Unwrapping the Values - How the Holidays Have Lost Their Spirit

Unwrapping the Values - How the Holidays Have Lost Their Spirit By Camryn Bland Youth Columnist December is a time filled with holiday joy, love, and comfort. Whether you spend the season on vacation in a tropical country or baking Christmas cookies at home, the holidays are meant to be spent with family and friends, making new memories with every moment. Despite the loving and personal message behind Christmas, it has slowly turned into something much less meaningful. For many individuals, the holiday's message has morphed into one of materialism, comparison, and stress rather than good spirits and connection. It’s easy to see how Christmas has turned into a battle of presents and financial strain. Children anticipate expensive and shiny gifts, while teens use the holiday as an excuse to ask for every little thing they’ve wanted all year. Letters to Santa can cost parents hundreds of dollars, while families struggle to fund the unrealistic expectations. All to get forgotten by the time next December rolls around, bringing an even longer and pricier list. There is nothing wrong with giving and receiving gifts; it’s part of what makes the holiday so special. I know I have made long wishlists in the past, and still look forward to unwrapping presents this December. However, it is clear materialism has overcome the magic of Christmas, replacing the festive and loving spirit with undeniable consumerism. Materialism fully replaces the Christmas spirit when individuals begin to purchase for the sake of having something to give, rather than with any real meaning or thought behind it. The pressure to fill the tree can turn gift-giving into a checklist, where quantity matters more than personal thought. Many of these items are forgotten, tucked away while the moment of excitement fades almost instantly. Celebrating the holidays shouldn’t feel like an obligation or a financial burden, yet modern expectations have created the standard that more is better. Consumers assume more, bigger, and expensive gifts are the key to Christmas happiness, which is often not the case. The most significant gifts are not defined by a price tag, but by memories, emotion, and clear thought. This may come in the form of a book that they’d like, or a makeup product they’ve been eyeing for weeks. It shouldn’t be about filling a compulsory list, but showing you care. For me, this often means making presents myself, whether they be physical photo collages, baked goods or special crafts. It’s about personalization and meaning, which does not always come in the form of a big box or an expensive price. However, this is easy to be forgotten, even as the receiver. In 2025, the season is no longer about personal satisfaction, but is also deeply connected to comparison to others, especially online. Many people appreciate their gifts until they open TikTok and see an influencer with a tree three times fuller than theirs. In seconds, gratitude has turned to disappointment, overshadowed by everything you didn’t receive instead of what you did. It’s time to shift the focus away from materialism and back toward memories, quality time, and meaningful traditions. There are so many other aspects of the celebrations which fill individuals with irreplaceable joy, from big meals to festive movies. For me, that joy comes from childhood traditions, such as opening stockings on my moms bed before I’m fully awake, eating cinnamon buns for breakfast and bacon sandwiches for lunch, or visiting my family friends after church on Christmas Eve. These memories are what made Christmas so memorable when I was younger, and are the reason Christmas is so special now. Even as my traditions change, they spark nostalgia that no gift could ever replace. This year will be a new experience, as I am celebrating the holidays with my step-siblings for the first time. While the traditions may look different, the importance of being together remains the same. There may be a new tree, but I will enjoy decorating it the same way. The food may be different, but within a few years it will have a deeper meaning, similar to the one prior. There may be additional people, but that just provides the opportunity to share more joy. That’s what truly defines the season; the people, the traditions, and the emotions. Regardless of what you celebrate, the holidays are meant to be a time of hope, joy, and quality time with loved ones. Unfortunately, this message is often lost beneath wrapping paper, price tags, and social media comparison. However, those are the things that last long after the decorations come down. Not material and unappreciated presents, but meaningful experiences. That’s the only way to get into the Christmas spirit; with love and appreciation.

Why Big Science Matters

Why Big Science Matters By Diana Gifford We applaud people solving problems who are focused, efficient, and fast. But I was recently reminded that progress doesn’t always follow a straight line. Before investigators can conduct studies that yield breakthroughs, they often need others to finance and build major research infrastructure. It takes time, with various stops and starts, different collaborations often involving many institutions and countries, and not always a clear sense of direction. TRIUMF, Canada’s national particle accelerator centre in Vancouver, a partnership of 21 universities, enables study on the inner workings of atoms. The high-energy cyclotron technology developed there, and the specialists trained to use it, produce lifesaving isotopes used to diagnose cancer and guide treatment. As Dr. Lisa Kalynchuk, Vice-President of Research & Innovation at the University of Victoria, put it to me: “When you invest in scientific infrastructure, you’re investing in possibility. You can’t always predict where breakthroughs will appear – but you can create the conditions for them to flourish.” The Canadian Light Source in Saskatoon is a synchrotron – essentially a machine that bends electrons until they emit intense light. It was built to explore the physics and chemistry of advanced materials, enabling researchers to visualize viruses, investigate chronic lung disease, and understand how drugs interact with the body. Infrastructure constructed for physics and engineering research functions as a lab for understanding human life. The International Space Station is an example of extraterritorial international collaboration at the frontiers of scientific exploration. It is also a health lab. Astronauts lose bone density rapidly in microgravity, so efforts to keep them strong have helped with osteoporosis, frailty, and aging here on Earth. Ocean Networks Canada collects and shares data about all aspects of the ocean. The seas are a source of medicines for cancer treatment, new sustainable materials from kelp, renewable energy that reduces the negative health effects from burning fossil fuels, resources to reduce food insecurity, and adapting ocean life systems to better understand human health. The unusually large nerve fibres of squid, for example, made it easier for scientists to understand the electrical basis of the nervous system, knowledge that is shaping treatments for epilepsy, depression, and Parkinson’s disease. Some of the greatest breakthroughs in human health have arrived not by design, but by accident – provided an inquisitive mind was paying attention. Alexander Fleming wasn’t searching for the world’s first antibiotic when he returned from holiday to find that a wandering mold had killed bacteria on a petri dish. Yet penicillin went on to prevent more deaths than we can count. As Louis Pasteur once said, “Chance favors only the prepared mind.” Increasingly, big science facilities throw researchers from different domains together, triggering unexpected and important outcomes. These examples remind us why we must invest in large scale research collaboration even when the practical benefits are not obvious. It’s tempting to demand that every dollar be tied to a clear payoff. But history teaches the opposite. Discoveries emerge when we give scientists the freedom to ask bold questions, even ones that seem unrelated to human health. To insist that research must always serve a tidy, immediate purpose is to miss the possibility of much more. Most people will never see a cyclotron or synchrotron at work. Very few will set foot on the Space Station. But many are benefitting. The decisions made years earlier – that few noticed, debated, or celebrated – have delivered health advances that now touch almost all of us. The next time we hear about governments debating billions in scientific infrastructure, we might remember, these aren’t abstract investments. They are the seedbeds of discoveries that one day may save our lives. —————————————————————————————————————— 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

Many Canadians Take Extra Risks When Traveling Without Insurance

Many Canadians Take Extra Risks When Traveling Without Insurance By Bruno M. Scanga Purchasing travel insurance is one of the easiest decisions you will ever make. However, the sad reality is that many Canadians do not purchase proper coverage before they travel and, in some cases, medical expenses incurred in foreign countries have forced some families into bankruptcy. In 2009, CBC News reported that Canadians made nearly 40 million day trips or overnight excursions to the US.1 This number does not include the number of travelers going abroad for vacations or business functions. In 2012, the Toronto Sun reported that 6 in 10 people2 do not arrange for travel insurance coverage when leaving the country. Traveling without insurance is a risky venture and Canadians pay tens of millions of dollars each year for unexpected injuries or illnesses that require out-of-country hospital care; even if only for a day trip. Why Buy Travel Insurance? Nearly everyone insures their vehicles, homes, and life in the event of an accident, natural disaster or fire. So why are Canadians reluctant to buy travel insurance for the same reasons? Some think it is unnecessary; especially younger people who are generally in very good physical health. Others simply cannot justify the cost….that is, until they experience a problem when they are traveling. Here are a few reasons that you should invest in travel insurance: Provincial governments cover only minimal expenses for out-of-country healthcare. Claims for those expenses can take months or even years to be settled. Accidents happen. They do not discriminate as to who and where they will strike. Something as simple as a broken leg can cost upwards of $20,000.00 in foreign medical expenses. In some countries, medical facilities will refuse to treat those that do not have medical insurance coverage. Travel Insurance Providers Various institutions can provide travel insurance that is based on the length of travel, age and pre-existing medical conditions. Travel agents, insurance brokers and credit card companies offer insurance but it is important that you understand the terms and conditions and any exclusions that the policy may carry. A few of the many questions to ask are: Does the policy have continuous coverage while you are away and is it renewable if your stay becomes extended? Does the underwriter have a 24 hour, English, or French language emergency contact number? Do you have to pay for all applicable expenses and claim later, or do they pay the institution up-front? According to the Government of Canada’s website, the following incident occurred. ‘Gabrielle had insurance that lapsed three weeks before she was involved in an accident. Her Canadian family had to raise $300,000 over a three-day period to cover the costs of medical treatment and evacuation. Fortunately, she survived, but her family is left with a hefty debt to repay.’ 3 There are various types of travel insurance plans depending on your needs. Single and multi-trip policies as well as annual premiums are available. And if you are flying abroad, most plans also cover trip cancellation, loss or damage of luggage, flight, and travel accidents. Enjoy peace of mind with travel insurance for you and your whole family. Don’t risk the trip without coverage.

The New World Order Canada Is Walking Into

The New World Order Canada Is Walking Into By Dale Jodoin Columnist I keep hearing the same thing from people in parking lots, coffee shops, even at the checkout line when the bill comes up and everybody does that little sigh. Canada feels different now. Not in a good way. Not in a loud, dramatic way either. More like the air changed and you cannot quite explain it, but you know you are not imagining it. For a long time, Canadians believed their country was different. Not perfect, but different. You could speak your mind, go to work, go to church if you wanted, or stay home if you did not. You could start a small business with a bit of grit and a few tools. You did not feel like the government was trying to train you like a pet. That belief is fading. What is replacing it is control, wrapped up in nice words. Ottawa will tell you it is all for safety, fairness, and progress. Those words sound good. They always sound good. But the real test is not what the government says. The real test is what it builds, and how much power it gives itself to steer daily life. Start with the politics, because the politics explain the speed of everything else. The Liberals are sitting one seat away from a majority. That is close enough to change the whole mood in the country. It means they do not have to move like a careful minority government. They can move like a government that expects to win. Then a Conservative MP crossed the floor and joined the Liberals. Plenty of Canadians saw that and felt their stomach drop. I am not talking about people who live for party politics. I mean regular voters who picked a Conservative, and woke up to find their MP now wearing Liberal colours. You can call it legal, sure. But people call it a betrayal for a reason. Some people call it a traitor move. Not as a courtroom term, but as the kind of anger that comes from feeling like your vote got tossed in the trash. And even without a full majority on paper, the Liberals still get what they need because the NDP backs them on key votes. That is the part that drives people nuts. It feels like we are being governed by a majority government that did not actually win a majority. So now you have a government that is almost a majority, and a second party that keeps it standing. Then you look at the bills coming down the pipe and you think, of course they are moving fast. Who is going to stop them? This is where the bigger worry kicks in. It is not only about taxes or spending. It is about information. It is about what you are allowed to see, what you are allowed to share, and what you are allowed to say without getting dragged through the mud. Governments that want more control rarely admit it. They pick softer language. Online safety. Fighting hate. Protecting kids. You would have to be heartless to oppose the goals in a headline. But laws are not headlines. Laws are tools. And once the tools exist, they get used. Here is what I mean. Look at the online world. Streaming, social media, news. That is where most people now get information, entertainment, and even a sense of what the country is talking about. If you can shape that, you can shape the country without ever touching a ballot box. Bill C 11 brought the CRTC deeper into the streaming world. Supporters say it is about helping Canadian culture and Canadian creators. Fine. I do not hate Canadian culture. I want our artists to do well too. But here is the question people keep asking me, and it is a fair question. Why is the government getting closer to what I watch? Even if the goal is culture, the method is influential. When a regulator gets power to shape what is pushed and what is not, that is not neutral. And it is not only about music and movies. The same idea can be used later for other things, especially when politics gets heated, and politics always gets heated. Now look at Bill C 18, the Online News Act. The government said it was meant to support journalism. Newsrooms are hurting, so again, the headline sounds good. But what happened after should have Canadians wide awake. One major platform blocked news links in Canada. Another negotiated a payment system. So now news is caught in a tug of war between government rules and corporate decisions. Ask yourself what that does to trust. If the public starts to believe news depends on government designed systems or corporate deals, people stop believing the news is free. Even if reporters are doing honest work, the shadow hangs over everything. Then there is Bill C 63, the Online Harms plan. Again, the headline goal is to reduce harmful content online, protect kids, and hold platforms accountable. I do not know many parents who would argue with protecting kids. But the concern people have is simple. Who defines harm. Who decides what crosses the line. Who gets the power to punish and silence. Once the system exists, the definitions can widen. That is what history shows. It does not always happen in one big jump. It happens by small expansions that sound reasonable at the time. This is where people feel the walls moving in. They see laws that reach further into the online space, and they hear critics being called names instead of being answered. Racist. Extremist. Hateful. Dangerous. It is like the country has forgotten how to argue. Now it just labels and shoves. That is a big deal, because labels are a form of control. When a person fears being smeared, they shut up. When a worker fears losing their job because they shared the wrong opinion, they shut up. When a parent fears their kid will be targeted at school for repeating what they heard at home, they shut up. It is not freedom if you have to whisper. Religion is caught in this too, and Canadians know it even if they avoid the topic. Faith is treated like it is acceptable only if it stays quiet. The moment a religious belief clashes with the fashionable politics of the day, it is treated like a threat. People get told to keep it private, keep it hidden, keep it out of public life. That is not respect. That is tolerance on a short leash. Economic freedom is tightening at the same time, which makes everything feel worse. Small businesses are being buried under rules, fees, and costs. Big corporations can absorb it. Small shops cannot. That means fewer people taking risks, fewer new businesses, fewer local jobs. A country that makes it hard to build something trains people to depend on the system instead. Put all of this together and the picture gets clearer. A government one seat away from a majority. An MP crossing the floor that many voters saw as a betrayal. A second party that props the government up. New laws that push regulators deeper into streaming, deeper into news, deeper into what can be said online. And a culture that punishes disagreement with labels instead of debate. That is what people mean when they say Canada is walking into a new world order. Not secret meetings. Not science fiction. Just a steady shift where the state gets more say, and the citizen gets less room. The scary part is how normal it can start to feel. You get used to watching your words. You get used to saying, I will keep that to myself. You get used to silence. Canada is still free enough to change course. But that does not happen by accident. It happens when people notice the squeeze, talk about it plainly, and refuse to accept that control is the price of living here. Because once the country gets used to control, it rarely gives it back.

Karmageddon

Karmageddon By Mr. ‘X’ ~ John Mutton CENTRAL EXCLUSIVE I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas and continues to enjoy the remainder of the holiday season leading up to the New Year. As we look ahead to the New Year and hope for positive change—both globally and here at home—we can also look back on 2025 as a year marked by growing economic turmoil and the continued erosion of public trust in government. Let’s be honest: very few people trust government anymore. This year, The Mr. X Files will further focus on exposing government corruption wherever it exists, regardless of political party. In 2025, we once again witnessed astonishing arrogance from certain politicians, their political staff, and well-connected, crooked lobbyists. In 2025, The Mr. X Files blew the lid off the Greenbelt scandal, revealing what really happened behind the scenes and who knew what—and when. The now-unpopular and embattled Minister David Picinni was directly informed about the Greenbelt issue. Not long after that revelation, The Mr. X Files, alongside other major investigative media outlets, deconstructed the Skills Development Fund and exposed the “usual suspects”: lobbyists deeply entrenched in steering millions of dollars to unqualified applicants, with ministerial sign-off. The next scandal—mark my words—will be Infrastructure Grants. Remember where you heard it first: right here at Mr. X. I believe development interests and the same familiar network of preferential, crooked lobbyists will once again dominate headlines in 2026. I can also tell you now that, as this paper goes to print—coinciding with the release of the next installment of The Mr. X Files—another bombshell revelation will emerge. When have we ever seen a minister under investigation simultaneously by the Integrity Commissioner, the Ontario Provincial Police, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police? Public office was never intended to be a family business. It is unacceptable for a minister’s spouse to operate as a lobbyist, a mother-in-law to sit on the Ontario Land Tribunal, and a father’s firm to benefit from infrastructure grants. The time has come for this individual to be removed from his ministerial position. This year will also be defined by an upcoming municipal election, the exact shape of which remains uncertain as provincial changes to regional governance are still pending. The election “silly season” began months ago, and this may well become the most transformative municipal election in Ontario’s history. “Strong mayor” powers are now all the rage. Why donate to a councillor’s campaign when mayors hold the real authority? Pick your mayoral horse and place your bet there—because that’s where the power now lies. An unintended consequence of strong-mayor legislation will likely be a sharp decline in donations to councillors. In 2026, we will make a concerted effort to educate readers and viewers on how government processes work—and how they should work. We will continue to grow our audience. We know there will be critics and haters, but we will not back down from telling the truth.

2026 THE YEAR OF HOPE…

By Joe Ingino BA. Psychology Editor/Publisher Central Newspapers ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800 ,000 Published Columns in Canada and The United States I do not know about you. But it appears that the “AGE OF AQUARIUS’ is upon us.... Age of Aquarius:  The Age of Aquarius is an astrological concept for a new spiritual/cultural era following the Age of Pisces, symbolizing a shift towards humanitarianism, technology, equality, collective consciousness, and freedom, moving from "me" to "we". Popularized by the musical Hair, it represents a future of greater understanding, innovation, and global harmony, moving away from the Piscean focus on faith/illusion towards Aquarian intellect and universal love. While astrologically the transition is gradual (lasting centuries), it's associated with the 1960s counter-culture and promises radical change. Jesus was the one who announced the Age of Aquarius and said, "A man will meet you carrying an earthen pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he goes in". What is so special about the Age of Aquarius? The Aquarian Age is a time of great complexity as our sense of personal identity and our very foundation shifts. Expect developments in all arenas, including scientific discoveries, technological advancements, and societal shifts. On an individual level, change and learning will be lifelong and constant. Wow, an era going from ‘me’ to ‘we’. A man carrying earthen pitcher of water.... foundations shift... development in all arenas... I believe that 2026 will the bring forth a paramount pinacle of this era. I say this as it is starting to happen in the U.S. With Trump and his very advance force for positive change back to traditional western culture. The developments of this past years have clearly marked a path for future prosperity and advancements in all aspects of society. Here in Durham. We will be face very important choices to make. A municipal election. We as the people need to take our government back. Right across Durham. Municipal government have become entities within themselves. Practically no accountability no transparency and a complete shut down of public input. This is wrong. Compounded with the ever number of wasted funds on projects that at this economical juncture could be going to assisting those in need. For example. Oshawa waste 10 million on a downtown park. Meanwhile people are literally dying on our street. Many from exposure, hunger and illness. Others due to crime. What are our beloved entrusted elected officials doing about it? NOTHING. For example Oshawa. We have elected folk that are so out of touch with the needs of it’s people that spend more time on projects that total waste of your tax dollars. I think this election coming. We need to get rid of Derek Giberson. A two term councillor that is directly responsible for the poor state of the downtown. He in part was responsible for the open drug use. He has done nothing in two terms to control crime and the drug trade. We have Rick Kerr the regional councilor. What has he done for the past two terms? He also needs to go. Let’s start cutting the waste of tax dollars at the top. Look at councillors like Chapman, Tito-Dante Marimpietri, Rosemary McConkey, John Neal. All on the taxpayers clock. What have they done for Oshawa? Chapman an arrogant ghost councillor with dreams of becoming Mayor... sits on all kinds of committees to what achievements? NONE. Tito-Dante another book end that sits on more committees with what achievements to show for? How can either of these councillor go to sleep at night knowing that people are living on our streets. That people are dieing almost every day. People being shot and stabbed. Where is the leadership preventing such things to happen. The problem is not those elected but those that elect members of the community that have no life experience. People that have been careered politicians for so long that have lost the need of those that elected them. In 2026 we need a new start. Not a repeat of last election where we rid of only one councilor to replace her with a bigger waste of tax payer dollar. Councillor Lee. I believed in you. You let me and the people of Oshawa down. Let’s re-take our city back in 2026

Canada at the Crossroads: Reflections on 2025 and the Choices of 2026

Canada at the Crossroads: Reflections on 2025 and the Choices of 2026 by Maj (ret’d) CORNELIU, CHISU, CD, PMSC FEC, CET, P.Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East The year 2025 will not be remembered in Canada for a single dramatic event. There was no financial collapse, no constitutional crisis, no defining national trauma. Instead, it was a year marked by something quieter and, in many ways, more consequential: a broad, uneasy realization that the country’s long-standing assumptions no longer align with reality. Canadians spent 2025 taking stock of their economy, their institutions, their social fabric, and their place in a world that feels less predictable by the month. In that sense, 2025 was a year of reassessment. The question now, as 2026 approaches, is whether reassessment will give way to resolve. A Year of Stabilization Without Momentum Economically, 2025 brought a measure of relief after years of turbulence. Inflation eased, interest rates began to drift downward, and fears of an imminent recession receded. Employment remained relatively strong by historical standards. On paper, the economy appeared stable. Yet stability did not feel like prosperity. Productivity growth remained weak, business investment lagged behind peer countries, and major projects; whether housing developments, energy corridors, or transportation infrastructure continued to move at a glacial pace. Many Canadians sensed that the economy was no longer failing loudly, but it was underperforming quietly. This gap between macroeconomic indicators and lived experience defined much of the national mood. Wages struggled to keep up with costs accumulated over previous years. Young Canadians, in particular, looked at the housing market and saw not a challenge to overcome, but a barrier to adulthood itself. Home ownership drifted from expectation to aspiration to, for many, improbability. Housing as the National Pressure Point No issue dominated Canadian life in 2025 more than housing. It was not merely an economic concern; it became a social and psychological one. Decisions about careers, family formation, and even geographic mobility were shaped by whether people could find a place to live that did not consume the bulk of their income. Federal and provincial governments announced funding, targets, and agreements. Municipalities promised zoning reform. Yet results lagged far behind need. The housing crisis revealed a deeper structural problem: Canada’s difficulty in translating political consensus into timely execution. By 2025, nearly everyone agreed that housing supply must increase dramatically. The frustration lay in how slowly that agreement turned into cranes in the sky. Politics in a More Skeptical Age Politically, 2025 was marked by sharper rhetoric and thinner patience. Canadians appeared less ideologically driven than fatigued. Trust in institutions, Parliament, the media, even parts of the public service remained strained, though not broken. Voters demanded competence more than vision, delivery more than declarations. Ottawa’s focus shifted toward long-term positioning: industrial policy, defence commitments, and strategic infrastructure. The language of resilience entered the mainstream. Canada spoke more openly about supply chains, critical minerals, Arctic sovereignty, and energy security. These were not new topics, but in 2025 they felt less theoretical and more urgent. Still, a sense of drift persisted. Governments managed problems incrementally while avoiding hard trade-offs. Fiscal pressures mounted quietly in the background, as healthcare costs rose and demographics tilted toward an aging population. Canadians sensed that the margin for error was narrowing. Canada in an Unsettled World Internationally, 2025 reminded Canadians of both their limits and their strengths. Canada was not a central actor in global conflicts, but its stability became an asset in itself. In a world of abrupt policy swings and unreliable partners, Canada’s predictability mattered. Defence spending edged upward, particularly in the Arctic, reflecting a sober recognition that geography is destiny. Climate change, great-power competition, and northern development converged in ways that made long-term neglect impossible. Canada did not suddenly become hawkish, but it became more realistic. Diplomatically, Canada leaned into niches where credibility still counts: multilateral forums, humanitarian engagement, and quiet mediation. The ambition was modest, but appropriate to a middle power navigating a fragmented international system. Society: Tired, But Intact Socially, 2025 revealed a country under strain but not fracture. Polarization existed, yet it was less explosive than in many peer democracies. Civic rituals; from Remembrance Day commemorations to local volunteerism continued to bind communities together. Immigration remained central to Canada’s identity and future, but the conversation grew more nuanced. Canadians increasingly distinguished between welcoming newcomers and acknowledging capacity limits. The challenge was no longer whether to immigrate, but how to integrate effectively through housing, credential recognition, language training, and community support. This was not a rejection of openness, but a demand for competence. The Demands of 2026 If 2025 was about recognizing problems, 2026 will be about confronting them. The coming year is likely to test Canada’s willingness to make choices rather than manage tensions indefinitely. Economically, lower interest rates may provide breathing room, but they will not restore productivity or competitiveness on their own. In 2026, pressure will grow to dismantle internal trade barriers, accelerate approvals for major projects, and align immigration more closely with labour market needs. Without such reforms, Canada risks settling into a decade of mediocre growth and declining relative living standards. Politically, the tone is likely to harden. As potential elections at various levels approach, voters will demand specificity: How many homes will be built, where, and by when? How will healthcare be sustained as costs rise? What does fiscal responsibility mean in an era of permanent pressure? The appetite for slogans is waning; the appetite for results is not. Climate adaptation will also move from abstraction to necessity. Extreme weather, aging infrastructure, and energy transitions will force faster decisions. Canadians are less interested in symbolic commitments than in practical answers: who pays, who builds, and who bears the risk. A Choice Between Drift and Direction Canada enters 2026 with remarkable advantages: abundant resources, strong institutions, social cohesion, and international trust. However, advantages unused can become illusions. The defining question is whether Canada can convert stability into momentum. The risk is not sudden collapse. It is gradual erosion; the slow fading of affordability, opportunity, and confidence that has long defined the Canadian promise. The opportunity, however, remains real. With clear priorities and disciplined execution, 2026 could mark the beginning of renewal rather than retrenchment. History suggests that Canada’s greatest moments often come not from crisis, but from clarity. The year ahead will reveal whether the reassessment of 2025 was merely reflective or whether it was the prelude to action. Enjoy the holiday season and Happy New Year for 2026 !

Put Some Perspective In The Christmas Stocking

Put Some Perspective In The Christmas Stocking By Diana Gifford Put Some Perspective in the Christmas Stocking How many times in 2025 did you complain about something? And with good reason! But this is the time of year for setting aside our thoughts about the issues driving us crazy. Take a step back during the holidays and reflect on what really counts. Health and happiness. That’s the bottom line. My Christmas wish to all is a generous dose of perspective. The year 2025 brought a long litany of disasters. Deadly heat waves. Catastrophic flooding across parts of Europe and Asia. Wildfires forcing mass evacuations in North America and Australia. Powerful earthquakes striking without warning. And humanitarian crises that deepened, driven by conflict, hunger, and climate displacement around the world. I don’t think I would be alone to say that 2025 brought bad news to family members and dear friends. We suffered setbacks. We lost loved ones. Our hearts ache for those who have been dealt a terminal illness, at no fault of their own. It’s likely the year ahead will bring more trouble. Though, I hope and pray for less. Don’t we all. Every year, my husband and I stuff four stockings for our children – now all of them grown up, but still we love the tradition. And every year, I try to find that little something that instills a sense of faith. But faith in what? It’s hard to say. Faith in our common man? After all, we’ve watched neighbours shovel each other out after storms, while strangers raise millions overnight for people they will never meet. Faith in our country? That’s harder, when public trust feels thin and institutions seem slower to protect the vulnerable than to protect themselves. Faith in artificial intelligence? It promises efficiency and answers at the click of a button, yet it still can’t teach compassion, wisdom, or when to pause before doing harm. I’d like to have more faith in a greater God. But aside from the humility of knowing that we just don’t have all the answers, religion has not been kind to the world. I have decided to put luggage tags in the stockings this year. The message is, get out in the world. Go far enough away to see how small your own assumptions are and how much we all share once borders blur. When you get to know distant people by being up close, it’s a lot easier to love one another. In fact, though, one needs not go far. Just down the road is often far enough to come across people who are perfect strangers, and yet, neighbours. There is nothing wrong about trying to “do unto others” with the people right around the corner. Perspective doesn’t just broaden the mind. It teaches gratitude by showing us how much we have compared with how much we truly need. And gratitude is the hardest thing of all to put into a Christmas stocking. We are now a quarter century into the 21st century. We have more information than at any time before, more comfort, more choice, and yet remarkably little patience for uncertainty or inconvenience. But gratitude has not kept pace with innovation. And we are slow to learn it. This is the first year I must wish readers a Merry Christmas without my father alongside. I can hear his voice, lamenting that over all his many years, people have not learned from history. But hope springs eternal, I prefer to think. Let’s make the year ahead a better one. If you catch yourself complaining, just stop. Have perspective. Be well. Be happy. —————————————————————————————————————— 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

Year-End Tax Planning Ideas

Year-End Tax Planning Ideas By Bruno M. Scanga Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year to all our readers!! The following are some ideas for individuals and business owners to reduce income taxes as 2025 draws to a close. Individuals should consider doing their RRSP contributions before the RRSP rush in the first 60 days of 2026. You can get better values by buying today than when all the last-minute procrastinators rush to buy their RRSPs in the New Year and temporarily push up market values. Another idea is to remember to top up any RESP contributions to take advantage of the 20% educational grant before year-end. While there is no technical deadline, it is best to spread your contributions out annually to a maximum of $2,500 to generate the maximum $7,200 in Federal education grants (plus any applicable provincial grants). If you have children in college or university, start looking at their earned income and whether they will have any unused tuition or other credits that can be used by the parents. Remember also to keep track of all receipts for expenses related to moving expenses to get the children to school as well. Consider delaying the purchase of any mutual funds in open or non-registered accounts until the New Year. Many funds pay year-end tax distributions in December and any purchases late in the year will get the same taxable distributions as those made in January. So check with your Advisor on the possible taxable distributions if any, on all such purchases before year-end. Finally, keep track of and gather all medical and dental receipts to see if you can get any tax credits for large expenses incurred during the year not covered by insurance. Business owners have a wider range of tax planning strategies available to them. Proprietorships can consider incorporating for 2025 if they are having a year of higher than normal income. The goal would be to reduce personal income taxes by having some of the business income taxed at the much lower corporate tax rate. Business owners can also reduce their taxes by income splitting with spouses or even teenage or adult children. The key is to make sure they are doing work for the corporation whereby the compensation is reasonable for the work being done. Consult your tax accountant for the CRA guidelines in this area. You can also start planning your income mix between earned income and dividend income. Some shareholders can receive dividends only and pay little or no tax on up to a certain maximum if they have no earned income. Recent Federal Budget tax changes to tax rates on retained earnings will affect this strategy so consult your tax specialist for their advice. Make sure you deduct as many of your medical expenses as possible in the corporation for those businesses that have Heath Spending Accounts. The medical expense is a deduction to the company, and the reimbursement is tax free to the individual with the savings being equal to something close to your personal marginal tax rate. Some other tactics to consider include taking or repaying shareholder’s loans from the corporation and making sure you pay the interest on any outstanding shareholder loans. The key is to get started before year-end to reduce your taxes.

The Menu

The Menu By Wayne and Tamara My husband and I are working on 12 years of marriage. We have relocated several times for jobs, but are finally settled down (we hope!). My mother-in-law says we are keeping her grandchildren from her by taking this job and moving where we are. We live nine hours away from his parents, which is closer than we’ve been in years. Last year because we were unemployed we went to their house for Christmas. This year, now that things are financially mended, we are hosting the Christmas shindigs. The family will be here Christmas Eve and Christmas night, and I planned on taking care of everything as hostess. My mother-in-law told me she is bringing Christmas dinner. Then a couple of days later she said she is going to bring the meal for Christmas Eve as well. Now, I am in no way incapacitated, ill, unable, or unwilling to cook. I had reserved a prime rib and a ham and planned on all the fixings to go with them. Now both will go unused, so she can bring lasagna and a small pork loin roll. That’s not enough to feed everyone. My husband says let her, but I don’t feel it’s right. As a hostess I feel insulted. As a daughter-in-law I feel encroached upon. I don’t want to set a precedent for future holidays or visits. I also don’t want to offend her. Is she being helpful or overbearing? And how do I tactfully discuss this with her so as not to make matters worse? Sara Sara, in your own home you never give in. Because if your home is not your haven, your castle, and your refuge, then you are homeless. You are right about setting a precedent you cannot live with. In a situation like this the hostess tells the guests—whether they be family or friends—what will be served and when. If someone wishes to bring another dish, it can be placed as a side dish to the main fare the host and hostess provide. Your mother-in-law can rule the roost in her own home, but she doesn’t get to rule the roost in yours. As in dealing with children, be firm, fair, and consistent. Simply state what the meals and mealtimes are to be. That is your absolute right as a hostess. Wayne & Tamara Willow In The Wind Two years ago I met the love of my life. He is sweet as can be. We love each other’s families, share secrets, and laugh until our stomachs hurt. We have an amazing sexual, emotional, and spiritual connection. I feel as if I’m looking into my own eyes when I look into his. I care for him like I would my child. But something has gone terribly wrong. His best friend just moved across the street, and this friend has a younger brother who lives with him. They make my fiancé a different person. He makes rude comments to me in front of them for entertainment, and ditches our plans to hang out with them. They want to start a rock band together, something my fiancé said he would never waste his time on. Now he is considering it. I dropped friends for him, but he refuses to drop these men--excuse me, boys--for me. Frances Frances, we get letters from women who are angry when another woman mimics their dress, hairstyle, or interests. Because your fiancé is the opposite sex you don’t see a connection to that behavior. When with his friends, your fiancé mimics their behavior; with you, he mimics you. He doesn’t wear your same dress, but he takes on your opinions and outlook. If it is his nature to be malleable, this can happen with anyone. Ask yourself if your communion with him is genuine, or only present when you have sole custody of your “child.” Wayne & Tamara

My 2026 Job Market Forecast

My 2026 Job Market Forecast By Nick Kossovan Take a deep breath. Exhale. Repeat a few times. A relaxed mind is the best tool against your challenges. While I don't have a crystal ball to predict what the 2026 job market will look like, I do have insights from numerous conversations with recruiters and hiring managers, coupled with a strong gut feeling that leads me to believe the following factors will continue to influence the job market: · Geopolitical self-interests causing economic friction between countries. · Companies investing in AI productivity tools, data processing technology, and automation instead of hiring new employees. · Employers will continue to lay off employees who don't contribute measurable value to their profitability or whose roles can be automated, outsourced, or performed by AI. The job market implications: 1. Technological advancement—economic conditions are a distant secondary factor—is the single most significant macroeconomic trend shaping job markets, and it's not going to slow down or reverse anytime soon. 2. As technology improves productivity, companies find themselves with a surplus of redundant, 'do the bare minimum,' and underperforming employees. Therefore, employers are trimming payroll fat; consequently, I expect payroll growth in 2026 to slow down further or, at best, remain unchanged. 3. Tension between job seekers and employers will escalate further. Needs to be said: AI isn't on track to create enough jobs to replace the ones it's displacing. AI is a 24/7/365 digital employee that employees and job seekers are competing against, an employee that never gets tired, sick, takes a holiday, or demands more (read: is easy to manage), and works much faster—all for no salary, perks, or ongoing overhead costs. AI isn't a productivity enhancement tool; it's a human replacement tool. The job market is reorganizing around revenue, efficiency, new technology that offers to increase productivity, and onboarding technological skills. Hiring booms or busts will not define 2026—there won't be a January hiring spike—it'll be defined by employers not willing to keep on payroll employees who don't deliver visible, measurable outcomes that contribute to their profitability. Choosing to be a 'good enough' employee is choosing to risk termination. A September 2025 article from Staffing Industry Analysts reported that 58% of US companies expect layoffs or cutbacks in 2026. 2026 will have job seekers contending with fewer job opportunities, along with a shift in hiring practices: employers increasingly relying on referrals, processing applications more slowly with greater due diligence, and using AI to determine which candidates are worth interviewing. The new hiring mantra: Smarter, not faster. Moreover, skill-based hiring is replacing degree requirements, with companies prioritizing certifications, project portfolios, and proven outcomes over job titles. Internal mobility is also gaining importance, as employers recognize that retraining existing staff for new roles is quicker and more cost-effective than hiring externally. As employers prioritize revenue and productivity improvements, they'll only be hiring for essential positions. Job seekers who've established themselves as top performers in their fields and industries—visibility is a job seeker's most valuable currency—and don't feel entitled, have unrealistic expectations, and most importantly, can clearly demonstrate how they'll contribute to an employer's bottom line will be the ones who succeed in their 2026 job search. Furthermore, return-to-office mandates will continue as companies transition their employees from remote work and flexible schedules to more stringent office attendance policies. Productivity data, promoting collaboration and engagement, and strengthening company culture are influencing employers' decisions about where the work they're paying for is done. Job seekers who are willing to work onsite will have a shorter job search compared to those who insist on working from home. In 2026, the growth of interim and project-based hiring, known as fractional work—offering your skills to multiple companies or clients on a part-time or project basis, often in strategic, high-impact roles—will continue. Full-time employees without a steady workflow are seen as a financial burden, prompting employers to leverage contract professionals who provide flexible talent solutions—especially at the leadership level—for time-limited projects such as implementing an enterprise system or a cybersecurity initiative, or as a part-time Product Manager. Employers expanding their use of fractional workers instead of hiring full-time staff means that in 2026, more employers will freeze their headcount while increasing service agreements to take advantage of the financial benefits of: · No long-term salary commitments · No benefits packages · No onboarding cost · No managing employee risks How can an employer not love fractional workers? They're a straightforward P&L line item, a strategic service when needed. From a job seeker's perspective, fractional work is easier to secure than traditional work (40-hour workweek, benefits, PTO); however, fractional workers are self-employed, which requires an entrepreneurial mindset that most job seekers don't have. In 2026, job seekers need to prioritize showcasing their intent and providing evidence of the impact they've had on their previous employers. View your resume and LinkedIn profile as strategic tools, not afterthoughts. Cultivate professional relationships long before asking for referrals. Know your career story and value-add to an employer. More than ever, employers want to hear value stories with quantifying numbers and specific outcomes. Above all, remain flexible—whether that means working onsite, doing fractional work, or taking a step back. The mindset I'd bring into 2026: a paycheque is better than no paycheque.

Karmageddon

Karmageddon By Mr. ‘X’ ~ John Mutton CENTRAL EXCLUSIVE As I write my column from my second home in Croatia, it is impossible not to see the horrible events happening across the world. The total landscape change in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada proves the age-old theory that if you “import the Third World, you become the Third World.” Christian values have been established for centuries, and those who think they can be watered down—or that politicians can bring the wrong type of people into our country without causing a clash of heritage and culture—belong in Fantasyland. True leadership is necessary, like that shown by my friend Tommy Robinson in the UK, who arranged the Unite the Kingdom rally with Polish legislator Dominik Tarczyński. What is causing extreme violence is extremism or radicalism from both the left and the right. Closer to home, Olivia Chow has introduced a luxury tax on homes over $3 million, which in Toronto is not difficult to reach. However, her quote was that people who own $20-million homes can afford the tax. What about those who are additionally taxed under $20 million Sharpie? I must admit, this year’s budget process at the Region and in some of the local municipalities has brought about some of the most interest and activity I’ve seen in years. Some great debate from the anti–tax-increase side was led by Regional Councillors Brian Nicholson, Tito-Dante Marimpietri, Maurice Brenner, Steve Yamada, and Chris Leahy. The need to change the governance of Regional Council has never been more evident, given the plethora of non-mandated services we are providing. I have said it before: tax decreases can be achieved when we focus on what we are supposed to fund and exit funding and taxation for services we are not mandated to provide under the Municipal Act. The sooner we turn the Region into a services board—drop the regional councillors and make the Chair a Speaker of the House with no voting power—the better. Let local municipalities purchase only the services they require from the Region. At the provincial level, Doug is “Captain Canada,” taking on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis by claiming tourism in Florida is down. Ron pointed out that tourism has actually increased. I don’t think this one was researched by the kids running Doug’s communications—much like the flow regulator that wasn’t removed from the Crown Royal bottle during that stunt. Listen folks, I know both Doug and Ron, and I consider them both good people looking after their electorates. That said, if I had to bet on either one in this debate, I’m taking Ron DeSantis. He is brilliant, and his staff would not make rookie mistakes like Doug’s. So this week I was thinking about which rock stars our local politicians resemble. Here’s what I came up with: John Henry looks like Henry Rollins Olivia Chow like Yoko Ono Dan Carter like David Lee Roth Brian Nicholson like Chris Stapleton Jennifer French like Katy Perry.

Durham Families Are Being Pushed to the point of no return— and Council Knows It

Durham Families Are Being Pushed to the point of no return— and Council Knows It By Councillor Lisa Robinson Durham Region residents are facing yet another property tax increase — and once again, families are being treated as an unlimited source of revenue rather than people already at their breaking point. The Region’s original proposal was a 6.04% property tax increase. That hike comes on top of everything households are already paying: municipal taxes, education, utilities, insurance, fuel, clothing, groceries — all during a cost-of-living crisis and at a time when interest rates remain painfully high. Mortgages are doubling on renewal. Rent is soaring. People are running out of room to absorb “just one more increase.” On December 11, I addressed Regional Council directly during a delegation to Committee of the Whole. My message was simple and urgent: people cannot afford this. A 6% hike is not a rounding error — it is the difference between stability and financial distress for many families. For some, it would push them past the point of no return. Those who follow my record know I have been consistent. I have voted against non-urgent projects, against excessive consultant spending, and against unnecessary expansions at a time when residents are drowning. A clear example is the Seaton project, currently estimated at $266 million, but projected to cost closer to $300 million by the time construction begins. Pickering residents alone are staring down an additional 11.71% tax increase from this project within the next 380 days. These are not abstract numbers. These are real financial blows landing on households already under strain. Following my delegation, Committee of the Whole debated a motion to reduce the increase to 3%, using reserve funds to bridge the difference. That motion passed. It was a responsible compromise that recognized both fiscal pressures and economic reality. But then, on December 17, everything changed. Just as Council was set to ratify that 3% increase, Mayor Kevin Ashe introduced a new motion raising the increase to 4.8% — and it passed. The 3% option was effectively erased. During that same meeting, the Mayor went further, publicly dismissing councillors who supported the lower increase by calling it a “get-me-elected budget.” That comment matters, because it reveals a mindset: protecting residents from financial harm is being framed as political opportunism, rather than responsible governance. Now, staff have been directed to return in January with a report assessing whether a 4.8% increase is feasible — or whether Council should revert back to the original 6.04% increase or higher, based on the budget they are reviewing. Let me be absolutely clear: nothing is final. The January meeting could result in property taxes climbing right back toward 6% or more, depending on staff recommendations and Council’s vote. Residents should not be lulled into thinking this fight is over. It is not. This is the moment to pay attention. Decisions made in January will affect every homeowner, renter, and family in Durham Region. Once those votes are cast, the damage is done. I urge residents to contact their regional councillors and mayors now. Make your voices heard before this budget is locked in. Demand accountability. Demand restraint. Demand that Council recognize that people are already stretched to their limits. Budgets are moral documents. They reveal priorities. Durham families deserve a Council that understands the real-world consequences of its decisions — before more people are pushed past the point of no return.

Christmas 2025 and the World Today

Christmas 2025 and the World Today by Maj (ret’d) CORNELIU, CHISU, CD, PMSC FEC, CET, P.Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East Christmas has always been more than a holiday. It is a moral and cultural pause, a moment when societies slow down—however briefly—and take stock of who they are and where they are going. In 2025, that pause feels unusually heavy with meaning. The world arrives at Christmas marked by conflict, uncertainty, and deep social strain, yet also sustained by quiet resilience and enduring hope. The international landscape remains unsettled. Wars that many assumed would be short have become grinding tests of endurance. In Europe, the consequences of prolonged conflict continue to reshape security thinking, energy markets, and political alliances. In the Middle East, cycles of violence persist, exacting a terrible human toll and destabilizing entire regions. Elsewhere, tensions in the Indo-Pacific and beyond remind us that the post–Cold War assumption of a steadily converging world has long since faded. Christmas 2025 arrives in a world where peace feels fragile and often secondary to power calculations. Economic anxiety compounds this insecurity. While inflation has moderated in some countries, the damage of recent years has not been undone. Housing affordability, food prices, and access to basic services remain pressing concerns for millions. Younger generations, in particular, face a gnawing sense that the social contract is weakening; that hard work no longer guarantees stability, let alone prosperity. Christmas lights may glow brightly in city centres, but behind many doors the season brings stress rather than ease. Within democracies, social cohesion is under strain. Public debate has grown sharper and less patient, driven by polarized media ecosystems and the relentless pace of online life. Political disagreements increasingly become moral judgments, and compromise is treated as capitulation. Institutions meant to foster trust—parliaments, courts, even universities—are questioned or dismissed when they produce inconvenient outcomes. Christmas stands in quiet contrast to this climate. Its message insists on dignity, restraint, and humility—values that feel almost countercultural in an age of permanent outrage. At the same time, Christmas 2025 exposes widening inequalities. For some families, the season is marked by abundance: full tables, generous gifts, and the comfort of time off. For others, it is a period of calculation—how to stretch paycheques, which expenses can be delayed, how to shield children from worry. Charitable giving peaks in December, a testament to enduring generosity, but it also highlights a troubling reality: too many people rely on seasonal kindness to meet year-round needs. Christmas challenges societies to ask whether compassion should be episodic or structural. Globally, the season underscores the human cost of unresolved conflict. For refugees and displaced families, Christmas is often spent far from home, in temporary shelters or crowded camps. Traditions are reduced to memories, and celebrations are tinged with grief. History contains moments when Christmas truces briefly halted violence, reminding us that even in war, restraint is possible. While such gestures are rare today, the season still poses an uncomfortable question to leaders and citizens alike: when conflict becomes permanent, what happens to our moral limits? Beyond geopolitics and economics lies a quieter, less visible crisis, which is loneliness. Despite unprecedented digital connectivity, many people feel isolated. Elderly individuals, migrants, and those separated from family experience Christmas not as a time of togetherness but as a sharp reminder of absence. The season exposes a paradox of modern life: we communicate constantly, yet often struggle to truly connect. In this sense, Christmas places responsibility not only on governments or institutions, but on individuals. A visit, a call, or a simple invitation can matter profoundly. Yet it would be a mistake to see Christmas 2025 only through the lens of crisis. The world is also sustained by countless acts of care that rarely make headlines. Parents invest patiently in their children’s future. Teachers, health-care workers, and volunteers continue their work despite fatigue and uncertainty. Communities gather; not out of denial, but out of determination to preserve meaning and continuity. Faith traditions, civic rituals, and family customs endure because they offer orientation in unsettled times. The enduring power of Christmas lies precisely in its realism. It does not promise that the world will suddenly become just or peaceful. Instead, it affirms that compassion is not naïve, that restraint is not weakness, and that hope is a discipline. Its message is demanding: peace begins locally, dignity is indivisible, and prosperity carries responsibility. As 2025 draws to a close, Christmas offers the world a choice. It can be treated as a brief interlude; an island of warmth before returning unchanged to division and distraction. Or it can be taken seriously, as a reminder that the future is shaped not only by grand strategies and global summits, but by everyday decisions to listen, to include, and to care. In a world marked by uncertainty, that reminder may be more necessary than ever. Merry Christmas!

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.

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. —————————————————————————————————————— 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.

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

Canada Needs a Real Immigration Reset—One That Matches the Country’s Actual Needs by Maj (ret’d) CORNELIU, CHISU, CD, PMSC FEC, CET, P.Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East For decades, Canadians have taken pride in an immigration system admired around the world—rules-based, humanitarian, and economically grounded. Immigration has shaped the country’s identity, supported its growth, and replenished a labour force too small to sustain a vast nation. But as Canada enters a period of economic uncertainty, housing scarcity, strained public services, and shifting global realities, it is increasingly clear that the current immigration model no longer aligns with the country’s real needs. A serious, evidence-based review is overdue. Not a politically charged fight about whether immigration is “good” or “bad,” but a sober assessment of how to ensure immigration strengthens Canada rather than overwhelms the systems that must support newcomers and citizens alike. The core issue is not immigration itself—it is the misalignment between Canada’s intake levels and the country’s actual capacity to absorb newcomers. Over the past several years, Canada has admitted more than a million newcomers annually through permanent immigration, temporary workers, asylum seekers, and international students. This is the fastest population growth in the G7 by a wide margin. Yet the infrastructure needed to support this growth—housing, transit, schools, health care capacity—has lagged far behind. Municipalities from Halifax to Vancouver warn that they cannot keep up. Even the Bank of Canada has acknowledged that infrastructure constraints are now limiting economic productivity. The result is a system where immigration remains a national strength in principle but a source of strain in practice. Newcomers face record housing costs, long wait times for services, and difficulty integrating into jobs that match their skills. Canadians, in turn, feel the pressure in their daily lives: competition for rentals, crowded hospitals, and rising local taxes to fund expansions happening too slowly. Canada does not have an immigration problem. It has a planning problem. Meanwhile, the country’s labour market tells a more complicated story. Canada desperately needs more workers in key sectors: skilled trades, health care, agriculture, transportation, advanced manufacturing, engineering, and technology. These shortages are not abstract. They directly slow down construction of housing, delay energy and infrastructure projects, limit food production, and reduce competitiveness across the economy. And yet large numbers of immigrants—especially highly educated professionals—continue to find themselves underemployed. Many cannot work in their trained field because of fragmented credential recognition and slow provincial licensing systems. Employers complain of shortages while thousands of qualified newcomers drive taxis, stock shelves, or work far below their skill level. In other words, immigration is high, but labour-market alignment is low. Part of the issue lies in the explosion of temporary and semi-temporary immigration streams, especially the international student program. Designed as a tool for attracting talent, it has grown into a revenue engine for private colleges and cash-strapped universities, often without ensuring real educational quality or job-market alignment. Tens of thousands of international students pay high tuition for low-value programs with minimal oversight, while housing shortages worsen and employers continue to struggle to find workers with needed skills. The Temporary Foreign Worker Program, meanwhile, has become a patch for chronic shortages that should be addressed through long-term workforce planning, not perpetual dependency on temporary labour. In some sectors, employers rely on temporary workers not because Canadians refuse certain jobs but because employers have not invested in training, apprenticeships, or improved working conditions. This patchwork approach—high immigration intake on paper, low integration capacity in practice—undermines the credibility of the system. Canadians remain broadly supportive of immigration, but that support is not unlimited. It must be earned through effective planning and visible results. The way forward requires a modern immigration framework built around real-world needs, not political slogans or economic wishful thinking. First, Canada must adopt a national labour-force strategy that brings federal and provincial governments together to determine actual needs. This means identifying how many workers are required each year in essential sectors, how many students can realistically be housed and educated, and what regions require population replenishment. Immigration must be tied to this analysis—not to arbitrary growth targets. Second, credential recognition needs a complete overhaul. It is unacceptable that engineers, nurses, medical technologists, and other trained professionals wait years to obtain recognition, even as provinces lament shortages. Canada should establish national licensing standards for key professions, accelerate testing and evaluation, and fund “bridging programs” that directly connect newcomers to employers. Provinces and regulatory bodies must justify any barriers that stand in the way of qualified immigrants entering their field. Third, Canada needs a dedicated Skilled Trades Fast Lane, with pathways designed to recruit electricians, plumbers, carpenters, heavy-equipment operators, welders, and other technical workers essential to national growth. Without a surge in trades, Canada will simply not build the housing, transit, and energy infrastructure required for the next generation. Fourth, the international student program must be realigned with national priorities. Institutions should be required to demonstrate that they can support students with adequate housing and high-quality programs. Study permits should be linked to labour-market outcomes, not institutional tuition revenue. The federal government must also curb abuses by low-quality private colleges that profit from vulnerable students while contributing little to Canada’s long-term prosperity. Fifth, settlement and integration services must be strengthened. Successful immigration does not end at the airport. It requires affordable housing, language training tailored to professional needs, rural immigration incentives, and partnerships between employers and municipalities. Integration reduces social tension, builds community cohesion, and ensures newcomers can contribute their full potential. Finally, Canada needs to treat immigration not as a short-term fix for temporary labour shortages or a tool for population growth statistics, but as a national strategy. One that balances economic opportunity, humanitarian commitments, and social cohesion. One that recognizes that welcoming immigrants is not enough—Canada must set them up for success. A modern immigration policy should be grounded in three principles: sustainability, alignment, and integration. Sustainable levels that match Canada’s housing and service capacity. Alignment with real labour-market needs, not institutional interests. And integration that ensures newcomers can thrive rather than struggle on the margins. Canada’s future prosperity depends on getting this right. Immigration will remain essential to the country’s economic health and demographic survival. But for immigration to continue as a national strength, Canadians must see that the system works—for newcomers, for communities, and for the country as a whole. A national immigration reset is not a step backward. It is a step toward the kind of thoughtful, strategic, nation-building immigration system that Canada has always aspired to—and that it urgently needs now. What do you think?