Editorials - Jan. 17, 2025

By now, we have all witnessed the wide path of destruction through parts of Los Angeles, with dozens of lives lost and thousands of homes and businesses incinerated by relentless wildfires fueled by the Santa Ana winds, combined with high temperatures, very low humidity, and dry vegetation after the hottest summer in 130 years coupled with less than a quarter of an inch of rain since last spring.

 

Climate change is contributing to the tragedy causing wildfires that not only burn with greater intensity due to the lack of moisture in the region, but the fires are also striking earlier in the year. In fact, this is the first time that the L.A. area has experienced “extremely critical fire weather” in January. The normal high winds known as the Santa Ana are typical for January, but the extreme dry vegetation is not.

 

And yet, what makes the newscasts even harder to watch is the politicians who are jumping in and using the story to further their own interests. Finger pointing and laying blame is not helping the residents of California cope with the magnitude of the tragedy that is still unfolding. 

 

Once the fires have been put out, investigations can take place to see what could have been done differently, but first and foremost, the city and entire state need the United States to come together and help one another. A true leader would try to unite the nation, not lead the chorus of laying blame at the feet of his political opponents. – DS

In combat sports, like boxing or mixed martial arts, an unqualified fighter without a snowball’s chance in hell of winning is a sacrificial lamb. In professional wrestling, this person is a jobber. They have one job: make their opponent look good, lose and get out of the way.

 

When Justin Trudeau prorogued parliament, he did so under the guise of giving his Liberal Party an opportunity to select a new leader through a “robust, nationwide, competitive” process. Increasingly, that process is seeming less like a triumphant mountain climb in an effort to seize victory and more of a fear of the short straw, complete with guaranteed failure and no hope for a future as a Canadian politician.

 

Trudeau, like the Dalton McGuinty/Kathleen Wynne partnership in the provincial Liberal Party, attempted to hold onto power for far too long. As a result, the party has a long, long road back with many voters. So, as the party kicks the tires on potential new leaders, many that voters may have seen as logical successors at one point are backing away, knowing that leading today’s Liberal Party is bleak business. 

 

If an election were to be held today, CBC News’ Poll Tracker shows that Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives would win a 226-seat majority, the Liberals would win 49 seats, even with a 1.5 per cent post-Trudeau resignation bump. There isn’t enough gumption in all the land.

 

And yet, come Oct. 20, or likely earlier, someone must lead the party. When that day comes, the party needs a warm body to start the process of crawling out of the hole it’s in. Someone will take one for the team, but you can understand avoiding this unenviable task. – SL 

Data breaches have become an unfortunate hallmark of our digital age, with their impact reaching every corner of society. A recent breach affecting several school boards across Ontario serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities inherent in our reliance on digital systems. This is not your grandparents’ third-party school board cloud app data breach.

 

While technology enables incredible efficiency and connectivity, it also introduces significant risks. Public institutions, like school boards, outsource services to specialized third-party providers to meet operational demands. However, outsourcing does not absolve these institutions of their responsibility to ensure the security of personal information. When sensitive data is accessed without authorization, the consequences are far-reaching, affecting trust and, in some cases, safety.

 

This situation underscores the need for robust cybersecurity measures and proactive vigilance. Protecting sensitive information cannot be treated as an afterthought, but be baked into the design and maintenance of every system that handles personal data. Governments and institutions must also establish clear protocols for response and accountability when breaches occur. Transparency, swift communication and concrete action are essential to reassure the public and deter future incidents.

 

For individuals, incidents like this highlight the importance of vigilance in personal cybersecurity. Practices such as using strong, unique passwords and monitoring accounts for unusual activity are simple but powerful ways to safeguard against potential misuse of data.

 

This breach is a wake-up call. As we increasingly entrust digital systems with our personal information, ensuring their security must be a top priority. Public institutions, private companies and individuals all have a role to play in a digital ecosystem that values and protects privacy. Let this be a catalyst for stronger safeguards, more stringent oversight and a renewed commitment to the safety of sensitive data. – SBS