Opinion Archives — Lindsay Advocate

The reopening mantra: Do the right thing and let the rest go

Published on July 7, 2020 in Opinion by Nancy Payne

The only behaviour I can control is my own.

Never has that felt more true than right now, as summer lures us out of isolation back into a world where we’re still trying to figure out what’s safe, what’s considerate, and what we can live with. (This article by Advocate writer Kirk Winter is an excellent starting place.)

A Saturday afternoon in Bobcaygeon made me realize just how differently we all see those three things.

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Canada Day reflection: An ‘accidental Canadian’ considers his roots

Published on June 30, 2020 in Community/Opinion by Kirk Winter

With Canada Day in the offing, I often think of how my extended family first arrived in this great land. My mother’s parents from Northern Ireland and Scotland made a conscious decision to immigrate to escape overpopulation and unemployment at home.

My Dad’s paternal grandfather left the Midlands of England hoping for more opportunity in a new land. However, my dad’s maternal grandfather had no intention of coming to Canada when he left Norway in 1894. Only through a series of unplanned and and life altering events did this former whaler not end up settling permanently in the United States, his intended new home, when he left Stokke, Norway at the age of 18.

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Trevor’s Take: The two solitudes

Published on June 24, 2020 in Opinion by Trevor Hutchinson

I was probably 13 when I realized how tourists affected my personal economy.

All these years later I can still remember the time. I was on the cliff in Fenelon Falls, steeling my nerve as I stared down the 20 feet that felt like 60. Keep Reading

Five decisions you can make in the age of COVID-19

Published on June 14, 2020 in Opinion by Kirk Winter

Many Kawartha Lakes residents are struggling with what to do and how to behave regarding the COVID-19 pandemic now that the curve appears to be flattening.

Everywhere people turn they seem to be getting mixed messages from government and the media regarding behaviour that will keep people safe but also help their neighbour’s businesses survive to open another day.

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Billionaires equate to failed public policy

Published on June 13, 2020 in Opinion by Roderick Benns

As our people and small businesses hold on for their lives and livelihoods, many are looking on, wondering what happened to the grand promise of unfettered capitalism.

What happened to the promise of endless growth? Of the greatness of the free market?

The sheer inadequacy of the market to respond to this pandemic, the utter weakness of big business to pull us out of this mess is itself a master lesson in economics.

It’s also an indictment of extreme capitalism.

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Ford government moving to privatize health care, reader says

Published on June 11, 2020 in Letters to the Editor by Lindsay Advocate

I am beyond disgusted at the Ford government. Premier Doug Ford is moving ahead with Bill 175, which seeks to privatize home health care — even as he cries crocodile tears over the horrible conditions at long-term care homes.

As citizens of this country, we have worked, paid taxes (through which politicians get paid) and contributed to the economy by buying foods, electronics and all of the commercial products from corporations that maintain their success — and profits — from our money.

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Yukon’s Gurdeep Pandher tries to spread some joy on social media

Published on June 7, 2020 in Opinion by Trevor Hutchinson

Like many Canadians, I have been spending a little more time online while we #stayathome during the COVID-19 restrictions.

Last month Canada’s large internet companies reported internet usage increases of over 50 per cent nationally. A report from April reports that Canadian usage of social media (in time spent) at the start of the pandemic had increased by a whopping 70 per cent.

So it turns out that I am not alone in my increased usage of Twitter and Facebook: a lot of us are turning to social media a lot more during these troubling times.

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Two local businesses that adapted quickly to new reality

Published on June 5, 2020 in Business/Opinion by Dennis Geelen

Imagine that you have put years of time, effort, passion, and money into building a business. From the early years of raising capital or going the lean start-up route, through the growing pains that come with scaling from a small to medium sized business and all the new challenges that it presents.

Human resource considerations, targeted marketing campaigns, sound financial practices, and efficient operations are all challenges and obstacles that have been faced and refined on your way to becoming a larger wide-scale success.

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A people’s new economic normal

Published on June 4, 2020 in Opinion by Mike Perry

“All of my sweat, blood and tears were in my business.” In Fenelon Falls, Sandy’s well-known bakery has closed for good.

My dear friend Graham has also shuttered his senior care family business, too overwhelmed to consider what might be next for him.

We’re hearing these stories more and more. The free market is now producing 15 per cent unemployment and possible defaults on consumer debts of 50 to 70 per cent. A lot more bankruptcies and unemployment are forecast.

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Pothole problems, landfill longing from resident in ward two

Published on June 3, 2020 in Letters to the Editor by Lindsay Advocate

No charge residential clear bag drop at City Landfills

Thank you for painting a bright new shiny solid yellow line on Concession 7 and Northline Road.

This will be helpful at letting us all know when we have broken the law by veering to the other side of the road repeatedly to miss the many potholes.

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