All posts by George Walters

George Walters is a Canadian columnist and author with more than forty years of writing experience. For over twenty years he has written a weekly column for Postmedia Network — Canada's largest newspaper chain — never missing a single week, publishing fifty-two stories a year. Combined with his work in Reader's Digest Community Voices, World News, Country Living, The Country Register, and farm and rural lifestyle magazines across Canada, he has published well over two thousand stories drawn from everyday life. He writes about farm work, fishing, old trucks, and the kind of people you only find in small towns — but just as likely he'll hand a voice to a weathered telephone pole, or turn his eye on something happening in the world today and tell you exactly what he thinks about it. No subject is off limits. If there's a story in it, George will find it. He has been called a philosopher of everyday life, a description that came up more than once during his television appearances over the years — and it's not hard to see why. His writing has a way of making the ordinary feel worth sitting with. He is the author of eleven books, including yearly short story collections and the Clay Moretti Files mystery series. Clay is a fifty-year-old private investigator who drives a 1967 Ford Galaxie, smokes cigars, and operates by a code the modern world gave up on a long time ago. The cases are present day. The man handling them is not. All titles are available in paperback and eBook on Amazon. Together, George and his wife Ruth have also created Elmer Finds His Way, the first in what he hopes will be a long series of children's books. Ruth did all the illustrations, as she has for every one of George's books — and beyond that she designed and painted the covers as well. Her work is woven into every page of everything he has published. A few words from readers: "I pulled up a kitchen chair and read your story three times." "You have a way of making a person homesick for a place they haven't been to." "Thank you for writing things that make old people and kids feel the same way at the same time." All my titles are available in paperback and eBook on Amazon.ca here.
George's Writers Corner, My Opinion Only

It’s Time to Stop Taking Half of the Working Man and Woman’s Paycheck

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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.

Canadians are facing a harsh reality, one that has been overlooked for far too long: the government is taking almost half of what working individuals earn. When you work tirelessly—come rain or shine—you deserve to keep what you’ve earned.

It’s time to confront this uncomfortable truth: the current system isn’t serving the people who keep this country running; it’s benefiting those who sit behind desks, shuffle papers, and make decisions disconnected from the struggles of the working class.

Consider your paycheck—how much remains after taxes? Perhaps it’s 60%, or 50%, or even less, depending on where you live. Let’s be clear: this should not be anyone’s reality. The government should not take such a substantial portion of hard-earned wages.

Why should anyone—especially those not working in the trenches—have the right to claim nearly half of your earnings? The government argues this is necessary to run the country, but should this burden fall on those already stretched to their limits?

The answer is no. This is unjust, and it needs to end.

The Reality of Taxation: What’s Really Happening?

It’s not just about income tax. Working individuals are taxed from every angle. You can’t buy groceries without paying sales tax, or fill your car without incurring fuel taxes. Every bill you pay or purchase you make comes with hidden taxes. And then there are property taxes and endless fees.

What We Deserve

What we deserve is simple: the right to keep what we earn. We deserve to see our hard work reflected in our take-home pay. Each time you clock in, you invest your time, energy, and sweat. That time is yours, and it should remain in your pocket.

It’s time to stop taxing the paychecks of those who do the work.

Until the next time: Keep Your Mind Open & Your Stories Alive! GW

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

George's Writers Corner, Weather, What's Happening

The Old Timer’s Ledger on March 23/2025

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Good Morning! As my old Dad used to say: “George, If you want something done right, do it slow enough to do it right the first time.”

Well folks, it’s another cold morning here waking up in cottage country. However, the sun is shining, and as I walked out to my old woodworking shop to light the stove, I could feel the warmth in the sun. That’s a good sign that spring isn’t all that far off.

Here’s the weather lowdown for Port Loring, Ontario:

Today (Sunday, March 23): We’re looking at mostly sunny skies with temperatures climbing’ to a high of 37°F (3°C). Later on, clouds might mosey in, bringing a slight chance of flurries this evening. Winds will be coming in from the southwest at 10 to 20 mph, so hold onto your hat. ​

Tonight: Temperatures are settlin’ down to a low of 24°F (-4°C). There’s a chance of snow showers overnight, so keep that wood stove stoked and cozy up. ​

Monday, March 24: Expect periods of snow throughout the day with highs around 35°F (2°C). Winds will be light, but that snow might just blanket our neck of the woods, so keep your shovel handy.

And you might want to keep that fire burning for awhile longer.

Which is what I did this morning lighting back up our wood furnace in our basement. Should keep us nice and toasty for the rest of the day. Doesn’t take much wood to keep this house warm.

Highway 522 is bare and dry this morning, and with the sun shining, traveling should be pretty good if you’re headin’ to the city for supplies. But, as I always say, keep your eyes peeled for deer — those critters seem to think the middle of the road is the perfect spot for a morning meeting.

On another note yesterday again I was planning on working in my wood-working shop but with the weather being not so nice and quite cold I decided to stay in the house which I did writing up a couple more stories. Good day for writing with the words flowing like a spring creek.

So, what are you up to today, GW?

Well, I think I’ll be taking it easy today. I brought in a couple of armfuls of firewood and managed to mess up my back a bit. Not sure what I did, but it’s sure letting me know it’s time to lay low — and my wife’s saying the same thing. So, that’s what I’m going to do.

After that, if I’m feeling up to it, I’ll be enjoying the breakfast she’s getting ready for me. I suppose a fella’s got to learn his limits.

Until the next time: Keep Your Mind Open And Your Stories Alive! GW

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

George's Writers Corner, My Opinion Only

Travel Warnings and What’s Really Behind Them

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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 folks, several countries, including Canada, have put out warnings about traveling to the United States. These warnings talk about issues with the U.S. border, detentions, and stricter policies put in place under the Trump administration. But before we start buying into these claims, we need to take a step back and think about what’s really going on.

The truth in my mind is, the U.S. is in a complicated spot right now. Since Trump came into office, he’s signed a number of orders that make it harder to cross the border, tightened visa rules, and cracked down on illegal immigration. These changes have raised concerns, and that’s understandable. And when you make big changes like that, there are always going to be people upset by it.

But here’s where things get interesting. These travel warnings from other countries seem to be more than just concern for their people. It’s like when a child gets upset because they’re being told “no” and they throw a tantrum. It’s less about the real problem and more about not liking being told what to do. I kinda think that countries like Canada are frustrated with Trump’s policies, and it’s spilling over into how they talk about traveling to the U.S.

The reality is, the people in the U.S. are just like anyone else. They’re not bad people. They’re kind, hard-working folks who care about other countries, just like most people in the world. Sure, there are troublemakers everywhere, but that doesn’t mean we should judge the entire country based on a few bad apples.

The U.S. is just trying to protect itself. They’re dealing with their own problems and doing what they feel is best. Honestly, we should have been doing the same thing here in Canada for a long time. It’s easy to point fingers, but every country has to look after its own borders and security.

It’s funny, though, because as these warnings keep coming, I can’t help but wonder where all of this is taking us. It feels like everyone’s just digging in their heels and blaming each other. But when you look past the noise, you see that these travel warnings aren’t about real danger, they’re about frustration and politics. The average American, just like the average person anywhere, wants what’s best for their country.

So, before we let all these headlines tell us how to think about the U.S. or any other country, maybe we should take a step back and remember that the people we’re talking about are just that—people. And at the end of the day, we all need to figure out how to get along in this crazy world.

Finally, don’t go taking this as gospel, folks. These are just my rambling thoughts and musings, based on a lifetime of seeing things and a whole lot of figuring it out as I go. I’m not claiming to be the authority on anything here—just a guy who’s seen a few things and has some opinions. If you feel like it, go ahead and form your own thoughts. In the end, we all gotta make sense of this world in our own way.

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

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

George's Writers Corner, My Opinion Only, What's Happening

The Same Old Story

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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.

It’s frustrating, isn’t it? You look around, and suddenly Mark Carney is the new face of hope, the one people are saying can turn things around. But if you really look at what he’s promising: well as I see it, it’s pretty well the same stuff Poilievre’s been talking about, lower taxes, cutting government spending, focusing on energy, and building more homes. It’s all right there, just with a new name attached.

You’d think people would see it. But they don’t. They’re too busy saying, “Well, he’s not Trudeau, so he’s got to be better.” But is he? Carney isn’t offering anything different. He’s just repackaging the same promises.

And here’s the kicker, Carney isn’t just copying Poilievre’s platform; in my mind, he’s capitalizing on it. It’s actually a pretty ingenious move. Poilievre laid out a solid platform, one that resonated with a lot of Canadians, and now, Carney’s swooping in, adopting bits and pieces of it, knowing that people are looking for a change. But make no mistake, just because he’s borrowing from Poilievre doesn’t mean he believes in it. It’s a strategy, not a conviction, and somehow, people aren’t seeing it.

What bothers me the most, is how quickly people forget. They were angry at Trudeau, frustrated with his government, and now Carney comes in, says a few things that sound good, and suddenly he’s the answer.

And here in my mind is where it gets worse. Carney’s history with banking isn’t exactly shining. As Governor of the Bank of Canada, he pushed policies like interest rate cuts to keep things rolling during tough times. That’s one thing, but when you start printing money, that’s another story. The idea was to keep the economy going by adding more liquidity, but what did that really do? In my mind, it inflated the market, boosted housing prices, and made things harder for regular people. More cash in the system sounds good on paper, but when the money supply goes up too fast, inflation follows, and the average person feels that at the grocery store, at the gas pump, and in their everyday life.

Now, I believe that Carney wants to take that same approach further, thinking that printing more money will solve the problem. It won’t, it’s like trying to patch a leaky boat by adding more water, it just doesn’t work.

So yea, people might think Carney is the solution, but he’s just another part of the same system, an if we’re not careful, we’ll end up in a worse place, trying to fix the same problems with the same broken solutions. Now, maybe if he gets elected, he’ll actually do what’s right, but looking back at his track record, I have to say, I’m a bit skeptical.

Finally, remember, the opinions here are mine, based on what I see, hear, and think about (and trust me, I think about a lot). I’m not saying I have all the answers, but I do know that history has a funny way of repeating itself when folks aren’t paying attention. So, before anyone gets too worked up, just know that this is me sharing my take on what’s happening in our country. Agree, disagree, that’s up to you. Personally, I just believe people should ask the right questions before they end up with the same old problems in a shiny new package.

P.S. And one last thing, folks, if there was ever a person who came down the tubes and actually put an end to taxing the working man’s paycheck, which would solve most of our financial problems here in Canada... I’d vote for him in a heartbeat.

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

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

George's Writers Corner, Weather, What's Happening

Ramblings of a Country Writer on March22/2025

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Good Morning! You know, over the years I have found that a man’s handshake is his word, so keep yours firm and honest.

Well Folks, the calendar might say it’s spring, but I’ll tell ya, walking out to my wood-working shop early this morning sure didn’t feel like it. More like the middle of winter. And that wind coming in from the North along with the snow—well, let’s just say I was more than ready to turn around and head back into the house.

The shop itself though was nice and warm, but it’s that stretch between the house and the shop that’ll make a fella question his sanity, for even bothering to go outside in the first place. I suppose that’s just Northern Ontario’s way of reminding me who’s really in charge around here. Any way, once I got settled in with the wood stove crackling away and the smell of fresh-cut lumber in the air, it felt like the cold was just a distant memory.

Funny thing about days like this—no matter how fierce the wind blows or how hard the snow falls, there’s something about the quiet of the shop that makes it all worthwhile. And maybe, just maybe, a fella can convince himself spring ain’t all that far off after all.

Highway 522 is white this morning, which is a telltale sign that a person should stay home unless it’s absolutely necessary to be out and about. And you can bet that’s exactly what my lovely wife and I plan on doing. No sense braving the slick roads when a hot cup of coffee and a warm fire are calling our names.

Days like this, the world can wait. And if anyone needs us, well, they can always trudge through the snow and come knocking. Though, I suspect they’d rather stay home too.

On another note, I didn’t make it out to do any work in my wood-working shop yesterday, though I did keep the shop stove going, which kept things nice and cozy. Nothing like the warmth of a good wood stove on a cold day.

I do have more work that needs doing, but it isn’t in the shop—it’s over in one of my side buildings. I’ve got to sort through things in there, just like I did with the main shop. Once I get that all squared away, I’ll be ready for spring. And when the weather finally decides to warm up, my wife and I are planning one heck of a sale. The kind of sale where there’s something for everyone.

What more can I say? Not much, really. Just a waiting game now, I suppose.

So, what are you up to today, GW?

Well, seeing as it’s nasty outside, I figure I’ll settle back into writing up some more stories for my newspaper columns. Yesterday was a great day for writing—the words flowed nicely, almost like they were waiting to be written. And by the looks of things, today’s shaping up to be another good day for writing, as the words seem to be coming pretty easily here on my blog this morning, too.

Might just be one of those days where the thoughts and stories find their way onto the page without much fuss. And if that’s the case, I sure won’t be complaining.

Well, once again, it’s that time to enjoy the breakfast my little woman has made for me. She’s one of a kind, that’s for sure. And if anyone ever wonders who the real hard worker is around here, let me tell ya—it sure isn’t me.

Just this morning, while I was out getting the shop stove going and writing this blog, she’d already straightened herself around, cleaned up the house a bit, swept the floors, stripped the bed because it’s wash day, made it back up with fresh, clean sheets, and tidied up the bedroom. And now, she’s in the kitchen making my breakfast, humming away like it’s all just another ordinary day.

I swear, there’s never a shortage of work in this house, and she tackles it all with more energy than most folks half her age. Truth be told, I don’t know where she finds the strength, but she sure does. And all the while, she’s got a smile on her face and something kind to say. She’s the kind of woman who makes a man feel like he’s the luckiest fella in the world.

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

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]