Editorials - Nov. 13, 2026
Message sent
The citizens of the United States have spoken loudly and the Democrats have been put in power in both the House and the Senate by commanding margins. The average American is not in favour of Donald Trump, the MAGA movement and the Republican party in general and they have shown their displeasure at the ballot.
During the runup to the midterm elections, Trump had laid the legal groundwork in several jurisdictions to prepare to contest results, but the margins were mostly large enough that recounts weren’t even required.
Perhaps the most poignant illustration of the disillusionment that the people are feeling under Trump policies was in Minnesota where hundreds of voters left their “I Voted” stickers at the memorials to Alex Pretti and Renee Good, American citizens murdered by ICE agents. Under the current administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations and raid policies emphasize interior enforcement sweeps and high daily arrest targets, resulting in confrontations that have led to violent protests. President Donald Trump admitted on 60 Minutes that his administration’s aggressive deportation and raid policies were “too tough” and acted as a political liability following major Republican losses in the 2026 midterm elections.
In addition to the immigration policies, Americans were voting against the war in Iran, tariffs and trade wars, the high cost of living and Trump’s MAGA policies, according to polls. The only surprising thing is that there are still folks who voted for the GOP, in light of everything they’ve done with the first half of Trump’s presidential term. – DS
You can’t see anything
Premier Doug Ford’s government has lacked transparency from the get-go. Almost immediately, he was being challenge by media outlets, opposing parties and others for the release of mandate letters, cell phone records and more pertaining to this situation or that. And now, even the most local of bodies has been ensnared in his efforts to keep his government’s actions from the very people it’s meant to govern.
Late last month, Maitland Conservation Chair Ed McGugan, by way of an open letter, resigned from the newly-established Lake Huron Regional Conservation Authority, on the advice of the local authority’s legal counsel, largely due to the secrecy of the new body - specifically the mandatory signing of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). In his letter, McGugan detailed the confidentiality and inability to report back to member councils as being “diametrically opposed to what [he has] experienced as an elected official” and “in direct opposition to the requirements under the Municipal Act” according to legal counsel. Similar concerns have been raised by other chairs, including in Upper Thames River, St. Clair Region, Ingersoll and Essex Region.
Reporting back to member councils, be it from authority staff or councillors on the board, has been a central tenet to the relationship between members and the conservation authorities that serve them so that they know how the work is going and how money is being spent. To take that away guts the very task this body is meant to be taking on, but, then again, that may be the point under Ford. – SL
A plan forward
By now, Canadians have had plenty of opportunities to debate the federal government's budget. There are legitimate differences of opinion about its spending priorities, economic assumptions, tax measures and long-term implications. Not everyone will agree with the government’s approach, and healthy debate is part of a functioning democracy. However, the goal of putting Canada on a path to eliminate homelessness within the next decade should rise above partisan politics.
Homelessness is no longer just a big-city problem. Areas of all sizes, including Huron County, are seeing the number of people without stable housing rise. The consequences are felt throughout our communities, placing growing demands on local services, health care providers, social agencies and volunteers. The federal government’s proposed investment is an important step, but we should be realistic. Money alone will not solve a problem with such complex roots. Affordable housing, mental health care, addiction treatment, poverty reduction and ongoing community support must all be part of the solution.
There will undoubtedly be disagreements over who pays, how programs are delivered and which approaches work best. Those discussions are necessary but they must not become barriers to action.
Homelessness is an emergency. We cannot simply accept people sleeping in tents, vehicles or on the streets as an unfortunate, but inevitable feature of Canadian life. The budget has put an important commitment on the table. Now comes the harder part: turning dollars and promises into real homes, meaningful support and lasting change.
There may be disagreements about the budget but surely we can agree that every Canadian deserves a safe place to live. Ending homelessness is not a partisan issue. It is a responsibility we all share. – SBS