Dave Dale

Those who choose, upon their own volition, to not participate by eschewing vaccination can accept a waiver of consequence. ICU care and ventilators for COVID patients can be triaged for those who take the vaccines and those who are exempted

When the time comes there are provincial leaders who actually want to address these key social issues in an effective manner, there will be a new North Bay Jail built that is designed to make a difference instead of nurturing the turnstile cycle.

The problem with more punitive vaccine requirements is that they do nothing to reduce hospitalizations this month or next. The first dose of either vaccine available in Canada is considered very poor in preventing hospitalization and the recommended schedule for the second dose is eight weeks later.

It’s almost unfortunate we’re having a provincial election in six months, the Progressive Conservative government will deem such calls for probes as nothing more than political witch hunts. And I’m sure the Liberals and New Democrats, for starters, will turn it into a Gong Show laced with rhetoric and platitudes.

The top-selling multi-media subscription next year will be a virtual reality game called Conspiracy Crackers. Players score points if they can convince anti-vax and mandate-resistant players to consider facts and reality-based theories.

The percentage of levy vs total spend is a number I like to keep an eye on because it indicates the direct burden on property owners and their tenants. In 1972, the tax levy was 64 percent of the overall spend and in 2022 we’re looking at something near 69 percent.

North Bay’s ‘paucity’ of Cassellholme congruence is riveting … but not in a good way

One quip is about how our mothers used to chastise us if we didn’t finish our plates, saying there were starving kids in Africa or China – and now they just point to the homeless in North Bay.

The Probity Report was made public this week as we learned the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care approved the $122-million Cassellholme reconstruction and expansion project, despite fairly vigorous objections from municipal partners.

I really don’t want to be the skunk at the garden party, but ... maybe tone down the slush fund celebrations. We're not there yet.