Only On The Walters Post

Now, I’m not here to tell folks what to think, I’m just sharing what life has shown me. Take from it what makes sense, leave the rest, but maybe let it sit with you a while.

So here’s the thing.

When the Ford government signed a $100 million deal with Elon Musk’s Starlink to bring internet to rural Ontario, folks like me raised an eyebrow — not because the service was bad, but because of how it all came together. Actually, Starlink works pretty well. Out in the bush or on a back road where cables and towers don’t reach, it’s one of the few real choices. And for a lot of folks, it’s been a game changer.

But that’s only half the story.

The problem wasn’t Starlink itself. It was how the deal got done. No open bidding. No chance for other providers to make an offer. Just a big contract handed to one company, no questions asked. That kind of thing never sits right with the public or me, especially when the price tag is $100 million of taxpayer money.

To make matters worse, no one clearly explained how the rollout would work or who would benefit first. The whole thing started to look more like a handshake behind closed doors than a well-planned project. So now the province is backing out, and we’re paying a fee just to cancel the agreement — spending more money and getting nothing for it.

And here’s the kicker. Starlink still delivers, and people across the countryside are signing up on their own dime and saying it’s the best internet they’ve ever had. So it wasn’t the technology that failed. It was the politics. If the province had simply offered rebates or helped folks connect directly, we might have ended up with better results and fewer headlines.

To me, it’s a good reminder — when something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right. No shortcuts. No secrets. Just honest planning and fair play.

Until the next time, keep your minds open and your stories alive.

And remember: a paycheck isn’t government property; it’s a man’s lifeblood. Let him keep it. All taxes should be removed from paychecks. GW