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© OPINION ANNUAL LIBEL TRAINING 7A WELCOME REFRESHER WE CAN'T BE i READE T00 2 OFTEN HOW 3 ACCOUNTABLE JOURNALISTS MUST BE, WRITES STEVE LEBLANC STEVE LEBLANC Column It'sabout trust. Our rela- tionship with our readers is built on transparency, hon- esty and integrity. As such, we have launched a trust initiative to tell you who we are and how and why we do what we do. This article is part of that project. It's a welcome reminder, and noi Just for for the obvious reason. tly, Metroland's collective newsrooms gath- ered for our annual libel training — a comprehen- sive crash course put on by a member of our parent company's (Torstar) legal team. For the most part, the ground covered luring these 90-minute sessions is ly new for a veteran like yours truly Far from it. But to consider pais training a waste of my tim would be both ignorant Sadly, trust in journalism has been called into question by many in recent years. with each and every story. nence of social media as a news source. That's no doubt kept newsroom lawyers and raanagennen vay with We disseminated these days. As social media evolves and newsgathering prac- tices expand, so too does the exploration i Aa de- fines fair and ced. Journalism makes for an inter- estima me insightful look —come taining time — at everything involved in de- ciding if libel! has occurred or (hopefully) been avoid- ed. While I'd like to think d havea strong handle on basics of libel by now, each year's training offers at least one new thing to pon- — some practical food for thought. And ifthese sessions did nothing more than remind us of the benchmark of re- and to a pro- fession I grow prouder and prouder to bea part of with question by many in recent years —for reasons far too But the standards to which news outlets are § held re: high an 3 what we re strive to achieve 2 comes with Soliverine “he news, then it's time very well spent. Steve LeBlanc is the news editor of Metroland's Halton community news- papers. We welcome your ques- tions and value your com- ments. Email our trust committee at trust@met- roland.com. TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT INSIDEHALTON.COM SNAPSHOT 4 Bob Gignac photo A blue jay enjoys a bird bath on Lindsay Drive. Do you have a great local photo you'd like to share? Send it to sleblanc@metroland.com, along with a brief description. A PAINFUL NECESSITY RISING INTEREST RATES NEEDED TO CONTROL SPENDING, WRITES PETER WATSON It wasa surprise that the Bank of Canada (BoC) re- cently creased interest rates The Bo BOC has a delicate balanc act. One consid- eration is is “controlling ex ex- cesses inflation and that is done by increasing interest rates. The second consider- ation is to try not to put the brakes on the C economy too hard and ci use an economic tail- For along time, interest rates were at historically low levels. That was meant to en- e consumers to spend —and that they did. i PETER WATSON Column Household debt increased and is higher in Canada than in many other coun- ries. Now what's best for the economy is to stop spend- ing. Thus, the increase in interest rate: Unfortunately, many households are now strug- mortgage pay- ments a other types of loans. At some point, some of these people will not be of severe consequences for many. When you cannot afford to make mortgage pay- ments, essential spending like food can be paid by credit card. When credit card bal- ances cannot be paid, an exorbitant interest rate Kets in. ‘he downward finan- cial cycle just keeps spin- ning faster and faster. Tl ill hurt now, but things will be better with imation and our economy late The economy will get better. It always has. The conce! people will have serious oust nancial difficulties with significantly higher inter- est rates. The concern is higher interest rates will be pain- ful for many. Peter Watson of Watson Investments MBA, CFP®, R.EP, CIM®, FCSI offers a weekly financial pi ning column, Dollars © Sense. He can be contacted through www.watsonin- vestments.com. ABOUT This newspaper, published every Metroland Media Group Utd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family ‘of newspapers is comprise publications across Ontario. This newspaper isa meraber ofthe National NewsMe« ouncil. He newspaper and, if not satisfied, ite The National NewsMedia Council, Suite rn i Yonge St., Toro1 forot Phone: 416- Sa 961 : www.mediacouncil.ca nnc jocna Funded by be ‘orate | Canada insidehalton@metroland.com com/OakvilleBeav @OakvilleBeaver WHO WE ARE Vice President, Editorial ee Ann Waterman Metroland Editor-In-Chief Paul Berton Regional aneral Manager Jason Pehor Director ofc Content ee Ann Waterman Regional Managing Editor itherine O'Hara Managing Editor Karen Miceli Director of Distribution Charlene Hall Circulation Manager ma im Directors of Advertising Cindi Campbell and Graeme Macintosh irector Creative Services Paul Gostlin CONTACT | Us one Prot ma, pata, Hami Phones 1: S06 838. 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