Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall

Weather forecast from Friday, March 23, 2018 to Sunday, March 25, 2018

Today – Sunny. Becoming a mix of sun and cloud this morning. Wind becoming northwest 20 km/h this afternoon. High plus 2. UV index 4 or moderate.

Tonight – A few clouds. Wind northwest 20 km/h becoming light this evening. Low minus 9.

Saturday, March 24 – Mainly sunny. Wind becoming north 20 km/h in the afternoon. High plus 2.

Saturday night – Cloudy periods. Low minus 6.

Sunday, March 25 – Sunny. High plus 4.

Sunday night – Clear. Low minus 2.

Dresden Rotary Banquet tonight

The Annual Dresden Rotary Banquet & Auction is being held tonight – Friday, March 23.

Tickets are available from any Dresden Rotarian.

Contact Lynda Weese by phone at 519-436-1754 or visit McKellar Flowers in downtown Dresden for tickets.

The guest speaker this year is John Weese.

Cost is $40/person.

Chatham-Kent Public Library: CK Reads April Programming

Chatham-Kent Public Library has launched a “One Book, One Community” program called CK Reads. CK Reads encourages residents throughout the Municipality of Chatham-Kent to read the same book; gaining a sense of community by creating a common topic of conversation through a shared love of reading.

This year, CKPL invites you to read “They Left Us Everything” by Plum Johnson. This is a moving memoir that tells of family, of loss, of a house left full of memories and belongings and of the humour that carries the author though life. Reserve your copy by calling or visiting your local library or by searching the title at www.search.ckpl.ca.

April’s programming includes:

Fix-It Café – Saturday, April 7 – Chatham Branch – 1:00 to 4:00 pm

Fix-It Café is a free event where people get together to share their repair knowledge and experience. People who enjoy fixing things (Fixers) help people with broken things (Visitors). We have fixers for: small appliances, computers, clothes, knitted items, books/paper items, dull tools, garden tools, and resumes. All repairs are done free of charge and registration is not required. Visitors should bring broken items and any known new parts or materials required for a repair.

Book Club – Monday, April 16 – Ridgetown Branch – 1:00 pm

– Wednesday, April 18 – Wallaceburg Branch – 4:00 pm

Read “They Left Us Everything” and join us for great discussions! Registration is not necessary and newcomers are always welcome.

Organizing Solutions: Estate Organizing Workshop –

– Monday, April 16 – Ridgetown Branch – 1:00 pm

– Saturday, April 21 – Blenheim Branch – 1:00 pm

– Tuesday, April 24 – Bothwell Branch – 6:45 pm

What is a professional organizer and what do they do? Learn about the organizing process, downsizing tips and organizing your estate. Presented by Heather Campbell of Organizing Solutions. Everyone is welcome.

Author Visit – Saturday, April 28 – Chatham Branch – 1:00 pm

To celebrate the grand finale of the 2018 CK Reads program, CKPL welcomes award winning author Plum Johnson to Chatham Branch. Enjoy an afternoon with the author for a reading and to join in a lively discussion about “They Left Us Everything.”

To find out more about CK Reads programs and events, visit www.ckreads.ca.

CRTC continues to foster investment, innovation and affordable choice in the wireless market

The CRTC launched a public process on Thursday to ensure lower-cost data-only wireless plans are available to Canadians across the country, as part of its efforts to foster affordability, innovation and choice in the wireless market.

The purpose of the consultation will be to determine the specific attributes of lower-cost data-only plans. The CRTC is also seeking comments on what specific rules, if any, are needed to ensure they are widely available to Canadians.

Bell Mobility, Rogers and Telus must provide their proposals for lower-cost data-only plans by April 23. The CRTC will then publish the proposals for public comment.

“Canadians are demanding greater choice of innovative and affordable mobile wireless services,” stated Ian Scott, Chairperson and CEO of the CRTC.

“Today’s decision will see the introduction of lower-cost data-only plans throughout Canada as well as reduced final rates for wholesale roaming. As a result, Canadians stand to benefit from more investment in wireless networks and innovative and reasonably priced services.”

The CRTC recently examined, at the Governor-in-Council’s request, whether wireless offerings based on different business models and technologies, such as Wi-Fi access, could be leveraged to improve the affordability of wireless services for Canadians.

The CRTC concluded that there is a gap in the market for lower-cost data-only plans. If these plans were more prevalent, Canadians, including those with low household incomes, would have more choice when it comes to innovative and affordable mobile wireless services.

To ensure that its regulatory approach fosters improved innovation and choice in the wireless market, the CRTC also announced today that it will initiate a review of its wholesale mobile wireless framework within the next year.

Wholesale Roaming services – Final rates

The CRTC has published the final rates that Bell Mobility, Rogers and Telus charge the smaller wireless companies for wholesale roaming services.

Other Canadian wireless companies need to obtain wholesale roaming services under reasonable rates, terms and conditions in order to offer comparable broad or national wireless coverage to their own customers. The final rates will facilitate sustainable competition in the wireless market that will provide benefits to Canadians, while also ensuring continued investments in high-quality networks.

More details:

– Following a direction from the Governor-in-Council to reconsider certain elements of a 2017 decision on wholesale wireless services, the CRTC is launching a consultation regarding data-only wireless plans.

– Data-only wireless plans would empower Canadians to use the voice and messaging applications of their choice when and where they want, using a combination of Wi-Fi access and cellular networks.

– The next complete review of the wholesale wireless framework, including the policy on wholesale mobile virtual network operator access, will start within the next year.

– In 2015, the CRTC concluded that Bell Mobility, Rogers and Telus possessed market power in regards to wholesale roaming services.

– The CRTC decided that it would regulate the rates that Bell Mobility, Rogers and Telus charge other companies for wholesale wireless roaming services.

– The final wholesale roaming rates are retroactive to 2015, the date of the implementation of the interim rates.

– The final wholesale roaming rates are from 44% to 99% lower, depending on the carrier and the wireless service whether it’s voice, text or data, compared to those that were available to competitors prior to the CRTC’s decision to regulate them.

Government responds to the introduction of new measures to reduce wireless prices

In 2017, the Government of Canada took concrete action to reduce wireless prices and support more competition in the telecommunications market.

The Government directed the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to reconsider a decision that effectively prevented Canadians from being able to choose an innovative low-cost wireless option.

On Thursday, the CRTC has responded with a decision that will make new low-cost data-only wireless plans available to Canadians across the country.

In an additional measure, the CRTC has reduced final wholesale roaming rates by 44% to 99%.

Furthermore, the CRTC announced that it will launch a process which will include consideration on how mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) can be leveraged to further contribute to wireless affordability and competition.

The Government of Canada will review the CRTC’s decision to determine its next steps. The Government supports measures that promote affordability and competition in the wireless market.

“Canadians said they wanted more affordable telecommunication services and our government took action,” stated Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

“Today’s decision by the CRTC is a step in the right direction, but more must be done: true affordability can only come from true competition.”

The Government of Canada remains focused on the three elements of telecommunications service that matter most to middle-class families: quality, coverage and price.