Barrhaven Independent March 1, 2024

Gary Scharf was once again a popular man at the annual Winter in Brrrhaven celebration hosted

more on the event, see page 14.

Annual Carleton Women’s Day Breakfast to take place March 8

“The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist, nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.”

- Gloria Steinham

Once again this year, I will be hosting a breakfast at Danby’s Restaurant in Richmond for International Women’s Day on Friday, March 8.

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. Each year, this day serves as a powerful reminder of the progress made toward gender equality. It also serves to remind us of the work that still needs to be done.

More than a year before the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, I was

speaking out against the need for women’s rights in Iran, which is controlled by the terrorist Iranian Revolitionary Guard Corps. Their track record has taken women’s rights back not just generations, but centuries.

When 21-year-old Iranian Mahsa Amini was captured and then killed for improperly wearing her hijab in public, it was the straw that broke the social and political camel’s back. It triggered worldwide demonstrations about the rights of women in Iran, and around the world. It exposed the IRGC on exactly what they were, and where women stand under their

regime.

As the first IranianCanadian woman elected to Queen’s Park, I had a responsibility. I had the gift of a platform. I had to balance my responsibilities to the people of Carleton with providing a global voice to the rights of women in Iran and other oppressed countries. I did this in my spare time to ensure that it did not conflict with my work locally.

I was asked many times in the months after Mahsa Amini’s death why I was taking this on as it had nothing to do with Carleton. I did it because it had to do with being human. I did it because I knew that this was only the beginning.

The first pro-Palestinian march that took place in Ottawa took place in the Carleton riding. The Palestinian Youth Movement

organized a protest that closed down Limebank Road in Riverside South for a morning as students from St. Francis Xavier High School less than four months before the killing of Mahsa Amini.

So, even then, this was indeed already a local issue to Carleton.

It was the IRGC, the group I had been speaking out against, who trained and funded Hamas, and helped them plan the October 7 attack on Israel that saw innocent women being raped, murdered and mutilated in what looked like some sort of sick form of sport for Hamas terrorists.

Standing up for women’s rights around the world has never been as important as it is today. That’s why events on International Women’s Day are so important.

The International

Women’s Day Breakfast I am hosting March 8 will have nothing to do with politics, and there will be no heavy themes. It’s just a day to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of women locally, and to thank them and recognize them for everything they do.

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is Inspire Inclusion. The campaign theme underscores the crucial role of inclusion in achieving gender equality. It calls for action to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create environments where all women are valued and respected. Inspire Inclusion encourages everyone to recognize the unique perspectives and contributions of women from all walks of life, including those from marginalized communities.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2024 and reflect on the theme of Inspire Inclusion, let us reaffirm our commitment to creating a world where all women are empowered, valued, and included. By working together to break down barriers and foster diversity, we can build a more equitable and inclusive society for generations to come.

International Women’s Day facts

• In the United States, the first National Women’s Day was observed on Sun., Feb. 28, 1909. There had been great unrest leading up to this day. The year before, 15,000 women marched through New York demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.

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• Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in Denmark, International Women’s Day was honored the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on March 19, 1911.

• More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women’s rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination.

• On the eve of World War I campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women’s Day on February 23, 1913.

• On the last Sunday of February, Russian women began a strike for “Bread and Peace” in response to the death of over 2 million Russian soldiers in World War 1. Opposed by political leaders, the women continued to strike until four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote.

• In 1916, women in Manitoba became the first women in Canada to win the right to vote.

• Canadian women Louis McKinney and Roberta MacAdams Price became the first women elected to a legislature in the British Empire in 1917 as they earned seats in Albert’s legislature.

• Some Canadian women were granted the right to vote in the 1918 Canadian federal election.

• In 1921, Agnes Macphail became the first woman elected to the House of Commons.

• In 1929, women were declared to be “persons” and could therefore be appointed to the Canadian Senate.

• In 1941, the Canadian Women’s Army Corps and the Royal Canadian Navy Women’s Division were established with more than 45,000 women volunteers recruited for full-time military service.

• In 1960, all Canadian women were given the right to vote.

• In 1975, International Women’s Day was marked for a first time by the United Nations.

• In 1981, women’s rights in Canada were enshrined

in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

• In 1983, Jeanne Sauve became the first Governor General of Canada.

• In 1992, Dr. Roberta Bondar became the first Canadian woman sent into space.

• Kim Campbell became Canada’s first female Prime Minister in 1993.

• In 1996, the UN announced their first annual theme “Celebrating the past, Planning for the Future” which was followed in 1997 with “Women at the Peace table”, in 1998 with “Women and Human Rights”, in 1999 with “World Free of Violence Against Women”.

• In 2001, following a year of planning and collaborative conversations, the internationalwomensday. com platform was launched with the specific purpose of re-energizing the day and inviting mass participation - a focus which continues to this day - by celebrating and making visible the achievements of women, while continuing the call for accelerating gender parity.

ARE YOU THINKING OF SENIOR LIVING?

• 2011 saw the 100 year centenary of International Women’s Day - with the first IWD event held exactly 100 years ago in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. In the United States, President Barack Obama proclaimed March 2011 to be “Women’s History Month”, calling Americans to mark IWD by reflecting on “the extraordinary accomplishments of women” in shaping the country’s history.

• Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, launched the “100 Women Initiative: Empowering Women and Girls through International Exchanges”. In the United Kingdom, celebrity activist Annie Lennox lead a march across one of London’s iconic bridges

raising awareness in support for global charity Women for Women International.

• The world has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women’s and society’s thoughts about women’s equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation may feel that ‘all the battles have been won for women’ while many feminists from the 1970’s know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women’s visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact

is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women’s education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men. However, great improvements have been made.

Office Notice:

My office is open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm. If you require assistance on any matter, please contact me at any time. My staff and I will be happy to assist. Even if it’s not a provincial issue, I’ll make sure to connect you with the proper office.

Goldie Your voice at Queen’s Park

The Barrhaven Independent is up for a number of provincial newspaper awards.

The Ontario Community Newspaper Association announced the three finalists in more than 50 categories in its 2023 Better Newspaper Awards competition.

Entries were submitted in late 2023, and they were judged by some of the most experienced and reputable journalists in Canada. The top three in each category were announced Feb. 14.

Reporter Charlie Senack is one of the finalists for the Stephen Shaw Reporter of the Year Award. Senack was nominated for the award by both the Barrhaven In-

Other finalists for the Stephen Shaw Award are Mile Balsom of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Local and Jason Stenyk of Cornwall Seaway News.

Senack’s work has been integral for the success of the Independent in the last few years, as he took on a much larger role with the newspaper while still in journalism school as Morris stepped back from the Independent and its sister publication, the Manotick Messenger, to focus on his ongoing cancer treatments.

In the feature writing category, the Messenger and the Barrhaven Independent have two of the three finalist spots. The Messenger’s feature story on Manotick LCBO employee and former Bar-

memories and feelings in the passing of her younger sister from an inoperable brain tumour. Maddy’s Gala has become a marquee fundraising event that has led the way for the Otto family to raise more than $1 million for Roger Neilson House, the children’s hospice located next to CHEO.

The other finalist for the award is Warren Schlote of the Manitoulin Expositor.

The Best News Series finalists include the coverage of the Ottawa Carleton District School Board’s controversial meetings regarding the use of girls washrooms by boys identifying as girls in the board’s schools. When parent Nick Morabito wanted to make a presentation about the

lar categories. One of them was for the best editorial. The editorial nominated for the award focused on the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, and how some of the trustees vote for the purpose of padding their political resumes for their next provincial election campaigns rather than focusing on what the parents in their zone want and need.

There was also an honourable mention for fourth place in the Education Writing category, for the coverage of the OCDSB backpedalling on its decision to not allow a female police officer to attend her daughter’s first grade class career day in uniform. The career day was designed for people who

Details of the crash, the investigation that followed and the aftermath of the crash and its impact on the Winners for the awards will be announced by the

Charlie Senack of Barrhaven

for the Stephen Shaw

as the Ontario Community

Muslim community blindsided by sudden dismissal of longtime SNMC Imam

The removal of Imam Dr. Zijad Delic blindsided many members of the South Nepean Muslim Centre earlier this month.

Imam Delic has been the spiritual leader of the Muslim community for Barrhaven, Riverside South and the surrounding area since before the SNMC was built, dating back to the days when prayer sessions were held at Jockvale School.

A couple dozen demonstrators protested the imam’s sudden departure in front of the SNMC, wearing “Bring Back Imam Zijad” t-shirts. Signs posted on Woodroffe Ave. called for the SNMC to “Bring back Imam Zijad.”

Abdallah Bayaa set up a GoFundMe page to assist Dr. Delic.

“This fundraiser is to help Imam Zijad deal with his affairs in the immediate term. I would also love nothing more than to see this support the effort to restore him as the

Imam of SNMC. If you are already donating to SNMC, I urge you to consider supporting this cause directly, at least until circumstances change,” wrote Bayaa.

Bayaa set a goal of $10,000 and as of Fri., Feb. 23, he was 85 per cent of the campaign’s goal.

“On a personal level, I’m not appealing to the world, I’m appealing to the people of Barrhaven first and foremost. You have seen with your eyes and experienced Zijad’s character first hand for many years. We benefit the most from his presence. And it would be nice for my kids to have a Sheikh they think is cool too!,” Bayaa wrote.

Bayaa was one of the protestors on Woodroffe Ave. He told CBC that “a lot of us don’t exactly know what’s going on. What we do know is that he was removed from his position. This is a wellknown imam, well-respected

within the community, and here for a long time.”

Dr. Delic is prohibited from speaking to the media or making social media posts about his dismissal.

On Sun., Feb. 11, the SNMC issued a statement to the CBC.

“This matter is governed by labor laws. Following the recommendation of SNMC legal counsel, we cannot comment on it.

“We serve over 10,000 very diverse community members. We are one of the most active and welcoming religious institutions. We have members of other faith groups who participant in some of our programs as well, which we are happy to see. With that much diversity it is normal to have differences, we respect the right of people to express their views.

“The board of SNMC is an elected board that makes decisions in the best interest of SNMC. The board follows

Starting at $3,750/mo all inclusive!

the different laws and Acts that govern charitable organizations, including following SNMC bylaw, which the organization is founded on.”

In addition to the GoFundMe campaign, there are also to change.org pages dedicated to the reinstatement of the popular imam.

A page started by Mehran Khan had more than 3,100 signatures by Fri., Feb. 23.

“Our beloved Imam Zijad has been unjustly fired,” Khan states in the petition. “He’s been with the Barrhaven community for decades and has impacted everyone deeply. This decision is not being taken lightly and as the snmc community, we would like answers. Our input in such important decisions matters.”

Mohamed Salem was among the first to sign the petition.

“In times when the Muslim communities struggle adequate, modest, and well

educated leadership, firing a long well-established and trustworthy leader like Imam Zijad Delic by the SNMC board without proper justification to the community and in complete disregard of its will, only compromises the trust in this board and serves to weaken the Muslim community and its strive for unity. If the board does not

reinstate the Imam, the community could call to stop donating to the Masjid until the board resigns and re-election takes place.”

While the SNMC did not offer reasons for the dismissal of Dr. Delic, CBC reported that it received an emailed statement that it was “an internal matter that is being solved quickly.”

Imam Dr. Zijad Delic talks to Conservative Party of Canada leader and former local MPP Pierre Poilievre in a meeting last year. X P h oto

INDEPENDENT EDITorIal

Not all freezes on food prices benefit consumers

Consumers often assume that price freezes are always in their favour. However, it’s important to recognize that not all price freezes are equal, especially when it comes to products further up the supply chain. Every year, between Nov. 1 and Feb. 1, grocers request suppliers not to increase prices for undisclosed reasons.

This unspoken agreement between grocers and suppliers, which likely started decades ago, may not ultimately benefit consumers. In October, as suppliers renegotiate contracts with grocers, prices are often adjusted, and many increase just before the three-month price freeze.

While high food inflation is certainly a concern for consumers, price volatility can be even more detrimental, and that’s exactly what these blackout periods bring to the market. Sudden spikes in food prices can surprise consumers and force them to temporarily abandon certain food categories, often including healthier options, leading to nutritional compromises. Once consumers perceive a food category as financially out of reach, it takes them a while to return.

According to Statistics Canada, over the last 15 years, some of the highest monthto-month food price increases have occurred either in November or February.

Coincidentally, these three months, January, February, and November, have experienced the highest month-to-month food price increases in the last 30 years, except for May.

Since these blackout periods are industry-wide, one could argue that this practice could be considered anti-competitive and may lead to price co-ordination among competitors. Although we still don’t know the precise reasons behind past pricefixing scandals, blackout periods may indicate a broader culture of price-fixing in the industry, to the detriment of consumers.

This issue goes beyond blackout periods. Recently, Loblaw informed its suppliers that their fees will increase once again. In the agri-food sector, suppliers must pay grocers to do business with them. Distribution centre charges will rise from 1.17 percent to 1.22 percent, and direct-to-store delivery (DSD) charges will increase from 0.36 percent to 0.38 percent. While these may seem like minor changes to most of us, they can amount to millions of dollars for suppliers.

These yearly unilateral increases, imposed by Loblaw, will take effect on Apr. 28 without any dialogue or negotiation. While major multinationals like PepsiCo, Mondelez, Lactalis, Kraft-Heinz, and Kellogg may adjust their prices to offset higher fees from grocers, many smaller Canadian food manufacturers may struggle financially and even exit the industry. This results in higher prices and reduced competition, which is counterproductive for consumers.

To address these issues, we need more discipline and oversight, including the implementation of a mandatory code of conduct to ensure fair practices in the industry.

It’s time to put an end to this insanity.

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is senior director of the agri-food analytics lab and a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University.

© Troy Media

BARRHAVEN

5567 Manotick Main St., P.O. Box 567, Manotick, Ontario K4M 1A5

News and Editorial: manotickmessenger@gmail.com

Advertising and Marketing: garyhcoulombe@gmail.com

Website: www.manotickmessenger.ca

Staff/Contributors: Gary Coulombe, Larry Ellis, Skyler Fraser, Goldie Ghamari, Wilson Lo, Jeffrey Morris, Greg Newton.

There is nothing wrong with your windows

The phone rang.

It’s never for me.

Ever.

I looked around. No one else was home.

‘Okay,’ I thought. ‘I’ll get this.’

I hit the pause button on the game.

“Hello?”

Silence on the other end for about 10 seconds. Then, a voice obviously somewhere in New Delhi replied.

“Hello?”

I tried again.

“Hello?”

He replied.

“Hello?”

I replied back.

“Hello?”

No wonder tennis is so popular in India.

Finally, the man on the other end spoke.

puter.”

“From me?”

from the other side

“Yes Colonel Walnut.”

This is getting really good.

“That’s horrible,” I said. “My wife, Diva Walnut, does a lot of shopping online. This will devastate her. Do I need a new computer?”

“No Colonel Walnut,” he replied, confidently and comfortingly. “We have the ability to fix your computer remotely. All you have to do is allow me to have access to your desktop and I can remove the virus.”

Wow, that sounds legitimate.

I decided to ask a question.

The Barrhaven Independent is published every other FRIDAY in Manotick, Ontario. Letters will be edited for length, clarity and libellous statements. Display rates are available on request. The Barrhaven Independent is not responsible for the loss of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other material used for publication purposes.

“I am calling from Windows. Who am I speaking to?”

“Umm, Seechy,” I replied, finally finding a positive use for my imaginary friend who ditched me when I turned five. “Seechy Walnut.”

“Hello Mr. Walnut. How are you today?”

“Um, it’s Colonel Walnut.”

“Ok Colonel Walnut. I am calling from Windows.”

I knew about this scam, so I decided to have some fun with my new friend.

“My windows are fine,” I said. “I am looking out into my back yard right now. Do you clean Windows?”

“No Mr. Walnut. I am calling from the company, Windows.”

“It’s Colonel Walnut,” I said. “You are calling from the company that makes the windows?”

“No, Windows, your computer program. I am calling from Windows.”

“That’s strange,” replied. “Windows is a computer program, not a company. How can you be calling from Windows?”

“We have detected a problem with Windows on your computer.”

“I’m looking out my windows right now into the back yard. It’s a beautiful day, but my windows are a little bit dirty. Do you have someone that can do spring cleaning?”

Silence.

I figured I would engage.

“So, um, are you a big cricket fan?”

He waited for a second.

“Cricket?”

“Yes,” I replied. “Are you a big fan?”

“Of course,” he said.

“That’s great,” I said. “The replay of the IndiaPakistan match was on TV here in Canada last night. That must be a pretty big deal there when you guys play Pakistan.”

Suddenly, my friend lit up with excitement.

“It is,” he said excitedly. “Pakistan is our biggest rival. When we play cricket against them, it is very big here.”

I had him. We were one or two exchanges away from being Facebook BFFs.

But, suddenly, he realized that I was trying to distract him from his scam, er, “job.”

He told me the shocking news.

“We have been receiving error codes from you and we believe there is a virus affecting your com-

“So, um, what happens if I give you access to my computer desktop, and then you put a trojan on my computer? Is that the part where you sell me a program for $200 per year to remove the trojan from my screen?”

“No Colonel Walnut, it is nothing like that.”

“Oh, so then after you have access to my computer and you plant the trojan, and I refuse to pay, is my computer going to be extremely messed up for the rest of my life?”

“No Colonel Walnut, that is not how it works at all.”

Actually, it is.

“And then even if I do pay you $200 per year for the rest of my life, you are still going to record every single key I press on my keyboard here and sell the data to some big company who sells data of people’s online habits?”

There was silence on the other end.

“Because I am Colonel Walnut of the Eastern Ontario Special Ops Fraud unit,” I said, thinking that sounded intimidating. “And I will personally track this call using my Level 9 government clearance codes and I will hunt down anyone messing with my laptop like squirrels searching for acorns on a crisp fall afternoon…”

There was still silence on the other end.

“But I am glad I can trust you,” I said. “I would hate to fall victim to a computer scam from some random guy in India.”

“Okay,” he said. “The first thing I need you to do is to turn on your computer and go online.”

“On the line?”

“Yes, go online.”

“You mean I go on the line?”

“Yes.”

“Hold on,” I said. “I need to insert a floppy disk before I turn it on.”

“What kind of computer do you have?”

“Um, let me check,” give me a second. I went downstairs to grab a Diet Coke. I rabbit holed my friend about how much I loved Diet Coke more than Coke Zero.

“What kind of computer do you have?”

“Commodore 64,” I replied.

“I have to get into your Windows.”

“Um, this computer is MS-DOS.”

“You mean you don’t have Windows?”

“I do, and they are dirty. Can you send someone over?”

He hung up.

A few minutes later, the phone rang again.

“Hello? Hello?”

“Hello. I am calling from the duct cleaning service. Who am I speaking to?”

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Reader applauds Nick Morabito for standing up to school board

The Editor, Congratulations to Nick Morabito for standing up for parents’ concerns about the issue of boys using girls’ bathrooms in schools when a neutral bathroom was available.

Reader

The Editor, Bravo to Gwyn Morgan and the Messenger for the remarkable, accurate and

What right did Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth have to shut him down after one minute with the comment, “his presentation was transphobic”. It’s so easy to label people with words to justify their opinion. We

hear it often from our political opinions. Stop it!

It is our right and our freedom of speech to have our views heard without someone shutting us down with their opinion without any discussion.

Dr. Kaplan-Myrth was disrespectful to parents at this meeting and should not be allowed at future meetings.

Why not try small group discussions with a consensus of all opinions at the

end of these meetings?

Maybe parents should have girls at these meetings to share their views. The world is tough enough for young people. The trustees at these meetings might learn something from them!

Parents – Stand up for rights and concerns. In my day as a parent, we had our own parent meetings and solved our problems with discussion groups with good results.

P. Allen

The Editor, The provincial, the municipal and the federal governments have no solution

informative Jan. 12 editorial which defines Canada as self-inflicted in the continuing housing, healthcare and

economic crisis.

They are a reflection of the much larger immediate global problem of too many people

consuming too much of the finite resources of our planet.

Politicians, industrialist and others are, as ever,

intent on increasing their power, reputation, respect and legacies through unlimited growth. Worldwide free

for the housing shortage. Well I do.

Cut the immigration numbers and stop the refu-

gee flow. Wake up as the way things stand, they will only get worse and housing numbers don’t get solved

overnight. It takes years. Why are we being so compassionate for the immigrants? Take care of our

own first.

The governments have neglected the homeless for years, but now we are at a

contraceptives and one-child families are unthinkable to them.

David Simpson

crisis with all the asylum refugees piling in. This needs to stop.

G.

Searl

gives kudos to Independent, Gwyn Morgan for editorial We can’t bring in more immigrants when they have nowhere to live here Ford should focus on family doctors instead of kindergarten and license plates

The Editor, We’ve often heard Pierre Poilievre say, “everything in Canada is broken,” and while that may sound like a bit of an exaggeration, he actually does have a point. Certainly nothing is more “broken” than the state of healthcare in Ontario, where it was recently

revealed that 2.3 million Ontarians are without a family doctor—a number which is expected to nearly double over the next two years, according to the Ontario Medical Association. That’s 2.3 million Ontarians today without access to frontline healthcare, which constitutes a

healthcare crisis the likes of which we’ve never seen. Interestingly, family doctors are blaming their desire to leave the profession on the excess paperwork imposed by the gatekeepers in the Ford government.

Meanwhile, what is our MPP for Carleton, Goldie Ghamari, focused on?

Well, apparently her government has introduced a new, “back to basics” Kindergarten Curriculum, according to her most recent column in the Messenger. Talk about fiddling while Rome burns! Oh, and if you’re not particularly impressed with their wonderful new direction

for teaching four-and-fiveyear-olds, Premier Doug is also happy to inform Ontarians that they no longer have to ever think about renewing their license stickers, because that will now become automatic!

So for Ontarians, that’s what life in a “broken” Canada looks like. Thanks

to the Ford government, no longer does anyone have to fear that they’re driving with an expired license sticker, but instead they now have to fear succumbing to an undiagnosed cancer.

That is the opposite of progress.

Andy Braid

Lent is the religious season observed in the early spring by Christian churches. It begins on Ash Wednesday, 40 days before Easter, excluding Sundays, and ends on Easter Sunday. The term Lent comes from the old English word lencten, which meant springtime. The word used in church liturgy is Quad-

by Larry Ellis

ragesima. Lent is part of the regular church year of Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant

churches. Many churches hold special services or meetings during the Lenten season.

Many Christians observe Lent by fasting, performing penance, abstaining from certain everyday pleasures and making special donations. The season originated as one of spiritual preparation for Easter in

remembrance of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, it also symbolized the mourning of the Church. The length of time for observing Lent varied through the ages. For many years, it was considered a 36-day period of fast, and during the AD 800s, four days were added, making 40. This was

done as a reminder of the 40 days Christ fasted in the wilderness.

The colors most often used in Easter decorations – white, yellow, or gold, and the delicate shades of green and purple – are the colors of springtime, too. They are the colors of new leaves and grass, spring flowers, flowering shrubs

and trees. White stands for purity, light, and joy; we see it in the Easter candles and in the fragrant Easter lily. Yellow stands for sunlight and radiance; green stands for nature and for hope of eternal life. Purple is a royal color too, and in the language of religious symbols, it stands for mourning.

Ottawa City Council approves strategy to reduce false fire alarms

Ottawa City Council has approved a strategy to help reduce false fire alarms in Ottawa by 10 to 20 per cent over the next three years.

Ottawa Fire Services

responded to more than 10,000 false fire alarms in 2022, needlessly occupying emergency services and posing a potential risk to public safety. Most false alarms can be prevented

with proper maintenance of alarm systems, and the strategy includes a fee for nuisance alarms – the most common type of false alarm, caused by equipment malfunction or neg-

ligence.

The fee will only apply at commercial, institutional, industrial or multi-residential properties. It will not apply to alarms outside the control of the owner,

such as those caused by accidents, weather or vandalism. Offences at the same property within a calendar year will be subject to escalating fees that will come into effect on Monday,

July 1. There will be no fee for the first false alarm and Ottawa Fire Services will provide owners with information about proper use and maintenance of alarm systems.

Action must be taken to extend life of Trail Road Landfill

The city-owned Trail Waste Landfill site could be full by 2034 if we do nothing about it.

City staff say we can prevent that with a “Zero Waste Ottawa” vision, which can be “achieved through progressive, collective and innovative action” – whatever that means.

The Solid Waste Master Plan spells this out for waste that the city manages from curbside, multiresidential homes, city facilities, and parks and public spaces. It will help us manage the growing amount of waste driven by Ottawa’s increasing population and in consideration of the limited remaining capacity at the Trail Waste Landfill site – all this while keeping costs affordable.

It’s a 30-year plan that provides direction for the short (0-5 years), medium (6-10 years), and longterm (11 years+) future on how to decrease our waste and divert as much of it as possible from the landfill, recover resources and energy from what’s left, and to dispose of the rest

Ward

in a safe and environmentally sustainable way.

The Waste Plan has five major objectives, each with multiple actions proposed.

The first is to maximise the reduction and reuse of waste. The actions proposed are initiatives to avoid, reduce, and reuse waste, divert more food waste from the garbage bag to the green bin, and increase diversion through more special waste depot events.

The second objective is to maximise the recycling of waste by separating more of our waste at the source (multi-residential buildings, city facilities, parks, and public spaces). Not to mention, it would look at more diversion of residential construction and demolition waste, including bulky items, hazardous waste, and creating sustainable development

initiatives.

The third objective aims to maximise the recovery of waste and energy through the optimal management of the remaining garbage. What does that mean, exactly? It proposes initiatives for anaerobic digestion and/or co-digestion which could happen by separating the collection of leaf and yard waste, looking at waste recovery and/or treatment facility, and landfill gas (methane) management.

The fourth objective is to maximise operational advancements through pilot projects for alternative collection containers and automated cart collection for curbside garbage. It could also include using RFID technology on waste containers, reviewing the Yellow Bag Program for small businesses, and working toward a zero emissions solid waste fleet.

The last objective, but certainly not least, is to develop a “Zero Waste Culture” across the city through promotion and education and the creation of a circular economy...

One day.

So, what can you do about it? Well, you can help shape the City’s Waste Plan without even leaving the house. The online survey is live until March 7 at Ottawa.ca/ wasteplan. There’s also a virtual information session on March 6 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm you can attend. Your feedback will help inform Council’s decision on the Solid Waste Master Plan.

The results of the public consultations and the final recommendations will go to Council in the spring for approval. Once approved, the city will update the plan every five years.

The Trail Road Landfill site will be full by 2034 unless we take action.

Loblaw decision to maintain 50% discount on expiring food a win for Barrhaven families

By Sylvain CharleBoiS

It all started with an email from Loblaw last week announcing its plan to reduce the discount on soon-to-expire fresh food items. They intended to lower the discount from 50 percent to 30 percent in stores where the previous discount policy was still in place.

This adjustment was scheduled to be rolled out gradually over several weeks across the country, impacting a range of Loblaw’s store banners.

It’s worth noting that many other stores had already abandoned this practice years ago. However, the timing of this decision, in January 2024, when many consumers are grappling with financial challenges, did not sit well with Canadians. Not one bit.

Fortunately, Loblaw eventually reconsidered its decision and opted – in the face of the concerns voiced by the public –to maintain the 50 percent discount on expiring food items. It’s not the first time Loblaw has reversed a decision in response to public sentiment.

In 2016, Loblaw reversed its decision to stop carrying French’s products after facing a significant public backlash, famously known as the “Ketchup Wars.” During that time, consumers boycotted the stores, driven by a sense of patriotism and a desire to support tomato farmers in Leamington, whose Heinz plant had recently been saved by a contract with French’s – a major competitor to Heinz – to produce tomato paste. Loblaw saw its sales plummet within days.

This time around, however, the public outcry was driven by sheer desperation.

While some called for a boycott in response to Loblaw’s discount decision, the company’s rationale for the change prompted many to reconsider. Loblaw argued that it was aligning its discounting policy with competitors, a common industry practice. However, the concern was that consumers would now see sim-

Expiring food discounts at Loblaw stores in Barrhaven and throughout the country were lowered from 50 to 30 per cent before being restored back to 50 per cent.

ilar discounts everywhere, with 30 percent becoming the new benchmark. Some politicians even called on the Competition Bureau to investigate the matter.

Another peculiar aspect of Loblaw’s strategy this time was its decision not to engage with reporters. Instead, the news of the policy change came from Dalhousie’s AgriFood Analytics Lab, which received confirmation from Loblaw about the adjustments to its discounting approach. This lack of communication raised questions about corporate transparency, a crucial element of corporate compassion.

Loblaw may be hesitant to communicate with the public due to the widespread negative sentiment towards the leading grocery chain. However, why the company would make such a decision remains incomprehensible, especially now.

Discounting expiring products has traditionally been a win-win situation for consumers and retailers. Consumers save money, while grocers reduce food waste at the retail level – a straightforward benefit for all. The policy can lead to significant savings for consumers, with the 20 percent difference between a 50 percent and a 30 percent discount translating to $10 on a $50 piece of meat, a common scenario in today’s market.

Before the change, Loblaw had planned to encourage its

customers to use the FlashFood app, which had recently been revamped and saw a triple increase in downloads this week after Loblaw’s decision became public, according to the company. Food-rescuing apps like FlashFood, FoodHero, and Too Good To Go are valuable for those looking to save money, but they lack the tactile experience of inspecting expiring products in a physical store. Many consumers prefer the advantage of personally assessing expiring food items in-store before making a purchase.

It’s never too late to do the right thing, and Loblaw eventually showed its compassion by reversing its initial decision. Most Canadians can appreciate that retailers have the flexibility to adjust their discounting policies to stay competitive.

However, this decision had the potential to generate a significant public relations crisis, as it touched upon issues of food affordability, food waste, and Loblaw’s reputation. And it did. The initial decision itself was flawed, and the timing couldn’t have been worse. Thankfully, the company ultimately made the right choice for all of us.

Now, if we can encourage other grocers to follow Loblaw’s lead by offering a 50 percent discount on expiring food items, that would truly be a welcome development.

© Troy Media

Fo Guang Shan Temple hosts community in celebration of Chinese New Year

Fo Guang Shan Temple in Richmond hosted a massive celebration Sun., Feb. 11 as they ushered in the Year of the Dragon. Children from the congregation provided music, dancing and drumming to the delight of the packed temple. Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari and Nepean MP Chandra Arya were among the dignitaries invited to the event, while a message was read from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The large crowd included many members of Barrhaven’s Chinese community

Action was tense in front of the St. Francis Xavier net in the dying minutes of their NCSSAA girls hockey game against the Pierre-Savard Sharks. The Coyotes were 3-2 winners in the game played at the Manotick Arena.

The John McRae Bulldogs continued to roll through the NCSSAA competition as they beat South Carleton 3-1 in games in their NCSSAA senior girls volleyball match.

CLUES ACROSS

1. Chaps

5. Currently fashionable

9. Collision

11. More slim

13. European city

15. Implicitly

16. The side of something that is sheltered from the wind

17. The Mount Rushmore State

19. Gold or silver wire cord

21. Muscles along insects’ diaphragm

22. Trent Reznor’s band

23. Sweet juicy gritty-textured fruit

25. Broken branch

26. Indicates ten

27. Expression of annoyance

29. Brings together

31. Ancient city in Thrace

33. Sailors’ spirit

34. Looked into

36. Muckraking

woman journalist Rheta

38. A type of cast

39. One’s responsibility

41. Where golfers begin

43. Make a mistake

44. Semitic Sun god

46. Ancient ItalianGreek colony

48. Beheaded

52. A place to stay

53. Unwise

54. Most supernatural

56. “Dennis” is a famous one

57. Ointments

58. Exam

59. Leaked blood

CLUES DOWN

1. Baseball managers assemble it

2. Revised

3. Mountain is a popular kind

4. Takes to civil court

5. Pouches

6. A type of veil

7. Chants

8. Boston hoopster

9. Elongated

appendage

10. Sailboat

11. 2017 Oscarwinning film

12. Actor Gosling

14. Monetary units

15. Assembly

18. Russian pop duo

20. Embellished with expressions

24. Infrequent

26. Temperature unit

28. Hydrophilic amino acid

30. Honk

32. Legislative body

34. Swinish

35. Russian assembly

37. Take over for

38. Put in advance

40. Satisfy

42. Felt

43. Dutch cheese

45. Witnesses

47. Strong insects

49. Gasteyer and de Armas are two

50. Ancient people of Scotland

51. Cheerless

55. Sick

Barrhaven celebrates winter with annual Brrrhaven family fun day

Sleigh rides through Larkin Park, activities at the outdoor rink and great food in the clubhouse highlighted another successful Brrrhaven hosted by the West Barrhaven Community Association. Ch A r L i e Sen AC k P h oto S