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SPEAK UP: Springing forward, easing restrictions, politics and pickups – Saltwire

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3 years ago

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The Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its third week with a new round of talks between officials from both countries as Ukrainians continue to flee to avoid the shelling. Closer to home, in Halifax the Mass Casualty Commission continues its important work probing the deadliest mass shooting in Canadian history. Other topics dominating the conversation? Springing forward, the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, politics and pickup trucks.

Watching the clock

SaltWire Network’s Sheldon MacLeod ticks off the pros and cons of daylight savings time, something people tend to either love or hate. Are we ready to ditch the practice?

Taking a stand

SaltWire columnist Gail Lethbridge weighs in on the debate over whether police who responded to the terrible shootings in Portapique, N.S. — or who oversaw the police response — should have to testify at the Mass Casualty Commission. Don’t put her down as undecided. “The families of victims and all Nova Scotians deserve to hear them explain what they saw that night and the next day,” she writes.

July 23, 2020—The civic sign welcoming people to Portapique. ERIC WYNNE/Chronicle Herald – Eric Wynne

 

Back off, Mr. Premier

In Prince Edward Island, guest columnist Martin Ruben — a former public auditor with expertise in public sector governance — takes aim at Premier Dennis King, saying administrative decisions he’s made are politicizing the public service.

Putin on steroids?

SaltWire columnist Gwynne Dyer muses about whether Russian President Vladimir Putin’s appearance and his aggression could stem from steroid use. “I wouldn’t make policy solely on this diagnosis, but it needs to go into the mix when thinking about how to deal with Putin,” Dyer writes.

Social media scourge

In Cape Breton, Nancy MacDonald of Sydney Mines wrote an impassioned letter about how social media is normalizing the spread of misinformation. “Everyone believes in free speech,” she writes. “But this is beyond that. This is free hate and it’s destroying our society and democracy.”

The problem with pickups

Guest columnist Lisa Roberts says newer, bigger trucks pose dangers to pedestrians and cyclists sharing the road. “The evidence is in,” she writes. “Hood heights on trucks are 11 per cent higher since 2000, and weights are 24 per cent greater. Greater size comes with larger blind spots — estimated at 3.3 metres longer than some sedans, according to Consumer Reports.”

Good signs

In Meaghers Grant, N.S., 12-year-old Anna Gibb believes so strongly in the power and potential of American sign language that she wrote a letter about it. “It’s a skill that I feel everyone should know, to help us better understand those around us,” she says. 

Covid’s still here

In Newfoundland and Labrador, where public health restrictions were dropped on March 14, not everyone’s applauding. For people like Keith Fitzpatrick in Labrador City, who’s immunocompromised, it just means it is now going to be more difficult to protect himself. “The last few weeks I have seen many comments on Facebook and Twitter that have been jarring to those of us in the disabled community and those of us who are immunocompromised; comments that make it sound like our lives do not matter anymore,” he writes.

Fishing sustainably

Federal Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray says she wants to help strengthen the fish and seafood sector, which provides employment to so many people in the Atlantic region. “I’d like to look at ways of building tourism into the fishing industry or find cost-saving ways for our inshore fleet to operate, such as electrification of the fleet,” she writes in a guest commentary.

Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray: “I look forward to finding ways that we can continue to innovate and bring value to the fishery across Atlantic Canada.” Contributed photo

A mighty wind

To end things on a lighter note, I wrote a column about all that can go wrong when you’re wrestling with a massive cardboard box in a gale force wind. “In St. John’s,” I write, “the wind is as big and bold a character as Mary Walsh or Gordon Pinsent, or the fog that pillows in the Narrows like whipping cream.”
Op-ed Disclaimer

SaltWire Network welcomes letters on matters of public interest for publication. All letters must be accompanied by the author’s name, address and telephone number so that they can be verified. Letters may be subject to editing. The views expressed in letters to the editor in this publication and on SaltWire.com are those of the authors, and do not reflect the opinions or views of SaltWire Network or its Publisher. SaltWire Network will not publish letters that are defamatory, or that denigrate individuals or groups based on race, creed, colour or sexual orientation. Anonymous, pen-named, third-party or open letters will not be published.

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Politics

NDP caving to Poilievre on carbon price, has no idea how to fight climate change: PM

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2 days ago

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September 13, 2024

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OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the NDP is caving to political pressure from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre when it comes to their stance on the consumer carbon price.

Trudeau says he believes Jagmeet Singh and the NDP care about the environment, but it’s “increasingly obvious” that they have “no idea” what to do about climate change.

On Thursday, Singh said the NDP is working on a plan that wouldn’t put the burden of fighting climate change on the backs of workers, but wouldn’t say if that plan would include a consumer carbon price.

Singh’s noncommittal position comes as the NDP tries to frame itself as a credible alternative to the Conservatives in the next federal election.

Poilievre responded to that by releasing a video, pointing out that the NDP has voted time and again in favour of the Liberals’ carbon price.

British Columbia Premier David Eby also changed his tune on Thursday, promising that a re-elected NDP government would scrap the long-standing carbon tax and shift the burden to “big polluters,” if the federal government dropped its requirements.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Quebec consumer rights bill to regulate how merchants can ask for tips

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3 days ago

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September 12, 2024

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Quebec wants to curb excessive tipping.

Simon Jolin-Barrette, minister responsible for consumer protection, has tabled a bill to force merchants to calculate tips based on the price before tax.

That means on a restaurant bill of $100, suggested tips would be calculated based on $100, not on $114.98 after provincial and federal sales taxes are added.

The bill would also increase the rebate offered to consumers when the price of an item at the cash register is higher than the shelf price, to $15 from $10.

And it would force grocery stores offering a discounted price for several items to clearly list the unit price as well.

Businesses would also have to indicate whether taxes will be added to the price of food products.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Youri Chassin quits CAQ to sit as Independent, second member to leave this month

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3 days ago

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September 12, 2024

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Quebec legislature member Youri Chassin has announced he’s leaving the Coalition Avenir Québec government to sit as an Independent.

He announced the decision shortly after writing an open letter criticizing Premier François Legault’s government for abandoning its principles of smaller government.

In the letter published in Le Journal de Montréal and Le Journal de Québec, Chassin accused the party of falling back on what he called the old formula of throwing money at problems instead of looking to do things differently.

Chassin says public services are more fragile than ever, despite rising spending that pushed the province to a record $11-billion deficit projected in the last budget.

He is the second CAQ member to leave the party in a little more than one week, after economy and energy minister Pierre Fitzgibbon announced Sept. 4 he would leave because he lost motivation to do his job.

Chassin says he has no intention of joining another party and will instead sit as an Independent until the end of his term.

He has represented the Saint-Jérôme riding since the CAQ rose to power in 2018, but has not served in cabinet.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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