Pushing 2025 Out The Door

 2025, without a doubt, has been a year of the most political uncertainty both Canada and the world have ever seen post-war. 

Trump's continual push to destroy the Canadian economy, surrendering it to statehood, has all but backfired. Although there are many other stories in 2025, the story of a small population Country such as Canada being able to trip up the Oligarchy and an insane leader of the USA surely has to top just about everyone's list of astonishing moments.

Canada's response to Trump's oppressive tariff regime was swift and working in overdrive, rebuilding the Canadian economy by piggybacking on the ultimate strength of the European Union and the vast populations of Indochina. As Trump's isolationist policies began to crash and burn, he moved to the one thing American administrations are famous for: adopting a military strategy of bombing countries globally.

This economic backfiring has created vast amounts of unrest in both the USA and within the GOP and Trump's own MAGA World. The once-teflon reality show host and make-believe billionaire is left at the end of 2025 with a world and a presidency he once had a firm grip on, facing either a movement ready to welcome his departure or exposure from the Epstein Files that will send him into ruin. With midterms approaching, it appears that Trump and the GOP are about to be sent a very severe wallop electorally. 

Canada was the first sign of the MAGA Backlash, as once a frontrunner and seemingly unbeatable Pierre Poilievre was beaten by a Liberal Party led by a self-declared Progressive Conservative, Marc Carney, a trip back into the opposition benches. Carney immediately moved the Liberals to the political center right, adopting most of the Conservative election platform and leaving Poilievre no room to move from the complicated right and racist Maple Maga world that he has created. Poilievre is not going to have a good year as he faces his political leadership review in early 2026.

The New Democrats, now in the middle of a leadership race, were left to wonder what had happened that swept away most of the seats they had held, and face the challenge of rebuilding a party that was once founded by the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation into one lost in a sea of internet memes and no real direction or principle. Which may be hard to do, as none of the leadership candidates can speak French. The two leading choices are Avi Lewis and Heather Macpherson. Avi, the son of former UN Ambassador Stephen Lewis and the grandson of former  NDP leader David Lewis, has the strongest path to the party's leadership.  With his partner and Canadian author Naomi Klein. Returning the New Democrats and those on the left into a position of being a contender once again on the national stage.

Outside of the political world, Canadians from coast to coast have faced the uncertain realities that at times have proven devastating for most families. The cost of food and housing has left many Canadians facing both homelessness and hunger throughout 2025 as wages continued to stagnate and prices were inflated unjustly, mainly by greedy grocery store monopolies trying to protect shareholder dividends at the expense of a poorly nourished population.

 Rents and housing prices across Canada reflected the same trends as corporate property owners and developers tried to squeeze every dollar they could from a society that could bleed no more, even as their debt levels far exceeded their ability to ever pay it back. The bubble is now bursting, and the money lenders in the temples of the Bay Street bankers are beginning to show signs of panic as the paper world of the stock market continues to retract. 

As for me, my world too is undergoing significant changes, some good, some a little scary. With a major head injury in 2025, retirement was no longer an option; it was a certainty, and the realities of no longer being able to accomplish those things I wished to do turned into dreams for a new life, if so granted

Out of this, though, came a new home life, a new online journalism gig of my own, and a radio station on live365.com. Outlaw Radio 1960 was born as a hard-hitting, often humorous blog, a classic rock music station on live365.com and TuneIn Radio, and a YouTube Channel. For 2026, what more could one ask? 

So my wish for Canadians is that collectively we resist the temptation of surrender and continue to push back and rebuild a Canada we can all thrive in. As Tommy Douglas stated their is still time to build a better world for ourselves! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

 

	3:40 PM (13 minutes ago)

The time has finally arrived for me to join the ranks of senior citizens as I celebrate my 65th birthday. Surprisingly, this milestone came around much sooner than I expected. I double-checked my calculations with fingers, toes, and even an old Fisher-Price abacus, but it's clear that time flies. Much like unexpected pregnancies, reaching this age wasn't something I ever truly planned for.

I remember 65, that was my grandmother, as we would walk into her kitchen, smelling the fresh baking and hearing the wringer washer as it slowly agitated the clothes till they were clean, then squished between two rollers, and then neatly pinned to a huge line to dry in the air.

A solitary black rotary dial telephone was mounted on the kitchen wall, serving as the household’s sole communication device. Nearby, older siblings and cousins would wait for their turn to use it; when patience wore thin, they often opted to visit the friend directly rather than wait longer.

When my mother turned 65, she marked her 45th year as a teacher. Her meticulous handwritten notes covered all four blackboards in her classroom. For me, this meant I finally had a bedroom to myself—a personal retreat where I tucked away hidden Playboy magazines and treasured an old black Underwood typewriter, a gift from Native Saskatchewan author Farley Mowat. Guided by him, WO Mitchell, and my professor Gail Bowen, my passion for literature and writing began to blossom. That bedroom was my first experience of adulthood and living independently. The deck offered a view of Toronto’s skyline, and although an IBM Selectric eventually replaced my Underwood and later a Commodore 64, its keys and ribbons still saw plenty of use, typing late-night manuscripts long into the evening.

My life has encompassed a dynamic period defined by career advancement, marriage, and family. As significant milestones have passed and I reflect at the age of 65, I see a legacy of experiences and memories for my children to carry forward. While revisiting personal artifacts, I replaced the ribbon in my Underwood typewriter, poised my hands on the keys, and with quiet reflection, resolved once more to return to the beginning.

Winters Brings Sorrows As Christmas Should Bring Joy

 So here it is, another year has virtually come and gone. This year has brought joy, memories of times long gone, loss and with the fresh blanket of a new snow comes a sadness that permeates a season of festive flare and revelry.  

Yet, as the days grow shorter and the cold settles in, there is comfort to be found in small gatherings, the glow of candlelight, and the gentle reminder that with each season cycle, hope quietly endures. Amid reflection, we hold close to the cherished moments, drawing warmth from laughter shared and the quiet strength of those who walk beside us through both celebration and sorrow. 

Throughout my life, from my formative years to adulthood, I have encountered significant challenges. What began as a journey filled with high aspirations evolved into ongoing obstacles and persistent anxiety. These experiences have led to a continual search for stability and clarity, particularly during certain times of the year, as I reflect on the uncertainties that have shaped my path. 

Now, as the wind howls past my window, the cold slips deep into my soul and spirit, and takes with it whatever the Christmas season brings to its fulfillment. With the snow drifting higher, my path to the light becomes increasingly restricted and dark.  

It's a chain I bare it's a chain I created, and as age brings new anxieties, they intensify in the white of the darkness that surrounds the prairie winter.  

Each winter concludes similarly, yet is followed by the emergence of a single purple crocus through the snow, symbolizing renewed hope for another opportunity and the possibility of a more fulfilling life and meaningful connections.

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas in #castor Alberta

People Want Facts and Proper Investigative Journalism Not Drama and Puff Pieces

 

Today, I am reflecting on the challenge of identifying credible news sources. Social media platforms are increasingly populated with individuals spreading misinformation and propaganda, engaging in contentious exchanges that obscure reality. Meanwhile, access to reliable news is often limited or heavily restricted.  

Facebook, X, and Instagram increasingly resemble tabloids rather than dependable sources of information. 

There appears to be greater public interest in the activities of Justin and Katy Perry, or in updates regarding Carney's appearance or Poilievre's grooming choices. 

When I started my writing career in the 1980s, news coverage was distinct from lighter human-interest stories, which were typically placed on the back pages or reserved as concluding segments on late night television and radio broadcasts. Television networks and newspapers allocated substantial resources to investigative journalism, prioritising in-depth analysis and thorough reporting on current events. 

With this capability, media outlets—whether print, television, or audio—had established themselves as consistent and credible watchdogs over the operations of government and private industry.  

Today, the approach has shifted. Governments prioritize impactful photo opportunities, while businesses often prefer discretion and indirect communication. This is largely due to global media operations being influenced by interconnected capitalist interests, which contribute to contemporary challenges and shape public news coverage in a particular direction. 

In the United States, President Trump has taken steps to reduce funding for PBS and other public broadcasting entities. Meanwhile, in Canada, Pierre Poilievre has been vocally advocating for the discontinuation of CBC operations. 

The underlying issue may be attributed to the fact that new media often promotes a populace that relies on propaganda, distorted facts, political spectacle, and information of limited substantive value. 

My former supervisor regarded this perspective as somewhat severe; however, the Occupy Wall Street Movement serves as a relevant illustration. Initially, public awareness of the movement was minimal until The Daily Show began covering it extensively. Subsequently, the movement gained widespread attention, but, over time, negative media coverage and leadership challenges within the organization contributed to its decline. 

Comedy is inherently designed to challenge conventions and address contemporary issues through humor. Consequently, much of the investigative research in this domain is conducted by teams from programs such as The Daily Show, Colbert, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and, in Canada, This Hour Has 22 Minutes. It appears that he investigative journalism that once was mainstream is relegated to comedy performance.  

My writing likely isn't what most people seek if they're looking for entertainment or drama, as that's what the news has largely become. Instead, I try to focus on genuine issues facing our society—such as housing, hunger, inadequate education, public debt, and many other challenges that require meaningful solutions, not just superficial photo opportunities or polished media coverage. 

Canada would benefit from a focus on constructive solutions rather than unnecessary controversy. The public is likely to seek substantive improvements over time, rather than being influenced indefinitely by corporate-owned media narratives. 

 

 

 

Major Corporate Welfare Should Not Come at the Expence of Workers

 

Rob Ford has now admitted that both he and the Carney Government knew about upcoming layoffs at Algoma Steel. Without verifying the legitimacy of the need or the allocation of bailout funds, the Ontario Government issued a cheque for $100 million, while the Carney Government added another $400 million. The major announcements celebrating the revival of Canadian steel turned out to be mere performances; in reality, they were examples of corporate welfare at its worst. 

The public and parliament should be asking Algoma to open its books and find out where the 500million given has been allocated to and how much. This has been a problem for many decades, during which billions of dollars were directed to private corporations, only to be misdirected or diverted into executive compensation.  

Years ago, former NDP Leader David Lewis wrote a book entitled The Corporate Welfare Bums, and this money now in private hands looks more like that or the Harper Government and the 13 billion given to Locomotive only for them to pack up and move south with 3 to 4 billion still unaccounted for.  

Numerous instances of such practices have been observed involving both liberal and conservative parties, which tend to prioritize the interests of large corporations over those of the general public. Some may consider these actions more akin to criminal conduct than conventional bailouts. 

Bombardier Canada has received significant amounts of corporate welfare, totalling approximately 1.1 billion dollars since 1980. This figure i includes two separate payments of 233 million dollars made in 2009. These funds were provided without strict guidelines or thorough auditing to track their use.  

It remains evident that both the Liberal and Conservative parties have yet to fully recognize the self-sufficiency of corporations, a point underscored during the pandemic when companies such as Loblaws accepted government COVID-19 relief funds without redistributing them.  

A recommended approach is for government funding to major corporations to be accompanied by the issuance of preferred shares to the government. This arrangement not only secures repayment for taxpayers but also enhances accountability and oversight concerning the allocation and potential misuse of public funds. 

Both the Carney and Ford Governments are accountable for this matter, as each administration contributed to a $500 million bailout that led to over 1,000 layoffs. This situation raises important questions about the prioritization of corporate welfare versus corporate responsibility.