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.

Well, here we are in August, and wouldn’t you know it, the government’s gone and made some changes to how they tax liquor. Now, that’s not something you see every day.

This week, here in Ontario, they lowered taxes and markups on all kinds of drinks, beer, cider, spirits, even those ready-to-go mixes folks seem to like these days. Which I should mention isn’t the greatest to be drinking health wise. At any rate, the biggest break goes to the stuff made right here at home. So if you’re buying local whiskey or craft beer, chances are you’ll notice a bit of a drop in price. Not a fortune, but enough to maybe grab an extra bottle for the weekend without breaking the budget.

For the small businesses that make those drinks, this might be just what they need. A bit of breathing room. Less going to taxes means more staying in their own pockets, which might help keep the lights on or even grow a little. And that’s a good thing. I’ve always been a believer in looking after your own, as these folks live in our towns, hire local, and take pride in what they make. That matters.

Now, I’m not one to tell folks how to live. If a fellow wants a drink to unwind after a long day, well, that’s his business. This change might make it a little easier to enjoy something decent without feeling like you’re getting clipped at the counter. And if it helps more people discover a good Ontario brew or a small-town distillery, all the better.

But like everything, it comes down to balance or better said moderation. I figure a quiet drink, shared with good company, has its place. It’s the stories that come with it, the laughter, the old memories that surface when the world slows down for a bit. And that’s where the real value lies, not in the price tag, but in the moment itself.

So, is this a big win? Maybe. Is it worth watching how it all plays out? I’d say so. For now, if you’re someone who enjoys a well-made drink now and then, you might just be in for a pleasant surprise next time you’re at the till.

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

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.

For a while now, folks have been tossing around the nickname TACO — “Trump Always Chickens Out” — when talking about U.S. President Donald Trump and his tough talk on trade. Turns out, that nickname might not quite fit anymore. Trump recently raised tariffs, but instead of hitting everyone hard, like he’d threatened, he mostly backed off for other countries. Except Canada. We got hit.

But here’s the good news: it’s not as bad as it sounds.

Even though he singled out Canada for a tariff hike, most of our goods are still getting across the U.S. border without any extra cost. Why? Because of our trade deal — the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) — which protects about 93% of what we send to the U.S. That’s a big deal for farmers, manufacturers, and just about everyone who makes a living off trade.

So while the headlines make it sound scary, the average tariff Canada now faces is still pretty low — lower than any other major country.

Now, some folks are wondering: Should Canada hit back? Should we put tariffs on U.S. goods in return?

Well, some trade experts and former political folks say no — at least not yet. They’re saying it might be better to hold steady, keep our cool, and focus on the bigger picture: making sure CUSMA stays strong, especially since the deal comes up for formal review in 2026, and early talks are already starting this fall.

That’s likely what Trump’s really after — not just to punish Canada, but to push us around before those talks. Some say he’s using tariffs as leverage, trying to force a better deal for the U.S. come renegotiation time.

Meanwhile, Canada’s government, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, is walking a tightrope. They want to defend Canadian jobs in steel, aluminum, and autos, where Trump’s tariffs are highest. But they don’t want to blow up our access to the U.S. market over short-term political noise.

In the end, what matters most is keeping that trade door open. That’s where the real money and jobs are — not in retaliating just to save face.

So, while it stings a bit right now, the smart play may be patience. Keep talking, keep negotiating, and make sure we don’t lose the real prize: free access to our biggest customer next door.

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

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.

Well, here we go again.

Seems like every time we get a bit of footing under us, someone in a shiny suit down at Queen’s Park decides the playing field needs tilting. This time, it’s Premier Ford opening up grocery store shelves to more alcohol — and not just any alcohol, but private-label wine and beer, made by big corporations and sold under the store’s own brand names.

Now, on the surface, it sounds harmless enough, right? More choice for the shopper. A bit of wine with your weekly groceries. Maybe even cheaper prices. That’s the story they’re spinning.

But if you scratch past the label — just like a bad bottle of wine — what’s underneath doesn’t smell so sweet.

I’ve spent most of my life working the land. I’ve watched friends grow grapes, press cider, make honest wine with their own hands. Not because it’s trendy, but because it’s who they are. These are folks who know the soil, who pray over frost warnings, who bottle with care and sell face-to-face at markets or through the LCBO, often hoping to break even after the bills are paid.

And now? They’re being told they may have to compete with Costco’s Kirkland wine or whatever fancy label Walmart decides to slap on their bulk brew. These big-box giants will get prime shelf space, better prices from large-scale suppliers, and the marketing clout to bury smaller names — often without folks even realizing it’s happening.

That’s not competition — that’s suffocation.

And let’s not forget the Beer Store closures. While everyone’s been distracted by wine in grocery aisles, the Beer Store’s been quietly shutting down. Ten more locations just closed up, and with them went hundreds of steady jobs — the kind that used to support families. It’s not just about selling beer. It’s about where we return our empties, too. The Beer Store took everything — bottles, cans, you name it. Now folks are left wondering where to take their returns, while retailers pick and choose what they’ll accept. That used to be simple. Not anymore.

Worse still, when you hand alcohol sales to the grocery chains, you also hand over a lot of quiet control to the government and the retailers. They get to decide who’s in, who’s out, and what goes where. If you’re a small farmer trying to get your wine on the shelf, good luck. You’re not just competing against the big guys — you’re trying to breathe in a room that’s already full.

And where does that leave us?

Well, for starters, it leaves the little producers scrambling — and the communities they support feeling forgotten. It sends a message that quality and craftsmanship come second to volume and profit. It tells the next generation of winemakers, cider pressers, and brewers that there’s no space for them unless they can mass-produce.

And it tells folks like me — people who’ve spent decades growing food and watching trends come and go — that once again, big business is being handed the keys while the rest of us are expected to stand at the gate and smile.

I’m not against change, and I’m not against good wine sold at a fair price. But there’s a difference between opening doors and kicking people out of the room. If we’re not careful, Ontario’s shelves are going to start looking a lot like its politics — packed with the same names, over and over, while the local stories and flavours quietly disappear.

It’s not just about booze. It’s about balance. It’s about fairness. And it’s about preserving the small, honest voices that helped build this province from the ground up.

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

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