Get ready for spring
The advance of spring is finally being felt, and our southern Ontario neighbours are actually seeing corners of gardens where green shoots of plants are rising out of the ground. We will likely have spring here in a more noticeable way than we do now in about two more weeks.But
The birth of spring
The first signs of spring are being detected.It’s hard to believe, but sure enough, there are patches of grass, and snow is melting.April 7 actually featured a double-digit temperature.It’s natural to want it to go quickly, but wisdom prevails, and for the sake of homes, basements, roads and riverbanks, we
From the Editor’s Desk
A question of ethics[caption id="attachment_1019" align="alignleft" width="200"] Speaker Editor - Gordon Brock[/caption]On Thursday, March 27, the Canadian Community Newspaper Association announced The Temiskaming Speaker will receive four awards for newspaper excellence.One of the awards is for overall newspaper excellence
Letter of the Week
Not if but whenDear Editor:We are told the N.E.B. stands for the National Energy Board, but we were not made aware that it also stood for its position as the New Enbridge Bureau.So much camouflage for an independent branch of the Federal Government, which in the disguise as a fair
Letter to the Editor
Calling for public inquiryDear Editor:This is an open letter to Ontario Premier Kathleen WynneDear Premier:I wrote to you recently expressing my concern about the reckless waste of tax dollars by your government, and your ongoing attempts to make middle class families foot the bill for Liberal indiscretions.Now, the people of
Little trust in hydro system
Ontario residents, and in particular rural Ontario residents, have every reason to be doubtful about the ability of the current provincial government to properly manage the hydro system and the agencies which oversee it.The Ontario Ombudsman has stepped into a portion of the mess and inspired an apology which was
On the other side
We will be voting in municipal elections in October. We may be going to vote in a provincial election this spring. And right now, across the border, our Quebec neighbours are in the midst of a provincial election campaign with voting day April 7.While it may be true that on
Breaking the ice
Like most Northerners, it’s been some time since I’ve seen a natural body of water. I have heard it said that there is as much as four feet of ice out on Lake Temiskaming. We need one of those icebreakers to come along and break it up, and even better,
Afghanistan
After 12 years Canada’s military involvement in Afghanistan is officially over.Last week, with little fanfare, the last remaining Canadian soldiers, left that country.Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan, some say, reshaped our armed forces.Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan, some say, redefined us as a country.We note Canadian troops were in combat roles in
Grief and the approach of spring
I hate to start a column off on the negative, but I do believe this is the time of year that I hate the most.Many people are exhausted by the long winter, the lack of sunshine, the battle against the winter, the snow-shovelling, the cold homes, the high bills, the