Submitted Column, Author at Niagara Now

Bottom Line: Alarming planning activities abound in Niagara-on-the-Lake

“We require more applicant identity clarity to assess whether the neighbours are truly acting at arms’ length,” writes Steve McGuinness.

Bottom Line: Escapes from call centre madness

“I have concluded that the design principle underlying all of them is to frustrate customers so thoroughly that we hang up, abandoning all service attempts, forever and ever, amen,” writes Steve McGuiness.

Bottom Line: From home desks to office towers: the work commute resumes this fall

“The driving presumption is that more frequent in-person interaction between team members will lead to better coordination and cohesion. But it could just as easily lead to more downtime spent socializing with distracted co-workers around the water cooler,” writes Steve McGuinness.

Bottom Line: How governments are harming the housing market

“Property taxes are a housing expense directly controlled by municipalities. The town portion of our residential tax bills has increased at multiples of inflation (a 24 per cent compound rate) during this council term,” writes Steve McGuinness.

Letter: Let’s not lose sight of all important issues in town

“I encourage residents to remain engaged and vocal in local decision-making. That civic energy is one of the greatest strengths of our town,” writes Adriana Vizzari.

Hot items ready for Grace United Church’s annual festival market

It’s the annual festival market, featuring a vast array of jams, jellies and sauces plus a bake sale, treasures sale and a silent auction. Either before or after, treat yourself to a breakfast at the food tent.

Bottom Line: Flying the turbulent skies of the Air Canada strike

“Are flights on a major air carrier more of a vital commodity than mail delivery in 2025? When does a public service cross over the line from necessary to essential?” writes Steve McGuinness.

Bottom Line: Understanding how investment income is taxed

“By understanding how income on different investments gets taxed, you can enhance your after-tax yields by holding the more tax-advantaged investments outside of your RRSP and tax-free savings account,” writes Steve McGuinness.

Bottom Line: Bed, breakfast and tax

“Residents living on our once quiet town streets, in homes neighbouring unhosted short-term rental sites, complain about irresponsible renting to unruly groups,” writes Steve McGuinness.

Bottom Line: Reducing tax on your savings and investments

“When you contribute to an RRSP in your peak earning years and then withdraw in retirement (when your income will be lower), there will be a reduction in taxes paid, by moving into a lower tax bracket,” writes Steve McGuinness.

Discover the artworks of Naoko Matsubara at RiverBrink’s summer exhibition

A selection of 12 woodcut prints from “Konjaku Monogatarishū” (“Tales of Days Gone By”), a collection of thousands of Japanese folktales, displays the artist’s conceptual skill and storytelling abilities.

Bottom Line: Retirement savings: Too little? Too much? Too late?

“Even when we rigidly follow a retirement budget, many variables will lead to actual account values differing from plans,” writes Steve McGuinness.

Opinion: Must we fall before anyone will help us stand?

“Why are we only supporting people after they’ve gotten hurt? Shouldn’t the right care at the right time be before the injury happens?” writes Carolyn Chandler-Hill.

Opinion: Ontario is sliding toward a two-tiered, U.S.-style healthcare system

“Year after year, the Conservative government has underinvested in primary care, abandoned rural communities and advanced private clinics at the expense of our public health system. This trend must stop,” writes Wayne Gates.

Bottom Line: Our border and the trade wars

“U.S. President Donald Trump, with his focus on trade and tariff negotiations, poses significant threats to our town’s economy. Local businesses must adapt quickly to protect profits and jobs,” writes Steve McGuinness.

Opinion: Let’s work together to make Shaw’s new Royal George a success

“I support building a new theatre. Done right, it will bring new energy and vitality to Old Town and will make both the Shaw and Niagara-on-the-Lake a prized place to live, work and visit well into the 22nd century,” writes David Israelson.

NOTL library collecting 225 reasons to celebrate 225 years

“Every contribution, no matter how small, helps tell the story of a community connected through books, programs and people, painting a picture of how the library has touched lives over more than two centuries,” writes Debbie Krause.

Bottom Line: How first-time buyers can realize their home ownership dreams

“The average age of a first-time homeowner has increased from 36 to 40 over the last decade, but some basics never change,” writes Steve McGuinness.

Busy start to rescue season for local volunteers

Capsized kayaks, paddleboarders in peril and an assortment of on-the-water emergencies — the start of the boating season has been hectic for the volunteers of South Shore Search and Rescue.

Opinion: The new Royal George Theatre: a meeting place for the whole community

“The new Royal George will be a bigger, grander complex than the current one. It has to be, by law, but more importantly, it will offer far more to the communities it serves and most especially to our friends and neighbours here in Niagara,” write Tim Carroll and Tim Jennings.

Celebrate with Royal Oak for 10th anniversary

“The fact that Royal Oak even exists is a small miracle for Niagara-on-the-Lake. It makes the town, all parts of it, a better place, and the more people know about it and why it’s important, the better it is for all of us,” writes David Israelson.

Bottom Line: Home prices dip, but ownership still elusive for many

“Our residential real estate market continues to slump. Despite recent Bank of Canada interest rate drops, the days of cutthroat home bidding wars are well behind us,” writes Steve McGuinness.

Opinion: All.Together.Now — A campaign for real human connection

“The town and the Shaw have grown together, welcoming first tens of thousands and then hundreds of thousands of patrons every year, helping this little corner of Ontario become one of the most cherished destinations in Canada,” write Tim Jennings and Tim Caroll from the Shaw Festival.

Opinion: Bill 5 means ‘rolling the dice’ with Ontario’s ecosystem

“This bill redefines ‘habitat’ in a way that weakens protections for endangered species. Imagine saying an animal’s home doesn’t count anymore because it’s not where it nests, even if it feeds or migrates there,” writes Wayne Gates. “That’s not science — that’s politics. And that’s dangerous.”

Globally known portrait artist Emily Profit to visit Queenston

Next week, Profit will be paying a weeklong visit to Queenston, arriving May 26, where she will connect with the village’s active art scene and be available for commissions.

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