Signs of the Times

Honesty in government has reached a new pinnacle with the vow by North Bay Mayor Vic Fedeli that the signs announcing that the population on the approaches to the city would reflect the actual population, not wishful thinking. It seems the previous council, along with their many other misdemeanours, asked the Ministry of Trucks and Cars to leave the old population numbers intact and not post the newer numbers which would have shown a declining population. It may have been done in an effort to promote North Bay as a growing concern, or it may have been a cost-saving initiative, but that does not sit well with the current politicos.

With all the in-camera meetings to discuss ‘property matters’, it is good to see that our local government is on a zero tolerance truth and openness crusade. There must be an election in the offing. It is a little odd that it took them three years to realize that the only signs welcoming people to our city were wrong. Imagine what these people will do with a four-year mandate! They may get up the nerve to ask Dr Rod to put up more welcoming signs.

Speaking of population signs, it was sad to note this week that Nipissing Stage would not be operating this year. Maybe if we had double the population we might be able to find enough community support for a professional stage company. In a time when more job opportunities are to be found in the arts and entertainment fields, we stick to building hockey rinks. Our youth need to exercise their bodies, no question, but we ought to be encouraging of the arts as a way to expand our creativity. Nipissing Stage was a great proving ground for some of our local writers and actors, and indeed, last year’s production of Prospero on the Beach was the highlight of the Heritage Festival for me.

Contrary to some recent comments about our politicians using up their much-vaunted reserves on the operating budget as a sign that fall elections were not far away, this is just good fiscal management. Our reserves have built up to such an extent with the various initiatives of our current council that we are in danger of getting too high of a credit rating. If, heaven forefend, they pass the reigns of power to a new council next year and leave them with a high credit rating, the new council might spend like intoxicated mariners.

I confess I was a little startled to see a traffic control person at a road construction site in British Columbia holding a sign that said SPEED UP. Apparently, it is an effort to keep traffic moving at construction sites, as BC drivers are more interested in watching their dollars at work than enjoying the beautiful vistas. BC drivers have another innovation that requires them to slow to 60 km whenever they approach an emergency response vehicle with its lights flashing. At 60 km most police, ambulance and firefighters can leap to safety and avoid gawking drivers.

I was going to promote the SPEED UP signs here in Ontario when one of our party noted that the sign may not have been for the drivers but for the workers. On reflection, there was only one guy leaning on a shovel while three worked. They do things differently out west.

In the bad old days, the Works people who dig up and repair our broken water and sewer mains used to consider the job done when the road was patched to a smoothness that left little evidence of their work. Winter or summer, they somehow compacted that asphalt and fill to a drivable smoothness. Now the Works people are content to immediately place a sign that says BUMP before they leave the site. And they are right – they always leave a bump. I suppose they are happy to show you that they done a satisfactory job – in placing a sign. Or perhaps they know that will likely return next week to fix another break in our aging infrastructure.

It is hard to understand why the Members Opposite are so upset with remarks made by member of the government about the attitude of some judges. From video clips on the news, it appears the member did a fair précis of a Superior Court Judge’s speech. The latitude judges use in sentencing appears in some cases to support the member’s comment. While many of us do not agree with the ultra-conservative view on law and order, we must sometimes wonder what is happening to our judicial system. Is it a sign of the times that we dare not question the infallibility of our judges?

It may be the new reality or just a sign of the times, but those TV ads for the little pills that solve ED are now showing women dancing in the streets. Why the women are singing about ‘talking the whole night through’ somehow just did not seem to reflect the whole concept behind the product. Maybe people still talk about it more than they do it. And have you noticed that when these products first came on the market the ads showed old farts singing in the shower? Now the men and women promoting the product are much younger. Changing demographics will soon have the sons and daughters of Desperate Housewives flogging the product on TV.

In a sign that the Ontario Liberals are going to keep an election promise, the Minister of Health and Wellbeing announced that he would guarantee jobs for all graduating nurses. He is also trying to lure back some of the expatriate doctors from south of the border. This must have been good news to my friend who waited for six hours in the ER waiting room with a smashed big toe. He seemed very stoic about the whole thing but I suspect he was under the influence of painkillers when I spoke to him. Although he did say he would not go there again until the new hospital was ready – or something like that.

Speaking of hell freezing over, the May 24th weekend black flies have arrived two weeks early. Is this a sign that we ought to be planting our annuals early or just another hint that maybe there is some truth to that global warning nonsense. Should we wait until the New Moon on May 27th or the Full Moon on June 11th when all danger of frost passes? Or should we just plant early and plant often - as a former Mayor used to say.

Finally, it must be a sign that I am playing too much Sudoku. On the front nine at Highview the other day, I could not find a 1 for love nor money but got two 7’s. Fortunately there was an eraser on my pencil and I successfully completed the first set of nine numbers.