All that glitters UCDSB trustee allegedly violates code of conduct twice

“Asteroid that could make everyone on Earth a billionaire confirmed to be exploded this year.” Sometimes, reading something stupid online makes one want to simply mentally extinguish it and move on. Other times, the stupidity is so intense that it warrants picking apart.

The post above was one I came across on a social media page of very little consequence. “Clickbait”, as they call it – something eye-catching and outrageous enough to encourage clicking on a worthless article that seems like hard-hitting journalism, so that online advertising revenue can be sucked out of the world’s most daft beings.

While I stand by the assertion that the post I saw was intended as “clickbait”, the real problem is that reputable news sources have picked it up. What exactly is the story here? An asteroid called “16 Psyche” has been identified in the area between Mars and Jupiter. It is believed to be the “metallic heart of a dead planet” containing so much iron, nickel, and gold that in Earth value today, it would be worth somewhere in the ballpark of $10,000,000,000,000,000,000. (No, that is not a made up exaggeration, it is the actual calculated number).

As it turns out, this would theoretically be enough money to make everyone on Earth a billionaire. The keyword is “theoretically”, as in – solely as a math problem. My concern is that reputable news sources seem to be missing the “theoretically” part. NASA is reportedly going to be exploring the asteroid, and news sources are suggesting that we are all going to be rich. The Economic Times, a division of the India Times, has a headline reading “NASA mission 'Psyche' can make everyone a billionaire”. A headline from NDTV reads “This rare asteroid may make everyone a billionaire on this Earth”. The first line of an article on iHeart. com – a popular radio and news website – reads “NASA has announced a mission that could make every single person on Earth a billionaire.”

Have we seriously lost any trace of common sense?

I understand the interest created by the “theory” of how much Earth money this asteroid would be worth, but are the people writing these articles honestly believing that this totally worthless asteroid is the solution to all of the world’s problems? The belief that money is some magic outside force that can make goods and services appear out of thin air has to be one of the most brainless things I have ever read. And last week, I was reading about it on the websites of news agencies that really ought to know better.

Money is nothing more than a standardized barter system. If you were stranded alone on an island with no hope of rescue anytime soon, would you rather have a box of food or a box of $100 bills? Anyone with common sense would choose the food. The money has no value beyond what someone else is willing to give you for it. When there is no one around to barter with, the money may as well be firewood, and it won’t burn for long. Take the food!

Capitalism is great. Why? Because it encourages hard work and contribution to society through the promise of reward. But we can’t lose sight of what money is supposed to represent. In its purest form, money represents what a person has done for society and for others. If I work 8 hours in a meat processing plant (as I used to every day, many years ago), then I receive a certain amount of money that puts a value on that contribution to others’ nutrition. I can then put my money toward shelter, a variety of food for myself, other necessities, and more. The money I pay to others acknowledges the work they’ve done for me, and they can get necessities as well. And so on.

What would someone do for you in exchange for $1 billion of iron, nickel and gold, if they also had $1 billion worth of iron, nickel and gold? Absolutely nothing, except perhaps an act of kindness. The monetary value that we place on goods and services depends on the usefulness those goods and services bring for those who receive them. Starving people don’t care whether or not all that glitters is gold. They care about where their next meal is going to come from.

Instead of worrying about get rich quick schemes – and the embarrassing articles from clickbait news agencies that promote these ridiculous ideas – worry about what you can do for society, both today and in general with your gift of life. A fortune not earned is nothing to be proud of.

by Brandon Mayer

In late June, trustees with the Upper Canada District School Board voted to find their colleague, Trustee Curtis Jordan, guilty of a Code of Conduct violation. The details of the violation were kept confidential, as is generally required by policy.

As a result of the vote, which Trustee Jordan was not allowed to take part in, he was immediately handed a six month suspension from attending Board of Trustees meetings. Following the vote, he was asked to sign out of the meeting to begin his suspension, and was told that he could rejoin as a spectator using the YouTube link available to the public. During the suspension, Trustee Jordan keeps his position – elected in 2022 to represent Ward 9 (Stormont and Glengarry). However, he will not be able to attend meetings or vote on the issues brought before the board.

Trustee Jordan accepted his suspension and logged off, but remained anything but quiet about it after the fact. He spoke to the Recorder and Times – a Brockville Newspaper – and made big claims about the reasons for his suspension.

“These allegations were very petty in nature,” said Trustee Jordan to the Recorder and Times. “I’ll admit I’ve made some mistakes. One of the mistakes I made was I wore blue jeans to a Board meeting.” He also claims that he was not always following parliamentary procedure in meetings because it was a learning experience. He is open about the fact that he is autistic, and believes that he is the only elected autistic official in Canada. “I was elected to have a voice at that table regardless of whether or not I’m communicating in perfect parliamentary procedure, and regardless of what

I am wearing to that Board table,” he added.

The comments made to the Recorder and Times were picked up by many news agencies, a story seemingly painting the UCDSB as unduly harsh at best, and discriminatory at worst. In a twist to the story, the interview landed Trustee Jordan in even more hot water.

The Chair of the Board for the UCDSB, John McAllister, sent out a press release reading:

“The Board of Trustees for the Upper Canada District School Board strenuously objects to Trustee Curtis Jordan’s false statements to the Recorder and Times, as reported on July 14, 2023, which were shared across many media properties.

It is untrue that Trustee Jordan was disciplined for wearing blue jeans to a Board meeting, or for failing to observe parliamentary procedure.

Following an investiga- tion, the Board of Trustees found that Trustee Jordan breached the Trustee Code of Conduct as a result of comments he made in response to a caution about the need to ensure that his expense claims comply with the Board’s Expense Reimbursement Policy. Trustee Jordan declined all of the opportunities he was offered to participate in the investigation and did not offer any response to the complaint made against him.

A second Code of Conduct complaint has now been filed against Trustee Jordan, alleging that he knowingly misrepresented the reasons for the sanctions imposed by the Board on June 21st, 2023.”

The new allegations against Trustee Jordan have not yet been investigated or put to a vote. It is unclear what sanctions he may receive if found guilty of a second offence during his suspension.

Township staff and Council raising funds for Dundas Manor

by Brandon Mayer

Members of North Dundas Council as well as Township staff are participating in a familyfriendly fundraiser walk next month to raise money for Dundas Manor. The event – called “The Grand Parade” – aims to support local charities and organizations that support Canada’s aging population. Dundas Manor was a fitting beneficiary for the local team.

A national event, The Grand Parade involves 2.5km long predetermined looped routes which can be walked once or twice to make it a 5km walk. The event features a walker checkin, send-off ceremonies, signed routes, rest stops, and helpful volunteers along the way. The event will take place next month on September 16.

Winchester’s very own event has a route that begins at the Community Care Building on Fred Street, and loops through the subdivision and up through the downtown core before returning. It’s not too late to register your own team!

Participants must register ahead of time by visiting https://thegrandparade.org/register. There is no registration fee to participate in The Grand Parade, but the organization encourages all participants to fundraise. As a goal, most walkers raise around $250, sometimes much more!

The Township’s team is called “North Dundas Township Trekkers”. A note on the team’s fundraising page reads, “In Canada, growing older can often rob people of status, a sense of being valued, and even selfrespect. On September 16, 2023, we're walking and fundraising to publicly honour and support aging friends and family and to raise funds for the much-needed new Dundas Manor. Please give generously to our campaign.”

Dundas Manor is a well-regarded long term care home in the heart of Winchester. It opened in 1978, and in 2020, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care approved a plan to build a new and improved facility, right next door to the existing one. The current expectation is for “shovels to be in the ground” this fall.

There are different ways to show support for Dundas Manor through The Grand Parade, including registering to participate or donating to a local team. You can donate to the North Dundas Township Trekkers by visiting https://secure. e2rm.com/registrant/ TeamFundraisingPage. aspx?teamID=1001706. You can also donate to a specific member of the Township team by clicking on their name after visiting the team link above.