The value of naming a beneficiary!

By Bruno Scanga Using a insurance contracts to reduce estate expenses naming a beneficiary is an important part of your estate planning process. When you name someone other than the estate as beneficiary of an insurance contract, the insurance company is obligated, under the Insurance Act, to pay any death benefit proceeds directly to the named beneficiary on record, avoiding the estate. Having the death benefit proceeds avoid the estate provides many advantages. This can avoid the delays of settling the estate, including estate litigation (such as will challenges), and bypass probate (probate fees vary by province) and other estate administration fees. Other estate administration, accounting, and legal fees could add up to another five per cent or more depending on the complexity of the estate—money not going to your loved ones. Market risk/liquidity settling an estate can be lengthy, frequently taking months or even years if the will is challenged or there’s other estate litigation. During this time, the investments are often frozen and exposed to market risks (e.g., a market correction). Instead, when a beneficiary is named, the death benefit proceeds are usually paid quicker upon receipt of proper documentation. This puts money in the beneficiary’s hands quickly to use as they see fit and significantly reduces exposure to market risks. Having even a portion of your estate with an insurance company can provide beneficiaries with much needed cash, alleviating the stress of having to pay any outstanding expenses and incoming bills while they wait for other funds from the settlement of the estate. Assets not subject to the deceased’s creditors When assets flow through an estate (which generally occurs when non-registered assets are paid by financial institutions other than insurance companies), they may become vulnerable to the deceased’s creditors. Beneficiaries could receive a substantially smaller inheritance if assets are not protected. Having the death benefit proceeds bypass the estate offers potential protection from estate creditors. To control this concern you can use the annuity settlement option to automatically transfer fund proceeds upon death into an annuity and specify scheduled payments for the beneficiaries. This is useful if you are concerned about your beneficiaries’ ability to manage money and prefer to have the proceeds and future interest paid out to them gradually over time. Ease the burden on the executor. While being an executor can be very rewarding; it’s also a big responsibility that comes with the risk of personal liability. By having assets dealt with outside of your estate so your executor doesn’t have to manage them, you can ease the burden and reduce the risk for your executor. Privacy Bypassing probate also preserves confidentiality as probate is a matter of public record; payments made by insurance companies are generally a private matter. This can be beneficial in situations where you and want to keep your wishes private and undisclosed between family members. When you name a beneficiary with insurance segregated fund contracts and guaranteed interest accounts (GIAs), you can keep more of your money in your family. Remember no question is to silly as one question can save you and your family substantial amounts of money!

The Emergency

By Gary Payne, MBA At North House in Uxbridge, the new food pantry offers something you might not expect to need when picking up groceries. An appointment. Clients register, then book half an hour to choose from shelves stocked with food and household essentials. If they can’t get there, staff can help them choose by phone or video and arrange delivery. When the pantry opened in September, its staff explained why that mattered. In a small town, you can run into somebody you know almost anywhere. Executive director Nathan Gardner mentioned the possibility of meeting someone from school or work while asking for help. Jennifer MacKay, North House’s housing services manager, said the appointments offered a degree of privacy that wasn’t always possible elsewhere. I’d never given much thought to that part of visiting a food bank. Needing the groceries is difficult enough. Then there’s the possibility of everyone knowing you need them. On Jan. 16, 1981, the Edmonton Gleaners Association became Canada’s first food bank. Its founders had noticed two things: people were going hungry, and perfectly edible food was being wasted. They wanted to connect the two. Food banks spread through the recession years that followed. In 2001, Edmonton’s Food Bank published a history to mark its 20th anniversary. Eleanor Boddy, chair of its board, acknowledged the contributions of volunteers and donors, but also wrote, “It is unfortunate that the need for a Food Bank in Edmonton continues.” That was 25 years ago. Even then, the anniversary wasn’t entirely a celebration. On Oct. 21, Food Banks Canada released its latest HungerCount report. It describes a system designed as a temporary emergency response, now being asked to provide long-term support. Temporary is an odd word for something that turned forty-five in January. Across Canada, food banks recorded more than two million visits in March. Here in Durham, Feed the Need’s network of food banks and other community food programs recorded more than 880,000 visits over the past year. Those are visits, not different people. Nearly one in five food bank clients nationally reports employment as the main source of income. Feed the Need says one in four Durham households experiences food insecurity. Having work, it seems, no longer guarantees having enough for groceries. I wouldn’t put any of this at the feet of donors. North House’s pantry came together through community donations and partnerships. It isn’t intended to replace Loaves and Fishes, but to work alongside it. The problem is that even the best-stocked pantry can’t make rent cheaper or stretch a paycheque any further. Back in Uxbridge, North House has made room for people to choose their groceries without worrying so much about who might see them. It’s a thoughtful thing to do. We keep finding thoughtful ways to live with an emergency that was supposed to be temporary.

Under The Influence

By Wayne and Tamara I'm hoping you can help me discover the moral answer to a dilemma I recently encountered. I know I am not the only woman who has and will face this question, so I do hope you will print an answer. I recently met a very nice man (I thought) who lives about 40 miles away. We had a very nice date and he was a perfect gentleman. I eagerly accepted a second date with him in my locale. We had drinks, and he drank more than he should have, which is where my question comes in. As we drew the evening to a close he asked if he could hang at my house for awhile so he wouldn't drive 40 miles under the influence. I did not like this because I'm used to guys using this ploy to try to become intimate, and because people should be responsible and not drink too much when they need to drive. If I said no, that meant I could be putting him on the road to, at best, get a DWI and, at worst, kill someone. (I don't know how intoxicated he was; he seemed fine to me.) Against my better judgment, I allowed him to come into my home, where he almost immediately set on the path to become intimate with me. When I tried to send him home, he said he still was in no position to drive. I allowed him to stay and kicked him out in the early a.m. I'm still angry because I had laid out my boundaries very clearly. I didn't want him in my house, and I did not want to be intimate. But he obviously cared little about my feelings. In the future, what are my moral obligations in this situation? Do I tell him to drive home, make him sleep in his car (which means he'll drive home), or allow him to sleep on my couch (which puts my safety in danger and simply isn't what I want)? Jill Jill, Gavin de Becker once remarked, “The best cons make the victim want to participate,” and that explains this situation. This man tried to use your own niceness and sense of responsibility against you. de Becker calls the strategy “forced teaming.” In forced teaming one party tries to create a predicament which requires both parties to solve. The goal is to make the innocent party feel “we are in this together.” But that is never the case. Moral responsibility is not assignable. Someone who says “Stop me or I’ll do something bad” produces no moral obligation in you. It is simply the strategy of a person running a con. If there is a moral lesson here which applies to you, it is this. It is not right to allow a person to trick you and get away with it. Instead of getting you drunk so he could take advantage of you, he got himself drunk—or so he said—so he could take advantage of you. That may be a reversal of an old ploy, but the intent is identical. In relationships, people with bad intentions often pull good people off their path. An old adage says, a teaspoon of sewage will spoil a barrel of wine, but a teaspoon of wine will never improve a barrel of sewage. If this man had achieved intimacy with you, you might be tempted to think of this as a relationship and him as a possible husband. That would have you living in his world. But even if we assume he didn’t scheme this out and simply has a problem with alcohol, it doesn’t put him in a better light. Dating a budding alcoholic is of no advantage to you. It still makes him a man you don’t want. We don’t have the right to change others and seldom do we have the power.

What Does Consent Mean Now?

Common Sense Health – Diana Gifford-Jones Children learn the rudiments of consent long before anyone uses the word. We teach them to ask before taking another child's toy, to distinguish common from personal spaces, and to understand that not everyone wants a hug or a kiss. People have boundaries, and we must respect them. As adults, we learn the principle is considerably more complicated. And these days, it’s getting hard to follow. Sexual consent is now understood as an ongoing, voluntary agreement rather than something implied by a previous encounter, a relationship or even a marriage. In health care situations, patients are expected to participate in decisions about their care instead of simply deferring to professional authority. And in our digital lives, we are asked to consent to the collection, storage and use of personal information, often without much idea of what we are agreeing to. Informed consent has long been central to medical ethics, grounded in the idea that people have a right to make decisions about their own bodies. Yet the shift away from medical paternalism has been significant. A patient should understand the proposed treatment, its risks, the alternatives, and the consequences of refusing it. Signing a form is no substitute for a meaningful conversation. Now consider what happens when artificial intelligence enters the consulting room. AI can assist with interpreting medical images, identifying patterns in patient records, producing clinical notes and informing treatment recommendations. Patients may not know when AI is involved, what role it plays in a decision, or how much weight a clinician gives its conclusions. In a September 2026 editorial in The American Journal of Bioethics, Harvard Medical School researchers Marina Hovhannisyan and J. Wesley Boyd raise concerns. Traditional consent assumes that a patient is authorizing a reasonably defined intervention. AI systems, however, can be updated, retrained and used in new ways after that initial agreement. The authors argue that meaningful consent in AI-assisted care needs to be an ongoing process, with greater transparency about the technology's role and significant changes in its use. Consent given today cannot apply to a technology that changes tomorrow. Nor should patients be expected to understand the technical workings of a complex algorithm before they can make a reasonable decision about their care. Health institutions have a responsibility to explain what matters in terms ordinary people can understand. Think of the routine click on “I agree” that allows us to use an online service. We may be authorizing the collection of location data, the analysis of our behaviour or the processing of photographs and messages. How long the information will be retained? Who else might gain access? How might it be used in the future? Refusing permission invariably means losing access to a needed service. Is that meaningful consent, or the price of admission? There is also a question of power. A patient may feel unable to refuse a recommended procedure. An employee may be reluctant to challenge an employer's request for personal information. A consumer may have little practical choice if every available service demands the same permissions. A formal yes does not establish that a person understood the implications or felt free to refuse. None of this means that consent has become an obsolete idea. Quite the opposite. As technology gives institutions and companies greater capacity to collect information, influence decisions and act on our behalf, the principle of personal autonomy becomes more important. But the responsibility for protecting it cannot rest solely with individuals. These are questions for doctors, technology developers, lawmakers, educators and the public – not just for the person clicking the “I agree” button.

Oshawa Once Helped Change Canada. Why Can't It Do It Again?

By Dale Jodoin Columnist                                               Have you ever wondered how many inventions began with somebody sitting in a little workshop, scratching their head and saying, "There has to be a better way"? We tend to imagine inventions coming from expensive laboratories, universities or scientists with impressive degrees. But sometimes history tells a different story. Take Oshawa, Ontario. Most Canadians know Oshawa for General Motors. But long before the automobile assembly lines, this community was already making a name for itself through craftsmanship and innovation. In 1880, Robert McLaughlin patented an improved steering mechanism known as the McLaughlin Gear, helping establish his reputation as a carriage maker. Imagine Oshawa back then. Dirt roads, horses pulling wagons, blacksmiths hammering away and craftsmen building things by hand. Nobody was talking about electric vehicles or artificial intelligence. Yet the foundation of an automobile industry was taking shape. By 1907, the McLaughlin company was experimenting with automobiles. In 1908, Oshawa craftsmen were building bodies for McLaughlin Buick cars. One generation built transportation powered by horses. The next helped put Canadians behind steering wheels. Then there was the Pedlar company, manufacturing metal roofing, decorative building materials and prefabricated structures that travelled beyond Oshawa. Not everything was invented here. Sometimes innovation means taking an existing idea and making it better. But here's something we forget. We remember the wealthy industrialists. Their names appear on buildings, streets and historical plaques. What about the ordinary workers? The machinist who improved a piece of equipment. The carpenter who discovered a better way to build something. The factory worker who had an idea nobody bothered to listen to. How many inventions never saw daylight because somebody lacked the money or connections to develop them? And that brings me to Oshawa today. We hear plenty about economic development, innovation and attracting investment. City plans are filled with impressive language. But what does any of that mean to the ordinary person sitting at a kitchen table with an invention? Someone who has built something different but doesn't know where to take it? Are we helping that person, or simply waiting for another large corporation to arrive? Here's an idea for Oshawa's next city council. Why not hold regular public invention fairs? Not expensive conferences where everybody wears a suit and talks about millions of dollars. I'm talking about opening a community centre or public building and inviting ordinary people to bring their inventions. A retired mechanic with a new tool. A grandmother who designed something useful for the kitchen. A student with a simple mechanical idea. A tradesperson who figured out how to make a difficult job easier. Give them tables, demonstration space and an opportunity to show what they've created. Invite local manufacturers, machinists, business owners and people who understand patents and product development. Let inventors meet people who might help turn their ideas into something real. Universities and colleges could participate, but they shouldn't control the event. This should belong to the people. And participation should be affordable, preferably free. Perhaps one invention becomes a business employing five people. Another becomes a product manufactured locally. A third might never succeed, but its creator learns something valuable. Isn't that how innovation begins? Oshawa doesn't need another impressive report sitting on a shelf. It needs opportunities where ordinary people can walk through the door and be taken seriously. We cannot bring back yesterday, but we can give tomorrow's inventors a chance. And this isn't just about Oshawa. Every community across Canada has people with ideas, skills and imagination. So the next time you're sitting around the coffee table, ask yourself something. What did your little community invent or improve that helped change Canada? And perhaps the bigger question is this. How many inventions that could change Canada tomorrow are sitting in somebody's garage today, simply because nobody has opened the door?

Five Truths Job Seekers Keep Refusing to Accept

By Nick Kossovan Punching a brick wall will fracture your hand. Yelling at the rainstorm you got caught in won't keep you from getting soaked. Fighting realities you can't change isn't a how-to-live-life strategy or a job-search strategy; it's self-sabotage. Yet many job seekers waste time and energy raging against ingrained hiring realities, growing bitter and angry when their expectations aren't met, which prolongs their job search. Job seekers who refrain from complaining about how employers hire and adopt the AAA approach land jobs faster than those who complain about hiring practices. · Acknowledge the unyielding realities of hiring and the wisdom to know what you can't control. · Accept that you can't change them and find serenity in letting go of what's beyond your control. · Adapt your strategy and have the courage to change what's entirely within your control: your actions. AAA mirrors Reinhold Niebuhr's Serenity Prayer, "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference," and acknowledges the fundamental truth that employers control their capital, workplace, and hiring process. Succeeding in today's job market requires letting go of misconceptions about "fairness" and any sense of entitlement you may have, and embracing the following five truisms: 1. The Law of Supply and Demand As a job seeker, you're offering labour, a commodity governed by supply and demand. When hundreds of job seekers have qualifications similar to yours, your market value declines. Expecting top-dollar compensation when employers are flooded with applications is like selling sand at the beach; no amount of self-importance can change the law of supply and demand. Positioning yourself as a rare commodity is how you overcome supply and demand. Generic qualifications in a job market full of them don't show what every employer wants: measurable results that boost profitability. Present yourself as a value proposition by quantifying past achievements in dollars, percentages, or time saved. 2. Job Searching Is a Winner-Take-All Competition A job search is a winner-take-all contest with one trophy: a job. Finishing second is no better than finishing last: no job. You don't win by regurgitating job descriptions; you win by treating every application like a title fight. Find where the company's bleeding, show performance metrics proving you've stopped that bleeding elsewhere, and make the hiring manager say, "I've got to meet this person!" 3. Hiring Is a Process of Elimination Recruiters and hiring managers don't scan resumes for reasons to hire you; they look for reasons to rule you out. Consider the math: 500 people apply, and only one gets the job. That means 499 were eliminated at some point in the hiring process. While there are countless reasons you could be eliminated, the four main ones are: · Mistakes and Errors: Typos, spelling and grammar errors, or a chaotic layout suggest you'll deliver low-quality work. · Lack of Alignment: Your resume and LinkedIn profile don't explicitly reflect the core skills the job posting requests. · Unexplained Employment Gaps: Employers view employment gaps as a red flag and can easily avoid candidates with gaps by not interviewing them. · Overqualification: Many employers see overqualified candidates as flight risks, expect higher compensation, and are harder to manage. You significantly increase your odds of avoiding elimination by ensuring your resume and LinkedIn profile are error-free, skimmable, and laser-focused on the position's required qualifications and experience, and by explaining any employment gaps. 4. Perception Is Reality In hiring, perception is the deciding factor. While your resume and LinkedIn profile create the initial impression that either compels the recruiter or hiring manager to reach out to you or eliminates you, the vetting phone call, video interview, and face-to-face interview are all important for shaping perceptions and, fingers crossed, preventing elimination. Every word you say, every shift in your tone, and every visual cue contribute to your interviewer's impression of you. For example, saying you want a "stable" environment often comes across as "can't handle change." (What workplace is stable these days?) How you dress, read the room, project confidence, and handle tough questions trumps your qualifications and experience. Show up underdressed or overdressed for their culture, and you signal that you don't fit in. If you get defensive or deflect blame when asked about a past failure, you'll be labelled arrogant and unmanageable. At the risk of sounding philosophical: you don't own how others interpret your actions; you only own the evidence of your choices. 5. Your Lifestyle Overhead Is Your Responsibility, Not the Employer's I've never known an employer who hires candidates to help fund the lifestyle they created. Your mortgage, car payments, and debts are irrelevant when a company sets a role's pay baseline. Employers determine your value by what you contribute to the bottom line. Show that contribution while taking personal responsibility: either shrink your lifestyle or expand your skill set. Getting angry at hiring realities won't change them; you'll only deplete your stamina and prolong your unemployment. You can't force employers to change how they hire. Accept what you can't change, use the AAA approach, and land your next job.

When it comes to providing security for my home and or business, what type of security is most effective?

By Tom Reimer Protecting a home or business requires more than a single security product. Criminals often seek the weakest point of entry, making a layered security strategy the most effective approach. Security alarms, locks and doors, security film, security screens, and security glass each provide different forms of protection. Understanding their advantages and limitations can help property owners choose the right combination for their needs. Security alarms are among the most common security measures. Modern alarm systems can detect intrusions, motion, glass breakage, smoke, and other threats. Their primary advantage is immediate notification. When an alarm is triggered, the owner, monitoring center, or authorities can be alerted quickly. However, alarms do not physically stop a break-in. A thief may still gain access before police or security personnel arrive. While highly effective as a deterrent and early warning system, alarms are best paired with physical security solutions. Locks and reinforced doors provide the foundation of physical security. High-quality deadbolts, commercial-grade hardware, and steel-reinforced doors can significantly slow forced entry attempts. Strong doors create an important barrier that can discourage criminals looking for an easy target. Their weakness, however, is that they only protect designated entry points. If windows or glass storefronts remain vulnerable, intruders may simply bypass the door altogether. Even the strongest lock is only as secure as the frame and structure surrounding it. Security film offers an affordable way to strengthen existing glass. Applied directly to windows or doors, the film helps hold shattered glass together when impacted. This can delay entry, reduce injury from flying shards, and increase the effort required for a break-in. Security film is often used in homes, offices, and retail environments because it is relatively inexpensive compared to replacing glass. However, the glass itself can still break, and determined attackers may eventually penetrate it through repeated strikes. Security screens add another layer of protection by covering doors and windows with reinforced mesh and durable frames. They provide excellent resistance to cutting, prying, and kicking while still allowing ventilation and visibility. Security screens are popular in residential applications where airflow and comfort are important. Although effective, they work best alongside strong locks and other protective measures rather than as a standalone solution. Security glass provides the highest level of protection among these options. Unlike ordinary glass, security glazing is designed to resist impact, remain intact after repeated strikes, and significantly delay or prevent forced entry. Laminated and high-security glazing systems are commonly used in jewelry stores, pharmacies, financial institutions, and other high-risk environments. Unlike security film, which strengthens existing glass, security glass is engineered from the ground up to resist attack. Ultimately, the strongest security strategy combines multiple layers of protection. Alarms provide notification, locks secure access points, security film reinforces existing windows, screens add another physical barrier, and security glass delivers superior resistance against forced entry. When used together, these solutions create a comprehensive defense that protects people, property, and valuable assets while greatly reducing opportunities for criminals to succeed. For businesses facing smash-and-grab risks and homeowners seeking maximum protection, security glass remains the most powerful physical barrier, while alarms, locks, film, and screens work together to form a complete security solution.

SATAN’S CHOICE: A NEW GENERATION, A NEW PURPOSE, A NEW LEGACY

By Mr. ‘X’ ~ John Mutton, Former Mayor of Clarington Satan’s Choice is a name woven into Ontario’s motorcycle history. It represents a tradition, a brotherhood and a story that stretches back generations. Today, a new generation is adding its own chapter. I believe that chapter deserves to be heard. What interests me most is the people involved, the lives they are building and the good they are doing in their communities. I have a personal reason for asking. I know Harley Guindon. I have watched him work to build a different life, and I have encouraged him along the way. A legacy and a new chapter Bernie Guindon is an important figure in the history of Satan’s Choice and Ontario motorcycle culture. His story is well known, and the club’s legacy has endured for decades. Now Harley Guindon and a new generation have an opportunity to honour that heritage while creating something that reflects who they are today: people with families, businesses, friendships and a commitment to their communities. For me, that is what makes this story worth telling. A lunch at the Albany Club In October 2021, I invited Harley to lunch at Toronto’s Albany Club. It was an opportunity to recognize the hard work I had seen him put into his life and business. Harley later described the lunch in an Instagram post dated October 7, 2021. He recalled asking why I would risk bringing him there. My response, as he recounted it, was that he had spent five years changing his way of thinking and becoming a legitimate businessman; past mistakes should not forever tarnish someone who had worked hard to change. His public reflection on that meeting meant a great deal to me. What I wanted him to understand was simple: recognition and respect are not reserved for people with perfect histories. They can also be earned through effort, accountability and a sustained commitment to doing better. I was recognizing a friend whose determination and progress I respected. A new generation, under an old name Harley has spoken publicly about reviving Satan’s Choice with his father Bernie’s blessing. There is something meaningful about a son carrying forward a name connected so closely to his father, while helping shape its future in his own way.In Oshawa, Harley G’s has become a visible part of his business and community identity. Councillor Brian Nicholson has also commented publicly on Harley G’s and its presence in Oshawa. I see this new chapter as an opportunity to highlight fellowship, entrepreneurship and community service—qualities that deserve attention wherever they appear. From Reputation to Community Responsibility We now have several public examples worth examining. In an August 27 Facebook post, Harley G’s Oshawa promoted its backpack drive for local children. The appeal sought backpacks, pencil sharpeners, binders, scissors, lunch kits and school-safe snacks, with donations accepted at its Simcoe Street South location. It was a straightforward request for the community to help students begin the school year prepared. In October, Harley Guindon publicly promoted Christmas food and toy collections for Oshawa. A separate post by Barrett Thompson announced a holiday donation initiative associated with Satan’s Choice Rivers Edge MC. These posts document charitable appeals and stated intentions; they should not be confused with independently audited donation totals. And in Sudbury, local reporting described members of the revived Satan’s Choice serving food to people at the Energy Court homeless encampment. Feeding neighbours who need a hand is a generous, practical act, and one worth celebrating. Taken together, these examples show a willingness to show up for others. They tell an encouraging story about people using their time, resources and connections to make a difference. When I sat with Harley at the Albany Club five years ago, I believed that people deserved a chance to build a different future. These community initiatives are among the examples that deserve to be part of that conversation. A Code Worth Living By There is another aspect of motorcycle club culture that I have always respected: the importance placed on integrity, loyalty, respect and standing by your word. A handshake should mean something. A commitment should mean something. And when you give someone your word, you should be prepared to stand behind it. These are principles I believe are essential to what Harley Guindon and the new generation of Satan’s Choice are working to achieve today. Having spent much of my life in municipal and provincial political circles, I cannot help but draw a comparison. Imagine how much better our political institutions would function if every elected representative approached public service with that same commitment to personal integrity, mutual respect and keeping promises. We spend considerable time talking about codes of conduct, ethics rules and accountability in politics. Yet the most fundamental principles are remarkably simple: tell the truth, respect others, honour your commitments and stand by your word. Oshawa. Those values should never belong exclusively to any club, organization or profession. They should be the foundation of how we conduct ourselves everywhere, including in the halls of our legislatures. And perhaps that is one of the most important messages in the new chapter of Satan’s Choice: a legacy is built not simply on the name you carry, but on the principles you choose to live by. From Ontario to the World What makes this new chapter of Satan’s Choice particularly remarkable is how quickly Harley Guindon’s vision has grown. What was initially envisioned as an Ontario-based motorcycle club soon expanded across Canada, then across North America and, according to the club’s own account, now includes several chapters internationally. But to me, the significance is not simply how many chapters open or how many members wear the Satan’s Choice colours. It is about the values that travel with them. If the principles of respect, integrity, loyalty and standing by one’s word that Harley is working to instill become the foundation of every new chapter, the potential positive influence reaches far beyond Oshawa. Every community with a Satan’s Choice chapter could benefit from members who embrace those principles and demonstrate them through their actions. That is the opportunity before Harley and the new generation: to build something international while maintaining the personal values and community spirit that inspired its revival. A club can expand through its membership. But its legacy grows through the respect it earns. Building a legacy through action A legacy is built through the things people do, often quietly and without expecting recognition. That is why these efforts matter. The new generation of Satan’s Choice has an opportunity to become known for supporting children, helping families, feeding people in need and being good neighbours. The examples we are already seeing are encouraging. I am pleased to recognize this positive work, and I hope it inspires more of the same. I know Harley as a person, a businessman and a friend. I have seen the work he has put into building his future, and I believe that work deserves to be recognized. The next chapter is ours to write. And that is how a new legacy grows.

Democracy or Mediocracy

By Joe Ingino On July 6, 1988, the night of the election, Mexican officials famously announced that the ballot tabulation system had crashed, and results had stopped being reported across the country. This created a chaos across the country. More recently also in Mexico. A digital dark arts campaign by mercenary hackers helped Enrique Peña Nieto win Mexico’s 2012 presidential election, according to an imprisoned Colombian hacker who says he was involved. Andrés Sepúlveda, an online campaign strategist, claimed he had also helped to manipulate elections in nine countries across Latin America by stealing data, installing malware and creating fake waves of enthusiasm and derision on social media. Not to far back. The elections tampering pandemic hit America. The Democrats vs Republican is still paying out. The cancer that was originated by the CIA as a tool to easily over throw countries...has now taken front stage center and threatens the foundations of democracy.    And now back to Durham. I hate to cry wolf....but the overwhelming phone calls over election numbers have never been so high. On November 26, 2026 came and went. To most it was just another election. To others it brought forth questions. Question such as why was there a problem with the tabulations for both Oshawa and Pickering. Why did Durham have issues tabulating in these two municipalities. Why did the number in Ajax and Whitby skew so much? When I reached out to my CIA friend. He openly said. It is not so much about tampering but about manipulation by leading political parties. Others, outcomes may be explained by mere particular group turn outs. Interesting... I know that one way to control and manipulate votes.... is to send out voters cards with misspelled names. Most would not think much of such a mistake. Unfortunately, this opens the door for scrutineers to make a judgement call depending on the candidated they support. For example. If the scrutineer select candidate A over B and the electorate select B. The scrutineer may claim the vote void as the name was wrong. Or if the electorate chooses A then the scrutineer may just pass it off as a clerical error. This type of election manipulation is a tactic that goes undetected. In Durham, it appears that this election went as smooth as a rocky road. I say this due to the fact that the two major municipalities experienced tabulation issues and no public release or explanation was ever forwarded. In most countries this discrepancy would bring public outcry. Here in Durham. It is another day. I truly believe that tha Elections Ontario should make some sort of public release explaining this anomaly. Has democracy become such a mediocracy that we as electorate have given up our ability to expect accountability? What is truly sad is that as a society we are aboard an out of control train of sort. We have elected officials that have little or no qualification to hold the positions they do. We expect them to make multi million and in some cases billions. Yet, many have never held a position in business or government for that matter. Standards keep dropping and people for all the wrong reasons are taking leadership roles. On an up note. Clarington has a new mayor. A man that is not a politician. A man that has his community at heart. An average guy like you and me. Hard working and passionate about making a difference. They say that outsiders do not make good politicians. Well I think in the case of Tom Dingwall, we have a leader and not a politician. I strongly believe that he will turn things around and work in the best interest of his constituents. Congratulations to all that ran and won.

Remembrance Must Renew Canada’s Will to Stay United

by Maj (ret’d) CORNELIU, CHISU, CD, PMSC FEC, CET, P.Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East On November 11, Canadians will gather before cenotaphs, bow their heads and observe two minutes of silence. We will remember those who died, honour those who served and repeat our solemn promise never to forget. This year, we should also ask ourselves a difficult question: what responsibility does their sacrifice place upon the country we are becoming? After Alberta’s referendum and amid the tariff conflict with the United States, that question carries particular urgency. Canada faces pressures from within and beyond its borders. Remembrance Day should help us recover the shared purpose necessary to meet them, while keeping the fallen at the centre of our observance. Alberta’s vote offers an opportunity. Unofficial results showed a decisive preference for remaining in Canada rather than beginning the legal process towards a binding separation referendum. The distinction matters: this was not a direct vote on independence. Nevertheless, the message provides an opening for renewed national cooperation. It must not become an excuse for Ottawa to declare victory and stop listening. A country cannot remain united simply because separation appears costly or uncertain. It must offer its citizens convincing reasons to build their future together. Albertans deserve respect, as do Quebecers, Atlantic Canadians, Ontarians, British Columbians and the people of the Prairies and North. Unity requires a federation whose members believe their contributions matter and their concerns receive a fair hearing. The tariff conflict reinforces the need for that solidarity. American restrictions and Canadian countermeasures have reached across industries and communities. Behind every trade announcement stand workers, businesses and families facing uncertainty. Even if negotiations produce relief, Canada should remember how vulnerable economic dependence can make a sovereign country. We should seek a constructive relationship with the United States. Geography, commerce, family connections and our defence partnership make that relationship essential. However, friendship requires mutual respect. Canada needs the capacity to defend its interests without having every disagreement become a test of whether we can withstand economic pressure from our largest customer. That is where remembrance acquires a contemporary meaning. Those who served did not all share the same politics, language, religion or birthplace. Their experiences were different, and their reasons for serving were personal. Yet service required them to accept obligations beyond themselves. They depended upon one another. The country they represented was larger than the differences they brought into uniform. As a retired Canadian Army officer and former parliamentarian, I believe that lesson deserves renewed attention. Military service teaches that common purpose requires preparation, trust and responsibility. A unit cannot function if every member considers only personal advantage. A federation also weakens when its leaders treat every national decision as an opportunity to defeat another region. This does not mean citizens should remain silent about unfair policies. Democracy depends upon disagreement. Governments must answer for decisions that damage livelihoods, waste public money or deepen regional resentment. However, criticism should aim to improve the country. Political leaders have a particular obligation to avoid turning legitimate grievances into permanent hostility towards fellow Canadians. Remembrance Day must remain above party politics. No government owns the flag, no party owns patriotism and no province possesses a superior claim to military sacrifice. The cenotaph belongs to the whole community. Its meaning diminishes whenever public figures use the dead to validate a partisan position or suggest that dissent amounts to disloyalty. We should therefore approach November 11 with humility. Veterans hold different views about Canada’s future, just as other citizens do. Honouring their service means respecting that freedom. The unity worth preserving is a democratic unity, strong enough to accommodate disagreement and confident enough to confront the country’s failures honestly. Nevertheless, ceremonies should encourage responsibility after the wreaths have been removed. A government that praises military sacrifice should equip the people serving today. Defence commitments require trained personnel, reliable equipment, functioning infrastructure and the ability to protect Canadian territory. Parliamentary speeches cannot substitute for readiness. Sovereignty becomes fragile when a country repeatedly postpones the practical work required to defend it. The same principle applies to veterans. Public gratitude must be reflected in accessible treatment, timely benefits and sustained support for families. A veteran struggling with an injury should not have to prove repeatedly that the country owes a duty of care. Remembrance becomes credible through the quality of that continuing relationship. Economic resilience also belongs within a serious discussion of independence. Canada should make it easier to trade across provincial boundaries, develop infrastructure, connecting regions and bring Canadian products to additional markets. Energy, transportation, manufacturing and critical minerals should be approached as opportunities for shared prosperity. Provinces need reasons to see one another as partners. These choices will involve difficult negotiations. Indigenous rights must be respected, environmental responsibilities addressed and public investment scrutinized. Calling something a national project should never exempt it from accountability. However, endless jurisdictional confrontation also carries a cost. A country that cannot organize its own strengths leaves others greater influence over its future. Our schools and community institutions have a role as well. Young Canadians should understand whom we remember, what military service demands and why democratic freedoms require protection. They should encounter veterans as people, with achievements, losses and complicated memories. Historical understanding can give the ceremony meaning that repetition alone cannot provide. This November 11, let us preserve the silence, the solemnity and the focus on those who served. Then let that remembrance influence our conduct throughout the year: how we govern, how we disagree and how we treat one another across provincial boundaries. Alberta’s referendum cannot settle every grievance. A trade agreement cannot guarantee lasting economic security. Both remind us that Canada requires continuing effort. The fallen left us no instructions for every policy dispute. They left us a responsibility: to care for the country whose uniform they wore. We honour them best when we keep Canada free, capable and united. Lest we forget!

Why voting in Pickering matters

By John Meloche Pickering is home to me, and I want a say in how it grows. As a parent, I also want my children to inherit a community where people feel heard. That is why our municipal voter turnout matters to me, whether residents choose to vote online or visit a local polling station. Pickering’s certified October 26 election results show 35,976 ballots cast among 91,259 electors, a turnout of 39.42 per cent. Fewer than four in ten eligible voters participated. I find that difficult to accept when the decisions being made affect the neighbourhoods we live in and the services we depend on. Across Durham, Ajax reported turnout of 32.4 per cent, up from 22.5 per cent in 2022. Clarington reached 34 per cent, compared with 28 per cent four years earlier. Uxbridge reached 49.4 per cent. There is progress to acknowledge, alongside plenty of room to bring more residents into the conversation. Working in technology, I understand the appeal of voting online. If we can save someone a trip across town or let a busy parent vote after the children are asleep, that has value. For someone facing mobility barriers, voting from home can also offer greater independence. Pickering gave residents that option, with online voting from October 19 to 26 and paper ballots available in person on election day. I like the principle behind offering both. People should have a practical way to vote that they understand and feel comfortable using. I would not want a neighbour excluded because they lack reliable internet or struggle with an unfamiliar website. Nor would I want someone with limited mobility facing an unnecessary journey. A system that works beautifully for one person can still present obstacles for another. We need to take both experiences seriously. There are good reasons to protect voting in person. A private booth gives someone space to make their choice away from household pressure. Staff can provide assistance, and paper ballots leave a physical record for a recount. I understand why those features help people feel confident. Online voting deserves equally serious questions about security, privacy and independent verification. I want clear explanations of how voters are authenticated and how results can be checked without revealing individual choices. Asking those questions is part of taking the responsibility of running an election seriously. People deserve answers they can understand without technical expertise. We should also be realistic about what convenience can accomplish. In Clarington, 95.7 per cent of participating voters used an online device. Yet turnout was still 34 per cent. That tells me the method was popular among voters; it does not tell me why everyone else stayed away. A 2024 study of Ontario municipal elections found no lasting turnout increase from internet voting after accounting for differences between municipalities and the timing of adoption. I would be cautious about promising that technology alone will persuade people their vote matters. For me, that is where the larger responsibility begins. Councils need to explain decisions clearly, make budgets understandable and demonstrate that public input receives serious consideration. Residents should be able to see a connection between taking part and the direction their community takes. I also want us to ask people who did not vote what got in their way. Was it time, information, access or a feeling that nothing would change? We will learn more by listening than by assuming we already know. I want Pickering to be a place where voting feels accessible and worthwhile. Our next challenge is reaching the neighbours who stayed away and understanding what would help them take part in shaping our city.

Is Your Home the Missing Piece of Your Retirement Plan?

By Bruno Scanga When people think about retirement planning, they usually focus on CPP, OAS, pensions, RRSPs, and TFSAs. Those all matter. But one asset many Canadians overlook entirely is the wealth and equity in their home. For years, homeowners work hard to pay down their mortgage and build equity. Then retirement arrives, and this important asset gets overlooked in their financial planning. That mindset doesn't always fit today's reality. Retirement looks very different than it did a generation ago. People are living longer, costs have increased while pensions have decreased, and many retirees are providing financial support to adult children and grandchildren. I see the result in my office regularly. A couple sits across from me with a paid-off house and a solid RRSP, yet they're nervous about spending. On paper, they're comfortable. In practice, they're watching every dollar. So how do you put that wealth to work? For some people, it means downsizing, though moving is costly and often means leaving a home and community they love. For others, it's a home equity line of credit (HELOC), which means qualifying and making regular payments, or drawing from investments, which may trigger tax implications. A growing number of homeowners are also asking about reverse mortgages, and I'm having more of those conversations with clients than I used to. More and more, reverse mortgages are becoming part of holistic financial planning in retirement. A reverse mortgage lets homeowners 55 and older access a portion of their home's value without selling. With no regular mortgage payments and tax-free funds, it can take real pressure off monthly cashflow. You stay in your home, you keep the title, and the loan is repaid when you move, sell or pass away. You don't have to take the full amount upfront. Once you've qualified, you can take only what you need today and leave the rest available for later, without having to requalify. You can also draw monthly to supplement your income. Many Canadians are surprised to learn that reverse mortgages have been available in Canada for decades. In fact, the Reverse Mortgage have been around for 40 years. Like any option, a reverse mortgage isn't right for everyone. Interest rates are typically higher than on a conventional mortgage and, with no monthly payments, the balance grows over time, which reduces the equity left in your home. That said, you'll never owe more than your home's fair market value, as long as you keep up with property taxes, home insurance, and maintenance. The point isn't that any one option is the answer. It's that retirement planning should consider every asset available to you. Your investments, pension and government benefits all do plenty of heavy lifting. But if a large portion of your wealth is tied up in your home, it deserves a place in the conversation too.

Nineteen Beds

According to Hospice Whitby, Durham Region has 19 residential hospice beds. Not nineteen hospices. Nineteen beds. When Neil Orr’s wife, Heather, spent her final week at Oak Ridges Hospice in Port Perry, Neil stayed there too. “I lived there for a week,” he told The Uxbridge Cosmos. “We had a toy box there for the grandkids.” Before arriving, he’d imagined an old house pressed into service as a hospice, with bad food and low standards. What he found changed his mind. Most of us would probably picture a hospital bed. Neil remembered a toy box. A residential hospice provides nursing care around the clock, with private rooms and space for relatives to stay overnight. For Durham residents with a valid Ontario health card, the care is free. Palliative care is also available in hospitals and at home, but a hospice residence offers another setting. One where, as Neil discovered, the grandchildren can still be grandchildren. The Canadian Cancer Society cites a benchmark of seven hospice beds for every 100,000 people. Applied to Durham’s population of more than 800,000, that works out to roughly 57. We have 19. A benchmark isn’t a waiting list. It doesn’t tell us how many families sought a bed and couldn’t get one. But the gap is difficult to ignore. There has been progress, and considerable effort behind it. Oak Ridges opened in 2021, followed by Marigold Hospice in Newcastle in October 2025. Roger Anderson House in Whitby is still under construction, with 10 private rooms planned. Even when those rooms open, Durham will have only about half the benchmark. It is worth remembering that the first of these residences opened just five years ago. What I hadn’t appreciated was that building a hospice is only the beginning of the fundraising. Whitby says most of its construction costs must be raised in the community. In September, organizers were still looking ahead to the furniture and equipment they’d need, right down to recliners and laundry machines. Then there is the matter of keeping the lights on, the meals coming and the staff available. The province contributes to operating costs and has increased its support. Even so, Marigold says it must raise more than $700,000 every year. Its fundraising suggestions include bake sales, garage sales, barbecues and car washes. It’s the sort of list you might find at a school trying to pay for band uniforms. Except this is a place where people spend their final days. Some of those purchases are anything but ordinary. In November 2025, a Handbags for Hospice event in Whitby raised enough money to buy three cuddle beds. They’re specially designed so that someone nearing the end of life can lie beside a person they love. Nobody hands the family a bill for hospice care. But somebody may be selling cupcakes on a Saturday to help make it possible.

The Heart Has Its Reasons

The heart is a muscle that needs lifelong care and maintenance. But over the past few weeks, thanks to long weekends and extra time with family and friends, my heart and soul teamed up for a different kind of work out. Is it part of getting older? The time of year? I found myself flowing between a sweet memory that brought back true joy and an abundance of heart-clenching ruminations that a good life can so quickly be changed. What was the memory? The ruminations? What does it all mean? And to the point of this column, does it do one’s health any good to brood about matters of heart and soul? The memory was brought on suddenly by a dish of chocolate ice cream. It’s usually not my choice. I like vanilla with caramel. But this was excellent chocolate ice cream, and it made me swoon. I had a flashback to a time when I was about four or five years old and someone gave me my first chocolate ice cream cone at a beachside stand. I swooned then too. “What kind of heaven is this, right here in my hand, on a wafer cone?” For the past few days, I’ve been asking others, expectantly, hoping for kindred souls, “Do you remember the first time you tasted chocolate ice cream?” Few seem to share the memory. But it is wonderful when eyes light up and the stories come out. At the same time, the ruminations have been plentiful. The world is a mess. It’s been a mess for a long time. And there’s little hope the scene will be cleaned up. It’s depressing. Life can be good. But in the face of disasters, or when living them firsthand, life can be awful. It can jolt from good to bad in an instant, or it can drift slowly that way. How taxing on the soul when one perceives nefarious forces even in the case of a bad life getting better. Pure virtue is so uncommon. Is there any good to come of philosophizing? I’m asking this in the sense of one’s own health and wellbeing. Or, are we better off sticking to the easy joy of a happy memory?. Psychologists have been studying this question, and the evidence offers an encouraging distinction. A review in Current Opinion in Psychology found that nostalgia — reflecting on personally meaningful memories, often involving people we care about — can promote psychological wellbeing. By contrast, research on rumination, the repetitive revisiting of negative thoughts, links it to a range of mental health difficulties. The difference is not between thinking about happy things and thinking about unhappy ones. It is between reflection that helps us understand our lives and thinking that leaves us trapped in the same distress. The practical advice? Enjoy the memories when they come. Tell the story, ask someone about theirs, and savour the details. When darker thoughts demand attention, give them a fair hearing, particularly if there is something to learn or something to be done. But recognize when thinking has stopped being useful. We cannot make the world virtuous by worrying about its shortcomings, any more than we can make life predictable by anticipating its cruelties. The wisest thing we can do for our health is to put down the burden of trying to make sense of everything — and enjoy the chocolate ice cream. Of course, the heart muscle needs looking after. But if a spoonful of chocolate ice cream also makes the heart and soul sing, I see no reason not to enjoy it that way.

Horse Sense

By Wayne and Tamara I have a question about ending a friendship. I would like to feel I did what I had to do, that I was not just being too sensitive. The woman in question was a friend of mine for some eight years. We shared a passionate love of horses; it was our common interest. In addition, during our friendship we both had troublesome relationships and helped each other through the worst times. Some months ago, however, I had photos taken of my horse and I. When I showed them to my friend, she accused me of being vain and basically said my horse was ugly. I stopped talking to her. I was horribly hurt. After several months, I made contact and slowly we resurrected our friendship. Well, just this week I bought a new horse, a 1-year-old Arabian. He is not the most expensive or impressive of his breed, but he is undeniably beautiful. When I showed his photos to my friend, she immediately criticized his appearance and asked if he was even purebred. I said, Of course, I have paperwork to prove it. My friend was openly hostile. She ended an email saying my new horse was ugly. She said she did not want to have to say that, that she was initially being polite for the sake of our friendship, but I "forced" her to say it. Her final word was an angry acknowledgment that she is not allowed to use the word “ugly.” When I read that, it seemed to me she is more interested in being right than in keeping me as a friend and saying a real sorry. This is all the more hurtful considering she made it sound like she was the victim. Maggie Maggie, this woman used her spurs on you, and you bucked her off. Bravo! You shouldn’t feel bad. She’s intentionally cruel. Her remarks were barbed and meant to hurt. Giving her a second chance allowed her to revictimize you. That’s irritating, but you don’t need her to acknowledge that you are right. You just need to end this. People like her are always right, especially when they are wrong. Wayne & Tamara Semiannual Review My husband and I have been married 12 years and have two kids. He has been asking for a divorce every six months since we got married. He says I don't treat him right, but I cook, clean, work part-time and we are together at least two times a week. Four months ago he again asked for a divorce and went to Reno to get his head straight. From phone records I found out he was having an emotional affair with a girl he went to school with, who lives in Reno. Then I learned he’s been in contact with another ex--you know, the one who got away, the true love of his life. Later I found a message to a third girl that said, like a fine wine you grow more beautiful each day. He says I am blowing this all out of proportion. He yells at me and calls me every name in the book when we discuss it. He even spit in my face. Am I supposed to forget this all happened because now he wants to work this out? Dani Dani, grain merchants use long probes to collect samples from different levels of a rail car or truck. They do this to measure the quality of the grain and to check for toxins. Your husband has collected samples of your marriage every six months and found it rotten. That you haven’t gone to a counselor, women’s center, or divorce lawyer after his threats shows how much his “sampling” has damaged you. You are too good for him and he knows it, so he beats you down. Contact one or more of the three sources we mentioned to escape this rotting relationship.

“Free Palestine!” When Pop Stars Forget Why Their Fans Bought a Ticket

By Nick Kossovan Concerts are tribal gatherings centred on music, not political rallies or protests. When tens of thousands crowd into a venue like MetLife Stadium, they're paying hard-earned money to hear their favourite artists perform, not to be told how to think and feel. Live concerts have an innate tendency to bring strangers together, united by a shared love of the artist. The person swaying and dancing beside you might hold polar-opposite political views. Yet for two hours, you're aligned and bound by shared songs. Additionally, concerts offer a temporary suspension of reality, providing a respite from whatever geopolitical friction is currently unfolding. The last thing concertgoers want is for the artist they came to see to forget why they're performing and to deliver a divisive political statement to an audience peacefully united by their music. When Macklemore took the stage at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium on September 4th, during Ed Sheeran's tour, he broke the unwritten rule that concerts should be politically free zones with a pro-Palestinian speech. Addressing the approximately 80,000 concertgoers, he declared: "One of the reasons why I wanted to come on this tour was because I wanted to stand up here on stages in stadiums across America and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine. I said, Free Palestine!" Macklemore's words triggered an immediate chain reaction: he was quickly removed from upcoming tour dates. Supporting acts Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe, along with Ed's band Beoga, also left in solidarity, disrupting a major global pop tour. Uproar followed, predictably causing a rift among those who publicly engaged in virtue-signalling and manufactured outrage. Despite the polarization, both sides refuse to acknowledge a truth: performance artists—musicians and actors, though comedians certainly get a pass—are fundamentally in the business of entertainment, not government policymaking and free speech always comes with responsibilities and consequences. Admittedly, musicians have used their concerts to make polarizing political statements—such as Roger Waters flashing anti-war slogans or Madonna, whose sense of public relations is unapologetically provocative, hanging from a mirrored crucifix wearing a crown of thorns to deliver a staged sermon during her highly controversial 2006 Confessions Tour. However, a glaring difference exists between a headliner risking their own tour capital and an opening act hijacking a shared, multi-artist stage. Treating a stadium tour like a personal soapbox violates a basic professional boundary. When you're a guest on someone else's bill, using concertgoers to promote your personal political views isn't bravery; it's parasitic hijacking. There's a staggering absurdity in treating celebrities, as many do, as moral sages and philosophers, as if private jets, security details, and multi-million-dollar paychecks give them a perspective on the world that a fan singing along in row thirty-four doesn't have. Looking to recording artists, whose livelihoods depend on mass commercial appeal, to validate what's right and wrong in the world is utter lunacy. Conversely, when an artist delivers partisan or geopolitical rallying cries on a stage provided by promoters and set up in venues rented from billionaire owners, they commit a fundamental error in professional judgment: mistaking a commercial transaction they've contractually agreed to for a public forum. While concerts are indeed kumbaya tribal gatherings, they are also, more so, commercial enterprises governed by capitalist realities and contractual obligations. When Macklemore used his time on stage to wade into one of the most volatile geopolitical conflicts on earth, he didn't offer a nuanced critique of foreign policy; he breached the social contract implied by the ticket stub. Fans paid to hear music, not to serve as a captive audience for an unvetted lecture. Herein lies the backlash's hypocrisy. Critics love to accuse "censorship" whenever the consequences of free speech catch up to celebrities who use the stage as a personal soapbox, conveniently misunderstanding what free speech actually means. Free speech protects citizens from government tyranny; it doesn't guarantee a megaphone in a privately leased stadium. Ed Sheeran didn't invent the inescapable truth that, when push comes to shove, a massive entertainment infrastructure that exists to make a profit will always protect its bottom line over an artist's political activism. The artists who walked out in solidarity with Macklemore likely have the self-righteous ego and the financial privilege to believe they're standing up for artistic freedom, when in actuality they're indulging in a luxurious worldview. They acted as if stadium concerts take place in a vacuum, detached from the promoters, venue owners, roadies and security teams who share the same objective: to ensure a safe and profitable event. If civil, uncompromised political discourse is truly the goal, we should seek out media pundits, public intellectuals, and advocates who have dedicated their lives to drawing attention to human rights crises or legislative reforms, rather than pop stars whose livelihoods depend on mass consumption, for robust debates that shape our thoughts, beliefs, and values. Art, in all its forms, is at its best when it transcends what divides us and offers a rare, agnostic sanctuary where people from diverse backgrounds and with differing beliefs, values, and ideologies can stand shoulder to shoulder in shared joy. But when multi-millionaire artists hijack that sanctuary to peddle their own unvetted geopolitics, they don't raise awareness, contribute to culture, or motivate action. Instead, they undermine the unity their art can create and turn the one place we can take a break from the stress and anxiety of everyday life into yet another exhausting battleground.

SURVEILLANCE ON WHEELS: WHAT IS THE REAL PRICE?

By Dale Jodoin Columnist                                               You shut the car door and think you have some privacy. Maybe you talk about money, work or something your family is going through. But what is your vehicle recording? And who gets to see it? Norwegian soldiers had reason to ask that question. During a military exercise in September, soldiers discovered that cars rented through Hertz had stored video of their activities. At least two were Chinese Deepal vehicles, according to Forsvarets Forum, citing Dagens Næringsliv. The footage reportedly showed soldiers getting in and out, their movements and security codes used at gates and doors. Soldiers deleted the recordings but could not confirm whether copies existed elsewhere. That does not prove China received anything. It does not prove a spy operation. What it shows is troubling enough: sensitive information was recorded, and the people involved did not know where it might end up. Now bring that question home. Canada established an initial annual import quota of 49,000 electric vehicles from China, with the arrangement taking effect in March 2026. Ottawa, what written guarantees will Canadians get that their vehicles will not secretly record them or share their private information? And why stop with Chinese makers? Demand the same guarantees from General Motors, Ford and Stellantis, the Big Three. In January 2026, the American Federal Trade Commission finalized a settlement over allegations that GM and OnStar collected, used and sold drivers’ location and driving data without proper notice and consent. The order required stronger controls and placed limits on sharing. That case does not establish wrongdoing by Ford or Stellantis. Still, trust needs more than a familiar badge. Then there is the other hand reaching into the driver’s pocket: subscriptions. Some charges are already here. GMC Canada advertises OnStar Connect at $9.99 a month plus tax for access to selected connected apps. Ford Canada offers a connectivity package covering features such as streaming and navigation, with separate subscriptions required for streaming services. Plans and features vary by vehicle. Be clear about what that means. Ordinary AM and FM radio is not the same as paid streaming. OnStar says drivers can still use AM and FM without its connected service plan. There is no basis here to claim every maker will charge for ordinary radio. But how many monthly bills will follow us into the driver’s seat? You buy the vehicle. Then you keep paying to use certain connected features. How much of the dashboard will eventually depend on another payment? That is a fair question before anyone signs. Chinese brands may attract buyers by offering more features for less money. A family struggling with bills could find that hard to refuse. Nobody should blame them. But a lower price deserves the same hard questions as a higher one. What information does the car collect? Can you refuse? What stops working if you do? Who can access your travel history? Can the terms change after you buy? Cheap does not prove spying. Expensive does not buy privacy. Canada’s privacy commissioner has warned that connected vehicle privacy risks reach beyond any single country. So require plain written promises, independent checks and real penalties. Make companies explain recording, sharing, storage and deletion before the sale. Require a clear list of future subscription costs. No government can promise perfect security. It can demand proof that safeguards work. The price on the windshield tells us what it costs to take the car home. It should not take years to discover what else we gave away.

Newly elected Municipal Councils : Do Your Homework on Homelessness

By Margaret Eskins Executive Director DARS Dedicated Advocacy Resource Support To every newly elected mayor and councillor across Durham Region: congratulations on earning the trust of your community. Now comes the hard work; and few issues call for more careful attention, courage and cooperation than homelessness and the need for affordable, supportive housing. Before decisions are made about budgets, land, services or development, take time to understand what homelessness looks like in your municipality and across the region. Meet with people who have experienced it. Speak with outreach workers, housing providers, shelters, food programs, health professionals, Indigenous organizations, community groups and local businesses. Visit the services residents rely on. Read the plans and reports already on the table, and ask what is missing. Do not assume that homelessness is limited to one neighbourhood, one kind of person or one visible street corner. People can lose housing because of rising costs, job loss, family violence, illness, disability, addiction or a shortage of suitable homes. Some are sleeping outside or in vehicles. Others are moving between couches, temporary shelters and unsafe situations. Every person’s circumstances are different, and effective responses need to reflect that. Municipal governments may not control every source of housing or homelessness funding, but local leadership still matters. Decisions about land use, planning, municipal property, community services and partnerships can help create more housing options and improve access to support. Mayors and councillors can bring partners together, raise local needs with the Region and provincial and federal governments, and press for the resources required to respond. That work requires more than approving a plan or announcing a target. Ask whether proposed homes are affordable to the people who need them. Find out what supports residents will need to remain housed. Consider options for people with different levels of need, including supportive and transitional housing. Look at whether existing buildings or underused land can serve the community. Track outcomes and listen to people receiving services so that policies can be adjusted when they are not working. There will be difficult conversations. Some residents may worry about safety, neighbourhood impacts or change. Those concerns deserve clear information and honest answers. But fear and stigma cannot be allowed to decide who gets a safe place to live. Good planning, appropriate supports, communication and accountability can address practical concerns while respecting the dignity and rights of people experiencing homelessness. The newly elected leaders of Durham Region have an opportunity to move beyond short-term reactions and work toward lasting solutions. That means learning the facts, working across municipal boundaries and being willing to defend sound housing initiatives when they face opposition. We need bold politicians: leaders who will stand up for vulnerable neighbours, explain why the work matters and keep going when the decisions are unpopular. Homelessness is not someone else’s problem. It is a community challenge, and our response will reflect the kind of community we choose to be. Do your homework, listen closely and lead with courage.

Japan, Canada and the Drug Crisis: Time For A Hard Line

By Mr. ‘X’ ~ John Mutton, Former Mayor of Clarington When I travelled to Japan for the World Championships, I saw something that stayed with me long after the competition ended. Japan has people who experience homelessness, just as Canada does. But the visible street disorder and open drug use that have become familiar in too many Ontario communities were strikingly different from what I observed. That does not mean Japan has solved homelessness. Some people there lose their housing after layoffs, financial setbacks or family breakdown. Homelessness can be less visible, and a visitor cannot judge an entire country from a short trip. Still, the contrast raises an uncomfortable question: why have we accepted the scale of public drug use and street disorder we now see at home? Canada has two overlapping crises, and we need the courage to distinguish them. One is the affordability crisis. Housing costs, rent, groceries, fuel and economic insecurity can push working people and families to the edge. People who cannot afford a home need practical housing solutions, not criminalization. The other is a devastating addiction and illegal-drug crisis. Families are losing loved ones. Businesses and residents are dealing with disorder. Emergency workers are repeatedly called to the same scenes. And too often, public debate treats any demand for enforcement as a lack of compassion. Japan takes a much tougher legal and cultural stance toward illicit drugs. Canada has chosen a different mix of harm reduction, treatment and enforcement, including supervised consumption services and, in some settings, prescribed alternatives to toxic street drugs. Supporters argue these measures prevent overdoses and connect people with care. Critics question whether the overall approach has done enough to restore safety and help people recover. My position is clear: Canada needs a hard line against the illegal drug trade and against open drug use that makes public spaces unsafe. Dealers and traffickers should face serious consequences. Police need clear authority and resources to enforce the law. Courts need meaningful options that protect the public. I favour zero tolerance for illegal drugs in public spaces. But simply putting every person caught possessing or using drugs in jail, without assessment or treatment, is unlikely to end addiction. Where addiction drives repeated offences, the justice system should be able to mandate closely supervised treatment and recovery programs, with custody where the law and circumstances justify it. Accountability and rehabilitation must work together. We also cannot pretend that enforcement alone will lower rents, build housing or create stable employment. Governments must tackle the affordability crisis with the same urgency they bring to public safety. A person displaced by the cost of living should not be lumped together with an organized drug dealer. What I saw in Japan reminded me that the conditions we have come to accept in Canadian communities are not inevitable. We can insist on cleaner, safer streets. We can demand stronger action against dangerous illegal drugs. And we can help people get back on their feet instead of leaving them to deteriorate in plain sight. Compassion without accountability is not a complete policy. Neither is punishment without a path to recovery. Canada needs both—and it needs the political will to act.

Christmas Is Just Around the Corner: Is Your Store Ready?

By Tom Reimer Christmas is less than two months away, and for retailers, that means the busiest and most profitable shopping season of the year is quickly approaching. Storefronts will soon be decorated, display cases filled with high-value merchandise, and customers flooding through the doors searching for the perfect gift. But while retailers are preparing for increased sales, criminals are preparing too. Across North America, organized flash mobs and smash-and-grab crews have become an increasing concern for businesses. These groups often strike with little warning, rushing into stores in coordinated attacks designed to overwhelm staff and security personnel. Their target is simple: valuable merchandise displayed behind glass cases. The attack usually takes less than a minute. A group enters the store, hammers are raised, display cases are smashed, and thousands of dollars' worth of merchandise disappears in seconds. By the time police arrive, the thieves are often long gone. Many shop owners assume it won't happen to them. Until it does. The reality is that criminals are looking for easy opportunities, especially during the holiday season when display cases are stocked with expensive inventory and stores are bustling with customers. Traditional glass cases may look secure, but when faced with repeated hammer strikes, they can quickly become the weakest link in your security strategy. Fortunately, there is a proven solution. Polycarbonate security glazing is engineered to withstand the kind of impacts that would shatter ordinary glass. Instead of breaking apart under repeated strikes, polycarbonate absorbs and disperses the force, creating a powerful barrier between criminals and your merchandise. Consider a typical smash-and-grab scenario. A group of thieves enters a jewelry store expecting to smash their way into a display case within seconds. The first hammer strike lands. Nothing. A second strike follows. Still nothing. The attackers quickly realize they cannot gain access to the merchandise. Valuable seconds are lost. Employees have time to react. Security cameras capture evidence. Police response becomes a real threat. The criminals leave exactly as they arrived. Empty-handed. That's the power of delay and deterrence. Most thieves are looking for quick access and an easy escape. When confronted with a display case protected by polycarbonate, the risk increases and the reward decreases. Often, that alone is enough to stop an attack before it succeeds. The key is not waiting until after an incident occurs. The most successful retailers are taking action now, before the holiday rush begins. They understand that security is not something to think about after inventory arrives and shoppers fill the aisles. It is something that should be in place beforehand. This Christmas season, don't leave your business vulnerable to smash-and-grab thieves. Protect your merchandise, protect your employees, and protect the profits you've worked all year to earn. Christmas is coming. Criminals are preparing. The question is: are you? Call to Action Now is the time to upgrade your display case security with polycarbonate protection. Don't wait until after a break-in to discover the weakness of ordinary glass. Contact Metalex today to learn how polycarbonate security solutions can help protect your merchandise and stop smash-and-grab attacks before they start.

Well It is Over!!!

By Joe Ingino By now we know the results of the recent municipal election. Unfortunately that by the time we went to publish. We could not report on results. I am sure we will next week with some interesting commentaries. One thing for sure is that we must give recognition to all the people that put their name forward. It takes guts and determination. As a campaign coach and the only professional municipal critic. I can tell you first hand that many ran on the fact that they had enough. Enough of how municipal governments across the region are managed. Everyone cries, transparency, accountability. Responsible spending. In reality many candidates have no clue. Cliche words that gets them elected. Sadly, we the people are the ones to face the reality that is our municipal government. Personally, I do not think that good intentions should be part of job description. I think education and life experience should be at the top of the list. How are we to expect to make million if not billion dollar decision when those faced with that decision have never even come close to managing such portfolio. Many have not had jobs that would even remotely have them face the many administrative challenges faced with being a councillor. Good intentions are great but do not make the grade in my opinion. I have always advocated for less government. Get rid of the municipal government. They in modern times serve no real purpose. Across Durham for example. Many elected do not return phone calls. Many elected fail to truly perform their duty to address the publics best interest. Then why do we the taxpayers are forced to pay for municipal elect salaries that do not benefit taxpayers? We in many cases have no voice and we are always made to carry the cost of their decisions. This is wrong. Last week I introduced the thought of just having a regional government. More like administrators. Administrators that would feed all data into a server and Artificial Intelligent software would give the best and worst case scenarios. No more, expensive consultants. No more of the bad decisions. No more collusional type voting on possible kick back projects. It would be logical analysis based on business standards and academics. I did get many calls. Letters, of people attempting to spread fear... on how dare I suggest such thing. A.I is dangerous. A.I. will rule the world mentality. Personally those that think like that should educate themselves on the actual technology. Second. Technology is there to make life simpler. In reality there is no real intelligence. Only faster processing of information. Light speed cross referencing and mathematically give probability on any given event based on facts and pure logic. The human mind can’t be that logical as bias and prejudices are part of the human DNA. We need to move towards education. For the old and the young. The young think they know it all and they don’t and the old have given up on getting to know anything due to it’s perceived complexity. We call it Artificial Intelligence due to the fact that the machine can process information faster than the human mind. That is can analyze based on theory, standards and raw logic. In reality A.I. is nothing short of a sophisticated browser. We should not be fearing it. We should be embarrassing it. We are the human factor that created technology. Even though we may be made to look like fools and easily manipulated due to our intellectual limitations and ignorance. We are still in control. We will always be. As the systems and logic models come from the raw human existence and not from a machine. Congrats to all the 2026 Election winners.