Editorials - Dec. 20, 2024

In a season closely associated with miserly money lenders gleefully evicting families during a bleak Victorian winter, it’s nice to see a pair of landlords setting an example without the need of a trio of spectres to point out the error of their ways.

 

Tristan Squire-Smith and Johnny Hewerdine of Coldwell Banker Beaver Realty Brokerage located in London, Ontario are well-known for the wry humour on their billboards, but are quickly making a name for themselves as empathetic and caring landlords. They recently purchased a storefront in the Old East Village section of the city that they planned to renovate to use as their headquarters. The building came complete with an upstairs tenant: a 68-year-old man renting the apartment at a very affordable price. Harold was sure that the sale of his building meant that he would be homeless, as his rent was less than half of the current market value and he was expecting a “renoviction” notice.

 

However, the realtors made the decision to not only protect Harold’s rent, but to move him downstairs while they completely renovated the upstairs apartment, and then move him back for the same rent he was paying. “There’s a lot more to the value of someone than just the rent they pay,” said Squire-Smith. Finally, landlords with hearts. – DS

Chrystia Freeland, the former Deputy-Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, has dealt perhaps the most severe blow that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has had to absorb in recent months, resigning from his cabinet on Monday and penning a scathing letter, distancing herself from him and suggesting, in so many words, that Trudeau is focused on “costly political gimmicks” instead of “working in good faith and humility with the Premiers of the provinces and territories of our great and diverse country, and building a true Team Canada response” to the economic nationalism and tariffs being threatened by Donald Trump.

 

On one hand, Freeland has really shown Trudeau in a poor light, standing up for herself after he asked her to step aside, while at the same time positioning herself as the most non-Trudeau member of a Liberal Party that is perhaps in need of an off-ramp from its Trudeau relationship. She has maintained her integrity while standing up to a leader who many feel has lost whatever integrity he once had. And, with Trudeau seemingly willing to cling to power by any means necessary, it’s beginning to feel as though a successor may only come by inter-party hostile takeover, rather than peaceful transition of power.

 

Meanwhile, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has to be licking his chops as Trump revels in the chaos his tariff threats have created.

 

The walls have been closing in on Trudeau for some time and, while pundits have been sure that previous developments were sure to be the one to finally unseat Trudeau, this is, by far, the most significant development of Trudeau’s tenure in months. And now NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is calling for Trudeau to resign. It’s hard to envision a Freeland-less future for Trudeau and that may just lead to what’s on many Canadians’ Christmas lists: a Trudeau-less government. – SL 

As the year draws to a close, Christmas offers us an opportunity to pause, reflect and express gratitude. And what better space to do so than here, in the editorial section of The Citizen; a space dedicated to sharing ideas, sparking dialogue and reflecting on issues that shape our community? At The Citizen, we are thankful for the privilege of filling this section with commentary and analysis. As the only community newspaper owned and operated within the borders of Huron County, we take great pride in using this space to focus on you: our readers, our neighbours and the tremendous people of Huron County.

 

While global platforms like Facebook, owned by Meta, see communities like ours as sources of profit, The Citizen, under North Huron Publishing, exists to serve. Our mission isn’t to extract value, but to create it by keeping you informed and connected to the stories that matter. And it’s here, in the editorial section, that we invite you to join the conversation, whether it be through these editorials, page five’s columns or in Letters to the Editor, which sees you take on the role of writer. Whether you agree or disagree with our views, your feedback adds richness to the dialogue and helps shape the stories of our region.

 

This holiday season, we encourage you to extend that connection. A subscription to The Citizen means more than just a newspaper - it’s an invitation to join a community conversation, a way to share the stories of Huron County with family and friends near and far. By supporting The Citizen, you’re investing in the very space you’re reading now; a space for reflection, thoughtful scrutiny and provocation. As we prepare to turn the page to 2025, we are grateful for the role this editorial section plays in keeping our community connected and engaged.

 

Wishing you a joyful Christmas and a new year filled with peace, hope and the enduring strength of community. – SBS