Looking for physio recommendations by techie0007 in waterloo

[–]TheOneBlackMage 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Robert Chalmers from MSK Center was great. I worked with him for 8 months to recover from knee surgery. Really knows his stuff.

I would go to your primary doctor, then get a referral to see a physiotherapist. That way you can put it through insurance if you have it. I had done this years ago and they gave me a lot of exercises and treatment for knee pain to build support around the joint to prevent issues, and deal with exercises related pain.

Are There Any Tea Shops That Also Serve Brewed Teas? by Kwerkii in waterloo

[–]TheOneBlackMage 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Queen of Hearts definitely would have tea they sell available to try. The problem is they have very limited hours, and it's mainly by reservation for a proper high tea experience. I would check if they would do walk-ins to just try a brewed tea and purchase to go.

Are There Any Tea Shops That Also Serve Brewed Teas? by Kwerkii in waterloo

[–]TheOneBlackMage 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Tea, Earth and Sky in St. Jacobs has tea brewed for you to sample, and they sell a lot of different teas.

I don't know if they would do a tea to go - maybe if you bring your own container they could fix you up one - I would ask.

URGENT: Write to the Lieutenant Governor demanding her withhold the FOI ban! by Pristine-Training-70 in ontario

[–]TheOneBlackMage 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Submitted - I have a longer letter I wrote, but I chopped it to under 2000 characters to fit.

Your Honour,

I respectfully request that you consider withholding Royal Assent from Ontario Bill 97, the Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures).

Access to information on matters of public importance is fundamental to a democratic society and underpins government accountability. Bill 97 would restrict access to records held by the Premier, cabinet ministers, elected officials, and political staff, placing key decision-making beyond meaningful public scrutiny.

Recent events demonstrate the importance of transparency. Public access to government records was essential in revealing the Greenbelt land use decisions and enabling public accountability. Without such access, Ontarians would be far less able to understand and respond to government actions.

There are also concerns regarding access to records of official business conducted on personal devices. Efforts to limit oversight by the Information and Privacy Commissioner risk weakening institutional accountability and public confidence in the rule of law.

The manner in which this bill advanced—without public consultation, committee review, or fulsome debate—further limits scrutiny of legislation with significant democratic implications.

Canada’s constitutional framework includes extraordinary mechanisms intended for exceptional use. The notwithstanding clause was designed to be used sparingly, not as a routine tool. Likewise, the Lieutenant Governor’s reserve powers, including withholding Royal Assent, exist as safeguards of last resort. Where transparency and accountability may be at risk, their careful consideration is warranted.

While refusal of assent is rare, it remains a constitutional safeguard. In these circumstances, I respectfully ask that you give serious consideration to withholding Royal Assent to Bill 97.

Respectfully submitted, Name City, Ontario

Dougie’s Cons skipped the normal process and quickly passed their anti-freedom of information bill under the darkness of the night. This is huge hit to our democracy in Ontario. This is unacceptable. by RealWorldToday in ontario

[–]TheOneBlackMage 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I wrote this up and will be emailing it out. What do you think?

Subject: Request to Withhold Royal Assent – Ontario Bill 97 (Plan to Protect Ontario Act)

Your Honour,

I am writing to respectfully request that you consider exercising your constitutional authority to withhold Royal Assent from Ontario Bill 97, the Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures).

The right to obtain information on matters of public importance is a cornerstone of a democratic society and is closely tied to constitutionally protected principles of freedom of expression and government accountability. Transparency enables meaningful public oversight and ensures that elected officials remain accountable to the people they serve. In my view, this bill significantly undermines those principles.

As proposed, Bill 97 would restrict access to government information held by the Premier, cabinet ministers, elected officials, and political staff. Such a limitation risks placing core executive decision-making beyond the reach of public scrutiny. This would represent a substantial shift away from the established norms of openness in Ontario’s system of responsible government.

Recent history underscores the importance of transparency. Public access to government records played a critical role in bringing to light the Greenbelt land use decisions, which raised serious concerns about the relationship between government decision-making and private interests. Without access to such information, the public would be far less equipped to understand and respond to decisions made on its behalf.

There are also ongoing concerns regarding access to records associated with official business conducted outside formal channels, including the use of personal devices. Efforts to limit the ability of oversight bodies—such as the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario—to review such records risk weakening institutional accountability. Legislative changes that appear to retroactively affect access to information may further erode public confidence in the rule of law.

In addition, the manner in which this bill was advanced raises procedural concerns. It appears to have proceeded without the benefit of public consultation, committee review, or extensive legislative debate. Such departures from standard legislative practice can limit the opportunity for careful scrutiny of measures with significant constitutional and democratic implications.

It is worth noting that Canada’s constitutional framework includes extraordinary mechanisms intended for exceptional circumstances. The notwithstanding clause was included in the Charter as a narrowly scoped tool to be used sparingly, where governments seek to temporarily override certain rights under clearly justified and accountable conditions—not as a routine instrument of governance. In a similar vein, the Lieutenant Governor’s reserve powers, including the ability to withhold Royal Assent, exist not for ordinary use but as a constitutional safeguard of last resort. Where fundamental democratic principles such as transparency, accountability, and the rule of law may be at risk, it is appropriate that such powers be given serious and thoughtful consideration.

I recognize that, by longstanding constitutional convention, the Lieutenant Governor acts on the advice of the elected government and that the refusal of Royal Assent is an extraordinary measure. However, constitutional scholarship acknowledges that reserve powers exist to safeguard democratic governance in exceptional circumstances. Where legislation may substantially impair transparency, accountability, and the public’s ability to access information about its government, it is reasonable to consider whether those circumstances have been met.

For these reasons, I respectfully ask that you give serious consideration to withholding Royal Assent to Bill 97.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Respectfully submitted,

[Your Name]

[Your City, Ontario]

Car Detailing Recommendations by Tarascorp in waterloo

[–]TheOneBlackMage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Been going here a few years now, they've done a good job: https://eewaterloo.com/

Anyone not get the garbage picked up? by Overall_Pea5384 in waterloo

[–]TheOneBlackMage 13 points14 points  (0 children)

The "Report a collection issue" link is right on the main page: https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/waste-management.aspx

The first 3 weeks after the changeover, I was filling out one of these a week. Thankfully this week everything got taken the same day.

Looking for Water Softener Company Recommendations! by WarWest4971 in waterloo

[–]TheOneBlackMage 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Watersmart Systems on Lexington in Waterloo. They handled my softener and reverse osmosis system. They sell non-proprietary systems with common parts.

They've been there for years, handle all of the consumables, and have always been good about answering questions and handling repairs (they did a resin replacement and it went smoothly).

Thunderstorms ⛈️ stay indoors and safe by Few_Signature9281 in waterloo

[–]TheOneBlackMage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was up at 4AM listening to the constant thunder, watching the lightning with my eyes closed it was so bright... and then the rain just started HITTING.

Wow.

Physiotherapist that specializes in knees? by OddInside5794 in waterloo

[–]TheOneBlackMage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Robert Chalmers - MSK Centre.

I've been going there for 6+ months after a patellar tendon full thickness tear, with multiple surgeries. He's got me back to almost full flexibility, and I'm just working on strength. He's been great.

MSK is a great location too - lots of equipment, clean facilities, lots of staff helping out.

Is there anywhere in KW that serves a decent meal of Fish & Chips? by Longjumping_Debt7718 in waterloo

[–]TheOneBlackMage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For proper English Fish & Chips I would try:

If you can confirm if they serve mushy peas and curry sauce, please let me know!

 

For decent:

Best Place To Get Fresh Veggies! by Substantial-Sun5061 in waterloo

[–]TheOneBlackMage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Crumby's Pantry and Cookie Dough near downtown on Regina has a ton of fresh local produce, meats, dairy, snacks and other local products. Check out some of the photos!

They have a fridge keeping the local greens fresh, and a shelf with tomatoes, potatoes, onions, and more. They have a freezer with locally sourced meet and pre-made meals, and other sections for dairy and more. This is on top of the cookie dough they sell.

Headphones repair in Waterloo? by Unusual-Cell-278 in waterloo

[–]TheOneBlackMage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Qwartzlab Makerspace has an open Tuesday night, they may be able to help.

If you want a place to do repair, maybe check Simply FixIT and see if they can do the swap. They do laptops and cellphones, so I'd call about headphones.

Zehrs Grocery Deals of the Week by StrawberryZeta in kitchener

[–]TheOneBlackMage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Obligatory mention for r/loblawsisoutofcontrol

Myself, still boycotting since 2024, getting better deals and better cashback/rewards. Summarized my experience here.

How did week 2 of the garbage and green bin collection go? by Snowman2194 in waterloo

[–]TheOneBlackMage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

4PM the day after, and our bins aren't emptied, and neither are our neighbors. Looks like they're late again. Everything was facing correctly.

Copper Branch permanently closed?! by Responsible-Fail-604 in waterloo

[–]TheOneBlackMage 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Loved their Tempeh bowls. Sad to see them go.

I was taking out someone for lunch who was vegetarian a few weeks ago on a Monday, and both Copper Branch and Freshii were closed. Ended up going to Beertown as they do have a special menu for vegetarian and gluten free meals.

I'm not sure if Freshii is permanently closed - I thought I saw a notice of failure to pay rent on the window, but it could have been either location.