Mike Brown helped make Algoma-Manitoulin ‘just a little bit better’

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Mike Brown was retired last fall by the Algoma-Manitoulin electorate from his position as member of the Ontario legislature for the Algoma-Manitoulin riding. Even though he had represented Manitoulin Island and the rest of this riding for more than 24 years, people very quickly forget about the accomplishments of “former [...]

February 22, 2012 12:01 am 0 comments

Resourceful Ontario will reinvent itself and prosper

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The day this commentary is published, February 15, Don Drummond will present his report to the Ontario government offering his recommendations on what measures this province should take to overcome a $16 billion deficit without raising citizens’ tax burden. Depending on one’s point of view, this may or may not [...]

February 15, 2012 12:01 am 0 comments

‘The Pension’ a powerful symbol in natural consciousness

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It has been nearly 30 years since an Ottawa government has threatened to tamper with Old Age Security (OAS or, more commonly, “The Pension”). Prime Minister Brian Mulroney was leading a Progressive Conservative government and the grassroots response to the lead politician was swift and unequivocal. Even on Manitoulin Island, [...]

February 8, 2012 12:01 am Comments are Disabled

Vague timelines, benchmarks must be overcome if things are to change for First Nations

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Last week’s much-heralded meeting between First Nations leaders from across Canada and senior parliamentarians (including the prime minister and several ranking members of cabinet) together with Governor General David Johnston (who is, incidentally, also an expert in Canadian constitutional law) pointedly highlighted several key areas of discussion into priority status. [...]

February 1, 2012 12:01 am Comments are Disabled

Crown-First Nations meeting born of crisis

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It’s Monday afternoon, January 23 and the selection process is underway just now to determine which First Nations leaders presently convening in Ottawa will be delegated to meet Tuesday with Prime Minister Harper, Governor General Johnston and nearly a dozen senior cabinet ministers. It will be Wednesday, this newspaper’s publication [...]

January 25, 2012 12:01 am Comments are Disabled

Deadline to comment on McLean’s wind farm project draws near

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The deadline for Manitoulin citizens, together with seasonal residents and other friends of this special region, to register a comment on the proposed McLean’s Mountain wind turbine farm has been extended to Friday, January 27. The project has been a controversial one. There is no doubt about that and the [...]

January 18, 2012 12:01 am Comments are Disabled

Federal Liberals must choose wisely and well and plan for 2019

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This weekend, Liberals from across Canada will gather in Ottawa for the party’s mandated bi-annual policy conference. It marks the first national gathering of Liberal party members, of both mover and shaker and rank-and-file classes, since the Liberals slipped to “other party” status, vastly diminished in its claim to be [...]

January 11, 2012 12:01 am Comments are Disabled

Ontario should eliminate assessments on First Nations land acquistions

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A new 2012 calendar on the wall and already lots of upcoming meetings and events are penciled in. Thus it goes. The attempts for the seven Manitoulin First Nations communities and the province of Ontario to finalize the 1990 land claim agreement drags on with, most recently, the Manitoulin Municipal [...]

January 4, 2012 12:01 am Comments are Disabled

Trying to be a positive life force always a good idea

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Crystal Lynn Shawanda, the young woman from Wikwemikong’s Kaboni community—whose determination to remain a presence in the music business is quite extraordinary in and of itself—is becoming a role model for the larger community. Ms. Shawanda has made a pre-Christmas Manitoulin tour that has taken her to live performances at [...]

December 21, 2011 12:01 am Comments are Disabled

At this paper, some things change but much remains the same

At this paper, some things change but much remains the same
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At The Expositor, 2011 has been (another) year of change. We say “another” because last year was much the same when the long-time and much valued production team of Al Ryan and Susan Hart left our office after a decade to pursue other Island careers. They left big shoes to [...]

December 14, 2011 12:01 am Comments are Disabled