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w at er lo oc hr on ic le .c a W at er lo o C hr on ic le | T hu rs da y, A ug us t 30 ,2 01 8 | 8 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 80 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 editorial@waterloochronicle.ca facebook.com/waterloochronicle @wlchronicle WHO WE ARE VP, Regional Publisher Kelly Montague Regional General Manager Nelson Parreira nparreira@metroland.com Regional Advertising Director Bill Ford bford@metroland.com Sales Lead Michelle Stevens ext. 795062 Advertising Representatives Cassandra Dellow ext. 795066 Zach Peters ext. 795068 Jan Bodanka ext. 795072 Regional Editor Mike Wilson Reporters Adam Jackson Bill Jackson Namish Modi CONTACT US Waterloo Chronicle 630 Riverbend Dr. Kitchener, ON N2B 2G1 Phone: 519-886-2830 Fax: 519-579-2029 Web: www.waterloochronicle.ca Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 200 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Delivery For all delivery inquiries, e-mail customerservice@metroland.com or call 519-894-3000 OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT WATERLOOCHRONICLE.CA EDITORIAL During the last 17 years the Canadian Forces has earned a well-deserved golden reputation both around the world and here at home, largely in part due to Canada's participation in the war in Afghani- stan. Ask most Canadians their opinion of our sol- diers, sailors and aviators, and praise gushes forth. However, what most Canadians don't see is a First World Nation army that would be hard-pressed to deploy rapidly to our own Arctic or an Eastern Euro- pean hotspot, and once there, our forces would be quickly slaughtered - as our aged tanks, jets and heli- copters are no match for what Russia or China would bring to the fight. On May 28 of this year, the Canadian Forces asked members to return rucksacks and sleeping bags so they could be redeployed to where the kit was needed the most. Conservative MP, James Bezan, blasted the Liberal government for failing to provide soldiers with even the most basic of gear. "If the Liberals can't get sleeping bags right, how are we (going to) expect them to deliver fighter jets and new ships for our navy," he said at the time. Sad- ly, the shortage problem is nothing new for our mil- itary. In1992, when Canada first sent troops into the for- mer Yugoslavia, the military's quartermaster didn't have enough flak jackets and helmets for the troops on the ground. Then 10 years later, embarrassingly in 2002 when our troops landed in Afghanistan, they stood out like shooting range targets in their forest green camou- flage, as our NATO colleagues were outfitted in des- ert tan camouflage. Even boots have been hard to find for the last de- cade, forcing some members to buy their own combat boots out-of-pocket. The military only agreed this July to reimburse soldiers who buy their own boots, and only in some cases. Our military has served admirably for decades while dealing with supply shortages and equipment that belongs in a museum. However, we can no longer assume the U.S. will come to our defence as foreign countries eye our re- sources in a thawing Arctic. President Donald Trump is certainly not enam- oured with Canada, and has openly criticised our nation for not spending enough on our military. The criticism is well deserved. Currently, Ottawa spends just over one per cent of our GDP on defence (the same as the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire), as countries like The Philippines, Norway and Nepal spend more. The Trudeau government plans to increase spending over the next decade, but our military has heard that promise before from gov- ernments of various political stripes. We are sure our military appreciates the public's support, but our aloofness to its needs could someday put us in a nasty situation in today's world. DONALD TRUMP IS RIGHT TO CRITICIZE CANADA'S MILITARY SPENDING The month of May can be deceptive, tricking you into believing that there is tons of time ahead to have a garage sale. A blink later August rolls around, and there, on the other side of the vanished-too-soon summer, you have the feel- ing that time is running out. So, you have one last chance to go all out to have a really successful garage sale. It doesn't take long to disgorge junk from the shadows - junk you don't need and wonder why it's still there. I'm talking about digging everywhere: the loft in the garage, the slightly musty recesses un- der the stairs, the dead zone corner under the kitchen counter where old pots and small appliances go to die, the drawers of shame in that never-used desk in the basement, the linty cupboard above the washing machine. I am talking everywhere. Go all out until you hear an echo. It's amazing what you find, and it's oh, so cathar- tic. Some of it you might ac- tually be able to sell. Give me plusses, you say. OK. Forget the won- derful fact that you are fi- nally achieving some Zen in your home. A bigger plus is that you are cleverly giving yourself permission to move ahead in life and giving yourself a reason to put new energy into your old stuff. Give yourself an incentive that is specific - a week's groceries or gas money not dinged off your debit card for one day. Another plus: it gives the kids something to do. Kids now have the atten- tion span of a goldfish be- fore they need to bow their heads in reverent praise of their electronics. Helming a garage sale teaches them valuable communication and bargaining skills that'll serve them well later in life. Garage sales give you a chance to catch up with neighbours. We are all in desperate need of more so- cial and less rush, rush. Isn't that what it's all about - savouring summer before September pulls into our driveway? Let's bring a little thera- py to your home. Stephen Ilott is a profes- sional home organizer with decluttering.ca and author of "The Domestic Archaeologist." For more information, visit www.de- cluttering.ca or contact him at info@declutter- ing.ca or 416-460-8098. THE LAST OF THE SUMMER GARAGE SALES GO ALL OUT TO ACHIEVE A SUCCESSFUL PURGE, WRITES ILOTT STEPHEN ILOTT Column SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT WATERLOOCHRONICLE.CA