‘A viable safeguard’
Dear Editor:
RE: Just like Hitler? (Jan. 28).
Wayne Baker wrote of the generations that fought and died to protect our rights, such as the right of free speech and expression as prescribed in Section 2 of the Canadian Bill of Rights regarding freedom of speech and expression.
He advocates that the Advertiser is employing censorship of letters that express hate, misinformation, conspiracy theories, etc. and that this action denigrates the sacrifices made by generations past.
He then advises that we read our history and comes to the conclusion that this is the type of action that leaders such as Hitler, Mao and others adopted to control the population. Mr. Baker states that the last time he checked, we have freedom of speech enshrined in our Bill of Rights.
I think Mr. Baker might want to take a closer look at the article of the Bill of Rights referencing Freedom of Speech and Expression.
It states loosely that we are entitled to a “reasonable” right of freedom when it comes to speech and expression and goes on to say that this right is not “absolute” and may be subject to governmental restrictions regarding among others, “hate speech, obscenity and defamation.”
We only need to look to the south in order to see what freedom of speech and expression led to in weeks past. Death and destruction.
I have worn the uniform of this country, as did my grandfather, and I don’t know of anyone that did so in order to allow comments such as those the paper has restricted. Restricting platforms for those types of expressions is a viable safeguard and helps to prevent such views to be justifiable. Similar to restricting Twitter and YouTube from those who would promulgate hate and dissension through public media.
The Advertiser is not “denigrating the sacrifices and memory of those who fought against such vehemence as what you are proposing”. The Advertiser is, in fact, honouring that which they fought for: the right for reasonable freedom of speech and expression.
Terry Filce,
Belwood
‘Gatekeepers of real truth’
Dear Editor:
RE: Just like Hitler? (Jan. 28).
I fully support the Wellington Advertiser’s policy to restrict any publishing of conspiracy theories, misinformation and alternative facts.
Lies are a form of censorship because they bury or distort actual truth. Phony patriots wearing flags claim they should be allowed to spread conspiracy nonsense because, they claim, our ancestors fought to preserve their right to free speech.
My family fought in both World Wars but they were fighting for the truth – not for a pack of lies poisonous to our democracy.
Lies are censorship and that is why Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin attacked the press as “enemies of the people,” and then spread their alternative facts to justify the murder of millions of their own citizens.
Lies are effective tools used to control behaviour and to convince people to blindly follow without questioning the lie. Rabble rousing is an old political and military tactic. Inciting a mob to violence isn’t difficult if they have been indoctrinated with fear created by false “truth.”
The Nazi Party in the 1930s called the newspaper lugenpresse, which means “the lying press,” because they wanted people to distrust factual reports about what the Nazi Party was truly saying and doing. This is censorship at its worst, which is now called propaganda.
The gatekeepers of real truth are the responsible journalists and editors who fact check and work hard to verify that what they publish is real, true, accurate and provable.
Conspiracy misinformation presented as fact, and other forms of untruth pushed as real and true, usually to induce fear, can only harm us all and lead to division and potential violence in Canada just as it is doing right now in the U.S.
Allan Goudie,
Fergus
Likes roads MAP
Dear Editor:
RE: Wellington County launches roads master action plan, Jan. 28.
I think that this plan is one of the best ideas that this county has had in recent times. It is incredibly easy to add your concerns in categories and to “like” the points made by others.
The ability to click through others’ input on the map is also great for learning the concerns of fellow community members. It seems like the county roads get busier everyday so this plan for improvement is extremely necessary.
Community engagement is so important, and this tool makes sure that the public is more involved than they would normally be when using the traditional method of council meeting or having to contact a person directly.
I hope that the county actually uses the information that people are posting; after clicking through many comments I found that almost all of them were great ideas for improvement.
These types of changes proposed by the public are a real opportunity for meaningful change to our roads.
Lara Durksen,
Rockwood
Good Samaritan
Dear Editor:
Many thanks to the good Samaritan who surprised us with a cheerful note and a financial gift deposited under our windshield wiper about a week ago.
During this time of shutdown and isolation affecting everyone it is refreshing to be blessed with people who are caring enough to think of others when they are dealing with their own challenges.
May God bless you, whomever you are, and keep you safe.
Pat Woode,
Fergus
‘Our hearts are broken’
Dear Editor:
I write this letter to the individual driving northbound on Watson Road South at about 8pm on Jan. 29. As you passed Maltby Road I am not sure you remember what was going through your mind, but shortly thereafter I am sure you do.
You hit something at the end of my driveway, I am not sure if it surprised you or you did it on purpose (I tell myself that it was not on purpose and that he died instantly), your black Chevrolet was missing a lot of plastic and lighting, the impact was fierce.
You took the time to stop and walk to the body of my beloved dog Stig and stand over him (I saw your footprints in the snow walking to him in the ditch.) I pray that he died instantly and did not suffer, but all I can do is pray, because I do not know. I am sure you were scared, and afraid of what someone might do if you walked to our house to tell us. So, you left him there in the snow in the ditch.
I forgive you.
I do because he would; he was a very good dog, and I should know because I see a lot of dogs in my line of work. He was with us for almost nine years, and they were some of the best. I could tell stories of his exploits, friendships, triumphs, glories and even a couple uh-ohs, but the word limit on these letters will not allow.
In these current times of disease and death in the news, I realize that the death of a dog is hardly newsworthy, and I know I will hear that “he shouldn’t have been near the road.” Believe me, my family has worn that one real thin in my house.
Our hearts are broken, and our pain is great, but we will make it through. My worry is for you, and for everyone else, and it is a lesson for me that I will try to live up to, because I am imperfect too. I will leave you with two quotes that I keep telling myself.
“All creatures are put on this Earth to learn how to live a good life, and how to love others. Dogs already know how to do this, so they don’t have to stay as long.”
“The right decision, is always the hardest one.”
Abraham Aho,
Puslinch
Free pass for PM?
Dear Editor:
How do we, as Canadians, put up with the incompetence of our federal government, day after day, week after week? It really is astonishing.
This is beyond party lines. If things would not be tolerated say, for former PM Stephen Harper (he was shown the door by votes), then why are they acceptable now under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s reign?
Is it because PM Trudeau has such great hair? Is it because he is more photogenic and supposedly personable? Surely it isn’t because of his supreme intellect or better yet, his great acting chops?
Listen to former Liberal cabinet member Dan McTeague or Liberal Party President Stephen LeDrew. Even they do not recognize the party they once held dear.
Ask Celine Ceasar-Chevanne or Jody Wilson-Raybould on what an incredible feminist Mr. Trudeau is … his behaviour to those two capable outstanding women who dared defy him would have sent any other male on “the hill” packing.
We now stand 23rd on a list of countries receiving COVID-19 vaccines, behind Malta and even Serbia.
We just had a (first ever in Canada’s history) debacle regarding our Governor General Julie Payette, because of a slack vetting process (because the non-partisan one put in place by Harper was turfed).
WE has not been dealt with.
The bulging debt load and any explanation or accountability whatsoever on how 14, 15 and 16 year olds received CERB whilst living at home and a parent still receiving family allowance simultaneously boggles the mind.
SNC Lavelin has been swept under the carpet. Canadians’ civil liberties are being stripped. Censorship is running rampant.
Best of all, why is our parliament not up and running? I mean full on running. Rent an arena, have it sprayed down after each session. There must be a better means to the gong show we are now witnessing daily. Not even during WWII, with the threat of bombs dropping on their heads, did Parliament cease in the UK.
It is most definitely time for a re-set. Not the re-set that our PM is talking of, but of a re-set for accountability, integrity and above all, honesty. We are receiving none.
Delsie Drover,
Belwood
United in battle
Dear Editor:
You are in a war with an unseen enemy!
The president of an African country made a great speech recently (I will use bits of his speech). He showed that we are at war but it is with an invisible (but real) enemy called COVID-19.
He said in a war, as the bullets are flying, you do not object to keeping indoors! Nor do you send your children to school. Nor do you even decide to go to work. You choose to win instead, for you know – only together can you win.
For your enemy shows no mercy, he does not discriminate. So you must cooperate with others in order to beat the enemy, together.
If a spy should give you the enemy’s secret weapon, how you’d plead for it. Yet you do have it!
This invisible enemy secret is this: your enemy can be defeated. It is so simple you won’t believe it’s true: by cleaning your hands, hiding your nose with a mask and leaving a small space between you and others.
And yet some of you will not even cooperate even if it means your own survival. You are “your brother’s keeper” – you need to realize that in this war. You need your brother just as much as he needs you!
Only together will you be able to celebrate a new day.
Sytske Drijber,
Rockwood
Consultation key
Dear Editor:
The wastewater treatment facility will bring essential change to our community; and while I understand change can be difficult, our community relies on it.
Through this process, there are two fundamental values that have been front of mind: ensuring taxpayers aren’t carrying unnecessary costs, and facilitating growth in a measured and thoughtful way for the next 20-plus years.
It was with these values in mind that we consulted numerous reputable experts – city planners, economists and environmentalists – to help develop a plan that makes sense for our community. Among those is WSP, a leading engineering firm with an expertise in environmental solutions for projects like this.
With that said, community engagement was also vital during this process and was achieved through a variety of ways, including conducting a comprehensive community growth survey, stakeholder meetings, technical advisory group and steering committee meetings (including public members), social media posts, Erin Connection newsletters, the Erin Advocate, Wellington Advertiser and through the town’s website.
While in the process of consulting with experts and our residents, I heard concerns about the location of the wastewater facility, and the potential environmental effects resulting from the effluent. Addressing these concerns were at the top of our list when planning the project.
The plant will be located at Wellington Road 52 and 10th Line, and the proximity between the plant and residential areas surpasses the ministry’s requirement by at least double the distance.
The environmental assessments examined two separate locations, and this specific decision was made because of the immense reduction of impacts on the local environment. In fact, the environmental benefits of this location outweigh the costs of the project as the construction costs (paid by developers) are higher.
Right now, we have an opportunity to change our community for the better. As I’ve said before, the costs of not doing this project are high; we are falling behind and we need to make an investment into our community.
As we continue to plan and develop this project and hear our community’s views on its impact, I want to remind residents that this project represents years of thoughtful and strategic planning.
We are not rushing any decisions and both the community and experts have been consulted – and continue to be consulted – through this entire process.
I encourage residents to keep asking these important questions about the wastewater treatment system, and to learn more about the project by visiting www.wastewater.erin.ca.
Mayor Allan Alls,
Erin
Food/nutrition advocate
Dear Editor:
It has come to my attention that some high schools are cancelling food and nutrition courses.
I found this quite surprising and disappointing in that these are some of very subjects which will have direct impact on their health and wellbeing in the future.
Given that a lot of attention has been focused in the press about food literacy, this seems to be a backward approach to ensuring students acquire the knowledge to understand the composition of food and how it benefits their health and well-being.
These courses also provide students with the opportunity to learn how to obtain and practice preparing food for their families, to understand how to modify ingredients to tailor special dietary needs or needs of specific members of their family and what foods to eat to prevent chronic health conditions. We should be promoting courses that focus on these skills, not cancelling them!
My research over the past 30 years has focused on many food/nutrition issues, such as the effect of different cooking methods and heating solutions in starchy foods, sociological and environmental factors influencing eating food behavior in Canada, anti-inflammatory effects of cranberry bean extracts, and the antioxidant capacity of food mixtures to breast cancer cells, just to name a few.
Individuals who study food and nutrition have many career options, not just chefs or working in the restaurant industry. They can be food scientists like myself or:
– dieticians;
– food product developers;
– food technologist/technicians;
– health and wellness coordinators;
– health promotion/researchers;
– naturopaths;
– nutritionists;
– food writers;
– public health workers;
– CCAC caseworkers;
– food inspectors;
– lab technicians; and
– test kitchen assistant/manager.
Cancelling these courses not only prevents students from learning skills needed for daily living, but prevents them to aspire to careers related to the food and nutrition industry.
Additionally, it impacts enrolment in food science, applied nutrition or nutritional science courses at post-secondary institutions like the University of Guelph, preventing students from pursuing these types of careers in the future.
If you have an interest in this field or have been impacted by taking food and nutrition courses in your local high school, contact your school to find out whether these courses are running and advocate for them to continue to run.
It is my hope that schools will look at these courses more carefully and see their importance and not remove them from their curriculum.
M.F. Marcone,
Professor, Department of Food Science, University of Guelph