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The Soapbox

A rotating stable of community members share their thoughts on anything and everything, the only criteria being that it be thought-provoking. Got something on your mind to share with readers in Greater Sudbury? Climb aboard our Soapbox and have your say. Send material or pitches to [email protected].  

The Soapbox: Forget sunshine, we need a Shoeshine List

The Soapbox: Forget sunshine, we need a Shoeshine List

The ‘petty intent’ of the Sunshine List, says writer D’Arcy Closs, is to anger the public against public servants — he thinks it’s time to re-focus the yearly report 
The Soapbox: Sudbury Arena and a nod to Sesame Street

The Soapbox: Sudbury Arena and a nod to Sesame Street

Greater Sudbury needs an arena and a city council willing to put politics aside — and put it downtown
The Soapbox: Here’s a 7-point plan to save Ontario’s moose

The Soapbox: Here’s a 7-point plan to save Ontario’s moose

Retired moose biologist Alan Bisset has spent the past 18 months chronicling the reasons Ontario’s moose population continues to decline and offered the province a seven-point plan on how to fix the situation
The Soapbox: Angered that outfitters get so many moose tags

The Soapbox: Angered that outfitters get so many moose tags

The playing field used to be more level that is until it seems the Ontario Moose-Bear Allocation Advisory Committee was overtaken by outfitters
The Soapbox: It’s about time we give booters the boot

The Soapbox: It’s about time we give booters the boot

Sudburian D’Arcy Closs was irritated to find a boot on the wheel of his car, but he was downright angry at being forced to pay $140 to have it removed
The Soapbox: It’s high time we fix cannabis shopping experience

The Soapbox: It’s high time we fix cannabis shopping experience

For all their sameness, LCBO outlets offer a familiar, welcoming and attractive shopping experience, so why, if it is no longer illegal, are cannabis shoppers made to feel like we’re doing something wrong
The Soapbox: Are seniors the new political football?

The Soapbox: Are seniors the new political football?

Successive provincial governments have blamed doctors, then nurses, then hospitals for the rising cost of health care. Now, it seems, they’re taking aim at senior citizens
The Soapbox: Human health is at the mercy of fossil fuels

The Soapbox: Human health is at the mercy of fossil fuels

‘Climate change impacts human health in a variety of ways. It threatens the essential ingredients of good health: clean air, safe drinking water, nutritious food supply and safe shelter. All of these components are being threatened right now and worsening for much of the world’
The Soapbox: The problem with mandatory reporting of hunter info

The Soapbox: The problem with mandatory reporting of hunter info

For the sake of the resource, hunters should be willing and enthusiastic about sharing information on their yearly hunts with the province, but the provincial move to force hunters to do that lest they be fined, is just another way to encourage the collection of bad information
The Soapbox: ‘Tis the Season … to be nice to retail workers

The Soapbox: ‘Tis the Season … to be nice to retail workers

Writer D’Arcy Closs says the Christmas season brings out the worst in some shoppers, so have a care for the folks in the stores who are helping you find that perfect gift