Pro-Canada Albertans, who by all accounts constitute the vast majority of Alberta’s voting population, are being urged to “send a message” to Ottawa in this preliminary vote in a way that’s reminiscent of the “knife at the throat” tactics used by Quebec separatists in another era.
asserted
that → constitute → era
But if there is a message to be sent, it should not go to Ottawa.
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it → be → Ottawa
It should be sent to Albertans.
asserted
It → send → Albertans
It’s in everyone’s interest to learn exactly how separatism stands, and this vote is their opportunity to find out.
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vote → ’ → interest
The separatists will, of course, declare all “Yes” votes to be pro-separation.
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votes → declare → course
Their “send a message” stratagem is a well-worn ploy to exaggerate their level of popular support.
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stratagem → send → support
No, it’s in Albertans’ interest to approach the plebiscite exactly as it will be seen the next day: a definitive answer as to who wants to cease being a Canadian.
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who → ’ → plebiscite
As for grievances about federalism, those are serious and complex, and they deserve a much forum for debate.
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they → deserve → debate
James McFarlane, Toronto
Out of order of Ontario
Paul Godfrey should not lose any sleep at having been dumped by Premier Doug Ford from the Order of Ontario council.
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Godfrey → lose → council
That body has not had any credibility since Ford appointed Mike Harris to the order in 2021 — the same Harris who, when he was elected premier 30 years ago, cancelled 17,000 social-housing units and gave funds to his business friends who were supposed to get the private sector to build the needed housing.
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sector → have → housing
Harris then cut social assistance rates, and those cuts have not been restored.
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cuts → cut → rates
He also cut spending on health, education, social services and public infrastructure — including by privatizing water testing.
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He → cut → testing
Meanwhile, in 2026, Ontario cannot make its social contribution commitments to Toronto and other municipalities, resulting in higher rates of homelessness and poverty.
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Ontario → make → homelessness
David Walsh, Toronto
Mind the funding gaps
Eric Lombardi’s recent column on public disorder in Toronto resonated with me owing to an experience I had taking the TTC this past weekend.
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I → mind → TTC
A woman who appeared unwell became violent toward other passengers.
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who → appear → passengers
She lit a scarf on fire, assaulted an elderly man and a young man, screamed profanities, spat in my face and struck me on the head after I intervened to protect other passengers.
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I → light → passengers
Moments like this make it clear that we can support people who are struggling with addiction while still insisting on basic safety and order in our shared public spaces.
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who → make → spaces
Leaving riders to manage this alone is neither compassionate nor sustainable.
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Leaving → leave → this
The layoffs have begun and will total approximately 500 workers in Hamilton and at the Lake Erie facility.
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layoffs → begin → facility
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly is prepared to wait an answer from Cleveland-Cliffs, but it is unlikely to reverse the current and pending hardships these workers, their families and their communities must bear.
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workers → prepare → hardships
Cleveland-Cliffs knows full well that its plan will be finalized well before any court decision could be rendered.
uncertain
decision → know → ?
Canadians who care about these workers and their communities should be demanding that the federal government, supported by the Ontario government, work to nationalize these facilities as we have done in the past in other industries.
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we → care → industries
We can make it work.
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it → make → ?
We have the skilled workers and the materials.
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We → have → workers
If we fail to act swiftly, it will effectively signal that Canada is defenceless and up for grabs.
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Canada → fail → grabs
All-access passages
Beth Kaplan aptly describes the plight of senior citizens who experience a fall.
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who → describe → fall
Falling down her stairs at home took away her independence and made her unable to do her usual activities.
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her → fall → activities
Kaplan said she used the grab-bar in her shower for the first time and pointed out that she needed to retrofit her house against further bodily decline.
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she → say → decline
She wouldn’t have to do that if every home were built according to universal design principles, which make homes suitable for all people of all ages and abilities via accessibility features that are inexpensive to build when included in the design stage.
uncertain
that → have → stage
Building codes must be changed at all levels to require universal design in all units in new multi-unit housing developments, because many of us are just one fall away from Kaplan’s predicament.
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many → change → predicament
Carol Damioli, Toronto
Collaborators (the good kind)
Carolyn Whitzman’s proposal to expand Toronto’s acquisition of affordable rental housing offers a practical foundation for action.
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proposal → expand → action
Preserving homes and preventing displacement both deserve attention alongside new construction.
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Preserving → preserve → construction
The next question is how we connect these housing initiatives with the people, services and financing needed to ensure they succeed.
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they → connect → people
Housing, health care, mental-health supports, employment and neighbourhood safety are interconnected, yet responsibility is spread across institutions with different mandates and budgets.
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responsibility → spread → mandates
Municipal leadership can bring governments, housing providers, businesses, researchers and residents together around a shared implementation plan.
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leadership → bring → plan
That means diagnosing gaps in how institutions work together, assigning responsibilities, aligning resources and publicly measuring results.
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institutions → mean → results
Toronto’s mayoral candidates should be able to explain what they’re proposing and how they’ll deliver it.
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they → explain → it
This city is full of valuable expertise and has some promising initiatives.
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city → have → initiatives
Collaboration could help turn individual successes into lasting improvements for the whole city.
uncertain
Collaboration → help → city
Jeff Wilson, Puslinch, Ont.
A toast to the host
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Cathrin Bradbury’s column on the death of the dinner party.
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I → read → party
…and 11 more, not listed.
The Aporia
