Only On The Walters Post

So here we are again. We just barely crawled through the mess with the good old USA, tariffs, Trump, all that, and now our bright idea is to go knocking on China’s door? That’s not just a speed bump, that’s a straight-up pothole big enough to swallow the whole damn car.

Look... from where I sit, China isn’t the partner we ought to be cozying up with. They’ve got their fingers in every store shelf, every gadget, every piece of cheap junk that falls apart the second you bring it home. And we’re supposed to believe more trade with them is the golden ticket? No thanks.

The truth is, we’ve been selling off our backbone for decades. Instead of making things here, for our own people, we ship the work overseas because it’s “cheaper.” Cheaper for who? Sure isn’t cheaper for the family trying to make a living wage. What it really is, is cheaper for the big shots and their shareholders, all worshiping at the altar of the almighty dollar.

We don’t need more “partnerships” with countries that don’t share our values or our interests. We need partnerships with ourselves, with our workers, our farmers, our small businesses. Remember them? They’re the ones who built this country. But nah, our leaders would rather play dress-up on the world stage, pretending they’re pulling strings, while the strings are already tied around our necks.

Here’s the kicker: this isn’t about trade, it’s about control. The more we depend on imports, the less say we have over our own future. And China, of all places, is not the kind of landlord you want collecting rent.

So instead of jumping into another ring of fire, maybe it’s time we took a step back. Make it here, grow it here, build it here. Stop pretending the world owes us a deal and start remembering we can still make our own damn hammer, grow our own damn tomato, and fix our own damn tractor.

Because if we don’t, folks, the joke’s on us… and it won’t be funny.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive.
—GW, From the Desk Where I’ve Seen It All

Only On The Walters Post

Lately, there’s been a lot of talk and protests about the government’s plans. People are worried about everything from climate policies to public services to international matters. I’ve been thinking about it, and here’s my take, plain and simple.

Let’s start with migrant rights. We should care, sure, but we’ve got to slow down. Really slow down. Taking in everyone without a plan isn’t helping anyone, not the new arrivals nor the people already here. When we bring more people into our country, their rights should fit within our laws and our way of life. It’s important that anyone coming here respects and adapts to how we live and what we expect as a society.

As for international issues, like Canada supporting Israel, I say we need to mind our own business. We can have opinions, but we can’t fix everything happening far away, and sometimes trying to do so just drags us into trouble.

Environmental protections are important, and I get it. We need to care for the land. But lately, we’re going overboard. Electric cars and impractical alternatives aren’t going to work for us here in Canada or better said for country folks. Instead, let’s focus on using the fuel we already have more efficiently and safely. We have it, so let’s make it work.

Some people complain about governments and corporations hoarding wealth. Here’s the thing: government shouldn’t be wasteful, no argument there. Businesses? What they make is theirs, plain and simple. But that doesn’t mean everything is perfect. Things like tax loopholes or rules that let them dodge responsibility should be looked at. We all work hard for what we earn, and no one else should decide that for you, but a little oversight to keep it fair isn’t wrong.

Indigenous lands and rights are another area of tension. The land is theirs. We should respect that. If they want to share or let us in, fine. But we shouldn’t be pushing in. Period.

Public services are a big one. Health care and education? Keep them strong. The rest? Maybe we trim a lot of it. Keep the basics and get rid of the extras that just weigh the system down.

Finally, fossil fuels. People want to ban them, switch to electric, or chase alternatives that just don’t fit our reality. I say improve what we have. Make it safer, cleaner, and more efficient. Canada has the resources, so let’s use them wisely instead of chasing ideas that won’t work here.

We need a practical approach. Not one driven by panic or virtue-signaling, but one that works for Canadians today. That’s my take.

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

Only On The Walters Post

A while back, I weighed in on Canada’s hunt for new submarines. I thought I had it figured out, but after digging deeper, here’s where I really stand.

When it comes to submarines, I we shouldn’t play roulette with our navy.

Let’s skip the sales pitches. Canada has two options: Hanwha from South Korea and Germany’s ThyssenKrupp.

Hanwha’s promising the works—“We’ll build fast! Create jobs! Supercharge Canadian industry!” It all sounds great, but here’s the thing: speed and big promises don’t equal quality. You can build a flashy sports car in a hurry, but let’s see how it holds up when you hit a pothole the size of Lake Ontario.

Now the Germans on the other hand—ThyssenKrupp. They’ve been making submarines since before disco. Trusted by NATO, built to last, engineered with that famous German precision. When you buy German, you get reliability. No frills, just function.

Bottom line: Hanwha might deliver on time, maybe even build something kinda decent. But for submarines—where lives are at stake—you don’t go with the new kids on the block. You trust the team whose record proves they know what they’re doing. That’s Germany.

Deep underwater, a shiny promise won’t keep you alive. It’s not about speed or showmanship. It’s about trust—knowing what you have will last. That’s what really counts.

And that’s the way I see it.

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

Only On The Walters Post

So, we hear it again. Canada could lead the world in pulling CO₂ out of the air if Ottawa backs the market and keeps things moving. Now on paper, that sounds ambitious, even exciting. But the truth is, we are far from the only country working on this. The United States has its direct air capture projects, Europe boasts some carbon storage successes, and private companies all over the globe are working to find ways to pull carbon out of the sky.

Still, I cannot help but feel a bit of pride. Canada is taking this seriously. From federal investments to the work of companies like Deep Sky and Carbon Engineering, there is real effort being put in. However it is one thing to talk about net-zero, but it is another to actually put money and energy behind it.

But here is the thing, and this is where my old feller instincts kick in. As much as I believe we need to do things to help the environment, I worry that a lot of these “solutions” might do more harm than good in the long run. Wind farms, solar panels, even some of the new carbon capture technologies all come with their own problems. Big tracts of land, rare materials, heavy energy demands, and long-term maintenance headaches. We patch one hole and open another. Honestly, sometimes it feels like we are running around trying to look virtuous, while just making a bigger mess.

Then I think, we have oil, gas, and coal in abundance. Maybe it would make more sense to figure out ways to use what we already have cleaner and smarter, instead of chasing the next shiny idea that promises a perfect world but probably will not deliver. That is the kind of thing an old feller like me frets about. We want progress, we want to feel like we are doing something important, but sometimes the simplest and most obvious solutions get ignored because they do not sound exciting or newsworthy.

Still, Canada is moving forward, doing honest work in carbon removal, and that deserves acknowledgment. But let us keep our eyes open and our wits about us. Leadership is not just about being first, it is about getting others to follow, without tripping over our own ambitions along the way.

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

Only On The Walters Post

These days, it often feels like drama overshadows reality. Whether I turn on the TV or check my phone, I’m met with headlines about disasters, political disputes, and unrest. The news spreads so quickly it can make the world feel smaller and more intense than it really is.

But every now and then, something reminds me of life’s vastness and mystery. It might be the return of geese cutting across the sky in perfect formation, a seed pushing up through hard soil, or even a stranger showing unexpected kindness. The world has ways of reminding us it’s bigger than the headlines.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve also noticed how uneven the news can feel. It doesn’t just inform anymore, it shapes how we see the world. Curiosity and wonder get pushed aside by stories meant to stir fear or anger.

In the end, it’s not just what happens that counts, but how we choose to see it. For me, it means looking past the noise and reminding myself, and maybe others, that wonder is still out there if we take the time to notice.

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