Wedge Issues
Since taking my seat in the new office I’ve noticed I’m listing more.Not making lists, as the office’s esteemed predecessor liked to compile.But listing – leaning to one side, specifically, the east.I’ve nothing against the east. Sometimes I take a car ride over to Quebec to
Challenging time of year
This is a challenging time of year for municipalities as they finalize their 2017 budgets.This is certainly not an easy task in this day and age, and for Northern municipalities, it is uniquely challenging because of a low and declining population, and a limited number of people who
Thank you for supporting respect
Dear editor,We would like to thank our communities across Temiskaming south for supporting the awareness campaign - Spread the Word to End the Word: Utiliser le Bon Mot – RESPECT for the past three years.We are overwhelmed with your support with the local efforts to promote the
Unfair to clients
Dear editor,I am writing this letter in regard to the closing of ARC Industries.I think it is an (awful) thing to do to close ARC Industries up, that’s not fair to the clients. It’s a place for them to go and learn things. I went to ARC
Wonderful little hospital
Dear Editor,All too often you hear people of the community complaining about our (Temiskaming) Hospital. Concerns about the wait time in the emergency department, the lack of care for patients, the doctors, just about everything they can complain about.I want it known just how wonderful our little
Adventures in housekeeping
[caption id="attachment_2755" align="alignleft" width="125"] Diane Johnston[/caption]There’s a foolhardy school of thought urging us to cope with the cold, dark days of winter by embracing the season.I don’t.
What’s your cost?
There’s no shortage of stories about electricity costs in Ontario these days.Last month the Toronto Star published a story on a Muskoka cottager who used $1.30 worth of electricity, but his bill included a charge of $82.53 to deliver it.The Speaker had a story
Open letter to health ministers
Dear Ministers of Health,We are encouraged by the unique opportunity offered by the Health Accord process and the federal commitment to increase investments in the mental health system for the first time in decades. Prioritizing the mental “wealth” of people in Canada will help us tackle the growing
Local/National
[caption id="attachment_15590" align="alignleft" width="240"] Speaker Editor Steven Larocque[/caption]The editorial you see to the left of this column touches on a subject that arises, albeit infrequently, here at The Speaker.A parent recently called us, upset that his/her
Picture this
The photographs a community newspaper takes of individuals, school sporting events, community happenings are mainstays of that paper and reflect the ways in which we live, work and play in the Temiskaming region.Suffice to say, when we publish children’s photos it is always a good idea to let