Our local newspapers are small town Ontario

By MPP Toby Barrett

To The Haldimand Press

Recently my colleague MPP Goldie Ghamari introduced a Private Member’s Bill titled Supporting Ontario’s Community, Rural, and Agricultural Newspapers Act.

Community newspapers are local businesses and this proposed legislation is a no-brainer. At one time, community newspapers and radio were the only options for small-town business to get their message out. Today, with social media, there are more options. As well, the cost of production has increased and many community, rural, and agricultural newspapers have had to cut costs and reduce publication to bi-weekly or monthly.

In our area, national conglomerates own The Simcoe Reformer, The Delhi News-Record, The Grand River Sachem, The Lakeshore Shopper and The Tillsonburg News. On the other hand, The Port Dover Maple Leaf, The Haldimand Press, Snapd Haldimand-Norfolk-Tillsonburg, and The Port Rowan Good News are privately and locally owned. All provide a valuable service to Haldimand-Norfolk.