Tag: canada

Celebrate with Mother’s Day Brunch and Dinner Recipes

May 14, 2025

It has never failed. Each year, on Mother’s Day, the same question arises: “What will you do for me?” My response consistently points out I am not your mother; you are my wife. However, as usual, this was not the correct reply, so I offered to prepare breakfast, not just the usual fried egg and toast, but something better.

The children always call on Mother’s Day, but they can’t fix meals at our house since they live thousands of miles away. The first call came at eight; I initially thought it was a prank call. Luckily, I decided to pick up the phone.

After reviewing various recipes, I chose to make Shakshuka by Ottolenghi (and I’m sure I don’t need to describe Ottolenghi to cooking aficionados). This light and refreshing Middle Eastern dish features diced tomatoes, red peppers, and spices like harissa and ground cumin. My son, Tony, mentioned that they served it every morning at the breakfast counter in his hotel when he was in Israel.

Some recipes I read for shakshuka also called for onions, which I like, and I decided to modify Ottolenghi’s recipe and diced up a large onion. After boiling and simmering these ingredients, I cracked the eggs into the dish and cooked for an additional 10 minutes to set them. I served it with pita bread and caffeinated coffee; we drank decaf in the morning. This meal served more as brunch than breakfast, which was good since it took me a while to get everything organized, and it was getting late in the morning. Since the recipe yielded four portions, and we ate them all, we were set for the day.

I must admit, though, that I had help from Kathy. My cooking is slow and tedious, as I prefer to gather all the ingredients on the kitchen table and prepare the food before I start cooking. I diced the peppers and onions (and used a can of diced tomatoes) and mixed the spices and garlic in a small dish before beginning to cook. Kathy became hungry and started cooking with the prepared ingredients.

After indulging in a rather large brunch, we took a long walk to burn some calories. We enjoyed a peaceful stroll along a rail-to-trail path in Stittsville. As is typical for rail-to-trail routes, the walk was straight and flat. On our return, we stopped at my favorite coffee shop, the perfect way to end any walk. Naturally, the next topic of discussion was what to have for dinner.

Feeling inspired, I offered to prepare dinner and suggested fresh salmon steaks. Kathy agreed it was a great idea, so I bought two slabs of Atlantic salmon with the skin on one side at the local fish market. I like to marinate the salmon using a mix of soy sauce, maple syrup, and grainy Dijon mustard, based on a recipe I found on Allrecipes.

I enjoy this recipe – maple glazed salmon – because I can roast vegetables on the same sheet pan as the salmon. This time, I had some cauliflower in the fridge, so I cubed it, tossed it with oil and salt, and baked it for 15 minutes before adding the salmon to the pan. I also bought some Tater Tots and put them on the sheet pan, which drew some criticism from Kathy; she believed frozen French fries were healthier than Tater Tots. They were similar in nutritional value, so I chose the Tater Tots for their appealing cubic shape. To cover all bases, I also cooked a potato in the microwave in case the Tater Tots didn’t meet with acceptance. The dessert consisted of low-fat lemon yogurt topped with blueberries. The dinner was enjoyable, despite the lack of family, a common situation today as families are frequently scattered across North America and globally for many.

Can New Housing Strategies Solve Canada’s Affordable Housing Shortage?

April 26, 2025

With the Canadian federal election only days away, all federal parties have offered plans to tackle the housing shortage and its impact on affordability.

High housing prices, expensive rents, and a shortage of homes are key issues, especially for first-time homebuyers. Unfortunately, there are no simple solutions. The proposals presented by party leaders comprise well-worn ideas that have been around for decades.

While one party wants to double the annual housing construction to 500,000 units, another proposes 3 million units over 5 years—an annual rate of 600,000. According to one study, Canada must construct three million housing units by 2030 to satisfy demand and lower prices. The housing industry has averaged only 250,000 units built annually in recent years.

Canadians’ income levels are tied to affordability. The average salary in Canada is $67,000, while the average home price is $670,000. Salaries can vary based on age, occupation, and other factors, and home prices vary across the country depending on location factors. Historically, housing was affordable when an individual’s income was one-third of the home’s price. Home ownership becomes unattainable for many people today when the home price reaches ten times their annual income.

Despite these challenges, the housing market continues to bubble because of two-income households and help from family members.

We can attribute the current housing crisis to the imbalance between supply and demand. Demand has surged because of a rise in immigration; the government has acknowledged this situation and has implemented measures to reduce the number of immigrants. However, the government has not addressed supply.

The major political parties propose a plethora of ideas to increase supply:

A proposal to establish a new government agency, “Build Canada Homes,” immediately caught my attention. Whoa! I remembered the Ministry of State for Urban Affairs, a government agency established years ago that ran into provincial jurisdiction and was abolished. I worked there and learned the hard way not to interfere with provincial matters. And how long would it take to create a new agency?

One party proposes rent control due to steeply escalating rents, averaging over $2,000. Policymakers in Europe and North America have long discussed and implemented this system. However, it has always resulted in a lack of maintenance and deteriorating buildings. Rent control does not increase the housing supply; it does the opposite, although it benefits long-term rentals. It also leads to “renovictions,” or forcible eviction of people for renovations and the subsequent legal rent increase.

Another proposal is to build “affordable” housing units for homeless individuals, students, low-income families, and indigenous people. When I asked my local councillor to define affordable housing, he could not provide one. Subsidies are necessary to encourage developers to construct units that are not based on market rates.

There are also suggestions for building prefabricated housing, which is less expensive than traditional methods but of lower quality.

Yet another idea is to train more people in the building trades. The shortage of skilled labor is one reason Canada builds only about 250,000 housing units yearly.

People blame the cost and duration of the regulatory process, zoning, and associated standards, such as the building code, for increased costs. There’s a convincing argument for reducing standards to lower expenses, but would Canadians go back to smaller bedrooms and less insulation?

While the proposed solutions have merit, a significant issue remains: Most of these pertain to provincial matters, including planning, zoning, rent control, and building codes, all of which fall under local jurisdictions. Local governments are also responsible for education and training, should a program for skilled trades be established.

Housing inventory can only increase through new land development and the densification of existing urban areas. Since local jurisdictions control these functions, the federal government has limited opportunities to expand the housing stock beyond providing financial resources and taxation strategies, such as reducing the GST for first-time homebuyers (proposals also exist to use vacant federal lands and buildings for “affordable” housing).

Besides the limited availability of land and skilled labor for house construction, the rising cost of materials presents a significant barrier to building affordable housing. This begs the question: Can the federal government regulate the price of construction materials?

Considering the housing problem more broadly revealed added complexities. For example, homelessness is often associated with mental health issues and substance abuse, leading to more complex problems that need specific solutions.

Another complicating factor is that, with low unemployment rates in Canada today, many young people may not see the need to train for skilled trades when they already have jobs. Governments should promote training in skilled trades such as carpentry and plumbing, which offer good pay. Employed people, however, might be reluctant to switch careers.

I’m wary of recycled housing solutions presented as novel ideas. The proposed ideas are not fresh: similar proposals have been made before, and I wonder why these proposals have not been implemented. I believe the emphasis should be on cooperative action at all levels of government and execution rather than just rhetoric.

Eating and Walking: Discovering Wheeler’s Maple Sugar Shack

April 18, 2025

We went to a sugar shack in April this year. April weather is ideal for maple syrup flow, which happens when nighttime temperatures are -5 °C and daytime highs are 5°C (24°F to 40°F). Such weather is a pleasure to walk about, especially in contrast with the much colder weather in February and March.

I enjoy visiting maple sugar farms for their restaurants, which serve delectable pancakes with freshly made maple syrup, sausages, and beans. And post-lunch, I enjoy strolling through the woods and checking out the maple trees’ syrup containers.

We went to Wheeler’s this year for our annual sugar shack trip and pancake feast. The hour-long journey was worthwhile; a sunny day with blue skies followed the snowstorm, leaving the fields white.

Maple sugar shacks now typically require reservations. Despite this, the restaurant had few patrons when we got there. I think the idea is to ensure enough seats if a busload of tourists arrives.

The coffee flowed endlessly at Wheeler’s, and the enormous pancakes were eight inches in diameter. Thinking I was hungry for lunch, I ordered a two-pancake meal with three sausages and a side of beans. It was too much food, so I knew I would need a long walk afterward to burn off the meal. I recalled visiting a different sugar bush where we sampled local beer with friends last year.

We found many trails outside and took the longest, five kilometers long. The snow covered the ground, with some icy patches in places. Only a few people were walking, and the silence in the woods was peaceful, perfect for yoga classes.

The history of this farm is fascinating. Vernon and Judy Wheeler purchased the farm and planted sugar maples, and they, along with their four children, still operate the farm today. It takes thirty years for the trees to be ready for tapping, and they tapped their first trees in 1978. They installed six hundred kilometers of plastic pipes to collect sap from forty thousand trees. Vernon’s local builder helped construct the restaurant using local wood, which opened in 1996. Vernon also wrote a book about the farm’s history, available in the restaurant’s lobby.

The Wheelers keep the farm open year-round for visitors, with the only exception being Christmas Day. Families enjoy exploring the farm during the summer by hiking the grounds, while cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are popular winter activities.

Syrup production involves boiling sap down to a 40:1 ratio. Boiling the sap further makes a sweeter, darker, and thicker syrup. Customers can choose from three grades of syrup, ranging from light to dark, when making their purchases

Previously, people boiled sap outside in large kettles to evaporate the water. Today, however, they use reverse osmosis to produce the syrup. The factory at Wheeler’s is open for inspection and features a large room with advanced equipment. A kitchen and a small shop offering maple syrup items are situated between the appealing post-and-beam restaurant and the factory.

Panels within the plant’s viewing area show information about the maple syrup industry. Canada provides over 80 percent of the global maple syrup supply, 90 percent of which originates from Quebec, and 4 percent from Ontario.

It was an Indigenous child who discovered maple syrup hundreds of years ago by sucking on the icicle of a branch from a maple tree. The sugary taste was delightful, a treat Indigenous people quickly learned to harvest. It took about a hundred years for them to develop the method of boiling the sap to create today’s sweet syrup.

The two museums on Wheeler’s farm are possibly the most interesting part. One museum displays hundreds of maple syrup artifacts, the other shows Mr. Wheeler’s extensive chainsaw collection. The chainsaw collection amazed me; there are over four hundred old models, some of which I recognized, while others were unfamiliar.

      
A couple of soulful llamas stared at us as we approached the museums. The presence of llamas on this farm, among other options, puzzled me.

Maple syrup is a quintessential Canadian product. I recall trips to Europe where we searched for gifts for family and friends to take with us. We often bought small jars of maple syrup. Thankfully, travel for fresh maple syrup is no longer necessary; our neighbours’ parents run a maple farm, and we can purchase fresh maple syrup from them at wholesale prices.

Navigating US-Canada Border Crossings: Personal Insights

February 7, 2025

Trump’s views on birthright citizenship, deportations, and immigration are concerning, bringing back memories of our past border crossings from Canada. As a naturalized Canadian coming from a previously communist country, facing border guards used to make me nervous. But with time, that apprehension has passed.

Over the past few decades, we’ve made an average of four to five trips to the U.S. each year. I am now adept at being polite and cooperative when questioned by border officers. Aside from some amusing incidents, most of our crossings were pleasant.

On one recent trip, an officer checked my passport, grinned, and inquired if I was a “freedom fighter.” My passport shows I was born in Hungary, and I found his question surprising; he was aware of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. The Revolution started in Budapest, two hundred kilometers from where we lived. The revolution’s westward expansion arrived days later, allowing my escape to Austria when the border was unexpectedly opened. No, I was not a “freedom fighter”, but could have been.

However, his comment made me feel good. He believed I was anti-Russian, which signaled to him that I was a friend of the U.S., so I felt welcomed.

Once, while crossing the border, the officer inquired, “Is this a new car? I then realized that our license plate had been scanned near the gate and entered into their system. Passport checks reveal information about your car’s license plate when you drive.

Canadians also monitor car movements into Canada. The U.S. and Canadian computer systems may work together!

I had a more challenging time driving to Chapel Hill, NC, where my son lived. He had just bought a house, and I offered to build a deck in his backyard. My carpentry tools in the car triggered detailed questioning. The guards accused me of taking jobs from Americans. I reassured them, saying, “No, no. Look at the color of my hair—I am retired! I’m just building a deck for my son.”

Despite my explanations, they remained unsatisfied and told me to park the car and go inside. They searched my vehicle, including the hood, trunk, and undercarriage. Convincing them I wasn’t working in the U.S. took hours.

Another memorable crossing occurred when the border guard requested identification plus my passport. I’m unsure what brought that question up, but I provided my picture IDs: my Canadian driver’s license and health card. I also included my old draft card, which was a mistake! 

“What is this?” they asked. That question seemed unusual; I thought Americans would know what the draft card was. The guards conferred, and I observed from beyond the counter. I explained I had worked in Norfolk, VA, years ago, during the Vietnam War, and that everyone living and working in the U.S. had to register for the draft. Draft cards were something the young officers had never seen before.

The commotion drew the supervisor in, who, upon investigation, burst into laughter. He explained the history of the draft, which was abolished in 1973, to his colleagues. Afterward, they let me go but kept my cherished draft card.

From experience at border crossings, we discovered the standard questions asked by border guards: your destination and planned duration. Plus, declare all items you are bringing across the border: gifts, food, alcohol, and cannabis (while legal in Canada, it is illegal in many states). We carry food only for ourselves and try to remember which fruits are not allowed in the U.S.

The government’s current focus and political relations influence border guards’ behavior. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccinations were required. At other times, they might ask about our destination only and wave us on.

What’s the border guard situation this spring? Trump has expressed a desire to make Canada the fifty-first state of the U.S., but Canada has stated its strong opposition to being absorbed. Would the border guards welcome us, or would they be more questioning?

Trump also accused Canada of allowing huge amounts of fentanyl and large numbers of terrorists to cross into the U.S. The facts, however, paint a different picture; only one percent of fentanyl and terrorists arrive in the US from Canada. Can rhetoric influence the border guards? How do these accusations affect them?

We will assess the current situation at the border soon. In a few weeks, we’ll visit family and enjoy the warm sunshine in North Carolina.

My Rant Today

January 30, 2025

I’m feeling rather irritated right now. The US administration’s illegal actions are shocking. How can they do all of this? They are firing civil servants protected by legislation and freezing programs Congress approved and funded. Surprisingly, I have seen little outrage or opposition in the news yet.

Why does this matter to me? I live in Canada and am not a U.S. citizen, but I have friends and family there and visit them often. The new president’s recent actions require observation; only time will tell if their impact exceeds mere headlines. The administration might revoke some orders. However, given the recent announcements, it is not unrealistic to expect border restrictions or even the requirement for visas to enter the U.S. from Canada. That would be pretty inconvenient.

Two items about the recent batch of activities surprise me. Disgust me is the right expression, and one is bullying. The handling of the Colombian affair is a prime example. When Colombia refused to allow US military planes to land, the US administration announced tariffs on the country, knowing it could devastate its economy. That was, instead of trying to resolve the conflict gentlemanly and diplomatically. The complaint from the President of Colombia was understandable. The US response wasn’t a measured reply but a brutal attack.

The other item is the incredible ignorance shown by the administration. The case in point is the President’s request to Jordan and Egypt to take in Palestinians. It has been policy by both countries not to allow Palestinians to settle in their countries; Jordan already has millions of them, and Egypt fears terrorists. Furthermore, both countries advocate for a Palestinian state, but what becomes of this goal if Palestinians vacate Gaza? As well, the Palestinian people do not want to leave their land. This is common knowledge. So, why would this administration flog an idea that has no currency?

Political events do not form my discussions with friends and family in Canada and the US. I know such subjects lead to significant disagreements, especially those concerning President Trump. He is a convicted felon and a liar whose only interests are to amass power and money. Think of his cryptocurrency coins, selling running shoes, etc.

He talks a good game, but I do not see how his policies benefit his supporters, except business people expecting a tax cut. And that baffles me. Did he con his supporters, close to half of all Americans? An example is the State of Louisiana, which receives over fifty percent of its budget funded by federal sources. The temporary shutdown of all federal programs announced Tuesday would have devastated the heavily Republican state of Louisiana, which relies on federal funding for over half its budget (fortunately, the order was rescinded today).

Trump’s campaign involved outlining his policies, and he’s currently implementing them. Did people vote for him but not believe him? In my experience, the American people are not stupid. I studied and worked there. Recent events, however, have negatively affected my viewpoint on the American people. Republican legislators are eyeing social programs for cuts to free up money for tax breaks for the rich, actions that would have disastrous impacts on the many people who voted for him.