Lunch out – Smiths Falls

We were out, Shopping for a new TV stand. Lordie, I hate shopping! I've made do for now, until we find something we want.


We passed this house in Smiths Falls. I am always shocked seeing the Confederate Flag, especially in Canada. I don't know if they either don't understand the roots of this flag or don't care. That said, we live in the Back Off Government capital of Ontario. who are we to talk?!

   

We were window shopping in Smiths Falls, and I was getting the hangries! (Grumpy and hungry.)
Another lunch out, thankfully, all I'd had was a piece of toast at 8:00. By now, it was 1:30.

 This is a newly renovated "gastro pub."  It used to be Coffee Culture, and opened in November, I believe. I love these older buildings, they have character and presence. It was a comfortable atmosphere. Smiths Falls is changing it up, what with the influx of residents and jobs from Tweed, the marijuana plant in the old Hershey factory!

Axe and Arrow

I'd done a workout that morning. It was yummy, and guilt-free. I had an elk burger. This shopping stuff is hard work. The salad had a lovely, light dressing.


The decor is interesting. In the restroom hallway, several axes are up on the wall. In the women's washroom, some amazing photos of women standing around in the bush, perhaps in the 1930s or 40s, holding axes. I like the bricks.


The roads were quite dry and bare. Thankfully. The fields are full of melted and refrozen snow water. We've gone from 8˚ C. last Thursday, to -1˚.



We visited Dan Peter's auction house,looking for a used TV stand, but they are only selling online, now. Who knew? The driveway was quite a bumpy mess! Rural life in the springtime.


We looked at having lunch at Rob Roy's in the hotel, but might save it for a summer's day. Inside was dark, and we weren't approached by a server at all, walking through the pub. The patio looks terrific.


Smiths Falls is an interesting town. They are contemplating switching parking from parallel to straight on. It's quite a debate, apparently.


I love this small property. It's enough to keep a boat and a little shed, like this. Water access would be wonderful. It was selling for $9000 , but I cannot find it online anymore. The house across the street is for sale for $579,900. I'll bet they are part of the same original farm property.


Parking and walking is a bit tricky in Perth! We headed there to look at a couple of pieces. This is due to the snowfall/thaw/freeze!

Our driveway looks better! A lot less ice. I can tell spring is coming from all the photos of people on the beach, and bloggers to the south and across the pond bragging celebrating their migratory birds returning. It's just too cold here. Don't come yet, birdies! There are no bugs.
We have a canal where the driveway had been melting and draining. It's an ice rink. We must be patient.

Public discusses hopes, concerns for Algonquin land deal

Sometimes it is embarrassing, admitting the Randy Hillier is our Member of Provincial Parliament. To his credit, he held a meeting to discuss the ramifications of the current Algonquin Land Claims. To his discredit, he open by saying he'll call the First Nations 'Indians.'


While Hillier expressed what the meeting was not about, he admitted difficulty in deciding how to address the First Nations community. "I will use the word Indians, out of respect for Indians, because they deserve respect," said Hillier. "I don't know the proper name for them." 
Totally disingenuous. If a sitting MPP doesn't know what to call First Nations, he is stupid. And we know that ignorance is not knowing. Stupidity is the active pursuit of ignorance.

Since Lanark County is the Back Off Government capital of Canada, I believe he was trying to put himself on the side of those landowners and hunters who have hunted, clear cut and polluted lands in this region for nearly 200 years (1816) and continue to want to do so at the peril of flora and fauna.

Very few brave folks spoke out about the land claims. I thought of attending, but figured Hillier would be speaking to his friends, the extremist hunters and landowners.

"People's lands were taken," said Elizabeth Snyder. "For nearly 300 years, that has not been addressed. That's a long time to be on other people's land, rent free." 
Snyder also expressed her view that the Algonquin's demands were reasonable. 
"We have gotten off quite lightly," Snyder said. "They could have asked for more. We are trying to right a wrong. This is a good step." 

Lanark County
Back Off Government capital

"We cannot undo history," said Hillier in reply. "What we have done in the past has not worked," he added, referring particularly to collective land ownership to be found on reservations, for example. 

Truthfully, we haven't done anything except avoid settling the issue and costing taxpayers and First Nations much in the way of lawyer's fees. Hillier, who attempted to avoid paying property taxes while earning an MPPs salary of over $100,000 per year.

Most at the meeting, so Desmond Devoy implied, are more concerned about their land rights. It is high time that we settle this terrible issue and right the wrongs perpetrated on a people that took care of us in the early days when Whites invaded a difficult land. My grandmother told stories of Native Peoples who helped her family in the early days of settlement here.

Shame, Randy Hillier.

NEWS items:

• Algonquin reach draft land claim deal in eastern Ontario
• Quebec Algonquins question Ontario land claim
• Public discusses hopes, concerns for land deal

Posted Feb 7, 2013 By Desmond Devoy

EMC News - Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington MPP Randy Hillier hosted an information session on the Algonquin land claim agreement in principle at the Royal Canadian Legion hall on Tuesday, Jan. 29, and he was quick to state what the evening was not about. 

"It's not about Idle No More. It's not about Attawapiskat. It's not about Caledonia. It's not about the millions spent on the Indian Act," said Hillier. 

• Algonquin Land Claim

www.aboriginalaffairs.gov.on.ca › Home › Land Claims

Anyone with legal interests who may be affected by this claim’s proposed land selections is being notified and offered an opportunity to meet with representatives of Ontario. Maps are in PDF.

• Executive Summary, Chapter Summaries and Frequently Asked Questions
• “Preliminary Draft Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement in Principle December 2012”

• When will Hudak MPP, Randy Hillier pay his taxes?

Sept., 2011

Public court documents reveal the CRA has gone to the extraordinary step of placing two separate liens totally $14,880 on the property Hillier owns with his wife. 

• Smiths Falls men fined $3,900 for hunting offences

www.emcsmithsfalls.ca/.../Smiths+Falls+men+fined+$3,900+fo...

1 day ago – EMC News - EMC News - Two Smiths Falls men have been convicted of multiple hunting offences and fined a total of $3,900.

Nicholas James William Kelford pleaded guilty to six charges, including illegally hunting ducks, Canada geese and white-tailed deer during the closed season, illegally transporting and possessing white-tailed deer, allowing hunted game to become unsuitable for human consumption, abandoning hunted game, and hunting beaver without a licence. Kelford was fined $2,900 and is banned from hunting for two years.

William Jared Witham pleaded guilty to hunting white-tailed deer during the closed season and to illegally transporting white-tailed deer. Witham was fined $1,000 and is banned from hunting for one year.