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Put your hands together

It’s relatively common knowledge that many communities rely on the work of volunteers to keep local residents active and involved in local issues. From organizing local sports leagues to community dinners and caring for shut-ins, there is a lot of work that goes unpaid and unrecognized. For every v…
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Editorials

Off the mark

In the first throne speech following the federal election, the government laid out their plans for the upcoming . .
Editorials

Freedom of expression

It seems like only yesterday that Canadians were up in arms about the issue of freedom of expression. All it
Editorials

Dark days ahead

The year is 90 per cent over and for many, this final season is more depressing than usual. The trees
Editorials

The future of news

I set out with the intention of writing an editorial. I really did. Every week I have the (un)enviable position
Editorials

Legitimate debate

Last week, an audience of millions took in what passes for political discourse in our country, in two televised . . .
Editorials

Waste not, want not

Last week, youth from Fort Coulonge, Montreal and the rest of the world took to the streets to advocate for a more . . .
Editorials

Get it together

Obscene is probably the only word that captures the cruel absurdity of a situation that’s playing out in Pontiac and across the province. While the provincial power-brokers in Quebec City quibble about . . .
Editorials

Thinking about what to think about

Once again, an armada of boxy, yellow torpedoes will be making their way through the streets at dawn, transporting legions of young people to . . .
Editorials

Fair-well to summer

Well, it’s that time of year again, and the countdown to the Shawville Fair is on. In just a few dozen hours, the gates will open and for just a moment, the fairgrounds will be the centre of . . .
Editorials

Road woes

The Eardley-Masham road that connects the Municipality of Pontiac to Masham is still closed after this spring’s flooding, and it’s not shocking. If you’ve spent any amount of time on Quebec . . .
Editorials

“You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone”

Like the classic Joni Mitchell tune intones, people often take their most precious resouces for granted, and it’s only in their absense that their value is fully realized. This lesson has hit close to home for residents of this fair region over the past few months, as . . .
Editorials

Province sour on weed sweets

The provincial government has taken its latest step towards becoming the most restrictive province when it comes to using legal cannabis. While the federal government plans to legalize . . .
Editorials

Help wanted

Last week it was discovered that the Pontiac Community Hospital (PCH) would likely experience an interruption to their obstetrical services at the end of this week, lasting approximately a month. The reason is that there just aren’t enough nurses available to adequately staff the department. Accor…
Editorials

Empty gestures

Last week, the Quebec government finally decided to avoid the hypocrisy argument that has plagued its attempts at banning religious symbols by taking down the crucifix that has hung in the legislature since the 1930s. For years the cross was described as a “cultural” or “historical” artifact. An arg…
Editorials

When critics take the reins

The Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) is still in the infancy of it’s first time leading the provincial government, and does it ever show. On June 17, the province revealed a revised map of the flood plains throughout the province, which was instantly panned. To top things off, the government recessed f…
Editorials

Media censorship on the rise

In the last couple of years, the refrain “Enemy of the People” has become a common one from those who wear their distrust of the media like a badge of honour. Even here in the Pontiac, THE EQUITY has been accused of publishing “fake news,” even though the claim couldn’t be backed up with proof. With…
Editorials

The province needs to get out of its own way

Residents of Allumettes Island and the Municipality of Pontiac had a chance to vent their frustrations about a lack of responsiveness in the wake of the floods that have pummelled the Pontiac over the last three years. The first meeting took place in the Municipality of Pontiac (MoP) with representa…
Editorials

Under the cover of darkness

While most people in this province were out enjoying the summer weather this past weekend, Quebec’s elected officials were busy debating two highly contentious bills during a marathon session that delayed the legislature’s summer recess. Bill 9, which would restructure Quebec’s immigration system, …
Editorials

Celebrating local news

Every year, staff members from English language newspapers throughout Quebec gather to celebrate the best local news of the year. The Quebec Community Newspaper Association hosts the awards gala each year that gives journalists a chance to pick each other’s brains and other staff members a chance to…
Editorials

The heavy lifting continues

While the water levels of the Ottawa River are creeping back to normal, those by the shore are not out of the woods yet. Many folks who have been hit by flooding are still waiting on insurance companies to process their claims before starting the hard process of cleaning up the mess that Mother Natu…
Editorials

Council needs to chill

At this month’s MRC meeting on May 15, the subject of public cannabis consumption was broached, with an eye to the warmer weather and the various outdoor “activities” it might bring. Officials have consulted with local police since legalization took place last year and have agreed to make any bylaws…
Editorials

Dam conspiracies

The MRC Pontiac council of mayors recently passed a motion asking for an independent inquiry into Ottawa River dam management and its impact on the flooding in the region. The MRC council is responding to the requests of residents who have seen pictures on social media of low water levels at reservo…
Editorials

ATVs on the PPJ?

The local powers that be have decided that it’s in our county’s best interest to investigate whether the PPJ trail, which is currently designated as a cycling path, can accommodate ATVs in the summer months. A committee of five mayors was appointed to study the subject at the last MRC council meetin…
Editorials

The meaning of community

Though there weren’t too many events left on the calendar, there is no way that you could characterize these past seven days as a slow news week. It makes choosing the topic for an editorial much more difficult. Should the column inches be used to lambaste the dolts in Fort Coulonge who recklessly…