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   Home /  Rhyme and Reason /  Critical Thinking /  Issues

Public Issues that Arise in Everyday Life.

These articles will be the subject of literacy and critical analysis lessons.

These lessons use real-world articles to practise this site's critical thinking framework. These articles touch on familiar literacy topics such as place, local decision-making, work, food, weather, and public policy. The goal is not to promote a particular position, but to practise careful reading, analysis, and choice about engagement.

Lesson Literacy Option: Explore the topic through creative writing. You might write a short story inspired by the article, or describe how this issue affects you, your community, or your sense of place. There is no requirement to take a position.

Lesson Critical Analysis Option: Use the critical thinking framework to evaluate claims, reasons, evidence, and assumptions in the article. After the analysis, you can decide if you want to take further action.

The Articles

Click on a link or scroll down to read a summary of each article and link to lessons.

The linked articles are external publications. This site is not affiliated with these organizations, and inclusion does not imply endorsement of every position expressed. They are used here for literacy and critical-thinking practice.



1. Greenbelt resolution runs into wave of opposition at city hall @ OrilliaMatters.com

Summary: Councillor Jay Fallis wants the city (Orillia) to support a request for the Province of Ontario to review the Greenbelt Act. Some staff and councillors fear that supporting the Greenbelt review might make it harder to negotiate needed land for city expansion or might upset the provincial government. An environmental group says the review is required by law, helps protect land and water, and does not stop Orillia from meeting its housing and growth plans. The council ask Fallis to bring back a simpler version of the resolution.

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2. Leave it to Beavers @ Ducks.ca

Beavers are often called “nature’s engineers” because their dams and ponds create wetlands that support high biodiversity, improve water quality, store water during droughts, and reduce flooding downstream. Rather than portraying beavers as purely helpful or harmful, this Ducks Unlimited article emphasizes the need to recognize both their ecological value and the practical conflicts they create, and to use thoughtful management strategies that balance conservation goals with human needs.

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3. Canadian dairy: How choosing local makes a national impact @ theGlobeAndMail.com

This article appears in The Globe and Mail, but it is labelled as an advertising feature produced by Dairy Farmers of Canada. That means it is a form of advertising written in the style of an article. The author is a dairy farmer and the president of Dairy Farmers of Canada. He is explaining why he believes Canadians should choose dairy products produced in Canada.

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4. Canada’s 2025 budget sends mixed messages on climate action, leaves nature in limbo @ davidsuzukiorg

The article is a press release from the David Suzuki Foundation (DSF). It reacts to Canada's 2025 federal budget. DSF says the budget sends "mixed messages": some good climate measures, but also new subsidies for fossil fuels and not enough money for nature protection.

This is not neutral news. It is advocacy. DSF is explaining what they think the budget gets right, what it gets wrong, and what they believe the government should do differently.

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5. Feds will unveil proposed changes to EV sales mandate this winter, officials say @ kelownadailycourier.ca

This article talks about government rules for how many new vehicles sold in Canada must be electric or plug-in hybrid. It describes plans to review and possibly change those rules, and it shares the concerns of automakers.

You do not need to be an expert on cars or government to use this lesson. Our goal is to practice asking good questions about the message, not to take sides.

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6. Helping K-12 schools navigate the complex world of AI @ news.mit.edu

The article discusses how school leaders and teachers can make better decisions when introducing AI tools into classrooms. It introduces the idea of "AI policy primers" — simple guides to help educators ask good questions when evaluating AI products.

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7. Ottawa's support of critical mineral development sparks optimism, skepticism @ cbc.ca

The article describes how the federal government is putting new money into 'critical mineral' mining. Industry leaders are hopeful, but environmental groups are cautious. Some local residents are also worried about water, property values, and the long-term impacts of new mines.

Would you like to read about this issue?