New Year's Editorial

If there was any doubt that 2026 will be a year of uncertainty, it was erased last week by the actions of the US military in Venezuela.

Aside from all the political implications, which were the subject of an alarming editorial in the Globe and Mail this past Sunday, there are economic implications for Canada. As we have seen already, these national and international events filter slowly into our local economy, but when they do, they have long term implications for our families and businesses.

We know what has happened to food prices, which hurts not only consumers but the local grocers, who are major employers in our communities, as well.

Food bank usage continues to rise, stressing volunteers as it does.

A cold early winter, which has not happened in years, is increasing heating costs.

The net result of all this, is that the post-Covid local economic boom in our region, which has been buoyed by new residents buying up local properties and moving to the region, is giving way to a harsher reality for residents and businesses alike.

The future is not bleak in our area by any means, and the cold and snow that has already come (and will not melt away too much this weekend we hope) is setting up for the first good winter of snow-shoeing, skiing, snow-mobiling, skating and ice fishing in a decade.

Local institutions, such as the Lions Clubs, are on the upswing however, and new kinds of community connections are being developed all the time.

For all of its flaws, social media groups are effective, as new residents forge new connections, and we see new micro businesses cropping up everywhere.

The role of the Frontenac News is changing as well, and we continue to work on updating our websites while doubling down on our commitment to cut through the noise that comes with the Internet, by delivering a paper version to your door each week, for the benefit of readers and advertisers alike.

2026 is a municipal election year. Ourour coverage begins next week, and will continue all year long, as candidates step forward. In September and October we will provide candidate profiles and we will hold all candidates meetings as well.

But before then we will frame the issues for our readers all year long.

As is our custom in the first edition of the year, we are asking readers who can afford it, to support us with voluntary subscriptions. We are happy for any contribution, and we also calculate the cost of delivering 50 papers a year, to each household, to provide a context.

That figure is up to $40 per household now, due to increases in printing and mailing costs over the past year.

There are a slew of causes locally, regionally, and around the globe that deserve and need all of our support, dwarfing the needs of the Frontenac News.

But we do appreciate the support we receive as voluntary payment for a free (to readers) news service, in an increasingly unreliable information environment.

We accept email transfers ([email protected]) cash, cheques, and credit cards.