Showing posts with label #Job. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Job. Show all posts
Sunday, December 14, 2025
Merry Christmas and Thank You
Merry Christmas and Thank You
By Joe Ingino BA. Psychology
Editor/Publisher Central Newspapers
ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000
Published Columns in Canada and The United States
What a great nation that we live in. A place that are blessed with great opportunity and all kinds of freedoms. Freedoms such as being able to celebrate traditional holidays such as Christmas without the fear of persecution and or prosecution.
Persecution is the systematic mistreatment, harm, or oppression of an individual or group by another, often based on religion, race, political beliefs, or identity, involving severe discrimination, violence, threats, torture, or denial of fundamental rights like freedom and equality, and can range from social ostracism to being a crime against humanity.
It's more than just unfairness; it's a deliberate campaign to subjugate, drive out, or exterminate people, as seen historically with religious groups or currently with political dissidents, and it can involve physical harm, psychological violence, or legal injustices like trumped-up charges.
Prosecution is the institution and conducting of legal proceedings against someone in respect of a criminal charge. Canada is rich in its history in the championing of rights and freedoms. So much so that many of our forefathers gave their lives in the preservation of being able to speak freely. Christmas season brings us face to face with what is important to us. At the Central we could never have been able to achieve number one without the help, support, and assistance of our readers, our advertisers and all our supporters, associates, collaborators and contributors.
Our columnists, like my good friend Cornelius Chisu, who has contributed to the Central for many years. A scholar and a true gentleman. His insights and his opinions on matters that are important to Canadians are enjoyed by millions. Without his contributions the Central would not be your favorite regional newspaper.
Men, like Dean Hickey go way out of his way to uphold industry standards. A man that has earned my respect through his intellectual appetite to become part of an industry that he has so rightly earned. An outsider to the trade that has made the outmost effort to reach for the stars and actually reach them. Thank you for your ongoing efforts and contributions.
Just recently John Mutton joined the Central team, or as he is known, Mr. X. True Durham royalty as there are few that have accomplished as much as he has in one lifetime. Welcome to the Central home.
Then there are notorious names like Lisa Robinson, Pickering councillor. Or, as she is best known.... “The People’s councilor”. A very unique human being with a mission to champion right from wrong, and to expose all that is wrong in politics and society.
One other person that really sticks out when it comes to exceptional contributions is my good friend Nick Kossovan. Here is a man that appears to have never-ending work-related topics to write about. I look so forward to his columns. Thank you, Nick. You are the best.
Then we have Diana Gifford, daughter of a great medical mind, a medical journalist Dr. Ken Walker (who writes under the pseudonym of Dr. W. Gifford-Jones, MD. He was a true scholar and gentleman... his legacy continues today through his daughters writing. We are very appreciative of your contribution from yesterdays, today and tomorrow.
Dale Jodoin, one of our most interesting columnists. His contributions have made legendary strives across the region and online. People writing and calling wanting more. Exceptional work my friend.
Among the great there is world followed, syndicated writers Wayne and Tamara. Writing on issues that touch the heart. They always present topics that are for everyone. Thank you.
Newly joined to the Central: Theresa Grant, our real estate columnist. Her local insights are very well read and commented on. Thank you for your contributions.
In a similar arena we have our good friend Bruno Scanga. His contributions are eye opening and very informative. Thank you.
Camryn Bland, in my opinion a young lady with a lot of potential. Her columns on young minds topics are a fresh welcome. Wishing you the best.
Thank you all for reading the Central. For writing for the Central.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Saturday, December 13, 2025
The Faint Of Heart
Longevity Isn’t For
The Faint Of Heart
By Diana Gifford
I have been lucky as my parents aged past 90. My father, Dr. W. Gifford-Jones, stayed vibrant longer than most people dare hope. In his nineties he was still hopping on planes, giving talks across Canada, researching and writing his next column, and scheming about the next promotion or the next stunt that would amuse him – like rappelling down Toronto’s 35-storey City Hall to raise money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. He relished a challenge. Growing old, for him, didn’t mean slowing down. It meant a development of new priorities.
He was well past 95 when I offered to help with the computer work involved in distributing his weekly column to editors. He suffered too much frustration from IT. I should have helped sooner. But once I did, I grew closer not just to the logistics of his writing, but to the writing itself. Wouldn’t it be fun, I proposed, to write together?
He agreed and the collaboration took off. We talked through ideas, shaped arguments, laughed (and feuded) over opposing ways of seeing the same thing. It was an era of our long relationship I will forever hold precious.
As the youngest of his children, born when he was 44, I was still relatively youthful as he extended his extraordinary longevity. I had a lot of energy to give.
But not everyone’s story looks like this. In many cases, people find themselves in their seventies caring for parents in their nineties, pushing eighty supporting centenarians. A close look at what is happening in those situations reveals scenes that are anything but easy. Not everyone ages as healthily as my father did. Most elderly seniors are wrestling with chronic diseases. Add dementia into the mix and the loving commitment to care shifts to an exhausting, sometimes heartbreaking, endurance test.
The problems are varied: refusing to eat; resisting walkers or other safety supports; forgetting medications; making unsafe decisions; losing the ability to manage finances or medical appointments; neglecting property or household tasks. There are those who get very angry and sometimes violent. These issues often begin quietly and seem manageable – especially to children who are themselves aging and determined to respect their parent’s independence. But over time, the strain mounts. The risks mount. And the emotional toll mounts.
What would my father advise? He was never hesitant to speak plainly. When writing, he would use a quote, as from Will Rogers, who said, “Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.” My father would say, “Don’t kid yourself. No one gets it perfect, but don’t make foolish mistakes.”
He would remind people that caring for aging parents requires equal measures of compassion and practicality. He would urge families to plan early, before a crisis, and to involve physicians, trusted friends, and community supports. He would insist that safety is not a betrayal of dignity. And he would encourage caregivers to look after their own well-being too, because no one can pour from an empty cup.
Now it’s my turn to offer counsel. I can speak to the matter of love. And I can attest that it doesn’t always look like those old greeting cards. Sometimes love is repetitive, tiring, and unglamorous work. Sometimes it is stepping in sooner than you expected. Sometimes it is saying “no” to someone who once taught you to say “yes.” But it is still love.
And if my father taught me anything, it’s that the hardest work we do for the people we love often becomes, in time, the work we treasure most.
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This column offers opinions on health and wellness, not personal medical advice. Visit www.docgiff.com to learn more. For comments, diana@docgiff.com. Follow on Instagram @diana_gifford_jones
Criticizing Consumption How Overconsumption is Affecting our Daily Lives
Criticizing Consumption
How Overconsumption is Affecting our Daily Lives
By Camryn Bland
Youth Columnist
In 2025, it can be easy to get caught up with material objects, fast-fashion purchases, and trendy items. Whether it be clothing, technology, or interior design, North American citizens constantly find themselves spending more and more money on things they simply don’t need.
Overconsumption, or hyperconsumerism, is the purchase of goods and services
far beyond what is necessary for a happy and healthy life. It’s purchasing the same shirt in five colors, it’s buying coffee in a plastic cup every morning. It is often hidden within fast-changing trends, influencing people to buy in an attempt to keep up with never-ending consumerism. What starts as harmless quickly forms consequences on individual bank accounts, socioeconomic inequality, and global climate.
Everyday, countless Canadians spend dollar after dollar on purchases which seem mundane. They buy a plastic water bottle, and say it’s only a dollar, it’s okay. They pay for a new sweater, claiming they need more clothes, so it’s a necessity. Or, they choose an update to the newest tech gadget, arguing they need the newest addition to keep up with a modern lifestyle. Tight budgets are disregarded in the name of one impulse
purchase, with many Canadians living paycheque to paycheque when they don’t have to.
Within a week, a month, a year, all the money seems to have disappeared from chequing accounts, stolen by the silent thief of consumerism.
Personal bank accounts aren’t the only issue present due to consumerism. Most purchases are first mass produced in large factories, which are a major form of pollution due to resource extraction and greenhouse gas emissions. Soon, these items are viewed as outdated, overused, or broken, and so they get thrown away without a second thought. Every item you’ve ever bought stays in the environment, often in toxic landfills
and unimaginable waste dumps. They form mountains of trash which outlive us by centuries. It is easy to forget what it takes to create everyday items, and what happens after they’ve been neglected.
The irony is, many people understand these difficult consequences, and continue to purchase without thinking. One reason is the strong, impulsive urges to buy something new. It’s exciting to use something new and shiny, but that special feeling quickly fades. This just leads to more purchases in an attempt to sustain the
unreasonable joy of a new thing.
This issue is only increased by the media. Practically all content includes advertisement, whether it be for a physical product, a lifestyle, or an idea. This intensifies the need to purchase, as they need to keep up with the unrealistic standard being portrayed online. Consumers buy and buy, but most often don’t understand what it is they want in the first place.
Stanley cups are one example among many of an unnecessary product becoming desirable due to hyperconsumerism. These simple water bottles were trending for months on end, for no specific reason. The issue isn’t with the bottle itself, it’s with the individuals who bought ten in different colors, or the celebrities who collaborated with the brand to make their own, limited-edition bottle. Individuals will choose anything to grasp onto, regardless of budgeting or practical use. A water bottle example seems silly at first, but when it’s really analyzed, it shows just how conditioned we are to consume.
As sad as it is to admit, Christmas celebrations are also an overused excuse for hyperconsumerism. There is nothing wrong with buying presents for loved ones, but when you take into consideration the wrapping paper, decorations, and single-use gifts, it is clear the holidays can morph into a season of excess.
An issue as detrimental as modern hyperconsumerism is conveniently one with a relatively simple solution, however it requires commitment and consciousness. The solution itself is to think. Consider what you’re spending your money on before you impulse purchase it. How will it affect your own bank account, and the global community as a whole? Before you buy the trendy water bottle, remind yourself of the many you have sitting unused in your kitchen. Enjoy the Christmas festivities, but keep an eye out for unnecessary waste.
A lack of purchasing isn’t the only way we can reduce hyperconsumption.
Repurposing items, such as old clothes and decorations, is an efficient way to get the new-purchase excitement. Additionally, thrift stores act as an opportunity to purchase without guilt. They act as a great guide to new favorites for an affordable choice. Since the items are second hand, it acts as an opportunity to purchase without worrying about a pricey receipt or the landfill which the thrift store saved it from.
Overconsumption is a silent thief, affecting both individuals and global pollution without being noticed. It comes in the form of trendy water bottles, an expensive holiday, and many daily purchases we would never think to consider. In the end, this issue, which may seem so mundane, is a major issue for all Canadians. We need to limit our impulsivity, and instead purchase with intention and awareness. Only through this will we be able to fight the beast of hyperconsumerism.
The Hidden Role Of Luck In Building Wealth
The Hidden Role Of Luck
In Building Wealth
By Bruno M. Scanga
When it comes to money and investing, a lot of people fall into the same trap: chasing what’s “hot” right now. If a certain stock, sector, or trend is making headlines, many will jump in—hoping they’ve found a “sure thing.”
The funny thing is that’s the exact opposite of how real planning works. Whether it’s a financial strategy, goal setting, or life in general, lasting results come from acting before the proof is obvious.
Think about New Year’s resolutions. When you commit to exercising three times a week or finding a new job, you’re betting on something you want, not something you already see. At first, there’s no evidence it will work—but over time, if your actions match your intentions, results show up. Eventually, you may even enjoy the process.
The problem is, most people want proof first. In reality, it works the other way around: action comes first, then proof follows. History is full of examples—Gandhi imagined a free India long before there was any evidence it could happen.
A financial strategy works the same way. When you buy a car, you get the keys immediately. But when you sit down with an advisor to map out retirement, you’re taking steps today for something you might not see for 20 or 30 years. The only “evidence” we have is the past—and while it can guide us, it can’t guarantee the future.
That’s where both wise behavior and a little luck come into play. Advisors can point to past success stories, but your journey will be unique. You might even do better than expected—but there are no promises.
The smartest path? Follow proven strategies to build wealth as efficiently as possible, while tailoring them to your comfort level, lifestyle, and financial situation. Your plan should factor in your health, earning potential, savings ability, and resilience against life’s bumps—like recessions, job loss, or unexpected expenses.
Once the key pieces are in place—saving tax-efficiently with RRSPs or TFSAs, managing risk, and living within your means—the next step is to give your plan the one thing it truly needs: time.
But don’t confuse that with “set it and forget it.” The economy changes. Government policies shift. Markets evolve. These things will impact your plan, which is why regular check-ins and adjustments are crucial.
And then there’s luck—the wildcard you can’t control but can certainly be ready for. Who could have predicted that real estate values in some Canadian cities would skyrocket, giving many Baby Boomers an unexpected boost to their retirement? Sometimes, simply owning the right asset at the right time makes all the difference.
In the end, good planning is about creating the conditions where luck can work in your favor. Preparation doesn’t guarantee success—but it sure stacks the odds.
The Illusionist
The Illusionist
By Wayne and Tamara
I am a faithful reader of your column and would like to hear your answer. I used to date a guy who claimed he liked me. He is a nice person, and I feel I can trust him. During one of our conversations defining what we had between us, he told me he couldn’t forget the previous girl he liked.
He is a reasonably successful man who has liked this woman for the past four years. He assured me he liked me more, but as this was not something I wanted, I decided we would remain just friends. I still care for him, but I have no romantic feelings left.
What I want to know is this. I can understand his reaction if they had been together once, but they hadn’t. It was a completely one-sided love from the beginning. In fact, this woman indicated she only wanted to be friends with him, and she has been in a happy relationship with another man for two years. He says he is happy that she is happy.
Why do you think he tortures himself so? It almost makes me think he enjoys being the martyr. To be fair, he told me he would like to move on and has been trying the past four years, but is not able to. Is there anything I can do to help?
Johanna
Johanna, many people nurture a fantasy because it confers a mental gain for them. It may not be a productive way to live, but they reap a psychic benefit from doing it.
In Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” there is a noblewoman named Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Lady Catherine is a laggard whose only accomplishment in life was being born to a wealthy family. In one scene in the novel, during a discussion about playing the piano, Lady Catherine remarks, “If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient.”
Lady Catherine’s fantasy allows her to overlook her own laziness and to pretend she owes her lofty position to intrinsic merit rather than an accident of birth. In a similar way, we once knew a woman who adopted a little boy named Kenny. When Kenny was five, he wandered into traffic and was struck by a car.
A few years after Kenny’s death this woman and her husband adopted another little boy, Steve. As Steve grew up, his adoptive parents constantly told him how remarkable Kenny had been. In their memory Kenny was a child with a natural ability to charm animals. He learned to read before other children and possessed unusual athletic abilities.
No matter what Steve accomplished, he could never measure up to Kenny. When Steve married, his adoptive mother remarked, “Kenny would never have dated a woman like that.” It is almost too cruel to add that, though Steve cared for his parents in their old age, they secretly left all their assets to another relative. Their fantasy of Kenny was the tool they used to justify their abuse of Steve.
Your friend’s devotion to this woman also must confer a psychic benefit. Perhaps he is afraid of intimacy and afraid of women. If he acknowledges this as a problem, he can go to therapy. Or he can nurture this fantasy all of his life. That’s for him to decide.
But if his devotion is a ploy, it is simply his method of dating. He has no real intention of getting married, so he tells women: jump through this hoop and try to win me. When you are tired of trying and want to move on, remember that I warned you I loved someone else.
If that is the case, he definitely won’t seek help because there is nothing to cure. Frankly, we suspect if he genuinely wanted this woman, he wouldn’t be so happy for her. He would be hoping she’d give him a chance.
Wayne & Tamara
Friday, December 12, 2025
BOYS!!!
BOYS!!!
By Dale Jodoin
Columnist
People keep asking why so many boys today seem lost. The answer is not hard to see. Boys want to grow up to be men. They want someone in their life who can show them how to carry themselves. They want someone who tells them that strength and kindness can live in the same body. Real men know how to be polite. They know when to stand firm and when to show care. Yet the mainstream treats this like a danger.
Some politicians and groups speak as if masculinity is a problem. Some activists act like boys who want to be men are a threat. Many boys feel pushed aside. They feel like the world wants them to stop being who they are. For years boys have been told to sit down and be quiet. They have been told that their nature needs to be fixed.
There is something else going on. Most schools do not have many male teachers anymore. Boys spend their days with adults who may not understand how boys move or think. Many teachers care and try their best. This is not about blaming every woman who teaches. But boys also need male teachers. They need someone who understands the way boys joke, test limits, and learn through doing. Without that balance boys feel unseen.
For a long time, boys who struggled in class were placed on medicine. Many were restless because they needed movement, not pills. Instead of giving them space to run they were told to stay still. Instead of giving them more recess they were told to calm down. Instead of letting them play rough they were told to be gentle at all times. Over time boys learned that the world did not want them as boys.
Since boys cannot find male guidance at school, they look for it online. They search for voices that speak in a clear and direct way. Some find public figures like Charlie Kirk or others who talk about strength and discipline. This makes the establishment nervous. They want to control who boys listen to. They wonder how to stop boys from reaching out for guidance elsewhere. They will not be able to stop it. Boys will always seek someone who teaches them how to stand tall.
There is also a push to convince boys that being a girl will solve their confusion. This message does not work for most boys. Boys know they are boys. Girls know they are girls. Every child deserves kindness. But boys also deserve the right to grow into men. They should not feel pressured to change their identity to please adults.
A male teacher can show a boy how to control his strength. He can show him how to respect his elders. He can show him how to treat women with care. He can show him how to calm anger before it becomes trouble. Women can teach boys too, but the impact is not always the same. Boys need at least one strong man in their life who sets an example.
Society also has a strange way of treating men. Some activists want men to act only in the style they approve of. They want men to be calm when they need help and loud when they want support. There are stories of men who step in to help during danger and then face complaints for acting without permission. This sends mixed messages to boys. They grow unsure of what men are allowed to do.
You would think male politicians would stand up for boys. Many stay silent. They fear pushback from loud groups. Boys see this. They watch grown men who do not speak for them. It leaves boys feeling like they have no defender.
The long attempt to weaken boys has failed. People tried to make boys softer by telling them their nature was wrong. They tried to shape boys into something quiet and easy to manage. It did not work. Boys still want to climb, run, wrestle, laugh, and test their limits. These are normal parts of growing up.
This is why we must bring more male teachers into schools. Not teachers who judge boys. Not teachers who see every loud moment as a problem. But men who can guide boys with a steady hand and a firm voice. Boys need men who show them how to control their strength, not hide it.
There is something simple we can do right away. Create boy groups. Give boys a space to learn from responsible men. Teach them respect, honesty, strength, and self control. Teach them how to shake a hand. Teach them how to speak for themselves. Teach them how to handle anger. Teach them how to help others without fear. These are lessons boys search for.
Many teenage boys today are fed up with how they are treated. They feel like everything they do is wrong. They are told masculinity is something to fear. They are told they are too rough, too loud, too wild, too bold. When boys feel trapped like this, they push back. They lash out. This is not because they are bad boys. It is because no one gave them a clear path toward becoming good men.
We also need to protect boys' sports. Boys should play with boys and girls with girls. This keeps competition fair and safe. Both boys and girls deserve this.
Some people claim there is a conspiracy behind all of this. There does not need to be one. The truth is simple. Society has forgotten what boys need. Boys need men who guide them. They need room to grow. They need real expectations. They need chances to succeed. They need recess and sports. They need praise when they try hard. They need correction when they go too far.
If we want strong and respectful men in the future we must stop tearing down the boys we have today. We must give them teachers who understand them. We must give them lessons they can follow. If we do not, we will see more angry young men left on their own.
This is not about taking anything from girls. This is about giving boys what has been taken from them. It is time to stop feminizing boys. Boys will grow into men. They deserve guidance, not shame.
NEEDING HELP!!!
THREE STORIES FROM CLARINGTON, WHITBY, AND PICKERING THAT TELL A TALE OF CHRISTMAS HUMBUG
Karmageddon By Mr. ‘X’ ~ John Mutton CENTRAL EXCLUSIVE So we've all heard about the new new strong mayor powers that have come into play across Ontario. I remember a few years ago prior to the passing of the legislation to create a strong mayor that I had several meetings at the bequest of Municipal Affairs and Housing. My position was that strong mayors can only work where first of all, you have someone that's willing to accept the powers and second of all where you've got a mayor that uses them properly.. Let me explain this a bit. And almost every major city in Canada and the USA, the largest cities lean to the left. Case and point is the city of Toronto and Mayor Olivia Chow. The mayor's socialist agenda mixed with wokism and soy boy culture creates a super mayor where everything on her agenda gets passed through the budget. Just take a look at the tax rate increases in the city of Toronto. Take a look at the street renaming because of certain people not accepting certain historic names on streets and buildings and you will see that the strong mayor power is a very dangerous piece of legislation in the wrong hands.. Strong mayor powers were put in place to initially expedite planning approvals and get housing built faster in Ontario and it has failed tremendously from market conditions, development charges and the insanity of mass immigration. So initially, when the strong mayor powers spread to other communities that were growth related communities that they wanted to include the powers and to expedite housing, many of the mayors said that they would not partake in this. They would do traditional budgets and so on and so forth.. Well, there are still some of the strong mayors that do not use their powers. There are some that have become strong mayor power drunk in the fact that the budgets have moved forward without proper debate and councils moving and seconding motions to decrease the budgetary number and therefore decrease taxes.. Now one of the other powers that the regular reader will not know is that the chief administrative officer or city manager of a municipality is now hired and fired by the mayor. This gives the mayor unprecedented power over staff were previously the mayor would generally have to enjoy a pretty regular vote of the majority of council to even come close to that power. So just a couple of weeks ago I spoke on the Mr. X-Files about the ReWorld/Covanta operators of the Durham York energy from waste facility hiring the President of the PC party s lobbing firm to lobby the provincial government for incineration expansion. We have learned and I've released the information through the Mr. X-Files breaking news that the Mayor of Clarington and his CAO are in Vienna for a nuclear conference, but they just so happened to be at the home of a 250000 metric tonne incinerator that provides district energy and district heating to 60,000 residents of Vienna. That is the same number of metric tonnes that the next phase of the Durham York incinerator is to go to. Back in the day, we used to always announce where we're going for whatever conference. I remember that I had announced every trip that had anything to do with the former International thermonuclear experimental reactor project or anything nuclear and we would let the Council and the public know that we're going to be attending these events and what our agenda was. We would even come back and the CAO would put together a public report of what we had done. That was the accountability of yesteryear whereas today the Mayor of Clarington flies around the world by stealth, not letting anyone know where he's going, why he's going and this is a total affront to democracy as well as what I call sneaky mayor powers. Bottom line, The public and the councils need to hold wayward, strong mayors accountable or we're going to have a system that continues to have the public business done by stealth.
Karmageddon
By Mr. ‘X’ ~ John Mutton
CENTRAL EXCLUSIVE
So we've all heard about the new new strong mayor powers that have come into play across Ontario. I remember a few years ago prior to the passing of the legislation to create a strong mayor that I had several meetings at the bequest of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
My position was that strong mayors can only work where first of all, you have someone that's willing to accept the powers and second of all where you've got a mayor that uses them properly..
Let me explain this a bit. And almost every major city in Canada and the USA, the largest cities lean to the left. Case and point is the city of Toronto and Mayor Olivia Chow. The mayor's socialist agenda mixed with wokism and soy boy culture creates a super mayor where everything on her agenda gets passed through the budget.
Just take a look at the tax rate increases in the city of Toronto. Take a look at the street renaming because of certain people not accepting certain historic names on streets and buildings and you will see that the strong mayor power is a very dangerous piece of legislation in the wrong hands..
Strong mayor powers were put in place to initially expedite planning approvals and get housing built faster in Ontario and it has failed tremendously from market conditions, development charges and the insanity of mass immigration.
So initially, when the strong mayor powers spread to other communities that were growth related communities that they wanted to include the powers and to expedite housing, many of the mayors said that they would not partake in this. They would do traditional budgets and so on and so forth.. Well, there are still some of the strong mayors that do not use their powers. There are some that have become strong mayor power drunk in the fact that the budgets have moved forward without proper debate and councils moving and seconding motions to decrease the budgetary number and therefore decrease taxes..
Now one of the other powers that the regular reader will not know is that the chief administrative officer or city manager of a municipality is now hired and fired by the mayor. This gives the mayor unprecedented power over staff were previously the mayor would generally have to enjoy a pretty regular vote of the majority of council to even come close to that power.
So just a couple of weeks ago I spoke on the Mr. X-Files about the ReWorld/Covanta operators of the Durham York energy from waste facility hiring the President of the PC party s lobbing firm to lobby the provincial government for incineration expansion. We have learned and I've released the information through the Mr. X-Files breaking news that the Mayor of Clarington and his CAO are in Vienna for a nuclear conference, but they just so happened to be at the home of a 250000 metric tonne incinerator that provides district energy and district heating to 60,000 residents of Vienna. That is the same number of metric tonnes that the next phase of the Durham York incinerator is to go to.
Back in the day, we used to always announce where we're going for whatever conference. I remember that I had announced every trip that had anything to do with the former International thermonuclear experimental reactor project or anything nuclear and we would let the Council and the public know that we're going to be attending these events and what our agenda was. We would even come back and the CAO would put together a public report of what we had done.
That was the accountability of yesteryear whereas today the Mayor of Clarington flies around the world by stealth, not letting anyone know where he's going, why he's going and this is a total affront to democracy as well as what I call sneaky mayor powers.
Bottom line, The public and the councils need to hold wayward, strong mayors accountable or we're going to have a system that continues to have the public business done by stealth.
Canada Needs a Real Immigration Reset—One That Matches the Country’s Actual Needs
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Karmageddon
What We Got Wrong About Independence
What We Got Wrong
About Independence
By Diana Gifford
What’s happened, that we feed our children a single definition of success? Grow up and leave home, climb the ladder, buy a house, and live an “independent” life. At the same time, aging parents assert they must never become a burden on their grown children. These aspirations for self-reliance are ingrained in our concept of good living.
But I wonder if we have it wrong.
Personal conviction, self-directed decisions, accomplishing goals on one’s own – these are all powerful elements of autonomy that come with the reward of feeling accomplished and satisfied. But interdependence – begin together and relying on others – is what keeps people healthy. We are a social species, and in social groups is how human beings are best suited to live.
In our modern ways of organizing ourselves in society, we have forgotten that multigenerational households were the norm for most of human history. It’s been a relatively recent development that we have measured success by dispersing the family into multiple homes, each behind its own closed door.
The social experiment is not going well. Loneliness has become a public-health epidemic, increasing the risk of premature death at rates comparable to smoking and obesity!
Meanwhile, the housing data tell a striking story. While the buzz is loud about lack of housing, in fact, our communities are full of empty bedrooms. Literally millions of them, most in the homes of older adults living alone. At the same time, young people are struggling to find an affordable apartment, weighed down by debt, and postponing milestones like starting families because rent consumes too much of their income. We have a structural surplus of space and a structural deficit in seeing solutions.
What if the answer is not more construction, but more connection?
Small but powerful examples are showing the benefits. Home-share programs match seniors with university students. Cohousing developments arrange single older adults in private suites around shared kitchens and gardens. Some young people, groups of friends, are going in together on the purchase of a jointly-owned first home. In these settings, researchers find better mental health, greater life satisfaction, and fewer emergency-room visits by older residents. Togetherness is good medicine.
As for the fear of being a burden, it deserves reconsideration. Studies show that adult children who help care for a parent often feel more purpose and emotional closeness, not resentment. Older adults living with family tend to stay healthier and independent longer. Ironically, the determination to avoid burdening anyone can lead to the very outcome people are trying to avoid.
And more good news, as there are environmental benefits. Multigenerational households use far less energy per person. Three generations under one roof leave a much smaller environmental footprint than three separate homes. Living together is climate friendly. But the biggest factor is economic. A large body of research has shown that one of the most significant determinants of health is economic status. Yes, studies on the health impacts of living alone, of single parent versus traditional family structures, or of communal living, offer insights. But the research is clear that these factors are less important to health than the mighty dollar. So, if living together will improve financial wellbeing, then it’s an excellent investment in health.
Multigenerational living isn’t right for every family. But for many, it could be exactly the right antidote – to financial stress, and to today’s fractured social landscape. We would do well to create more well-designed cohabitation, with vetted roommates, seniors paired with students, and shared community spaces. As a result, we could expect stronger family ties, improved housing utilization, reduced loneliness, and better health.
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This column offers opinions on health and wellness, not personal medical advice. Visit www.docgiff.com to learn more. For comments, diana@docgiff.com. Follow on Instagram @diana_gifford_jones
Eco-Friendly Holiday Gifts
Eco-Friendly Holiday Gifts
by Larraine Roulston
‘Protecting Our Ecosystem’
In December, we use more resources than during any other month. Often they do not get reused, recycled, or composted. When giving Christmas gifts, there are many ways to be gentler on the earth.
Although shopping online may be convenient, try to support your community’s small businesses. If purchasing a bicycle or other sports equipment, for example, local sports retailers are better equipped to help you with your selection, accessories, as well as any ongoing maintenance issues.
Check out thrift stores for board games, toys, and unique gifts. Everything is generally in mint condition. Jewellery as well, sparkles elegantly in a thrift shore’s small showcase.
Buy in bulk! From a bulk food store or special area in your supermarket, select nuts, dried fruits, candy or other holiday treats. If you take your own small bags or other containers, you may even receive a discount. Bulk stores can weigh empty jars prior to your filling them.
From the resident chef, Christmas cheer can take the form of homemade cookies, mincemeat pies, chocolate squares, and braided fruit breads.
Even liqueurs like Baileys, can be whipped up in a few minutes. The recipe is simple. Using a blender, add 3 eggs and 3 tablespoons of chocolate powder mix. While this is blending, include a few drops of almond extract, 1 pint of whipping cream, 1 can of Eagle Brand milk, then top with 1 cup of inexpensive rye whiskey. Bottle, add a bow, and refrigerate.
Experienced knitters are able to create doll clothes, stuffed toys, toques, slippers, mitts, and finger puppets. The season offers an opportunity to teach a child how to knit a scarf or a hot pad. Simple gifts such as these are treasured forever. Older children can have fun crafting personalized stationery in art, or using a computer. They can also create word search puzzles.
If sourcing scented herbs or other ingredients, one can find recipes on how to make homemade lip balm, soaps, shampoos and other personal care products.
Your time can also be appreciated. Just as much thought and effort can go into practicing a favourite song on a musical instrument. Library books can become a gift when accompanied by an offer to do more household chores so that your recipient has time to read them before their due date. Gifts also can include repairing or up-cycling.
Enjoy giving a memorable experience such as theatre tickets or dining out.
Be creative wrapping gifts with magazine pages, newsprint, tea towels (a gift within a gift), or other fabrics. If you do buy wrapping paper, avoid glossy and metallic ones that cannot be recycled.
Generally, eco-friendly ideas and do-it-yourself crafts will help people stay within their budget. This year, have fun making your holiday season easier on our fragile ecosystem
Christmas clean up as well, requires reusing, recycling, and composting. Think about World Soil Day that is celebrated on December 5th. To have healthy soil for a healthy future — Compost!
Larraine has been an environmental freelance writer since 1988 and authors
children’s books on composting.
Why You Need a Solid Financial Strategy
Why You Need a Solid Financial Strategy
By Bruno M. Scanga
In recent years, the F.I.R.E. movement—short for Financial Independence, Retire Early—has gained traction among Canadians looking to leave the workforce decades ahead of the traditional retirement age.
While the dream of stepping away from work in your 40s or 50s is exciting, it also raises a big question: how do you make your money last when you could be retired for 30, 40, or even 50 years?
Over the past century, Canadians have seen their lifespans stretch—many now live well into their 80s—yet the age at which they stop working hasn’t shifted much. That extended retirement phase can put a serious strain on your finances.
According to a recent Reddit survey, Canada’s average expected retirement age is around 64, with nearly half planning to retire before 65—but many also lack confidence in being ready when the time comes. In fact, the average actual retirement age climbed from 64.3 to 65.3 between 2020 and 2024.
Imagine retiring at 55—or even 64—and living into your 80s or 90s. You could be looking at 20 to 40 years of retirement to fund. That’s great for personal fulfillment, but less so for your wallet.
Planning Pays Off
Here’s the hard math: the longer your retirement, the more money you need—either by saving more, investing wisely, or a bit of both. Chasing high-risk investments might seem tempting, but it often backfires. Conversely, saving too much now could mean sacrificing your quality of life today. Balance is key.
Have you chatted about this with your partner? Retirement planning is a team sport. A recent Investment Executive study found that just 23% of couples have fully discussed all aspects of retirement, while 55% only have a general idea, which means most “canoes” are paddling off in different directions.
A financial advisor can help you crunch the numbers to see how even small boosts in your savings—especially when started early—can compound into significant long-term gains. Plus, they can help you navigate retirement vehicles like RRSPs and TFSAs:
· RRSPs: Contributions are tax-deductible now, but withdrawals are taxed later.
· TFSAs: No tax deduction upfront, but money grows and comes out tax-free.
· CPP & OAS: You can start CPP as early as age 60 (at a reduced amount) or defer past 65 to boost benefits. OAS generally begins at age 65.
The Reality Check
Here’s the real concern (according to Pension Pulse) nearly 49% of Canadians worry they’ll outlive their retirement savings, and 66% expect to keep working even after retirement age just to make ends meet. Successful retirement planning isn’t an impossible task if you start with a good plan and good advice. 
Let Him Lead
Let Him Lead
By Wayne and Tamara
I ended my marriage after 15 years. I’ve been separated for five years and haven’t dated anyone. I really had no interest in dating. In July I met the father of my son’s friend. He, too, is separated and has been for four years.
In his case his wife ended the marriage. He was devastated. He indicated at one time he could never go through that again. His son lives with him, and since the boys are together all the time, we talk often. We’ve become good friends and enjoy talking to each other.
I’m becoming attracted to him. He has all the qualities I look for. He has a wonderful personality, a sense of humor, and a closeness to his family. He is interesting and kind. I find it hard to decide if he is attracted to me but afraid of getting involved with anyone, or not attracted to me at all.
We have not yet gone on a date. He did invite my two boys and me to his camp this summer for the day, and had the boys and I to his camp for Thanksgiving dinner with some of his family. While talking to him the next day, I told him the boys had a great time, and he asked if I had as well.
I’ve invited him to my office Christmas party, which he accepted. It is a large event with dinner and dancing. This will be the first time we will be out alone. What should I look for to determine his feelings toward me?
Elaine
Elaine, don’t make a problem which doesn’t exist. A relationship between the two of you has been slowly building. You understand his fears and concerns. So how do you address that? By letting him lead.
If you force the relationship, he will feel threatened. When he senses this is a relationship he wants, he will move forward on his own unless he sees you only as a friend and the parent of his son’s friend. Since there is no problem here—you are not dating him—act like a single, available woman.
Imagine you are a fisherman. There is a big trout in the water and you’d love to land him, but all you can do is throw your lure out there. You can’t make the fish bite, but there are other fish in the stream. Making yourself available will make you less disheartened and desperate about this one fish.
The more you try to force your lure on a fish, the greater the chance you will scare it off. Be relaxed, patient, and open to all possible relationships. Not only does that give you the greatest chance for success, it creates a desirable aura around you—the kind of aura which will attract others, including this man, to you.
Wayne & Tamara
Approaching Storm
After 10 years of marriage is it settling to be with someone who says they love you but aren’t in love with you? What if that person thinks being “in love” is a childish fantasy and grownups don’t need to be “in love” to have a happy marriage? Is being “in love” really that important?
Kim
Kim, let us assume the person who says this is your husband. Then the question for him is, how do you keep sailing once you’ve thrown out the star which guides you? What is the foundation of your captaincy? Financial security? Personal advantage? Convenience?
Circumstances change. Sickness, a business failure, or an ill wind can alter any of the reasons for being together. So can unexpected success. But love holds people together both on calm seas and when things get rough. Without love you have to keep changing why your contract should still be valid.
A marriage without love is like sailing in the Bermuda Triangle. At any time one of you might disappear forever.
Wayne & Tamara
Employers Weigh the Risks of Hiring a Candidate, Along With Their Qualifications
Employers Weigh the Risks of Hiring a
Candidate, Along With
Their Qualifications
By Nick Kossovan
Strategically appearing as a low-risk candidate is one of the most effective ways to stand out from your competition.
Many job seekers love to spend their time and energy criticizing how employers eliminate and hire candidates, which is easy to do when you're not the one bearing the many risks that come with hiring. When I hear or read job seekers "venting," I think to myself, "Easy for you to say, you're not the one taking the hiring risk."
An employer's hiring process revolves around reducing hiring risks. Employers aim to hire low-risk candidates. A job seeker who understands and empathizes with the employer's point of view recognizes that showing they're a low-risk hire with high potential for success greatly increases their chances of getting hired.
Keeping in mind that the hiring process is inherently a process of elimination, which candidate comes across as low-risk, A or B?
Post interview:
Candidate A: Their LinkedIn profile lacks a banner, a headshot, measurable achievements, a compelling career summary, and recommendations.
Candidate B: Their LinkedIn profile is fully optimized, clearly demonstrating the value they can add to an employer's profitability.
Candidate A: Their resume contains grammatical errors and/or typos.
Candidate B: Their resume is error-free.
Candidate A: Doesn't include a cover letter.
Candidate B: Includes a well-written cover letter that offers three strong reasons why they're qualified for the position.
Candidate A: Has held three jobs in the past five years.
Candidate B: They've been with their current or former employer for over eight years.
Interview:
Candidate A: Arrives a few minutes late.
Candidate B: Shows up 10 minutes early. You find them in the reception area, engaging with the receptionist or reading one of the industry magazines on the table.
Candidate A: Limited eye contact and facial expressions. They avoid small talk and don't appear enthusiastic about the job or the company.
Candidate B: Offers a firm handshake, smiles, builds rapport, maintains eye contact throughout the interview, is conversational, and asks thought-provoking questions.
Political strategist Lee Atwater once said, "Perception is reality." Be mindful of how you present yourself to recruiters and employers. Although it's impossible to be a 100% risk-free hire, focus on appearing as low-risk as you can in these three key areas.
Frequent Job Changes / Employment Gaps
Turnover is expensive and disruptive, so employers understandably hesitate to hire candidates with a history of job-hopping, without clear career progression, or with significant employment gaps. Generally, employers see this as an indication that the candidate is unlikely to stay long or that they struggle to adapt to new work environments.
For any short-term position (under three years), include on your resume and LinkedIn profile whether it was a contract, resulted from a layoff, relocation, career progression, or other reasons. (e.g., "Project Manager (1-year contract)," "Software Engineer (part of a company-wide layoff).") Providing context for why your job(s) duration was short is an essential part of sharing your career story, which employers consider when evaluating your candidacy.
Similarly, when a hiring manager notices an extended period of unemployment without explanation, they tend to assume (perception shaping their reality) that you were either fired, unable to find work (employers rejecting you), or "taking it easy."
Provide context for any employment gaps you may have. If you took time off for education, caring for a family member, personal growth, or any other reason, mention it in your resume and LinkedIn profile.
Negotiating Compensation / Asking for an "Exception"
This and the following truism might lose some of you, but they need to be said.
At some point during the hiring process, you'll learn about the compensation package being offered for the position. You've three choices: accept what's offered, walk away or try to negotiate a better deal.
Negotiating carries the risk that the job offer might be rescinded; it can also make you seem like you'll always want more, which can make you appear difficult (read: risky) to manage. If you're willing to walk away, you have nothing to lose by trying to negotiate. However, if you need the job, focus on securing it! Don't risk losing it over $10,000, which is significantly less after taxes.
Furthermore, asking for "an exception" can also make it seem you'll be difficult to manage. The team's harmony, business policies, and processes are already established, and the employer's working hours and clients' expectations are set. Requesting an exception, such as working from home when the team works onsite, suggests a lack of fit; thus, you'd be a risky hire.
Overqualified
Being overqualified means you possess more skills and experience than the job requires or that it's reasonable to pay for. Overqualified isn't code for ageism or that you'll be a threat to your boss; these are comforting lies job seekers tell themselves. When you apply for a job, you're clearly overqualified for, it's natural for the employer to question your motivation and assume you'll be a flight risk, making you a risky hire.
Overcoming the challenge of being overqualified can be tough. Begin by being honest with yourself: are you applying because you genuinely want to take a step back, or because you're desperate? If it's the latter, don't blame employers for not hiring you. Would you hire someone who's desperate?
My advice for overcoming being overqualified is to trim unnecessary information from your resume and LinkedIn profile; some things are better left unsaid. Think about the job you're applying for and highlight the specific experiences that demonstrate why you're a good fit. If any experience isn't relevant to the position, leave it out; now's not the time to showcase all skills and experience.
When Common Sense Dies A Nation Dies With It
When Common Sense Dies A Nation Dies With It
By Dale Jodoin
Journalist and Columnist
Some mornings I sit with my coffee and wonder how the world slipped so far off its track. It did not happen in one big moment. It happened in small steps until regular people woke up and felt like strangers in their own country. The pressure grew. The rules changed. The words changed. And the truth started to feel like something you had to hide.
When I grew up, the big fear was nuclear war. It was a real worry, but at least people spoke honestly about it. At least you knew what the threat was. Today the fear comes in soft waves. Every few years someone says the world will end in five years. They repeat it to kids who barely understand life yet. You cannot grow hope on fear. You cannot build a strong country on doom.
Kids today do not have the anchors we had. We had parents who worked hard. We had grandparents who carried old lessons. We had aunts and uncles who taught us how to stand up and make our own way. How many young people only hear warnings? They hear that everything is broken. They hear that nothing will get better. They hear that the climate is falling apart and that they might not have a future. It leaves them empty.
While this fear fills the air, the Liberals and NDP tell people to trust them. They promise that more spending will fix everything. More programs. More rules. More taxes. They treat the country like a bank card that never runs out. But money always runs out. Bills always show up. And regular families always pay in the end.
People feel this every day. At the grocery store. With rent. With gas. With heat. They feel it when taxes climb while services fall apart. They feel it when the government says everything is fine even though nothing feels fine. Leaders keep saying this is progress, but nobody living a regular life agrees.
And underneath it all there is a message. Keep quiet. Do not speak up. Do not question anything. If you protect your family, people call you selfish. If you point out a problem, people say you are dangerous. If you disagree with a popular idea, they use names as weapons. They use fear to control the conversation.
This pressure hits young men the hardest. Many grow up hearing that everything wrong in the world is their fault. Some are told they should stop being who they are. They are confused before they even start their lives. They feel like they have to apologize for being born. It wears them down.
At the same time, the government keeps bringing in more people who also need help. This is not an attack on newcomers. It is simple math. If a boat is sinking you cannot load more passengers on it. But the Liberals and NDP do it anyway because it looks good in a headline. They ignore the fact that hospitals are full, housing is gone, and schools are stretched thin. They want to be seen as kind, even if the country snaps under the weight.
University was supposed to teach young adults how to think. How many walk in hopeful and walk out bitter. They come home speaking like the country is an enemy. They talk about ripping everything down and building something new with ideas that never worked anywhere else. It is not learning. It is training. And it leaves them lost.
Hate has also grown in ways many older people never expected. The sudden rise in hostility toward Jewish Canadians and Jewish people around the world has shocked those who remember real history. They thought the world had learned. Now they watch crowds chant angry things while leaders stand back and mumble. It shakes something deep in the soul.
And through all of this, regular people are just trying to survive. They wake up tired. They go to work. They try to raise kids in a world that feels loud and mean. They try to stay out of trouble. But every step feels like thin ice. If they speak up, someone attacks them. If they stay silent, nothing gets better.
This is where your line fits, Dale. A country cannot find itself if the people inside it are too scared to tell the loud confused voices to sit down. We have people now who try to kill common sense on purpose. They twist words. They spread lies. They demand we stop thinking. And if you dare to use your own mind they beat you with nonsense until you doubt your own eyes. It reminds me of a poet I like. If a boy with a simple slingshot can stay calm, the world can bend. A whisper is enough to set people free if they hold on to it long enough.
So what do we do when the country feels like it is heading into a fog. The answer is not smooth. It is not pretty. But it is simple. People need to vote for someone who will do the hard work. Not someone who makes us feel good. Not someone who hands out money we do not have. A leader who tightens the belt. A leader who says no to public unions when needed. A leader who puts the country first instead of politics.
It will upset people. It always does when someone tries to clean up a house that has been ignored. But if we keep going the way we are, nothing will improve. Kids need hope again. Families need stability again. The country needs a spine again.
The world is loud right now. It tells people to sit down. It tells them to obey. It tells them to stop thinking. But a country cannot survive if the people inside it feel unwanted. Canada cannot grow strong if its citizens are treated like problems.
Real change starts with a whisper. A simple voice saying I want a life that makes sense again.
That is how a country finds itself. 
This Time Of The Year
This Time Of The Year
A Candid Conversation
By Theresa Grant
Real Estate Columnist
This time of year is so special in that it is a time of coming together with family, friends, and coworkers. It’s a time of reflection and looking forward to a new year, perhaps a new chapter in life. It’s many things wrapped up in one season.
Unfortunately, it’s also a time of year that the scammers and thieves are working harder than any other time of the year to scam, steal, and rob people of their hard-earned dollars, retirement funds, newly purchased Christmas gifts, and well, anything they can get their hands on. While there is a bit of a cautionary tale embedded in this article, it is more of an observance.
With the busy Christmas shopping season well underway, the malls here and there are full of shoppers, and the parking lots are filled with cars. We have seen the police do their usual reminders on the news to be vigilant, be aware and lock your car doors while shopping. They also remind us to never leave anything visible in the front or back seat. Put things in your trunk so that those who cruise the parking lots looking for an easy grab don’t see what you have in your car.
A friend of mine told me recently of a disturbing situation that occurred to one of her family members over at the Oshawa Centre. Her family member was walking toward her car in the parking lot after shopping and a family of 4, 2 adults and 2 children were outside of their vehicle and seemed to be in distress. The man motioned to this lady to come over to them and being an older woman, raised in a time that you were taught to help others, she approached.
The man asked for directions and gave some sob story. The lady provided the directions and the man said he wanted to thank her and offered her a necklace for her trouble. He took her actual necklace from her neck and put on the one he was offering as a gift. This all happened in a split second and left the woman in complete shock. Of course, what he had taken was a
real gold chain and what he gave her was a cheap worthless piece of junk jewlery. I know a lot of people, me included, think to themselves that this could never happen to them. I honestly think that that is exactly why it does happen to more people than we realize.
My phone lights up constantly with FED X warnings that this is my last reminder that my package is ready to be delivered, I get text messages that I need to pay my 407 bill before it escalates, I need to pay my taxes immediately or I’ll go to jail etc.
The scammers are out there in full force this holiday season. Instead of thinking it could never happen to you, take a minute to make sure your doors are locked, scan the parking lots before you venture into them, be aware of your surroundings and stay safe.
CITY OF OSHAWA WEBSITE POSTS DECEMBER “DATES OF SIGNIFICANCE” WITHOUT CHRISTMAS
CITY OF OSHAWA WEBSITE POSTS DECEMBER
“DATES OF SIGNIFICANCE” WITHOUT CHRISTMAS
VISIT THE CITY OF OSHAWA OFFICIAL WEBSITE and you’ll see a list of what’s happening by way of upcoming council and committee meetings, community events, and what the municipality considers to be important news for the benefit of its residents. Click on the ‘News’ tab and you’re taken straight to the City’s ‘Newsroom’ page where you’ll find a host of information on all manner of topics, ranging from career opportunities to emergency communications. Nowadays it seems difficult to imagine a time when all we had was a list of important telephone numbers and the odd newspaper advertisement informing us of upcoming public events.
Within the neatly arranged network of information provided by various city hall departments is a link entitled “December 2025 days of significance” which transfers you to a rather non-descript page showing a list of cultural and other special occasions for the current month – occasions that “…mark meaningful days and milestones that echo our values and bring us together…” You can also elect to become a subscriber to receive e-mail notifications in real time, should you be interested in knowing first-hand what’s happening in the community.
As part of this month’s ‘e-blast’ as they’ve come to be known, subscribers received a notification as to the current Days of Significance list, however, in what can only be seen as an appalling slight against our nation’s Judeo-Christian heritage, the list provided by the City did not include any reference whatsoever to December 25th, being of course, Christmas Day. The omission was soon caught by residents who viewed a graphic of the list (shown here) that had been posted simultaneously onto social media.
As a result of the ensuing public outcry, and the efforts of at least one of the more involved members of council, a revised list that included the Christmas celebration was posted some time afterwards, although the offending error appeared as a Facebook 'story' until the following day.
Things like this don't happen by accident, and this very unfortunate occurrence is nothing less than a black eye on the face of Oshawa’s civic administration - and someone must be held to account.
That said, this didn’t happen overnight. Certain members of staff somehow felt it necessary to alter the process of providing information to the residents of Oshawa by turning what should have been a simple notification into something quite disturbing. Included alongside the list of dates are no less than two links that take you to the City’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives page. It seems the current mission of those who make up the DEI division is to impose their ideology on an unsuspecting city. Part of that ideology is an obvious determination to at least partially exclude references to Christian celebrations that are enjoyed by a majority of Oshawa’s residents - all in the name of celebrating “the rich tapestry of cultures, voices, and stories that shape our community” as long as those voices represent anyone outside the Judeo-Christian fabric that remains the foundation of this country.
The Central newspaper was the first media outlet to post a Breaking News story about this issue directly onto social media, and the resultant ‘thread’ of public commentary was certainly instructive. It is impossible to escape the impression that too many people on Facebook are driven to use false standards of measurement as they seek to advance thoughts and ideas they should realize are inherently destructive. For reasons I suggest are the result of self-denial, they seek to share an underestimation of what is really of true value in our society. What they see as greatness rests on attributes that are completely foreign to the ideals of the majority of Canadians.
The views that were expressed as to the omission of Christmas from the Days of Significance list caused me no small difficulty, rest assured. There are obvious delusions among keyboard warriors pretending to be champions of social justice, and they are at times quite difficult to deal with.
I have endeavored to guard myself against the enthusiastic prejudice which holds that our Western culture is somehow not worth maintaining, and that its continuation can only be a reflection of some sort of oppression against other ideals. None of that is true, and I suggest those who are offering up such a narrative on social media and elsewhere fall into two categories, those being malevolent, and ignorant.
The kind of ideological agenda that gave rise to the omission of the Christmas celebration from the City of Oshawa’s December list of dates won’t self-correct. It has been imposed on the cultural fabric within city hall, and by extension, the community at large. Every year, an increasing number of indoctrinated people enter into a combined effort to erode the cultural consensus that has up to now held our nation in relative peace.
This is a fight, and unless the rest of society fights back and hard, it will only get worse.
It’s Immoral Derek Giberson Has To GO in 2026
It’s Immoral
Derek Giberson Has To GO in 2026
By Joe Ingino BA. Psychology
Editor/Publisher Central Newspapers
ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000
Published Columns in Canada and The United States
Is it just me? I drive down our downtown core and my heart aches. Watching people sleeping on the street. Temperatures hovering around - 2. Watching this injustice. This suffering in Canada puts my mind in a state of panic. I look at these people and can’t believe that we are allowing this to happen. These people could be any one of us.
To think that when a fellow citizen falls that low in their luck and there is no support...
It is wrong and immoral. I ran for office in 2018 and 2022 to put an end to this. I was not successful. Maybe I should be more like those elected and be cold and uncaring. How can any elected official take a taxpayers dime in payment knowing the suffering that is going on right on our streets... In Oshawa we have two representatives. What have they done in the two terms they served? NOTHING. It appears that ‘NOTHING’ in todays society is and accomplishment.
Yet, people are defying on our streets from the cold and from drug over usage. This is unacceptable. For example. We have the likes of wanna be rock star, City councillor Derek Giberson. What has he done for the downtown in the two terms he has served.
I can tell you. He has spent your taxpayers resources in persecuting local downtown merchants like this newspaper and failed. He has spent your tax dollars on hearings and procedural mumbo jumbo against citizens. He has failed. I would estimate to the tune of over $300,000. Money that should have gone to shelter people living on the street. No instead this councillor chooses to push for ‘safe site’ injection sites. This in my book is unacceptable. This local councillor does not belong in municipal politics as he is directly responsible for the poor condition of our core.
He in my opinion is directly responsible for all the failed business in our core. This councillor has failed us so much... that he allowed millions to be wasted on ‘Veterans Park’. A newly erected park smack downtown. A property that could have been turned into a much needed indoor garage. A facility that could have housed thousands of people from the cold until a more concrete solution is found.
Giberson in my opinion is a disgrace to our City. He had the opportunity to do great things and he wasted them on persecuting those he does not like. He uses your resource to make go no place points... and he has failed on his attempt time and time again. HE HAS TO GO IN 2026.
The homeless problem is not going to go any place. If anything it is going to get worst. This new economic Pandemic takes no prisoners.
When we see one person on the street. There 10 others that are living with friends, family or in their cars. I have spoken to many of them. Their stories have resemblances as the outcome is unfortunate. Most of them never thought that they would end up on the street. Many have lost jobs, have little or not family. Others suffered/suffer some sort of disability decease. Just this week the Federal government gave millions to the Ukraine to fight a never ending or impossible war to win. Why has the government not used that money to fight our home front war of hunger and the homeless.
Here is what I would do with just a million: 1. Secure a place to in-houe at least 1,000 people. It can be done. Look at most bomb shelters. A facility that would offer shower, cafeteria and medical assistance. 2. Partner with the University to have their health student practice at the shelter. 3. Make it mandatory that all grocery store send over their almost expired foods. Partner with industry and trade to fund the purchase of staple foods. 4. Create work programs through the City in the works department and other. 5. Create un-used hospital wards as treatment centers for those with addictions and or mental health. 6. Partner with the Provincial and Federal Governments for hands on programs that would be directed to special squads to get people off the streets and into these ‘rejuvenation’ facilities. The homeless situation can be managed. Stop voting in nose drips like Giberson. We need real leadership. For real problems.
In 2026 make the right change and stop rewarding failure.
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