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.

With the U.S. slapping tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and other goods, there’s a lot of talk about how this will hurt our economy. Many see it as a political move, but I think there’s more to this—something that could actually make Canada stronger in the long run, that is— if we play our cards right.

For years, Canada has relied on the U.S. in many ways, not just for trade, but for a lot of other things too. So while these tariffs sting, it’s not the end of the world. In fact, it might be the wake-up call we need.

Maybe it’s time we stop leaning so heavily on the U.S. and start looking at other countries that can help us grow. But let’s be smart about it—there are some countries we should stay away from, that have their own issues. The thing is, it’s about finding good, reliable partners who share similar values, not just chasing after anyone with a deal.

In truth I believe this could be a great chance for Canada to focus on boosting local industries, building up our own infrastructure, and supporting businesses that are Canadian-made. We’ve got the talent, the resources, and the know-how to stand on our own two feet. So why not take this moment to build up what’s ours and stop being so dependent on one market and others.

However, in saying all that I do realize that in the short-term yes pain might be real for some, but Canada’s always been good at adapting. If we use this as an opportunity to rethink our strategy, we could come out of it stronger, more independent, and better prepared for the future.

Until next time—keep your minds open and 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.

Well, folks, it looks like Trump is doing what he does best—getting things done. After a call with Putin, the wheels are turning to put an end to this war in Ukraine. And that’s what the American people voted him in for, isn’t it? To do what needs to be done.

Say what you will about the man, but one thing’s for sure—Putin respects him. And why wouldn’t he? Trump isn’t the kind of guy to be pushed around by anyone, country or otherwise. He stands his ground, makes the tough calls, and doesn’t play the usual political games that so many before him have been caught up in. And if there’s anyone who can wrap this whole mess up, I’d say it’s him.

Now, of course, there are plenty who hate Trump—always have, always will. And here in Canada, we’re seeing our own powers that be trying to paint him as some kind of villain, as if he’s somehow hurting people here. But let’s be honest, he’s just doing what’s right for his country. That’s what he was elected to do, and that’s exactly what he’s doing. Reminds me a lot of a man we had here once—Mike Harris. He was voted in to fix things, to make Ontario strong again, but the powers that be along with others, didn’t like that, did they? Picked on him, tore him down, and got rid of him. Damn shame too, because men like that—men like Trump—aren’t easy to come by.

Now don’t get me wrong, I know Trump isn’t perfect. He’s got his way of doing things that might not be what we’re used to. But you know what? That’s alright. He’s opened a lot of eyes to what’s really going on in the world today, and that’s something to be commended. Sure, some of his ideas raise an eyebrow or two, but let’s not kid ourselves—others before him have done far worse.

And as for all this talk of tariffs and economic shifts, well, maybe Canada needs a wake-up call. Maybe it’s time we start looking after ourselves instead of throwing money around on wasteful spending and taking care of everyone but our own people. If we’ve learned anything from all this, it should be that we need to be stronger, more self-reliant. And maybe, just maybe, that’s the real lesson here.

So say what you want, but I respect the man. He’s doing what needs to be done, and that’s more than I can say for a lot of leaders these days.

“Until next time—keep your minds open and your stories alive!” GW

Only On The Walters Post!

I’ve been around long enough to see a lot of changes in this country—some good, some not so much. But one thing that’s become impossible to ignore is the growing number of people without a place to call home. Homelessness has always been a reality, but these days, it’s not just a few folks down on their luck. It’s a full-blown crisis, and it’s only getting worse.

You don’t have to go far to see it. It’s in the big cities, the small towns, even in rural communities where folks used to know everyone by name. The numbers don’t lie—rural homelessness has shot up over 150% since 2016, and in Northern Ontario, it’s skyrocketed by over 200%. Those are damn big jumps. And it’s not just single adults. Nearly a quarter of the people struggling on the streets are kids or young adults. That should be enough to make anyone stop and think.

But here’s the thing—this isn’t just about not having a roof overhead. It’s about what’s driving people to the streets in the first place. Mental health issues, addiction, lack of support systems, and, let’s be real, a housing market that’s completely out of control. You can’t find an affordable place to live when even a crummy basement apartment costs more than some people make in a month.

Then there’s the issue of drugs. More and more, we’re seeing people in states of distress—angry, confused, unpredictable. My own son had an experience not long ago where a homeless man became aggressive for no real reason. It’s happening everywhere. Drug addiction is running rampant, and the stuff hitting the streets now is stronger and deadlier than ever. Fentanyl, meth, whatever else they’re cooking up—it’s a poison that’s taking over.

And let’s not ignore the immigration issue. In just four years, refugee homelessness has grown by over 600%, and the number of homeless immigrants has doubled. Now, I’m not saying we shouldn’t help people in need, but we’ve got to be realistic. Our system is stretched too thin. We’re bringing in more and more people when we can’t even take care of the ones who are already here. That’s not compassion—it’s bad planning.

So, what’s the solution? Well, for starters, we need to stop pretending we can fix this with band-aid solutions. The Ontario government leaves the housing crisis to municipalities, but the funding just isn’t enough. Reports suggest we’d need at least $11 billion over the next decade to make real change—affordable housing, proper support systems, mental health care, addiction treatment, the whole damn package. Another $2 billion could clean up the encampments. That’s a lot of money, sure, but what’s the alternative? Just letting things keep spiraling out of control?

We also need to crack down on the drugs coming into this country. And I mean really crack down. It’s not just about arresting dealers—it’s about shutting down the supply before it even gets here. If that means tighter border security, so be it.

And maybe—just maybe—we need to hit the pause button on immigration. Not forever, but until we can actually handle the people we already have. It’s not about shutting the door, it’s about making sure we have the resources to help people land on their feet instead of right onto the streets.

At the end of the day, this is Canada. We pride ourselves on being a country that takes care of people. But right now, we’re failing. And if we don’t get serious about fixing it, we’re all going to pay the price.

So, what’s it going to be?

Until The Next Time: Keep your minds open and 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.

Yes, this is a step in the right direction—but let’s be real, it’s too little, too late. Canada’s been dragging its feet on Arctic defense for decades, and now we’re playing catch-up while Russia and China are already making moves. The fact that we don’t have a fully operational military base up there is embarrassing.

Poilievre’s plan—building a base in Iqaluit, adding two icebreakers, and doubling the Canadian Rangers—is a start, but it’s nowhere near enough. The Arctic isn’t just some frozen wasteland; it’s a strategic goldmine. Whoever controls it controls critical shipping routes, untapped resources, and a direct gateway between continents. Russia knows this, which is why they’ve been reopening their old Soviet-era bases and ramping up military activity. China, despite being nowhere near the Arctic, is pushing its way in through economic deals and influence. Meanwhile, Canada has been standing around like a damn bystander.

And let’s talk about funding. Cutting foreign aid might free up some cash, but it’s a band-aid solution. The real issue is how we spend our defense budget. We pour billions?? into it, yet our forces are stretched thin, outdated, and under-equipped. The government loves throwing money at bureaucrats instead of putting it where it counts—troops, equipment, infrastructure. If we’re serious about Arctic defense, we need to go all in:

• Build more than one base. Iqaluit is a start, but we need multiple permanent installations across the North.
• Expand our Arctic naval fleet. Two icebreakers won’t cut it. We need a serious presence in those waters, not just a couple of ships navigating frozen mazes.
• Upgrade our air defense. An airbase in Iqaluit is good, but we need more than just a place to land planes—we need full operational readiness.
• Boost recruitment and retention. What good is expanding the Rangers if we can’t even keep our regular forces fully staffed? Pay, benefits, and support need a major overhaul.
• Strengthen NORAD cooperation. We rely too much on the U.S., and while coordination is key, we need to stand on our own two feet.

At the end of the day, this plan is better than nothing, but let’s not kid ourselves—it’s just the first step in a long race we’re already behind in. If we don’t take Arctic defense seriously now, we’ll be paying for it later, and the cost won’t just be in dollars.

Until next time—keep your minds open and your stories alive!” GW

Now here’s a thought that’s been floating around a lot lately: Canada becoming the 51st state of the U.S. The thing is believe it or not, a good chunk of folks have been scratching their heads over it, some even panicking, but let’s take a step back and keep things in perspective, shall we?

Oh sure, there’s been some talk—some from the south, some from the north—and suddenly, everyone’s wondering if we’re about to sign away our Canadian pride, for a shot at a shiny new American flag. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. To me, this feels more like a political game than a real threat. I mean, after all, it’s not the first time someone has floated this idea out there, just to see what rises to the surface.

Truth be told, most of this talk about becoming the 51st state is probably getting more attention than it deserves. People are getting all worked up over something, that’s more about keeping headlines buzzing, than about any real change. I mean—Canada’s been its own country for a long time now, and we’re doing just fine.

Now, don’t get me wrong, becoming a 51st state wouldn’t be the end of the world. Just think of it: no more long lines at the border, a chance to grab some sunshine in Florida during the endless winter, and maybe even getting in on the next big Super Bowl commercial. If it comes with some perks, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, eh?

But jokes aside, it’s hard to imagine us trading in our maple syrup for a statehood application. The truth is, we’re a proud bunch up here. Sure, we’ve got our differences with the neighbours down south, but at the end of the day, we’ve managed just fine on our own, thank you very much.

So while the chatter will likely keep rolling, I don’t think we need to start making room for the stars and stripes just yet. Canada’s not going anywhere. We’re too stubborn for that—and we’ve got too many good things to hang onto..

Until next time—keep your minds open and your stories alive! GW