Opinion poll

Public question period At its last meeting Hastings Highlands Township Council passed a motion adding a second public question period to its Council meetings. It already provided for one question period at the end of each meeting, but has now added one at the beginning. This will allow attendees, according …

Use of non-disclosure agreements leaves public in the dark

The routine use of non-disclosure agreements without any consideration of the public’s best interests has become a legal epidemic that undermines the very idea of an open and accountable society. Andrew Nikiforuk, How Non-Disclosure Agreements have become a cancer on democracy, published on October 18, 2018 in The Tyee. OPINION …

Why can’t we be friends? How partisan bickering erodes the democratic process

OPINION Editor’s note: This is the first of occasional articles The Current will publish relating to the 2019 federal election.  It is election year and Canada is about to get ugly. Our traditionally polite dispositions will soon be replaced by venom, pointed at those we have deemed our enemies — our …

Have lessons been learned from Borutski’s crimes?

OPINION On November 20 2018 the provincial government issued a media release entitled Ontario Working to Stop Violence Against Women and Support Survivors. It announced that it is investing $11.5 million this year to better support frontline shelter workers serving women and children and delivering counselling programs across the province. Minister …

Only the tip of the iceberg

OPINION Integrity Commissioner Guy Giorno presented two reports to MV Council on Nov. 5 regarding complaints made against Councillors Peplinski and Maika. Giorno’s opinion was that neither councillor had breached the Code of Conduct. During the public question period afterwards some individuals urged the township to bring legal claims against …

Time to get back on The Path

Editorial As we luxuriate in the aftermath of another election spared from signage blight it is worth considering what we have learned about what should occupy the new Council’s attention. Handover is only a month away. Before we get to that, The Current congratulates all of the successful candidates. Councillors Archer …

Porch Views: No lederhosen please, we’re Prussian – Oktoberfest and Renfrew County Germans

Reinhold Hildebrandt   Photo courtesy Beverley Glofcheskie My dad and I used to tour Renfrew County visiting German settlements and pioneer cemeteries. Now it’s a tradition for me. This year I jokingly referred to it as my “Oktoberfest” tour to make a point. Valley residents may think Oktoberfest is an expression …

Back to Top