A Lot More To Write About

Is it ever cold these days! I know technically that it is winter but seriously, it is only the early part of November. Should we really be setting records for cold weather as was done recently! 

This kind of weather is scary as far as I am concerned. I wonder if it means that the reality is extremely harsh weather as winter continues. Will it be so much colder in the months that follow with lots of snow as well? I don't know but what it does mean for me, at least, is that I will be remaining inside and will do lots of exercising here to keep my health up. I have a very nice elliptical trainer in the basement that I will be using as much as possible.  It is a piece of equipment that I am told is really good for the needs of a person like me so I will be using it to stay well. 

Naturally of course I will have more time to write articles on my website to help pass the time. So let me start by writing about some matters that I saw recently that I trust will be of interest to you as well. 

IS THIS HOW TO HELP STUDENTS 

I just saw some comments from Deb Matthews, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development that I found rather troubling. 

I have to admit that I am not particularly pro-union. However, I can hardly state that I am particularly pro-management either.  Oh sure, I understand how important unions have been in the past and what they have accomplished. I also know how much they achieve today. Just the same, I understand how much management has been able to achieve for their businesses and the people who work for them.

To be direct about what I am saying, I really have never been very much in favour of "labour relations" and all of the difficulties that I have seen between management and labour for so long. There have been very many horrific fights between the two sides for so many years and they are still around. 

I am sure that you know, dear reader, that St. Clair College and other Colleges in Ontario are in the midst of strikes for about 5 weeks which means that classes have been cancelled. As far as I am concerned, that is catastrophic for the students who may have lost, by the time this is over, a good part of their education career.  That means that their lives have suffered because it means that they will be unable to apply for a job which many of them desperately need as soon as possible. They may have to delay it for a number of months which will postpone their graduation time and the time when they can start working. 

So why am I talking about the Minister? Here is what I saw in her "Statement Regarding the College Strike and Support for Students" published on November 10, 2017. Support? For students? Really? You tell me what you think. Here is what the Statement said: 

"Since the strike began, I have been clear that my focus is on students and their learning. I have had the opportunity to meet with a number of student leaders and their provincial associations. I have heard from them about hardships students are experiencing as a result of this strike. Students have been in the middle of this strike for too long and it's just not fair." 

Wow, did it ever start off well! So why should I be concerned about the Minister? Read on, dear reader, about what the Minister is doing: 

"That is why I am requiring that colleges establish a dedicated fund with all the savings from the strike. The fund will be used to support students who have experienced financial hardships as a result of the strike…  

So, in the coming days, I look forward to working directly with student leaders and colleges on how we can lessen the impact of the strike on students." 

Huh, the strike is allowed to continue! Nothing there about how to end the strike? Nothing suggesting that this strike is hurting the students' future and something needs to be done right away to help get the students back into school? What kind of nonsense is this! 

I honestly do not understand why the Government is acting the way it is. Gee, how can anyone be angry considering how nice the Minister is to the students. Come on, one knows that certain Government organizations are not allowed to strike because of the importance of their work. The police department is a prime examples. How can this be allowed to happen in the education world! 

Why are teachers allowed to go on strike thereby negatively impacting their students? Why are the Colleges not forced to sit down and resolve their differences with their employees so that students will not be suffering? Why are both sides not treated like other Government officials and prevented from going on strike but forced to resolve their differences through binding arbitration if required? 

I am sorry, dear reader. That may not be your position but it certainly is mine. The parties have been unable to resolve their differences for so long and who knows how much longer it will take to achieve it. 

I don't really care what the differences are between the parties. All I know is that so many students' lives are being hurt by this. As far as I am concerned, that is completely unacceptable. 

I am so disappointed that what the Minister set out in her statement is so insignificant that it is disgraceful.  It is time that she delivered an ultimatum to both sides to resolve their differences. Or else! 

Moreover, in my opinion, the Government ought to consider changing how Unions and Management act when there are labour differences. In other words, do we really still need a striking system? 

HOW OUR LOCAL MP IS ACTING 

Wow, is MP Brian Masse really working hard to get such important information. It might even provide him with some other assistance as well: 

"Brian Masse is planning to knock on doors in Sandwich Towne to hear first-hand from residents about how new border crossings could impact their community.  

The NDP MP has launched his campaign because "international truck traffic has had a devastating impact one of Canada's most historic neighbourhood," according to a media release." (CBC News, November 10,2017) 

He is going to have a rally on November 18: 

"I want to make sure that we collectively do everything we can to secure a bright future for everyone." 

Now isn't that lovely of him? Mind you, I think that this probably gives him some work to do because he did not seem to know very much about what was happening recently with respect to the Ambassador Bridge: 

"The NDP member for Windsor-West — where the bridge is located — said he is among those in the dark as to why the twin-span project was approved after more than a decade of planning, meetings and preparation for the government-backed Gordie Howe International Bridge." (DaveBattagello, Windsor Star, September 8, 2017)

What will the MP really accomplish? Who knows because it does depend after all on how many doors he knocks. Presumably, it will get lots of publicity coverage about what he does even if he accomplishes little. After all, when he does knock on doors, he might hope that people will remember him when he runs one day soon to be re-elected.