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