Originally published, in the Guelph Mercury Feb. 25, 2011 The water conservation rebate program here in Guelph represents just one more example where City Hall has extended itself beyond its mandate and spent beyond its means. Under normal circumstances when a business has less demand for its produ…

I am heartened to see many videos and images this morning of Police joining with peaceful protesters in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. While racism in society is pervasive and progress toward true equality moves at a frustratingly slow pace, the relationship citizens have with those swor…

So as this state of emergency goes on and on my frustration, disappointment and disbelief only grows. I don't know how emergency powers that destroy people lives and livelihoods have been allowed to continue for this long. I fully support state of emergencies that exist for 30 days. I could eve…

Oil is not dead. Plastic consumption is going to explode as single use trumps re use in the new normal. Rise of PPE and greater use of plastics in food service for sanitary reasons will boost demand. Reuse is now a bad word in the post pandemic world. The plexi glass is not coming down. Peop…

As we finally allow the kids to play again, I hope we can do this better next time. Ugh, I really hope there is not a next time. I am in complete support of social distancing as key method for stopping the spread of disease. What I have taken exception to is the way in which it has been imp…

So garden and hardware stores are set to open again and cottage goers are free to spread. Even the sin shops are allowed to increase their hours. But kids your local park is still closed. Well at least we are giving young people a lesson in civics on how things get done.  You need political …

Well how's it going so far? Your answer to that question probably depends on your bank account or if your job or business was ripped away from you. Yes we are all getting a little squirrely  being stuck inside, but if you’ve got at least 3 rooms to roam around in – stop whining. Imagi…

Click  HERE  for the published version. With so much time on our hands, it is only natural that many have turned to social platforms to offer their two cents on how our governments are responding to the COVID – 19 crisis. So let me chime in, with my nickels worth of observations. I hav…

To commemorate black history month I am posting my first column published this month 28 years ago.  In pursuit of this goal I spoke with a number of professors and scholars including Duke University's John Hope Franklin. I also traveled to the University of Guelph  and meet with Dr. C.J.…

As I sit on the eve of strike action by Ontario public high school teachers - I really have to shake my head as to why the provincial government allows this to happen. No, I am not talking about the government giving in to all the demands of the teacher unions to make labour p…