The Tilbury Times

Year: 2021

  • Bert Andrews: Gratitude for Success

    By: Laura Steiner/ Local Journalism Initiative
    “I wouldn’t trade it for anything else, any other lifestyle.  I’m extremely happy with it.” Bert Andrews said of his life as a farmer.  Andrews is the founder of Andrews’ Scenic Acres.  Andrews opened the farm in 1980, and sold it in 2016.  Andrews returned as part of a recent fundraiser for the Townsend Smith Foundation.
    “I’m sure if you’re talking to a lot of people today, you find out that they came here as children, and now they’re bringing their own children, he said.”   People could give a donation inside the farmer’s market, bid in a silent auction, or a make a guess at how many candies in the jar.
    Bert Andrews was born in 1943, he grew up on a 200 acre farm near Peterborough with his parents, and a sister.  He went to the University of Guelph pursuing a degree in their crop science program where he also met his wife Lauraine Andrews.  He graduated in 1966, and worked for 15 years with Dupont, including two in Agricultural Chemicals..  He started searching for a farm, with an eye to planting blueberries.  He chose the farm in Halton Hills because the soil’s Ph balance suited the crop.   “Why not have other fruits and vegetables until frost hits?” he asked. So, he quickly added  strawberries, raspberries, and asparagus, and rhubarb.  Today it’s up to 165 acres of  “pick your own” fruits across a few area farms.  They added the winery that uses grapes on the farm, and he sees microbrewing as the next step. The farm relied on a mixture of migrant workers, and local employees.  The interview with Bert Andrews was interrupted a few times by those who returned to wish him well.  “I have a philosophy that if you treat your employees well, they’ll treat you well.  It doesn’t matter what level you’re talking,” he said.  It’s an attitude he learned from his time with Dupont.
    He credited his family as part of his success.  He, and his wife Lauraine had three children all of whom at one point worked in the business growing up.  They all chose different professions; a physiotherapist, pharmacist, and a lawyer.  “As Bert says, we got them educated too much, and they moved on.” Lauraine joked.  One of their granddaughters works there.  Jill Brouwers is working her third summer on the farm.  “I love it because I get to talk to my mom obviously.  We’ll talk about the ice cream machines; how she used to use them and how I use them.  It’s good to relate to her and how she grew up and stuff” she said.  Jill hopes to continue working there for at least one more summer. “I love hearing his stories, and I love hearing about the farm,” she said of her grandfather.
    The pumpkin festival was held with COVID-19 protocols in mind, which, limited the number of people inside the farm market.  The lineups spread from the store’s entrance across the field in front of the food counter.  The view provided Andrews with a good perspective on the farm’s success from where he sat in his rocking chair outside.  “It’s gratifying being here today, and seeing all these people come to the Andrews farm, as they have for years, and years,” Bert said.

  • Macklem plays down wage-and-spending surge but promises faster hikes if inflation spikes

    That increase in mortgage rates that everyone has been warning you about may be coming faster than you thought. Depending on who you listen to, it may be a lot faster.
    Yesterday’s decision by the Bank of Canada to stop stimulating the economy with bond buying is already having a small effect on lending rates, said people who watch the mortgage market. 
    But perhaps even more important is the fact that the Governor of the Bank of Canada Tiff Macklem has dramatically changed his message from one of relative complacency — that inflation would look after itself — to one where the central bank has committed itself to actively drive inflation down with cuts to stimulus.

    Threading a careful path

    The strategy is a tricky one, because Macklem wants to thread a careful path between scaring business investors and home buyers — with threats of high interest rates that could discourage new investment — while taking a hard enough line to convince everyone that the central bank will not let inflation persist in the economy.
    Many bank economists, including Scotiabank’s Derek Holt and the Bank of Montreal’s Doug Porter seem skeptical that Macklem can have it both ways, suggesting that consumer spending and wage demands may push inflation, and the interest rate hikes needed to fight it, up faster than the Bank of Canada is willing to project in its latest Monetary Policy Report (MPR). 
    Both economists remarked on Macklem’s sudden change in tone. As well as abruptly ending the stimulating effect of quantitative easing — the purchase of bonds in the market to make borrowing even cheaper and easier for those who could afford to borrow — the central bank has announced it will begin raising interest rates in the middle of next year.
    The Bank of Canada expects consumer spending to be the major economic driver as the economy reopens. Its governor expects supply problems will help push prices higher, contributing to inflation.
    But while the Macklem expects people with pandemic savings will only spend 20 per cent of that cash on goods, others, including the boss of RBC, David McKay, have predicted consumers will go on a major spending spree , driving inflation to new heights. It’s possible that rising inflation would actually encourage spending as people watch the value of their savings shrink.
    In any case, retail bank economists seem to widely agree that both inflation and rates rises will be sooner, more frequent and ultimately higher.

    Earlier, faster and higher

    Clearly, the risks are tilted to an even earlier move, and — yes — the possibility of a faster cadence, and a higher end point, wrote BMO’s Porter in a release shortly after the central bank put out its October MPR.
    Although he said they would not likely be needed, Macklem conceded the bank could move faster on rates. In response to a direct question about whether the central bank would continue to push rates higher if inflation persisted, Macklem gave a tough, if slightly confusing confirmation in central-bank-speak.

    What did you expect?

    What Macklem seemed worried about were inflationary expectations, the idea that if we are all certain that inflation is on the way up, workers will demand higher wages and businesses will raise their prices, effectively making inflation rise. Some say that process has already begun as global supply bottlenecks push prices higher and labour shortages increase wage demands.
    Certainly Macklem seemed to play down the effect of wage demands, saying there were few signs yet of pay increases contributing to inflation. But as Scotiabank’s Holt noted, with the Bank of Canada projecting inflation will rise to five per cent this year, wages will also be under pressure to increase.
    I think we are starting to see some massive evidence of wage pressures that could reinforce some of this inflationary trend as we go into the next year, said Holt in an interview. He said rate hikes could begin as soon as January.
    If he is trying to reach wage earners, Macklem’s repeated insistence yesterday that inflation will not rise much and will soon come back down may be falling on deaf ears. Workers who pay little attention to statements by central bankers are much more attentive to rising prices that mean their pay doesn’t go as far.
    As Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland noted Wednesday in a question and answer session with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, during election campaign door-knocking the key thing she found that Canadians demand of their governments and their employers is an adequate standard of living.
    If there’s a job and I take that job, can I have a decent life for me and my family? said Freeland.
    As the price of everything from food to houses rises by five per cent, it may be hard to make the political case that wage earners should pay for it with a lower standard of living while everyone else gets an increase.
    Don Pittis  · CBC News
     

  • Gill and Smith Announce Expanded Connection to Natural Gas

    By: Laura Steiner
    Natural gas services will be expanded to serve 103 homes and businesses in Cedar Springs, a rural area bordering Burlington, and Milton.  The announcement was made by Milton MPP Parm Gill, and Energy Minister Todd Smith.
    “Our government is making good on its promise to deliver affordable energy and expand natural gas pipelines to more communities, including ours in north Burlington,” Gill said.  A total of  approximately $2.5 million will be spent on the expansion, one of 28 projects that are part of phase two.
    The investment is part of the second phase of the Ontario government’s Natural Gas Expansion program. “Access to natural  Gas will help more families and businesses find energy savings, while promoting economic development and job creation across our region, Gill said.  The province estimates households will save $250-1500/ month, while businesses could save up to 30%.
    “We’re thrilled that through Ontario’s Natural Gas Expansion Program, Enbridge Gas will bring much needed and wanted natural gas in the most affordable way to communities across Ontario,” Enbridge Executive Vice President and President Gas Distribution& Storage, Cynthia Hansen said.  All 28 projects are expected to be underway by 2026.
     

  • Waterloo Region’s 519 Community Collective Feeds those residents in need

    By: Genelle Levy, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cambridge Times
    Two weeks into the global disaster that would become the COVID-19 pandemic, Julie Sawatzky’s first thought was, “how can I help people?” The Kitchener resident and former hairdresser was hoping to stay encouraged, so she started a Facebook group, 519 Community Collective, where people could share positive thoughts.
    “I wanted to have a place online where people could stay encouraged and share thoughts with one another,” said Sawatzky. “But through all that sharing, I realized how in need people were.”
    Sawatzky immediately started giving out food hampers from her own pantry. In total, she and her family gave out 300 food hampers. That’s when she reached out to the Facebook group she had started for further assistance with grocery donation.
    Today, 519 Community Collective is composed of 7,000 members in the online Facebook group, with approximately 100 active volunteers and 12 staff members. The collective provides food, meals and basic supplies to those in need in the Waterloo Region community.
    The group has a local community fridge at Cafe Pyrus, two community gardens, an emergency hamper program and 22 free food pantries across Waterloo Region. They are currently looking for a business where they can set up a community fridge in Cambridge.
    “Sixty per cent of the people accessing our food hamper program are people that are on the Ontario Disability Support Program or live in a motel, group home or volatile situation,” said Sawatzky. “The other percentage are people who work and are doing the very best they can, but are limited as to what they can provide their families because of cutbacks due to COVID-19.”
    Waterloo resident Lisa Atkinson is one of those people. Atkinson is on the Ontario Disability Support Program and the Canadian Pension Plan Disability Benefits program. This past week, she received Thanksgiving dinner from 519 Community Collective.
    “It really made me teary-eyed,” Atkinson said of receiving Thanksgiving dinner for her and her grandkids. “It’s good to know, with all that’s going on in the world, that there’s still good people out there. With the 519 Collective, you’re able to reach out without feeling judged. They make you feel welcome like that. They are always there for you, and help you do the best that you can.”
    Sawatzky said that many people don’t realize that food insecurity is a big problem in Waterloo Region. “For the majority of people who live in the region who aren’t accessing these programs, they don’t really know about these programs,” said Sawatzky.
    “They don’t realize how big the need is. Like, I live in a very beautiful neighborhood, and the people on my street didn’t even know there were shelters in the region. That’s pretty telling, right?”
    According to Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre, at least 10 per cent of Waterloo Region residents struggle with food insecurity. Recent reports from CBC show that 33,000 people in Waterloo Region accessed some kind of emergency food service in the last year, and 36 per cent of those were children.
    Whether it’s confronting food insecurity or homelessness in the region, Sawatzky hopes that people can approach it with a sense of love and compassion.
    “People are human, and everyone is deserving of love, kindness and compassion,” said Sawatzky.
     

  • Basketball trailblazer denied Canadian permanent residency, must return to U.S.

    Bilquis Abdul-Qaadir, the trailblazing basketball player who set up an academy for girls and coached multiple sports at an Islamic school in London, Ont., has been denied permanent residency in Canada and will have to go back to the United States.
    We’ve been here for two years, my son is Canadian, and we would love to be part of this country, but we finally got the message from immigration that we were denied permanent residency. It’s very unexpected, said Abdul Qaadir from her London home. I’m at a loss for words. I’ve single-handedly brought sports to an underserviced community. It’s heartbreaking.
    Abdul-Qaadir and her husband, A.W. Massey, moved to London from Tennessee three years ago.
    She said she hasn’t been able to work in Canada since August, when her work permit expired and wasn’t renewed by a Canadian border official. We’re still trying to figure out what we’re going to do. We aren’t sure. We’re angry and we’re tired. We put our heart and soul into this application. We felt like we checked all the boxes.
    Abdul-Qaadir led a four-year battle against the International Basketball Federation, which banned religious head coverings on the court. She won, but sacrificed her basketball career to do so.
    She had been the leading high school point scorer for both boys and girls in Massachusetts, and went on to play for the University of Memphis in Tennessee, where she was the first woman to play in a hijab in NCAA Division 1.
    Alongside her motivational speaking gigs, she teaches at the London Islamic School and has opened a basketball academy in London, but all that is now up in the air.
    On Thursday, Abdul-Qaadir got a letter from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that said she doesn’t meet the requirements for immigration to Canada.
    She applied for permanent residency as an athletic director at the London Muslim Mosque, but her duties — including developing, managing and supervising the school’s physical education and athletic programs, as well as being the head coach for the basketball, volleyball and cross-country teams — are inconsistent with the actions of an athletic director.
    I am not satisfied that your stated duties is sufficient to indicate that your role involves plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of comprehensive fitness programs at this organization. I am also not satisfied that you performed a substantial number of the main duties for this [job classification], IRCC wrote in her letter.
    Abdul-Qaadir said she doesn’t know if she and her husband will fight the refusal.
    Kate Dubinski · CBC News
     

  • How best to support Indigenous children, youth and families in dealing with COVID-19 impacts?

    By: Jenessa Joy Klukas, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Discourse
    COVID-19’s impact on Indigenous children, youth, and families will be the focus of a free online workshop series, scheduled for November 2-10.
    Hosted by the Child Welfare League of Canada (CWLC), the four-part series is designed for families and frontline practitioners, says Camille Breton Skagen, CWLC’s project manager.
    “Vulnerable families are at higher risk of being in contact with child-welfare systems, especially during the pandemic,” says Breton Skagen.
    “This includes Indigenous First Nations populations, Black racialized populations, children and youth with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ population.
    “We really want to provide guidance [to] … foster families, alternative caregivers, governments … social workers, communities, [on] how they can reach out and support Indigenous children, youth, and their families.”
    The series — titled “Indigenous Children, Youth and Families and Covid-19 Response and Recovery” — will feature an all-Indigenous line-up of child-welfare experts from across the country, says Breton Skagen.
    Drawing from their own lived experiences, speakers will cover four topics (click the links below to register).
    On Nov. 2, Gabrielle Lindstrom will present on “challenging deficit-based approaches in social work education.” She works as an educational development consultant at the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning at the University of Calgary, and she specializes in Indigenous ways of knowing.
    Decisions to apprehend children are too often driven by racism and neocolonialism — or “the use of economic, political, cultural or other pressures to control or influence Indigenous nations,” she told IndigiNews earlier this year.
    Frank Shannon of the Haida Nations, Eagle clan, will present on the impacts of traumatic events on the brain on Nov. 4.
    Nakuset — who is Cree, and works as the executive director of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montréal — will present on the challenges with youth protection in Montréal on Nov. 9.  And Beverly Keeshig-Soonias of Chippewas of Nawash First Nation will speak to “joining the village to raise the child” on Nov. 10.
    Breton Skagen says the goal was to “feature experts with lived experience [and] provide workshop presentations that center on … trauma-informed, anti-oppressive and anti-racist approaches to supporting Indigenous children and families through the pandemic.”
    This is the third workshop series hosted by CWLC and partners with funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada. It’s part of  “The Strength of Family and Connections” project which aims “to promote trauma-informed responses to child maltreatment that encourage social inclusion, and connections to family, community and culture, mental health and child safety.”

  • Canada quietly lifts blanket travel advisory related to COVID-19

    Canada has quietly lifted a blanket advisory against all non-essential travel outside the country which had been in place since the pandemic was declared in March 2020.
    Under the previous guidelines, the government advised all travellers, regardless of vaccination status, to avoid non-essential international travel.
    The advisories for each country have now reverted to the four levels that existed prior to the pandemic:

    • Exercise normal security precautions.
    • Exercise a high degree of caution.
    • Avoid non-essential travel.
    • Avoid all travel.

    The new advisories can be found on the government’s Travel Advice and Advisory website (new window). A blanket advisory against all cruise travel remains in place.
    In a statement, the Public Health Agency of Canada said Canadians should be fully vaccinated before they travel and urged travellers to follow public health measures at their destination.
    It also urged Canadians to take personal protective measures when abroad, such as wearing a mask, washing their hands and maintaining physical distancing where possible.
    Canadians abroad can stay informed of COVID-19 activity at their destination by consulting the World Health Organization website, the agency said.
    Global Affairs Canada was not immediately available for comment.
    CBC News

  • Ontario Releases Dates for COVID-19 Reopening Plan

    By: Laura Steiner
    The Ford government has unveiled its plans to further loosen remaining COVID-19 restrictions.  The strategy was announced earlier today by Premier Doug Ford, and Health Minister Christine Elliott.
    “This plan is built for the long term.  It will guide us safely through the winter and out of this pandemic, while avoiding lockdowns and ensuring we don’t lose the hard-fought gains we have made,” Ford said.  The plan lays out cautious steps by date beginning Monday October 25, 2021.
    October 25, 2021:
    Capacity limits increase at places requiring proof of vaccination status including:

    • restaurants
    • indoor areas of sports and recreational facilities, indoor
    • meeting and event spaces.
    • Some outdoor settings will also have their limits lifted.

    The following will be eligible to increase capacity limits and physical distancing requirements if they choose to require proof of vaccination:

    • Personal care services (barbershops, salons, body art)

    Indoor areas of:

    • museum, galleries, aquariums, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions.
    • amusement parks
    • Indoor areas of fairs, rural exhibitions, festivals;
    • Indoor tour and guide services
    • Boat tours, marinas and boating clubs
    • Indoor club houses at outdoor recreational amenities
    • Indoor photography studios and services
    • Open house activities offered by real estate agencies.

    Locations hosting funerals, weddings, and religious rites/ ceremony can also implement proof of vaccine requirements. Santa Claus parades, and Remembrance Day ceremonies aren’t eligible.
    November 15: Capacity limits will begin to increase at high-risk settings requiring proof-of-vaccination including food and drink establishments with dance facilities such as night clubs, wedding receptions, strip clubs, bathhouses and sex clubs.
    January 17, 2022 The province will begin lifting capacity limits where proof of vaccination is required as long as there no concerns with Public Health healthcare data.  The timing of this step is meant to follow data gathered over the holidays, and a return to in-class learning.  The proof of vaccination limits may also begin to be lifted for restaurants, bars, sports & recreational facilities, and casinos, bingo halls, and other gaming establishments.
    February 7, 2022:  The province may lift proof-of-vaccination requirements for high-risk settings including: nightclubs, strip clubs, bathhouses, and sex clubs.
    March 28, 2022: The province anticipates lifting the remaining health and workplace safety measures including face coverings in indoor public settings.  The proof of vaccination requirement for all remaining settings will be including sporting events, concerts, theatres, cinemas, racing venues, and television studios and film productions with studio audiences.
    “We are now in a position where we can see the proposed plan for lifting the remaining public health and workplace safety measures in Ontario, Chief Medical Officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore said. Public Health units will lead the local response, and are empowered to reintroduce measures including physical distancing, capacity limits.  The measures would only be used when the healthcare system’s capacity is at risk of becoming overwhelmed, or a vaccine-resistant COVID-19 variant is identified as having entered the province.
    Ontario recorded an increase of 492 cases of COVID-19 as of today.  325 of those are found in those whose vaccination status is unknown, while 167 are in those who are fully vaccinated.

  • Halton Police Issues Public Alert Over “cluster of overdoses”

    Halton Police Issues Public Alert Over “cluster of overdoses”

    By: Laura Steiner
    The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) is issuing a Public Alert over a cluster of five non-fatal drug overdoses overnight October 21-22. Four of the overdoses happened in Oakville, while one happened in Burlington.
    HRPS believes Fentanyl was involved in three of the five overdoses.  Purple fentanyl was involved in two of them.  Two victims were revived by CPR or naloxone or CPR administered by police officers, or bystanders.  All survived as a result.
    HRPS issues the following tips on Drug use:

    • Never use alone: If you use drugs with others, don’t use at the same time.  Their presence can save your life.  If using alone, HRPS advises to download the “Brave App” which connects those using with an ally to talk to, and monitor your usage.
    • Know your tolerance: First use a small amount of the drug to check its strength. Some drugs can be contaminated by or cut with other agents such as fentanyl, which is potentially fatal in small doses.
    • Carry naloxone: Naloxone can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose.  It’s available for free at Halton Region clinics, Halton Region Exchange Program (Exchange Works), and select local pharmacies.
    • Call 9-1-1:   Overdoses are considered medical emergencies, and the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act protects citizens including youth from being charged with offences such as simple possession for calling 9-1-1 in an emergency.  These protections extend to even those experiencing the overdose.

    HRPS has attended 33 overdoses this month alone.  13 of them have been in the past week.

  • Don’t expect EI if you lose your job for not being vaccinated, minister says

    Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough says it’s likely that people who lose their jobs for not complying with employer COVID-19 vaccine policies will not be eligible for employment insurance (EI).
    It’s a condition of employment that hasn’t been met, Qualtrough said in an interview with CBC’s Power & Politics. “And the employer choosing to terminate someone for that reason would make that person ineligible for EI.
    I can tell you that’s the advice I’m getting, and that’s the advice I’ll move forward with.
    Qualtrough said this rule does not apply in situations where someone has a medical exemption or a valid reason for not being vaccinated.
    Employment and Social Development Canada’s website says EI is available to all individuals who lose their jobs through no fault of their own (for example, due to shortage of work, seasonal or mass lay-offs) and are available for and able to work, but can’t find a job.
    For most people, EI pays 55 per cent of their average weekly earnings up to a maximum of $595 per week.
    Qualtrough’s comments come as a number of workplaces are requiring that employees be vaccinated. Parliament’s governing body recently announced a policy of mandatory vaccination for members of Parliament  who do not have a medical exemption. The Toronto Police Service also announced today that officers who aren’t vaccinated will be placed on unpaid leave.
    Qualtrough cautioned that this is not yet a firm public policy decision — the government is still in caretaker mode following the recent federal election and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has not unveiled a new cabinet yet. He’ll do that on October 26.
    We’ll have to wait and see what the prime minister does next Tuesday with his cabinet, she said.
    Paul Champ, an employment lawyer in Ottawa, disagrees with Qualtrough’s position on EI and vaccines.
    I think it’s very arguable about whether employees terminated for not getting the vaccine requirement is just cause for termination, he said in an interview.
    I think it’s reasonable that some employers may and will terminate employees for not being vaccinated — I don’t take issue with that — but it’s different to say that it’s just cause, meaning you pay them nothing.
    Employees terminated for just cause are not eligible for severance or EI.
    Champ said the bigger issue is that the minister commented on the question before the Employment Insurance Commission and the Social Security Tribunal — which determine who is entitled to EI — made a decision.
    Champ said he always has the same advice to clients.
    My first piece of advice to clients is, ‘Get vaccinated,’ he said.
    But it may be a stretch, he said, to suggest an employer can order an employee to be vaccinated.
    That interferes with bodily integrity and at least my opinion — and I think the consensus among most employment lawyers right now — is that it’s not just cause for an employee to refuse that, at least in most circumstances, he said.
    Employers may be able to accommodate employees who can’t or won’t get vaccinated, Champ said. Some employees can continue to work from home, and others may be able to submit to frequent COVID-19 testing as a substitute.
    Going forward, there’s a way employers who are hiring can make the issue a lot simpler, he said.
    Employers could, when they’re making hiring decisions right now, make having a vaccine a requirement of employment, he said. An employee’s accepting a job knowing that — that’s a job requirement.
    Richard Raycraft · CBC News