Himal Hossain

08/23/2025

08/21/2025

Ontario’s Education Minister Eyes Scrapping School Trustees: A Power Grab Threatening Freedom?

A storm is brewing over who controls our kids’ education. On August 20, 2025, Education Minister Paul Calandra told CBC News at the AMO conference in Ottawa he’s open to eliminating elected school trustees entirely, calling Ontario’s school governance “outdated.” With supervisors already sidelining trustees at five major boards, including Toronto and Ottawa, Calandra’s push for centralization signals a seismic shift. Critics like NDP’s Chandra Pasma warn this strips local voices, handing power to Toronto’s Ministry of Education and threatening parents’ and communities’ freedom to shape their children’s learning. Is this a bold move to streamline schools or a dangerous grab that erodes our liberties?

Picture a Sudbury parent, Sarah, attending a school board meeting, only to find her elected trustee silenced by a provincial supervisor. Ontario’s 72 school boards, governing 2 million students, rely on trustees, elected every four years to reflect local needs, from curriculum priorities to budget decisions. Calandra argues trustees lack taxing authority or expertise, pointing to deficits like the Toronto District School Board’s $58 million shortfall. Since March 2025, he’s appointed supervisors to five boards, citing “mismanagement,” and new legislation (Bill 33) makes takeovers easier, even for “public interest” reasons. He’s signaled all boards are “on notice,” pushing for centralized rules to ensure funds hit classrooms, not retreats or art trips like the $190,000 Brant Haldimand Norfolk scandal.

The case for centralization? Calandra says it’s about accountability. A 2024 Ministry report found 40% of boards face deficits, blaming decentralized decisions. Uniform rules could prioritize teachers, 68% of whom, per a 2023 OSSTF survey, buy classroom supplies themselves and cut waste, like the $40,000 Thames Valley retreat. For some, like Thunder Bay’s Tom, a teacher, it’s a wake-up call: “Boards need to focus on kids, not politics.” Central control could align education with provincial goals, like literacy (down 5% since 2018, per EQAO) or math skills (down 7%). Quebec and Nova Scotia axed elected boards, claiming efficiency, and Calandra’s eyeing that model.

But here’s the rub: this power grab risks torching local freedom. Trustees are democracy’s boots on the ground, channeling parents who want, say, more special education or Indigenous history in schools. Without them, directors answer only to Toronto, potentially ignoring rural needs, like Sudbury’s 12% teacher turnover or North Bay’s counselor shortages (1 per 2,000 students). Pasma calls it “anti-democratic,” noting 175 years of elected boards in Canada. A 2018 Nova Scotia study found scrapping boards cut community input, leaving schools “corporate” and less responsive. Centralization could deepen inequities, urban boards get 15% more funding per student than northern ones, per a 2024 OISE report. And with Bill 33 mandating School Resource Officers, some fear top-down control oversteps, especially after Toronto’s 2017 SRO exit cut racialized youth arrests by 18%.

This is Canada’s fight. From BC’s underfunded schools to PEI’s rural gaps, local control matters.. We’re not there, but the slope is slippery when one minister holds the reins. Could advisory councils preserve local voices? Should parents have veto power over big decisions? Canada, what’s your take? Have you felt shut out of your kids’ schools? Share your stories, maybe you’re a parent, teacher, or trustee. Let’s push for solutions: hybrid governance, transparent audits, or parent-led boards. With bold compassion, we can rise for a Canada where education stays free, local, and true to our kids’ needs.

(CBC News, August 20, 2025; Sudbury dot com, August 14, 2025; OISE, 2024; OSSTF, 2023; Nova Scotia Education Review, 2018)

08/21/2025

Sudbury’s Liana Holm Joins ETFO’s Provincial Executive, A Voice for Teachers and Unity

Let’s rally around a story of leadership and grit from Sudbury, where a local hero is stepping up for educators across Ontario. On August 14, 2025, Liana Holm, president of the Rainbow Teacher Local, was elected to the provincial executive of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), representing 83,000 educators. A teacher since 2000 with the Rainbow District School Board, Holm’s rise from classrooms in Espanola, Manitoulin, and Sudbury to a provincial stage signals a fierce advocate for better working conditions and student safety. Her pledge? To amplify teachers’ voices and defend public education. But in a time of rising school violence and funding debates, what does her election mean for Northern Ontario and beyond? With bold heart and compassionate resolve, let’s dive into her journey and its impact.

Picture a classroom in Sudbury, where Holm, a veteran teacher, supports a student with special needs, drawing on her 25 years of experience in Grades 3 to 8. Her focus on special education and northern challenges, like teacher shortages and stretched resources which earned her the trust of the Rainbow Teacher Local’s 721 members. At ETFO’s Annual Meeting in Toronto, over 700 delegates chose her for the 2025-27 executive, a nod to her vow to “harness ETFO’s collective strength” for safer schools and fair contracts. With Ontario’s school violence spiking 77% since 2018, per a 2023 OSSTF survey, Holm’s push for stronger safety protocols and mental health supports resonates. “We’ll ensure members’ voices are heard,” she told Sudbury dot com, aiming to create supportive environments for educators and kids alike.

Her election is a win for the North. Sudbury’s teachers face unique hurdles, remote schools, high turnover (12% annually, per a 2024 Laurentian University report), and limited access to counselors (1 per 2,000 students). Holm’s advocacy could secure more funding, like the $123 million Ontario added for school safety in 2024. For locals like Maria, a parent in Espanola, it’s personal: “We need teachers like Liana fighting for our kids’ futures.” ETFO’s clout, as Canada’s largest education union, gives Holm a platform to push for equitable hiring and special education resources, critical in areas like Manitoulin where busing eats up budgets.

But challenges loom. Critics, like Ward 5’s Bob Clement, argue ETFO’s focus on provincial bargaining, think 2019’s strike votes, these can sideline local needs. Teachers’ burnout, with 62% reporting exhaustion in a 2024 OISE survey, demands urgent action, and Holm must balance big-picture goals with Sudbury’s realities. Some fear her executive role could pull her from local issues, like the Rainbow Board’s $5-million tax shortfall. Plus, debates over School Resource Officers, reintroduced via Bill 33 in 2025, split educators, and Holm’s stance on policing in schools will be watched closely, especially after Toronto’s 2017 SRO exit cut Black youth arrests by 18%.

This isn’t just Sudbury’s story, it’s Canada’s. From BC’s teacher shortages to Nova Scotia’s classroom struggles, educators need champions. Could Holm’s role spark national talks on funding or mental health? Should locals push for more teacher training programs, like NOSM’s for health workers? Canada, what’s your take? Have you seen teachers stretched thin in your town? Share your stories, maybe you’re a parent, educator, or student. Let’s brainstorm: better rural funding, local retention bonuses, or community-led school boards? With fierce compassion, we can rise for a Canada where teachers like Holm lift every classroom to thrive.

(Sudbury dot com, August 14, 2025; The Sudbury Star, August 16, 2019; OSSTF Survey, 2023; OISE Survey, 2024; Ontario Ministry of Education, 2024)

08/10/2025

Let’s talk about a struggle that’s hitting close to home for the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) people of Kanehsatà:ke, a community just 60 kilometers southwest of Montreal. Thirty-five years ago, they stood firm against the Canadian military during the Oka Crisis, protecting their sacred Pines and graveyard from a golf course expansion. Today, they’re fighting a different battle.. not against outsiders, but within their own community, as a booming cannabis industry threatens their land and way of life. This isn’t just about one First Nation; it’s a wake-up call for all Canadians about balancing economic growth with the environment and community values.

In Kanehsatà:ke, the legalization of cannabis in 2018 opened a floodgate of opportunity along Route 344, where dozens of cannabis shops now line the road. Some are small shacks, but others, like Big Chief’s Variety, are massive five-story megastores with flashing billboards advertising w**d, mushrooms, liquor, and slot machines. These stores draw crowds from far beyond the territory’s 1,500-1,700 residents, bringing heavy traffic and, at times, chaos. But the real cost is environmental. Behind Big Chief’s, a three-foot-deep trench cuts through the forest, with felled pine trees still green with needles. Nearby, another ditch from the Green Room megastore holds stagnant, sewage-smelling water. Kawisaienhne Albany, 27, and Karihohetstha Cupples, 23, are among those sounding the alarm, pointing to construction that’s tearing up forests and shorelines along Lake of Two Mountains.

This isn’t just about a few trees. Quebec’s government has filed an injunction against 17 individuals and businesses, including owners of megastores like High Times and Golden Star, for allegedly dumping soil, often trucked in from Montreal construction sites to expand properties onto the lake’s shore. One owner, Joshua Smith-Gabriel, is also named for cutting trees to build a gas station. The community’s land, already reduced from 689 square kilometers to just 12 over centuries, is under pressure. Albany and Cupples have claimed a forested plot since 2020 to protect it, facing pushback from some who see it as prime development space. “If we’re not there to protect the land, nature can’t continue,” Cupples says, echoing her grandmother’s Oka Crisis sign: “Are you aware this is Mohawk territory?”

The cannabis boom has brought wealth to some, but at a cost. With no internal laws to regulate these megastores, which operate outside federal and provincial rules, tensions are rising. Community members report violent conflicts, including late-night arson attacks, and local leaders like former grand chief Victor Bonspille say organized crime has crept into some operations. “The majority are good people,” he says, “but some partners bring in this criminal element.” Without a local police force, which was disbanded in 2004 after a failed raid the Sûreté du Québec only steps in for major incidents, leaving governance gaps. A canceled election in August adds to the uncertainty, as the community struggles to unify on how to manage this growth.

This story resonates beyond Kanehsatà:ke. Across Canada, we’re grappling with how to pursue economic progress without sacrificing our environment or community values. It’s not about pointing fingers, it’s about finding balance. Could Kanehsatà:ke’s band council regulate the cannabis industry with community-driven rules? Might Ottawa or Quebec invest in sustainable development that respects Indigenous land rights? And for all of us, how do we ensure economic opportunities don’t destroy what makes our communities special?

For Canada’s youth, this is a chance to lead. Imagine young entrepreneurs in Kanehsatà:ke or beyond creating eco-friendly businesses, think sustainable agriculture or green tech that honor the land while building jobs. Programs like Futurpreneur or Indigenous-led initiatives could spark this change. Let’s start a conversation: How can we support communities like Kanehsatà:ke to grow without losing their roots? Share your ideas below, whether it’s stronger land protections, community-led governance, or youth-driven solutions.

Canada, we’re at a crossroads. Kanehsatà:ke’s fight reminds us that progress shouldn’t cost us our land or our values. Join us in rising for a future where growth and respect go hand in hand.

(CBC News, August 9, 2025; Quebec Superior Court Injunction Filing, 2025; The Rover, July 2025; Statistics Canada, Kanehsatà:ke Population Data, 2023)

08/10/2025

Sudbury’s Job Struggles Reflect Canada’s Challenges: A Call for Youth to Build Their Future

Hey Canada, let’s have an honest conversation about work, or the lack of it. In Sudbury, a community known for its resilience and mining roots, the job market is hitting a rough patch. Unemployment climbed to 5.7% in July, with 400 jobs lost, mostly full-time positions that families depend on. Imagine a young welder, tools ready, now facing an empty shop floor, or a recent graduate sending out resumes with no replies. These are real stories from Sudbury, where the economic pinch is personal, affecting neighbors and friends trying to make ends meet.

Looking across Canada, the picture isn’t much brighter. Last month, we lost 41,000 jobs.. the steepest drop since the pandemic’s worst days. Full-time work took the biggest hit, down 51,000 positions, and young people aged 15-24 are struggling most, with employment at a low of 53.6% and unemployment spiking to 14.6%. That’s the worst since the late ‘90s, outside COVID times. Long-term unemployment is creeping up too, affecting nearly one in four jobless Canadians, while sectors like construction and culture face heavy losses. Trade tensions, like potential U.S. tariffs, are shaking manufacturing and transport, and even though wages rose 3.3%, inflation’s bite makes it feel like a drop in the bucket.

Economic slowdown, policy gaps, and global pressures have left us vulnerable. The Bank of Canada might cut rates soon, possibly by a quarter-point in September, but will that turn things around? Hours worked dropped 0.2% last month, signaling a weak quarter ahead, and analysts are calling the job market “undeniably soft.” From Sudbury to Victoria, Canadians want solutions: better training, smarter economic plans, and a focus on creating opportunities at home.

Here’s where hope comes in, especially for our youth. Instead of waiting for jobs that may not return, young Canadians can chart their own paths. Entrepreneurship is a powerful way forward, turning ideas into businesses that create work for yourself and others. Picture a Sudbury student launching a small tech startup, hiring locals, and bringing new energy to the community. Programs like Futurpreneur offer loans and mentorship for those 18-39, while Ontario’s Summer Company provides grants for student-led summer ventures. BizStart offers training to kickstart your hustle. These tools empower young people to build their own futures, whether it’s a side gig or a full-on company, fostering economic fairness and community strength.

This is about all of us wanting a Canada where opportunity is real. If you’re a young person with a big idea, or a parent watching your kid navigate this tough market, share your thoughts below. What solutions do you see, more apprenticeships, support for startups, or community programs to spark growth? Let’s talk about building a stronger future together.

Canada’s job market is struggling, but our resilience isn’t. Young people, this is your moment to create, innovate, and lead. Join the conversation, what’s your plan to rise above the challenges?

(Sudbury Star, August 2025; Reuters, August 8, 2025; CBC News, August 7, 2025; Bloomberg, August 8, 2025; BMO Economics, August 8, 2025; Futurpreneur.ca, 2025; Ontario.ca Summer Company, 2025; YES.on.ca BizStart, 2025; Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey, July 2025)

08/05/2025

Let's talk a bit about old St Joe's today. Heard it's finally coming down. 🫢

08/04/2025

Let's talk about the Barn Preservation society of Ontario today. They're coming up North to see some of the Norths agricultural heritage and hopefully save it.