Opinion

Opinion: Slow down, you’re movin’ too fast

"Whether it’s lane jumpers, high-speed tailgaters or mid-lining motorcyclists, everyone seems in a hurry," writes Kevin MacLean.

Opinion: The world’s first trillionaire and the rise of rule by riches

"Without hard boundaries including progressive taxation and dissolution of monopolies, oligarchy will continue to deconstruct society until elections, law, and truth become historical artifacts," writes Keith McNenly.

The Turner Report: Hitting the bottom in NOTL

"The economy has flatlined. Trump’s war went badly. Inflation is back, so interest rates won’t be falling ... But people still want houses. And, of course, everyone wants to live here," writes Garth Turner.

Arch-i-text: Half our vacation rentals are empty in slow season — that’s the problem

"Any correctly thinking council — one that represents the good of the town and its residents as opposed to commercial real estate investors — would support proper controls and a cap on the short-term rental market," writes Brian Marshall.

Ross’s Ramblings: Watches, leather shoes and other products of a bygone era

"The relatively sudden demise of a once-accepted part of our lives, almost instantly replaced by handheld devices that mostly pass the time in our pockets," writes Ross Robinson.

Letter: More controversial development likely coming NOTL’s way

"I hope I’m wrong, and that things will change," writes Terry Davis. "And that NOTL will continue to be a wonderful place to live, work and visit."

Opinion: Joining Niagara’s conservation authority with Toronto’s would be a big mistake

"Doug Ford is forcing through the amalgamation of our local conservation authority — the conservation authority that protects so much of what we hold dear in Niagara," writes Wayne Gates.

The Turner Report: The governor, the president and your house

"Existing tariffs are bad enough ... but hiking them to 100 per cent — and maybe ripping up the existing Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement this summer? That’s war," writes Garth Turner.

Arch-i-text: Two situations facing the heritage committee this year

"Senior town staff and certain downline staff members were fully cognizant of the actual 'state of affairs.' However ... it seems that they failed to communicate these requirements to their heritage planners," writes Brian Marshall.

Ross’s Ramblings: Polar vortex tests toughness of local Scots on Burns Night

"Think about how tough life was for  our ancestors. We cannot even imagine. How did they survive and prosper without all the things we take for granted?" writes Ross Robinson.

Dr. Brown: Why does belief in the afterlife persist throughout human history?

"It’s not hard to understand why our ancient ancestors might have created stories to explain and cope with the natural world that surrounded them," writes Dr. William Brown.

Letter: Many thanks for our neighbours’ generousity during the snowstorm

"I've lived in the village of Queenston for nearly two decades, and I never cease to be amazed at the kindness and generosity of my neighbours," writes Linda Fritz.

Letter: Actually, let’s keep talking about immigration

"Are we only pro-immigration because people are fleeing persecution or hunger? Would immigration be immoral if they were not?" writes Alexander Evans.

Letter: A lot of positive things are happening, too

"To pass negative judgement of the hoarding around the site, and its design, would seem unnecessary, indeed trival," writes Peter Rand.

Letter: NOTL needs to be at the table of our future — not on the menu

"When decisions are driven by stronger powers and historic towns respond individually, compromise tends to be one-sided," writes Bruce Gitelman.

The Turner Report: Hey NOTL, hope you like trucks

"Old Town residents — on Victoria, Prideaux, Simcoe and Queen — can expect up to 50 trucks per day during various phases of the project. Dumps, flatbeds and tractor trailers," writes Garth Turner.

Arch-i-text: Questions about proceedings on the Crysler-Burroughs House

"I opine that the several municipal processes related to proposed and undertaken alterations of this important heritage property have been fundamentally flawed," writes Brian Marshall.

Ross’s Ramblings: Can we please stop talking about immigration?

"How can we still be debating the subject of immigration? Especially here in the new world, and specifically in Niagara?" writes Ross Robinson.

Dr. Brown: How the latest Nobel Prize in chemistry might change the world of aviation

"Here was an example of the evolution of a novel technology in the hands of the three laureates in chemistry who reimagined how atoms and molecules might be arranged to the eventual advantage of humankind," writes Dr. William Brown

Letter: Is the town trying to administratively frustrate people?

"Requests for access to the town’s public documents that could confirm the existence of a variety of problematic items related to council’s decisions, such as infrastructure deficiencies ... are rebuffed/seemingly withheld," writes Gienek Ksiazkiewicz.

Letter: Ford’s intellect not up to the job

"As U.S. President Donald Trump's crusade to have all North American cars manufactured exclusively in the U.S. proceeds, Canada needs to replace those defunct jobs. And, we have to start somewhere," writes J. Richard Wright.

Letter: Some facts about the world of Canadian air defence

"The Department of National Defence directorate of aviation requirements has consistently and recently made it clear that the F-35 is the aircraft type that best meets Canada's defence requirements," writes Kenn Moody.

The Turner Report: Worries build as Shaw clams up

"How will heavy construction be handled during the next three summers when Queen is shoulder-to-shoulder with tourists, cars are everywhere and festival season arrives?" writes Garth Turner.

Arch-i-text: NOTL needs apartment buildings — but, the right ones

"This simplistic design approach to apartment buildings has dominated the sector for decades and has resulted in a quasi-institutionalized environment within the resultant neighbourhoods," writes Brian Marshall.

The Forum: Future councils will inherit a colossal financial mess

"This fiscal irresponsibility this term kneecaps our future councils, leaving them little manoeuvring room going forward," writes Steve McGuinness.

Ross’s Ramblings: Some Winter Olympic levity to loosen up the world

"Are we getting better when compared to other nations? Perhaps, but there are so many more events now. Many more opportunities to grab a medal," writes Ross Robinson.

Dr. Brown: Intelligence, whether human or AI, evolves the same way

"AlphaFold2 was like a loyal grad student who learned under the tutelage of humans at Google — not human of course, but a student nontheless and perhaps deserving of a share in the prize," writes Dr. William Brown.

Letter: The meaning behind the engineer’s iron ring

"It reflects a distinctly Canadian understanding of professionalism: that public trust rests not only on rules, but on conscience," writes Stuart McCormack.

Letter: Medical assistance in dying: the perfect prognosis?

"Governments could channel 'happy death' through the entire medical and social system, and take minimum responsibility for these programs," writes Kevin McCabe.

Letter: Where are all the letters to the editor from NOTLers?

"Is freedom of speech and expression via our local newspaper being eroded in NOTL?" writes Megan Wood.

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