Editorials - Oct. 23, 2026
Another domino
The upcoming closure of a historic Owen Sound printing facility is more than a corporate restructuring headline; it is another blow to the fragile ecosystem of Ontario’s community newspapers. Coming on the heels of yet another Postmedia plant closure, this time in North Bay, community newspapers are bracing for the fallout.
Although RBW Graphics (owned by TC Transcontinental) specialized in heatset web printing and commercial binding - while newspapers are printed on coldset web presses, so there is no direct or immediate effect - the volume that it produced was immense and the redistribution across the remaining plants in the network will significantly tighten press schedules. Small newspapers like The Citizen are once again reminded of the scarcity of press availability. When McLaren Press Graphics closed its doors in 2022, 30 independent weeklies were left scrambling. Not all were as fortunate as us, to find two printers within a reasonable distance to handle our newspaper, two magazines and annual phonebook. Some were forced to pay high transportation costs for distant presses and others were forced online.
It seems paradoxical that printing presses and newsprint mills are closing under the guise of “Print is dead”, yet publishers are clamouring for paper and press time! – DS
Inadequate preparation
Thanks to reporting by the Toronto Star, we now know that the provincial government - by way of iGaming, a crown agency under the umbrella of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming - worked to suppress a study that found problem gambling rates far greater than anticipated by the provincial government.
According to the Star, more than $82 billion was wagered in the 2024/2025 fiscal year, with nearly $3 billion of it going to the province and preliminary data for 2025/2026 and early 2026/2027 shows that figure increasing by 25 per cent. The Star reports that, according to the province’s chief coroner, emergency department visits for gambling disorders have doubled, insolvencies involving gambling have more than tripled and suicides have increased. The province has not studied how the legalization of online gambling - and associated advertising - have affected problem gambling and this study was meant to do some of that work and it has since been shelved and hidden by the province.
The reach of online gambling advertising has been expansive, here at The Citizen, we are bombarded by online advertising and advertorial requests connected to online gambling, all of which we have turned away. It’s not just on television during the country’s most-watched sporting events, small, independent outlets like The Citizen have also been targeted to further separate Ontarians from their money.
When any government opens the door to something that had once been taboo or outright illegal, it comes with a responsibility to ensure what’s now being done is being done safely. Ontarians deserve to know the risks before being inundated with something and our government should be leading the charge in caring for its citizens in the face of new risk instead of laughing all the way to the bank. – SL
Ready to wear
There are many ways to measure the success of a television production: viewing figures, reviews, awards and international sales. But sometimes the most revealing is a little warmer, made of wool and worn by a beloved Newfoundland actor. It may even steal the entire show.
The sweater Andy Jones wears in Netflix’s Below, filmed in Newfoundland and Labrador, has become an unexpected hit. The distinctive Guernsey cardigan, designed by Barbara Harpur, has sparked interest in its pattern and local knitting traditions, bringing fresh attention to Newfoundland makers and yarn shops. It is a very charming story, but it also illustrates something important about investing in film and television: the economic benefits can extend well beyond the production.
When a film crew arrives in a community, the immediate effects are obvious. Hotel rooms fill up, restaurants serve more meals and local businesses supply equipment, transportation, construction, catering and accommodation. Actors and crew members earn wages, while local tradespeople and technicians gain valuable experience.
Netflix reported that Below generated more than $90 million in economic activity in Canada, with much of the benefit going to Newfoundland and Labrador. The production also employed hundreds of people and worked with hundreds of vendors. These are significant figures, but the sweater tells another part of the story. A television production can create opportunities for businesses and craftspeople who might never appear in its closing credits. It can introduce local products to international markets and encourage tourism long after filming ends.
So the next time someone asks why governments should invest in film and television production, mention the jobs, the contracts and the tourism. Then mention the sweater. – SBS