Editorials - Sept. 12, 2025
Keeping them honest
Occasionally, the most interesting part of a story lies not in the headline, but in a paragraph near the end of the article.
The former CEO of a women’s hospital in Halifax has been found guilty for a second time of defrauding the hospital, charging more than $45,000 in personal expenses including air travel to a corporate credit card. A fraud of this type is enough to warrant interest to read the story, but what caught our attention was how the fraud came to light. Hospital staff were working to comply with a directive from Nova Scotia’s auditor general to make senior manager’s hospitality and travel expenses public. Then, a dogged investigation through freedom-of-information requests by CBC journalist Michael Gorman revealed inconsistencies in the CEO’s corporate credit card statements and he subsequently published his findings.
“None of her actions would have been discovered without the recommendation of the auditor general, acted upon by the provincial government, and the investigative integrity of the CBC journalist,” Associate Chief Judge Ronda van der Hoek said.
At a time when the media is under attack, including the CBC, it is important to remember the role that journalists play in keeping them honest - hospital executives, politicians or anyone in the public’s trust. – DS
Taking over
Provincial Education Minister Paul Calandra says he will now have a plan to possibly eliminate trustees from Ontario’s school boards by the end of the year. This comes after the provincial government took over five school boards, including the Thames Valley District School Board - an investigation into its spending really got the ball rolling.
Furthermore, the Ministry is launching a review into the Near North District School Board after high school students were forced to start the school year online, with next-to-no notice, after construction delays on a new school for the community and the demolition of the old one, leaving nowhere for the students to study on very short notice.
Despite real-world examples of mismanagement and abuse of power parents and politicians alike are roundly decrying the overreach of Premier Doug Ford and his government, essentially snatching local governance away from school boards, centralizing it in Toronto. This should be concerning for Huron County residents, especially, as local trustees, elected every four years, have long been advocates for their communities, their schools, their students and their staff members. The last time the provincial government stuck its finger in Huron County’s educational pie, five schools shuttered and the impact of the loss of those community schools is still felt.
The Citizen has built its foundation and staked its reputation on the importance of local control and decision-making; locals representing other locals, dating back to its creation thanks to local shareholders and a board of directors comprised entirely of locals. The decision-making process only worsens the further it gets from home. – SL
The world needs more Canada
It is striking that nearly three decades have passed since a Canadian last appeared in the cast of Saturday Night Live. That absence ends this season with Veronika Slowikowska of Barrie joining the ensemble for Season 51. Her arrival restores a link to the long history of Canadian voices that helped shape SNL.
The last Canadian cast member was Norm Macdonald, who left in 1998 after his run on “Weekend Update”. His sharp delivery and fearless sense of humour left a mark that still lingers. It is astonishing that nearly three decades have passed without another Canadian on stage at Studio 8H.
From the beginning, SNL bore the imprint of Lorne Michaels, born in Toronto, who famously created the show in 1975. Canadians have been part of the cast from the start too, with Ottawa-born Dan Aykroyd among the original “Not Ready for Prime Time Players.” In the 1980s Martin Short, from Hamilton, helped revive the show with characters that blended absurdity and heart. Not long after, Scarborough’s Mike Myers brought global recognition through Wayne Campbell of “Wayne’s World”, Dieter of “Sprockets” and Linda Richman.
Slowikowska’s addition to the cast continues this line. Her path from the Toronto sketch scene to film and television and her rise on digital platforms reflect how comedy has evolved since the days of Short, Myers and Macdonald. At the same time, she continues to carry forward the inventiveness and eccentricity that Canadian performers have long brought to the show.
As a new season begins, it is worth remembering that Saturday Night Live has always been more than a New York institution. From its creator to some of its most memorable performers, Canadians have been at the heart of its story. – SBS