Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

Lately, I have been watching all this news about immigration protests, both down in the U.S. and here at home in Canada, and it has got me to thinking.
We all know immigration can be a good thing when it is done properly. The trouble starts when folks think anyone and everyone should be allowed in, no questions asked, and no plan in place. That is just not common sense.

Now, as I see it, a lot of these protesters out in the streets might already be here illegally, which makes their message a bit hard to swallow. And here’s the thing, when they take to the streets thinking they will get noticed, they do, but for all the wrong reasons.

So what should be done about it? Here is what I think. If there are big demonstrations, the authorities could use that as an opportunity to sort out who is here legally and who is not. As for the protests themselves, I would send in the troops to contain the area. Let the protesters speak their minds if they want to, but do not let anyone turn it into a riot. When it is over, let folks leave in peace, but hold the troublemakers accountable.

From what I have read about what is going on in Los Angeles, things started with chanting and signs. Then some people crossed the line, lighting fires, throwing rocks, and hurting officers. That is not free speech. That is plain old violence. In that kind of situation, sending in the National Guard makes sense to me. You cannot let the streets burn or innocent people get caught in the middle.

Now, do not get me wrong, I believe in fair and lawful immigration. It has built many of our countries, and it still can. However, it has to happen in the right way, at the right time, and with the right supports in place. When it is rushed or out of control, it hurts everyone, including those already living here.

In short, let us be fair about immigration and let us keep our communities safe. When it comes to protests, they should remain peaceful or not happen at all.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

Up here in the north, we know smoke, as we see it hanging low on the horizon, like a warning or a memory, depending on how you look at it. And we’ve sure seen more of it these last few years, fire after fire, hotter, wilder, burning faster than anyone seems ready for. Folks ask, “What can we do?” but maybe the better question is, “What did we used to do?”

You see, I’m an old timer. I’ve watched the land change, the seasons shift, and I remember when fire wasn’t such a villain. Back when I was a boy, there wasn’t much we could do when a wildfire broke out way out past the cutlines which wasn’t a bad thing. The forest burned, then came back greener. It was part of the cycle.

But long before my time, there were people here who knew fire better than we ever did… the Indigenous peoples, or as some still prefer, Native American Indians or First Nations, depending on the region. They understood fire not as an enemy, but as a living force. A teacher. A tool. Their communities practiced what’s now called cultural burning, setting small, cool fires in the early spring or fall to clear underbrush, bring back berries, open up hunting paths, and reduce the fuel that leads to the monster blazes we see now.

These weren’t random fires. They were careful, respectful, and tied deeply to the land and the seasons. Firekeepers would walk the ground, listen to the animals, smell the wind. They knew where to burn, how hot, and when to stop. And it worked, as the land stayed balanced. The trees weren’t so choked with brush, and the fires that did happen stayed low and manageable.

Then came the government bans. Fire suppression laws, mostly pushed in the early 1900s, outlawed traditional burning. Fire crews were trained to put out every flame. Planes, chemicals, bulldozers, all tools to fight something that maybe shouldn’t have always been fought. And sure, some fires had to be stopped. But by putting out every fire, year after year, we built up a problem: thick forests, dry dead fall, layers of fuel just waiting for one lightning strike or careless spark.

Now the fires are bigger than ever. They jump highways, climb trees like ladders, and send smoke across provinces. Our policies, made with good intentions maybe, but not much listening, have helped create conditions where fires don’t just burn, they rage. We traded slow, healing burns for uncontrollable infernos.

The sad truth is, we’re relearning what some communities never forgot. Indigenous fire keepers… the knowledge holders, are still out there, often unrecognized, still willing to teach if we’ll bother to ask. Some provinces are starting to invite them back to the table. It’s a start.

So no, I don’t think we should just sit back and let it all burn. But I do think it’s time we stop fighting fire with fear and start working with it, like we once did. It’s not about going back to the old days exactly, but about remembering the parts that worked. Letting fire breathe, in the right time and way, might just save our forests and us.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

Right now, here in Canada, we need to stop all immigration — unless someone brings something this country truly needs, like doctors, skilled trades, or professionals we’re short on. The thing is, we don’t have the infrastructure to support who’s already here, let alone more people. Hospitals are overcrowded, housing is limited, and basic services are stretched thin.

More so, anyone here illegally should be sent back. That’s not harsh — it’s common sense. If you come in the right way, fine. But if you break the rules, you don’t get to stay. We need to get back to enforcing the laws we already have.

We need to focus on rebuilding first, bring jobs and industries back home. Make sure people can see a doctor, find a place to live, and afford to feed their families. Only then should we even consider opening the door wider — and only if it makes sense for Canada.

We’ve been taken advantage of by a system that no longer serves the people it was built for. If we don’t fix it now, we risk heading toward collapse — rising crime, worsening healthcare, and more people left to suffer on the streets.

The new Strong Borders Act is a small step in the right direction as it targets fraudulent asylum claims and holds people accountable. That’s what we need more of, a smart, firm action that puts Canadians first.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW