Patrick Raftis

Ontario

Senior Reporter at Fergus Wellington Advertiser

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Articles

Strong mayors, weak idea

1 week ago | midwesternnewspapers.com | Patrick Raftis

Numerous heads of council in this region are poised to receive “strong mayor” powers under a proposal put forward last week by the provincial government. The initial reaction from local reeves and mayors has ranged from confusion to outright rejection. “I was totally caught off guard,” said North Huron Reeve Paul Heffer. “I do not…To access this post, you must purchase Digital Subscription - Monthly or Digital Subscription - Yearly.
A critical choice

3 weeks ago | midwesternnewspapers.com | Patrick Raftis

Up for another election? It seems like we barely got MPPs sworn in following the most recent provincial election before federal campaigners were unleashed on the hustings. Unlike the entirely unnecessary provincial vote we just endured, this federal polling was pretty much inevitable, given the resignation of the previous prime minister and the collapse of…To access this post, you must purchase Digital Subscription - Monthly or Digital Subscription - Yearly.
PM’s concern for Canadians was always evident

1 month ago | midwesternnewspapers.com | Patrick Raftis

Aside from a few ceremonial details, the Justin Trudeau era is officially over. With the weekend election, by an unquestionable margin, of Mark Carney as their new leader, the Liberal Party has moved on from a prime minster who presided over one of the most controversy-filled political tenures since his father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau held…To access this post, you must purchase Digital Subscription - Monthly or Digital Subscription - Yearly.
What was the point?

1 month ago | midwesternnewspapers.com | Patrick Raftis |Listowel Banner |Walkerton Herald-Times

So what did that accomplish? Now that the dust settled from the Feb. 27 provincial election, we are left with the totally predictable result of a re-elected Progressive Conservative government with a similar-sized majority and the NDP back as official opposition, one seat shy of their count from 2022 (27, rather than 28). Pretty much…To access this post, you must purchase Digital Subscription - Monthly or Digital Subscription - Yearly.
Atwood Lions host Rink Fest

1 month ago | midwesternnewspapers.com | Patrick Raftis

ATWOOD – The Atwood Lions Club hosted a Rink Fest on the Lions outdoor ice rink on Feb. 22. The event included ice time, games and a food booth. To access this post, you must purchase Digital Subscription - Monthly or Digital Subscription - Yearly. Gain full access by subscribing - Subscribe NowAlready a member? Please login to get full access.
Decision time is here

1 month ago | midwesternnewspapers.com | Patrick Raftis

The time for campaigning is over and it’s up to Ontarians to decide. With this paper slated to arrive on newsstands and at mailboxes on voting day, Midwestern Newspapers won’t be able to provide results, reaction and insight in print until next week, but residents of local ridings are encouraged to watch our website and…To access this post, you must purchase Digital Subscription - Monthly or Digital Subscription - Yearly.
North Perth dairy barn has roof partially collapse

1 month ago | midwesternnewspapers.com | Patrick Raftis

NORTH PERTH – The roof of a dairy barn located on Perth Rd. 146, between Line 88 and Line 89 partially collapsed at approximately 6 a.m., on Feb. 25, Perth County OPP confirmed to the Banner. One individual who was inside the structure at the time suffered serious injuries. Animals were injured as a result…To access this post, you must purchase Digital Subscription - Monthly or Digital Subscription - Yearly.
Coldest Night of the Year walk ‘crushed’ fundraising goal

1 month ago | wellingtonadvertiser.com | Patrick Raftis

HARRISTON – The first Coldest Night of the Year walk in northern Wellington was warmly received, more than doubling organizers’ initial fundraising goal. “With the generosity of everyone in this room, we have crushed our goal of $20,000,” Allyssandra Kent, executive director of the Community Resource Centre (CRC) of North Wellington and Centre Wellington, told participants and volunteers at the Harriston-Minto Community Complex on Feb. 22.
Six candidates vie for Huron-Bruce provincial riding seat

2 months ago | midwesternnewspapers.com | Patrick Raftis |Walkerton Herald-Times

HURON-BRUCE – Ontario voters are headed to the polls for a provincial election on Feb. 27. With the Feb. 13 deadline for filing nomination papers now past, voters in Huron-Bruce will have a six-candidate field to choose from when they mark their ballot. Lisa Thompson, Progressive Conservative Incumbent MPP Lisa Thompson is currently the Minister…To access this post, you must purchase Digital Subscription - Monthly or Digital Subscription - Yearly.
An entirely senseless provincial election campaign

2 months ago | midwesternnewspapers.com | Patrick Raftis |Listowel Banner |Walkerton Herald-Times

I must confess that when most recent spate of elections was finished (federal in 2021, municipal and provincial in 2022), I did some math on my personal chronological state and likely future ballot dates and pondered the possibility I had done my last tour through the land of broken promises as a journalist. And yet,…To access this post, you must purchase Digital Subscription - Monthly or Digital Subscription - Yearly.