Editorials - April 26, 2024

Advocacy groups for disabled Canadians are deeply disappointed in the Liberals’ federal budget, saying that it doesn’t come anywhere near the government’s promise to lift people with disabilities. According to advocacy group Disability Without Poverty, 41 per cent of low-income Canadians live with a disability and 16.5 per cent of the disabled people in Canada live in poverty. The latest budget rolled out $6.1 billion over the next six years but, while that sounds impressive, it breaks down to $200 per person, doesn’t begin until July 2025 and has further eligibility requirements, so many relying on the disability program will not benefit.

 

“We called for an end to legislated poverty for people with disabilities. That’s not in here,” said Elizabeth May, co-leader of the Green Party. Jagmeet Singh and the NDP have yet to decide whether to support the budget and are waiting to hear more.

At a time when tented cities and homelessness are making headlines across the country, a rethinking of our social safety net is direly needed, and this increase is only a baby step in the right direction. Social agencies and their workers on the front line see the effect that dire poverty has on their clients and their expertise is needed at the table.

 

The average person on disability is living on $1,300 per month, below the poverty line of $2,300. With skyrocketing rent and food costs, a single, disabled person can’t afford to live. Canada has to do better. – DS

Monday was Earth Day. If you want to talk about finding common ground with someone, it doesn’t get more common than that. We all share the same land, the same air and the same water with each other.

 

On this year’s installment of Earth Day, two Alberta communities were the subjects of evacuation alerts as wildfires continue to spread in northwestern Alberta. The fire, near Saprae Creek, was detected one day earlier and, in just that day, it had consumed 70 hectares of forest.

 

Meanwhile, here in Huron County, Canadian military members are preparing for training that will simulate a heat wave scenario on May 3-5. With it will come the threat of wildfires, which, a representative said on Saturday, are destined to become more a part of annual life in Canada as the climate continues to change and temperatures warm.

 

Last year was record-breaking for wildfires in Canada. There were fires in every province and territory, save the Maritimes. The threat of wildfire season is no longer a farflung one reserved for dry, sweltering locales, Canada is as much a wildfire risk as anywhere else in North America. The military is preparing for it. For now. Not in 10 years. 

 

This Earth Day, people have pitched in. They have gathered trash, reduced electrical consumption and done their part for Mother Earth. And yet, our Earth is an Earth in peril. Climate change denial, while active, is slowly giving up ground to climate change apathy. The carbon tax, at a time of great financial strain, is feeling to many like a kick while they’re down and taking measures to preserve this world for younger generations keeps inching back to the backest of back burners.  

 

We are seeing the devastation that can (and will) come as a result of climate change. Don’t just accept this most harrowing of fates. – SL 

The “Telephone City” is honouring the life and legacy of Phil Hartman through a new mural. The beloved Brantford-born actor was known for his versatile talents and unforgettable performances. From his portrayal of Troy McClure on The Simpsons to his comedic genius on Saturday Night Live, Hartman’s work lives on through the magic of DVDs, reruns on TV, VHS tape-playing machines and video streaming. 

 

In honouring Hartman, Brantford is celebrating the invaluable role that artists play in shaping culture and enriching lives. However, as we observe one municipality’s commitment to recognizing its cultural icons, we are reminded of the void experienced by Wingham with the closure of the Barn Dance Museum. The disappearance of this landmark is not just a local tragedy, but a loss for the cultural landscape of Canada.

 

Recently, the back wall of the historic Lyceum Theatre succumbed and crumbled against vicious, modern winds. The faltering structure, once proudly owned and operated by CKNX Barn Dance legend “Doc” Cruikshank, is nearly down to its last wall on Josephine Street. This on-the-nose metaphor should act as a catalyst for a renewed preservation movement. While a promised commemorative plaque at the Town Hall Theatre will serve as a bare minimum acknowledgment, it falls short of truly celebrating the rich heritage embodied by the Barn Dance Museum. A mural depicting museum founders Earl and Martha Heywood would be a meaningful next step in preserving their legacy.

 

Restoring the remaining wall and rebuilding the Lyceum Theatre as a multipurpose event space that incorporates the Barn Dance Museum would not only preserve Wingham’s cultural history but also provide a vibrant hub for engagement and artistic expression. By investing in such a project, Wingham can again be a guardian of cultural heritage. – SBS