Editorials - March 13, 2026
Serving those who serve
In the last eight months, applications to the Canadian Armed Forces have surged by nearly 13 per cent, and while the country is still short of the soldiers it’s said to need, renewed interest is being shown as U.S. President Donald Trump has casually threatened our sovereignty and wars - some started by the very same - explode around the world.
This is good news, of course, but it tells such a small part of the story. A career in the military is full of milestone dates beyond enlistment. Soldiers who see active duty in war zones around the world sacrifice more than most will ever know and if they are lucky enough to return from that service, our country needs to meet Canadians’ post-combat needs with the enthusiasm of enlistment day.
Earlier this week in Windsor, a medal awarded to Trooper Stefan Jankowski was returned to members of his family after Kyle Scott, an Afghanistan veteran who runs an organization that recovers lost or missing medals, tracked it down. Jankowski died of an accidental overdose in 2011 at the age of 25 after struggling with post-traumatic stress (like Scott, he too served in Afghanistan). Retired Master Cpl. Hunter Kersey, who served with Jankowski says he considers soldiers like Jankowski victims of the war in Afghanistan alongside those who died on the ground there serving their country.
Kersey’s sentiment is the one that is often lost. Minds are changing though, as people begin to view PTSD-related deaths in soldiers and policing as on-duty deaths and firefighters dying of cancer years after their active service as on-the-job losses. As Canada seeks to beef up its military, so too must it beef up its resources and care for those who serve and then return. Like any good parents, we must view these Canadians as our sons and daughters not just at birth, but for their whole lives. – SL
The time has come
British Columbia has taken a standout step by making daylight saving time permanent after the March 8 clock change. Clocks in most of the province will no longer fall back in November, instead remaining on one time year‑round. Proponents argue this will simplify schedules and give people more useful daylight in the evening.
After decades of debate, B.C. appears to have settled one of the perennial headaches of modern life, the twice‑annual clock shuffle. But the boldness of the move does not erase real uncertainties. For roughly half the year, B.C. will be out of sync with much of the U.S. From November to March, clocks in Washington, Oregon and California will be an hour different from those in Vancouver and Victoria, creating bumps for cross‑border trade, transportation and communication.
There are deeper scientific debates too. Many health and sleep experts argue that what we call standard time better matches the natural cycle of the sun and our internal body clocks.
Here in Ontario, where proposals to scrap the clock change have stalled while governments wait for broader consensus, B.C.’s experiment will be closely watched. It highlights how decisions about time are not just about convenience and daylight. They touch on biology, economics and how we relate to neighbours near and far.
Only time will tell how B.C.’s longer evenings and darker winter mornings affect citizens. It may take a few years to fully understand the impacts. Still, for British Columbians tired of the clock changes, the end of the biannual scramble is a welcome relief. – SBS
Looking for a leader
Voting is now underway in the federal New Democratic Party leadership race, with members choosing the person who will guide the party into its next chapter. Ballots remain open until March 29, when the result will be announced at the party’s convention in Winnipeg.
Five candidates are seeking the position: Avi Lewis, Heather McPherson, Rob Ashton, Tanille Johnston and Tony McQuail. The candidates have travelled, debated and spoken with members about how the party can rebuild following the 2025 federal election.
For our readers, the contest carries particular interest because one of the candidates comes from our own rural community. McQuail, an organic farmer and long-time advocate for sustainable agriculture, has brought a distinctly rural voice into a national political conversation that often unfolds far from the fields and small towns of Ontario.
McQuail’s campaign has emphasized environmental stewardship, electoral reform and the importance of rebuilding progressive politics at the grassroots level. He has also urged the party to engage more seriously with rural Canada, an area where the NDP has struggled to maintain support in recent decades. His perspective reflects a lifetime spent working the land, building community connections and thinking about the long-term health of rural economies.
Whatever the outcome, it is notable that a voice from this region has helped shape the discussion about the party’s future and the place of rural Canada within it. – SBS