Category: Opinion & Editorials
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What’s in a (school) name?
Kingsville’s Deputy Mayor says the public school board’s suggested – & chosen – new school name is worse than prior choice due to another vulgar acronym.
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Musings on Canadian antisemitism
Every day there’s more antisemitism being spread across Canada & the casualness it’s deployed, often by those who know better, leaves me uneasy & concerned.
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We’re Not Going Anywhere
It’s 2024 in Canada, but because of the vile antisemitism going unchecked, it sounds and looks more like 1938 in Germany.
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Musings before a convoy trial
The gaslighting is overwhelming. No, the convoy & blockades weren’t peaceful, democratic, or just, & weren’t as Canadian as Nanaimo bars or Butter Tarts…
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What does your compassionate Windsor look like?
Are Windsor’s only options to deal with vandalism & homelessness either tough on crime or path of atonement. What does your compassionate Windsor look like?
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Dilkens accuses health unit of CTS bait-&-switch, & attacks colleagues in process
Mayor Drew Dilkens is accusing the health unit of bait-and-switch and in doing so is attacking his council colleagues. Let’s get real about the facts.
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Jewish thoughts on International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Jewish thoughts on Holocaust Remembrance Day: I won’t know the family I lost. This will never change. They aren’t even dust in the wind; dust can be seen.
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The Politics of Consumption (sites)
Last year Windsor City Council approved the location and kicked the implementation process into high gear for a Safe Consumption Site. Today a newly elected city councillor is seeking to undo that progress and restart the process.
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Hamilton gets a “Bus Barn”? Why not “Garage Mahal”?
Hamilton issues bids for a $300mil transit “Bus Barn” garage that Mayor Dilkens calls a “Garage Mahal” for Windsor. Transit Windsor needs it; so what gives?
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RCP in BIZ X: State of the City: 2022 Retrospective
For January 2022, three of the panelists take a look backwards, rather than forward, to provide a retrospective on 2022 before moving ahead to what 2023 will bring.
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Downtown: Positivity, platitudes, & panes (of glass)
In Windsor there are two groups fighting to make a better city and community for us to live in: those who want to confront reality and those who want to hide from it.
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2022 USA Speaker of the House Vote
Everyone here is a Republican. There was almost a fist fight in the US House of Representatives in 2022. The first priority of this party was to remove the magnetometers that were installed after the insurrection to detect guns. Good luck, USA
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LIVE AND LOCAL – CALLING OUT ANTISEMITIC GARBAGE
Jon Liedtke joins Kyle Horner on AM800 CKLW’s LIVE AND LOCAL to call out antisemitic garbage after Donald Trump dined with antisemites Kanye West and Nick Fuentes.
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BIZ X Magazine: Ta-da! Windsor’s New City Council Has Been Decided
Rose City Politics outlines what the priorities of the next city council should be.
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BIZ X Magazine: New City Council Priorities
Rose City Politics outlines what the priorities of the next city council should be.
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AM800: ELECTION ROUNDTABLE
Rose City Politics was invited by AM800 CKLW’s Dan MacDonald to talk about the 2022 Windsor Municipal Election.
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RCP: 2022 Detroit Auto Show
Rose City Politics received press credentials for the Detroit Auto Show. This is our story.
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Rose City Politics: Multiple multi-billion dollar corps weigh in on…Windsor’s mayor race?
Drew Dilkens’ campaign manager suggested someone ask LG & Stellantis their preference as to the mayor of Windsor. Rose City Politics did just that.
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BIZ X Magazine: WINDSOR 2022 ELECTION
For September 2022, the Rose City Politics panel asks Biz X readers if they know who they are voting for and why? With the municipal election next month (October 24, 2022), now is the time to take stock of the candidates and issues before you head to the polls. Jon Liedtke Windsor has a municipal election shaping…
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What is the line between newsworthiness and exploitation?
Yesterday I posted on social media that I was faced with an internal debate after coming into possession of video footage of an altercation between Windsor Police & a now deceased suspect who was wielding a machete at the public in the downtown core. The video clearly shows police shooting the suspect and him falling…
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Riverside DRIVE isn’t for pedestrians, and it shows
While walking to and from the riverfront today I noticed something interesting at the intersection of Ouellette and Riverside Drive. It might not be obvious at first glance, but when you notice it, it’s unmissable and clearly intentional. Have you noticed what I’m talking about? It’s the lack of crosswalk buttons on all four corners.…
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Musings on negotiations with convoys
Not quite sure how I feel about 20 people in Windsor blocking two exit lanes of the Ambassador Bridge and having the Ford Government fold under that pressure and offer to negotiate directly with them…
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Rose City Politics: Strong Mayor Governance and Windsor
Premier Ford announced this week he would introduce strong mayor legislation for both Ottawa and Toronto in 2023 and other Ontario cities in 2024. Like a bull in a china shop, the 800 pound gorilla is again chest beating and charging our democracy during ongoing municipal elections. All that’s old is new again.
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BIZ X MAGAZINE: Summer in the City
Summer is a glorious season in Windsor for residents, and for our Summer 2022 Biz X Magazine column, the Rose City Politics panel opines on what Windsor can do to make summer living better?
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BIZ X MAGAZINE: Here’s what Ontario’s next government should focus on
For June, the Rose City Politics panel opines on the provincial election and what the next government must focus on. The election’s over and it’s time for the government to get to solving the problems. Rose City Politics tells you what the government needs to focus on post-election. There are numerous issues the next government…
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BIZ X MAGAZINE: Windsor’s EV Battery Plant
For May 2022, the Rose Rose City Politics panel opines on the recently announced Stellantis-LG EV battery plant and what it means for Windsor Essex. First 2500 jobs. Now 3200 jobs. The potential of up to 15,000 spinoff jobs. An entirely new supply chain. Economic diversification this is not, but it is great, necessary, and…
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BIZ X MAGAZINE: War on Auto or Bikes?
The snow is melting, and with that comes hidden potholes and an annual conversation: cars versus bikes. Rose City Politics dives into the war on cars…or bikes. Jon Liedtke: Cars Rule & Bikes Drool! Or is it Bikes Rule & Cars Drool? Oh the annual conversation, so tired, so outdated, so BORING. We all want…
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BIZ X MAGAZINE: Windsor’s Council Compensation Review Committee
The City of Windsor’s Council Compensation Review Committee reviews remuneration/compensation and benefits paid to the Mayor and City Councillors, as well as equipment and staffing resources, with a mandate to make recommendations which would come into effect January 1, 2023 for the new term of Council. Rose City Politics dives into city councillor and mayor…
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AM800 CKLW: Morning Drive – Ambassador Bridge Blockade
Jon Liedtke is an On-Air Fill-In Host at AM800 CKLW and provides commentary and opinion about the latest news of the day.
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BIZ X MAGAZINE: 2021 City Council Report Card
The year is 2022. The next municipal election in Windsor is scheduled for October 24. Do you know what your elected representatives’ grades are? In this piece the Rose City Politics panel grades our elected representatives on their performance over the past year leading into the next Windsor election. Ward 1: Fred Francis Don Merrifield…
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BIZ X MAGAZINE: Festival Plaza Development and Completion
For November and December, the Rose Rose City Politics panel opines on the proposed redevelopment and completion of the riverfront festival plaza: Finish the damn plaza. For those who know me, it shouldn’t come as a surprise I support finishing festival plaza as presented, complete with translucent canopy and all. My parents Sheryl Davies and…
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BIZ X MAGAZINE: How should Windsor prepare for population growth projected by StatCan?
For September 2021, the Rose Rose City Politics panel answers “How should Windsor prepare for population growth as projected by Statistics Canada?”: With up to 35 per cent population growth projected for both Windsor and Essex County over the next 25 years by the Ontario Ministry of Finance, Windsor needs to deal with being a…
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AM800: DAN MACDONALD: CITY WAITING ON HEALTH CANADA TO ADDRESS BACKYARD CANNABIS GROW ODOURS
Am800’s Dan MacDonald invited Jon Liedtke to join him on The Dan MacDonald show to discuss the City of Windsor holding back on whether to address backyard cannabis smell concerns following a Health Canada pubic input period.
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BIZ X MAGAZINE: What Can and Should the Municipal Government do Post-Covid19?
here are many different strategies that governments of all levels will take to deal with the impacts of Covid-19. Windsor City Council is tasked with coming up with a strategy for all Windsorites.
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AM800: Dan MacDonald Show: COLORADO JUST PASSED A SLEW OF GROUNDBREAKING DRUG REFORM LAWS
COLORADO JUST PASSED A SLEW OF GROUNDBREAKING DRUG REFORM LAWS. Is this where Ontario is heading?
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BIZ X MAGAZINE: The City of Windsor New Economic Diversification Strategy
For March 2021, the Rose Rose City Politics panel opines on the Windsor City Council endorsement of the Public First report on economic diversification, with recommendations to come from administration on implementation. The City of Windsor has seen many economic diversification strategies over the years and the Rose City Politics panel (each in their own…
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BIZ X MAGAZINE: COVID-19 & the 2021 City of Windsor budget
This month, the Rose City Politics panel is considering how the City of Windsor should address the costs imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic in its 2021 budget. The year 2020 brought with it unexpected municipal expenses and revenue shortfalls and the Rose City Politics panel breaks down the situation.
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AM800: The Dan MacDonald Show – Roundtable Friday
AM800 CKLW’s The Dan MacDonald Show Friday Roundtable with Ward 3 Councillor Rino Bortolin, Wetech CEO Yvonne Pilon, and Jon Liedtke
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AM800: Dan MacDonald Show: Ontario Cannabis Lounge Consultations
Jon Liedtke joins Dan MacDonald to talk about Ontario government cannabis lounge consultations which could allow onsite cannabis edible sale & consumption.
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Rose City Politics: 2020 Episode 1: A New Host
Tonight on the show, we welcome our new panelist, Jon Liedtke! We get to know his background in politics and then jump into a discussion on the last decade in Windsor. From there, news du jour on collecting DNA at the border and new business investments in the core. Listen to “2020 Episode I: A…
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AM800 CKLW: The Afternoon News – Windsor Is Getting a Pot Shop
An applicant for a proposed store at 545 Ouellette Avenue has been selected in the provincial lottery. Jon Liedtke, former owner of Higher Limits, gives his thoughts on the decision.
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WINDSOR INDEPENDENT: Clarifying Canadian Pot Policy
Trudeau’s government announced on 420 they will legalize cannabis, and considering this, it made sense to explain summarize where cannabis policy stands in Canada.
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WINDSOR INDEPENDENT: HOLDING THE LINE
The 1% megahospital levy has been approved and Jon Liedtke says it’s time Windsor gets a state-of-the-art hospital, and the location can prompt more regionalism.
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WINDSOR INDEPENDENT: REEFER MADNESS
Jon Liedtke, owner of Higher Limits, offers his thoughts on the Smoke Free Ontario Act and its assault on the rights of medical marijuana users
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Windsor Star: Liberals discriminate against marijuana users
Jon Liedtke – Guest Column – Windsor Star “These proposals are arbitrary, discriminatory, and serve only to intentionally harm and forcibly segregate some of the most vulnerable and protected members of society.” Jon Liedtke, co-owner of Higher Limits – Canada’s largest & Windsor’s first – cannabis lounge writes as a guest contributor to the Windsor…
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WINDSOR INDEPENDENT: THINGS ARE DONE A BIT DIFFERENT IN HALIFAX
Jon Liedtke set up an unprompted one-on-one interview with the mayor of Halifax, Michael Savage, to discuss Halifax, its economy, and politics.
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WINDSOR INDEPENDENT: VOTING YES TO SADDLE DEBT ON FUTURE STUDENTS TO FINANCE FUTURE ARENA WRONG
Students should vote no on an unfair sports & recreation complex referendum designed to impact future students.
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The Urbanite: Uber cab competition
The City of Windsor needs to allow more competition in the cab industry argues Jon Liedtke of The Urbanite.
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The Urbanite: NEW COUNCIL, NEW CITY
The 2014 Windsor election is over. Thank God.
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The Urbanite: Vote now, vote then, as long as you vote!
The 2014 Windsor election is fast approaching, and if you haven’t voted yet in advance polls, I urge you to vote on Oct. 27.
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The Urbanite: Allegations, insults fly as candidates enter final stretch of election campaigning
With the 2014 Windsor election approaching, allegations and insults are flying in the final stretch of the campaign.
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The Urbanite: More women needed in politics
Something needs to change because there aren’t nearly enough women – let alone residents – seeking representation at the municipal level.
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The Urbanite: JUDGE COUNCIL CANDIDATES NOW – YOU’LL BE STUCK WITH THEM FOR FOUR YEARS
It’s the time to judge Windsor municipal election council candidates. Following the election, no amount of judging affects the makeup or composition of council, short of a judgement rendering criminal charges.
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The Urbanite: Full-Time or Part-Time Councillors?
Windsor’s city councillors are classified as part-time and Jon Liedtke says its time to make the role full-time.
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The Urbanite: Windsor: A city of opportunity if you get to work
To the local naysayers who say Windsor can’t achieve greatness, just shut the hell up and let those of us who want to champion and grow the city do so.
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The Urbanite: Alternative transit is broken in Windsor
Until our politicians and council candidates understand that residents want better infrastructure for alternative transit it’ll never arrive.
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The Urbanite: WINDSOR NEEDS A REAL TRANSIT SYSTEM
It’s time to rethink transit. It’s time to read our municipal planning priorities. It’s time to admit that transit in Windsor isn’t working as it should be.
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The Urbanite: REVIEW: DEF3 – WILDLIF3 URBNET
You can tell that Def3, aka Danny Fernandez, spent his childhood travelling the world. His latest release Wildlif3 is a varied and encompassing album in scope, incorporating different musical styles, themes and nuances throughout this Canadian hip-hop album.
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The Urbanite: YELLING AT WINDSOR
Windsorites should be screaming. Screaming from rooftops and through open win- dows. Screaming at their neighbours, friends and family.
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The Urbanite: THE ‘DECLINE YOUR VOTE’ EFFECT
The election is over. The Liberals earned a majority government, Hudak is out, Windsor lost representation, but we haven’t discussed the outcome of the grassroots Decline Your Vote campaign.
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The Urbanite: Voting for Dummies: The ease of voting and the ‘dirty little secret of Elections Ontario’
With a looming provincial election scheduled for June 12, the time has come again for empowered citizens to promptly ignore their civic duty.
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The Urbanite: BREAK OUT THE PIRACY POPCORN
Consumers want choice and simplicity, and much like the free market necessitates that business cut costs to increase profit, so to do consumers cut costs and will always seek the lowest cost for goods… in this case free.
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The Urbanite: LCBO; CODDLE WITHOUT THE BOTTLE
OPINION: If we’re going to be treated like babies in a nanny state, at least give us our bottles.
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The Urbanite: WHERE ARE ALL THE ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATES?
With the entry of a third candidate into the mayoral foray, residents are left questioning just where the establishment candidates are for this fall’s municipal election.
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The Urbanite: WILLISTEAD PARK OPPOSITION UNWARRENTED
Windsor City Council will decide whether to install a 10-foot wide accessible pathway throughout Willistead Park at the recommendation of the Windsor Accessibility Committee and city administration and there is opposition.
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The Urbanite: REVIEW: Crazy Town: The Rob Ford Story
Jon Liedtke reviews CRAZY TOWN: The Rob Ford Story by Robyn Doolittle for The Urbanite.
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The Urbanite: Voting none of the above as a legitimate political choice
TO VOTE, OR NOT TO VOTE? THERE IS ANOTHER OPTION Voting none of the above is a valid method to voice displeasure with the candidates and actively participate in democracy.
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The Urbanite: WINDSOR DESERVES DOWNTOWN LAW BUILDING
In one swift motion, what could have been the finishing touches on the transformation and revitalization of the downtown core – the redevelopment and repurposing of the Paul Martin building – was effectively killed without warning and what could be argued in bad faith.
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The Urbanite: Better Luck Next Year?
The end of the year has arrived and with it comes a fresh opportunity to put our collective houses in order, and make no mistake, our houses are quite messy and in dire need of being put in order.
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The Urbanite: The Totality of Recall
Jon Liedtke writes about the merits and pitfalls of recall legislation for elected officials.
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The Windsor Star: Protecting The Lance
Windsor StarApril 11, 2013Guest Column: Jon Liedtke The Lance, the University of Windsor’s student newspaper, the second largest in the city and the only weekly newspaper in the city, was forced to immediately suspend print operations by the outgoing University of Windsor Students’ Alliance board of directors in a lame duck session. The board claims…
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UWindsor Lance: Harper Government muzzles public servants
The Harper government has been muzzling scientists in many federal institutions, and the issues has come to the forefront again with recently passed new federal regulations.
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UWindsor Lance: do you concur? Selling it with Sex
“If your product is any good, you don’t need sexism to sell it.” This quote slipped into my mind as I was driving down Walker Road and saw a new billboard for radio station The Rock.
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UWindsor Lance: Do you concur? Flash mobs were a flash in the pan; let them die
CAN WE STOP IT WITH ALL THE FLASHMOB RECREATIONS OF VIRAL VIDEOS?
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UWindsor Lance: Kinder Surprise for Girls?
Kinder Surprise has launched a line of products solely for girls, adding to the plethora of gender-based products.
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UWindsor Lance: “So this is how liberty dies…with thunderous applause”
Michigan Governor Snyder announced last week that Detroit was in financial emergency and that he would appoint an emergency manager to have ultimate authority over the fiscal affairs of the state for the next 18 months.
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UWindsor Lance: New pub should be on campus
Here is my plea to the UWSA: don’t spend $600,000 off campus before looking into on campus opportunities. Also, maybe spend a bit less than $600,000?
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UWindsor Lance: Forced birth control crosses many lines
Israel has admitted that it had been giving female Ethiopian Jewish immigrants birth control injections without informing them as to what the injections were for, and often the shots were administered without the knowledge or consent of the women.
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UWindsor Lance: Making Ontario Political History
In choosing Kathleen Wynne over Sandra Pupatello, not only did Ontario Liberal Party delegates send the first female premier to Queen’s Park, they also elected the first openly gay politician one to lead the province’s legislature as well.
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UWindsor Lance: do you concur? Student Sex Party
Promoting safe sex is of the utmost importance and it should be done so in a professional and engaging way. Promoting sex itself is something that should not be undertaken by a student association.
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UWindsor Lance: What in the Hell was Rosie DiManno thinking?
Toronto Star columnist Rosie DiManno sensationalized a gruesome sexual assault trial involving 20 different women and was condemned internationally. Jon Liedtke offers his thoughts.
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UWindsor Lance: Do You Concur? Corporate X-mas struggles to put out fire
A fire at the Tazreen Fashions Ltd. factory in Bangladesh caused 112 deaths. It is disheartening and disgusting that while we have great safety standards, the majority of our purchases come from countries that do not.
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UWindsor Lance: Festivus for the rest of us
If you’re offended by somebody saying, ‘Happy Holidays’ that’s fine, but it doesn’t mean that there is a “War on Christmas”. Cheer up, enjoy the season and…Happy Holidays!
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UWindsor Lance: The never-ending story of Barry Holmes
Disgraced former Windsor Public Library CEO Barry Holmes used a corporate credit card at his past job for personal purchases before doing the same in Windsor.
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UWindsor Lance: Competition, the reason for the season
There’s debate over whether Windsor needs a second Santa Claus parade. Jon Liedtke says bring on more parades because the season is about the Three C’s of Christmas: capitalism, competition, and the Claus.
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UWindsor Lance: Canadian enthusiasm towards the election
Canadian interest in the 2012 USA presidential was impressive, but Canucks should pay more attention to our politics than America’s.
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UWindsor Lance: Scare the Public into Eating Healthy
How to deal with obesity levels is a question being levied upon governments of all size and type. The question is more pressing to governments which provide a publicly funded healthcare system as the burden to provide support for the obese falls on all taxpaying citizens.
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UWindsor Lance: Going (pro) rogue
Just when the furor over Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s double prorogation had died down, McGuinty decided to employ the very same tactic to maintain control of a political situation before it devolved into scandal.
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UWindsor Lance: Nobel Peace Prize awarded to EU; hilarity ensues
The fact that the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to the European is an affront to common sense. Having said this, it is essential to remember that we live not in a world where words have meanings, but rather, in a world in which words can be appropriated for specific purposes and definitions can…
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UWindsor Lance: MP Anders not shy to controversy
A quick trip over to Rob Anders Wikipedia page will reveal that there is an entire section dedicated to controversies surrounding the Conservative Calgary West MP.
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UWindsor Lance: Culture in the Core
Every Windsorite should experience the newly renovated Capitol Theatre and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.
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UWindsor Lance: a Geography Lesson with Rob Ford
Did you hear that one about Rob Ford and a bunch of pissed off Windsorites? Toronto’s mayor demonstrates he doesn’t know where Windsor is.
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UWindsor Lance: To Orr is Human
UWSA president Kim Orr was accused of pocketing funds at a musical event, but the facts are murky. Where does the truth lie?
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UWindsor Lance: Banned from City Hall
It’s been revealed that 64 residents are currently barred from entering both city hall and the adjacent 400 building. Based on media reports, it seems administration view these individuals as either a nuisance or serious threat. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.
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UWindsor Lance: Waving the Flags of Special Interest Groups
If the city allows one group to fly a flag at City Hall should they allow another? Are all flags allowed, or is there a line? Who makes these decisions? It’s easier to just stick with official flags of government.
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UWindsor Lance: What the Hell is going on at the Olympics?
Nationalism has played key role in controversy surrounding the 2012 London Olympics and Jon Liedtke opines on why.
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UWindsor Lance: marketing alcoholism; will eight be enough?
What is controversial about the Beer Store bringing back the carry cases (aside from the fact they are not environmentally friendly and Increase waste), is that it is advertised on the main panel, “Will 8 Be Enough?”
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UWindsor Lance: Is this the end of the Catholic School Board?
One of the greatest inequities perpetuated by the Ontario government is the public funding of the Catholic school system, argues Jon Liedtke.
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UWindsor Lance: Pack in the Cigarette Pack Warnings
OPINION: Cigarette package warning labels aren’t effective at lowering smoking rates and the government should let private businesses determine their own packaging.
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UWindsor Lance: Anti-protest legislation: Just when is enough, enough?
The right to protest is enshrined in the Charter, but what happens when government decides that continued dissent is no longer acceptable?
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UWindsor Lance: Was Maghnieh a good man who made a terrible mistake?
Ward 10 city councillor Al Maghnieh is not resigning after improperly using his Windsor Public Library credit card for personal expenses. Jon Liedtke asks if he was a good man who made a terrible mistake.
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ourWindsor.ca: Opinion: My first encounter with the ‘Windsor Hum’
Jon Liedtke opines on the Windsor Hum for ourWindsor.ca.
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UWindsor Lance: The Evolution of a Political Scandal
Windsor City Councillor Al Maghneigh has found himself in a political scandal after using a Windsor Public Library credit card for personal expenses.
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ourWindsor.ca: Opinion: Telephone town hall participation inspiring
Jon Liedtke opines on The Windsor Hum telephone townhall for ourWindsor.ca