racism) eliminated.
Robert Benzie (Toronto Star, July 16, 2021) “Premier defends change to curriculum introduction” quotes DF as saying, “language on racism has no place in math preamble… in math, lets stick with math”. In my opinion, exemplifying the applications and limitations of mathematics can and should be a reasonable introduction in education curriculum. DF is not okay with the application of math to social epidemiology (e.g. statistical math concerning health outcomes of a population).
DF is our “back to basics” guy (whatever that means). Math application as long as it is in line with party viewpoint. Perhaps his limited, narrow view, explains well his early and sustained reluctance to be guided by the statistical science and epidemiology during our pandemic.
Please remember and watch the Ontario education curriculum changes since 2018. Talk to a teacher!
Thanks for reading.
Re: Howard Bargman’s comment…Several weeks ago we too hit a rock trying to get under the bridge leading to town from Fairy Lake. There is no warning, i.e. flashing light or marker. It is very difficult to see under the bridge for oncoming boats. There are many, many canoes & paddle boats, etc. which makes it so much more dangerous. I am surprised no one has been injured. What does it take for the town to do the right thing?
Last week while boating from Fairy Lake to Vernon, I went under the bridge leading into town and hit rocks. There was only one way to enter. I have learned from the town and my marina, that several other boaters have also hit rocks in this spot. Why hasn’t the town placed marker buoys or warning signs? They obviously knew the danger and didn’t take steps to advise the boaters.
If you also hit rocks in this spot, please text me at 416 505-0411. Let’s see how many other duped souls there are. Maybe we can entice the town to make restitution for their lack of care.
The upcoming election. Be prepared, when in doubt, the Conservatives will escalate the east-west divide in Canada. These issues are not new, many leaders of all political stripes have worked very hard to attend the needs of each of its geographical regions. My thoughts — critically think through any overblown rhetoric in electioneering concerning this Canadian issue.
Sue Mckenzie: I don’t know whether I should feel chastened or ‘chuffed’ at being called out here, but I’ll stay neutral and appreciate that there are those who realize we have a problem. There is no being pessimistic or optimistic about something to which there is no option but to deal with it, or….
We all know what the challenge is; our unabated consumption of everything. It is mostly a western attitude, our needing to possess every new piece of junk industry can produce and then they expect the general populace to deal with the waste. Our attitude must change.
A good part of the hesitancy in dealing with the present situation rests with the people we elect. The lawmakers. They will not initiate much that, however right, or prudent, might get them unelected. And that’s what must be done.
We need to unelect anyone who believes that they are fighting global warming when they sell an oil that is disproportionally dirty and must be mixed with naptha or natural gas to make it flow. Check the Kalamazoo pipeline failure and the damage dilbit (diluted bitumen) has wreaked on that river.
We need to unelect a lawmaker who wants to rip a new highway across a green belt to reduce commuting time for people that will live in the subdivisions that will be built on land that is, at present, off limits.
We need to unelect people who will issue permits for clearcutting ancient forest and then not require much in the way or forest remediation to be done. Without the cooling of the forest, the slash is prone to drying and burning. Our own west coast and the Amazon rainforest are sad examples of this practice. And China is visiting the same fate upon eastern forest regions.
Every little thing is now a problem. A 2016 report in ‘ChEnected” by Daniel Matthews, gives us information issued by the payment company ‘Square’. The topic was the issuing of receipts, those little chits of paper everyone discards, and their impact on the environment. The report states that 1Billion gallons of water is consumed(wasted), 10 million trees are felled, 250M gallons of oil is required to transport and distribute them after manufacture and in the end they are just 1.5B pounds of waste. That is each year!
It also says that the thermal paper, which these receipts are, contain BPA, a known carcinogen. I think that the FDA contests this last statement.
Another ‘heat warning blankets Alberta’ notification just popped up on my computer and though I noticed, I doubt very much that our lawmakers paid much heed. They still think we need to sell oil!
I hope you are young and very dedicated. Rebuilding an attitude and a society will tax us all. As will these governments.
I am concerned about the noise from the boats in the section of the North Muskoka River from Lake Vernon to the Town of Huntsville. There is at least two large inboard (24-30 feet long) that travel this waterway. When they come under the Railroad bridge and until they pass under the Center Street bridge, we can not hear our radio/TV or hold any conversation in our condo on the 4th floor. Is there not a noise pollution law? Thank you Michael Mason for your thoughts I can not understand why any boats of this size are on these small lakes!!!
Allen Markle, thank you for your extensive comment on climate and the need for immediate action. You do not seem very optimistic about the declaration of a Climate Emergency by Huntsville Council with a goal of 50% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030, zero by 2050. You call this a gesture. Please note, the resolution requires the development of a Community Action Plan for Huntsville with community engagement in the development of the plan.
You state: “So I will appreciate the Huntsville Council for making this gesture, although as of yet it is only that, a gesture. For extra points, might they outline for us the steps they hope to achieve along the years, so we might monitor our progress.”
With respect, here’s your opportunity to take action to make sure this is not just a ‘gesture’ on the part of Council (which it is NOT). This is your opportunity to get in there and ensure that a strong plan is developed and is implemented asap, beginning THIS year, with progress being monitored annually. Let the Mayor know YOU are ready to step up to head up the Community Working Group that will provide input for the plan; that you are ready to seek out the diverse voices in the community that need to be consulted on what should be included in
the plan; that you are ready to ensure this happens, rather than awaiting the Town’s ‘outline’. There is no more time to WAIT.
I’ve been to hutcheson beach daily for swimming lessons the town is providing there. It’s good that the kids have something to participate in. However, the conditions at the beach are not so good. I wonder if there is a reason the town cannot do maintenance there. I see the beach showcased in the town literature for visitors. It’s not an asset at the moment.
Did you hear the first installment being rung up on the purchase of a coming election? I did this morning, when it was announced there was a federal plan afoot to fund daycare in BC, the same to be coming soon to the Maritimes, the project to be in operation in five years. I wrote here earlier of my thoughts on government plans that won’t come to fruition until long after their mandate is expired. ‘If we don’t get elected, you won’t get this.’ So I guess it is now time to kick this irksome partner to the dirt and establish a truly elected dictatorship ( read majority government.)
Covid spending has cost Canada about 400B. The headline read ‘exceed 381B’, but that’s close enough to 400 for me. That is about 20% of our annual GDP! I’m not good in dollar values such as that and it doesn’t seem to be the forte of our government either. $400,000,000,000.00 is a lot of dollars.
Keystone XL was only $1.5B with an additional $6B loan guarantee and Trans-mountain was another $4.5B to purchase with the estimate of another $8B or so to finish. But both of these projects seem doomed and not items to mention when you want to kick off an election.
I can’t see people voting against a government that has been supporting them for a year and a half, and we know how much that support has cost and is still costing. So brace yourself folks, because this is about to to hurt. A lot!
My wallet just fell into a drawer and I can hear it sobbing.
Why are boats allowed to have above water exhaust in the Muskoka lakes. It is not possible to be 5 miles from shore and run these very loud engines. There are laws in place and it would seem little enforcement. Our cottage on Indian River is located in an echo chamber that when these boats come by, our windows vibrate. When I have approached these boat owners, I have been both apologized to and told to go away. Muskoka to me means peace and quiet, not so much for these very disrespectful boat owners.
This is my first post on this topic and it may ruffle a few folks, I just hope it starts a conversation.
I agree with Kathryn H. When did it become ok to vandalize property and get away with it in the name of protest? As I enjoyed Canada day. I was appalled not by the actions of leaders and church groups that were involved in the residential schools, but by the people who openly defied the laws of our land and destroyed or defaced property. Proudly posting pictures on social media, and what was worse is there were no consequences for their actions.
I fully appreciate the effects on the emotions of those involved in the schools. And we should celebrate that we are in a country that we can speak our minds and have the right to protest, nothing in those freedoms include damaging property. Without laws we have anarchy, and that is not the kind of country I want to celebrate. Just my thoughts
Around the first of July, Huntsville council declared a climate emergency. I suppose most people have been aware for some time that the world’s weather systems are changing; but they say, better late than never. There are so many facets to the climate debate; concerned scientists and citizens on one side and governments on the other. And make no mistake, there is no government yet, with the desire and willingness to face itself and big oil, to reduce carbon emissions.
Of the top 50 national oil producers, there are only three countries that produce dirtier oil than Canada, but Canadian governments have continually promoted oil production and annually offer billions in subsidies to mega-corporations so they can continue digging it from the earth and transporting it around the globe.
Using this dirty Canadian product contributes disproportionally to global warming.
But our government doesn’t seem to be capable of tearing itself from the lure of oil and will continue to batter taxpayers and their wallets against this problem in an effort to achieve the impossible. If we can’t drill a hole or build a pipeline, Canada is unemployed? Why not divert those billions to developing technology to deal with the problem and then sell that. Someone will develop products to deal with aspects of pollution and global warming , but if it isn’t us, then we will have to buy it from them.
The majority of our citizens are in denial or apathetic; for example, the car idling in front of the Liquor Store. When I asked the lady why, I was told it was so the “doggy-woggy didn’t get too hot” and the window powered back up, dismissing me and the problem that was not important to her. And it was not volts that powered that car.
On the wall behind me there is a 3’x6′ map of the world and on it I can find India, China and the United States, the worlds’ three biggest oil and coal consumers; not one of them is seriously interested in reigning in their consumption of either. On that same map, I cannot find Muskoka. I know where it is and how important it is to me, having been my home for all these years, but I also realize where it fits in the scheme of things.
So our council made the gesture and joined this local initiative, which is okay I guess but somewhat disingenuous, inasmuch as the result won’t register for 29 years. I won’t be able to note on Doppler of a job well done, nor will some of them be in any state to read it.
I detest when governments outline their programs and indicate that we should see the results, any number of years beyond the end of their mandate. If they are not re-elected for the next 12 years or so, then the programs they are promoting will not be carried through.
Deficit reduction, balanced budgets, rescue helicopters, fighter aircraft, childcare programs and sundry other election carrots have all crashed on the rocks of the election itself.
Lao-tzu wrote that ‘The journey of 1000 miles begins beneath one’s feet’. With that first step so to speak, and I would like governments and my local council to outline the steps they will take along the way so that they and I will be able to see if there really is a desire to achieve something. We might not complete the journey but we will be able to monitor if we are, or are not, making headway.
This is a daunting undertaking, because science doesn’t know whether there is any way of reversing the devastation man is inflicting on his rather sensitive planet. We might slow global temperature rise but we are taxing earth’s resilience to the edge.
So I will appreciate the Huntsville Council for making this gesture, although as of yet it is only that, a gesture. For extra points, might they outline for us the steps they hope to achieve along the years, so we might monitor our progress.
I would like to know why burning the pride flag is vandalism and punished accordingly but crowds can knock over the queens statues and pour paint over them and nothing is done to stop this?
With the threeat that is looming over us all, – heat waves, forest fires, why are we not hearing any statements from our Huntsville Town Council outlining some preparations for cooling centers, emergency power generators and so forth. There are several venues around town that could be used to take care of the population in this regard.
We do have a Public Safety Officer I heard, and I am curious as to what preparations are in the works for skyrocketing high temperatures. Right now, -today while it is still fairly cool, shuld be the time to take a good look at the forests surrounding our entire Town, (not counting denuded Forbes’ Hill or Mount Baldy) and thinning out the dead and dying trees. More so the trees that will surely fall across our main roads if we continue getting the high winds of late. The roadway into Kimberly Clark is girded with dead trees held up only by the dead bark sheathing. If these fell across the road and something were to go wrong at KC the fire department would need to hack it’s way through this stuff. Surely there should be some emergency preparedness plan in place?
People complain about tree cutting by developers. Part of this was brought on by people who would by a home in a subdivision, in the era when developers would take down trees as they built homes. Home prices would be based on using all the available building lots in their plot of land, But the new home owners would go to town councils and demand that the fifty percent of the property be left as forest. This meant that the first sold homes were under priced and the remainder could not be built. Developers learned to go in, cut them down, problem solved. In Toronto people are stopped from putting additions on their homes if tree must be cut. In huntsville if you do not cut a field for two years its full of young trees.
Are you tired of populism yet? I am. Recently Provincial Conservative McNaughton pitted university educated and qualified tradespeople against each other. The reality is that our society needs Both. If the pandemic has taught nothing else, it has shown us that united we are better and we are wholly interdependent on each other. We have also lived in the reality of being physically distanced for our public health and our public good.
Populism is emotional abuse of the electorate. Division by stereotypes (e.g. buck-a-beer trades people vs. ?what, wine-drinking academics?). Surprise, there are people who are both university educated and qualified trades people! As an electorate, we need to lay bare populism for the messages it sends. Who are the new “elites” that we are now supposed to despise? Thank you for reading and thinking about this.
Hi John,
The two links below might help:
https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/planning-committee-gives-new-owners-of-former-huntsville-haven-subdivision-green-light-for-revised-plan/
https://huntsvilleon.civicweb.net/document/45307/Z_34_2020_HTE%20_%20S2020-08%20-%20Rayville%20Development.pdf?handle=532724D5ACDF4747A0B562CC85BAA13B
With so much focus on trees lately and the unrestricted cutting of them with respect to healthy trees. My lot at two Hibberd Lane for as far as the eye can see directly behind me has been completely clear-cut by a developer , we didn’t have an opportunity to do anything about it they just came in and clear-cut it this past March there must be a thousand acres that have been clear cut ,the land drainage in my yard has been affected I used to have a flock of 50 wild Turkey I had a dozen deer as well as bears they’re all gone. Nobody seems to say anything about it in the news a lot of the reason the owners on this Lane four families moved here because of the forest backdrop and now the land has been completely raped regraded and I was just wondering if anybody has an opinion?
I find the indigenous children buried, unmarked in residential school property simply beyond comprehension.
These schools were essentially boarding schools, still a common type of school all over the world. Most universities are essentially boarding schools as very few of their students actually live close enough to the school that they attend to live at home, nor I expect would a lot of university students wish to live at home anyway at that stage of their life.
The younger the students, the more care the school must provide.
What I find unbelievable, unconscionable, unexplained and reprehensible (pick any word you like) is how it could be that this number of students could die and be buried with no record and no communication to their parents and family. Apparently not even a letter!
There is simply no possible excuse for this on the part of those who were running these schools. None at all!
At the absolute minimum, the parents should have been contacted, quickly and in their own language and the sad situation of their child’s death explained to them and some kind or arrangement for whatever traditional burial was normal for such a child’s death made swiftly. This would be the minimum.
Following this, each and every death should have been investigated by the government operating the schools to determine the cause, establish blame and penalties to those in their operation who were at fault, if any, and steps taken to prevent a recurrence. This too should have been communicated to the parents who’s child was involved. This too would be the minimum.
Somehow none of this was done. Not only was this not done but the dead person was “hidden” so that most likely no responsibility was accepted by the authorities in charge. No proper grave, no notification, not even a record. This is way beyond any excusable behavior, and this was not an isolated case. It now seems like maybe over a thousand cases like this occurred.
We can now try in some way to make some restitution but the damage has been done. The kids are dead. Nobody took proper responsibility. No reasonable notification was attempted. It is a horrible situation.
The best we can do now is to do our best to insure nothing like this ever happens again and maybe in some way restitution can be provided to the families who lost their children but nothing can compensate for a loss like this. Maybe systemic changes to ensure this can never happen again is the restitution.
To be a bit fair to our former leaders, it was and still is, virtually impossible to provide schooling to a vast area with a few tiny hamlets of population. Even today, with wireless communication, which one has to remember did not exist when these schools were created, it is a near impossible task.
One needs to wonder however, how important it is to try to “educate” some of these people in our preconceived way. For example, I know I would fail miserably at trying to survive in the arctic communities of that day but these people did so as a matter of normal life. If knowing how to survive and live in these conditions is a form of “education” maybe our efforts do drive English or French into these kids heads were simply misguided right from the start. Better if we had learned their native language and then tried to enhance their already considerable knowledge with a few things that might actually have been useful to these native people rather than try to change them to fit our model, a model that quite simply does not work well in their location. We could have done this without residential schools entirely.
Best we remember this as we go forward. Try to do a better job.
After all we have been through in the last year and a half, there is finally something good to talk about…a Canadian hockey team finally going to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
I, for one, am not a Montreal Canadian’s (or Habs) fan. My loyalty still lies with the Toronto Maple Leafs (although at this point, I don’t know why).
I will be cheering for Montreal and hoping for the best possible outcome. Right now, at this point, they are not our rivals or opponents; they are Canadians first and foremost! I think everyone should step away from their team loyalties and get behind the only Canadian team who has made it this far in the playoffs in a very long time. We all should be very proud of them and what they have accomplished.
Go Habs Go!!! Bring home the Cup!
I think I heard that the Township of Muskoka Lakes had issued ‘stop work’ orders against a couple of development projects in their area. This was done because they, ‘Muskoka Lakes’ actually have by-laws pertaining to both tree cutting and site preparation! Imagine! The population of the township is about 7,000 people compared to about 21,000 in Huntsville. And yet they have saw fit to put such by-laws in the books.
Do you suppose our council might be wise to nip over there and get a copy of those by-laws or have one faxed to them if everyone is otherwise occupied. Maybe it could be incorporated into our own by-laws and save a lot of council time actually attempting to create the regulation for themselves. If that is even happening.
And to Kathryn Henderson and Nancy Long, I attempted to contact a councilor, fitting that maximum character count in that little window, and heard nothing in reply. I also pointed out to a road crew that at the edge of the paved surface of a section of road, it drops almost vertically into a 5 foot ditch. May have piqued their curiosity by didn’t stir much interest.
Though one of you ladies has and the other has not contacted the town with your observations, might I point out that the results have been the same.
Election front and centre. John Ivison’s “O’Toole’s pro-Canada speech may resonate with voters tired of apologies”(NP June 23/21). He explains that Federal Conservatives are trying to find the right key for their campaign messages to voters & indeed a number of balloons are being floated to that end.
#1. “build up Canada” Is this “make Canada great again?”, “I’m okay, you’re okay?”, “Build back better”?
This message is to reinforce that the current generation does not bear direct responsibility for the past, and also suggests that Canadians have a minimal tolerance for hearing and learning about parts of its past -the ones not previously uncovered.
#2. He also equated taking down statues as opposite with the need to build up Canada (?more statues on the horizon?) -too tired of apologizing (in other words, aren’t we getting tired of this? being shown the realities of the darker side of Canadian history?)
Well, we could become magical thinkers and just wish it all away as some of our neighbours demonstrate to the south, citing their “cancel culture wars” (whatever that is).
I say, when the Conservatives face the current reality of Climate Change and when they fully endorse educating all Canadians about some of the darker realities of our past (not just glorifying the War of 1812), we will be able to build up and into a future for our children and fellow Canadians.
What do you think will build up the future for our children, grandchildren, and fellow Canadians?
Well!, it certainly seems that conservancy land swaps are much like poking a bear with a stick or kicking a bees nest. I hope this gets sorted out.
On a different topic, I think it is pretty pitiful that we have to bribe people with cash payments and lotteries to get vaccinated.
After all, these people are the product of our “world class” education system and to have to bribe them to get a vaccine shot at this point in history, with all the data out there and no costs to worry about… well it is just plain pitiful and represents a failure of our education system. It probably also represents a failure to adequately communicate the necessity for vaccination but this has been lost in the conflicting instructions and various conspiracy theories that float on the back waters of the internet.
We should be able to do much better.
I would like to thank everyone who supported keeping the Nelson Head Nature Reserve at 25 Town Line Road West for the people of Huntsville as is. I was amazed by how quickly opposition to the land trade grew, with many letters written, and even “Stop the Swap” signage posted. I am glad that more people are now aware that this property is there for their use. I hope that present and future generations of townspeople will enjoy the natural surroundings of the Nelson Head Nature Reserve for many years to come.
Aldine Head
FOR THE NELSON HEAD NATURE RESERVE SUPPORTERS
Imagine seeing into the future. It’s 2121. A century ahead.
A little girl and her mother are walking in the grass in a forested area.
“Oh Mommy, this is such a wonderful place. Look at all the daisies! Aren’t they pretty! Look here at all these little yellow flowers. Oh, my! I like this place!”
“Come on dear, let’s go and sit on that log over there under that tree. There’s a little stream nearby.”
“Wow! Mommy look. What’s this? It’s so soft and green!”
“Why, that’s called moss. Look over there. That’s a different kind of moss.”
“Listen, listen! What is that? It’s a little song.”
“It’s called a cricket dear. It’s chirping. Look, there it is!”
“Oh Mommy! Can we come back to this place again? I love it here. It’s magical. What do they call this place?”
“It’s a nature reserve.”
“But how did it get here?”
“A lady donated it so that all the people could come here and enjoy it forever.”
“You mean she just gave it?”
“Yes, that’s right. About a hundred years ago.”
“Wow! She must have been a very nice lady!”
“Yes, she was. She certainly was.”
Would have thought your Lead Article would have been Swing Bridge now open and new traffic patterns
Overnight the town of Huntsville has posted the 3 hour time limit parking signs at the lots on Minerva and beside Bell. Where are the employees of the downtown businesses suppose to park? The curling club is free parking for now, until they have tournaments, etc. Or until the town makes that change as well. Are we supposed to take a cab to work so we don’t get a parking ticket? Are we supposed to use our breaks and lunches to move our cars around to avoid hitting the three hour time limit? The town did not notify the businesses and did not advise them of an alternative parking option for the employees that keep the businesses running.
I haven’t tried to get hold of the town but there is a very nasty deep hole on Florence Street down by high school. Really makes a nasty noise if I forget it’s there and drive on it.
Is it just me? Or has it become more difficult to reach people at the Town of Huntsville. I’ve filled out the road concern report, a week ago. No response. No follow up. No way to contact by phone.
Should this travesty of justice and disrespect to Mrs. Head actually be approved I will be an adjacent property owner to the reserve. Of course, it would no longer be the Nelson Head Nature Reserve land as those boundaries would have already been compromised.
I have an extra 10 acres of inaccessible land, the same as the Tilstra’s. With a significant stream, wetland and rock outcropping this would enhance The Muskoka Conservancy land portfolio. Now they would have 20 extra acres for the price of 4 acres.
I could certainly use the million dollars the land swapped two acres on Town Line Rd. could generate. Or, is this only a deal for a Town of Huntsville employee? How much cash would I have to pay forward? Who would I pay it to?
Thing is … a million dollars would not sway my objection to having the Nelson Head Nature Reserve original generous donation from Aldine Head changed.
Greed is poison to the Soul.
I am also against the land trade I think its terrible that they want to change this gift that was given so generously. But then again remember a certain politician who wanted to sell off the park that was given to the town to remember the men that fought in the 1st world War. It’s to the point where I wouldn’t be surprised if no one wants to donate land anymore or be careful to wrap it in so much red tape its protected,
After reading the information regarding the Nelson Head Nature Reserve, I wish to thank Aldine Head for her generosity in donating this parcel of land to the citizens of Huntsville. We wish her many years of health and happiness.
Email sent to Huntsville Planning Committee re Nelson Head Nature Reserve
To the Planning Committee, Mayor Terziano and Council,
I am writing to object to the rezoning application of 25 Town Line Road West, which will in effect, change land intended to be preserved in its natural state to developed land.
My name is Pat Wainwright. I am the grand-daughter of Nelson Head and the niece of Aldine Head. I grew up in Huntsville and attended HHS before attending university and eventually moving to Vancouver Island.
In 2012 my aunt generously donated the 9.18 acre parcel of land (25 Town Line Road West) to the Muskoka Heritage Trust, now called the Muskoka Conservancy. She donated the land, as a family legacy, and so that it could be kept in its natural state and be a piece of undisturbed land for town people to walk through. In conversation with Conservancy staff and directors at the time, she and I, were assured that the property, to be called, Nelson Head Nature Reserve, would remain as is and be protected as is. Muskoka Heritage Trust director, Kristie Virgoe stated, “We will be protecting it from development, having it in the ownership of the trust.” (quote; What’s Up Muskoka, September 5, 2012)
The proposed land exchange and application for rezoning, (Z/09/2021/HTE), do not match the original intention of the donation or the agreed upon conditions. This proposed transaction brings to question the trustworthiness of the Conservancy as well as the Town of Huntsville’s role in endorsing this exchange by agreeing to the rezoning application. Mrs. Head, and our family, strongly object to the development of the 25 Town Line Road West property, part of the Nelson Head Nature Reserve.
We appreciate your sincere consideration of our concerns, and urge you to support the original intention of the donation by rejecting the Application No.:Z/09/2021/HTE.
Thank you.
Patricia Wainwright (nee Antcliffe)
Nanaimo, BC
Addendum; Thank all of you who have been offering Aunt Skip your support. She has felt very alone and minimized in this process.
Just two quick clarifications on some recent comments on the Nelson Head Nature Reserve.
First, the land exchange will not mean that the nature reserve will become land locked. It will still retain the majority of its road frontage on Town Line Road and all of it on Brunel Road.
Second, there are no buildings on the nature reserve and the site of the old Head homestead will remain protected.
We encourage concerned people to read the town’s planning report which features some useful sketches for anyone who is interested in learning more.
I would like to say thank you to all the supporters AGAINST the proposed land swap involving the Nelson Head Nature Reserve property. Mrs. Head is also very grateful as she thought she was in this alone in this battle of keeping her wishes intact.
A comment in response to Scott Young’s most recent post :
“since it was brought to our attention, we will be erecting a plaque” – maybe to your attention Mr. Young, but the conservancy knew about this in 2012 when the land was donated. You might have not been the director at the time, but don’t make it sound that this is a new request all of a sudden. Your organization has been negligent for 9 years in this request. Your organization has also been negligent in ensuring the zoning was changed as stated by other commenters.
I sat in Mrs. Head’s kitchen on Thursday and had a conversation with this generous woman. She told me that approximately a year ago she and a woman representing the conservancy went to her lawyer’s office and discussed this. Mrs. Head made it clear at that time that she wished the property to remain “as it is”. Since then she has been contacted by the conservancy telling her “how wonderful this would be” and “how someone must be crazy not to think this was a good idea”.
I asked her what her wishes were today? She told me that they hadn’t changed since the day she donated the property, “to remain the way it is”.
While I was there she called Scott Young and to him exactly that, that she wanted the property to remain the way it is. She also told him that any further communication in relation to this was to go through me.
That was on Thursday the 10th at noon. Since then, the same woman that had been in the Mrs. Head’s lawyer’s office has called her. Ms. Abbott is a volunteer for the conservancy, and once again tried to tell Mrs. Head what a wonderful thing this would be, etc., etc.
My response to Muskoka Conservancy and anyone affiliated with them – DO NOT contact Mrs. Head again. She is feeling bullied by you. She had made her wishes for the property to you in black and white, no further explanation required. Any further communication will be considered harassment, and to the best of my knowledge is a criminal offence.
Mrs. Head is aware, as Mr. Young has pointed out that ultimately the decision is in the hands of the Town as she donated the property and no longer owns it.
I sincerely hope that that the councilors vote to quash this request, or as Ms. Botham has stated, who in their right mind would donate any land to the town or any organization if their wishes with it aren’t going to followed through.
In the ‘Who We Are’ portion of the Muskoka Conservancy mission statement, I don’t see the part that clearly announces that the program will swap what has been donated to it, as it deems fit.
I don’t have access to the agreement they have with the Head family, but I doubt such a clause was in that agreement either.
I believe the Conservancy is a good program and does good work, but I feel this is bad example of what they do. If it is a land trader, that should be noted in the mission statement, because I’m sure people who leave it land ‘in trust’ would like to be able to trust the program.
Is this ‘swapping’ common practice? How many times have they done this already? Is this to establish precedent?
The little stream still trickles as it did when I was younger, and the spring is protected from everyone but the owner of the land, snugged as it is behind the property entrusted to the Conservancy by Aldine Head.
The Conservancy should get the land rezoned as was to have been done years ago and give up this foray into trading donated properties.
People should be able to trust that their wishes are adhered to.
The plaque is a nice touch. Whos’ land will it be on?
Allen Markle
Regarding The Nelson Head Nature Retreat,
As the town gets busier and more development occurs, the land is being swallowed up. I can’t think of another beautiful piece within the town core that isn’t being eyed up for future development. The Nelson Head Nature Retreat is visibly beautiful from the road and should not be touched. Giving away 2 acres on Townline Road which will be developed in exchange for 10 acres that is land-locked doesn’t seem fitting. Having spoken with Mr. Scott Young from Muskoka Conservancy last week regarding the property in question, I may be a naysayer and narrow-minded but I can live with that. No hard feelings.
I believe the original intent was to have this property available as a natural park like site visible for people walking or driving on Brunel Rd., NOT to be moved back behind more houses out of site, with the proposed swap. Natural property across the road by Forbes Hill is another good example of poor future planning by the Town.
It is never too late to start to get things under control.
I’m going to add my 2 cents to the property exchange at Brunel and Townline. After watching the denuding and raping of Forbes hill (which is sad but have to grudgingly accept because it was private property and all channels were legal) I’m glad the citizens are staying informed on this developement. On face value this exchange does not look like a bad idea. It doubles the size of the park, but it goes against the wishes of the benifactor, Ms Head. I have another option. Lets start a crowd fund to purchase the other property and add it to the existing park. It is land locked, very difficult to develope thus its value is deminished except as a natural park. Here in Huntsville we are fortunate to live in all this surrounding beauty but if we keep giving it away we’ll look like Toronto soon. We have one large park, Hunter’s bay trail and a few other small ones large enough for a picnic table and a park bench, but none compare to tranquilty and serenity of this property on Brunel. Take a walk in it. It takes you away but be carefull. It is wild and rough.
I’m in agreement with others who do NOT want this land swap. And again, I reiterate, the lack of Town of Huntsville’s initiative in maintaining and providing recreation space for the residents here. It is deplorable and will only get worse.
Last year, through the efforts of volunteers and donors, Muskoka Conservancy added conservation protection to approximately 400 acres of wetlands and forests in Muskoka.
It’s not always smooth sailing , but we are proud of the work we do.
At Nelson Head Nature Reserve, we are simply trying to do more of the same thing— protect more space for nature. That’s it. Plain and simple.
It is surprising to us that there’s any opposition to this, but we accept that everyone has a right to an opinion.
There will be a public meeting next week. If the town decides that expanding the nature reserve is not in the best interest of Huntsville, we accept that.
And if that happens, we will just carry on working hard with a cast of dedicated volunteers and supporters to identify and protect more conservation land elsewhere.
Oh and yes, since it has been brought to our attention, we will be erecting a plaque at the Nelson Head Nature Reserve regardless of the outcome.
No hard feelings.
Land Swap 139 Brunel rd and 25 Townline rd
The issue here is with the Muskoka Conservancy. I often wondered who owned this property and did not know that it was available to the public to walk on. I question the MC why they never had it re-zoned and a plaque stating it was The Nelson Head Reserve. Basically they have done nothing to this land since it was donated.
Regarding the land Swap we don’t know how much money they will receive in the exchange for for land. The board of directors must realize that the land Jeremiah Tilsra and Margaet Stead will get can create 7 new residential lots under the current RR2 zoning with a value of $1.4 million. Surely they wouldn’t just Swap land for land. Money generated from this land Swap could be used to make the Reserve an enjoyable place to visit. Perhaps something could be done with the old stone house.
Probably a Public Meeting should take place and the prior to going to the planning committee.
Re: A. Head land swap 25 Town Line Rd and 139 Brunel Rd
I am appalled at the arrogance of the Muskoka Conservancy employee, Scott Young’s comments. He tells us, the people of Huntsville, that this land swap is a really good thing for nature and all the residents of Huntsville? I am sorry, sir, but you assume and you are wrong.
Aldine Head generously donated this 9.18 acres of land to the Conservancy with the specific desire to keep this property intact with only minor adaptations such as walking trails. She is the donor and those terms and conditions could not be more specific. Why would there not be compliance? I thought the Muskoka Conservancy operated with a code of ethics of the highest standards. This makes one question that, doesn’t it? Mr Young, if you wish to comply with developers wishes and work with them, you should do so, but not under the guise of the Muskoka Conservancy. One cannot help but wonder where does the Conservancy Board of Directors stand on this?
If this proposal usurps Aldine Head’s initial intent for the future of this property, then who would ever want to donate any land to the Conservancy again?
IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT OUR PRIMENISTER TAKES THE RESPOSIBILITY IN FIENDING A NEW GOVERNAL GENERAL FOR OUR COUNTRY , IF WE HAVE A CRISIS IN OUR COUNTRY ON THE POLITICAL LEVEL , THE GOVERNOR GENERAL HAS THE FINAL DECISION.
THEREFORE WE NEED A NEW GOVERNOR GENERAL NOW !!
I am urging all who are against the proposed “land swap” deal on the Town Line road to email Kirstin Maxwell-Director Of Development Services at the Town Hall to voice your concerns about this matter! The more people who do this will strengthen our case that this deal is a bad one for our town!
I have a question that I can’t seem to get answered. Are there any by laws or rules about boarding houses when the owner dosnt live there? Are there fees , are there inspections?
Thank you all for your comments and calls supporting Mrs. Head.
Mr. Young, The Muskoka Conservancy is negligent in not zoning the property conservation land nine years ago when it was donated. Had that been correctly done we would not be having this discussion.
The facts you have stated as reasons why it is a good idea to swap the land are all reasons why a building permit would not be issued for the property. It will always be protected by whoever owns the property. Your involvement is not required for protection.
Mrs. Head wishes the property to remain as she donated it, as the original homestead property. She believed it had all been zoned as conservation land nine years ago. Her wishes should be honored.
Don’t you love the phones today.
1- You can’t look up anyone’s cell number anywhere so now effectively all numbers are unlisted.
2- So you call someplace and then they want you to push a number option. well to do this you have to take the phone away from your ear and select the keypad and then push the number (3 operations and you can’t hear anything during this time) Then you put the phone back to your ear and guess what… the site did not wait for you do do this and your lost somewhere in answerland.
3- Your multi hundred dollar phone has no ability to have a new battery installed easily but the battery in it now lasts for less than half a day if you don’t talk and about one minute if it is below zero outside. You do use your phone outside right??
4- Any call for any kind of service will require you to remember a list of passwords and secret identification codes and finally you will get a sales pitch and an indeterminate wait so long the phone usually dies first.
5-Then there is Murphy’s law that the call you get will have a bunch of critical information to be conveyed and it will come to you as you are hanging half off a scaffold with a paint brush in one hand…. such a great place to take notes critical to your car insurance or mortgage or some such item.
I remember the old “dumb” phone. The one that did nothing you did not tell it to do and worked nearly always and you could look up a business or personal number easily.
Maybe Siri does not like me as she tries but is often of little help.
Hmm. Scott’s explanation make a lot of sense. The logic seems pretty sound. And the end result of the proposed land exchange seems to be very much in line with the Conservancy’s mission. Thanks for clarifying, Scott.
I never realized what was happening with this piece of land until today. I Agee with those opposing this swap of land . Make sure you look at the agenda for the mtg for June 16/ 21 and take part in the Zoom mtg. This is your opportunity to voice your concerns . The Agenda is usually posted on the Friday before the mtg
OUR MISSION
Plain and simple, our mission is nature conservation in Muskoka.
We envision a healthy, resilient Muskoka that conserves natural spaces for our own and future generations.
To achieve our mission, Muskoka Conservancy is a registered charity and a Canadian corporation that operates as a land trust.
That means we acquire ownership of properties and legally registered agreements with private property owners to protect land for nature conservation purposes, forever.
I just read the above statement from the Muskoka Conservancy website. Note the word “forever”.
Enough said. Respect the wishes of the person(s) donating the land.
Everyone is entitled their opinion, but in my opinion the proposed land exchange is a really good thing for nature and all the residents of Huntsville.
In a nutshell, MC proposes to exchange 2 acres on Townline Rd for 10 acres of adjacent land in order to nearly double the amount of protected land that makes up the Nelson Head Nature Reserve.
The added conservation land will also protect the headwaters of the small creek that runs across the property.
Currently Muskoka Conservancy (MC) owns approximately 9 acres that was donated by Aldine Head. When the opportunity to expand the nature reserve from 9 acres to 17 acres and protect the headwaters of the small creek came up, as a nature conservation organization, we felt it was our responsibility to seriously consider the offer. We sent a team of volunteers with biology and ecology backgrounds to the site. The more we looked into it, the reasons why this land exchange makes sense for nature conservation only became more clear. The key reasons are:
• a stream flowing through the nature reserve has its headwaters on the backlot we seek to acquire. The exchange will ensure this spring is protected.
• Natural properties tend to have reduced ecological values near their edges, particularly when those edges are hard up against urban development. Exchanging a small parcel adjacent to urban development for a larger backlot parcel not only increases the protected area, but it will also reduce or soften the so-called edge effects ensuring that more of the nature reserve has a chance to be natural.
These combined enhancements mean the Nelson Head Nature Reserve will not only become larger, but it will become more resistant and resilient to pressures like drought, pollution, and invasive species after the lands are exchanged. From a natural standpoint, both the quantity and quality will be improved.
I hope you will understand and appreciate that we are acting only with the intention of protecting more nature in Huntsville.
Scott Young
Muskoka Conservancy
It is mostly just shouting at the wind with our council. If there is any method they can imagine to clear cut or pave over the land in the name of collecting taxes they will do it. And rarely is it to the peoples advantage. The land that was bequeathed to the Conservancy is worth a lot of money in todays world and we, the people, won’t realize much from it. Some annual taxes on more condos, while the developer makes millions. It was donated to the Muskoka Conservancy to be green space but where is the dollar return in that? Council would have to create a park and they are not so inclined. And then maintenance!
If council is set on dumping the land, do it at fair market value, but to trade it for something that is useless, is ludicrous. What the town receives in return will be of no value, that seems obvious, because if it were, the developer would use it himself. Maybe he could just apply for a 66′ easement across the green space.
But it seems council is loathe to own anything that has to be maintained and has an annual cost of operation. The library and firehall must draw frowns. Maybe we could just lease them?
Volunteers restored the old train station, the town spend a bundle to repair the damage that the lack of maintenance had caused, and then dumped it for a toonie. They do seem to want to get their moneys worth!
Not that long ago, council considered repurposing land allocated as the site for a war memorial. A private citizen placed his own wallet and a lawyer in the path of that little foray.
About a month or so ago we were made aware of ‘dynamic thinking’ and thinking ‘outside the box’ when plans for a duplex in a farm field was being considered. This rental property is to be allowed in exchange for a garden that will operated on the land and the promised produce to to donated to a charity. This time council will receive some taxes and root crops! I sent a letter to a councilor about this and received neither a laugh nor a grunt. And certainly no reply.
I don’t have land I would bequeath to the Muskoka Conservancy. Ten men and sharp sticks couldn’t make me. Enough said.
In response to the well written comment by Michelle Ferguson about the proposed land swap involving the Nelson Head Nature Reserve, I would like to ad that this proposal is ludicrous.
Knowing Mrs. Head and her late husband for many years, her generosity in donating this parcel of land which used to be the location of her family’s homestead, was meant to be left in the natural state that it currently is so that it could be enjoyed by the residents of Huntsville and for animals and vegetation to have a undisturbed place to live.
To think that the Muskoka Conservancy feels that it is “Ok” to do a “land swap” or “exchange” with I believe Mr. Tillstra, so that he has a “easier “ which in turn would be a more profitable piece of property to develop, begs to question “what is in it for them.?”
In my opinion there must be something, because why else would you even consider it?
I’m sure that Mrs. Head would have second thoughts about donating this parcel of land knowing that something as disrespectful as this is even being considered.
As Ms. Ferguson has suggested, I urge anyone who believes this proposal should NOT go through, to email the Town of Huntsville and The Muskoka Conservancy and voice your opinion.
In regard to the proposed land swap, at Brunel Rd. and Town Line Rd, It is very hard to imagine the Town Planning and there high payed staff would even consider such a thing after all their recent blunders.
Is anyone steering this planning board, it makes one think not.
It is necessary for me to avert my eyes when driving past the destruction of Forbes Hill. What was once beautiful dense forest is now to be home for yet another multi-unit building project to house those who can afford it. Certainly not affordable housing. This destruction of land may have been averted had the people had the opportunity to voice their opinion and have their suggestions heard. The voice of many, or so we like to hope.
With the hope that many voices will be heard I urge all residence of Huntsville to strongly object to the proposed land swap with the Muskoka Conservancy to a private land owner as posted in the Huntsville Forester May 27/21.
With a generous heart Mrs. Aldine Head donated 9.18 acres of land, to be called The Nelson Head Nature Reserve, on the corner of Brunel Rd. and running west up Town Line Rd. to the Heritage Trust (Muskoka Conservancy) for the citizens of Huntsville to enjoy undisturbed land in town for people to walk through. Her wish was to have no trails or motorized vehicles or parking and the land to remain as it was when her family lived there (see – Huntsville Forester Archives Sept. 5, 2012 – Heritage Trust (Muskoka Conservancy) gets Huntsville land donation).
The Muskoka Conservancy mission statement states their intention to ‘protect land for nature conservation, ‘forever’. It is bewildering why, and how can they, now decide to swap two acres of this donated land to one private land owner.
The land in question to be ‘swapped’ will always be protected by any current owner as it has little value, is land locked, and is unsuitable for development. The two acres of the Nature Reserve fronting on Town Line Rd. has considerable monetary value which would benefit only one property owner and take away from the 19,816 (2016 census – many more now) citizens it was originally bequeathed for. The one property owner would not only benefit financially obtaining the two acres on town services (possible eight building lots) they would get a tax deduction on retained property and still have the land in back yard of their home for enjoyment and use as desired. This is wrong.
So, I urge all citizens, the voice of many, to email planning @ Town of Huntsville regarding June 16/21 – 25 Town Line Rd. and 139 Brunel Rd. file Z/09/2021 (see – notices of consent B/23-24/2021/HTE) and strongly object to this land swap prior to it being a done deal. CC your council. Rally your friends. Save this forest and honor Aldine Head’s wishes. Thank you.
Why are known Air BNB and private cottage rentals not being enforced during the lockdown. We have a local property on Lake of Bays at South Portage that has had several vehicles arrive every weekend for the past 2 months. (they are never the same cars) The property is listed on Air BNB at $500 per night. Specific rules include no cottage rentals during the stay at home order. An e-mail to the Township By-law officer received no response.
Who, then, is controlling this situation.
Can you sense an election coming? Today’s National Post article by John Robson, “In Canada, our governments don’t do hard” may help to set the stage.
Oh yea, another descriptor buzz word “hard”, which I gather refers to such things as “hard skills”- you know figures, economics. That, including a picture of a smiling JT with hand bent at the wrist is sure to attract (really? Will there be a follow up photo-op with DF or EO’T in football uniforms or combat gear?)
I have abhorred the “hard” vis-à-vis “soft” skills binary (you might read this as masculine/feminine or one set of skills as more important than the other). We need both, not either/or.
Robson does a decent job of summarizing this dynamic in his last paragraph, illustrating the paradox which presents to us as Canadians. He says, “So is keeping national and provincial governments solvent; saving the economy from collapse while protecting the vulnerable from COVID; holding Canada together while acknowledging, and when possible compensating for, past wrongs; maintaining national security in a hostile world; and preserving liberty as the only arrangement compatible with human dignity or effective public and private responses to challenges.”
Can’t help wondering if he would like to see more yelling, screaming in Parliament and on the upcoming campaign trail (the “hard” persona). We have only to remember the petulant screamer from the US –who gave some of us nightmares in his effort to appear leader-like. Watch the spin folks.
I have been a resident of Huntsville for 5 years and I am very happy to call this community my home. I like to spend time in River Mill Park but there is a problem…goose poop (sorry for the strong language). Has the town ever tried to solve this problem? Can anyone tell me the history of this issue?
Hi,
Total change of conversation. I like to run and bike ride regularly in Port Sydney and I just wanted to thank all the vehicles that slow down and/or pull over into the over lane when they go by. Summers a busy time and we all like to be outside as much as possible. It’s greatly appreciated.
Thanks! Have a safe summer.
How about some tit-for-tat on the whole climate change / carbon footprint reduction stuff? I have chosen to be child free. Having children is about as carbon- and trash-generating a choice an individual can make. So I would like a free pass, thanks, on all the proposed carbon restrictions and other save-the-environment initiatives, Let me continue to use my fire pit. Let me keep my gasoline-powered car and lawn mover and weed whacker. Let me leave my furnace hooked up to natural gas, and skip the whole solar-panels-on-the-roof thing. Let me enjoy my delicious Keurig coffees without trying to shame me because we could stack K-cups to the moon and back, or some such thing. I think I have done my part and then some, just by not selfishly foisting upon this Earth another resource-consuming, waste-generating human being,
The Proposal to Ask Huntsville Town Council to Declare a Climate Emergency as Proposed by the Climate Action Muskoka.
A small group of activists have made a presentation to the Huntsville Council that they should declare a Climate Emergency, and in doing so, accept and comply with their 17 page manifesto. I have extracted what I think are some significant points in this document.
General
• Diversify urban areas into walkable non- car dependent communities.
• Reduce carbon footprint by 50% by 2030 and zero emissions by 2050.
• Tackling climate change will impact peoples’ lives and change our lifestyles.
Comment: So no cars in Huntsville and we all have to walk or bicycle unless we own an expensive electric car. Zero emissions means no wood fires or heating by oil or gas only solar or wind power to heat your home.
Buildings
• Passive housing with net zero requirements by the use of carbon smart materials.
• Build affordable social housing.
Comment: Huntsville is struggling to provide affordable housing and building costs are increasing daily. The dictate to use carbon smart materials will only push up the price further.
Economy
• Implement and utilize a participatory budget process
Comment: Does this mean that Climate Action Muskoka sees themselves involved in the Council budgetary process or what does it mean. As with all utopian ideals, there is not one costing of any of the proposals to show what the real cost of implementing this would be.
Education
• Economic benefits of a greener economy including improved health, increased employment and business opportunities.
Comment: What facts support this statement?
Energy
• Installation of solar panels on Muskoka residences and all municipal buildings.
• Develop a 100% renewable energy digital smart grid to provide fewer outages and lower and predictable energy costs.
• Provide incentives for the use of heat pumps in retrofits and require their installation in all new builds
Comment: With little wind in winter and loads of snow on solar panels, there is little hope that this avenue would provide sufficient power to the community nor heat their homes in a cost effective manner. Where is all the extra electrical power to come from for all the expensive electric cars we will be driving and the infrastructure to support them? As for heat pumps, the MTO fitted the Almaguin Information Centre with this system. Within 2 years, the system was removed as it did not provide sufficient heat for the staff and the electrical costs of running the many pumps continuously for 24 hours a day was astronomical.
Food Security
• Support local year round food supply projects to build Muskoka food sovereignty.
Comment: In the past, people built cold stores for their root vegetables to last through winter. It is difficult to see how this could develop into a year round proposal with the frosts, cold temperatures and snow that Muskoka gets every winter. If this is a move to hydroponics, a system that uses lots of electricity and water to grow vegetables in a heated building, them this method only increases the cost of the vegetables and can only produce a limited amount unable to sustain the Muskoka population.
Health
• Reduce air pollutants by vehicle traffic and winter salt use.
Comment: At last, one I agree with!
Tourism
• Develop laws to reduce the use of fossil fuel powered boats, jet skis and speedboats to reduce noise and carbon emissions and quiet lake periods of the day.
• Advocate for a renewed train service and improved bus service between Muskoka and the GTA and between communities in Muskoka
Comment: Good luck with that one regarding water traffic. I presume that the big heavy diesel carbon producing trains would be replaced by electric trains with an electrified line running from the GTA to North Bay at a cost of many billions.
Transport
• Convert all the Municipal fleet to electric vehicles.
• Council staff to use bicycles, E bikes or small evs.
Comment: Can you imagine the cost of an electric snowplow that can do the job as well as the current diesel one and would they ever manufacture one?
Vice President Al Gore gave dire predictions in 2008 that the ice caps would be melted by 2014, Miami would be flooded and countless ocean islands would be under water. It hasn’t happened. My apologies for my lengthy diatribe but I feel someone must speak up against this Orwellian and utopian vision of a happy electric future. If passed, it will have sever implications for us all especially in terms of cost as our rates will explode and low cost housing will be impractical and unaffordable. I ask that Huntsville Council reject a declaration of a climate emergency.
According to John Ivison (writer, National Post) this morning, JT’s recent apology to Italian Canadians is “going to the empathy well”. Wow, having “empathy” is now political rhetoric for what? weakness? who knows? Watch the buzz words. Now “empathy well” is a “catchy” political bludgeon one can use – call your enemy “empathetic”. I say, “pathetic”.
I’ve had only positive experiences eating at our Huntsville Food Trucks, last summer. It is a way to support local folks, have a break from prepping and cooking, and is an outing in a safe, outdoor setting. Food trucks have been around for many years (and I do mean MANY). I have happy memories of ordering French fries at a food truck in Hailebury. Those fries at the food truck next to my grandma’s apartment building were the highlight of my visit (next to seeing her).
Bonnie,
Algonquin Cafe has both a food trailer and a permanent restaurant.
Canvas Brewing has added a food trailer to the side of their patio (they don’t own the food trailer) called the Fox in the Hen House, also owned by an existing local business
Boston Pizza has two food trailers on their property.
Food trucks and trailers add to the town in a positive way.
Reading the opinions on Food Trucks is very interesting. I have a question what about Free Enterprise?
Let’s face it this Pandemic has been very hard on the restaurants everywhere in an industry that has such a high failure rate. Is the answer to get rid of the competition? The town is tasked with the decision as to how many and where these food trucks can be located.
But the deeper question is should we block some young entrepreneur from trying. The success of any business has less to do with competition and more to do with a person rising above it.
As for loyalty that comes from the quality, quantity, service, and the value you received for your hard earned dollar. Honestly would you eat over-priced lousy food just to support a local restaurant? Successful restaurant owners know this and strive to repeat it daily, it is no different for food truck owners.
I do agree that the town planners have to look at how these additional businesses enhance or detract from the beauty of Huntsville. And make the right decision for whats best for Huntsville. I also agree I am blown away by the number of pot shops we have(maybe that is the reason for the food trucks) Just my thoughts Be Safe
Well said Marg Winchester!! I totally agree…..
I disagree with Jaime’s comments regarding food trucks. I don’t feel that food trucks and trailers take away from brick and mortar restaurants. The food trucks cater to the consumers that don’t want to sit down in a traditional restaurant or have fast food at the few franchise offerings. These customers are not going to the restaurants regardless.
To address your assumption that the food trucks only take advantage of the peak summer season, I agree, but that’s okay because the peak summer season is when we swell in population and restaurants are already too full. Those same food trucks shut down for the winter and local patrons either go to the brick and mortar restaurants or fast food franchises anyway.
I believe it adds more options to the town locals and visitors alike, during the peak season only, when restaurants can not fully accommodate the number of customers. Food trucks become overflow, and they disappear during the season that restaurants really need to be busier.
Huntsville, PLEASE take care of our ‘Brand’; we’d like to continue to be proud of this town.
Food trucks offered some assistance in ‘distanced’ food takeout during this Pandemic, Thank You, but don’t let them be a permanent feature all over the town of Huntsville for our future. Stop the draining of income from our long term businesses. They’ve taken care of us, they now deserve our care in return.
Jamie Jordan made some great points.
I believe we must value:
Loyalty – to our established restaurants & their employees, and their shopkeeper neighbours & employees who are usually ‘visited’ or ‘window shopped’ before or after a lunch or dinner.
Pride – ‘beautification’ of our town would not include allowing more & more food trucks, but would include more & more ‘windows’ to our privileged views & outdoor activities.
How about a Volunteer-staffed new Visitors Centre in a prominent location (part of our new ‘Streetscape’?)
Role Modelling – our young population
have frequently followed their parents lead here in Huntsville & have joined, taken over or opened their own businesses.
– helping to stem the tide of our young
people permanently leaving our town.
This should be a point of pride for Huntsville!
Huntsville-
Take care of our ‘Brand’ – please.
I completely agree with Jamie Jordan’s comments on May 16th regarding food trucks in Huntsville.
Should we not be more worried about the number of pot shops that have been allowed to come to town. I’d rather Huntsville be known for providing visitors the opportunitiy to enjoy a meal of their choice than a pot shopping opportunity of their choice.
I was very interested in the front page story of The Huntsville Forester this week about food trucks. There are towns like Huntsville that have a natural beauty about them which is their core value. It is what draws people from all over the world. On top of that are the citizens who come here, develop businesses and like layers of leaves create a rich environment that draw more people to take root here. But there are other towns, like Niagara Falls (it may be different now but I worked there one summer years ago) which seem to have lost track of that core natural beauty and allowed a shallow soil to take its place.
Food trucks are tacky in my opinion. I think that we already have too many of them. The truck owners, according to the article, were all in favour of competition but how do you compare the overhead of a place like The Moose to the cost of operating a tiny food truck which is only here taking advantage of the best season, summer and disappears for the rest of the year. I don’t believe there is a single visitor to Huntsville who comes here because of its food trucks.
A town with too many food trucks will actually prevent development of long term restaurants which are of course preferable.
And why is a long term restaurant preferable? Because it rents or builds in permanent buildings which if full will cause the construction of more permanent buildings. I can’t imagine that a food truck is taxed as much as a local restaurant but if they are I’d like to see those figures. Long term restaurant businesses employ way more people. Long term restaurants invest in Huntsville. They donate to service club projects, other institutions like the Hospital and of course to sports teams just to name a few. There are dozens of quiet behind the scenes acts of generosity that they provide without asking for publicity, where there is a great need for a person or family going through a hard time and we never hear about these.
With all that our permanent restaurants have been through over the last few years, flooding and the pandemic I think they should be getting more support from the town for their continued innovation, hard work and loyalty. If anything we should be cutting back on food trucks at this time in support of our permanent businesses, not allowing more trucks which will make it difficult for a permanent restaurant to survive.
Finally, the most important issue is what is the feeling that a visitor to Huntsville gets when they arrive here? Is it a kind of jaw dropping reaction to how beautiful the place looks, which it does and how clearly the people who live here are taking care of both the natural and business environments. Or is it a feeling of tackiness, that the quick buck is clearly more important than the long haul values?
Hello; there are 2 things that come to mind for us during Nurses Week 2021.
1] Give a huge THANKYOU to nurses you know and those you see this week.
2] Next provincial election in Parry Sound Muskoka and elsewhere, vote, and Please vote out this Conservative government.
RNAO (Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, a professional organization and not a union) reminds us that this Conservative government’s “Pandemic response” is “too little too late”.
“The work of nurses has been particularly hard-hit by provincial missteps”. I would only add, that frontline healthcare workers in LTC should be included in this group too.
Thank you.
Did you miss Earth Day this year?
Last year is also difficult to remember because Covid has taken over our lives. Earth Day happens every year in April, not the 4/20 but around the same time.
This time last year it was unique because human activity had grinded to a halt. The sky was clear and blue, there was little sound of noise or smell of traffic in the air. Wildlife came back into our (their) world to explore, so last year’s Earth Day was a great experience if you love the environment.
Earth Day represents sustainability, not waste, and a plan for future generations. This year I came up my street to see in front me, every driveway with a newspaper stuffed into a plastic bag. This was not a new sight. Every couple years I have to complain to have this delivery stopped in my driveway. After lots of complaining it stops but starts again in a few years.
Some will pick them up and use the flyers or read the newsprint. Some will use them for fire starters, too much ink makes it difficult to burn, and bad for the environment. Some will find them when they are snow blowing, that aggravates. Some are thrown back into the recycling and some are just left to rot on the street or in the ditch.
If single use plastic is banned will this practice of blanket delivery stop? I hope so! It is a waste to deliver to everyone when not everyone uses it. Simple.
Please set up a system where what is manufactured is consumed, let people decide if they want it. Don’t keep throwing what I don’t in my driveway and wasting our natural resources. Please.
Mr. Marschdorf:
Do you believe that any of these pronouncements from our Health Authority is much more than government people bouncing off walls? I don’t. Nor do I believe that any of our government operatives have had time to run any kind of actual research.
Yes. No! Yes. No! flip flopping this quickly suggests maybe looking at the question for a day or two and then making a pronouncement. We are never offered any proof, only their ‘sound’ decision.
We have friends and relatives in England and they are getting back to visiting again whereas we are approaching having a 45% vaccination rate. And that is only the first shot!
If our health authorities were simply to watch, they might learn something worth telling us.
But we seem to have governments and government officials who believe that Canadians only believe what we hear from them and not what we can see happening around us.
But don’t lose hope. They could say something different tomorrow. Who knows with this shower?
So we have to keep ourselves safe. Mask, wash, maintain a distance and we will muddle through.
Best of luck to us all.
I wanted to get this off my chest regarding the Health Authority’s decision to stop the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine rollout:
The claim by the authorities in yesterday’s Zoom conference was that “VITT [Thrombosis] data is evolving in real time”. Seriously? Do we think that we Canadians are genetically different from the Brits or the Danes, so that we can only rely on our Canadian case counts? If chickening out is what they want to do they could have done this a while ago! 242 cases in 28.5 million vaccinated in the UK is less than 1 in 100,000, to be precise 0.8491 in 100,000. Only 49 cases of death, which means 1.7 per MILLION. To base a decision on the much smaller sample size the Canadian vaccination system provides shows a disturbing lack of understanding of statistics and genetics. Stopping AZ now means giving up on the piloted distribution system via pharmacies and medical practitioners in rural settings where deep temperature refrigeration is an issue. Pharmacies and GP offices are the ones with close contact to their customers and able to convince them out of their hesitancy. I took the AZ shot from my Huntsville doctor 2 months ago and am still grateful I was given the opportunity and will accept AZ as a second dose if offered to me without hesitation. I felt comfortable in the hands of the nurse practitioner and the doctor I always see. The authorities should complain less about vaccine hesitancy and focus more on actions to counteract it. That would include abandoning erratic decision making and inconsistent communication. I just read on CBC that Ontario will receive 250,000 doses of AZ next week. So, how will you communicate to us that we should take it after all. As it must be clear from what I wrote above, there’s no need to convince me, but you need to convince 250,000 Ontarians plus as many residents as required to use up the doses still sitting in fridges of pharmacies and doctors offices approaching expiry dates. Happy flip flopping… Here’s a hint: Four months gaps are not supported by any scientific study. 3 months is the maximum study period. The US trial results showing 100% efficacy against serious illness and 76% overall efficacy against any infection were based on 28 day intervals. More might well be better as the British studies published in The Lancet, a medical journal, claimed, but 100/76 % sounds good enough for me. I’ll take it.
Wow,I hope that our seasonal residents and cottages are not reading all these negative comments.Let’s remember that we are a tourist destination.These folks pay lots of taxes already for the privilege of being here..I don’t see a lot of other industry creating jobs for Muskoka other than tourism
personally seasonal cottagers pay more taxes than locals we contribute more to the economy 10,000 in taxes means a lot to the town its the seasonal cottager building Huntsville not local as for the hospital the big donation is coming from the seasonal individual, the wining doesn’t mean anything to it does not affect us it just work up some locals blood pressure. the town council is on track building the town as the Hamptons of Canada to attract the rich and famous and filter out those who don’t want to be part of the change. as for social distancing the locals need to use commonsense i was at ESSO station on Hwy 60 a local was blocking the exit when i asked to be excused her response is don’t you know social distance how stupid could one be your blocking the exite also there is the kFC where the cashier is racist the next time i’m there i will defiantly record her behaviour toward ous and post it on social media sometime when she sees ous she runs to the back and askes the cook to serve ous then she come out and stand there a few weeks she had the courtesy to help a customer take his food to his truck while not wearing a mask this is not the end of this why should we be subject to this type of behaviour and why is this even serving customer.
Have we come down with ” Covid Brain “?
As a permanent resident of this beautiful town, I am concerned that a few year round residents are of the opinion that they pay the lion’s share of taxes to live in paradise.
I am only taxed by property value as is across the border for anyone owning property in Huntsville. This assessment pays for the infrastructure in the area, the schools, the hospitals… everything that WE, as property owners reap the benefits of. We do not pay taxes based on occupancy … pray that never becomes the criteria. 12 months of road, school, hospital etc usage versus 5-6 months seasonally?
Think about it. Taxes are a download from the federal to the provincial to the municipality. It is an equation based on a wish list that is not based on a seasonal versus year round occupancy.
Be thankful that we have a strong tax base, for the most part compliments of the high value of waterfront homes.
These high assessed properties keep our unfrasture improvements manageable.
Thank you to our effective blended community.
How nice to see all the extra vehicles in various neighbours’ driveways this weekend, for Mother’s Day. Lots of good, unhealthy mixing of members of different households, from different municipalities. Nice to see how everyone’s selfish self-interests continue to drive their behaviours. Boy, people must really love these lockdowns, because they seem to want them to go on forever.
re : cottagers
Firstly, I apologize to all those who are tired of seeing my name in your “Speak Up” section.
I really thought, with all the nice and supportive comments I have had the pleasure to read, that the majority had come to the conclusion, that the cottagers and local community had a mutual respect, and support for each other. I truly believe that we have formed friendships here in the community.
My response to the previous note, is that this-is the first time the words “ice cream and Italian food “have ever been found offensive. Of course we support all the local shops, builders, caterers etc ,etc. I guess I should have taken the time to mention everyone.
PS, again not sure how this is important, but my parents are MD’s not me.
My taxes are based on property and location etc. like all other property owners. I am not educated on the response of an extra “seasonal tax” or the reaction that might occur as a result of it being introduced.
Finally, as I have said before , Karen, I think you are in the minority, and I am sorry that you have this dislike of the local cottagers.
When I am allowed to come up- my first stop will be the ice cream shop.
joAnn
Adding to Nancy’s point, about non-residents helping out, visitors and seasonal residents know that when they come here they have access to excellent hospital care, yet do nothing to support it financially.
A few dollars tax, maybe part of the accommodation short term rental tax, from every visitor would make a huge difference in eliminating the deficit and paying for capital costs of our Huntsville Hospital.
While reading the comments here this morning, I cannot help but think about the divide between the seasonal residents and permanent residents. Joanne Purdle’s comments have really made a point with me. As an educated doctor, she feels that buying ice-cream and italian food while she’s here is supporting our economy. I wonder how many other seasonal residents think that’s appropriate support for our economy. I really believe that we need an extra seasonal resident property tax. And then we can use that money for the permanent residents to have appropriate access to parks that include water frontage and other recreational facilities. My point is that buying ice cream and pasta doesn’t add up to enough and the government who is supposed to represent residents needs to be involved in order for our permanent population to enjoy Muskoka too.
It is with interest, I have been following the comments. I feel that perhaps, there is blame being place on the wrong people. Our seasonal residents should be welcomed. They own their homes and I feel certain that when they are here they are following the correct Covid protocol. (many have been here for a year. I have concern about SHORT TERM VISITORS WHO ARE HERE FOR A VACATION!!!! – they may not have symptoms but can be carriers who spread to our workers in food pick up or curbside. Our motels//resorts/hotels seem to be full, I hope this is with essential workers only – not weekenders – check the parking lots – most should be empty on weekends – However walking downtown last Sunday it was not Visitors that we encountered but young people in groups – no masks and hooting and hollering, bike riding – enough said Wear masks – physically distance STAY SAFE
Regarding the comment about ‘whiny’ commercials from teachers’ unions.
Surely there is little more important to our society than a sound, safe education system. When politicians show little regard for students, teachers and a safe learning environment they need to be called out and the public needs to be made aware of their policies. Complaining about the inconvenience to a minute of your TV viewing speaks volumes as to why politicians like Doug Ford feel empowered to abuse and short change our students and teachers. Your complaining at least tells me you were listening.
Joanne, Bobbie and Kathryn. It is very difficult to have a cottage property and not be able to visit it during this pandemic. It is great to hear that there are those who say they follow the protocols when coming to their cottage or visiting Muskoka. Following Covid protocols of washing your hands, wearing a mask and social distancing should stop the spread of Covid as you have said . People can be asymptomatic, not know it and let their guard down. In Muskoka we are up again in numbers. However someone is not following the health protocols or Covid would not keep spreading whether in Muskoka or anywhere else. The government has given us an opportunity to make our own choices and “be sensible” but for many they appear to have made the wrong choices. This is why we keep going into lockdown multiple times because of poor choices as individuals and the government. If we would all shelter in place and not travel unnecessarily we may have a change to beat this.
Hello again; Bottom line, it is time for a change in Ontario and Parry Sound Muskoka.
Key points:
1] our public health care system had been eroding and imploding for years
2] for-profit ownership and management has served the investor & shareholder over the people for whom they claim to provide service and care
3] when money should be returned to these services and care of the vulnerable (e.g. children, elderly), they line the pockets of others
4] we, as taxpayers, pay this metaphorical beast of greed & profit
5] the political party who best looks out for big business is the current (non-progressive) Conservative government – they have continued the Harris legacy (federally, Mulroney-Harper legacy); big business and social conservatives support this agenda
6] ideologically, they are driven to de-regulation, to make it easier to profit & then fail to act on the legislation in place with oversight penalties
7] they prefer the private sector, falsely believing they operations of “ethical” efficiencies
8] watch for the party platforms that seek to restore & strengthen publicly owned and operated health care
9] my human values come from another place, rather than from personal, political motivation
10] It is time for a change!
Thank you Kathryn Henderson for your kind words of support for Joanne Purdie.
Our governments need to give us more credit as adults, allowing us to make our OWN choices and be
sensible in every regard concerning the current situation.
Here we go again folks: Bob Hepburn writes in today’s Toronto Star,
DF “is locked in a bitter new fight that has received little public attention, but could soon cost the jobs of thousands of nurses who work as care coordinators and result in pay cuts for others who continue in those jobs…. there are proposed regulations in a recently passed bill that… leaves the door wide open to privatized care co-ordination, threatening publicly delivered home and community care across the province.”
“Currently about 4,000 nurses and other health-care service professionals work as care coordinators in Ontario. They work directly for public health agencies, helping patients and their families access a wide range of health-care services at home and in their communities.”
So, guess what, transferring this service to the for-profits could result in lower pay and poorer working conditions for yet another nursing service sector of Ontario health care.
Had enough of privatized health services yet? Conservatives love to sell anything publicly owned and operated. Please remember this is 2022. DF Conservatives do not listen to nurses -a repeated empty slogan from his last campaign.
Joanne Purdle i live in Huntsville and if I had a cottage here and I lived in the city I would certainly bring my family to the cottage. They say that wearing the mask and keeping 6 ft apart should keep us from getting the covid so keep coming up. We love the tourists.
Is it too much to ask to be able to watch TV one evening and not have to listen to the whiney commercials paid for by various teacher unions (ie teachers) criticizing our provincial government. You would think that an election is immenent
Surely this money could be better spent on any number of worthy causes
re .Cottagers
Hi Bobbie Dyment,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and kind note. Our cottage family has always tried to support the Huntsville, Dorset and Baysville community. We have never come during a lock down and are always isolating and safe when we are allowed to come.
It is so nice to finally hear a nice comment. So many times in the last year we have wondered if we chose the wrong area to build our cottage. Some of the comments have been so hateful and upsetting.
I guess like most topics, the negative opinions are those most published.
Again thank you, it makes me hopeful that the town does want to see us in the summer, if we are able to return, kind regards joAnn
I just drove past the posted, permit application for a duplex to be allowed on rural property and thought again that I don’t share councils’ enthusiasm for the project. As I understand it, a garden plot will be established on the land and produce from this will be donated to a local charity. Accolades I’m sure.
But, in exchange for this charitable donation the applicant will be allowed to build a rental duplex to house a manager and farm hand?
There are the names of donors listed in our hospitals and hospices who receive only a charitable tax deduction slip for their largess and many more unnamed who donate time and money for the sake of giving back to their community.
Without an actual written agreement with the applicant, how does council know what is to be donated? How much? For how long? It seems this is a very open ended understanding. There was a ‘what-if’ mentioned in council, but the assertions mentioned all seemed to hinge on the property remaining a producing farm.
If the novelty of this project wears off, the rental duplex in the field will still remain.
Might council and the community have been better served with issuing a permission for a couple of mobiles on the property, so that ‘if and when’ the donation ends, the units can be removed and this field remain fallow again.
If this is to be the precedent for rural land, I’ rather see an old barn than each field with a little duplex-bunkie.
I wonder if anyone in Huntsville who is under 55 has been vaccinated here yet. I sure hope not, because before they opened it up to those 40+, we registered in the 55+ wave and yet, to date we have heard nothing from the pharmacy or from our GP. Is the supply here so low that we haven’t even gotten all the 55+ people who wanted a shot at least booked for a vaccination appointment?
Meanwhile my sister’s family, and my sister-in-law’s family, they are all under 55 and they are all vaccinated … because it seems they live in the “right” postal code.
The message I get from this is: If you follow all the guidelines, if you sacrifice your comfort and your freedom for the good of the community, if you hunker down and isolate, then your reward will be to continue to be exposed to the risk of COVID, and to suffer the worry and anxiety that comes with it.
But if your area has flouted the rules, and ignored the guidance, and has let the virus spread like wildfire … well, congratulations, let us reward you with early immunization.
Billy Joel had it right, I think.
I was not aware that I said anything bad about the cottage owners. We all know what they bring to the area and to our businesses. All I asked was that if they are coming up right now please stay at your cottage. We all know that some do this but a lot don’t this is the problem. As far as being well off financially anyone that owns a cottage around here now is for sure a lot better off than most of our year round people. Most of us have been priced right off from ever buying lake front property.
Joann Purdie, I cannot agree with you more. First, taking a literary position has much more impact without using abrasive and disrespectful terminology. Letters addressing your position embarrassed me.
Our Huntsville community is in “God’s country” and it’s where people come to relax, enjoy nature and what it has to offer in the way of scenery, water activities, a slower pace … not to overlook the kindness and variety of boutique shop owners and a vast selection of restaurant cuisine.
My husband and I would still be considered “newbies” to Huntsville (Oct., 2017) but we’ve adopted the thrill of Spring meaning fresh faces from “elsewhere”, cottage owners returning to reap the benefits of Muskoka, which boosts the local economy and there’s a vibrancy that exudes throughout the town and beyond till the colour of Fall starts to pop.
Yes, we have ALL been dealing with an unprecedented time for the last 13 months and it has resulted in a conundrum of reaction, retaliation, fear, accusation, anger and more. Being a former cottage owner, I choose to believe those who vacation /live in this beautiful area are here to appreciate nature and, in kindness, give back in every way. Joann, your note emitted hurt and I am so sorry. These opinions expressed by those who were not kind, I truly believe are not typical of those of us who welcome you, your family, friends to continue to compliment Huntsville with your presence and support.
May your stay with us during the coming Summer months of 2021 be comfortable, relaxing and safe.
I work at financial institution in Huntsville.
When you put in your debit card, it tells me where you reside.
I always engage in conversation such as “ what brings you to our beautiful little community?”
Sudbury client : I’m here to see my new granddaughter!
Richmond Hill: I came to have a look at a boat! I need 1200 dollars.
Toronto: My kids still live here , I came for a little visit, and I haven’t seen them in a month!”
The list goes on and on, and I have to pretend to smile behind my mask and say “ oh that nice.”
I guess I’m asking why is it that they decide to stop in and stand in line to take out 20 dollars or bring in a bag of rolled coin, or pay their tax bill? Didn’t they think of that before they left their own city or town?
I serve over 125 customers every shift . More than 60 percent are traveling from out of their jurisdiction.
I listened to Kathlien . Here is what I feel. My wife and I are in a retirment Home in Huntsville. I belive that as we want Government to look after us (Luck at Covis spending) we should expect to pay our share. O toole and CUT TAXES. does not seem to understand what is going on. Even just childcare will cost a lot and save families a lot . Much better than Tax Cuts. Also it does not seem fair that Ontario builds Hospitals but expects charity to equip them. A few of can and will donate BUT everyone of us benefit. So if its for rhe common good then pay for it by Taxes.
Please be skeptical of the National Post’s article claiming that DF is a changed man. I suggest not.
“Ford has passed a new law that allows his wealthy donors to give twice as much. In the middle of a pandemic, this is his priority. Not paid sick days, rent relief, climate action, or a vaccination strategy for all, but lining his party’s pockets from the rich and well connected.” This is what he and his Conservative party do during a pandemic. Ironic that Commentary accuses federal government with political plays during a pandemic, while ignoring what is happening provincially.
An idea.
I’ve heard a few stories of Snowbirds and vacationers coming back from Florida this April and not staying in the Airport Hotels set up for quarantine because they didn’t like the look or cleanliness of them. (that should probably be looked into) I’m wondering if perhaps it’s time to just have a few army buses ready and waiting for them at the airports. Anytime anyone gets off a plane on Canadian soil, pick them up in the army bus, drive them to a ‘tent city’ or barracks somewhere, and let them quarantine there. It worked for the cruise ship people last spring.
Maybe we could take it a step further – if you want to buy a plane ticket, or perhaps at the boarder if you’re driving, you need to sign a waiver and provide a credit card and/or your permanent address. You will then have your CC charged with sufficient funds to cover the cost to ‘house you at the barracks’ and the rest of us won’t foot the bill.. because we will, financially or with our health/lives. if you don’t have enough room on your CC – it can get added to your property taxes. If you don’t have enough money to pay – either DON’T TRAVEL or DON’T expect to come back to CANADA until the pandemic is over.
I know there are folks out there attending huge rallies (hundreds of people in Barrie for instance) and protests about lockdowns and wearing masks, etc. because it’s against their civil rights and liberties. Well, first, no, it’s not, if you read “our” constitution and second – what about the rights of the rest of us?! The ones who don’t want to get Covid from all the anti-maskers, travelers, and spreaders out there?! Where are OUR rights?
And okay – a political shot – WHY was the ban not put on flights from Pakistan and India BEFORE we had 2 cases in Canada? (one in BC and one in Quebec – both of which will probably have spread by now). It’s this kind of lackadaisical, “should we? maybe we’ll offend someone? but will it hurt the economy?, what if they get upset with us and don’t vote for us again…” crap that is literally KILLING Canadians and the rest of the world.
I say call in the troops – get the military involved with quarantining anyone who wants to enter Canada in all provinces – maybe that will finally stop all the non-essential spreading of ‘death’ to our people and our health care system.
So tired of all this – hoping the new double mutant strain from India doesn’t sweep Canada now.
Stay Safe.
I want to thank the very kind and nice staff at the Summit Centre when I had my first covid shot. I’m not the best candidate for needles but the staff there were great from the young man at the entrance to the ones directing me where to go and did NOT very the injection one bit.I feel we do not thank our medical people or police enough…so THANKS! P.S. It was the best 75th birthday present anyone could wish for.
Hello Ray, James, and buddies.
Firstly, I did not mention or imply that I had travelled during the restrictions or current “Stay at home” . We came to our property before the new rules were in place.
Second, coming from a family of doctors, I am more than educated on the implications of my first vaccine shot. I think you should not try to give out medical advice.
Next to use terms like “arrogant ‘ is rude and hurtful, and as usual everyone from the city is must be “well off”., I was thoughtful enough to not say any sarcastic or mean comments in my note. You really should know that not all people from the big city are ‘well off or arrogant’. It is truly sad that you and Ray are “not alone in your thinking”
I am sure my few dollars will not make a difference, but seeing how you and your local pals think of your cottage neighbours, I will plan on rethinking my local purchases. As far as future projects on my property, my big city contractors and suppliers are polite and gracious, unlike yourself.
What a shame, that you need to use such inappropriate wording to try and make your point.
joAnn
I understand that Doug Ford’s popularity is plummeting; perhaps someone isn’t praising him enough
Reply to Jo Anne Purdie
My Thoughts
Congrats on getting your first vaccination. But lets be clear on what that means. The vaccine does not prevent you from getting or passing on the virus, all it does is lessen the possibility of you having a serious or lethal outcome.
I was born and have lived most of my life in Huntsville, and I totally appreciate what tourism as a whole means to us, be it cottager or visitors.
We work very hard to build beautiful cottages, have lovely shops, wonderful restaurants, and fun activities to make a great experience. To you it is a vacation for us it is work, I hope you appreciate us as much as we do you.
As for the lock downs, I do not believe in them. I think we should have prepared for the inevitable, rather then thinking we could stop it.
But here we are with a stay at home order. The key component is that we restrict travel to essential only.
Stay where you live only go out when absolutely necessary. Pretty Simple.
For anyone to use the excuse that you spend money at your vacation area and there fore can ignore the travel restrictions is arrogant. It sounds like the old adage “I am well off the rules don’t apply to me”.
The Government keeps saying we are all in this together. I hope this resonates with everyone.
FYI Ray is not alone in his thinking.
We will welcome you back when this is behind us.
But for now Stay home Stay Safe.
Reply to Jo Ann Purdue – Yes, full time Muskokans do welcome cottagers but right now is not a good time for cottagers to spend time in Muskoka . I am very happy to hear that in previous times your have supported community businesses. You state that you now come to your cottage with necessary supplies for your stay and have been first time vaccinated. Perhaps you even stay at your cottage and don’t venture out and into town. You or others (cottagers) could be asymptomatic and still be contagious to others who have not been vaccinated. It is evident, even now with the lockdown that grocery and pharmacy stores and food take are busier than usual. I know it must be difficult to stay away from your cottage and this beautiful region. Please be an example and follow the public health guidelines, stay at home in your area, don’t travel as requested and keep yourself and others safe.
When are we getting a new Governor General in Canada ?
The structure of our government requires that we have a representative of the Queen ..
Reply to Jo Ann Purdie Once this pandemic is over we all will welcome all the cottagers back but until then a lot think it would be nice if you just stayed home. If all cottagers did like you say you do there would be no problem trouble is a lot don’t. Maybe it’s just the weekenders that stay in motels or rent cabins that for some strange reason want to spend a lot of time in town. Myself i stay home and away from town on weekends so an just speaking from hearsay when i say our town is packed most weekends. I was in the building business for many years so know first hand what cottagers bring to the area.. it’s just this is a bad time for us all and when we see what is going on in the south it scares us to think it could happen here.
Hi Ray ,
Looks like here we go again.
We are from the dreaded city, and we did come north to check on our properties. We are’ first shot vaccinated’, we did not stop our car, we brought our own groceries, and then drove home.
We “cottagers” make sure we keep ourselves and our neighbours safe.
I am one of the “people” who keeps the small downtown shops busy in the summer, and who planned my daughters wedding using local venues, florists ,photographers etc, who built my cottages with local builders and tradesmen, ( when I could have easily used Toronto builders.)
Most cottagers are good people, who do all they can for Huntsville and the area. I am sure my very high property taxes help renovate the local library and pave the road to the school.
Yes Ray, you decided to live in an area surrounded by beautiful lakes, so cottagers come with the territory. We are not the problem, we are the solution to keeping small resort towns healthy.
I am convinced you are in the minority with your complaints. This is why when this health scare is over, I will forget your remarks and continue to go downtown to eat some Italian food, get some ice cream and enjoy all that Huntsville has to offer.
Thank you Mr Whillans for your lengthy diatribe and rather condescending conclusion. Not once did you mention the lack of vaccine as the main contributor to the outbreak Covid-19 in Ontario. Only sufficiently vaccinated people will provide what i believe is called herd immunity.
I am deeply concerned for our health care staff during this time, for patients, families, essential workers.
What is confusing to me is DF and this government’s lack of learning. There was much to learn after the first wave. Is it a matter of their capacity to learn? Or is it a matter of their intention to remain ignorant and filter the best advice of many of the “elites” through their political ideology?
I suggest, that the latter might be the problem. The needed paradigm shift in understanding has not been demonstrated in policy and in poor pro-active planning – and that is what is required of leadership during such a crisis!
The desire to learn from mistakes, be pro-active, not just reactive means that the Ford government needs to be fully engaged in the priorities of this pandemic, not catering to developers and accrediting colleges from amongst the party donors.
My question remains, why has the Provincial Conservative government failed to learn? Is it ability or intention?
Chas Clark…..This has been the problem with Mr Ford’s story and those such as yourself (and Mr Mackenzie) who support him this is not a case of perfect hindsight this was most predictable by “the science”; experts in public health and finance and most importantly by other countries. I refer you to a study Kochancyk and Lipiniaki in Nature on January 28th. It looked at 25 countries’ and 10 US states’ response to the pandemic. Some countries (10 of them) used a strategy to eradicate the disease (i.e. locking down hard until community spread reached zero). Others (like Ontario) used the strategy of suppression (just enough restriction to keep the number “reasonable” until vaccinations were available). A third set of jurisdictions (only a very very few) implemented a strategy of targeting herd immunity. The findings were that not surprising. There were many many fewer deaths in those countries that chose to shut down until community spread was zero. But perhaps more surprisingly, they did vastly less damage to their economies, employment and psycho-social stress.
This, Mr Clark is not simply perfect hindsight. On August 7, Neel Kashkari who is the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and Michael Osterholm, who is the Director of the Centre for Infectious Disease and Policy wrote an op ed in the New York Times. Their call was for the same strategy used by these 10 successful countries predicting without it there would be more deaths and cases AND any recovery would be slower and employment would remain for years. They made it clear that it would be cheaper for the government to underwrite all of the economy for 3 or 4 months than to subsidize most of the economy for a year or more. But what they were famously saying is exactly what has been know for 75 years……pandemics are bad for business.
Statistically Ontario was within 2 weeks to a month away from reducing community spread to zero last July…..but the Ford government couldn’t wait that long. Had he waited; had he listened to the experts, Ontario too could be like those 10 countries….Covid free; allowed to freely see family friends and attend large sporting events….essentially back to a normal life
As Kochancyk et al said in their report “the idea that there was a tradeoff between public health and the economy was just an illusion”
And apparently you and the Ford government/conservative party are the last to know
It is very easy to criticize and with perfect hindsight how to handle the pandemic. Premier Ford is walking a tightrope trying to be fair to all the province by balancing the pandemic needs against the need for people to work. I think he put his finger squarely on it when he said that if they had enough vaccines, then there would not be a need for a lockdown. Canada, a G7 country , is still number 26 in the countries that have administered the vaccine. Don’t blame Premier Ford for the abysmal performance of those in power in Ottawa responsible for procuring the vaccine.
I just wish our Walmart in Huntsville had an outdoor bench. I am partially disabled and waiting for a cab/bus is hard on me as I am unable to stand for too long. I’ve inquired with the staff but they say that the owner of the building contracts out the building to Walmart. I will look into that. The Walmart in Bracebridge has one and is covered which helps greatly during rainy days and/or in winter. Not all of us own vehicles. The more calls the better. Thanks for listening. ????
While I fully agree the government is making a great many mistakes and risking our lives in the process, there still is public responsibility and accountability to watch for as well. Huntsville was down to one active case at the end of March / early April. What Happened?!?! How are we now at 20 cases? Doug Ford has done a lot of things wrong or sometimes a little too little and a lot too late, but I don’t think he caught Covid and came up here and coughed on 19 people!
Come On Folks! Be MORE Careful! The VOCs are particularly nasty, hitting much younger age groups, and hitting harder. We can’t get complacent just because the nicer weather is approaching. See Anna-Lise Kear’s post, sign the petition, but above all else – Stay Home, Wash, stick to the ONE house hold gatherings. If we stay strong for just a few more months we can all be vaccinated and get together again!
The cases in Huntsville are because some people in Huntsville, somewhere, made the mistake of thinking it was okay to not wear a mask, to stand that little bit closer to their neighbour or friend, forgot to wash their hands before touching their face – it’s NOT okay right now!
Time to say goodbye, Mr Doug Ford. Your particular decision making and analytical skills do not tally with what is required during this COVID-19 third wave catastrophe. We are in the midst of a disaster and It is very clear to everyone that not only did you NOT do what doctors have been desperately urging you to do, you actually did the opposite in February, and opened up.
You still are not providing sick leave for those vulnerable workers in hot spots.
You were TIRED you said. Well it’s time now for you to have a rest.
You say you do not hesitate…now is the time to not hesitate….RESIGN
You say you do not shy away from doing what is necessary. Please do so, RESIGN.
RNAO (the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario) has a message for the Premier today. If you are as concerned as I am about the government’s responses during this third wave, please consider going to the following website and sending this action email. You do not have to be a nurse to sign this petition, just a member of the public.
https://rnao.ca/policy/action-alerts/do-what-must-be-done-premier
Thank you for considering this issue, in light of patients, families, and our health care system.
I have lived in the west end most off my life, our area was mostly low to middle class with a lot of older or post war homes. But the one thing we had was a place to swim. We called it The Deep as it dropped off quick. This was a little piece of shore line owned by the Avery family that allowed us to swim there, and eventual denoted it for the purpose of a public swim area aptly named Avery Beach.
A decade ago the town decided to add a boat launch to take some of the pressure off the launch near the High School that has since closed. The use of this landing has increased tenfold to the point were families trying to use the beach are dodging trucks and trailers and good luck finding parking.
Now the town in their wisdom have purchased the hanger next to the beach and look poised to add more boat slips right beside where adults and kids swim. What part of BEACH did you miss. I ask anyone who has enjoys swimming at this little piece of beach to write the town council voicing your concerns for the close proximity this new docks to our swimming area.
Let’s speak up before we lose it.
Because of my advanced years, I got my covid 19 vaccination 5 weeks ago; I go nowhere except the Metro; the staff at Metro have not had their shots yet; there’s something very, very wrong with that picture.
Brunel Rd, is bad for people walking on the wrong side of the road to start with then wearing dark clothing to boot. The bike riders are just as bad for not wearing reflective shirts they are very hard to see if they are in a shadow even in daylight and a lot of them will not ride the shoulder it’s a wonder to me that there is not a lot more being hit or run off the road. I think they need to be licenced and have insurance just the same as car drivers if they want to ride the road and that means having to take a test so the know the rules of the road.
I agree with Rachel.
A couple of years ago my husband and me were driving out Brunel Rd., went around the corner heading toward the locks. A couple, walking their black dog, were on the shoulder just off the road. We were about four feet away from them when our head lights caught something that flashed. It was then we saw them, dressed all in black. Fortunately for all of us, we were well on the road and they were on the shoulder. A happy ending.
Never the less, for a few minutes it was frightening.
People, did you ever wonder why burglers, etc. always wear black at night in the movies.
SO NOONE CAN SEE THEM.
Be safe,
La’Nor Lovegrove.
The weather is getting nicer and the days are getting longer but the sun does still go down. It would be greatly appreciated if people would consider wearing high visibility clothing when they are out during twilight hours, a high vis vest is cheap. Even the most cautious motorist can’t see you when you’re dressed all in black or dark colours and your out for an evening jog down the middle of the road.
Even if your out walking your dog high visibility clothing goes a long way to keeping everyone safe.
Well, here we go again…another lockdown! Why is it that us small town, rural folk understand what is necessary to stop this virus. The large majority of us are compliant.
Why don’t the people who live in the city get it? If everyone did ‘the right thing’ right from the beginning, we wouldn’t be in this mess. I am not painting everyone, from the city, with the same brush but the large majority of them are not compliant!!! What part of this pandemic don’t they understand?!!! Now they are being rewarded for bad behavior by everyone over 18 in Peel and Toronto getting vaccinated. I understand why the Government is doing this but we would not reward our own children for behaving badly. I think this is just setting precedence for the same thing to happen should there be another virus that surfaces! (Hope that doesn’t happen again in my lifetime!)
I think the teachers, in all of Ontario, should get their vaccinations. They are essential workers especially for the well-being of our children. We need our children to go to school. We need our teachers to teach in person. Why not make it safer for them to go into the classroom?
I don’t know…maybe I am just grumpy because we have to go through this again because of some people who think they are invincible!!!!
It is supposed to be the COMMUNICATION AGE and we have all kinds of neat tools that can communicate, but in actuality, we can communicate less today than 20 years ago in some ways at least.
Why do we not have a directory of cell phone #’s like we used to have for land line phones?
Why is there not a registry or directory of email addresses matched to people’s names?
If you’ve ever tried to find someone these days, when land lines are getting to be a thing of the past, you will rapidly realize that communication is not actually the goal of the companies selling all this technology.
Such listings might go a long way toward eliminating scams, since the perpetrator would not be anonymous.
People will scream about “privacy” but really, can this not be accommodated somehow and still make this work better?
I applaud the stay at home order it just should have been months ago. What we need is for people to understand that we are all in this together and follow medical advice. I want to enjoy this summer as I am sure everyone does.. Patience is running out for everyone so why won’t people help us move forward The only way we get out of this medical emergency is stay at home now and when we open up again MASK UP, SOCIAL DISTANCE, HAND WASHING GET VACCINATED WHEN YOU CAN , AND GOOD OLD COMMON SENSE . Think of the medical staff and availability to hospital services let’s do our part .
I truly empathize with business owns and staff but if we don’t get this pandemic under control they will suffer loses greater than now so let’s help them .
Stay healthy and safe
Albert Einstein: The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
And here we we are again, yet another lock down. And what will be the result? The same. The virus, like a stealthy cat lays in wait til we pop our head out of the hole and it hits us with another wave.
To say we are tried of it would be an understatement.
Hey Government at all levels rather then trying to stop the inevitable, why didn’t you prepare for it?
A year ago we were in the first wave, you talked about developing vaccines, getting more ventilators, expanded bed capacity, more rapid tracing, and controlling the influx of virus to our country.
Year later we are still in the same boat. The wealthy travel at will weather it is going abroad or bringing the virus from hot spots to communities who through sacrifice have kept their numbers low. A relative of mine waited 5 days for test results losing wages for her and her spouse only to find out it was a common flu, we wonder why people might lie about feeling slightly under the weather. If our greatest fear is overwhelming our hospitals, then why weren’t we expanding, we have military MASH units why aren’t they active. Vaccines what can we say, someone voted him in, Lets not make that mistake again.
Be Safe.
It is my 65th birthday on Thursday April 8th. I can’t even go out for a nice dinner now. Had lunch reservation with my sister and my 86 year old Mom, to go have a nice lunch. Now it is cancelled. Getting tired of all this.
Could it be that your community guidelines might just be a tad too broad? Could it be that our community is made up of slightly sterner stuff; and lack a sense of humour?
Why does Justin hate Canadian businesses? He said that there were no places in our country that could produce vaccines, but it turns out there were three. One in the prairies producing for manitoba, one in toronto, and one in montreal.The one in toronto, he was willing to give 5 million, the one in montreal, a hundred and twenty plus, but it was said it would cost 330 million to se.t up and produce a vaccine.An american copany will supply vaccines some time in 2022,from the greater ottawa area and now Justin is opening the wallet big time to a french company to set up in toronto area. Why not to a canadian company? Justin only wants to invest in foriegn businesses.
Kathryn,
Comments in reply to any post on this site must follow our community guidelines. You’ll find them here: https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/doppler-community-guidelines/
I would like to know the rules for putting an opinion on here. I answered someone’s opinion but my opinion was not posted.
I wonder what the Ford Govt is thinking by locking down the entire province starting on Sat. I guess Mr ford wants to get up to the cottage on Fri along with a lot more of his friends from the city. You can bet Fri night the hwy will be jammed with people coming north for the weekend and we will be the ones that suffer from it. Huntsville has not had a case since march 21 st but I’ll bet we get a bunch after this weekend. So much for the people of Muskoka doing what we are supposed to and not spreading covid 19 around much. This lock down is sure going to hurt if not end all hope for a lot of our small businesses in town and that is sad because there is no reason for it at all. All they should do is close the hwy off at Barrie on Fri night and stop all the people from the infected area from coming up here spreading it around.
Hello again; Don’t be fooled by DF’s folksy manner, the Con Ford government plans to invest in LTC in the Province. Wonderful news? Well keep wide awake, because this will go into additional beds for the for-profit sector.
If you have been satisfied with the for-profit performance in Ontario LTC during this pandemic, (especially the death rates, lack of preparation, insufficient staffing) and the deficiencies in preparing over the summer 2020 by the DF government in advance of the second wave, then having the for-profits take more of the corporate welfare pie will make no difference to you and yours.
If you DO have concerns, please listen and consider the platforms of any party but Ontario Conservatives before voting.
We remember what the Mike Harris years have done to LTC, Doug Ford has no different agenda.
Please stay alert and stay well. Thank you for reading.
I wonder what is going on in Retail. There are empty shelve everywer. Prices on some items are thru the roof. Yet we dont hear much of why or what . Any ideas
Kathryn H. The government has provided us with infection control guidelines. There is nothing left to figure out…we’ve been given the guidelines – wash your hands, wear a mask, social distance and get vaccinated. It’s up to us, as people, to follow them. The virus is spreading because people are not following the guidelines. The more vigilant people follow the guidelines, the lesser the infection rate will be, decreasing risk for the public and therefore allowing business to reopen safely. This is every Canadians responsibility.
I see Freshco is going to go with just reusable bags. Now I’m wondering just what people will use for kitchen catchers if all the store go that way. We use the grocery bags for all the kitchen garbage and from what I have seen most deteriorate within a few weeks if left out in the sun so i’m not sure just what the problem is I think they are much less of a problem than the green plastic garbage bags most people put out for pick up each week.
Ms. Keetch,
With respect, I have a couple of comments about plastic grocery bags.. Firstly, they are very useful for kitchen garbage, pet waste etc., and I assume many people use their bags for such purposes. I know I do. Now that they’re not supplied at my grocery store I will have to purchase “kitchen catchers” or such like.
Secondly, plastic grocery bags are recyclable, and always have been. Can you say the same about the reusable bags we’re now forced to purchase? And where do they end up when no longer usable?
I would like to see all the stores and restaurants opened up before we lose all our small businesses. Government has had enough time to figure out this pandemic. Enough is enough. Let’s get the Lieing liberals out and start saving Canada, Canadians and Canadian jobs.
THUMBS up to Freshco, they have gone to only reusable bags, no more plastic. They still sell bags at a very reasonable price. Wish the all store would follow suit. Thank you Freshco.
Will someone give DF a metaphorical bump on the head? Again, he does not listen to the professionals. Because he is tired of the situation, he opens up areas. Let’s hope our younger adults will be safe.
Let’s change this government at the next Provincial election, in mass. DF is trying his best, I am told. Well, seriously his best is not enough in my books. Thank you for reading.
Why is it that back in the 80’s Credit card interest rates where about 20 to 24 % and believe it or not, banks paid interest on your savings account of maybe 5% and you could get a GIC for slightly more, maybe 6 or 7%.
Now, banks pay interest of zero on your savings. If you manage to find a GIC paying more than 1% you will discover you have locked your money in for the next 50 years BUT IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR CREDIT CARD STATEMENT YOU WILL SEE THEY ARE STILL CHARGING 22.9%
One would think that if all other interest payments, heck even loans have dropped and car companies love to give you an interest free loan for 5 years if you grace their brand by buying a new car, well you could be forgiven for thinking maybe, just maybe credit card interest rates might follow the trend?
Any banker care to explain this and put their name on the reply?
Just wondering why gas is 10 cents/litre cheaper (119.9) in Bracebridge than it is in Huntsvile (129.9)
I’d be happy to be educated on this.
Thanks!
I might add, I’ve been told that the public washrooms in Huronia mall in Midland (a small mall) and Georgian Mall in Barrie are open.
Thank you for this avenue to ‘Speak Up’. I went to the mall this afternoon and was surprised to see a sign posted on the front door advising that their public washrooms are closed. Closure of washrooms on and off during the pandemic has been addressed in the Toronto Star at least four times. Truck drivers and others have been impacted with the closure of washrooms. We are encouraged to (e.g, shop local) yet some washrooms are closed! I think most people are capable of, and know how to safely use a public washroom. For goodness sakes- open the washrooms.
Mr. Whillans; you are absolutely correct. I apologize to anyone who may have been injured by my remarks. I should have more clearly identified the context of governments or how leaders are chosen.
My statement was not meant to generalize well, it was specific, intended to open discussion on how humans choose, if we can choose, those who lead us.
I was addressing the person about his comments concerning the monarchy, his choice of words was “bullies”. Individuals who abuse the advantage of their greater power over innocent lives, causing trauma are bullies and much more. I hope this clarifies my post.
Thank you Mr. Whillans for bringing to my attention how my comments might have been interpreted by others.
James, the age of consent in Canada was raised from 14 to 16 in 2008 for the first time since 1892
The Harper government did that to help protect our young people. If you are referring to the age rule exemption that would allow a 14 and 15 year old to consent to sexual activity provided the age difference does not exceed 5 years, that is to protect prosecution for close in age consenting relationships. I can agree that 5 years is excessive, but we certainly don’t want a 16 year old’s life destroyed by criminal records and sex offender registration because of a sexual relationship with their 15 year old partner. Do you remember your hormones at that age?
I believe the Harper government made the law better, just not good enough.
Anna-Lise Kear………”Bullies were invited to be so”. I suspect that you may want to re-think (or more likely withdraw) that premise. I could give you a extensive list groups and victims (including but not limited to rape victims) who would not only dispute that by take great offense (as do I)
I suspect that you were trying to be “academic” but your statement does not generalize well. I would in fact categorically that bullies are never invited to be so…………..NEVER
Here I go on another rant! Today it is about the high school kids. There are many of them who walk to McDonalds or Little Caesars or Subway for their lunch. I think it is great that there are so many of them actually getting out and getting some exercise. The thing I don’t think is great is their incessant littering.
While out for a walk myself at lunchtime, I witnessed a number of them finish what they were eating or drinking and discard their garbage on the ground! Seriously!!! This is a disgusting act coming from someone of their age!
I know that they probably don’t read the Doppler so I am imploring their parents to sit them down and actually ‘have the talk’ with them about proper behavior! Thank you.
Mr. Iannan: Hi, I was not trying to change your mind and opinion, just to broaden the concept.
It takes ‘ 2 to tango’, as is said. People get what they ask for/need in leadership and ruling systems.
Bullies rule because they are allowed to or because people don’t understand any alternatives.
Hugh Holland’s remarks in Mr. Mackenzie’s article about the monarchy are worth a read.
Hi Anna-Lise;
You are obvious much better at writing than I am (and I mean that as a compliment);I agree with everything you say, but it doesn’t change my premise about the origin of royals.
Gerry
Okay so this question/comment is going to be a shock to most citizens and readers. I’m hoping Scott Aicheson can help to answer; why on earth did the Harper Conservative government change our age of consent laws? Why in this age of domestic human trafficking, right from our own back yards, did they change the laws to allow an 18 year old to “date” a 14 year old? Not only is it disgusting and completely bizarre, it’s also a blight on our society. Time for the feds to change this horrible law.
I have seen first hand 18 year old men lure and groom 14 year old girls. This is just wrong!
Mr. Inannan; I realize your post is rhetorical. Perhaps a history book from the library would help. Kings, nation states in Europe. Many, many battles for territory. Canadian history and territorial fights on behalf of France, England, the Vikings, etc. It has always been about land, resources, and dominant culture — I am sure that is obvious. People/nations wanted kings and installed them to help fight their enemies. They wanted military leaders to protect them from invaders.
Class systems, ignorance, superstition, lack of any education keep people oppressed and keep them dependent. It can also be a learned dependency over time.
How would people know about any form of shared power? Might meant right.
At the heart of all of this is human nature, greed, fear, anger. What else could be more obvious?
The bullies were invited to be so. How was human nature to change? How can it change today?
The monarchy in Britain is not the despot now, there is shared power with Parliament. People get what they want, sometimes benevolent, sometimes tyrannical. What lessons can we learn from the autocracy and self-serving of a malignant narcistic sociopath and former leader in the USA republic?
please help me here; I’m trying to figure out where royals originated; I can’t believe that God created royals and peasants; I can’t believe that ,through evolution , we evolved as royals and peasants; so where did royals get started? well, here’s my theory–a very long time ago in prehistory a gang of bullies got together and gathered more and more bullies with them to control larger and larger areas of land which they controlled, occupied by ordinary peasants who only wanted to be left alone; the lands became so big that they called it a country and made themselves emperors and kings and made their sons and daughters princes and princesses and so it goes. prove me wrong.
Peter Dirk the liberals and NDP have the majority. The conservatives don’t have much voting power. Maybe next election. Trudeau is being Trudeau.
A major advantage being linked to Barrie is availability of access to their hospital .
What is Justin Trudeau doing in getting into the Battery production with Quebec ?
$ 50,000 000.00 of our money will go a long way in getting our covet 19 problem resolved.
Where does the Conservative Party has anything to say about this ?
A few days ago someone on the radio ask what we the listeners thought would be nice as the Covid threat diminishes. We have had so many false starts that the question is a bit premature, in my opinion. But it will happen so I thought of some of the things I will appreciate.
I will like to hear the news and not have this Covid diet every half hour and hour. Though I’m sure they will come up with something else to present ad nauseum.
I will appreciate an end to the speculation and not actual news, that has become the forte of the CBC.
Not having every doctor with an opinion being given the opportunity to present it on radio or television will be a plus.
Hearing that we are now receiving a steady stream of vaccine deliveries will be appreciated.
It will be great to know that the inoculation of everyone is proceeding apace and that at least 100,000 people a day are getting the ‘jab’. With Ontario’s population of 15 million, we will be done in 150 days or 22 weeks! Justin and Doug; can you deliver? I’ve worked night shifts and am more than willing to be there at 3:00 in the morning for my shot.
It will be great to talk on the street, unmasked and closer than two meters. I’ve found it a rather novel concept to need a mask to enter a bank!
I want to be able to sit down in a hall full of bid euchre players and say “Shuffle-up and deal!”
It will be great to drive for Muskoka Seniors again.
Until then there’s nothing for it but to wash my hands, wear a mask and keep my ‘bubble’ small.
Just my opinion and wish list.
Stay safe everyone.
How long are we prepared to give Justin Trudeau and the Liberal government a pass on their complete failure to secure the vaccines to protect our citizens. I have heard from many supporters of the PM and his government that they are doing their best. Their best? Their best is worse than most 3rd world countries. As a business owner, when I hear we are doing our best, that is code for we are in trouble. Doing your best in the private sector isn’t good enough, you have to be the best to survive. We now are seeing the political spin that we are ok to get by with one shot for 4 months. Really? Everyone who are expecting second doses are now going to be significantly delayed. The government has now shifted to plan B ( the default) which is the failure of plan A. Let’s call it what it is, as a member of the G7, we are in last place protecting our citizens by providing adequate cover doses. Everyone was critical of the US in their distribution of the vaccines, now they are the model for the rest of the world. This government has failed us in this regard, more preventable deaths will take place. The Prime Minister and his party will spin this failure as problems that were out of their control; they will say they that they did the best that they could and many people will believe that and give them a pass. I won’t! This is serious business and I expect that my government will deliver, they didn’t. Their best fell far short of what I expected. They need to be held accountable for this; it is shameful. It is time to throw out the incompetent. Oh by the way where the heck is the budget? Is there something that is being hidden from Canadians? You want to believe it there is.
Just wondering why Huntsville has I think either 3 or 4 marijuana stores? Anyone know?
Since everyone is focused on Covid and getting the vaccine, I will focus on our road conditions. Well, not entirely, I am focused on getting the vaccine too.
I know the potholes are a yearly thing; however, this year they seem exceptionally large and there seems to be more of them. They also ‘seem’ to be ‘fixed’ within a short period of time. The only thing is that some asphalt is dumped in the holes only to have it pushed back out again with each passing car. I am no engineer but there has to be a better solution for a more permanent fix. The current way of doing this most certainly helps with justifying jobs and job creation which includes not only the Roads Dept. but the mechanics who end up fixing our vehicles! I am sure there are going to be more accidents when people are focusing on the potholes instead of where they are going or who is in their way!
If anyone has a solution for these potholes, please, please, please contact our Roads Department!!!
While I am on the road subject, I am asking drivers to be aware of the people walking on the sidewalks and ask that they either slow down or move over to avoid hitting puddles which end up hitting the pedestrian. I, for one, was the recipient of one such driver today who, whether intentionally or not, soaked me with muddy water between Canadian Tire and PetValu!!! I was totally not impressed!!!
Every 5 years like you I get myself off to the ServiceOntario office, line up, get a number, wait to be called to the counter, and have my photo taken — the process of renewing our Health Card.
Why are we not using this system in partnership with e-Health Ontario to prioritize (they have our health records) and book every citizen’s vaccine appointment? As taxpayers, we have invested BILLIONS in these technologies!!! Where are they now? And, why are we not putting them to use?
Ford and his team are failing every one of us. My 85-year old mother called and went online to book her appointment in Simcoe Muskoka on the day they opened up and while we are very happy her friends have gotten their shots she is still to get an email or a call to tell her when she will receive hers.
This could have been oh so simple — an automated outbound call from our government vs. her trying to get through to a call centre that kept disconnecting her or attempting to bring up a website that kept crashing!
While we have been struggling through lockdowns and watching our local business shutter, Ford has had at least 8 months to figure out a booking system and test it — sorry FOLKS and FRIENDS they are proving every day they are not up to the job!
I have recently seen people saying the perfect solution to government in Muskoka is to have one council, such as a regional, with no need of local representation.
This reminded me off a time when some regional reps brought up the idea that to lower the costs of water and sewers every taxpayer should pay a fee to water and sewers costs to the region while still paying the costs for their own wells and septic systems If it not been for local reps, those not in the towns on municipal systems would be double taxed. All planning would be done and services would be moved to Bracebridge for those north or south in Muskoka. One government for the area may not be the best idea.
James Rockwell I totally agree that the lockdowns are political. I think they are wanting the small business to go under. They must have a plan that won’t be good for Canadians.
What is the current status of the vaccine?
Ontario pharmacists start a COVID-19 vaccine program this week at 330 locations to provide the AstraZeneca vaccine to customers aged 60 to 64 as lockdown restrictions ease in two major regions.
Does this include Muskoka?
What happened to those 65-79 age group. Don’t they count.
Information received is so screwed up a lot of people are going to be missed.
Okay so now I’m confused, was the emergency brake a real health issue? Was a week really enough to nip the virus in the bud? This whole gong show seems it’s absolutely politically driven. If you’re going to lock us down, then LOCK US DOWN, but you’re going to pick and choose then just leave us alone.
Real lock downs work, this patch work of political optics does nothing
Adios Mr. Miller, don’t let the door hit you on your way out of office….
Hello Mr. Rockwell; I think it was a year at Humber College for DF. That is what used to be on the Ontario government website, after he was first elected. I am guessing that science was not on the curriculum in his program at Humber. I suppose high school football coach was preparing him in some way for local leadership. Just a thought. Until and if ever the Conservative party actually becomes “progressive” and “conserves” the environment, until there is more science -biology, earth, and has some more women, I will not be voting PC.
Can somebody please explain to me how Norm Miller has been reelected over and over, while doing absolutely nothing for this area? C’mon people over 50 who for some reason feel voting blue is a birth right and necessity. Time to change it up, let’s remember this next time around how Norm and his conservative cronies have done nothing but harm to Muskoka. It would be really great to have a premier who has more than two weeks at Sheridan College and inherited a family business under his belt. My goodness, make this insanity end!
We are all in difficult times right now with COVID 19 pandemic!! I would like to commend all those who are TRYING to implement the safety standards of keeping social distance and wearing of face masks and washing hands and sanitizing. What bothers me is when I go to the grocery stores in the Huntsville area I see people leaving their grocery carts in the parking lot and not returning them to their storage areas where employees pick these carts up and take them in to be sanitized fir other customers. The other things I have noticed is people are leaving their latex gloves and face masks in the carts or in the parking lots expecting others to pick up after they use these PPE . It’s not fair to the employees to pick up your used masks and gloves. Would you want to pick up used syringes or other personal PPE that have been discarded ??? I think not.
Please be considerate to those that serve us!! They are also risking their well being for wages fir their family or chances on contract this virus that is running ferociously.!!
Please take a moment to consider those that are at the stores and location so we can get by!! As mentioned we are ALL IN THIS TOGETHER , so please let’s all do our part !!!
Al KUDRYK a concerned citizen of our Community
Hi again. I commend the Toronto Star investigative reporting into LTC, Ontario. I would encourage all to read Sat. Feb 27, 2021 front page, “Higher Death Rates in LTC homes tied to For-Profit ownership, analysis shows”. I encourage all to read the whole article; here are a few quotes only.
“”the pattern is consistent in the data from the entire pandemic and is even clearer in Ontario’s second wave, during which an even larger gap between the poorer outcomes at the for-profits relative to the non-profit and municipal facilities.”
“The Star used…’Stratified analysis’, with dozens of combinations of characteristics – 81 separate tests in all.”
“Staffing cannot be understated. We know that they [for profits] have lower levels and lower quality of staffing within the for-profit sector and we know that they’re paid less too.”
“Homes … can keep money for profit from a fourth funding category for things like housekeeping and administration, and from premiums charged to residents from private rooms.”
“Research from both the U.S. and Canada has found that for-profit [LTC] homes, on average, have lower staffing levels compared to non-profits.” So, if you need to look for care for a loved one, avoid the for-profits in Ontario, if at all possible. I sincerely hope that the outrage over this issue, dating from the Mike Harris years will be front and center in our next Provincial election. Please listen and dissect the party platforms during the campaigning. Choose better for our elderly people.
The rise in numbers of Covid cases is alarming. Yes, please stay in your own community for the time being, unless (e.g. you have a medical appointment). We have a small, but wonderful hospital; but, it has its limits. Our frontline workers (this includes cashiers, taxi drivers etc.) are physically and mentally exhausted beyond the pale. We’ve only been out of lockdown for a few short weeks and already we’re on the cusp of another lockdown. Not good for businesses. Not good for people’s mental health. Not ok. Use Zoom to connect. Use the old-fashioned telephone to connect. Pen a letter. Use email to connect. It’s a small price to pay. For your sake and the sake of others, don’t take ‘calculated risks’. Yes, please stay in your own community.
I agree the Huntsville community, not just the cottage community do care about the well being of it’s citizens, the health of it’s economy, and protection of it’s environment. It is difficult to see that “those venturing up to Huntsville to spend time at their cottage” are careful to quarantine when on a weekend the grocery stores have line ups, parking lots are full and the main street was jammed with cars and people shopping. So it would appear to me that people are not safe harboring, quarantining at their cottages and around their property, ensuring that they had sufficient supplies as to reduce exposure. These are difficult times but in order for us to get through this pandemic, avoid another shut down you need not to have unnecessary travel outside of your community.
Huntsville is very fortunate to have a longstanding and supportive cottage community who care deeply about the well-being of its citizens, the health of its economy, and the protection of its beautiful environment. Those who do venture up to Huntsville to spend time at their cottages are for the most part, extremely careful to quarantine up here, as they are as worried as are local residents about getting covid.
Let’s not point fingers at one another and instead continue to socially distance, wear appropriate face-coverings, wash and sanitize regularly, and hope for a day when our governments finally secure enough vaccines and have a published plan for protecting us.
Lets get ready for lockdown #3.
As we enjoy the freedom from lockdown #2 we forget there is still a pandemic going on.
The weekend was a beautiful winter days, and what did I see a flurry of cars coming from the south, rows of snow machines waiting to cross roads, and full parking lot at Deerhurst.
Relaxing the conditions of lockdown doesn’t mean going hog wild. For you from the GTA you are still in a stay at home order but feel you have the right to come here potentially spreading the virus. How about think of others for a change.
You came here before Xmas and our number of cases over doubled, and here you are again.
I get it I too hate being restricted but that’s where we are. Don’t think we are clear of this yet do your part by staying in your own zones.
I have lived in Huntsville for over 50 years and sold a few homes and as yet have not had a real estate company pressure me into selling. I have always called the company of my choice and asked them to give me an idea of how much I could expect to get for my home. So to try and blame the realtors for the high prices in my view is not fair. Yes they will list your home for as high a price as they think they can sell it for and we all would do the same thing but in the end someone has to be willing to buy at the set price or sometimes even higher. I don’t see much sitting on the market and not selling so the price asked must be ok.
Hey Huntsville, don’t let the realestate industry con you into selling your property.
Where are you going to live then?
These real estate companies are interested in nothing but profits at the expense of people who’ve owned for many many yrs.
Let the property owners with the big Buck property sell. They will be the ones trying to con you into selling at their profits.
So be aware of both the realestate company’s and other capitalists trying to get rich on your hard earned investments.
Cheers from someone who cares!
We passed by the Huntsville high school yesterday and were shocked to see that about 50 kids in the parking lot gathered with no masks and no social distancing. Is there no monitoring of this area? Perhaps you need the medical department to start giving tickets for the blatant non compliance of rules that everyone is suppose to be following. Maybe the high school should also be fined for letting this situation happen.
There is a new telephone scam on the wires. She claims to be from Home Warranty Ontario, talks about the carbon footprint and wants to put $88.05 in your account. She just needs your deposit information. DON’T GIVE IT TO HER. HANG UP!
As we headed grocery shopping around noon today, we passed by numerous groups of 10+ high school students gathered outside the pizza restaurants – all without masks. If we are to beat the spread of Covid there must be adherence by students not only inside the school but outside also. I know the schools have no jurisdiction outside of the schools, but do the police or other authorities not have a way to discourage these inconsiderate actions? This is especially important as more contagious variants start to appear.
Real estate companies!
We all know that real estate agents have a talent for “bending” the truth to fit their desires and needs and most take this with a sort of grim chuckle and something to the effect of “buyer beware”.
Blatant lies, belong with Trump however.
A recent listing for a property on Lake of Bays, a tiny little property with about 90 feet of frontage and less than an acre, a property with no possibility of any expansion on the site for virtually anything but maybe a garden shed, a property totally hemmed in with other private property as far as the eye can see in all directions….
Well the listing said that the property was “surrounded by crown land”.
I don’t know if the owners, who are now over 2 and a half million dollars poorer in some bank’s cash, actually checked out this fact but if they did they would find that there is no crown land within a mile of this place in any direction.
What there is, and I seriously doubt this was clearly disclosed, is a 66 foot concession right of way adjacent to the North. Leading to water this piece of property can be used by anyone on earth to access the water but nothing can be built on this land and no privacy controls can be placed upon it.
The municipality has a policy of “not closing such right or ways to water” and so this situation will remain as it is for all the foreseeable future.
By way of a bit of a comment, this lot has already encroached upon this public land with fill needed to create their driveway. This was done over 10 years ago and the by law department of the time did not feel the need to enforce the protection of this public land at that time, allowing this encroachment to proceed at no cost to the lot owner of that time.
More recently, the bulk propane tank for this property is located on the public road allowance, a precedent creating situation, and again as of this date nothing appears to have been done about this. So, in Lake of Bays, if you want to put your propane tank on the public road allowance, this appears to be perfectly ok.
I’ll bet the realtor never mentioned this fact either.
Considering the amount these realtors collect in fees one would appreciate it if they were at least truthful in what they tell customers.
Brenda, I do agree with you regarding the dogs and owners. I live near the Legion and their park
is regularly used by the puppy population. Come on owners, tidy up your puppy.
Ellen Duncan
Thank you Chas Clark for your factual posting. Mr. Ford has plenty to do for Ontario health besides travelling to US (and his border issues with travel at this time) to pick up vaccine- its still ludicrous, though understandably frustrating rhetoric and meant to depict DF as an action guy.
2 points 1] Mulroney government sold the Toronto Connaught Lab industries, a vaccine producer – might we have had a ready facility to take on the production of COVID vaccine, if a longer view had been taken by the federal Conservatives?
2] DF’s attention should be on LTC health sector – the missteps of the DF government with a deficiency of planning over the summer months, lack of comprehensive inspections, and not taking the kind of action for violations of care standards (actions which are already legislatively available to his government), mainly in the for-profit homes has failed to mitigate the second wave, as it could have.
I am really happy to see so many people out getting some exercise in this beautiful winter weather. It is so good for the mind and the body.
There is only one problem…people taking their dogs for walks and not cleaning up after them. Until someone invents a device that dogs can pick up their own do-do, owners have to take responsibility to clean up after them.
I walk around the frisbee park and sometimes play the game but it is just disgusting to see the amount of doggy do-do along the path! It is even more disgusting when the frisbee lands in a pile of it. I know I should be working on perfecting my throw but until I do, I would appreciate the frisbee landing on clean snow!!
It is not just out at the park, it is on the streets in town. Someone even put up a sign, by Fairvern, telling people to clean up after their dogs! How sad is that?
Come on people….you took on the responsibility of having a dog, do your part and clean up after them!!!
It is hard enough during these lockdowns, let alone this kind of ‘crap’ adding to the stress!
While I am at it…does anyone remember what side of the road to walk on when there are no sidewalks? Yes, facing the traffic!!!
Okay, I feel better now but will feel better once people start taking responsibilities for their pets!!!
Stay safe!
Today , February 3, 2021, the BBC announced that from December 1, 2020, the Covid-19 inoculation has been given to 10 million of the 15 million of those identified as priority individuals . The program will be completed mid February with 1 million inoculations being achieved per week. The UK target is to raise this to 2 million per week for the UKs population of 66.7 million.
(source BBC, Wik1pedia)
Canada has achieved 996,000 inoculations to date for its population of 37.9 million. Canada is now 27th in the world for its inoculation program behind the US (yes, even with President Trump), the UK and even small countries like Serbia and Poland. We are told a new production facility will produce vaccine by next year and our deliveries of vaccines has stalled. (source Global News, CBC News)
Mr Ford’s idea of going to the USA to get some vaccines does not now seem so outrageous.
Dr. Hastie; I have suggested to MPP Mr. Miller that the provincial government’s inaction in LTC appears to be one of moral bankruptcy. I share your thoughts.
It has been extremely distressing to watch the Covid 19 outbreak unfold at Roberta Place in Barrie. Despite the LTC home being overwhelmed by the virus with almost all residents and staff now affected , our Provincial Gov’t had persistently refused enlisting offers of military assistance offered by the Federal Gov’t.
Is this because they fear yet another damming report by an authoritative independent body? ( Federal to boot.) Are they concerned that recurrent, severe deficiencies might be revealed to the public at large?
These deficiencies would likely rest at the feet of the MOH and the Province.
If so, this is not only shameful, political self interest but a dereliction of public duty.
Seriously, recently reported that DF says he will drive down to the US to pick up more vaccine! His hyperbolic statement indicates his frustration level with vaccine distribution. Well, DF, I’m frustrated with your government’s inaction in LTC, from the spring 2020 forward.
I have a thought Mr. Ford, why don’t you stay in your office, govern, and increase staffing, training, testing, tracing, inspections in LTC? It will have greater effectiveness than driving to pick up vaccine for the province! Just a practical thought for our former football coach, business man, and Toronto city councillor.
I would like to bring to attention what my wife and I went through 2 weeks ago today. Our 2 dogs Tallie(beagle) and Lynkin(silver lab) decided to take off for a run on Monday January 4 2021 at 8:30 pm . The wife and I jumped in the truck and drove all the roads around Madill church road looking for the 2 dogs until midnight. No tracks because of a skiff of snow that had fell. We gave up for the night hoping they would come home. We were woke up the next morning with a phone call that one of our dogs was possibly lying dead on the highway in the southbound hwy 11 about 100’ north of the Stephenson road 12 intersection. We jumped in the truck and headed down there from our home on Madill church road. We got there but nothing. We had found what I thought was my dog buried in snow in the snow bank. I dug it up to find a lot of blood but no dog. I called Fowler’s construction highway maintenance office. I was talking to a guy by the name of Neil. I told him what I was looking for and would like to know if it was my dog or a dead deer. He took my phone number and name and said he did not know but he would radio the patrol person and find out and call me back. My call to him was at 9:06 Tuesday January 5 2021. We continued looking for the dogs hoping the best. We found Lynkin 2 hours later at Thermoseal he was scared wet and cold and didn’t want anything to do with anyone until we pulled up and he came to the truck. It was then I figured the blood was from my beagle Tallie. We took Lynkin home and waited for Facebook to help us locate Tallie. Friends were great by contacting whoever they could to help us with locating Tallie. I found out at 8 am Wednesday January 6 2021 that in fact it was Tallie-bug that had been killed on the highway. The notification did not come from the highway guy. In fact the highway guy Neil called me that afternoon at 1:45pm to say yes it was our dog that they picked up. I told him I wanted her back so I could bury her. Neil says well she’s in a garbage bag .. I said I don’t care I want her back. Neil says well we took her to a pit in gravenhurst and she’s buried. I said where is she I will go dig her up? Neil says ok ummm I will make a call and I said good let me know. To this day he still hasn’t called back.
So after multiple calls and texts from friends with contact numbers I get a boss at Fowler’s office in Bracebridge on Thursday January 7 2021 He tells me that the company policy for a domestic animal killed on the highway is to dispose of it immediately and if it has a collar and someone calls the person can have the collar back and that’s it. But because I was looking for my dog to bring home to rest he apparently made a call to the pit in gravenhurst to tell them I was coming to dig up my dog. I get to robinsons Quarry about 1:30pm and talk to the head guy and he directed me to the spot that Tallie was supposed to be buried in snow. He informs me tho it may not be a good scene because of bald eagles and coyotes and wolves that come there to feed on the dead carcasses that are thrown over the bank. The Robinsons guys were great and in no way am I blaming them for anything. But after not finding anything Thursday I made plans to go back Friday and a buddy was coming to help me dig. We moved a lot of snow but still did not find her. As we were leaving we spotted a garbage bag in a snow bank along the plowed road and it was Tallie. We also found out that Fowler’s patrol did not bury her they tossed her over the gate at the entrance to the pit. The loader guy never seen the bag until Wednesday morning when he was clearing that part of the pit.
We brought her home and made arrangements for cremation and that part of our family will be with us always. The problem is with Fowler’s Highway maintenance policy of disposal of domestic animals. It took 28 1/2 hours for them to get back to me about my dog. But yet the patrol person that picked Tallie up had a meltdown about having to pick her up. That is understandable but they kept telling me that it was unidentifiable as a dog. But yet the person that started the ball in motion Tuesday morning apparently seen something with beagle markings while driving by at 100km per hour. But the Fowler’s patrol according to Neil said they couldn’t tell it was a dog. The part that needs fixing is the policy to take someone’s pet which is part of the family and toss it over the bank to let the animals feed on. That is not right. There is no reason that my Tallie could not have been taken to the yard and put in a snow bank for the day to see if anyone called. In the summer they could have a small freezer to put the animal in temporarily. Another thing is they never scanned the dog for a microchip. The microchip would have identified Tallie and we would have had her in a couple hours. Fowler’s don’t own a scanner so when people pay for a microchip but it doesn’t do a bit of good because of their policy. The way this was handled by Fowler’s Construction highway maintenance office was terrible and I don’t want any other person to go through this. The handling of the domestic animals to be just thrown over a gate at a dump site. Their excuse was we didn’t know it was a dog but yet the pit guy seen that it was a dog by having a quick look in the bag on Wednesday morning and when I looked in the bag I could tell it was as Tallie by just looking at a foot. Fowler’s screwed up and the guy that initially was supposed to radio the patrol person (Neil) has no compassion and not a person that should be dealing with the public at all. No Microchip Scanners , No Return phone calls and not actually burying the dog like they said they did. Fowlers CHANGE YOUR POLICY. Because I’m working on having it changed for you like it or not.
Yes John, this is exactly what is happening here in Huntsville!
Even though we were all given the dramatic Provincial alert “Stay At Home”! THIS IS THE LAW!
Cross country skiers are arriving up here utilizing motels/hotels and even Arrowhead Provincial Parks own cabins of which there are ten. These are booked solidly for the winter and there is no sign that the reservations have been cancelled!
The problem is not the actual skiing and utilization of the Park. The problem is that these out of town folks are utilizing grocery stores, liquor store, drug stores and in the event of an injury will most certainly use our hospital!
Its just insane for this government to be so concerned about our wellbeing but at the same time be complicit in promoting and allowing the above to take place! Very very strange!!
Thank you Susan for your note about the town plowing Forbes Hill Road. It was rediculous and dangerous to have this sidewalk as a skidoo trail forcing people to walk on the road.Now if dog owners (a few) would pick up their dogs messes our walks will be even more enjoyable
Was on the way to my mailbox the other day when I noticed a vehicle stopped at the railroad tracks. Unusual, inasmuch as most people sail across as if there is no stop sign there. Then saw something silvery make an arc out the passenger window.
So I proceeded to investigate. At first I could find nothing, but then spotted a silver can on the snow. Waded down to retrieve an empty Molson Ultra can.
The car had driven past me with the passenger window still down and I could see the driver plainly. I also got the vehicle plate number. Drinking while driving. Indiscrete littering.
Guess I should be grateful for the extra 10 cents.
Resorts & Hotels remain open
The general info
Given on CBC news as I just
Watched it,is that Ontario residents
Are not to be traveling except for essential reasons.
Hotels & resorts are open here in Muskoka during this
28 day lock down.
I phoned One of Huntsville’s largest resorts and sure enough they are open. When I asked them why they are open for business & reservations they
Said they are open for people to go there & self isolate but they have to book for
Longer stays.
That short term stay was not allowed but longer
Stays were .
So does that mean people are allowed into our community from Urban centres (when they aren’t supposed to be traveling unless essential).How can it be justified for people to travel from where there is a higher concentration of covid – 19 , possibly
A-symptomatic but with covid then go to our grocery stores and potentially spread covid in our local
Community. One could say well the hotel would be feeding them but there is no one out there monitoring
Hotel stayers from traveling to grocery stores as they wish. It makes no sense to go from your residence in the city to sit in a small resort or hotel room to self isolate for two weeks unless you have alterior intentions like holidaying cross-country skiing or what ever… and yet us local community members are supposed to follow the rules of the lockdown. It would be easy to check who is booking into resorts & where they are coming from. You can be sure it isn’t the locals booking these rooms… there would be no need. These people booking into these resorts should be fined for unnecessary travel. It would be easy to trace.And the hotels & resorts should be shut for the duration of the lockdown. If a private resident holds a large gathering they can be subject to large fines & yet a resort because it is big business seems to have a loop hole that allows it to have travelers come & set up a perfect storm for more spread of covid. Is this Ontario Government serious about stopping the spread of covid or are they just good at token gestures ( even tho it originated in China we can learn from them. China had a serious lock down and pretty much put the brakes on covid in about 2 months. Is
Our Provincial Government playing a little shell
Game with us
( speaking out of two sides of the
Mouth) jeopardizing the health of the local
Community ?
This needs an immediate response .
Ms. Huddleston:
As perhaps the individual with the most contrarian comments; I would like to thank you personally for publishing every single one.
I’d really like to thank the town for plowing the sidewalk on Forbes Hill (usually a snowmobile trail); and for plowing the track in the old soccer field at Lions Lookout and the path through the woods down to Camp Kitchen. It makes walking a lot easier for those of us seniors who do this loop every day.
Hugh;
Could Doug Ford do anything so egregious as to elicit even a hint of criticism from you;
after being elected as Premier of all (some) of the people, he rolled back he $15 an hour min wage;
he stopped the living wage experiment;cancelled 2 paid sick days;reduced inspections at LTC homes from yearly to every 3 yrs; emasculated coservation authorities to allow developement. I wonder if any of this might have affected the rate of covid spread..
Hi Ryan,
Our guidelines are published here: https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/doppler-community-guidelines/.
Hello Dawn,
First off, thank you for your great work
Secondly, perhaps you could shed some light on comments that “don’t meet our community standards” as there are a few individuals who feel they are unjustly censored. It may help them, and other readers, to know what types of comments do not see the light of day.
I personally believe that the Doppler, that is a privately owned media outlet, is well within their rights to refuse posting comments that either spread hate, list non-proven ideas as fact, or incite violence. Censorship is not always a negative method, sometimes it is very necessary to keep the peace.
Ray V. Whew! It was becoming lonely as the only one getting censored on Doppler! Counting how many times: lots! Welcome Ray!
Wasn’t it Alice’s restaurant, that Arlo Guthree sang about, ‘if 2 are on the bench, it’s considered a movement, 3 it’s a…’? Is anyone out there a 3rd? Who would have thought, we’re now in the same Company with the POTUS? Is there a C medal for that? Funny, that movie was protesting Vietnam war, & it brought back memories of being censored for protesting then at the local assembly at H high school! My, how details may change but times just seem to stay the same? Wasn’t quite fully awake then, but by grace, am grateful now!
I was encouraged to see that the track by Lions Lookout is ploughed and sanded. Such a gift for those needing a safe place to walk while the inside track is closed! And for joggers, etc. Great way to support the community’s physical and mental health.
Now, can we get Cann Pond cleared for skating? Lake Vernon is frozen over so expect shallow Cann is almost ready. I was disappointed to see the change shed isn’t in place yet, not a good sign. Is there a decision regarding clearing the pond?
January 10th, 2021
World cases 89,731,755
World deaths 1,928,334
US cases 22,138,995
US deaths 372,522
Canada cases 657,323
Canada deaths 16,869
Ontario – let’s hope the numbers are down again, because “they” were predicting cases over the 4,000 mark by the end of the month, this is the 10th, and on the 8th, we already went over 4,000.
The now three new variants/mutations, are scaring people more than ever because of their capability of spreading faster. According to research released by Bloomberg, if you keep washing, masking, and distancing – and now add ‘avoid travel on buses, subways, and going inside’ with other strangers, I’d assume, then you might stand a chance. The problem is – while none of them seem more deadly, if you get a whole mass of people getting sick faster, and the hospitals are already overloaded, they can’t care for anyone and they’ll turn people away, a lot of people won’t get any help. The medicines will run out. The healthcare workers will get sick and probably die from the constant exposure, and we’ll all be screwed.
So, please, let’s take this more seriously than we ever have before.
There are essential workers out there, Canada – medical workers, front line workers, truckers, and the guys that work on those trucks, and the ones that keep food flowing in the stores, etc. “ESSENTIAL” people – they need the chance to stay healthy.
They can’t do it with everyone else being stupid, careless, thoughtless, selfish, bored, or frankly, even just lonely.
If they can’t safely work in their environments because of a stupid person ‘needing’ to be in an essential person’s bubble without a mask and/or closer than 6’, or feeling it is their ‘right’ to go ‘inside’ a store and not do a curbside pick-up – we’ll all be screwed. This is not the time for selfishness. This is not the time for stupidity. This IS the time to be SCARED.
For Example – on Saturday, January 9th, 2021 – In Barrie, Ontario:
“Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH), in consultation with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, has declared a COVID-19 outbreak on its Integrated Stroke and Rehabilitation unit. Seven patients who recently received care in one section of the 40-bed unit have tested positive for COVID-19, along with two staff members who are safely self-isolating at home. – The unit is closed to new admissions and transfers.”
The words “Closed to new admissions and transfers” – means if anyone needing help due to having a stroke – not Covid – a STROKE – cannot go to RVH’s unit. Think About That. When we shut down the hospitals due to Covid…they can’t open for car accidents, strokes, heart attacks, etc. When we exhaust our medical people and overload our health care system with Covid – there is no where else to go for help.
Let’s work together to DROP the Numbers. Flatten and REDUCE the Curve. BE SCARED – WASH hands and groceries – DISTANCE more than 6 feet now – WEAR the MASK. … Be Scared – We need to Fix This.
Kicked to the Curb
Every month a national auto parts chain sends me a bill for an ancillary service not provided in the store proper. Every month I drive across town and pay it the old fashioned way, with cash. I do it this way, not to make a political statement or lack of knowledge of online protocols, but because it works and I usually end up impulse buying something I forgot I needed anyways.
This past Saturday morning, because of the pandemic lockdown I knew I wouldn’t be able to enter the store but was hopeful that with the curbside service I could just hand them my bill with enough money to cover it and they would shortly thereafter bring me a receipt. I was pleasantly surprised, however, when a young man came outside and politely informed me that I could enter the building through the garage service bay doors and pay with cash there. I was doubly happy because I had brought an outdated product with me with a questionable sku that I hoped they could replace with a generic product.
But, alas, it was not to be. As two of the three people behind the counter watched the third one process my payment, I asked if one of them would mind finding me the product I needed. “I’m sorry sir, but we are offering curbside pickup only. You’ll have to go online, order it and then come back and pick it up at the other doors.”
Well, you can imagine all the things I wanted to say but fortunately I was basically speechless so I just replied, “Well, that won’t happen”, took my now processed statement and exited the store as the three stood and watched.
Now, I get that how retail stores deal with these unusual times is a work in progress. None of us has all the answers and if we think we do then we haven’t asked all the questions. But I also know that in retail, service is the single most important product offered. That is why Webers Burgers is so successful – they have an unbelievably basic menu offering but the service is absolutely beyond reproach. Every customer is treated like a somebody.
By placing my order face-to-face at this store I was cutting out the ‘middle man’ of online shopping. I was there with cash, getting my product would have involved no more effort than if I had ordered it earlier online and yet, apparently, all the black and white rules had to be followed.
Tragically, through no fault of their own and no matter how much they try to adjust and adapt their business plan, some businesses are going to fail in the next few months. If the customers aren’t there, they just aren’t there. But when a customer is there and yet is made to feel like they shouldn’t be, well, that just doesn’t make sense.
Just in case those that chose too risk the lives of others and flout the law. The OPP were out yesterday conducting another “RIDE” check point in Huntsville yesterday afternoon. I for one appreciate their commitment to the cause to rid these muppets off our roads.
Re : ‘GATES placed on Lions Lookout
Hill (a traditionally used toboggan hill.)
Silas you’ve made an important observation of the danger newly placed gates pose on Lions Lookout Hill.
Years ago my young daughter tobogganed down a hill with a chain link fence (& steel posts) far down the hill.
She hit a steel post and suffered a complex ankle fracture requiring surgery. I was told her ‘growth plate’ was involved & her leg may not grow the same length as her other leg.
Thankfully, that wasn’t the outcome.
You are a very socially responsible teenager Silas, to point this danger out for others and I want to
THANK YOU.
PLEASE, figure it. out but get the kids back into the classroom. Betweem the Union and the Health Department surely there is enough brain matter to make this happen.
Hello
I’m just curious as to why there are gates blocking the lions lookout hill as many people go tobogganing there and may end up hurting themselves. Many people are trying activities outdoors instead of indoors during COVID and as long as I can remember the unused winter hill has been a toboggan hotspot. I understand if it’s to stop vehicles, but it could hurt someone. Maybe if they moved it back a bit?
One of the few teens who doesn’t just sit on screens,
Silas
I have just read in this week’s Forester (January 7) on 5 Huntsville Decisions to Watch in 2021 that the Huntsville Town Council aims to keep rate increases below 1.84 %. We have had a year and still ongoing with the dreaded Covid, where business, people working and schoolchildren have suffered immensely and where many people are on a financial borderline between survival and collapse. To even think of a rate increase when the council services have been reduced and the Covid restrictions are going to continue until the population is vaccinated (your guess is as good as mine) beggers belief. Lets have a zero budget increase this year to help those business and people who are continuing to suffer.
If you are like me, you wonder when the scourge of COVID 19 will be behind us so we can resume a somewhat normal life. Will it happen in the spring, or will we have wait until summer? The answer is that it will happen when we develop herd immunity, that is, when a high enough percentage of the population is immune to COVID either because they have already recovered from it or, preferably, they have been vaccinated. It’s time for some COVID math.
The herd immunity threshold for COVID is unknown, but experts suggest it is likely to be at least 60 percent. As the population of Ontario is approaching 15 million, that means we need at least 9 million people to be vaccinated. Twice. So we need 18 million doses.
Yesterday, 10,350 doses of COVID vaccine were administered in Ontario. But we are just getting started. Let’s assume we can ramp it up to 50,000 vaccinations per day. That should be easy, as we have had nine months to prepare.
At 50,000 per day, we can complete 18 million vaccinations in 360 days. Almost in time for Christmas 2021.
Of course, if the herd immunity threshold is higher than 60 percent, or if we cannot deliver 50,000 doses per day, seven days per week, then the goal line will not be reached until some time in 2022.
Ray, to date we have posted 224 of your comments. However, as I’ve noted in the past, comments that don’t meet our community guidelines will not be posted.
I have said this before and i’ll say it again but likely doppler will not post it . For some reason they never post a comment I make on nay story. So this is the last time I waste my time posting my opinion on this site.
Talk about censorship.
Re Anna-Lise Kear’s December 30 comment:
You are correct that “responsible businesses will take action to protect their employees and customers.” However, without naming theses local stores/businesses, there are several who are NOT monitoring the number of customers who can enter and/or customers without masks. When I see a family or group without masks it’s highly unlikely that all of them have health issues that prevent them from wearing a mask. So, I leave that store. When I see that the store is crowded and physical distancing is challenging, I leave that store. Something’s wrong with this picture.
Thank you ? to the employees/staff of stores and businesses who have been diligently working hard since the beginning of the pandemic to keep customers and staff safe. Those are the businesses that I support.
*Correction* My apology, Rod Phillips completed his MBA at Wilfrid Laurier and his undergrad at Western University. Not sure where he was when ethics classes were happening; resigning really was an after thought, following the disclosure to the public about his vacation time abroad, while the rest of us in lockdown. All in elected leadership need to walk the talk that they expect of their citizens.
Mr. Peter Dirks; Either the Monkman School of Business did not teach Rod Phillips about transparency and hypocrisy , during his MBA, or he missed the classes.
Minister of what ? For a Finance Minister of our Province , to take a vacation at this time is ::
# 1 not a two week vacation , but a 4 week vacation, taking the rules of 14 day isolation into account.
# 2 Ho is paying for the isolation time and looking after his responsebilities ?
#3 If he is so stressed out in his job , why not try to be a Doctor or a Nurse.
#4 If you want to work in politics and be accepted , you will have to be responsible .
I hope that no additional payments of any form get considered .
All of this gives the hard working politisions a bad reputation they due not deserve.
The Name DOPPLER on Line is your Name DOPPLER ???? Please let me no Thanks
Carol Corry; I truly understand your possible frustration. We can assume that tracking and tracing of known positive COVID cases is being done by our burdened health units. Because Community acquired COVID is with us, we have to be vigilant in following health unit directions – still. Labelling these directions as “guidelines” is too wishy-washy, in my opinion. Take them as “directives”.
Responsible businesses will take action to protect their employees and customers. Those employees/customers who do not feel their safety is properly protected, should first speak to their employer/union rep – if little happens to enforce health unit instructions, then they should contact their health unit with concerns.
Why are these COVID cases kept Secrets we should know where these people have been or are in our community, where they at the grocery store, or bank , that I might have been at and when?
Em Arde, Anna-Lise: It is very disheartening that lives are needlessly lost to Covid. We are now in Lockdown. Despite urgings and desperate pleas from Health officials and government, there are still people who disregard best practice such as: mixing households indoors, no masks, nonessential travel to other communities cities, towns, States, overseas and so on. An indoor Christmas gathering of 20 people from different households certainly flaunts the rules- to say the least.
If we don’t behave, we’ll be riding the roller coaster of Lockdowns for some time. Sadly, there will be more needless deaths, a strain on our hospitals and frontline workers, in addition to permanent shutdowns of some restaurants and other businesses.
Dear Em Arde; stupidity, selfishness, and a sense of invincibility (they need a ball cap and cape to go with their superpower) seem to abound! Thanks for keeping sensible concern front and centre.
Our out-of-town family shut down the plans for time together here in Huntsville the week before Christmas – writing on the wall. Yet, I witnessed, at a local meat store, a twentysomething couple requesting a larger fresh turkey because they had 20 people coming over! The owner and all those of us physically distanced in line, with masks could only shake our heads – each of us was thinking the exact same thing.
Why don’t people care? Sadly, if I threw a snowball from my yard I could probably hit the house where a neighbour recently died from CODIV-19 complications. Those poor people. And yet, despite the province-wide lockdown that started yesterday, other neighbours still have family up from outside the area (even though indoor gatherings of multiple households are prohibited). And I just watched another group of neighbours, including at least a dozen adults and children, head over together to a nearby hill with their toboggans and sleds in hand (even though outdoor gatherings are limited to 10 people or less). SMH.
Wind turbines are unable to work well if the wind is too high or low or gusty. The turbine in pickering was often stopped, with blades feathered, es the unit only produced effective power 8 percent of the time according to hydro, not 18, or 80 as wind generator friends want you to think.drive toward Winsor and you will see dozens resting.
I lived in Pickering when hydro put in the wind generator, that at that time was the biggest in Canada. That generator produced useable power * percent of the time, while next to it were nuclear generators that can produce power on demand, but are also capable of carrying a base load. solar cannot carry a base load and only works when your panels are in the sun and not covered with snow. If we are to go green go nuclear with no green house gases, and cheaper per kw.
Full disclosure, I am not a card-carrying member of any political party.
My concern is that we keep the travesty of LTC in this province under full sunlight. The Ford Conservative government has been tone deaf on the environment and for-profit LTC during these times. More money, more LTC beds, more community services – for example may represent only a fraction more than previously presented by provincial governments (be careful to question the announcements).
I can imagine the for-profits “licking their chops” at the thought of new builds in LTC sector, more management opportunities, more investment for better dividends. DF continues to favour the for-profit investment model and this will not change (e.g. sending in a for-profit company, with record inspection violations of their own, to manage another nursing home at risk).
So folks, I seriously ask you to consider at the next Provincial election that we all pay attention to which parties offer a transition from for-profit to non-profit ownership and management of LTC facilities. If we’re really observant, we will also watch for the same in our home care community services.
Thank you for your consideration of my thoughts.
Congratulations Bob. You are truly amazing in all walks of life.
Another well earned accolade!!
Cheers,
Laurie & Rick Davison
Anyone running a home business should know that business income is not the same as revenue. Shame on those who used their revenue amount to apply for CERB when their business income would not have qualified them, and who now claim to have been confused by the term “income” and that the CRA is being unfair in asking them to repay the CERB money they had accepted so disingenuously.
Response to Jerry Paris Re: Zero Emission.
Jerry, you are correct regarding the pitch to try and sell electric cars and the misuse of the words zero emissions.
Where I think you are incorrect, I believe coal fired electric plants have been mothballed.
I know diesel fired electric plants do exist especially in the high arctic.
With the advent of electric cars we need to also change our electric grid to more renewable sources such as wind, and solar.
Another area to look at is battery technology and hydrogen fuel cells.
Great comments Jerry! Thank you for provoking thought and discussion
Kathryn…Conservatives, in my view, do a lot of complaining about everyone else…but I need to hear from you what is it they are wanting/going to do. You say “Conservatives are for Canadians” and then go on to list what you feel are all the deficits from the Liberals. Give me your list of Conservative plans to combat these deficits so I have something to compare them too…thanks
Ohh, Kathryn, your rant has such a lilting ring of Trumpisim to it.. Ya?
The conservative govt is for Canadians. The liberal are liberally throwing money away and taking Canada down. They are not for Canada or Canadians. They spend money like kids I’m a candy store. They are killing small businesses, they are not helping the indigenous but can give away billions. And our vets were let down again this term. Liberals areote interested in filling their own pockets and other countries pockets.
Discounted Today and Gone Tomorrow
The Progressive Conservative Government has decided to give a break to campers in Ontario. Wonderful, now the provincially run parks, which are already overbooked, will have less revenue to support their operations.
https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/59194/ontario-making-it-more-affordable-to-enjoy-provincial-parks
The Alberta Progressive Conservative Government had announced in March that they will be closing some provincial parks and partnering or selling others to private interests.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-alberta-to-close-parks-privatize-services-in-budget-cuts/
Back in Ontario, while some may welcome the discount and increased affordability, mark my words, this is going to be short lived. Before the 2022 provincial election, this provincial government will make a similar announcement as Alberta and close and/or sell off parks, because they are no longer viable and are a burden on the taxpayer.
This trend is not unlike the selling off of the 407 (an annual money MAKER) for far LESS than it cost to build it. The PC governments are about balancing budgets, no matter the long-term consequences. They sell money making government programs, handing them over to private interests, to later boast, they have balanced the budget, for THAT year. They have considered selling the LCBO and Ontario Lottery Commission, which bring in millions of dollars annually to OUR government budget.
Just for a moment, let’s look at Health Care. Again, in Alberta, the PC Government is looking at privatizing Healthcare. In fact, there are already privatized surgeries occurring.
https://globalnews.ca/news/7404348/ucp-private-healthcare-policy-approved/
When you think about the private labs in Ontario, and the gutting of our Healthcare systems, we may be heading in the same direction.
Bottomline, the Ontario PC government is offering a discount today, and tomorrow it will cost you MORE!
“For the People”, I think NOT!
Paul Kuebler,
Port Sydney, Ont.
Electric vehicles are called zero emission vehicles. They are not zero emission, they just move the emission point from the point where the car is to the point where the power is generated, think coal or diesel generation. So pleas stop using the term zero emission vehicle.
We have one big problem with other forms of voting, namely coalition governments like we now have, where a party that a With coalition governments parties that want to spend do so without thinking about the country long term, think italy or greece as two quick examples.Let us canada to the list.
Our MP, Scott Aitchison is correct, political parties should work together more often. It’s unfortunate that our electoral system (First Past the Post) pits parties against each other instead of building bridges between them. Most countries in the world use proportional representation (PR) because it encourages political parties to build on commonalities rather than accentuate differences. It does this by eliminating the problems of throw-away votes, artificial majorities and strategic voting.
For example, while Scott eloquently praises the beauty of Muskoka, he ignores the worsening climate chaos which threatens to destroy all we love. The first past the post system forces many MPs to deny the existence of climate change to attract votes. If Canada switched to proportional representation, MPs of all stripes could work together on this and other issues without alienating voters.
With the rising numbers in Simcoe Muskoka Region threatening to move us to the next level, you can imagine my shock watching our Mayor on Barrie news promoting tourism for Huntsville. We have done well keeping our numbers down, this virus is not carried on the wind or pops up out the ground. It is a person to person contact. So why are we asking for more possible infection to come to our town. I get it Huntsville is built on tourism and in normal times, invite them in, but this is not normal times. As for the money brought in by tourism, ask your self if we lose one resident of our town due to exposure from an infected visitor, is it worth it. It could be your parent or grand parent think about it.
This Covid virus is getting worse. I think it is disgusting how the Town is inviting tourists to come here. No compassion for Huntsville residents that have been so good about isolating and abiding by the rules. Even the Health Doctors are saying NO.
I am a professional in Huntsville who is working as a taxi driver during covid. I have posted before regarding the large number of people not wearing masks. For a short period of time, this improved. Currently, with the influx of visitors I have noticed a steep decline in mask wearers. I have also noticed that people are more combative when asked to wear a mask. Please, please, put your mask on! I am trying to earn a living, not a hospital bed
*uninterrupted
I saw the sidewalk plow come by today. And I watched as the poor driver had to stop every few houses and get out of his cab to move garbage cans and recycling bins off the sidewalk. C’mon, neighbours. Give the guy a break, and let him do his job interrupted. Put your bags, bins and cans on your driveway, so the road and sidewalk plows aren’t impeded.
I just wanted to say a BIG THANKS to the gentlemen of GM’s service department!! I broke my windshield wiper the other day and would not have made it home, I stopped there and they helped me by fixing it and didn’t charge me for it!!
Thanks again!
In answer to John Robinson’s comments about ALS, there is significant research being done in Canada at the Tanz Centre of Research in Neurodegenerative diseases at University of Toronto. https://www.tanz.med.utoronto.ca/als
Some of this work is supported by the James Hunter Family ALS initiative. . Today I received an update from the Initiative. https://prdenpfe1.utorcsi.utoronto.ca/v.aspx?SI=142932&E=normvanstone%40hotmail.com&S=1&N=9028&ID=8651&NL=7101
It is a lot more prevalent than most would believe.
In this time of COVID 19, I am very grateful for the opportunity to lap swim at the Summit Centre; the safety protocols in place are very good. Personally, I know of participants who swim as a primary or secondary treatment to the management of their diabetes, asthma, COPD, pre & post op surgery, cardiac rehabilitation, musculoskeletal disability, neurological disorders, and mental health challenges. Staff are constantly reviewing and revising protocols, in compliance with the public health authorities – and they do so, cheerfully! Promoting health, preventing disability, providing opportunities to sustain our level of rehabilitation, keeps us functioning and out of hospital, and supports us in our volunteer efforts in the community.
My son Michael is in his 6th year with Lou Gehrig’s disease ALS. He will be 50 yrs old this month. He lives in the USA where he can get the proper care. Canada is lagging behind though Michael who is a doctor is helping Canada improve. He shocked us last night by saying 1 in 300 people in Canada will get ALS IN THEIR LIFETIME. This disease now is 100% fatal. It’s time our government realized how serious ALS is. Most die within 2 to 5 years. Michael is an exception as he fights on. Support your local ALS ASSOCIATION PLEASE!!!
Yesterday, November 29th, was a glorious, sunny day here in Huntsville,
The nets were still up at both Conroy and Meadow Park,.
Thanks to the foresight of our Mayor, Council and the Recreation staff, a dozen folks at Meadow Park
( 8 more at Conroy) were able to play pickleball outside on the second last day of November.
It may seem like a small thing, but during a Pandemic, small things loom large.
Thanks again.
Harry Oswin
Brunel Rd.,
Huntsville
Well stated Steve Lehman! It is ‘our right’ to breathe clean air, not the potentially infected breathe of someone refusing to wear a mask during a pandemic. It is time for all levels of government to start making the fines and jail time stick. It is time to teach these arrogant, disrespectful people that we ‘all’ have rights and freedoms. The right to a safe, healthy life being the most important.
Stay safe this holiday season everyone. Wash, wear the mask, keep the distance, and exercise our ‘right’ not to spread the virus and our freedom to flatten the curve.
Wonder why we do not have a non-profit vaccine production site in Canada to manufacture a COVID 19 vaccine? Final blow to Connaught Labs, Toronto, a Mulroney legacy, might be an example.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connaught_Laboratories
Federal Conservatives might not be aware.
Thank goodness for the light that the Auditor General’s Report shines on the leadership of Ontario’s response to COVID 19- governmental-public health leadership. Actions which could have been taken, by authorities were not. I am not totally surprised; the RNAO (Registered Nurses Association of Ontario) was calling for the resignation of Dr. Williams in the early months of the first wave. Looking forward to reading this report, when I can locate a copy. I suspect that these were not just small missteps, we’ll see.
What other town forces people to walk on the road while the side walk is left unplowed for skidoos
I am referring to Forbes Hill Road east from Brunel to the turn heading towards the De Novo Center
This is part of a two km route recommended to seniors as a walking route
I have brought it to the attention of the town with no answer
I would like to know why Terziano can’t let us taxpayers know how much rent we are getting for the newly town acquired kW pipe property. What’s the big secret? It is being bought with our money we have a right to know.
Hello Em,
I think it’s a combination of many causes for people to ‘ignore’ the arrows
1) Ignorance, they just are too absent minded to realize the arrows have a meaning
2) Arrogance, they just don’t care about anyone else and are just in a rush
3) Started out the correct direction, but moved back against the arrow to reach items that were passed (I’m guilty of this all the time)
4) Aisle was empty, so went the wrong way, and hopefully turn back around should another shopper enter (I’m also guilty of this, but if the aisle is empty, I really don’t care if I’m going the wrong way while it’s empty)
5) Item within the first few feet of the aisle exit, pure laziness, don’t want to walk around
All this aside, I’m very forgiving of people who are already struggling with mobility, these people need to just move along the best that they can regardless of arrows.
Why do so many people seem to find it so difficult to follow the directional arrows on the floors in our stores? Are these people truly in such a hurry that they cannot abide by the rules like everyone else? Or is it that they just don’t care?
So excited to see that Huntsville’s Covid Isolation Quilt has found a permanent home at the Algonquin Theatre in downtown Huntsville. It hangs right beside the Canada 150 quilt that our community made in 2017. The Isolation Quilt tells stories of how people are managing during this pandemic. The stories are being compiled in a book that will be on display beside the quilt when our lives return to some sort of normalcy. Thanks to Matt Huddlestone who realized the importance of the Isolation Quilt and found a space for it. Thanks Terri Howell for preparing the quilt for hanging in this space. Thanks to the people who took time to create a square and to tell their stories. This, I believe, is history in the making.
With the linked announcement, it appears the Ford government has projected an apparent claw-back in the new LTC budget, 2021.
https://pressprogress.ca/doug-fords-new-covid-19-budget-plans-to-spend-nearly-100-million-less-on-long-term-care/
Perhaps he is welcoming new for-profit investors into this health sector.
Does anyone have further details?
I wonder if a lockdown is as bad as portraid. Lockdown go bankrupt. stay open and die is there a choice?
It’s been fifty-one years since Richie Havens sang about freedom at the Woodstock music festival. This past week we were reminded about the seventy-five years that have passed since so many died to guarantee the freedoms that we now enjoy in this country, freedoms like speech and the freedom to congregate and protest.
Unfortunately, during all these observances and commemoration ceremonies nothing is ever mentioned about the other edge of the double-edged sword of freedom, namely the painful sharpness of responsibility. That is perhaps why we now have fringe protestors irresponsibly endangering the lives of others by brandishing this sword of rights and freedoms and refusing to wear masks during this pandemic.
Now, I get that none of us wants to live in a police-state. That is not the legacy our brave veterans died to bequeath us with and so our political leaders of all stripes have instead implored us to voluntarily do the right thing and collectively work toward the greater good. While I appreciate that this plea implies the government trusts and respects us as individuals responsible enough to make the right decision, in the real world it doesn’t work. That is why we enact laws to penalize people who drink and drive or don’t wear seat belts or drive distracted or carelessly discharge a firearm or a hundred other things. Left to our own devices, a selfish few will invariably and disproportionately affect the existence of so many others so perhaps the time has come for Trudeau or Ford or Kenney or all other hesitant political leaders across the country to take those few by the hand and penalize them into adulthood. I don’t think their right to breath out contaminated air supersedes my right to breath in air that is clean.
Or perhaps we could take a cue from our southern neighbours, arguably the most litigious people in the world. At some point in time I believe it became a punishable offence in Canada to knowingly infect an unsuspecting sexual partner with HIV. If we were allowed to press assault charges against or sue anyone who could be proven to have known that they were infected with Covid-19 and yet refused to comply with safe health procedures and subsequently infected an innocent person, then perhaps that would be enough of an incentive to convince them to become a more contributing member of society.
And speaking of the U.S. – if there is one good thing that can be said about this pandemic, it’s that it was quite probably the silver bullet that ended Donald Trumps hate filled reign. Without his totally inept handling of it, his re-election would have likely occurred and every ‘anti’ faction that existed or has sprouted over the last four years would have really blossomed and spread their poisonous seeds of anger even further into Canada. Anti-abortion, anti-gun control, anti-vaxers, anti-maskers and now, apparently, millions of Americans who are anti-democracy, willing to give up their faith in the election ballot system because of the ramblings of a master inventor of conspiracy theories who at one point suggested they drink disinfectant as a possible cure for covid. Hmmm. Does all this embracing of anti-everything make Trump the epitome of an anti-hero?
This may sound stupid but it would be nice if at all the lights the turn and go straight sighs were hanging where you can see them and not just painted on the road which is usually covered with a car or snow. Just saying.
“Ontario continues pro-development anti environmental plan. ” This headline appeared in the Toronto Star Nov 6th. It uses the Minister’s Zoning Order to allow development in wetlands, forests, ravines and farmlands and conservation areas. This has not yet been approved, but because of the pro development policies of the current Provincial Government, it appears that those of us who care about the environment and the future of of the planet need to monitor and react strongly to attempts to weaken environmental legislation. Stay tuned.
Have you heard? The District has now commissioned a Corridor accessible bus! It has been a long 8 years in the waiting. The District also has a new transit project to provide people living in rural Muskoka access to the major towns and it will be accessible. Now if we could just get Huntsville to move forward with the plans on their transit set out in AODA and their own 5 year plan (improvements for all) that was to begin two years ago.
As it was not prohibited-
Porch light on, music on, Covid safety measures in place.
Trick or Treaters had a much needed ‘near normal’ Halloween evening out.
Parents drove their kids to end of driveway, where they waited for a clear spot to come up to receive their treats. So impressive – all masked (at least one), patient and VERY happy and delightful. Great job families!
Oh my god! The uproar over Halloween has me shaking my head. We are in the middle of a deadly worldwide pandemic, and people are whining about trick-or-treating? Cancel the whole bloody thing, I say. Is it the end of the world if the kiddies have to skip a year of mooching candy from strangers? Dress up at home if you have an urge that needs to be satisfied. Pick up some candy when you are getting your groceries. Watch scary movies, tell scary stories, and gorge yourself on mini chocolate bars and Sweet Tarts until you throw up. Even though I am child-free, I have happily shelled out to the kiddies every year of my adult life … but this year the porch will remain dark and the doorbell unanswered. Sorry, but jeez, people!! Stay home, and stay safe. It is time for a serious reality check.
Good on you, Sophia! i watched a documentary the other day, “American Selfie”. A small portion of it dealt with the massive line-up to purchase the latest Apple hand-held. Unfortunately, it was held on the same day as a climate crisis march. Guess where the students (and a majority of 20- and 30-somethings) were?
Most young people feel somewhat invulnerable: and they are not yet at an age where they’re concerned for their descendants. I have great-grand-children; and thinking about the world that they’ll inherit keeps me awake nights.
Seeing a young lady like Greta Turnberg; and to a lesser extent, yourself; gives me hope.
I would like to recognize the Fridays for Future movement that takes place every Friday at 11:30-12:30 at Town Hall. The same people are there every single week making a statement for our future. I am a high school student, I am the only regular student attendee. I would like to thank those who attend every week. I would also like to express my disappointment in the high school students for the lack of care for our OWN future! Soon, I would like to reach out to you with the names of the attendees because they have persevered so well and have donated their time and money into trying to get more high schoolers involved. Let me know what you think and what else I can include if you would like to do anything with this information. Thank you!
Rob Millman:
Ontario PPM 150 does not allow for fast foods in high schools. The cafeterias that we knew as kids with fries and gravy are long gone. High school cafeterias can not make a profit. Students in Huntsville (used to) go to the arena at lunch because Oliver’s would sell items not restricted by PPM 150. Of course they return to the school and eat their poutine in the hallways.
Brian: Neither Mickey D’s or any other multi-national food conglomerate would ever be allowed to operate such a food wagon. Even a RFP would be patently unfair (as the net worth of the interested parties is so diverse). Perhaps, turning the cafeteria into a “food court” would be the best solution.
But then you would have an indoor problem vs. an outdoor problem. And we all know which is, by far, preferable.
I have to agree with Jacquie about the school kids wandering about with no masks or distance.
These are the best and brightest minds we have and are being groomed and educated at great expense so that they can take over in a few years.
You’d think they would be better at handling the epidemic issues.
Why has no enterprising food cart set up in the High School parking lot? They could sell a lot of lunches and there is a vast open area up toward the lookout where kids can have lunch and be outside with no issues.
The walk to McD’s and back would take up most of the normal lunch time, so not wishing to decrease McD’s obvious appeal it is still a case of much walking with little or no time to actually eat.
Maybe McD could operate a reduced menu food wagon up near the school.. ?
What is going to appear on the sand pile beside highway 60 in the swamp beside Kawartha Dairy?
Whatever it is it looks like it will not likely flood.
Is it true that Algonquin Park had to close on Thanksgiving week end?
We are so lucky to live in this glorious part of the world.
ellen
On a lighter note. Why do the leaves fall and pile up on my garden when you never see a leaf on the Hwy 11 road surface? Can the MTO let us in on their secret.
Hello Lesley,
Please be patient until the Main St. Streetscaping Project is completed. I think that you will be pleasantly surprised by the trees, benches, and new crosswalks that have been included (delineated by variegated paving stones).
What a lovely new road surface driving from the swing bridge towards King William Street! But when one looks around it is so sterile, austere.
Please, when any improvements of this kind are being done, think trees. What a dramatic difference It would have made visually if trees had been planted there, on both sides of the road. Trees can provide shade and hence reduce the heat for pedestrians and parked cars, they absorb the carbon dioxide from combustion engines, and if the trees were Apple or other fruit bearing trees they would provide food too.
My wife and I are proud responsible owners of a small Australian Labradoofle and enjoy regular walks with her
We walk the Summit Center circle and parts of the Fairy Vista trail
We are appalled and disgusted at the lack of consideration by some dog owners who do not “scoop” after their dogs. Do they not realize that seniors and children walk these trails ? These people that don’t clean up after their dogs are probably the same people who litter our environment with coffee cups etc
We have also noticed the removal of refuse containers from these public areas. This by itself discourages clean environment habits
Let’s all be responsible Huntsville citizens
Canadian Tire Staff and management might want to take mask wearing more seriously. I brought up my considered concerns and was instructed to basically go back from whence I came.
Disapponited and concerned for our community that some businesses are not following the covid 19
guidelines .I have entered three businesses where employees did not wear mask in one I asked are mask not mandatory in Mukoka the reply it’s not a law.To the owner you lost approximately 100 dollars .
By not taking the covid guidelines seriously you show little valve for customers or the community at large.
I want all businesses to succeed I don’t want to be forced to buy on line. My hope is our community will pull together to get through this surreal time by protecting each other by wearing a mask , social distanacing etc.
Stay safe
Norma Stahls
According to the Doppler update of September 28, 2020, Huntsville has had a total of 20 registered cases of Covid 19. 11 of these cases are reported within one month–August 31 to last week in September.
This is an obvious concern.
What is our Medical community’s reason for this? (opinion or facts).
Also, what would be the solution to avoiding such a significant jump in future?
Our community is very caring and giving. We deserve transparent and honest information and direction. Please help us to help each other.
I personally do not object to the teenager being out at noon. I object to them not physically distancing or wearing masks. They and they alone can solve the concerns
I was speaking to a grade 11 student the other day and she is as frustrated as the school board. Students have a choice, stay in the class room or leave the grounds. Where else can they go but uptown.?
No one seems to want the kids.
ellen
Like many others, I drove through Town in Friday at lunch time. My reaction was shock. Stop blaming the school system They have excellent public health protocol. TEACH your teenage adult:/children the rules. We will have increased cases in schools BUT not from school activities. From behavior on the street, dock, cars and backyards
Wearing a mask at ALL times outside your home would save lives and sickness. (Flu season is coming to complicate everyone’s health. Masks – Hand washing, physically distancing will be more important)
What is on your menu for Thanksgiving? Will you have turkey or ham, perhaps a side of COVID 19?
Since the start of the school year many college and university students in cities such as Toronto, Ottawa, Kingston and London have ignored basic advice with respect to COVID 19 (distancing, wearing masks). No doubt some of them have or will soon become infected. They may be asymptomatic or experience mild symptoms. In three weeks those students who can will be going home for the Thanksgiving long weekend. Its a great time for them to see their families and to reconnect with their friends. After this much anticipated break will they have infected those who they longed to see the most ? I encourage parents to discuss this with their children. Perhaps it would be prudent if they were tested before heading home.
Residents of our area have done a remarkable job of limiting the spread of this virus. Lets continue to enjoy the success we have experienced. When planning for Thanksgiving be mindful of what is at risk. This may be the year to have fewer people around your dining table. You will have more leftovers to enjoy and perhaps better health as well.
We were driving by Huntsville Public School on Friday. It appeared to be recess time. There were dozens of children and teachers out on the playground, no masks, what appeared to be no social distancing. We are being asked to reduce the group numbers, limit our contacts to just the people we live with at this time. Why is this different for teachers and children? They need to be protected also I know that children have to be active and get outside but it is scary to see this in light of the rising Covid numbers.
My family continues to maintain pretty strict adherence to the COVID guidelines, and thus we don’t get out much. So imagine my dismay when, today, I had to drive through downtown Huntsville at lunchtime. It was so disappointing to see hordes and hordes of school kids everywhere, clustered in large groups, with no masks on and making no attempt to physically distance from one another. They were laughing, talking, shouting in each others’ faces, without a care in the world … even though that world is in the midst of a devastating pandemic. What a shame.
As Residents of Huntsville for a chunk of the year, we are appreciative of the work that various Town Councils have done to create generally good aesthetics for its people.An amazing furthur opportunity presents itself in creating a new Park/beautification area in a high profile area of our Town,namely the area opposite the CIBC Bank Branch.Fully realise that a lot of money would be involved,and money is tight at the moment due to COVID etc.How about a campaign/lottery(if allowable) etc,etc,etc.Let’s not deprive future generations of developing in an environmental/aesthetic way an even greater and more attractive Town!.Let’s do it!! Thank you.
Mr. Calderon:
I totally empathize with your situation. I would recommend that you purchase a large package of disposable masks, and refuse to carry any passenger who won’t wear one. It’s totally lawful for a citizen to impose provincial restrictions.
Responding to Mr. Rob Millman’s comment below: “With respect to the comments about shoreline erosion; I’m certain that it’s addressed in the OP. So what is required is a bylaw (if one doesn’t exist), and enforcement (if one does).”
I found this resource, which is helpful. https://safequiet.ca/information/boaters-code/
I’d still like to see bylaws that address seadoos specifically. I’ll keep doing some research and post what I find. But you’re right, enforcement if it already exists.
I am a cab driver in Huntsville. Masks are mandatory in the town. Why do people think this doesn’t apply in taxis? I carry many tourists, essential workers from seniors homes, and many people who have just been to the hospital for various reasons. Protect your fellow citizens and wear a mask when you take a taxi
I would just like to send a ‘virtual high-five’ to the GFL (Green For Life) garbage/compost collection workers. They are super efficient and leave the area neat and clean after picking up. This morning we witnessed them actually picking up extra stuff off the ground which had blown out of our neighbour’s garbage. Glad to see that some people still have some pride in their work. Kudos to GFL for hiring such conscientious young men!
Just glad to have something positive to talk about for a change!
May I say a huge Thank You to the volunteer staff at the Legion for a wonderful roast beef dinner last tuesday.
Thank you to all involved. It was well run and very well received.
Yummy.
ellen
I just wanted to add to the pot hole, or should I say crater holes on Britannia Rd. Yesterday, I had family members heading home after a visit and they said they were just about hit head on on the S curve as another car was on the wrong side of the road to avoid the holes. I myself have been involved in a head on at that very place over a year ago for the same reason. Insurance companies should start billing the township for all the damages to us and our vehicles. We should start billing the township for all our suspension repairs for avoiding the pot holes.
Brittania is one of many roads that have more hot patch then original asphalt. Concession 4&5 is also brutal.
The District of Muskoka is responsible for Brunel Road, the Town of Huntsville is responsible for most of the roads that connect to Brunel.
I wrote to the town recently about Britannia Road and did not receive a response. I mentioned how sections ( mostly curves) had potholes that were being filled in constantly. Cyclists, motor cycles, cars and joggers use this road. Accidents are happening as drivers want to avoid the holes. It needs to be repaved or at the bad sections for our safety and our car suspension systems. Thank you.
look into how Huntsville promised to redo Brittania rd. A promise of 4 million. They have fixed burnel rd. That didnt need fixing Today I heard of another accident. Unfortunately it maybe a death. In pass, cars have been written off. I myself replaced my front end on my car twice. Pots hole are ridiculous. I’ve had several close calls myself. Drivers are stupid. People who live on the street are aware, Hope you have time to explode Huntsville. We ve also sent patricians
Why does this sound like a good idea to me. This is purely a rhetorical question so don’t take this opportunity to be rude. 🙂
Hello Rob,
Yes that is true, one course per day, for 22 school days. 8 courses per year.
Would anybody with high-school-age children please answer a question for me? I heard somewhere that your children will be taking a single subject, 7 hours per day, for a month. Then presumably they would write the final exam for this topic. Of course, I could check this out for myself; but all the rules are in a state of constant flux.
Thank you kindly.
It seems very conserning that Airbnb rentals can have one set of guest move out at 11:00, the owner arrive at 11:30 clean the unit and a new guest move in by 4:30. I checked with Dearhurst and they have the same policy. I feel that this is not sufficient for proper protection. I hope schools that are starting have more intensive cleaning protocols.
My apologies to Mr. Vance. It was a typo or error, somehow!!
Attended a show at the fair grounds put on by Muskoka Festival of the Arts and some of our local musicians. It was great. Locally we certainly are blessed with primo musical talent and have sponsors who are willing to support them. Heard a variety of styles and renditions of Tragically Hip pieces and it was impressive. Was particularly taken by the talent and presentation of Sawyer Lance. She never stopped moving! The exuberance of youth.
A fine evening for some quality entertainment and I sure hope there is more. And when there is,I need tickets! Thanks to you all.
Anyone know why the work has stopped on the excavation for that Hotel behind Wendy’s ??
In a reply to ….
Ryan Vallentin says
August 17, 2020 at 8:21 am
I have to admit that I have not managed to catch any culprits in action. I seem to have other things to do with my day.
However I will grant that it is probably a small percent of people who make all the mess and still drink while driving .
This said, I have to note that contractors time frame puts their vehicle in the right place at the right time to contribute to what I see and that, morning and night contractors are by far the majority of the traffic.
Personally by the way, at our resort we do not use any chemicals to try to control bugs. We use birds and other insects to help control things like mosquitoes. We put up bird houses, and do our very best to foster the growth of things like dragon flies, which eat a lot of smaller bugs. About the only bugs we do attach with chemicals are wasps and nobody really has any choice with these as they are just not compatible with human activities and we simply have to remove them and the only way we can do this is kill them in specific sites. Locations where we can we just leave them alone.
We realize that without the blackflies and mosquitoes though, there would be no fish, no things like blueberry’s and a host of other things that we do like.
I would be remiss not to mention that the people who spray chemicals about to kill unwanted vegetation on lawns and vanquish mosquitoes from cottage yards, are themselves “contractors”. I realize that these people are pretty reputable and follow the rules of the day to be legal but that does not change the fact that what they are doing is generally not what nature would have done and I think nature is arguably more correct than a cottage owner’s personal penchant for a bug free environment.
We are all guilty of changing our environment by virtue of us simply living in it. That is one of the limits to growth that we all face and ultimately it will control us at some point no matter if we like it or not. The world is starting to show the effects of us all pushing this limit. It is part of the cost of there being so many of us humans. It does not matter how careful you are with YOUR wrappers and coffee cups, the very act of driving to work each day, when multiplied by billions of us world wide, is going to do the trick.
It’s tough and not nice and we may, perhaps most of us, feel that individually WE are not the problem, but it all adds up and in reality, the collective world wide “we” is the problem.
Why does everyone pay lip service to the idea of safety and non-pollution but in reality people just don’t seem to care.
In the regular part of the year, there is a parade of contractors out from Huntsville every morning and return at night. Following this parade one finds the Horton’s cups and wrappers arriving about the time the trucks turn off onto the side roads. These guys make their living from a clean environment that looks nice. That is part of what attracts tourists to the area. You’d think they would care more.
Speaking of the tourists or seasonally adjusted owners. They or maybe their guests (Air B&B??) seem no better. I know this because normally I see a great increase in roadside trash as soon as summer arrives. Not just the wrappers and bottles, but whole entire bags of trash. Once again, these people all come here to be in “God’s country” where things are clean and pristine. You would think that since they have already paid for the dump with their taxes they might use it properly. Last week someone left a huge bag of diapers and trash plus another full of beer empties at the mail boxes at our fire hall. If they thought Canada Post would look after these…. they were sadly very wrong.
A final point that sort of makes me sad is that if you think about it at all, single bottles and cans for alcoholic beverages are quite unlikely to just “fall” off the back of a truck or out a hole in the bottom of a car’s trunk. No, they are far more likely to have been thrown from a window. Maybe this is to get rid of any evidence? Regardless it means that even after 50 years of anti drinking and driving activities by the OPP and groups such as MADD, a significant number of people don’t seem to have received the message and must be drinking while driving. Even if it is only the passenger this is still not legal. This is depressing.
I guess when we start seeing empty bleach bottles on the side of the road we will know for sure that Trump has paid us a visit and driven around our area. So far there is thankfully no sign of this.
I wish that I’d known about the mini-Art Show. Although I’m unfamiliar with Ms. Drieger’s work; I’ve always loved Marika’s various treatments of nature. They’re not photo-realism, but you could swear that you saw them somewhere; if only in a dream.
My partner and I crawled out from under a rock this weekend (because of the covid) and went to see an art display in a yard on North Mary Lake Road. The artworks of Roxanne Drieger and Marika MacDonald were amazing and were worth coming out of isolation to see. We also were treated to a concert by the Muskoka String Quartet were the seating was well spaced as well as lots of lawn to sprawl out on.. We wandered the grounds enjoying the art displays, talking to the artists while listening to the strains of Beethoven and Mendelson and other classical favourites. I want to thank Roxanne and Marika for a totally enjoyable afternoon and for showing us that life doesn’t have to come to a standstill during a pandemic but that much can be created during such a timetime.
Our wonderful Syrian neighbours of three years need accommodation with 2 bedrooms. Their landlord needs his condo back by the end of October. The parents both work, 1 daughter is returning to pre med university and the other post High School works locally. They have excellent references. My email: [email protected]
Brian
I wish that you would stop singling out contractors in your rant. Your points about garbage alongside the roadways are true, but do you have any proof that either cottagers or contractors are the primary culprits. I am a contractor, and I know many contractors, and it is not reasonable to believe that we drive around littering all the time. Our vehicles have business names on the side, there are legal and social repercussions for behavior such as littering or bad driving. Of course there are bad apples in every segment of society, but I find it personally insulting that you believe I would rather toss my empty coffee cup out the window then discard it properly. Hopefully I don’t get a service call to your property, I’ve heard that resorts all use nasty chemicals to control bugs and I would fear for my health…. oh wait, is that a stereotype? No offence intended to our local mosquito control businesses, I know your products are safe for us.
Went down to Toronto this weekend to visit with the grandchildren. My youngest celebrating her sixth birthday in fine style.
And, of course, the discussion came up about school, going back to school or going to school and masks.
Do they work? Whom do they protect and how and should kids be expected to social distance and what about the so-called aerosol effect?
Can’t pretend the sampling was representative of anyone but the parents I met at social distance all wanted the kids safe and back in the classroom, a sentiment that seem to be shared by the children.
But how to achieve that? There it all got a bit vague.
Shrink the class size didn’t seem to be practical because you’d need to hire more teachers — presumably if you half the class you double the teachers, open the windows, install HEPA filters, mandate masks, eat lunch in the classroom and so on.
Anyway it would be interesting to hear how your readers think the local school board is dealing with it because it looks like the TDSB is at loggerheads with the province and the solution down there seems to be delay going back and hope like heck a third or more of the kids opt for home school.
Does that make sense locally?
Two parents I spoke with, okay I overheard them speaking to each other, said they were going to send their kids to some fancy fee-paying school on account of how the class sizes were smaller. But are even social distancing and masks complete answers?
Sure like to hear what folks who read your fine paper have to say.
You’d think that because boaters require a boating license they would understand proper water safety however I see about 15 boats a day go around the buoys wrong on Pen lake. Please remember to go in between the buoys and slow down/speed up NOT at the canal entrance but where the buoys are. One of these deerhurst kayakers are going to be killed by stupid boaters who don’t understand you go through them and not around.
I am forever amazed at the amount of garbage that just keeps getting left on the roadways or other roadside spaces.
In the last few days several bags of garbage left at the local fire hall. I guess protecting the residents from fire is not enough to satisfy some of them and they seem to want the fire department to remove their trash too??
There is the constant supply of wrappers, construction waste and beer containers that spreads itself along our roads.
All this seems to increase, along with the supply of fancy SUV’s and sports cars in the summer tourist season so I have to conclude that it is not just the contractor parade of Horton’s wrappers but the actual tourists who are doing this. It is hard to believe that individual beer cans just randomly fall off of trucks. Kind of depressing to think that these were all probably drunk while driving and then tossed… sort of a double insult to society here.
The people come here from the city, call it “God’s Country” (whatever that might mean) and then proceed to drag all their noise, trash and poor driving habits along with them and distribute it about the land.
You’s think if they spent a million dollars on their cottage they would care more about their surroundings? Maybe it is Air B&B in action? I can understand the odd contractor who is not from the area and is just here briefly but even then should know better.
This is not to say all fit this mold, most do not, but there are enough folks out there who make Yogi Bear look smart to be a bit of an insult to our area. Can we maybe get some more of these to care like they should?
To add insult to the injury, when one does pick up a few tossed bags and take them voluntarily to the dump, at one’s own cost of time, the District wants to charge them to YOU! Trusting as only the municipal bureaucratic mind can be they will not believe you picked this stuff up off the road and want to bill it to your account. Thanks for the help here.
I agree 100% with Brenda Duncan about the local newspapers on people’s driveways. I has rield me for a long time and wondered why people just pick them up. If they don’t want the paper call them and tell them.I counted 12 papers on the same driveway one spring morning after the winter snow had melted. There is already enough litter on the streets and DON’T BLAME THE TOURISTS!
Having boated past this resort several times over the past few weeks, and witnessing NO signs of even attempted social distancing on the waterfront, why does this not surprise me:
https://www.orilliamatters.com/coronavirus-covid-19-local-news/cluster-of-11-covid-cases-traced-to-group-visiting-muskoka-resort-2629867
Maybe it’s time to smarten up guys. The pandemic isn’t gone. It’s still thriving and killing people. Don’t let sunshine and Stage 3 be your/our demise.
PHYSICAL distance, wear the mask, wash, wash, wash your hands, don’t casually mingle, don’t touch your face until you wash your hands.
It’s not rocket science. It’ll keep our numbers down and our families safe.
I have walked many of the streets in town and have noticed that a lot of people do not pick up their Forrester papers; they just leave them at the end of their driveways to decompose, I guess! How lazy is that?
This is a free service for everyone so, at the very least, you could walk to the end of your driveway and actually bend over and pick the darn thing up and deposit it in your recycling bin (assuming you actually do recycle). If you are not going to be home for a while, please ask a neighbour or family to pick it up for you. If you don’t want the paper delivered, please just call the newspaper and ask them not to deliver it to your address. It will certainly save the delivery person some time. I am sure they are appalled every week, seeing the paper just, from the week before, just lying there.
I know that this may sound petty to some people but it really irks me! I know that this is such a trivial matter at this time when so much is going on in the world but there is a simple fix to it, unlike a lot of issues currently happening.
Hi Rob, I understand Baysville Library is really nice also. There again, curb side pick up. I intend on ‘phoning both Baysville and Dwight libraries on Monday. I try to read the large print but will handle the normal
Thank you for your comments, I appreciate another avid reader.
ellen
With respect to the comments about shoreline erosion; I’m certain that it’s addressed in the OP. So what is required is a bylaw (if one doesn’t exist), and enforcement (if one does).
Thank you, Ellen, for your understanding response. I too am a senior, and an avid reader. At present, I am ordering my books from the Dwight Library for curbside pickup. That, however, is a special trip; whereas it would be far easier to go to the Town Library; as I’m there several times a week.
I am also concerned that this air quality problem possibly started some time ago, and was only discovered when checking the ventilation system due to the pandemic.
Remember back 10 years +/- when Muskoka was designated Norther Zone. The Liberal government removed that assistance when the area continued to vote Conservative. The present Conservative Government could restore the Northern designation due to costs being higher in this region. Returning passenger train service was a promise prior to election.
Rob, Thank you for your response to my Empire Lot. I do agree with you. I just get annoyed that a town our size is going without a Library during a busy time of year.
I appreciate your thoughts. I am a senior who relies on the library delivery to my home. It’s a wonderful service and I (along with some friends) miss it.
Ellen
Its not just the Seadoo’s. Wake surfing boats are becoming more and more popular and they are specifically designed to create an unnaturally large wave.
I have noticed this summer that our shoreline is taking a excessive beating. Even though I have whips on my dock for my boat the waves are big enough to bang my boat into the dock.
The problem cannot be addressed by individualizing any one specific watercraft. The issue needs to be enlarged to encompass respect for the environment and shoreline as well as the safety of swimmers.
Where is the common sense and respect?
Re: Jet Skiis
A Jet skier recently ran over & killed a gentleman out in his rowing skull.
Please! – rules must be applied to ALL watercraft & operators.
When I was rowing last week, I found the amount of wake lashing the shoreline, produced by high speed Jetskiis, was just as damaging as from a large boat. The loon & duck nests didn’t stand a chance.
For shame…..
With respect, Ms. Duncan, I would suggest that the “Empire” lot is the most attractive piece of real estate in town. Ameliorating the air quality problem at the “relatively new” library would certainly be significantly less expensive than trying to move it. Also, you would have to find a buyer for the existing library, which wouldn’t be an easy proposition; given its location and configuration.
Has there been any movement on the old Empire lot? How about a “new” library.
ellen
I agree with Ms Vargas’ comments below re: jet skis / seadoos. We have experienced people doing donuts in our bay on many occasions. My children swim there and I’m always worried they won’t be seen. Furthermore, the stink of the gas spreads to our deck and ruins our otherwise tasty-smelling burgers. Finally, the noise overwhelms the otherwise peaceful atmosphere. I don’t mind an occasional boat going by. But jet ski motors are loud! Are there any by-laws in place specifically geared to jet ski use? How far should they be from shore?
I would like to know why the water level is being taken down so much. I am on Pen lake and can barely get my boat off the lift.
I have been here 50 years with levels staying relatively close now they are down about a foot.
There is no threat of flooding from the melt right now so why are they dumping down to the south?
Municipalities have significant powers under the Ontario Heritage Act. Could the Town not extrapolate the normal uses (century buildings, archeological sites) to include areas of old-growth forests? The province has their “provincially significant wetland” designation. Huntsville, therefore, should at least attempt to designate these forests (and any other areas identified by the OP) as “municipally significant sites” under the OHA.
I also am on board with Ms. Mckays many pleas over the years to protect our wonderful trees.
Huntsville, unlike Bracebridge & other surrounding towns, does not have a tree bylaw!
One of our main attractions, for residents and visitors, is our wealth of natural assets. Mature trees and forested areas, that would take 100 years to replicate, should be treasured, respected and left for our children to enjoy also.
Even the little town of Port Sydney has officially declared a knarled
old tree at ‘Indian Landing’ a ‘protected’ treasure.
The recent ‘clear cutting’ by developers at places such as Forbes Hill should sound an alarm –
Please put Tree Protection Bylaws in place NOW.
Followup to Ms. McKay’s comment on tree destruction. I am not sure if there is an existing by-law that could be invoked in the situation she describes but point out that the existence of such a by-law would probably make little difference. There are two really big problems with the Ontario legislative system. 1) Municipal by-laws are very difficult for the town to enforce as penalties are very small (a cost of ding business for a developer) penalties do not exist or must be applied following a very long and expensive court process. 2) As opposed to most crimes, the perpetrator cannot be held responsible – any contractor illegally removing trees is innocent – the owner of the property must be charged. Contractors routinely knowingly violate by-laws because they are immune. Changing this and making penalties easy to apply would put a stop to many problems. There aren’t that many contractors and they are more aware of by-laws.
All of this is a result of most politicians being strongly in favor of development at just about any cost. The OMB and its successor are prime examples of government for the wealthy developers and against the common man.
Just wanted to let everyone know what kind of an experience I had trying to put my 21 year old cat to sleep….. I phoned every vet from Sundridge to Barrie…with NO LUCK, because I wasn’t a client nobody would do it!!!! Finally I was lucky enough to get a call back from Cenntenial Animal Hospital in Bracebridge, they would do it….. took Chloe down yesterday and she was lovingly put out of her misery…. my last vet was Ron Strickland and she hasn’t needed care since…. sure is quiet in my home without my girl, but she is resting in my backyard….thanks for listening….
I want to share a couple of stories that illustrate how this mask requirement is affecting some people.
Last week an older woman came into my workplace wearing a mask, as required. Within a few moments, she started to have a panic attack, trembling, sweating, struggling to breathe. She was near tears as she gasped, “I can’t do this. I can’t do this.”
I brought over a chair and a bottle of water and urged her to sit down and take off her mask. She said, “I can’t. We have to wear masks.”
I explained to her that anyone who, for any reason, cannot wear a mask is exempt from the mask requirement, and was finally able to persuade her to take the mask off. Within a few minutes, her breathing steadied and she began to calm down.
This woman did not know about the exemptions. All she understood was that she “has to” wear a mask now.
The next day, an older man came in without a mask and his first words to me were, “My mask broke.” I thought he was explaining why he wasn’t wearing one, so I assured him that we were okay with that. But then he asked me if I had some tape or anything that he could use to fix his mask, and he pulled it out of his pocket.
It was a disposable pleated surgical mask and it was soiled and worn. This man had obviously been wearing it repeatedly until the elastic finally broke. That mask certainly wasn’t of any benefit to anyone in the shape it was in, and yet he wanted to fix it so he could continue to wear it as required.
This man didn’t know that this type of mask is only to be used once. All he knew was that he has to wear a mask now.
In a press release, our health unit said that “SMDHU’s focus is on raising public awareness and educating people on the use of non-medical masks or face coverings in premises where physical distancing may be difficult.” But the two stories I’ve shared show that some of us are only aware of the mask requirement but not of the exemptions, nor of the different types of masks and how they should be used.
If this mask requirement is about public health, there needs to be more education about exemptions and about the different types of masks, to protect people for whom a mask is contraindicated and people who are unknowingly misusing masks.
Huntsville desperately needs a tree by-law to stop the rampant destruction of trees by developers and others who clear cut large areas of forested areas.
Please attend at Conroy Park in Huntsville tomorrow (July 21, 2020), at 3:00 p.m. to protest the blatant destruction of the natural environment at Forbes Hill Drive.
A reporter from the Forester will be there to take photos of the destruction.
Went to a Festival of the Arts presentation at the fairgrounds. Music of the Stones delivered with skill and enthusiasm. Timeless tunes and classic riffs. Loved it all. Mr. Spring and the boys were entertaining to the end. Loved it.
Ms. Varga, I empathize with you and your concerns. As a former property owner on Lake of Bays, one of my favourite trips (usually by canoe or rowboat) was down the Oxtongue to Marsh’s Falls. If memory serves, the speed limit was 10km/hr. Even back in the day, this was seldom respected by motorboats, but at least it was the pre-Jet-Ski era.
Of course, these “toys” are promoted to the late teen-early twenty crowd as an activity to be enjoyed with the “liquid” part of summer. I respect this age group highly; but a few of them tar the others. One cannot treat a heavy piece of dangerous machinery as a toy. More respect for this particular watercraft must be included in the BoatSmart course.
I was quite alarmed to see so many people in Shopper’s Drug Mart today without masks. I was only in there for 10 minutes or so and during that time I counted at least 7 people, ( 1 group of 3 in their early twenties, clearly blocking the rule!) I am unclear why this is so, if masks are supposed to be mandatory. How is “mandatory” being enforced???
Well said Denise Cooper!
I am writing to you as a 40 year seasonal resident of the Oxtongue River. The wildlife is unique and plentiful. The river offers many unique experiences that one cannot enjoy on a lake. Any guests that have stayed with us are always enchanted by the beauty the river offers.
As you all know tourism is ever increasing in the area. This is a good thing for the local economy – merchants, resort owners, restaurants, service providers and the list goes on and on. The area is an awesome place for vacation and relaxation and should be promoted. Unfortunately with the increase in seasonal population up here, there is bad that comes with the good.
We have noticed that in the last few years the traffic on the river has increased. Again, this is a good thing. Majority of boaters that come up the river adhere to speed limits and are courteous. The one problem that the increased traffic on the river has also brought are Jet Skiers. Majority of them have no regard for the posted speed limit signs or any regard to the preservation of the river. I am no prude and actually I am a bit of a speed demon myself. I understand when you are 20 something years old, sitting on your jet ski, on vacation, it’s a beautiful sunny day, the water is the right temperature and in your mind you see the river as an awesome race track with it’s windy curves and the idea of taking that machine full throttle gets the blood pumping. I get it. The problem is that this mind set has caused some near misses.
The most recent one involving my adult children. We watched 8 or 9 of them speed up the river. We heard them at Marsh’s Falls and knowing they were going to turn around to head back to the lake, my daughter got into the canoe and was determined to ask them to slow down on the way back. My son grabbed his “Go Pro” and hopped into our paddle boat to try and catch some footage. Of course, on their way back my daughter was yelling to slow down, but all she got were either rude gestures or one jet skier in particular almost ran her over. Further down the river were two paddle boarders trying to dodge them all too, as you can see on the video. It was very disturbing to say the least. This incident is what broke the straw for me to write. I know you’re all thinking, “well it’s not the first incident and not the last”. Unfortunately you are correct. I did call the OPP communications line on that day to report the incident but I told them not to bother sending anyone over as they were gone and we had no other solid information we could offer them.
My family and I are convinced that there will eventually be a tragedy on this river. On the July 1st holiday we took a cruise down the river on our own boat. It was a beautiful day and it was a busy day on the river. When we rounded one of the many blind corners we came across a family (approximately 8-9 people with children) with 3 canoes. They had stopped on one of the many sandy banks for a break and a swim. Everyone was frolicking in the water. This particular area they were in has blind corners approximately 30 feet each way from where they were swimming. If a group of jet skiers (or even one) comes down the river at full throttle there is no way they would be able to stop or clear them in time. It’s a disaster waiting to happen. This is just one example of many over the years of how vacationers enjoy the river but are essentially sitting ducks on the water (literally).
I also understand that the OPP does not have the funding to constantly be monitoring activity on the river. I remember as a teenager (approximately 40 years ago) we would witness OPP marine units on the lake and river several times over the summer monitoring the area, especially on long weekends. In the last few years we are lucky to see them once a year. The last time was on a rainy Saturday when there was truly no one on the river. Again, I get it. They were booked to go that day and it happened to be a rainy day. Bad luck, Murphy’s law – whatever the case it was a waste of time and money for those officers.
Congratulations, Mr. Lehman, on your well-reasoned treatise on active transportation. I don’t know if you’re a lawyer or a teacher; but you presented a strong case. As active transportation is considered by the OP as something that the Town should be endeavouring to promote; I feel that you should forward a copy to Kristin Maxwell, Principal Planner, Town of Huntsville.
How I have missed the colorful corner under the flags this summer- always a beautiful sight!
MANY THANKS to Helen Bastedo, her friends & neighbors, for their most appreciated endeavor!
As a lover of flowers & plants, my drive- by now will bring a smile & warm thoughts of our caring community.
I held a face covering over my mouth and nose today at the Tim Horton in an effort to comply with the new legislation. I was told by the girl behind the counter to wear a mask tomorrow when I came in. ” Don’t worry”, I said. “I won’t be back”.
Apple or Bell
If Huntsville were a tech company I think it would be an Apple. Not including this summer, (for obvious reasons), it seems like the BIA of Huntsville has always strived to present some new activity or event every summer weekend to attract tourists, and their disposable dollars, to our town. This is very progressive and contributes immensely to the perception that we are a thriving community with a humming economy. Like Apple continuously generating consumer interest by tweaking and upgrading their smart phones, Huntsville strives to keep people spending their money here by introducing new tourist events or tweaking old reliable ones. Well deserved kudos are owed to all involved.
Lately I’ve been reading and hearing about a consortium of public and private interests expressing an interest in developing some mountain bike trails. While I can appreciate that this is yet another app that may entice people to purchase the lifestyle that is Huntsville, I have to wonder if, in their excitement, the public interests aren’t neglecting the infrastructure that keeps people here and spending their money daily instead of just on the weekends.
My wife and I ride our bikes a lot. I think we have pedaled in every province but B.C. The interesting thing about all those bicycle excursions, though, is that some of the most interesting afternoons we have spent, repeatedly, have been up in North Bay. That is a town that has recognized the long-game benefit of attracting recreational bikers. Not extreme bikers, recreational family bikers.
From a wide two-way path with a painted centre line that follows along the shoreline of Lake Nipissing down to Callender to a four-lane section that is separated by a grassy median, North Bay has excelled in creating bike trails. To safely connect Nipissing University to the downtown, an elevated causeway was built over the four lanes of Highway #11. To connect the downtown to the expansive beaches and multi-use facilities of Lake Nipissing, an underground causeway was built beneath the several rows of rail lines that interrupt the otherwise pastoral continuity of the area. Bike path streets are well signed and painted.
The parallels to what Huntsville could do are almost too similar as to be eerie. For instance, a causeway beneath the train tracks from Susan St. to the existing bike path would be very popular and would provide an alternative to the dangerous stretch of path from Centre St to Hunters Bay proper. A causeway over the Muskoka River connecting Cliff St. to Camp Kitchen would provide a much safer route than Brunel Rd. for high school students going to the mall or kids from Meadow Park going swimming at Camp Kitchen or soccer practice at Conroy Park. A study about creating a better trail eastbound out Hwy #60 to Canal Rd. and on to Lake of Bays, or maybe just over to the proposed new mountain bike trails, could bear interesting fruit. A future triathlon route perhaps?
Now I will admit, these improvements would be expensive and not easily cost/benefit quantifiable. For a relatively inexpensive investment, however, a widening of the path and intense deforestation of burr bushes and thistle plants from Avery Beach to the impressive floating dock section would pay for itself ten times over in aesthetic value alone. In fact, a clean-up of that entire section of shoreline would bring families to the area for picnics and swimming, attracting the attention and interest of thousands of tourists as they slowly travel bumper to bumper along Hwy #11 north on a Friday evening. Almost like free advertising.
I guess, in summation, the best thing about living in Huntsville is, even if none of these things ever happen, it doesn’t matter. Huntsville is such a beautiful town that it will always thrive. Our base attractions of clean lakes, fresh air and beautiful views will always ensure that people come here to spend money. In a way, I guess we are more like Mother Bell – as long as we provide the basic opportunity for people to communicate with nature, entrepreneurs will continue to introduce new apps they hope will be applicable to the area.
Are You Going To wear your Mask ???
Well I will because I do care for the well being of others. I know people feel that they have the RIGHT NOT TO WEAR A MASK !!! You also have the RIGHT TO DIE WITH THIS Virus !!! There are people out there who my not be symptomatic, and are carriers!!! Can you tell??? Probably not!!! It has been proven that wearing a mask does reduce your chances of contracting the Corona Virus.
If you value your life and those of others please wear your mask and practice social distancing and the proper hygiene that is required by us. If we all do are part we will get through this TOGETHER!!! Just look to the south of us and see the dire straights that the people of the United States are in right now!!!
Please listen to our Medicsl Health officials and if we work together we will overcome this Pandemic!!!
Please stay Healthy and Safe !!!
Al Kudryk
I think we have the mask situation well in hand.
Now let’s get the conversation going about getting our kids back to school.
It is well documented that children are close to being immune to the virus. Let the educators decide the importance of children being in a structured learning environment.
Keep this in mind “if the payroll stopped being on auto-deposit in the bank accounts, trust me they would be back in the classroom, and that applies to all workers, especially our Municipalities they can work with a mask on.
I would just like to add my congratulations to the Bastedos and their group of volunteers. Not only is that parkette located at a major secondary intersection in Town; but it is dedicated to the G8 (a group, in my opinion, of which Canada is fortunate to be a member).
The Library has an air quality problem. Bad air. Now when did I hear that last? Sept. 20, 2017 I believe, when council used ‘bad air’ as the reason to close the train station. The building was subsequently sold for $2.00. The library should be worth at least that, but these are Co-vid times, so who knows. But I have a tooney ready.
Thanks is due to a local couple, Frank and Helen Bastedo. They noted that gardens in the town park at the intersection of Center Street and West Road (where the G8 flags are) had not been maintained this year. With the Town’s consent Frank and Helen rounded up a group of volunteers who donated and planted perennials. Have a look if you are in the area. The gardens look great.
I can understand why the resturants request that folks eat in their vehicle. I just wish those same folks would please put their garbage in a garbage container and not fling it out their vehicle window and have it land on the road.
I’m sure MacDonalds and Tim Hortons etc. don’t care to have their advertising in the ditch.
It’s too bad a few make it a mess for some.
ellen
I wonder how many people had as much difficulty as I did making an appointment to be tested for covid 19.I needed it in order to visit my son in a group home. It seemed simple- just drive over to the summit center -whoops, that was last week only. I’ll just phone for an appointment; I searched every possible source I could think of without success; I finally phoned the Hospital to get the number; On Thur morning I phoned about 10/30; I was on hold a good 1/2 hr; At that point I was cut off; I called again about 230; this time I waited 11 mins + another 6 mins to exchange information; I got an appt for 240 on Fri; when I arrived I was taken right away; the folks there were great; I told the nurse how difficult it been to make the appt She said ” oh my gosh, all you had to do was call your family Dr. ” ; Who knew? This type of information should be displayed prominently by all media daily or weekly from now until the end of the pandemic.
Hope our politicians will do the right thing and mandatory masks or face protection for everyone (staff included) in all indoor locations and staff wearing masks on patios. A little late. Should have happened before July. GO FOLKS
Tricia and I took a drive out hwy. 60 last evening and overtook a vehicle with Alabama plates (headed for Alaska I suppose). When we drew alongside his car we saw he was wearing a mask….although the window was open. Who said our southern neighbors don’t pick up on a few safety tips. Good on you mate. But in your canoe in the middle of the lake I think the mask can come off. Have a safe summer.
On our way home we thought we might grab a cone at the dairy but the drive-through was closed and the crowd at the front was a little too dense. No ‘social distance’ there. But who can lick a cone with a mask on? Go figure!
I’m not happy at all that the is remaining closed!! Many other communities have reopened the pool and I think it’s our town’s responsibility to its citizens to open!! Yes I can swim in the lake but to do it safely I shouldn’t swim alone, please open the pool ?♀️
Mayor Terziano -please make masks mandatory in businesses and areas where distancing is not possible. Don’t sit on the fence like some other local politicians. Put our health and lives first. That’s the right thing to do if you care about your community. If you do that the economy will stay open. It’s not rocket science!
What more can be said about mandatory masks? I wear one for everyone else: Why can’t others return the favour? I’m an old dude with lungs ravaged by a violent attack of pneumonia. So I fall into the “most vulnerable” category. We seniors gave what we could for the “invincible” youth to entertain their present lifestyle. A small sacrifice on your part would mean so much. Thank you.
It was so good to see the flags around the property yesterday. Thank you Coldwell Banker for keeping a little bit of normal.
ellen duncan
We have been doing well in Muskoka as far as covid goes. However with influx of tourists to our region (I would like to promote the visits) I think to protect ourselves and keep our numbers low, I think we have to consider the mandatory use of masks in public places (especially indoors). Thanks.
Happy Canada Day- Thank you to the Coldwell Banker Thompson Real Estate Team family and friends for bringing a little red and white “old normal” to the community today. So pleased to see this annual patriotic gesture staying Canada Strong!
Yes, I agree with everyone wearing a mask out in public. We can continue to keep our numbers low if everyone of all ages helps all of us stay safe from covid19.
Wanda, we agree with your comments – well said. There now seems to be agreement that wearing masks inside public areas and businesses protects others from you and thus if everyone wears masks then we would be protecting each other. This is so important now we are hearing more about asymtomatic – silent spreading of Covid-19.
I commend Mayor John Tory’s recommendation to make the wearing of masks mandatory in closed public spaces. He has considered the health and wellbeing of Torontonian’s going forward and I hope fellow members of his council support and pass this the motion.
By today’s statistics the pandemic is growing globally and we have been told a second wave is inevitable. Our community leaders have a responsibility to keep abreast of all information regarding the pandemic but they must also be bravely proactive in setting new social standards that may not be popular but keep people safe. Wearing masks in closed public spaces is one of those measures that can slow the spread of the virus before it’s too late. Yes, there have been contradictory messages in the past regarding the wearing of masks but new guidelines should evolve with time, experience and the commitment of providing the safest environment possible for citizens.
Our community has seen the return of cottagers and visitors and thus there are more people in grocery stores, malls and other retail outlets. Complacency has set in and I have had to remind people to respect the 2-meter rule on many occasions while grocery shopping. The community is now more open, there are more risks thus we need more guidelines. As citizens we adjusted to “No Smoking” rules for health reasons and I’m sure the wearing of a mask for health reasons will be no different.
I am calling out to our Mayor, all of our elected officials and public health officers to seriously consider mandating the wearing of masks in closed public spaces. At the end of the day, we all want to say that we did all that we could to help each other as well as ourselves.
Hey Rob, to add to your comments (by the way I’m in agreement with you 100%) people just shouldn’t advertise where they purchased their vehicle from anyway. It looks terrible on vehicles, the dealerships are not paying you for this advertising, and it marks you as a visitor when away from home.
The worst offender is our local Dodge dealer with the stupid rear window stickers on all their Rams, it has the opposite effect of what they intended. Any dealer added stickers, license plate surrounds, or emblems just scream that the dealership cares more about advertising then about their existing customers.
I too find mask wearing to be hit and miss and as a concerned high risk resident I find myself still in isolation. Rolston hands out a face mask to each customer at the front door. Perhaps the Doppler could do a series of articles on why stores are not enforcing masks as well, interviewing people who are not wearing them including names and pictures. I understand that our numbers are low, but with the influx of tourists combined with the attitude that we here in Muskoka are COVID-19 free, we should remain vigilant to avoid a second outbreak. I can only hope that a vaccine will be found soon.
I was appalled to learn of the vandalism toward non-local vehicles. Some less-than-stellar permanent residents are “keying” all vehicles not purchased locally.
This is an illegal effort to disrespect cottagers, and to discourage them from vacationing in Muskoka. Of course, they contribute to the tax base for our area; in return for very little return. You have no way to know if they are self-isolating for 14 days; so to preemptively act as judge and jury is a desperate measure for bored people.
I would add that my son, a permanent resident, purchased his vehicle in another town, and is now afraid to park downtown. Furthermore, the practice has extended to “keying” expensive cars (regardless of origin). Obviously, this is a senseless act of jealousy.
I can only hope that you are caught; made to pay for the damage; and at minimum, sentenced to community service. Maybe, it will give you a sense of what real community is.
Hello George,
We are sorry you missed it. Here is the link: https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/covid-19-drive-through-testing-available-this-week-for-long-term-care-retirement-home-visit-requirements/
We also included the news in our newsletter—a synopsis of all our stories—which goes out directly to subscribers via email three times a week. If you’re interested you can sign up here: https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/subscribe-to-doppler/
Did our senior walk around the Summit Center yesterday (Thursday) and was surprised (pleasantly) to see a covid-19 testing facility at front entrance. There may have been announcements on the local radio however we had not seen any notifications anywhere
What a shame. How was a person to be aware of this service
I would like to remind people using wave runners (SeaDoos, etc) that while you are out having fun going around and around in circles over your own waves for hours or zooming back and forth and back and forth…we, on the shore, are trying to have a peaceful conversation or coffee, and are tired of your noise! Maybe you could travel to the middle of a bigger lake? Or not stay out for so long? Or stop at 6 pm and leave the evening for peace and quiet on the lake? You’re not the only ones living up here! And to the wake boarders – STOP IT!! The loons and ducks are loosing their chicks because you’re washing out their nests and separating the families! The storms and high waters are wreaking enough havoc with the shorelines without you adding to the damage – and your sport makes it impossible for people new to paddle boards and canoes to get a chance to enjoy a nice day on the water. If you “must” wake board, please find the middle of a very large lake and stay there, or wait for a very windy day when the rest of us can’t go out and the lake is already covered with huge waves.
I was in Metro on June 23 shopping and EVERY employee had a mask on. I didn’t look for gloves.
Mr.Trudeau continues to find zero -to – none plaudits of any kind, here in the Tory stronghold of Muskoka.
So as a born contrarian, I would like to salute him for making even minor inroads into China trade relations (stepping into the vacuum created by Mr. Trump’s failure).
I am shocked,as well, at the lack of mask-wearing at the Independent and Metro stores! Handling fresh items and stocking shelves, cashiers and all employees should be wearing masks!!
I continue to be aghast at the lack of face masks been worn in retail stores. Don’t blame our seasonal residents. Many of the Bare-faced shoppers are locals I recognize. Of particular disappointment are the retail merchants where staff not only refuse to where masks but do not practice social distancing. When I asked one staff person at Canadian Tire why they weren’t wearing masks, she said: ” I ain’t wearing no mask to work”:. That surprised me but before I could carry on the conversation, the store Manager walked by and I noticed he was NOT wearing a mask. I concluded that there is a culture of false bravery in that store. I have taken my business elsewhere.
Is nobody listening and or watching the news. Covid 19 is real. Masks and social distancing is for now our only defence. We support our local businesses but many are not respecting us by wearing masks.
Too many of us are guilty as well. When will our local authorities mandate masks…….before it’s too late?
With the lack of knowing what Covid is all about, how it’s acquired etc., the very least we can do is wear a mask . It’s a small nuisance that does prevent contagious diseases as we know. Gloves are helpful too but we need to use these preventative measures correctly.
There are no staff members at the Ideoendent in Huntsville that wear masks or gloves. Deli staff are cutting cold cuts without masks or gloves. I am shocked!
It’s time to make masks compulsory for employees and customers. I noticed on Friday in Huntsville that many individuals have gotten pretty careless going about their business. Wearing masks and social distancing are the two best ways to counter COVID-19.
After reading the excellent results Japan had by the wearing of masks and the mandatory order of Durham public health re the wearing of masks. Why is this not being considered in Muskoka. Our demographics put most of our “mature” residents in a high risk category. Especially important now that we are welcoming visitors. Consideration and respect for our neighbors seems to be a good lesson. Mask or face shields are not being used by staff or customers in most places in Huntsville.
Over 76% of new COVID cases are being reported in the GTA.
While most of the Province will be entering Phase 2 of the COVID recovery by easing restrictions, the GTA will remain in Phase 1 with restrictions still in place.
Muskoka will be one of the regions with reduced restrictions. There is no travel restriction from leaving the GTA so where do you think many of the GTA will be escaping to?
Please not business as usual.
We sit in our Muskoka chairs today, enjoying the peace and quiet of COVID-19, on the cusp of welcoming back, perhaps, the largest contingent of out-of-towners that we will ever see. Brace yourselves,
Huntsville will be open for business on Friday June 12. The report is that every B + B and rental, currently available in Muskoka is filling up, fast. The wealthy, and not so wealthy, not used to having their wings clipped are flocking out of the city.
I urge the town and business “leaders” to let common sense prevail. Take this opportunity to do a bit of housekeeping and change the way we do business.
One outstanding issue is the lack of accountability and respect given to town noise bylaws which are meant to protect and guard the peace and quiet of all residents. Sound travels over water, and last summer saw an unprecedented number of exceedingly large, loud venues at River Mill Park with not a bylaw officer to be seen. Last year’s Ribfest not only broke noise bylaws but quite possibly the sound barrier as well, as its announcer could be clearly heard in the Walmart parking lot. Yes, they stopped blaring at the stroke of 1100, but the ringing in your ears lasted much longer than that. Perhaps the old high school track could be put to good use for these larger, louder venues.
We also have Pub on the Docks, a business with an apparent mission to blow the other businesses “out of the water” with its outside speakers, which seem to have proliferated of late, with its new and improved renovations. A cursory glance walking down by the docks reveals no less than10 speakers that one can count. OMGosh.
Last summer I called noise bylaw officers repeatedly to complain about the loudness of the music, and to be fair, it did appear that on a couple of occasions, unbeknownst to the owners, some enterprising staff wanting to make the most of boring, cleanup duty, had inadvertently pumped up the volume. However, on other occasions, all I got were suggestions to call the police; maybe they could do something because “you need proof”. It remains to be seen if Boston Pizza, Mill on Main, and now Canvas Brewery , all with extensive outside patios, will remain the respectful neighbours that they have been to date, or whether they will rise to the challenge and downtown will earn its increasingly broad reputation as “Par-tay town”; duelling for the prize of having the most freeloaders outside the pub, not actually paying for the privilege of listening inside the pub.
Be careful what you wish for… branding Huntsville as the place to get high and rock, will chase the classy cash elsewhere to more peaceful venues.
Friends, neighbours, country-loving men, if the noise bothers you , I urge you to complain to the town. It is, after all, peaceful protest. Perhaps then, our elected officers, in our very own municipal government, will finally hear above the noise, and listen.
Marta Mirecki
Downtowner
Well, I was in a grocery store this morning (in the 7-8 a.m. group) and I was astonished at the amount of people who are still not wearing masks. This is terribly disappointing! This particular time is for older/elderly people and the immunocompromised and maybe 20% of them were wearing masks! C’mon people, when are you going to realize that this virus is not going away!!!
Even if you don’t have respect for yourself, at least respect the other customers and employees and wear a mask!!! The employees are working hard to keep us fed and have been for months and should be respected for this.
Some people in the community are making masks and some of them are free; you just need to call to get one.
Do you older/elderly/immunocompromised people think that just because this time is set aside for you, that no one in the store is carrying the virus and you won’t catch it? Think again!
As someone else alluded to before this, the employees stocking the shelves are not wearing masks either. How can we socially distance from them? Of course, most of them are younger and think they are invincible to this virus but more and more ‘younger’ people are getting sick too!
We WILL get through this together if, and only if, everyone does their part…social distancing, wearing a mask and using hand sanitizer.
Thank you to those of you who do wear a mask and thank you to the grocery store employees who have selflessly put themselves ‘out there’ to keep food on our tables!
I am frustrated and disheartened. I wear a mask and I pretty much stay home.
I don’t ‘like’ doing either one but it’s what I’m being asked to do as a sign that I give a care for others in my community. My husband – he’s a calm guy – does any necessary small bits of shopping every 10 days or so because it infuriates me to go to a store and see the majority of shoppers without a mask on and only loosely following physical distancing guidelines. And really, who needs more stress right now?
I choose the lesser of two evils and drive to Orillia’s Costco once a month to shop where everyone has a mask or is provided with one.
Now I read that Norman Miller, MPP for Parry Sound-Muskoka is pleased to share the ‘good news’ that short-term rentals including lodges, cabins, cottages, homes, condominiums and B&Bs will be allowed to resume operations in Ontario. That’s fine. I suppose they can’t stay closed forever but why then am I staying home? We love to travel. We have a daughter in B.C. that we’d reconciled not seeing for another year.
So Ontario is moving around and 80% of locals residents don’t wear a mask and/or stay 6 feet distant. So why am I doing it again?? For whom?
Great idea…as many folk have generic comments; not applicable to any current story. It reminds me of Speakers’ Corner in The Six (where Barenaked Ladies got their start). I’ll restrict myself to commenting on a handful of other responses.
Bill 66 is definitely deserving of all the protest our Council can muster. Just look what’s happened south of the border; where Trump (the master of distraction) has used Obamagate and other ploys (while surreptitiously suspending the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act).
Regarding gas prices, one doesn’t have to travel very far north to avail themselves of First Nations’ prices.
The use of studs has always been a thorny issue for me. I used to consistently travel in the winter from Huntsville to Parry Sound, and the weather was uniformly better there. On the other hand, if you’ve ever counted potholes in Muskoka (as opposed to the holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall); studs are immensely damaging to asphalt surfaces; and the consequent repairs weigh heavily against their use.
The only good news on the George Floyd front is twofold: fighter Floyd Mayweather has come forward to cover all costs of the funeral; and policeman, Mr. Chauvin, has been charged with second degree murder (the highest possible charge, as it was not premeditated).
My dog and I really enjoy The Avery Park trail.
It is lovely to be catching up with other pet owners, have a little chat and continue on.
While I truly support picking up after my pet and most people do I have an issue with people tossing the bagged “goodies” right back into nature.
So while walking and enjoying the scenery it is unbelievable to see how many baggies are dangling from trees or floating near the shore.
If you are kind enough to bag the poop, why not carry it just that little bit further to the nearest garbage.
I know, the town can be a little slow in emptying the bins but since it is your dog, it is your kindness that keep our parks looking nice.
Please pick up and carry until it can be safely discarded.
Biodegradable or not.
Thank you
It’s no wonder Ontario has so many Covid19 cases. If Huntsville is any indication over the last week. Affogato employees had no masks on, still allowing self serve coffee, milk/creamer cartons and such. Dollarama employees also had no mask behind a small plexiglass shield.
Protesting in the United States
I was shocked and saddened when I heard the news on May 25, 2020, that yet another black man, George Floyd, was killed by another white policeman in the United States. I was even more shocked, perhaps enraged, when I heard that the pathology report stated that Mr Floyd died from asphyxiation; the policeman grinding his knee into Mr Floyd’s throat, cutting off his voice as he tried to tell the officer that he was unable to breath.
I can’t help but think that that knee, pressed down on the throat of the black man, cutting off his voice and killing his life, is a “symbol” of what has been happening for four hundred years in the United States, and continuing to happen in the present day.
There have been protests, some violent and some peaceful, and after the seventh night, the biggest protest since the 1960’s civil-right movement, police tried to quell the protestors with tear gas, batons and shields.
On the night of June 1, 2020, Donald Trump, in his arrogant and unwise way, addressed the protestors on public television. He ordered them all to disperse, and said he would use military force to stop the protests if cities and states couldn’t do it first. No doubt, this approach would incite further violence.
Because of Donald Trump’s lack of understanding and compassion, that “symbolic image” of the knee that has been seared in my mind, speaks to me that Trump himself and the Republican Party have ground the knee on the neck of the black people, once again cutting off their voices and lives in their attempt to demand to be heard about their needs for the future.
I am an 82 year old white, Canadian woman, coming from a privileged background. I, too, need to further examine myself, and name any racists attitudes, either conscious or unconscious, that are hidden in me with people who are marginalised because of colour, race, creed, sex. I’m also aware that we in Canada need to get our own house in order and address our own racist attitudes. We are not exempt from this process of naming and owning.
However, at the moment, because the current crisis in the United States has so impacted me, I am aligning myself with the black people in America! I am disgusted, their voices need to be heard; enough is enough!
May 26, 2020
I had a situation this past evening that provided me with a very pleasant experience, actually the Huntsville Hospital and yes, even the District of Muskoka are truly blessed in having professional staff of their caliber on their roster.
Dr. N. Matyasovazky
Nurse Miss Devynn
Being a very senior senior, I felt quite nervous being taken to the hospital for attention but thanks to these two professionals, my concerns were needless.
Hi Wendy,
Dr. Charles Gardner, the medical officer of health for Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, is still recommending that people not go to their secondary residences. This is how the health unit covers it on their website:
“We are strongly recommending that people stay at their primary residence. The Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams has also provided his support for this message “that people should preferentially stay home and not access secondary residences, recognizing that there may be limited, essential reasons to do so”.
We know that COVID-19 does not just show up in a community, it gets there by someone bringing it, including by those who may not even have symptoms. We are asking you to work with us to flatten the curve.
The potential harms associated with traveling to and using your cottage, even for a day, include:
-The more people travelling and stopping for gas and groceries, the more risk of spreading this virus.
-Symptoms of COVID-19 can happen rapidly and overwhelm a person, forcing them to immediately require EMS. You may not have time to travel home. Consider the huge numbers of seasonal residents that come to our area. It would take only a small fraction of our cottagers to become ill before it would push our healthcare capabilities past their limit. That means it could be you or a family member who may not have access to the intensive care bed or ventilator if you contract the virus.
-There are plenty of reasons why people require emergency services that you can’t anticipate. Just by opening up your cottage, you may be putting different trade workers in the same space. By turning on your electricity, you may be increasing the risk of accidents and fires. If you require emergency assistance during this time, you are forcing front-line health care workers, police and firefighters, many of whom are volunteers, into social contact.
-We are aware that despite this strong message to stay home, there will still be some people who will make the decision to go to their cottage. If that is what you choose to do despite the request to not do so, you need to ensure that you follow public health measures, including:
o physical distancing of at least 2 metres from other people;
o staying at their cottage as much as possible;
o purchasing food and medications in their own community before arriving at their cottage and limiting their visits to the local community for essential shopping only;
o no gatherings of more than five people unless they are all from the same household;
o practicing proper hand washing and cough hygiene, including frequent handwashing; and self-isolating if they develop symptoms.
There currently is no enforcement, or “barricades” or fines so at the end of the day we are appealing to informed, responsible people to stay home and help us all get through this public health emergency together.”
Can anyone clarify on what the official position is on people coming to their cottages? The premier indicated in his question period yesterday that it is up to the local officers of health. That seemed a change to me since he was telling people to stay home two weeks before the May long weekend. Since then nothing has been said. I am a resident, but I’m wondering when can my family come to their private cottage if they socially isolate? Or with what conditions?
THANK YOU FOR WEARING A MASK!
BEEN IN A GROCERY STORE LATELY? OF COURSE YOU HAVE.
IT IS THE ONE AREA HARD TO AVOID IN THESE COVID TIMES.
Yet how many store employees and fellow citizens were wearing a mask? It is the one thing that everyone can do to protect others.
This week at a grocery store in Huntsville I was told by the manager that there is no policy stating that employees have to wear masks. Some staff working in the store were following the manager’s example by not wearing a mask. However my thanks go to my check-out guy, Ian Markham, and other grocery staff who made their own decision to wear a mask.
Grocery stores like to state that they protect customers by disinfecting carts and having one-way aisles. But how can you avoid close contact with others not wearing masks, especially employees busily stocking produce?
Do they realize that, although estimates vary, possibly 12% to 50% of carriers of COVID-19 do not show symptoms? When you wear a mask in an enclosed environment like a grocery store you may protect employees and customers from possibly catching the virus and carrying it home to families. Some members of their families may be at increased risk – over age 50 or may have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or poor immunity.
Thank you to those staff and customers in grocery stores who do wear masks. A mask says that you care about the wellbeing of others in this great community of Huntsville.
PROTECT OTHERS. WEAR A MASK.
Elaine Hutton,
Huntsville resident 20 years
Its great to hear so many are taking up the cause for making and distributing masks , but some where the message that everyone should be wearing them in places where its difficult to keep six feet apart isn’t getting through. I was in metro the last two Thursdays for a few groceries and notice that only about twenty percent of patrons are wearing them, even a town councillor was not. Previously to that most were, come on media get the message back out there. People , people I know its not pleasant or cool looking but get serious, think about it ,your in the grocery store ….you have the virus and don’t know it and you are buying fruit and vegetables you sneeze or clear your throat and infect the stuff in front of you because your not wearing a mask , now the next how many customers stopping and touching the same fruit or produce you infected picks it up ,they potentially can carry it home to there families. I get it I was sceptical at first of the Covid thing but realise its not going away any time soon . So we need to find ways to protect our families.for a while yet, I think grocery stores should make it policy for masks to be worn no exception!!!! No Shirt ,no shoes, no mask ,NO SERVICE . We are all for getting some freedom back and more important ,getting our business owners back to being able to make a living . Its a given but we can do it with some common scents and safety. We have gone this far ,dropping the ball and a new wave of covid, and more self isolation !!!!! I (we ) would SNAP!!!!! I feel better now I ranted even if its from home .
Another group of people to thank are the “Mask Angels”. A group of sewers here in and around Huntsville sewing masks and distributing them free of charge. Co-ordinated by Michael Walmsley, president of PROBUS 2 (PROBUS Club of Muskoka North), it started with one member (as these things do) sewing masks and has exploded to over 80 people sewing, not to mention those picking up and distributing supplies and dropping off the completed masks to those in need. Many of the people involved are seniors themselves helping their neighbours and local businesses such as Muskoka Seniors, The Salvation Army, Home Hardware and several local restaurants to mention just a few. Started at the beginning of April, they have distributed over 2,000 masks and are still going! Thank you Mask Angles of Huntsville!!!
In addition to thanking the front line workers during this pandemic of Covid 19, there are many people behind the scenes who also need a huge thank you . Those people who minister to the sick, and their parish families who have lost a loved one. It is very difficult not to be able to get together with those people who are grieving and so all leaders of worship communities are having to deal with these situations over the phone or by email. And like everyone else, they need a hug too!
Those that work in mental health, community living, social work and other forms of counselling all deserve a huge thank you as in times like this, we find these challenges increasing.
So let us remember and pray for all those both working on the front lines and those working behind the scenes too.
THANK YOU TO ALL !
Lets open up our town . We are not in the stream of danger from the outside of this community. We can function within our environment , as long we do not have any interference from the outside .
What the heck is going on beside and behind the De Novo centre on Forbes Hill Road? Complete stripping of all trees and vegetation, down to bedrock on a 45 degree+ slope. We wonder why flooding happens and now we can see an example of why.
If there were community alerts about this, and council deliberations, I sure missed them.
The Doppler feature “what is going on here” could do a service by reporting on this in some detail.
I own 2 STR in the Town of Huntsville. I have asked the Town if they would defer the Licensing fee to operate these STR till the fall. The reply I got from the Town was a resounding NO. Not are they not willing to work with this type of small business, and if we did not have the license in place by March 01 2020 that we or any STR would not be allowed to operate. Wow not only is this a blatant tax grab, they couldn’t care less. These STR are putting in Hundreds of Thousands of dollars into the Town coffers, as well as add an extreme amount of financial support to the businesses in Huntsville. Just doing the quick math here, Air B&B have over 300 listing in the Huntsville area. VRBO has over 300 listing in the Huntsville area, that does not include any other outlet for STR in the market place or private listings. My guess that there is close to 800 STR in the area, at $500.00 per license thats $400,000.00 in licensing fees. Plus the future cost of 4% for every dollar made by STR’s. I am sure that we are not the only STR’s that have had numerous cancellations, just looking for the Town to be more patient. The Town states that we should all be doing what we can in these trying times. Just not sure if they have included themselves in this statement.
Here we are again. This has become the norm in Huntsville. Our gas stations move their prices in lockstep and we their customer lose out. Today March 30th our local stations are charging 78.3.
Gravenhurst 63.9
Orillia 64.5
Barrie 64.9
Even little Barry’s Bay has us beat at 68.9
Pity the poor people that fill up weekly. They are paying approximately $7.50 more for 50 litres.
Why is gas 82 cents a litre in Huntsville when 40 minutes down the highway gas is 65.cents a litre
This is a terrible rip off of our most vulnerable people
I see no justification for this huge discrepancy
Why is gas $0.84 per litre in Huntsville and $0.64 in Gravehurst?
No real surprise, Steve. When the Cons campaigned, very little of their platform was shared publicly (either by design or lack of development). Are any of us really surprised that the Mike Harris agenda would develop further (certainly in health and education sectors)?
Retribution against the Toronto City council seemed to occupy the mind of DF when he first arrived in office and began pounding his chest from the adrenalin of electoral victory.
There has been a distinct lack of planning to generate revenues. Similarly, there has appeared to be little appreciation for science (climate, earth, biological) in this businessman’s party.
Diminished value in public education for our youth and future citizens.
I’ll stop now, as I write Mr. Norm Miller from time to time to express my concerns with policy, deficiencies in the bombast, thuggish DF leadership style. He seems a bit more sober and serious these days. One of my hopes is that he and the Cons will receive the best of object lessons in the importance of science, public administration, and public education. Also, a closer look at any de-regulation which puts the health of Ontarians at risk is an important agenda item.
Same as us, we were eagerly looking forward to trying out Canvas and have watched the construction with excitement. Walked in last week and were told the same thing, very strange way of conducting business. We also went to our favorite ‘other brewery’ restaurant location and had a nice meal.
My opinion is that Canvas just wanted to serve alcohol and had to have a ‘menu’
In his maiden speech in the House, Scott Aitchison said “I am here to find real solutions to real problems and not to score cheap political points.” In his first pamphlet to constituents, he spoke of the need for unity and working together. Nice sentiments.
In the same pamphlet, he described the Liberals’ proposed gun policy as a “blanket firearms ban” aimed at hunters in this riding. Is such a deliberate misrepresentation an attempt to score cheap political points? Or does he really believe that those hunters are such poor marksmen that they need assault rifles and handguns?
Walked into the recently opened Canvas micro brewery ( Former Dollarama) and asked for a menu. We were told there is no kitchen and beyond their beer they have only light snacks such as flat bread. We were also told we can bring food in from other take out restaurants.
We left to one of those other restaurants, had lunch with a beer and regrettably will not be going back to Canvas with food bought elsewhere.
NO FOOD. Good luck to this new establishment. I guess they also don’t cater to families with underage children or to families with family members who don’t drink?
Nice patio. I am very sorry I will never be able to use it.
I received this in the mail box yesterday. OPP states it’s a scam. Please let everyone know.
Real estate scam from person ,gives phone number. Offers to pay without any hassles,cash deals,
WHERE IS OUR DOBBIE
Update: now missing 4 days. There has been no sightings of Dobbie. There has been no ravens or crows flying or circling to indicate he is dead in the bush. We had drones up yesterday to check the area we last saw tracks. No sign of him in the bush or swamps. If someone has him please bring him back. If anyone sees a great Dane anywhere with anyone please get a close look and call out his name. We think he is with someone. Share share share this post
Microchip company has flagged him as being lost or stolen
Huntsville Ontario
Lost dog . Dobbie has disappeared while outside with his owner. A lot of bush and tough terrain. Heading towards Candy Town Lane from Lynx Lake road . He may be as far as Beaver Meadow Road, Hood Road, West Point Sands, Hawkes Road, Port Sydney. He can cover a lot of ground quickly because of his size. Very friendly but may be frightened.
Microchipped registered Great Dane with the CKC . 1 year intact male blue in color
If found call 7056411578 or 7053948780
Keep sharing the post. Someone out there must of seen him or took him in and maybe doesn’t have social media.
This is posted on multiple lost and found sites, Ontario SPCA and others.
Ground Search And Rescue KW has posted Dobbie.
We all know larger class sizes are not beneficial for anyone. They don’t benefit the smart kid, front row kid, who is best friends with the teacher and loves school. They don’t benefit the kid who hates school, skips class, and plays on their phone underneath their desk. They don’t benefit the teachers, that’s for sure. They benefit the pocketbook and the government’s wallet. The Conservative government knows this, and they are currently putting time and energy into changing our school system with only money in mind. And I could tell you how these cuts will ruin school for all the kids who go through it but… we all know that already.
Real talk: Lots of teens hate high school. Forget the confusing and sometimes dangerous social scene, the school itself can beat you down. The teachers sometimes become your worst enemy. You have to pull three consecutive all nighters because the amount of school work you are given is crushing your mental health. If we are spending so much time invested in changing this, why not reexamine why our school system is shooting out university and college dropouts faster than you can “Standardized testing is not working”?
My teachers talk about “out of the box” thinkers and how my generation can’t think for ourselves, yet our voices are not brought to the table. Yes, we have one (1) student representative who is allowed to be at board meetings. But does this mean anything when the Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, has no background in education? His previous job was Minister of Infrastructure. A Minister of Education should be someone who has studied education. Someone who listen to teachers, not just school board directors. Our Minister of Education needs to speak with students, because these people making choices for us? They aren’t at the schools.
You want to make cuts? Maybe stop using these short term “solutions” and examine why a place we spend five days a week at makes some kids wake up in the morning and wish they could go anywhere else. Maybe we need smaller classes. More time outdoors. More projects, less exams. Passion projects for credits. Students should find joy in learning, find something to look forward to. These cuts are not “Anti-teacher”, it is the fact that our school system is Anti-Student.
On the matter of short term rentals in Muskoka
I am 67, retired and can say I am so delighted that AirBnB has taken my life from existence to being somewhat comfortable financially.
I started with the organization three years ago and not only has it helped me better afford to put food on my table, but it has also opened my eyes to the common humanity from guests I receive from every corner of the globe. Airbnb is by far not the best way to make a buck; it’s hard work for those of us that welcome visitors from far and wide into our homes. Airbnb holds us to a very high standard of quality accommodations for our guests, and that means the big spring cleaning job almost daily, our homes must be near spotless and in as close to emasculate order as possible and that is no small task. I get asked all the time, “is all this work worth it,” my reply, of course, is yes, not for the money, although that is great, but for the experience. Hosting a BnB is like no other vocation, you are foremost an ambassador, a spokesperson, a representative for Muskoka, the town, the businesses, the tourist attractions, the history. The BnB host is a special bread of individuals who can tolerate strangers living with them, under their roof and in my case sitting them down at their table for breakfast daily. Very few people would even considerate it even if you “were getting rich” doing it, the farthest thing from the truth. You have to love people, be extremely tolerant, adore housework, able to take criticism, and be available 24 hours a day for your guests. Not so simple is it.
It is imperative that BnB hosts not be vilified as interrupters of the peace, bad guys that are in it for the buck and they are sucking up every available rental space they can get their hands on. These accusations are on the whole not true, and damaging to those of us that provide a very personal unique night over for tourists and promoters of Muskoka so they will come back again one day to support not just me but all the businesses and tourist attractions I recommended by word of mouth or in the pamphlets I pass out to them. No hotel, motel or resort can give the level of personal attention that we give our guests. We are not just proud of what we are doing we are proud of Muskoka and all it offers, we are proud of the fact that guest come from China to see our colours in the fall and proud that the Swedes and Germans come to explore the forest of Algonquin Park and very proud to hear them say that this is a great place and a great Country.
Maybe it is time to not hate on BnB hosts but time to thank them for what they do for the economic health of Muskoka, thank them for the great ambassadors they are and how hard they work to welcome strangers into their homes to represent how great the people of Muskoka are. When they go home to Toronto or Hong Kong, they are going to reflect on how their host treated them, how happy they were to make them comfortable in a strange place and tell them about all the great things. Our position in the community is an important one, and we take it seriously.
When it comes to the rotten eggs in the basket, there is no one that wants them dealt with more than hosts. This tiny percentage of hosts that are in it for nothing more than financially gain at any cost need to be dealt with as they are at the root of all the issues. Does the industry need to be regulated, yes? I believe it does, and the public needs to be protected. How can we regulated is a very complicated question and requires input from all concerned but especially from Airbnb and their counterparts? This is not a new issue by any stretch of the imagination, BnBs and cottage rentals have been around for a very very long time, but a few articles in the media have brought global attention to “short term rentals,” and I guess after generations we are now faced with dealing with it and a lot of people are going to be hurt and a lot will be happy, that’s just the way it is with social issues there are no clear cut winners.
I hope at the end of the day, I will be able to do what I do, making my guests happy and promote Muskoka in my peaceful unobtrusive way.
I wish to reply to a recent article on how to prevent ‘school bugs’ by a local naturopath.
https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/has-your-child-caught-the-back-to-school-bug-dr-brandy-strelec-nd/
The concept of “boosting the immune system“ is a mantra of naturopaths with little truth. In a conversation recently with the curriculum director of the College of Naturopaths, I challenged her when she expressed that very concept. She immediately retracted that phrase and modified it. The public should know that in the presence of a reasonably healthy diet and absent immune disease there is no such thing as “boosting the immune system’.
Probably the best advice to prevent colds and flu is to frequently wash your hands. Soap and water or alcohol containing washes are very effective. Sneezing into your elbow can also protect other people.
I did not see these two recommendations in the article.
Down to 119.9 so it’s a start!!
High Gas Prices In Huntsville once again this year. It is at least 6 cents per litre less In Gravenhurst, Orillia and the Newmarket area. Are they gonna gouge us again until enough people complain? Is there a monopoly here in Huntsville? This has to stop, the government says it will come down but ours stays the same? Just like last year!! What utter crap!
Why is this happening in Huntsville again this year? 114.9 in Barrie last night yet 125.9 here? We need to stand up for what’s right and demand our gas prices drop also, just because we’re a tourist area shouldn’t matter!!
Linda Riley
During the late ’90s, the late Brenda Wainman-Goulet of Huntsville was chosen from many candidates as the sculptress for the bronze statue of Dr. Norman Bethune, planned to be placed in the Gravenhurst Opera House Square. Although responsible for the artistic component of the project, Brenda enthusiastically became a proponent and “leg-woman” during the work up for international fund raising and various approvals.
She attended at a local road building project to select the massive granite base; poured through the Bethune Memorial House archives to capture the essence of the man; was back and forth to the foundry in Georgetown countless times and regularly met with the project committee at informal beer and burger meetings at Gravenhurst’s Welcome Inn.
In August 2000, Brenda was on hand to unveil her work and was presented to then governor general Adrienne Clarkson, the Chinese ambassador, the Chinese consul general and the Spanish consul general. Resplendent in a mauve pant suit, Brenda was like a kid in a toy shop as a large crowd congratulated her on her imposing likeness of Bethune, stethoscope in hand, symbolically striding across his home town civic square.
Despite the formality of the sub-regal event, Brenda was on hand later at the Welcome Inn, still decked out in the fashionable pant suit, as pitchers of beer were served up to the committee and well wishers in celebration of the completion of the project.
Eighteen years later, every winter, a dusting of snow coats Bethune’s bronze shoulders as he wears a regal white “ermine cape.” Somehow, her sublime artistic acumen presaged that final flourish to the sculpture and her intuitive bond with art and nature was enshrined through the ages for the people of Muskoka.
Not many people know that Brenda’s innate connection with nature is not by design. She is a child of Algonquin Park, born at Cache Lake in the Park, a daughter of the late Deputy Park Ranger, Dave Wainman. Brenda’s unique sculpture of Group of Seven artist Tom Thomson sits outside the Algonquin Theatre in Huntsville.
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE TOWN OF HUNTSVILLE COUNCIL
RE: Bill 66 and the Proposed Open for Business Planning Tool
I am writing to express my concern about the potential local impact of the Ontario government’s
proposed Open for Business Planning Tool and Schedule 10 in Bill 66. These measures were
introduced and passed first reading just before the legislature rose for the holiday break in December. They are expected to come before the legislature for debate in February.
Most of the headlines have been about the Greenbelt and the Clean Water Act, but as you may realize, every municipality’s Official Plan can be ignored if the municipality approves a new development with an Open for Business By-Law (OfBB).
In the interest of cutting red tape, the government proposes that an OfBB may be passed without a public hearing and once passed may not be appealed to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.
While the current Minister offers verbal assurances of what might or might not be approved that is no assurance of what a future Minister or Government might do based on the act. If these provisions are deemed undesirable by the current Minister then why are they there?
Nobody wants unnecessary red tape but these proposals go too far in the other direction. They threaten legislated health, safety and environmental protections which are so important to our quality of life and the local economy. And we know what the outcome of this deregulation may be as we have seen it in Walkerton (and Lac-Megantic).
“Justice Dennis O’Connor, in his thorough and well documented Walkerton Inquiry, found that the Ontario Government’s red-tape reduction culture led directly to the suffering and loss of lives in Walkerton when its drinking water supply became massively and fatally contaminated with dangerous pathogens. Red tape reduction was not a side issue. It was the central factor.” (http://www.cela.ca/blog/2019-01-02/ontario-s-drinking-water-rules-are-not-red-tape). “Therefore, in accordance with Walkerton Inquiry recommendations, governments of all stripes moved fast to pass new laws (including the Clean Water Act) to fix the drinking water safety net across Ontario. It’s not acceptable to now start dismantling that safety net today under the guise of reducing red tape”.
I urge Huntsville council to oppose Schedule 10 and to join other Ontario municipalities in passing a resolution not to use the powers in Bill 66 should it be passed into law.
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Lesley Hastie
1.(The proposal to pass an OfBB must only be approved in advance by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Planning and once passed can be amended by the Minister before it goes into effect. If the Minister makes an order modifying an open-for-business planning by-law, the by-law is deemed to have been passed by the municipality with the modifications specified in the order).
I have found the following links to be helpful in learning about how Bill 66 could affect communities such as ours throughout Ontario:
• This Nature Ontario blog provides a very readable itemized summary:
https://ontarionature.org/bill-66-facts/
• The government’s description of Bill 66 and a link to the proposed language is here:
https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-1/bill-66
Dear Mr. Norm Miller
I have been initiating a correspondence with you recently about your government’s policy changes related to the environment. I am disappointed by your response to my previous letter asking about your thoughts on the proposed Bill 66. You say the Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act is to stimulate business for Ontario; however what does it do to protect our natural resources, our water, our green spaces? These dwindling and fragile areas need our continued protection. How will you respond to this Bill in the Muskoka district? Do you plan on accelerating development? You talk about the cutting of ‘ineffective and inflexible’ regulations to stimulate and fast-track development in Ontario, however from my viewpoint, it seems like building and development haven’t remotely slowed down in Ontario for over a decade.
I am also worried because as this Bill is moving forward, the Ontario government has also hastily axed the position of the Independent Environmental Commissioner after 25 years! Who will hold Ontarians and the Ontario government accountable for their actions now? This appointment upholds and stands up for our Environmental bill of rights. Now this duty has been passed onto the PC minister of the environment, how is this not a conflict of interest?
Where does the perception come from that the economy and the environment can’t be symbiotic? We have til 2030 (11 short years away) to put this planet on a better track and save it from irreversible damage from climate change. We need forward thinkers who hold the environment in the HIGHEST regard and become leaders in climate action and solutions. It is possible if people in power, like yourself, commit to our shared future.
I, and the people of Muskoka, deserve a thoughtful response from you concerning your stance on the complete disregard by your government to the protection and sustainable development of our beautiful province.
Sincerely,
Pam
It’s a Bloomin’ Shame
In the investment world, as I like to tell my sons, there are basically two types of investors – those who plant flowers and those who plant trees. In the world of politics, those people would perhaps be known as Conservatives or Liberals.
In the waning days of her Premiership, one of the controversial initiatives proposed by Kathleen Wynn was the Basic Income. As she probably expected, response to this radical idea was all over the map, from passionate agreement to equally passionate rejection because everyone has an opinion on the spending of their tax dollars. Though those opinions may not have been the single deciding factor contributing to the eventual outcome of the subsequent provincial election, it’s only reasonable to assume they influenced how people voted. Even I, a left leaning socialist poor enough to benefit from the program, had reservations about just giving people money.
A sad fact of life in any society, however, is that there will always be people who need to be provided for. For a myriad of personal reasons, a certain percentage of a countries citizens will always be dependent upon the charity of others.
Recognizing this reality, over the years enlightened governments have tried to tackle this obligation with many, many different programs. While some work, others don’t and the deliverance of cost-effective social services has proven to be a continuously evolving objective. A government run basic income definitely sounds like one of those programs that couldn’t possibly work. I mean, why would anyone want to work for their money when they can get paid for doing nothing? (Certainly a question for a future article.)
I don’t think Ms. Wynn is a dumb person, though, or former Prime Minister Jean Chretien who, if memory serves me, also floated the same idea on a national level. So what did they see that so many others didn’t? And then it occurred to me – the objective of the Basic Income wasn’t only to provide social assistance, it was to also get rid of the incredibly bloated layer of programs created to make it work and thus, by extension, a huge number of government employees.
So what does all this have to do with planting trees or flowers? A Basic Income is a long term investment in Ontarians that would take many years to bear fruit. The results of reducing public payrolls while simultaneously improving the lives of the marginalized in society would not become evident overnight.
In the Conservative flower garden, however, Doug Ford immediately reduced the amount of future money promised by the Liberals to those on social assistance and then, shortly after, offered current government employees financial incentives to resign or retire, the classic ‘rich get richer’ story.
Another tree. In the late 1800’s, the ruling provincial Liberals made the existence of Algonquin Park official. As the years have rolled by, the beneficial prescience of this decision has only become more and more evident, the park reportedly attracting upwards of a million visitors a year. Hoping to continue this tradition of long term planning for an environmentally healthful province still covered in the future with trees and grass and marshland, Kathleen Wynn continued to designate more of southern Ontario as greenbelt.
The flower garden plan for the greenbelt? Pave areas and then plant factories. Who cares that the beautiful bloom of those almost immediate new tax revenues will quickly wilt as corporate tax rates seemingly continue to shrink.
Windmills, solar energy and a carbon tax? Another long term Liberal initiative. Doug Ford’s Conservative plan? Cancel renewable energy projects, eliminate the carbon tax and then pay companies instead, with our tax dollars, not to pollute. I understand this carrot-stick approach but for it to actually work the public-purse carrot will have to be significantly larger than the carbon-tax stick because if the expense of pollution mitigation is greater than what the government is willing to pay them, why bother. And besides, I wouldn’t be surprised if a carbon tax can be written off as a business expense while the incentive payment would be taxed as income.
Almost a half century has passed since I bought my first stocks. They had to be purchased in trust because I was too young to legally own them. There have been a lot of could’ve, should’ve, would’ves, since then, like Apple at $9.00 or Lockheed at $7.00. There have also been a lot of Bre-Xs. While there are certainly no guarantees of success in the stock market, historical records pretty well prove that, ironically, ‘conservative’ long term investing ultimately beats day trading. It’s unfortunate for my kids and my grandkids that the ‘Conservatives’ can’t see that.
Practicing Law
Recently I had the good fortune to be summoned for jury duty. My initial response, as I suspect it is with most people, was one of annoyance. We all have day-to-day plans for our lives and this supposedly random command to appear on a specific date at a specific time at a specific location definitely didn’t fit into my agenda for the near future.
Why do I say supposedly random? Well, because barely a year has passed since I received my last summons for jury duty. At that time I was able to convince the judge that my attendance would cause severe hardship to the company I worked for and so he graciously gave me a deferral until the spring. Come spring, the next summons arrived and even though the work situation had now deteriorated to the point that the provincial government was stepping in to directly help remediate the labour shortage, His Honour was this time not to be swayed.
As we are repeatedly told at church, though, sometimes your prayers will be answered. So when I received a call from the court clerk a week or so before my scheduled appearance informing me that that session of court had been cancelled, I immediately whispered ‘Thank God’ as I hung up the phone. Statistically speaking, I believed my chances of now being picked again in the next few years had fallen dramatically.
Apparently, however, your number being picked for jury duty isn’t subject to the same laws of probability as is your number being picked in LottoMax. If I were a Trumpite I think I would be crying “Conspiracy.” Since I am not a Trump idiot, though, I know it is entirely a coincidence that my name came up yet again in such a short time frame. I mean, entertaining any alternative idea would suggest that we can’t trust the integrity of our legal institutions, wouldn’t it?
Anyway, out of curiosity I decided to call the number provided for the sheriff’s office. A super nice woman answered so I asked her if she could answer some questions about the jury selection process. ‘Absolutely’ she replied.
I began by inquiring where the names of potential candidates came from. ‘From MPAC’, she answered and then explained what that was in case I didn’t know. It wasn’t until later when I was recounting the conversation to my wife that she mentioned this would immediately eliminate renters from jury duty.
Now that the source of names had been determined, I next asked, half facetiously, if the names were then thrown into a big drum. She politely laughed and proceeded to give me a vague explanation that left me with the impression that the names were fed into, as with all things these days, a computer. Being a flip-phone aficionado who isn’t on Facebook, a chill immediately went up my spine.
She continued on with some figures about how many people in Muskoka are called each year – I seem to remember the number 5,000 being mentioned in some context – and I asked her about pro bono work and if Crown Attorneys were exempt from such and we finally ended our conversation by her insisting that I call back if I had any further questions. Such a nice person.
So in the end, though our chat clarified a number of questions, for me it felt as if a lot were still unanswered. For example, should potential jurors be screened to determine if they have recently had some unfavourable personal interaction with the courts that might make them hostile to the crown? Does not paying jurors create a similar antipathy?
Why are so many within the legal system exempt from serving on juries? If each case is supposed to be decided exclusively upon the merits of the evidence, what difference does having an in-depth knowledge of the law make? Are cases not decided upon just the truth as presented or are they swayed by continuous objections, specious arguments and captivating oratory. To me, excluding those who practice law gives credence to the comment that jurors are just twelve people too dumb to get out of jury duty. And yet they are considered smart enough to decide the fate of strangers. Seems kind of paradoxical.
So many questions, so few answers. I started this article by questioning the odds of being picked for jury duty twice in one year. What do you think the odds are that this upcoming session will, like last springs, be cancelled? I’m thinking about the same as winning a lottery.
I have a beef and wish to share it. Yes, I am one of those who thinks Huntsville is a shining star among towns in Ontario. We have many attractive “views” in and around our town but two warrant immediate attention.
The first is the huge pile of dumped soil and tree limbs that shock the eye just off the entrance to Earl’s Road beside the Hwy #60 stop lights at the top of the hill. It has been there for several years now and one has to wonder when it might be graded out and brought to an acceptable viewing standard.
Secondly, have you noticed the ugly West-facing wall of the Walmart building? There is damaged paint across the entire length of the building and this is the highway view our visitors get when they approach Hwy #60 entrance from the south. Since my wife and I spend several thousand dollars at this store each year, I have no hesitation claiming Wal-Mart appears to be sitting on its backside with no intention of addressing their responsibility to bring the outside wall to standard. When we first heard of Walmart coming to town, we were teased with how it would be painted to suit our natural environment. This at the time was to be a breakthrough since back then Walmart called all the shots. Please, WALLY, catch the pride shown by other store owners in town and buy some paint.
I think everyone would agree that there has been a vast improvement to snow removal on our major roads and highways since Fowler are back on the job with their snow-clearing equipment –
– thank God that the “Carillion Zamboni Ice-Making machines” are gone to the scrap yard !!
– we now have proper and safe snow clearing on the highways – the way it was 8-10 years ago !!
– and all done by our local company , Fowler – with equipment designed to properly deal with our severe winter road conditions.
Thank you for your comments Steve have missed them for far too long.
We Want YOU
Ontario Premier Doug Ford recently opined that the former Ontario Liberals had engaged in ‘creative bookkeeping.’ I guess if one’s idea of bookkeeping amounts to what appears to be little more than the cut, cut, cutting of expenses, then perusing the accounting steps taken to maintain the financial health of Ontario while simultaneously introducing innovative social programs to improve the lives of those not fortunate enough to inherit, or purchase, an established successful business would appear creative.
As anyone who has been around for more than one provincial or federal election probably knows, presenting a dire financial situation inherited from the previous government is pretty well standard political maneuvering by all Parties. That way, in the near term, the newly elected Party will have a handy excuse for their broken promises and, in the later term, a baseline for their miraculous climb back up from near provincial bankruptcy.
This is not to say that there isn’t some credence to such claims of financial mismanagement. Of course the incumbent Party is going to put forward the rosiest picture possible. It’s just that it seems a bit disingenuous for the incoming Party to feign shock upon discovering discrepancies because if they didn’t suspect that finances might be worse than presented previous to the election then maybe they are too naïve to govern.
But, all that being said, what the Conservatives have been able to pull off is truly masterful. First, and foremost, was the cutting of corporate taxes. Even though the provincial debt was allegedly many multiples worse than anticipated, corporate tax cuts were never abandoned. This, as my father used to say, would seem akin to cutting off your nose to spite your face. I suspect that even the most accounting-challenged of us understands that reducing the provinces income is going to be detrimental to its ability to fund programs. Of course, if the provinces pain benefits the previous source of personal income of some MPPs, well, just chalk that up to an unintended consequence. The more important thing is for the Conservatives to appear to be getting provincial income and expenses back into sync, without being creative of course.
Which brings us back, not surprisingly, to the only option available to anyone when faced with a reduction in income -cut, cut, cutting of expenses. And, oh my, what a fertile field those tax-and-spend Liberals left for the Conservatives to plow through.
Among the first to be axed were multiple green programs like windmills, cap-and-trade and personal home retrofits. Then came an attack on those traditionally least able to organize, the poor. Going, going and soon to be gone was a basic-income program. Scaled back was a promised percentage increase for social assistance programs. Funding commitments for some satellite-university builds have apparently been withdrawn. Safe injection sites are under review and I believe I heard a story on the news about a student-loan forgiveness program being cancelled. The list just goes on and on and on.
And now, to add insult to injury, apparently the PCs are going to be erecting promotional signs at strategic points of entry into the province proclaiming that Ontario is open for business. Aggregating all the cuts they have made and then extrapolating from them, it would appear to me that if you are a business that doesn’t like to pay taxes, doesn’t like to pay a living wage and don’t mind polluting then you are a business the provincial Conservatives would love to welcome. To paraphrase an old Ontario tourism slogan; Ontario – Yours To Exploit.
I couldn’t agree more. Just drove from Huntsville to Montreal and the prices in Huntsville are at least 10 cents a litre higher than anywhere else. I would give my business to any of the gas station owners who would do the right thing and bring the Huntsville prices in line with the rest .
we are $1.14 tonight in the western part of the GTA. Seems the gas corporations know where the money is!
Has anyone else noticed that our gas prices are way too high? In recent travels I’ve seen the following prices:
Gravenhurst $1.18
Barry’s Bay $1.17
Ottawa $1.09
DWIGHT $1.25!!!
All the while the price in Huntsville hasn’t budged from $1.26 (October 2018).
I think it’s time for our local gas station owners to cut us some slack by lowering their prices.
Further to Mr. Boysen’s comments re the travesty on democracy at Queens Park, those who follow politics might be interested to read lawyer Marie Heinen’s open letter to Premier Ford in the Globe and Mail this week. Ms Heinen, [who some may recognize as the lawyer for Jian Ghomeshi], gives firm direction to Mr. Ford in language that, even he, could understand.
Marie Heinen starts her piece by stating, ‘…It’s time for a lesson on law and government 101. I doubt that Ontario Premier Doug Ford will take me up on the offer of a one-on-one lesson, and since it appears that none of those advising our Premier have thought to take on this task, here it goes.’
Those few of us who spoil their day regularly by following municipal/provincial/federal politics will be startled by the firm rap on the knuckles which Ms Heinen gives the Premier on his knowledge of Canadian constitutional law.
See https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-doug-ford-no-power-grab-is-worth-undermining-canadas-solid/
Ms Heinen concludes by writing, ‘…Any time you want that one-on-one lesson, or a bit of a crash course on the Charter – including section 33, the notwithstanding clause – I’m here for you.’
A copy of this letter to MPP Norm Miller was sent to Huntsville Doppler for publication ~
This is my second letter to a politician! My first was to Right Honorable John Diefenbaker in 1960. This was a laudatory epistle, thanking him for the Bill of Rights. My second, to you Mr. Miller, is not complementary.
Even-though we are at opposite poles of the political spectrum, I have always held you in the greatest esteem, as a man of integrity and principle.
Not so now! I am deeply disappointed.
Where is your backbone and that of your colleagues of the caucus?
Contracts are cancelled on a whim, seriously damaging the reputation of the integrity of the Province of Ontario. Your leader has pronounced that Ontario is open for business! Do you think that companies consider investing with the provincial government if they cannot trust it?
The Premier interferes with the municipal elections, while everything is in play. Particularly with cancelling of the election of District Chair here in Muskoka. You don’t change the rules of the game just as the referee is dropping the puck!
The cancellation of the educational curriculum on our children’s health and reverting to an out-of-date, 20-years, curriculum is unforgivable.
Decisions seem to be made out of spite or pettiness or kow-towing to vocal minorities.
Do you and your fellow MPP’s, really agree with these, seemingly impulsive, decisions?
In closing, I find that the quotation I came across recently, appropriate, by Bertrand Russell (English philosopher and mathematician) “The trouble world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt.”
JOHN BOYSEN
My wife and I would like to thank the Baysville/Huntsville fire department for saving our home and business last night 7/7/18. When you are awakened at 3:00 am in the morning with the sky a bright red next door, you immediately panic. Our neighbours cottage was completely engulfed in flames. The fire had moved onto our property and we thought that our place would be next as it was only a few feet from the house. Trees were on fire, the bush was on fire. We were then told we must evacuate now. It was a few hours before we were able to return. The fire department had been able to knock down the fire in our bush, preventing another disaster from happening. There is no words for how we feel about the volunteer fire department, all we can say is Thank You Thank You.
Well, the money and the figure were donated but I agree with you–beauty is in the eye of the beholder and most “beholders” have judged it to be ugly. The more serious issue is the danger to boats navigating the river. I think it has already been removed to a safer location.
I believe that many media organizations are doing the public a huge disservice by quoting polls that attempt to predict election results. I think that the over-reliance by media organizations on the use of their latest commissioned poll results are guilty of influencing election results by quoting polls as if they are an inevitable fact. That factor is compounded by what I believe is the present and growing inaccuracy of polls because of the behavioural change over the last ten years to cell phones and the many ramifications this change represents (i.e. ages or respondents for a starter). The landscape of willing respondents to pollsters continues to be in state of change and I do not believe polling companies are able to factor in this constant change with a sufficient degree of accuracy. For these reasons I question the validity and reliability of the information gathered in the polls and find that the use of poll information in news reports in the lead-up to elections (Canada and the U.S., provincial and federal) is itself becoming a factor of influence in elections. I have not made my decision as to who I will vote for in Ontario’s upcoming provincial election but I bristle at all media organization’s reporting poll results as if it is a done-deal for any particular party. Worse still – I believe it is interfering with our democratic process.
Why can’t Muskoka drivers use studs In their tires? Somehow Parry Sounders can use them to drive to work and shop in Huntsville, and Muskokans can’t? Why doesn’t Mr. Miller bring this up every chance he could? Our weather is the same as Parry Sound District’s, our roads are the same, if not more snow and Ice covered. In Novar, one side of the street can, – but not the other side, – use tire studs.
– and don’t get me started on the perks of half priced automobile licences. (Shut up Jim)
There is so many kind an helpful people in Huntsville. I was stuck with my mobility scooter and people stopped to help. Then my battery died and people stopped to help. But the best thing of all was Mike and Jeanette helped me push my scooter over 2km to my front door an in my house. Mike an Jeanette, l can’t thank you enough.
I haven’t lived in Huntsville for very long but this is the place to be of you need help. THANK YOU SO MUCH TOO EVERYONE WHO STOPPED TO HELP.
Rock of Ages
I would like to COMMEND the Band, and the cast and all who put this show on at the Algonquin Theatre!!! This show was EXCELLENT!!!! The whole show was incredible!!! They did an amazing job!!!!! They all deserve a huge THANK YOU for their dedication and hard work. It truly paid off. I have been to musicals in my life but let me tell you THIS MUSICAL far exceeded any show I have ever been to and that includes the Phantom of the Opera. This show was the best show ever!!!!! I would like to tell anyone who did not go they missed a huge successful entertainment!!! ROCK OF AGES you ROCK BIG TIME!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WONDERFUL SHOW. CONGRATULATIONS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!!
I’d like to do a shout out for the new Brick in Huntsville. My mother purchased a chair for the old Brick in October 2016.
I thought to drop in during the grand opening and see what they may do to help my 88 old Mom.
The offered to look into it as the warranty has expired.
Today I received a call from Them and a new chair was ordered for her!!!!
Thank you Brick!!
That’s customer service!!!
As a practitioner of SGI Nichiren Buddhism for almost 30 years, I recently have been asked by several people in my community, “ How can Buddhists be involved in the persecution and slaughter of the Muslim minority in Myanmar?” My instantaneous response is, “Though they call themselves Buddhist, they are not acting in accord with key Buddhist principles – i.e. reverence for the sanctity of life; acknowledgment of the interconnectedness of all phenomena (including all people!); and the strict Law of Cause and Effect that guarantees whatever causes you make, the effects are simultaneously planted in your life and will manifest when conditions are right. If you truly believed in that one Buddhist principle alone, persecution and slaughter would not be on your agenda!
I am glad to know that many people today think of Buddhism as a totally pacifistic religion and are shocked by images of Buddhists participating in scenes of violence. However, Buddhists are human beings, and as we all know, human beings are capable of great acts of courage, compassion, and wisdom as well as foul acts of depravity and degradation.
We need to be shocked by the darkness in the human heart, no matter what label is associated with it.
As Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, or atheists, we all need to be working to ensure that we bring out the best in ourselves and others, that we strive daily to make the world a more peaceful and tolerant place, and that we stand against injustice in whatever form it takes. We make choices every day; let’s make sure we’re doing the very best we can do.
A lot of ink has been spilled about what Trudeau’s trip to Washington will mean for the future of NAFTA, but there’s been shockingly little coverage of a dramatic NAFTA story playing out here in Canada.
This week in Toronto, oil and gas company Lone Pine Resources is using Chapter 11 of NAFTA to sue our government for over $100 million, over a temporary fracking ban under the St Lawrence River.
The “Investor State Dispute Settlement” rules in Chapter 11 give billionaire corporations special rights to sue governments in shadowy international tribunals for passing laws or policies that might reduce their expected profits.
Canada is already the most-sued country in the global north because of NAFTA’s Chapter 11 ISDS rules. Most corporations sue us over our environmental regulations.
These rules let corporations undermine our democracy in the pursuit of profits, and should be removed.
The NAFTA renegotiations offer an opportunity to put an end to these outrageous corporate lawsuits.
Bad Air
About a year ago, the train station was closed to the public. Readings had been taken and air quality was deemed unsafe. Mole. Mildew. Disintegrating insulation was releasing asbestos. The site was pronounced unsafe and closed.
Recently, groups that had been using the station were requested to remove anything they had in the building as the building is to be sold, For 2 dollars.
Arriving at the site, no fans were running, purging the building of all that bad air. No one was shown recent readings that showed the air to now be safe, but neither was anyone required to wear a HAZMAT suit nor personal breathing apparatus. Not even those little paper masks were needed. Apparently the air is fine now. The building has cleansed itself?
It would be interesting to compare this years readings with those taken a year ago, the ones that closed the building.
Or was the ‘bad air’ story that emanated from the station akin to the air one might notice wafting from a neighbours pasture, The air seems to have been the excuse used to vacate the building and the first step in the process of declaring it surplus.
My opinion for sure, but I think it as viable as the one used by council to close the building
Allen Markle
Walking the fairy Vista trail on a daily basis, we noticed the water damage it did to part of the trail, where there is a near total washout on the section from the sewage treatment plant to the road leading to o Mara golf course ..the town did put up some pylons (2) to indicate the break almost halfway on the trail ,but closer inspection shows that the soil underneath the asphalt is also disappeared ,,which makes it dangerous for people navigating the trail,and prone to a larger cave in.. maybe the town should be made aware of this situation,and rectify this problem a.s.a.p, as in to avoid potential accidents..
A suggestion for Huntsville Mayor and Council
With a sigh and a shrug, council has deemed the train station too expensive to repair and will list it as surplus property to be disposed of. An RFP was issued and the matter debated, but since volunteers had invested time and money in the station some years ago, councils have done little to maintain the building. Now it will pass to private ownership; to someone who doesn’t seem to feel it too expensive to repair and for the price of 2 bucks, find it a sweet deal.
Another town property, where the Allensville Hall once stood, was worthy of no such debate or RFP. A ‘FOR SALE’ sign was simply hammered in the earth. The price tag is 39.000 dollars.
‘Touch the past. Embrace the future’ Indeed! The past, our heritage, seemingly has little future once ‘touched’ by this mayor and council. What some worked hard to build and maintain, council will now dispose of for 2 dollars. It shows little interest or respect for what has been left to us and even less desire to maintain it.
Might I suggest that in the future council go the ‘FOR SALE’ sign route, rather than subjecting itself to the ’emotional struggle’ of divesting of a heritage site. It seems that the return might be exponentially greater than 2 bucks.
Allen Markle
Please move the “artwork” from the middle of our river-way.
Yes, it’s ‘artistic’, in the eyes of those who worked to create & plant it there, but in my opinion it is poorly placed and dangerous, in present location.
It’s just not attractive. It poses a safety hazard.
Relocate it to where it won’t be a danger to passing water-traffic.
I am not alone in this opinion.
To those residents of Huntsville who live along the Muskoka Road 3 North corridor and also to parents of children who attend Spruce Glen Public School, there will be a Town Planning Committee meeting in chambers on August 16th commencing at 9:00 am, to consider a proposed amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-66P, which would change zoning on an adjacent property from a Rural One (RU1) Zone to a Heavy Industrial (M1) Zone to permit a rock cutting and processing facility on the property. Notification was previously published in the July 20th edition of the Huntsville Forester.
The proposed zoning amendment application is identified as Z/41/2016/HTE (Muskoka Rock Company Ltd.)
I would urge everyone to consider the negative effects of such an operation in a residential area should this zoning amendment be permitted.
On behalf of the Huntsville and area Historical Society, I would like to thank the Reverend Derek Shelley and the congregation of the Trinity United Church, Huntsville for permission to set up a table on the church lawn on Canada Day. Also to Suzy Simson for a quick response to our request. We had a very successful day.
Thanks once again,
Bud Hambleton
Just returned home to witness the huge, ugly, navigational hazard in the middle of our beautiful river at the focal point of our downtown. The word idiotic came to mind right after stupid. Why on earth was that eyesore ever allowed? More to the point, why is it still there? Another gross waste of our tax money?
Proposed Development of Quarry and Pit
There are plans proposed by Mr. Frank Lippa to develop a new pit and quarry operation which would be located at 1089 Butler Mill Road which is north-east of Aspdin Road (Con. 4 Lots 3 &4 of Cardwell Twp). It would be licensed for a maximum annual extraction of 200,000 tonnes of sand, gravel and bedrock. The proposed pit would operate 7 days a week, Monday to Friday from 6:00am – 9:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am – 6:00pm. There would be a massive increase in heavy truck traffic on the Aspdin Road – an average of 100 heavy trucks taking out material per day (and then returning). Many of these trucks will head eastward towards Huntsville and the rest westward through Rosseau.
Allowing this quarry and pit development to proceed would have many negative effects:
*Poor sight lines on Aspdin Road means danger for cars entering and exiting driveways /sideroads, school children getting on/off the bus, pedestrians, cyclists and wildlife. Trucks already drive on the yellow line for fear of dropping off the paved road onto the gravel shoulder.
*Proposed pit and quarry will be operating above and below the water table.
*Negative impact on wildlife-turtles, deer , turkeys etc trying to cross the road as well as animals and birds in the area of the quarry.
*Massive impact on air quality and water sources originating from the grinding of granite and the potential for holding ponds to overflow.
*Negative impact from the noise and vibrations of the machinery processing the materials, the constant movement of the trucks and the blasting that will occur on a regular basis. Cottagers and homeowners would be subjected to this continual intrusion.
*Negative impact on the waters of Skeleton Lake whose creeks originate near the site and drain into the lake. The distance being less than 2 Km .
To see more information and the map of proposed quarry and pit log on to: https://muskokalakes.civicweb.net/document/97947
or call Ross Earl
Aspdin Road
Phone 705 -646-3848
In reply to Professionally Speaking: Finding God in Nature https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/finding-god-in-nature-jeremy-mcclung-of-muskoka-community-church/
As much as I really like and enjoy Jeremy I would have to say that he seems to have omitted the idea of the late Marcus Borg (a Lutheran pastor and theologian) who also speaks of the idea of “panenthesism “. The basic difference between pantheism and panentheism is that the former holds the idea that everything is God, while the later holds the idea that God is in everything. I realize the difference may not be much to some but it is – everything is God vs. God is in everything.
Secondly, there are a large number of Christians who would be critical of the use of the male pronoun when speaking of God. Scripture reminds us that we are “no longer male or female” (Galatians 3:28) and we are “made in the image of God, both male and female” (Genesis 1:27). In essence, it is not incorrect to refer to God as male, neither would it be incorrect to use the feminine pronoun. We can think of God as Father and Mother, but for centuries we just haven’t used such inclusive language. To me it would be most inclusive not limit God to human images at all, to let go of anthropomorphic images altogether. That is to say, God is not an old man with a long beard living “up” in heaven somewhere. However, I realize too that I might be in the minority on this issue; but minorities are important too.
I would totally agree with Jeremy in that God is found in nature, outdoor worship is great especially here in Muskoka. (Actually Trinity United Church is holding their worship outdoors at the Martin’s farm (formerly driving range) at 10 am on Sunday, June 26). No matter where we gather in large numbers or on our own, God is with us and all we can ever do is worship the God who is “holy mystery and wholly love” (The United Church of Canada, Song of Faith).
Community Letter of Thanks
Robin’s Rebels silent art auction held at Hidden Valley Resort this past Friday evening raised over $6800.00!
We are a group of riders who will be cycling 220 km for two days from Toronto to Hamilton, Hamilton to Niagara.
When each of us signed up to do the ‘Ride to Conquer Cancer’, we each committed to raise $2500.00 or more in order to participate.
We are close to raising the $30,000.00 as a team. We have so many people to thank.
First and foremost, Hidden Valley Resort offered the ball room to host the event. Thank you to Rose Evans co-owner, Scott Dougthy GM, Melissa Coulson and Courtney Coker, conference service managers and all the staff for being so generous and helpful in putting this event together.
Thank you to all who helped promote the event, Doppler, our local online news source, 105.5 Moose FM for air time and the Huntsville Forester.
Thank you Cavalcade Colour Lab, The Framing Place, and Fabricland for your generous support as well.
A special thank you to our artists. Those that make art their business and those that create art as a hobby, we thank you. Without your support we simply could not have done this. Lorrie Morton, Thomas Morton (Morton Muskoka Chairs), Katherine Robinson, Marike MacDonald, Bonnie Harris, Gabrielle Anderson,
Gwen Smales and Connie Fisher of Artsy Pear Studio, Helena Renwick, Catherine O’Mara, Laurie Gordon, Heidi Driedger, Carol Stevenson, Marguerite Taylor, Marsha Forsythe, Jeff Lemire, Tony Varney
Lesley Anne Green, Roxanne Driedger, Peter Bloom, Brian Markham, Tina Calberry, Judy Smith, Susan Higgins, Margaret Penner, Bonnie Markle, Shirley Smith, Jane Wolfe, Deanne O’Donoghue
Susan Love, Teri Howell, Mary Spring, Shelly Nobile, Ashley Love, Ken Morrison, Kelly Holinshead, Susan MacDonald, Ryan Rea, Jenny Kirkpatrick, Ben Howell, Elle Fox, Jerry Schmanda, Teri Brunner, Laura Rea, Lindgren Pottery, Donna Elliott, Randy Spencer (Tall Trees), and Barry Brear (Rolston’s).
Finally, a big thank you to all who came out to support this event and to remember our friend Robin Crawford and all those in your circle of friends who are fighting the good fight.
May they never give up fighting and may the research the Princess Margaret Hospital is doing, find that cure to conquer cancer.
Robin’s Rebels.
It saddens and annoys me that I have to write about the seriously irresponsible people out on the lakes in their boats this weekend. The water levels are still so high that many docks are underwater and boathouses are flooded, debris from the winter is floating everywhere … yet … foolish uncaring jerks are roaring around creating huge wakes causing even MORE erosion on shorelines and moving docks that are lifted off of their cribs by the water levels. Please, please stay off of the lakes until the water levels have returned to their norm.
I would like to take a moment to thank the community of Huntsville for its generosity and enthusiastic response to causes of all kinds. You have a big heart! I particularly want to say thank you on behalf of the Huntsville Suzuki School of Music, as last month we had our most successful Indian Dinner yet. We sold all 300 tickets in advance!! Due to the incredible support of local families and businesses, and the enthusiastic bidding of our dinner guests, the auctions were a success as well. We are so grateful for each individual who contributed in their own way to a fun and enjoyable evening. For a more detailed thank you to our supporters please visit our website at http://www.huntsvillesuzuki.org. So thank you for helping us continue to provide the kind of violin, viola and cello instruction one normally only finds in a large centre. We are delighted to be able to contribute to the cultural fabric of Muskoka in this unique way.
Sincerely,
Tanya Sprathoff
Chair
Huntsville Suzuki School of Music