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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, O ct ob er 22 ,2 02 0 | 6 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 70 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the news- paper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca newsroom@theifp.ca IndependentAndFreePress @IFP_11 WHO WE ARE Publisher Kelly Montague Regional Managing Editor Catherine O'Hara Managing Editor Karen Miceli Distribution Representative Iouliana Polar Real Estate Kristie Pells Regional Production Manager Manuel Garcia Halton Media General Manager Jason Pehora CONTACT US The Independent & Free Press 280 Guelph Street, Unit 77 Georgetown, ON L7G 4B1 Phone: 905-873-0301 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Fax: 905-873-0398 Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at theifp.ca Delivery For all delivery inquiries, please e-mail lpolar@miltoncanadianchampion.com or call 905-234-1019. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT THEIFP.CA The government came to office telling the world "Canada is back." But, the facts say otherwise. Canada lost the vote for the UN Security Council seat last June. It got 108 votes, six votes fewer than Canada got a decade earli- er. That is six fewer coun- tries today that see Canada as a leader on the world stage than a decade ago. That is a quantitative in- dictment of the govern- ment's foreign policy. Canada's foreign policy is inconsistent. For exam- ple, China is not upholding its responsibility to the rules-based international system. It is ignoring its condition of entry into the World Trade Organization. It interferes through its state-owned enterprises. It infringes on intellectu- al property, and engages in cyberwarfare. It violates human rights and interna- tional treaties, in its treat- ment of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, the Uighurs, Tibetans and the people of Hong Kong. In short, it is threatening our interests and values. In that context, it is real- ly important the govern- ment speak with a consis- tent, coherent voice. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be happen- ing. In July, the foreign af- fairs minister told Parlia- ment that he was looking at sanctions on Chinese offi- cials, and a day later, the government told Reuters that is off the table. Just three weeks ago, the foreign affairs minister told the Globe and Mail trade talks with China were off the table, the same day Am- bassador Dominic Barton said that we should expand trade and do more in China. These are some of many examples. The government ac- knowledges its China poli- cy is broken. That is why it is supposed to come for- ward this fall with a new framework. In a turbulent and chaot- ic world, Canada needs to do a better job of defending our nation's interest and values. Michael Chong is the MP for Wellington-Halton Hills, and the shadow minister of democratic institutions for the official opposition. He can be reached at Michael.chong.a3@parl.gc.ca. GOVERNMENT'S FOREIGN POLICY DISAPPOINTING A BETTER JOB IS NEEDED IN DEFENDING OUR COUNTRY'S INTERESTS AND VALUES, WRITES MICHAEL CHONG Deferred costs, such as mortgage payments, and billions of federal support, have camouflaged our fi- nancial weakness and the dangers of staggering amounts of debt. Debt is good and debt can be dangerously bad. That is an issue that affects us all. The magic of debt can be every consumer's dream. Without any savings, sud- denly the possibility of a new car, house renovations or a special vacation be- come a reality. Rock-bottom interest rates are just too enticing. Unfortunately, there is a problem. Debt has to be re- paid. Plus, interest pay- ments can add up even dur- ing this period of low inter- est rates. The lethal combination of too much debt during the COVID-19 pandemic will inflict pain on millions of Canadians. Recently, we have had a brief but misleading re- prieve from the dangers of debt. Statistics Canada re- ported a significant de- crease in household debt. The true picture is that of pending difficult finan- cial times for many. House- hold debt declined because people were allowed to de- fer mortgage payments, property taxes and rent. Add in the billions of dollars provided by the fed- eral government in various subsidies just means we have been in the eye of the storm. The government cannot keep this level of financial support forever. Plus, vari- ous deferred payments will have to be made. People will reduce or eliminate some of the spending they have histor- ically done. Many busi- nesses will fail. Consumer spending ac- counts for approximately 60 per cent of the Canadian economy. When consumer spending declines, the economy will suffer. We as a country and as individuals have a lot of very tough financial deci- sions to make. Peter Watson, of Watson Investments MBA, CFP®, R.F.P., CIM®, FCSI offers a weekly financial plan- ning column, Dollars & Sense. He can be contacted through www.watsonin- vestments.com. DEBT LEVELS DANGEROUSLY HIGH DEFERRING PAYMENTS OF THIS AMOUNT IS A RISK FOR US ALL, WRITES PETER WATSON PETER WATSON Column A hummingbird visits a local backyard. Do you have a great local photo you'd like to share? Send it to sleblanc@metroland.com, along with a brief description. Tony Fortunato photo SNAPSHOT MICHAEL CHONG Column SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT THEIFP.CA