ND Times Issue 15 2022 July 28

Saturday, August 6th 2022

Temporary pool closure causes strong online reaction

Winchester’s Centennial Pool was forced to close for two days last week due to a shortage of lifeguards, causing a strong online reaction resulting in spirited debate. The Township posted online during the evening of July 20 that the Winchester Centennial Pool would be closed July 21 and 22, and the post was quickly shared to other social media groups.

“This is pretty pathetic,” wrote one social media user in response to the post. Another poster concurred, saying “Agreed. Taxes go higher, benefits go less.”

August 7th 2022

Between the different posts, dozens of comments were made by locals about the closure. Many were angry about the temporary loss of service, while others shared words of support and understanding.

The lifeguard team at the Winchester Centennial Pool and the Chesterville Public Pool comprises familiar faces. This comes as little surprise, given that the lengthy and expensive courses necessary to achieve a lifeguarding certification were largely suspended for two years during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, it also means that as young lifeguards

grow older and go off to school or seek more permanent employment, a shortage of lifeguards can occur.

This year, the Township’s two pools are sharing lifeguards to try and offer as much service as possible with limited personnel. On July 21 and 22, the Chesterville Public Pool was able to remain open, but that was not good enough for some angry Winchester residents. One commenter wrote that the lifeguard shortage is “Thanks in part to our present government who made it too easy for Canadians during the 2-year pandemic, so that now no one wants to get back into work.”

guard and swim instructor training, first aid and CPR courses that [are] required of anyone who wants to be a lifeguard,” her comment reads. “We spent literally thousands for our daughter to get these certificates and they have to be continually re-certified. She got her first full time life guarding job in the summer of 2020. We all know what happened

cont'd on page 2

The Winchester Centennial Pool on July 21. The pool closed for public swimming after the wrap up of regularly scheduled swimming lessons.

Baldwin's Birds

Non-Water birds in water!

enthusiastically splashes away for quite sometime. Of course this depletes the bath somewhat, but either the rain or we replenish it for them. The depth isn't too great so they can manage quite comfortably in it and once they have lowered the water level some of the smaller birds have a go in it too, such as the House Finch (female in picture), and the Chipping Sparrows.

With all our recent hot weather the birds, who we don't normally associate with it, take to the water! Obviously they don't completely submerge themselves in it, but they do like to splash about in it to either cool down or rid themselves of some of

cont'd from front page

then… This year, she didn’t even consider lifeguarding, because of the uncertainty of the work. She is not lazy or sitting at home. She is starting her 4th year of university this fall and has worked part time in addition to her full time studies, while maintaining a 3.8 GPA. She is working full time this summer, but not at a pool. I get the frustration of people who want to use the facilities to cool off and enjoy our beautiful but short-lived summer weather, but don’t blame the kids. They have been affected by this pandemic in so many ways as well.”

The closure of the Winchester Centennial Pool was temporary, though it is not inconceivable that other closures will be necessary this summer due to the ongoing labour shortages that are affecting most industries. In the wake of last week’s closures, one certain thing is the renewed appreciation for this year’s local lifeguards who make summer swimming a cool, welcome reality.

those pesky fleas and other annoyances. Robins are particularly fond of taking a quick bath in whatever small pool/puddle of water they can, provided that they have still got a foothold! We have a bird bath at the front of our house and a Robin is a regular visitor to it and

In a previous article, I alluded to our pair of Bluebirds who were occasionally flying straight from their perch on an adjacent nesting box and flying directly into the one they had used earlier, for no apparent reason. Yesterday I got a good view of the female atop this nesting box with a mouthful of Insects, which she then took down into the box below! Presumably there are

youngsters in the nest and she is now feeding them, but none of this is going at a hurried pace, so I am still not convinced that this is the case! I'm probably wrong, as usual (ask my wife!), as I probably am about the tiny House Wren, who is still making overtures at nesting in one of the other nesting boxes. His partner has also been seen entering this box with food too, so perhaps it is "catching!" Maybe you have also seen some strange activity of your own in your garden. At least, if you have, you will have experienced the thrill of being able to watch the birds " doing their thing" first hand and being able to share in their activities too. Stay safe and well, Cheers, John

Baldwin

Local girls softball team wraps up great season

ting the league started up again. “There’s not a lot of team sports for girls in our area,” she said. “It’s the one thing that they can be a part of, and be a part of a team.” Rachel pointed out that girls can play hockey locally, but they must play together with boys. The softball tournament is therefore special locally because it gives girls the opportunity to compete only with other girls.

was a lot of parental involvement and cheering, and the girls were so positive with each other,” said Rachel. “It’s really nice to see something kind of normal again.”

A Winchester girls softball team participated in a multi-day tournament to end their season from July 7-10, with much success. All in all, five teams competed in the tournament. In addition to Winchester’s team – the Winchester Sox – there were two teams from RideauOsgoode, one team from Kenmore, and one team

from Vars.

Rachel Hooper, one of the coaches of the Winchester Sox, provided the Times with an update on how the tournament went.

“The girls just loved it,” she said. “They were so happy.” Rachel described the team winning several games, including a game played against Kenmore on the first day of the tournament, and another game won on the third day, which qualified the

team for the finals. For the finals, a tied game necessitated an extra inning, where the Sox unfortunately faced defeat. One of the Rideau-Osgoode teams ended up as the champions, with the Sox placing proudly in second place.

Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the local girls softball league did not run in 2020 or 2021. Rachel said that it feels “awesome” to be get-

Parents were very excited about the league this year, particularly because it allowed them the opportunity to watch their children compete. Rachel gave the example of parents having to drop their children off at dance classes over the last two years without being allowed to stay due to COVID-19 restrictions, which prevented them from having that connection with their children. There was therefore much parent enthusiasm during the softball games. “There

Other teams in the league also had end-ofseason tournaments this month. Locally, the U11 team placed second, the U13 team placed first, the U15 team placed second, and the U19 team place fourth. All local players are undoubtedly proud of their accomplishments.

The tournaments earlier this month were the end of the current season, after a busy two months playing games throughout May and June. Congratulations, girls, and all the luck for next year!

The Winchester Sox girls softball team. by Brandon Mayer

CO2 Down to Earth 18 Natural Succession (2)

Tidbit Musings

self-displace themselves from one range to another, but sometimes they travel when they are caught up by an exceptional means of transportation. That is how the dog strangling vine arrived from Eurasia thanks to European settlers in the 1800’s and how a more recent arrival, the emerald ash borer, came from East Asia, most likely in a shipment of imported goods.

by Philip Fry

Natural succession does not proceed in a straight timeline from a disturbance to a stable climax habitat community, nor does it do so without the intervention of all the species present, including humans.

As each species collaborates in the building of a shared habitat, small and large-scale disturbances continue to happen – a tree is uprooted by the wind, a water course is partially dammed by enterprising beavers, coyotes arrive from prairies to the west and prey on the local deer and rabbit populations, weather patterns change – and each event transforms the immediate habitat and sends its development on bifurcating paths. A patch of light falls upon a previously shaded forest floor, marsh plants find new homes at the edges of the beaver pond, vegetation is no longer so heavily browsed by rabbits, and the functions of whole

habitat system are challenged by changes in rainfall and temperature. That is what is happening now.

Intervention by the human species has been an integral part of habitat development in our region since the end of the last ice age about 10,000 years ago. Over the centuries, indigenous peoples learned how to participate in the on-going transformations of their surroundings by developing collaborative technologies based on their intimate knowledge of the specific plant and animal life thriving on their terrain. The ranges, or if you will, the overlapping territories inhabited by various species are integral to the development of collaborative technologies. Most not human species have evolved with geographical limitations to their dispersal – a mountain range, an ocean, radical shifts in habitat requirements. In a sense, they have developed built-in technologies to deal with the limitations of their habitat. They rarely

Here Comes the Sun – Sunflowers That Is!

Soak up the sunflowers and ‘bee’ amazed! That’s the plan for a creative new local event. Smirlholm Farms is opening its doors to the community to showcase the beauty of Morewood and raise funds for the WDMH Foundation’s Cancer Care Fund.

From July 29th to August 7th, guests can stop by the farm to enjoy a number of activities including educational displays on beekeeping and wildflowers; a 2-acre wildflower plot; horse drawn wagon rides; tractor rides; and even a

Human communities have adopted different approaches to the range limitations of their habitats. Some, like the indigenous peoples of our region, developed technologies of collaboration, that is, forms of partnership with the landscape and the other species dwelling in their shared habitat. European peoples chose a different view and manner of dealing with their environment, chiefly by developing powerful technologies of transportation and exploitation of their habitats. If a parcel of land was not visibly transformed by cultivation and building, it could be declared terra nullius, a no-man’s land up for grabs. When Europeans left their homeland range to “discover,” inhabit and exploit “new” worlds, they ignored the workings of the indigenous peoples’ collaborative technologies, and justified their take-over of the land by calling upon the terra nullius doctrine. If that were not painful enough for indigenous populations, it was made much worse in Canada by the deliberate attempt to erase their customary way

of life through the forced attendance of their children at residential schools. There are signs of hope, however. The colonial mindset is slowly being recognized for what it is, and the customary values of indigenous practices are being deliberately unforgotten by projects aimed at reconciliation and healing of the painful wounds inflicted by the colonial enterprise. An excellent local example is The Healing Place, located at 8040 Shanly Road (Highway 20), just north of its intersection with Ventnor road. The gardens there are collaborative works, bringing together a number of First Nations and nonindigenous partners. Set on a parcel of farmland deeded by its owner to the South Nation Conservation Authority, The Healing Place is being created with the enthusiastic coordination of Chris Craig. The garden design is based on the medicine wheel, the cardinal directions, the four pillars of life (mind, spirit, emotions, and the physical world) and the four elements (water, air, fire and earth). Differences in the customary teachings and practices of the participating First Nations are integrated into the design and events at the Garden, and the collaboration of non-indigenous people is welcomed. For more information, go to: The Healing Place.com; or Plenty Canada.ca. If you wish to contact me, write to: wildflowerguy@gmail.com.

by Elva Patterson Rutters RSSW

Who are you? Certainly, how we define ourselves often reflects our relationships to others, our careers or even or geographical location. With the masks hiding our faces, one can look several times to identify someone not seen for a while. Physical changes keep us pondering as well. Beyond being a dentist, farmer, mom, etc., we are reluctant to announce our inner self. Others are much quicker to describe someone as that kind lady who walks all over town, or the B- - - - - who complains about everything, than we are ourselves in describing our character!

To determine your self-worth is not contingent on your skills or pocketbook but is a given- "You are special and worthwhile just because God did not make any junk!!!" To believe that fundamental element, we have to first eliminate the negative assessments that those in authority bestowed upon us. You may make stupid or unwise choices but you are not stupid. The person who knows it all forgets a key factor - no one knows it all.

Life is a journey during which we have trials and tribulations that shape us into who we are. We learn through making mistakes and making those mistakes provides us with experiences. We need to step into stillness to determine exactly who we are. The process can be tedious but treasure yourself in the grand scheme of life. You are you - unique and special!!!

New WDMH Foundation Board Chair Brings Expertise and Enthusiasm

cocktail trailer. All proceeds from opening day go to the WDMH Foundation.

Organizer Glenn Smirle says he wants to give back to the community and share his fascination with honeybees. The honey produced at Smirlholm Farms has been voted the best by the Eastern Ontario Beekeepers Association.

Smirlholm Farms is located at 65 Main Street in Morewood. The event runs from 10 am to 8 pm each day. Tickets are $8 online or $10 at the door. Tickets go on sale on June 18th at http://

www.smirlholmfarmshoney. ca/ or contact Glenn Smirle at 613-371-0962.

Hope to see you there!

It was a fond farewell and a warm welcome at the virtual WDMH Foundation Annual General Meeting held in June. To start, Peter Krajcovic was thanked for his leadership as he completes his term as Board Chair. “You have made a significant commitment to health care close to home and we will miss you on the Board,” noted WDMH Foundation Managing Director Kristen Casselman.

“One of the things I’m going to miss is giving these annual updates on the wonderful work of the WDMH Foundation,” summed up Peter. “Once again, our donors have amazed us with their generous gifts to support health care close to home.”

Christine Chevalier was confirmed as the new Board Chair. Chris says she is excited to talk the helm: “I am so very honoured and pleased to have been elected as Chair. Over the past five years, I have grown to know WDMH and Dundas Manor well. I look forward to continuing my work with this incredible team - to help grow our community of donors and to work together to help ensure that WDMH is the very best hospital, and that Dundas Manor is the very best long-termcare home to be found anywhere!”

Chris says that volunteering has been part of her life since she was a candy striper at the Montreal General Hospital as a teenager. Chris moved to Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry in the early 1990s, and when she retired, she saw an opportunity to ‘give back’.

“We are so happy to have Chris as our Chair,” adds Kristen Casselman. “She brings expertise and enthusiasm to the role.”

photo by Rachel Everett Fry

Working toward work ethic

by Brandon Mayer

Are we raising a generation of YouTube star wannabees? It’s easy to see what the appeal is for those kids who want to grow up and be “famous YouTubers”, as they call it. The hard pill to swallow, however, is the realization that so many of these kids want this “job” because it is perceived as easy, and because the top stars make a lot of money.

Few things matter more to me than the value of good old fashioned hard work. I really enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done. For example, I don’t meticulously care for my lawn every weekend because I think it’s a critical chore; I do it because it’s very satisfying to get such a tedious job done, and done right. People who aren’t afraid to get dirty and expend some effort are the people who truly make the world go round. There is nothing wrong with wanting to relax or have leisure time, but I have always been firm on the fact that I’ll never be the man who

is comfortable sitting around watching someone else grunt and groan over a job. Many hands make light work.

How are today’s kids holding up when it comes to putting some blood, sweat, and tears into a task they can be proud of? Obviously not all kids can be painted with the same brush. Many of us have seen social media shout outs for local kids who have taken the initiative to open up a lemonade stand, or push the family lawnmower down the street, eagerly asking neighbours if they want a helping hand with their yardwork in exchange for minimal cash. This past winter, I was impressed by a local boy and girl – either friends or siblings – who approached me in my driveway asking if I needed help clearing snow. They had their own shovels with them, and I don’t doubt that they were prepared to do a very thorough job. I regret that I had to say no, only because my own kids would have been outraged that someone else had done “their” job and earned “their” money.

Of course, there are those kids who don’t want

Letter to the Editor

Our health care system is in crisis. Multiple hospitals have had to close their emergency departments (EDs) either completely or overnight due to staff shortages. The ED at Perth Hospital has been closed since July 2nd and is scheduled to reopen on July 24th, while Glengarry Memorial Hospital in Alexandria is closing the ED overnight until August 3rd. Hospitals in Mount Forest, Clinton, Seaforth, and urgent cares in Kingston and Brampton have all had to adjust their hours recently. The length of time patients spend in ED is at a 14-year high, while ambulance offload times are at a 12 year high according to the Ontario Hospital Association. Emergency medical care is literally a matter of life and death at times, and every minute counts when dealing with emergencies such as heart attacks or strokes.

The crisis affecting emergency rooms is only the most visible aspect of the crisis across our health care system. Doctors and nurses in hospitals are burnt out after dealing with the COVID pandemic since March 2020. Many people face difficul-

to put the effort in. There are kids, just as there are adults, who don’t have a good work ethic. And it is my unfortunate observation that often, the kids who want to do the least hard work, are often the kids who have the greatest aspirations of future wealth. How does a parent handle that? It’s tough, to be sure. It seems that being a “YouTube star” may be the modern equivalent of 80s and 90s era kids wanting to grow up and be famous NHL players. How many actual hockey players had parents who told them they were being unrealistic as children, and that the odds of being drafted into the NHL were slim-to-none and a total waste of time to even try? I would hate to be that parent. Similarly, I wouldn’t want to see one of my kids as a famous YouTube star, sitting on a talk show discussing how unsupportive his parents were, growing up.

Promoting hard work in kids is not just a moral imperative, it also has other important benefits. There is the obvious one – work is exercise, and exercise is beneficial for physical health.

However, many people may not realize that exercise is actually the first best treatment for clinical depression. There is something unique about getting up and moving – no matter how, why, or when – that acts as a proverbial “chicken soup” for both the body and the mind.

The other important aspect of work is the sense of accomplishment. Kids don’t need to huff and puff to feel the sense of pride that comes following a job well done. Finishing a task and being proud of the results does wonders for self-esteem and can help in achieving an overall sense of mental well-being. These tasks can be as simple as putting a few dishes away, or sorting some laundry, or cutting up some vegetables for a meal.

The parenting challenge, for those whose kids who want fame, glory, and money without doing any hard work, is to delicately balance giving them a reality check, while also being supportive. It’s okay to be honest about the simple fact that most YouTube stars have parents who were wealthy long before YouTube. Extravagance

attracts viewers. Sure, buying a handful of expensive cameras and paying four staff to turn your mansion into a carnival ball bit attracts viewers and YouTube ad-sharing revenue, but it is not a get rich quick scheme. One must already be rich to put on such a display. If a kid understands this and still wants help making YouTube videos, it could just be that they want to spend some quality time with mommy or daddy. The desire to be a YouTube star may just be a child’s imagination at work, similar to playing doctor or cops and robbers. Who doesn’t remember pretending to be a famous musician while singing along to our favourite songs as a child? It doesn’t mean we were set on a career in music, but it’s still fun to dream and to pretend. It’s also important to remember that while being a “YouTuber” may not necessarily be a practical life goal, working hard toward this goal is work ethic nonetheless.

A final word of (hopefully) wisdom gleaned from my limited life experience

is this: a little praise goes a long way toward building work ethic. Sure, most kids suck at chores, and many of their food creations are hardly cook show worthy, but the pure effort of trying is something that every parent should be proud of, and a few excited words of encouragement will always guarantee that they will be happy to try again.

ties in getting appointments with their family doctors if they even have one. Difficulty accessing family doctors leads to people seeking care from EDs for issues that aren’t necessarily emergencies or leads to chronic conditions being undiagnosed and poorly managed, causing further strain on the healthcare system. Difficulty accessing family doctors also puts more pressure on pharmacies as people request prescription extensions from pharmacists or advice on managing issues that really need medical attention.

The last two years have been tough on all health care workers. We’ve tried to keep our patients, our families and ourselves safe from a novel virus in a landscape of constantly changing restrictions, guidance, and eligibility for vaccinations and treatment. As a front-line community pharmacist, the first I often knew about changes in eligibility for vaccinations was when a patient phoned up to try and book an appointment after it had just been announced live on TV by Doug Ford or one of his ministers.

The issues facing our

healthcare system are not unique to Ontario or to Canada, but actions that Doug Ford has taken have not helped things. Bill 124 has limited nurses and other provincial employees to pay raises of just 1% a year since 2019 – no wonder nurses feel undervalued! Ford has also removed virtually all public health restrictions to curb the spread of COVID despite the fact we are in the midst of a seventh wave with the highly transmissible BA.5 Omicron variant –wastewater viral signals, test positivity rates, and hospital admissions are all increasing in Eastern Ontario. A politically motivated decision to end public health measures in the lead up to an election does not mean that the pandemic is over, despite what Ford wanted us to believe. Maybe Ford’s decision to scrap these measures is related to a shortage of staff in emergency departments across the Province, but I doubt he is that forward thinking. The decision to scrap licence sticker renewal fees has cost the government of Ontario $1 billion a year, which no doubt will have further impact on health care as there is now a bigger

budget hole to fill. We should continue to take precautions to limit the spread of COVID.

• Ontario Greens are calling on our provincial government to:

• repeal Bill 124 to allow fair bargaining and give all nurses the raise they deserve,

• hire more nurses,

• increase per person healthcare investments to put Ontario in line with other provinces,

• and legislate ten paid sick days for workers. These measures will help prevent our healthcare system from being overwhelmed and go someway to repairing a system that is teetering on the brink of collapse.

By Steve Gabell

All progress is good progress

by Brandon Mayer

It is that time of year again? Are education worker labour strikes looming? I’m being funny, of course, as labour contracts in the education system typically run for three years. However, with the polarizing debates that tend to happen in the general public when these labour disputes occur, it can start to feel like they happen more often.

If I crudely break down the arguments for and against education workers’ labour disputes into two groups, we have the “They Already Make More Than Most People and Should Be Happy and Stop Holding Our Children Hostage” group, and then of course there is the “You Couldn’t Pay Me Enough to Teach and Supervise Other People’s Kids All Day So Give Them a Huge Raise” group. Full disclosure: I am an education worker, but I’ll admit that I have dabbled in feelings on the “suck it up and be grateful” side. I can understand

OpEd

I was going to visit an ill friend this past Saturday, but St. Michaels Hospital’s 9th Floor was isolated with a COVID-19 outbreak. This also has happened on the first floor of La Verendrye Hospital (Riverside) in Fort Francis and also the West Wing of Rainycrest was added to a large list of COVID-19 outbreaks throughout the nation. The usual precautions are taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but are not limited to:

General visitors will be restricted to bottom floors of hospitals.

Palliative patients can have up to 4 visitors, two at a time, plus 1 essential caregiver.

Cohorting of staff (those exposed will be separated from non exposed medical staff).

N95 masks are essential for staff and visitors in all designated areas.

Emergency Units in many hospitals are closing down for periods of

why a person making $15/hour, 40+ hours per week breaking their back in a factory with no paid leave days and awful working conditions could become infuriated when those with better working conditions start complaining. After giving my head a shake, however, I realize that all progress is good progress.

Laws that govern basic fair working conditions – such as minimum wage – only came about because of people fighting the good fight historically. Ontario had its first minimum wage legislation enacted in 1920, and I would wager a pretty penny (or perhaps a pretty nickel in this economy) that there were workers in 1920 who opposed the legislation over fears that it would kill jobs. But most of us can now agree that minimum wage is critical to any labour market for many reasons, including the fact that it prevents people from being taken advantage of when they are down on their luck.

a few days to a week and beyond throughout the nation, especially in medical centres and hospitals in rural and small town locations. Lack of needed staff and overall staff personnel fatigue are reasons for this continual action. Staff are often taking vacations or just not returning to their employers. The lack of professional assistance, better pay and working conditions seem to persist throughout our medical facilities.

Bill 124 has brought about controversy within the Health Ministry for various public sector unions and hospital staff members. Limiting pay increases to 1% annually has led the medical and nursing staff of Ontario's hospitals to call for both legal and labour action.

They have been staffing our hospitals all this time, and the pandemic continues to spread its viral tentacles with no end

Recently, we have seen a few spikes in Ontario’s minimum wage which now sits at $15 per hour and is slated to increase to $15.50 per hour in October. These spikes reflect a simple fact: life is expensive. Many people oppose minimum wage increases, particularly large ones, because of the strain they can put on small businesses. Fears remain that minimum wage increases kill jobs, but studies suggest otherwise. And while it may seem unfair to work your way up to a wage of say, $20 per hour in a more skilled job, only to have minimum wage workers come nearer and nearer to your salary, I continue to contend that all progress is good progress. The smaller the gap between minimum wage and wages for more skilled jobs, the more pressure on employers in the latter category to raise those wages in turn. In many cases, this is the only way workers can expect to see their wages keep up with inflation.

Back to the education sector, this logic of “all progress is good progress” must apply somewhere, right? In education, there are actually two main fights that go on. One is between teachers and the Province, and the other involves negotiations between the Province and support staff, such as Educational Assistants, Early Childhood Educators, Custodians, and Office Administrators. These CUPE workers (pronounced “QP” for those in the inner circle) are the ones preparing for their fight in the coming months. They typically make between $30,000 and $40,000 yearly, compared to their teacher counterparts who can expect to earn in the ballpark of $100,000 yearly after securing a permanent position with sufficient experience. In fact, Ontario has the highest paid teachers in the world – if you want the naughty thrill of knowing another adult’s exact annual salary, visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/public-sec-

tor-salary-disclosure and search for your child’s teacher’s name. If their salary is over $100,000 yearly, it will be listed. On average, close to half of the teachers in your child’s school should be listed.

It's safe to say that teachers have made progress in earning a good living with more favourable work conditions that in previous decades, and this progress can help CUPE workers as well. The huge gap in teacher vs. CUPE salaries can be partially explained, and partially not. Some valid reasons why teachers make more money include their longer working hours (for assignment marking, lesson preparation, etc), the specific education requirements they must meet, and the length of time it takes to find secure employment. Further to the last point, new teachers can almost certainly expect to wait over a decade for a permanent position, and life up to that point is fraught with the uncertainty of

not knowing whether they will have a job year by year. A battle like that is one that not many would be willing to fight without the hope of a good living at the end.

613 329 0209

in sight.

All the weaknesses in our health system before the pandemic have been and continue to show themselves. Various governments seem unwilling to spend the needed funds to not only fight this virus, but also to strengthen the health system we rely upon with better wages, training more replacement workers en masse, extending COVID protocols within the system, and investigating those seniors’ homes that failed their patients in 2020-2021.

For many of our national and regional governments, the health portfolio has been and continues to be seen as a money pit, sucking up funds that many administrations could use elsewhere. Working in a hospital is a profession, and not charity. Paying our experienced staff will keep them here where they are needed,

not just now but in the near future too. Many hospitals are receiving newbie staff without the necessary experience essential to carry on. Experienced medical staff are very much like essential managers who show their new associates how things get done. Many of our governments are at fault, putting budgetary concerns before the welfare of our neighbours. This is a global issue. Statistics place the need for new nurses within the region of the Caribbean at 7,500+, and in Latin- Central America, a further 18,330+. Imagine how many skilled medical professional passed away due to the pandemic, tens of thousands and growing daily. All of our hospitals are full, and medical professionals, namely family doctors, are still unprepared to deal with this pandemic, sending many of their patients to emergency centres. A true

catastrophe, while many administrations pretend that the worst of the pandemic is behind us.

Steven Kaszab Bradford, Ontario skaszab@yahoo.ca

Despite their clarity, these reasons for teachers earning more fail to account for the sheer size of the wage gap. School support staff work in high pressure, ever-changing environments, for close to the same hours as teachers. Some get assaulted by students during their regular duties and have to wear Kevlar for protection. For parts of their day, support staff perform the same duties as teachers, such as supervising large groups of students during lunch and recess. Furthermore, the flexibility of support staff is a key to the functioning of any school. If support staff weren’t flexible in their duties, schools would not be able to open reliably every day. With all this in mind, it may be acceptable that support staff earn less than teachers, but to earn only one third of a teacher’s salary? That seems more than a tad unreasonable. And surely, this wage gap will be used as a point during the bargaining process for CUPE’s upcoming contract renewal. Teachers’ progress with wages will therefore help their CUPE counterparts, and alas, true to the model, all progress is good progress.

The right people The right products The right services

Fertilizer - Seed - Crop Protection

Reducing emissions without hobbling our ability to produce food is a must

Empty grocery store shelves in the Netherlands have made headlines recently, as farmers blocked food distribution centres in protest of strict government nutrient regulations. They’re very worried that pending legislation will not only put many of them out of business but will also affect food production – potentially making those empty store shelves a more frequent occurrence in the future.

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2020 levels by 2030. It has now launched consultations with farmers, the fertilizer industry and provincial and territorial governments to figure out how they’re going to make that happen.

expensive – never more so than this year due to the Ukraine crisis and Canadian government tariffs on fertilizer imports from Russia –so we don’t want to use any more of it than we have to.

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In nearby Denmark, farmers are awaiting their government’s release of a carbon emissions tax scheme for agriculture, phase two of a tax introduced on other sectors of its economy earlier this spring. They too are concerned about their ability to meet new standards in a short amount of time and how it will affect the viability and competitiveness of their farm businesses and their ability to produce food.

Food security is a more heightened topic in Europe these days than it has been for a long time, due in large part to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing conflict between two countries who are not only large global food producers, but also the source of many of the fertilizers farmers around the world depend on to grow their crops.

Here at home, the federal government is also turning its sights on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer use, and last year, it announced a national fertilizer emission reduction target of 30% below

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As farmers, we very much care about climate change and emissions. We work with nature when we raise livestock, grow crops and work the land, so we’re impacted very directly by changes in the environment and the weather as much or more than anybody else.

And we’ve already been taking action for years to reduce farming’s impact on air, soil and water. The Environmental Farm Plan, for example, was launched in the 1990s by farm organizations to help drive positive environmental change and since that time, farmers and governments have collectively invested hundreds of millions of dollars in positive on-farm improvements.

On my farm in the Golden Horseshoe region, like on many other Ontario farms, we have for years followed the 4R Nutrient Stewardship program, which means we apply the right nutrient at the right time and at the right rate to the right place – giving our crops what they need, when they need it, while promoting and enhancing overall farm sustainability.

Not only is that the right thing to do for the environment, it’s also a sound business decision for our farm; fertilizer, after all, is

• Cell: 613-229-2142

12650 Ormond Road, Winchester, Ontario

To its credit, in its consultation document, the federal government does recognize that fertilizer is an essential part of modern farming and that farmers are taking environmental action – and it is looking for our suggestions on how we can make the uptake of many of these beneficial practices even more widespread.

We are very concerned, however, that the government has set its reduction target based on an absolute reduction in emissions from fertilizer use rather than one based on how nutrients are actually used. Government metrics for measuring emissions from fertilizer use are poor and based largely on fertilizer sales. This means that any success in meeting the target it has set would result simply from a decrease in fertilizer sales – and not in actual, meaningful change in how nutrients are used.

That’s why basing decisions on sound science and the practical realities of farming and food production is so critical.

At OFA, we are responding to the fertilizer emissions reduction consultation document and having discussions with government to ensure the farmer voice is well represented. We recognize there are improvements to be

made, but farmers will need support from government to get there. This means funding, research and technical support for innovation and new technologies, and transitioning to new practices and approaches in how we farm and produce food.

Most importantly, we have to ensure that any new regulations will drive positive, impactful change without affecting the competitiveness of farm businesses or our ability as a Province and as a country to feed ourselves and often the world.

Once we lose that capacity, it will be hard to get it back – and as we’ve all experienced firsthand over the last several years, the world can change rapidly, and we may not always be able to depend on others to provide us with what we need.

Tyler Brooks Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Win with the Times Clockwork Mysteries !

Subscribe to the North Dundas Newsletter for a chance to win tickets to Clockwork Mysteries !

The North Dundas Times will be giving away 4 tickets each week to this high-energy magical adventure for both adult and family audiences. (For shows in Aug and Sept)

www.ndtimes.ca

Topline Trailer Equipment

Downtown Winchester, Sweet Corner Park 6-11am

Downtown Winchester, Sweet Corner Park

6-11am 8:00am 9:00-9:15am

2:00-4:00pm 10am-4pm 11am-4pm 8:30pm-1:00am

All Day 9am-4pm 9:15-10:15am 10:30am-11:30pm 11am-4pm 11:45-12:30 12:45-1:45pm 2:00-4:00pm 10am-4pm 11am-4pm 8:30pm-1:00am

Fire Department Pancake Breakfast (Fire Hall)

Dairy Dash - $20

Fire Department Pancake Breakfast (Fire Hall)

Opening Ceremonies (Sweet Corner Park)

Dairy Dash - $20

Softball Tournament – FREE to watch

Opening Ceremonies (Sweet Corner Park)

Sweet Corner Street Market (Sidewalk Sale)

Softball Tournament – FREE to watch

Inflatable Mechanical Bull – FREE

Sweet Corner Street Market (Sidewalk Sale)

Southgate Church Inflatable Obstacle Course – FREE

Inflatable Mechanical Bull – FREE

The Low Keys (Sweet Corner Park music)

Southgate Church Inflatable Obstacle Course – FREE

Cory Coons (Sweet Corner Park music)

Airbrush Tattoos – FREE

The Low Keys (Sweet Corner Park music)

Cory Coons (Sweet Corner Park music)

Zumba with Leanne Leader - FREE

Airbrush Tattoos – FREE

Junkyard Symphony (Sweet Corner Park music)

Zumba with Leanne Leader - FREE

Josh MacFarlane (Sweet Corner Park music)

Junkyard Symphony (Sweet Corner Park music)

Julie Balloonie – FREE

Josh MacFarlane (Sweet Corner Park music)

Beer Garden (Legion and Sweet Corner Park)

Julie Balloonie – FREE

Ken Workman Band and Darkspeed (Sam Ault Arena) - $21 95

Beer Garden (Legion and Sweet Corner Park)

Ken Workman Band and Darkspeed (Sam Ault Arena) - $21 95

Saturday, August 6th 2022 Sunday, August 7th 2022

100 Club Park / Winchester Arena

Softball

LEGO Car races (Arena)

Remote Control Mario Kart (Arena)

Julie Balloonie

Dairy Triathlon (Behind Fire Station)

Zoo Crew Petting zoo

Kids Zone

Large Bounce Inflatables

Obstacle course

Rock wall

Inflatable Alien Invasion

Inflatable Hooley Ball

Inflatable Hoops

Inflatable Soccer

Showcase

Hey Buster (Pavillion)

Airbrush Tattoos

The Longest Moo contest (Pavillion)

Fire Department Games

Tractor Parade

Gord

CORNER PARK

by David Shanahan

Racism and bigotry is not unknown in Canada, although we often like to think that we’re in a better place in that regard. Sometimes it is best to let history speak for itself. The following are excerpts from the local newspapers for September 1927 and 1928. They record the annual gathering of the Ku Klux Klan at Smith’s Falls, when Klan members from all over the district gathered to intimidate and impress. It is hard to believe that this happened in this area so recently, or at all. However, the Klan had a significant increase in

support in Ontario in the 1920's, and tapped into a relatively widespread fear among the rural parts of the Province following the end of the First World War that Canada was losing its Protestant British identity.

The popularity of Klan meetings faded by the end of the decade, although it remained popular in Western Canada until recently, but it is a chilling reminder of what has happened, and what can happen, when bigotry and prejudice are given freedom.

KLANSMEN HOLD CONCLAVE NEAR SMITH’S

FALLS

The fiery cross of the

Ku Klux Klan blazed forth in Smith’s Falls last night when the K.K.K. held their annual gathering in a field on the outskirts of the town. A huge throng turned out to attend the meeting and hundreds of motor cars entered the field.

White robed members of the Klan rode through the crowds keeping order and now and then shouting commands in gruff disguised voices but others, whether intentionally or in forgetfulness, raised their masks and rode around with their faces in full view.

The Klansmen wore the usual peaked hood and white robes and the robes were decorated with the Klan insignia on one side and a green maple leaf in a red circle on the other. The horses wore white covers and hoods with the letters K.K.K. painted upon them in bright red. [August 20, 1927]

Escorted Off Field

Only Protestants were allowed into the grounds and those entering had to pass sentries. Four Klansmen guarded the gate, and

once inside a visitor met a white figure carrying an old-fashioned sword. Inside the grounds more mounted members of the Klan trotted here and there keeping an eye open and more than one who had got safely by the main guards was escorted off the field.

A steady stream of motor cars continued through the grounds all day and many American and Quebec licenses were noted. The field was decorated with hundreds of Union Jacks. Many children were noticed among the crowd and some were tiny tots who were hardly able to toddle along, and had to be assisted by bigger brothers and sisters. Hundreds of women also attended the meeting.

After darkness had fallen the crosses were ignited and the blazing symbols could be seen even from the centre of the town. The crosses were five in number and ranged from 30 to 70 feet in height. The largest cross presented an impressing scene as it burst into flames and illumi-

nated the field, showing the white-robed figures. [Sep. 1, 1927]

LARGE RALLY HELD

BY KU KLUX KLAN AT SMITH’S FALLS

Ku Klux Klansmen from every part of the district gathered in Smiths Falls for their annual demonstration and this year the event was witnessed by one of the largest crowds that ever thronged the field on the outskirts of the town. Several hundred motor cars drove to the field and many new members were initiated. The Klan demonstration had been expected for several days and Smiths Falls citizens awoke on Saturday morning to find that members of the invisible empire had been busy during the night at several of the most important street corners the symbolic letters KIGY were painted upon the streets, and a huge arrow directed the curious to the large field where the demonstration was being held. The letters, KIGY mean Klan is Gathering Yonder.

Klansmen in full regalia

patrolled the grounds this afternoon and evening and the rule of admitting only white gentile, protestants was once again very strictly observed.

Picturesque scenes were witnessed as the whiterobed Klansmen rode here and there directing traffic and keeping a watchful eye on everything. Five crosses were set ablaze this evening to wind up the ceremonies. Four of the crosses were some 40 feet in height while the fifth towered about sixty feet above the grounds. It is estimated that three or four thousand people visited the grounds during the day. Speakers harangued the crowd from platforms and soap boxes scattered here and there, and there was much to impress and entertain the curious. [September 13, 1928]

History Section

Ku Klux Klan in Smith’s Falls

KKK meeting in London, Ontario, 1925

Classifieds Classifieds

FOR SALE

Old horse machinery for lawn ornament or for use. No 1 horse hay. Call Jim 613-258-3561

Travel trailer Jaco, 5th wheel, fully loaded, 28ft long, perfect condition. Must sell. Call Jim 613258-35612

Brand New Wedding

Dresses, never been worn, Tags Still On, LULUS (XL) ordered online.

$300 each (phone number: 613-203-2724

No. 6/4 wire cabtire 18 meters; No, 6/4 wire liquidtight 15 meters; $175.00 each or both for $300.00. Bill 613-8501584

Two brand new wedding dresses, tags still attached, bought online LULUS (XL) $300 each

1992 Ford Econoline

E150 Palm Spring's edition. B.C. vehicle, no rust, 396000 kms. 5.7 litre engine, tested and certi ed $2500. Phone: 613-7910204

Hearing aid with charger, hardly used. Call 613-5678533

Floating dock on the Rideau. 60' (3 sections

and walkout) Best o er 613-258-8000

Firewood for sale $110 a cord delivered, min 2 cord for delivery. Call Jon 613-227-3650

Hay and straw for sale

4x4 round bales, stored inside. Call Jon 613-2273650

Cedar posts and rails for sale, various sizes available. Call Jon 613-2273650

WANTED

Looking to rent farmland for cash crops. Call or text Mitch @ 613-262-1204

HELP WANTED

Occasional muscle required part time for landscaping and waterfront maintenance on Boyd Landing , Merrickville. Heavy work. Pays $100 for five-hour day. Must have transportation. Phone 613 2847780.

GENERAL LABOURER NEEDED FOR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY TO START IMMEDIATELY. $18-$22/HR DEPENDING ON EXPERIENCE HARVEY (613)227-8850ETHEL

(613)227-1945

ALES

SERVICES

RETIRED CARPENTER

Renovations, kitchens, bathrooms, additions, decks, home repair. Call George at 613 462 7637

HANDYMAN SERVICES

Call Bill 613 774 2922

Hedge Trimming

Small or Tall

Call Rob 613-795-1845'

THE FOOD CORNER

By Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville

Whether you are vegan or a meat lover, vegetables done on a barbecue are delicious and very easy to make. Once again, you will wish to take care in the preparation and cooking, so that you don’t end up with mush, rather than perfectly grilled vegetables that still have a nice crunch. Barbecued vegetables can be a main dish or accompany other dishes, such as the Chicken on a Barbie recipe from last week. So, here goes!

Veggies on the Barbie

Ingredients – First, the Vegetables Chicken

2 red peppers, with seeds removed and cut into 1 inch strips

2 yellow peppers, also with the seeds removed and cut into 1 inch strips

2 green peppers, done same as above

3 small zucchinis cut lengthwise in 1 inch strips

3 small eggplants, cut lengthwise in 1 inch strips

10-12 baby Portobello mushrooms

A couple of dozen asparagus spears with the fibrous ends

trimmed off

A dozen green onions cleaned and trimmed

Ingredients – Then the Sauce

¼ cup of olive oil

1/8 cup balsamic vinegar

3 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce

3 tablespoons of lemon (or lime) juice

3 cloves of minced garlic

3 tablespoons each of fresh parsley and fresh basil

Some black pepper

Preparation

Turn your barbecue on to low-medium heat

Combine the sauce ingredients and coat the vegetables

Cook your vegetables, one species at a time in a grill pan (the one with holes in the bottom):

First the zucchinis

Then, the egg plant

Third, the peppers

Fourth, the asparagus spears

Fifth, the green onions

Finally, the mushrooms

Cook each – lovingly – till they are done but still crunchy

Keep them all warm in a glass plate set at the back or to the side of the barbecue’s main flame

When done, drizzle the remaining sauce and a bit of ground pepper over your vegetables

A grill pan is readily available locally and is a must for great barbecued vegetables. Don’t place the vegetables directly on the barbecue grill. The trick is to treat the vegetables with care according to their particular cooking time to get fabulous results. You can serve them as is or on a bed of basmati rice.

Next week, we will go for Shrimp on the Barbie, prepared Hawaiian style.

Take care, enjoy and continue being in touch via pcormier@ranaprocess.com.

Start Small, Build Confidence, Meet your Goals

Tel: 613-258-0110

Nursery/Farm Equipment Operator

• Minimum two years experience operating farm equipment

• Mechanical skills an asset

• Seasonal fulltime April – November

• Pay range $19.00-$22.00 per hour

For more information inquire within and/or check out our website under careers for full job description

Spray Technician Position

• Minimum two years experience operating farm equipment

• Must have pesticide license

• Seasonal fulltime April – November

• Pay range $22.00 - $25.00 per hour

For more information inquire within and/or check out our website under careers for full job description

*Please e-mail resume to: admin@fergusontreenursery.ca*

Doug Ford proposing new powers for mayors

by Brandon Mayer

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has made a controversial proposal, which would see the mayors of Ottawa and Toronto get the power to override Council members on certain matters. The proposal has not yet been tabled in written form, but has been discussed by Ford in interviews, with local MPP Steve Clark also weighing in.

Many concerned politicians and citizens are asking what the purpose of such legislation would be, particularly because disagreement and voting are key elements of democracy that are effectively removed when one political figure can overrule others. However, the Premier is strongly defending his decision. “I just think it’s the right thing to do, since all the responsibility falls on the Mayor, he needs the ability and the responsibility to make decisions,” Ford told reporters.

The new powers would only be for the Mayors of Toronto and Ottawa, though after a trial run of approximately one year, the powers could be expanded to other large municipalities as well. The details of the policy are not yet clear, with Ford saying that more will be revealed at a later date. What is known thus far is that mayors would be given the power to overrule Council decisions, but Council members could “overrule the

By Sarah Chisholm Financial Advisor, O’Farrell Wealth & Estate Planning | Assante Capital Management Ltd.

Typically, as the snow begins to melt, I begin preparing lists of all the amazing things I want to do in the summer. I daydream about family adventures and personal goals to reach. However, as we move into the summer months it is easy to get pulled in multiple directions. Every weekend there is a different event or family occasion requiring your participation and the work week flies by as you also try to coordinate your schedule with daycare and summer camps. Do you ever get halfway through the summer and realize you have not checked off anything on your list?

A strategy that we use in the investment world is to take small steps and then gradually grow towards bigger goals. When looking at a Wealth Plan it is easy to say “well if I saved $10,000 annually, I could meet my retirement goals”. Saving $10,000 in a year, however, especially in a lump sum, is difficult to achieve. Rather than aiming too high, start small. Incorporate a $50 biweekly or $100 biweekly until that becomes routine, and then add to that amount. Overtime you may increase your contributions to $384 biweekly and realize you are now on track to meet that bigger $10,000 per year goal.

Start small, build confidence, meet your goals. For the summer I recommend:

overruling” with sufficient votes.

Toronto Mayor John Tory spoke to reporters in favour of the proposed change, saying that such a change has been under discussion for decades, and that a strong mayor system would be beneficial. However, other politicians have voiced strong concerns over the proposal, particularly because it would detract from the powers of other Council members.

Leeds and Grenville MPP, Steve Clark, who is also the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, was another supporter of the proposal, suggesting that it would help the current housing crisis. “We need to make sure that local councils have every tool that’s available to them to get shovels in the ground,” he told reporters. Despite this, Ford seemed confused when asked about the link to affordable housing, and instead said that the change would be intended to speed up “any decision”.

Ford is hoping to have the proposed extra powers available to mayors before the municipal elections scheduled for October.

1. Pick one family goal for the summer. Don’t worry about creating endless lists of places to visit and things to try. Pick one thing to do as a family and build that into your schedule over the next 2 weeks. Maybe it’s fishing at the local boat launch or visiting the nearest splash pad. Just work towards the one goal and then when it is complete re-assess and pick a new goal. Take small steps rather than trying to tackle a huge master plan for the summer.

2. Choose one personal goal for the summer. This could be to read a specific book, try a certain restaurant or master a certain video game. Again, reach one goal and then re-assess and bring a new target into sight. Take the time to congratulate yourself on the small success so that you can create momentum for the next.

Whether on the personal side or the investment side starting with small steps will lead to greater success. Get rid of those massive lists and works towards small achievable goals. At the end of the summer, you’ll be amazed at all the family adventures and personal goals you have met. We welcome questions so please reach out and follow us on Facebook @OFarrellWealth.

Sarah Chisholm is a Financial Advisor with Assante Capital Management Ltd. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of Assante Capital Management Ltd. Please contact her at 613.258.1997 or visit ofarrellwealth.com to discuss your circumstances prior to acting on the information above. Assante Capital Management Ltd. is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada.

GWA Kids Golf Initiative

Golf is a great way to get exercise, fresh air, socialize and enjoy time with friends and family. It is also a lifetime sport that, unlike other sports, allows the unique opportunity for young and old to participate and play together. Instead of watching from the sidelines, parents, and grandparents can play the game with their youngsters while enjoying the many benefits the game has to offer.

Rick Morrow, lifelong member of Cedar Glen Golf Course, has been playing for over fifty years and in that time has noticed a decline in the number of youths participating in the sport. This sparked an idea and a commitment to finding ways to make it easier for children to give the game a try.

Golf clubs of the proper size and weight for children are critical for a good introduction to the game. Adult clubs, even if cut off, are too heavy and unwieldy for children and this is where GWA Kids Golf comes in. GWA Kids Golf is a non-profit organization set up by Morrow and Dianne Lapier with the goal of having a supply of youth clubs available for daily use free of charge.

Melissa Laplante , Manager of Cedar Glen Pro Shop has agreed to be a partner and custodian of the clubs for this golf season, and if successful, this program will be expanded to other courses in the GWA (Greater Williamsburg Area). If you want to take advantage, please call Cedar Glen @ 613-535-2323 to reserve the clubs for use on the range or on the course. The supply is limited but there are plans to raise some funds and get additional sets.

Morrow kick started the program with two new sets of clubs and bags and David Lapier was quick to get involved with another donation of two additional sets.

MELISSA OTTENHOF Marketing Consultant

Phone:613 329 0209

Email: melissa@ndtimes.ca

www.ngtimes.ca

Pictured is David Lapier with Melissa Laplante.

Science and Faith – A Critique

by Victor Lachance

As readers may have noticed, I wrote a threepart series on the subject of finding an accessible and reliable path to future knowledge and truth. From my perspective, the series failed to do what I hoped it might do, which was to engage readers in a discussion about how we as people of many different views can talk about big questions.

As I stated in the Introduction article, the series was not about actually discussing those issues, but about how we can go about discussing them. Perhaps I failed to make this clear enough, or maybe having the three parts spread out over several months just wasn’t a good way to do it. But the series as a whole would have been too long for a single edition of the Times.

The reason I think I failed is two-fold. No one actually responded specifically to the question of finding an accessible and reliable path to the truth. Instead, the responses, except for Jane Campbell’s, focused more on the merits of Christianity.

Nevertheless, there were some points that I wish to respond to, starting with Ms. Campbell with whom I agree. As humans, it is indeed hard to be 100% objective 100% of the time. However, this should not deter us from trying.

Another point is to

debunk the misrepresentation of atheism. Theism is generally understood as the belief in the existence of a god or gods. Atheism (a-theism or a-theos from Greek) is simply not having that belief. It is not a philosophy or a fundamental belief – it is the absence of a belief. There is also the need to differentiate between the word fallible and falsifiable. Fallible means that we are all capable of making errors or logical fallacies, as noted by Ms. Campbell. Falsifiable means that something –whether in naturalism or supernaturalism – is open to scrutiny in such a way as to be capable of being shown to be false.

Yet another is the response that the series put Naturalism and Supernaturalism in a sort of conflict. While there may be something to discuss there, it was not the intent of the series, and I think a fair reading of the whole series should demonstrate that. Both Naturalism and Supernaturalism offer what it is they offer, but the series was about an accessible and reliable path to knowledge and truth.

Perhaps a useful next step would be to look at how we can structure discussions and debates using common points of agreement. For example, it would be great to have responses from readers on the following premise:

A person who makes a claim has the burden of proof for that claim.

On the burden of proof: if you claim that there’s a new type of car that can cook up a pizza over the engine, I can of course go along with part of what you are claiming. I know what a car is, I know that a car engine generates heat, I know what a pizza is and I know what a properly cooked pizza should taste like. So, the only thing left is the claim that such a car exists. If so, I’d love to have one. But if you say “prove that such a car doesn’t not exist” that I cannot do – in logic you can’t prove a negative. Instead, I can ask that you prove that such a car exists. As much as I might like to have such a car, if you can’t prove that it exists then I simply can’t believe you and for the purposes of eating pizza, I will have to stick to things that can be proven to cook up a pizza.

Here’s another example: If I say to you that I spoke with my dead mother last night (like a former Prime Minister did), you might say that you don’t believe me. If I then say to you, “prove that I’m wrong”, I’ve now shifted the burden of proof to you – you have to somehow prove that my dead mother did not speak to me last night. If I then say, “well since you can’t

disprove my claim, it must be true”, that would now be a logical fallacy, and therefore an invalid claim

In the interest of space, this is the extent of my critique. I regret that this may disappoint those who responded, but if I delved into a debate about Christianity, I would be defeating the purpose of the series. I also think it would be unproductive to do so in the absence of an agreed upon approach to discuss it. For the moment then, I look forward to readers’ responses about who has the burden of proof.