‘Get out and vote’
Dear Editor:
The candidates are bombarding us with promises. It’s significant to note that PC candidate Ted Arnott’s April 29 interview in this paper did not claim to be running on Ford’s record. Why?
The PCs want you to trust the promises they’ve made for the next four years, not their broken promises during the last four.
On most policy issues, the Ford PCs have failed to lead. No accountability, no transparency, no integrity. Failure to act on critical issues.
From the botched Covid-19 vaccine rollout, PCR testing nightmare, failures in LTC that cost lives, it’s understandable why Arnott would not be expounding his party’s record. Ford’s actions were intended to protect private LTC owners and not our family members. License sticker refunds can never pay for the lost lives and inadequate care given to vulnerable seniors.
Health care has declined under Ford. Government actions confirm the notion that more privatization is planned. The mistrust that Ford has created, particularly with our nurses who are grossly overworked and underpaid, is unconscionable. Hospitals without nurses won’t improve health care. The backlog of surgeries needs to be addressed. This government must be replaced otherwise health care will continue to be intentionally underfunded, two-tier health care the goal.
In education, incompetent ministers mismanaged from the start. Then they failed to keep students, staff and families safe from COVID-19, refusing to create smaller classes, cancelling mask precautions too early and directing RATs to private schools. Many families suffered under a sixth wave that could have been prevented if Ford had acted in the interests of safety.
The current minister and deputy, neither who attended public schools, have made significant cuts to public education and made classes larger, during a pandemic. They intend to cut more and move courses online. They repeatedly affirmed that students should be in schools, now they want more students in front of screens. Why? Schools had to close due to unsafe conditions. Parents and students of voting age should hold the PCs accountable for the instability in Ontario’s schools over the past four years.
Some further examples: cancelling autism supports, lack of transparency with ministerial letters, wasting money on court challenges, cancelling sick days then failing to reinstate them during the pandemic, cancelling cap-and-trade contracts, canceling renewable energy projects, canceling minimum wage increases. A plan for a multi-billion dollar highway which best serves Ford’s developer friends, is not supported by taxpayers and doesn’t make environmental sense.
Arnott claims we need effective, principled and accountable leadership. By any measure, the Ontario PCs have not met his own standards. What then, shall we do? Don’t vote for a party that works against your own self interests. Check out all the candidates and see which party will better represent you.
Use your vote to demonstrate that you aren’t satisfied with the Ford government’s record. We deserve better. Get out and vote.
Rod Murray,
Fergus
‘Muted’ MPP
Dear Editor:
As we go to the polls, I want to remind the voters in southern Wellington County that for the past four years we have had no voice in parliament.
When Ted Arnott took the role of Speaker of the House he abandoned us. He increased his wages by $20,000+ and padded his pension and in doing so muted our voices as constituents at a time in which we desperately needed a voice.
When I spoke with Ted and expressed my concerns his response was that he was talking to people from all parties. It seems apparent that no one listened.
During the various candidates debates Ted has essentially said nothing except that he makes no promises and will do his best. He has taken no true stand and remained in his impartial role as speaker and said nothing.
Due to the visible split vote, when the PC government is re-elected, they will continue to defund public education and healthcare, and destroy much of our vital fertile farmland and green space to put in a highway. Once that important land is developed with a highway it’s gone forever, but it’s not just that tract of land that will be impacted, but the land and ecosystems surrounding it.
It’s a slippery slope; if we have a highway, why not add in some development? Ford wanted to develop green space prior to the last election and walked it back due to outrage. In the past four years the development began and will boldly continue.
What did Ted have to say in the caucus regarding all of the plans his government has? Nothing. He wasn’t there. Because he had to remain impartial during the past four years Ted did not vote/provide input on anything within the PC caucus. We had no voice, no vote, we were muted for four years.
Candace Kelm,
Erin
‘Vote very responsibly’
Dear Editor:
We have an opportunity to go to the polls and it is important that every citizen votes.
Our young people of voting age should really think about the great resources in our country that we have been blessed with and they remain stagnant at the present time when the world needed our fuel and we need our fuel. This is what happens when we don’t look critically at what information is presented to us about climate change.
We need to choose leaders who will stand up and be counted to ensure that Canada and Ontario preserve the freedoms and democracy we have been blessed with for so many years. It can be lost as we have seen with the trucker freedom rally.
We have an opportunity to vote for change in our province, but in my opinion, we have seen what the Liberals and NDP can do (federally) to our nation. We don’t need anymore of the Liberal or NDP in our province.
We need candidates and leaders who will stand up and be a voice for Ontarians for justice, freedom, truth and progress.
The New Blue Party has a candidate in every riding and has given us an opportunity for change with a party that supports the family. If we always do what we have always done, we will always get what we have always got.
Please, everyone, we need to seriously consider the values we are supporting when we vote. Climate change has been pushed so hard to our young people and our nation, it is destroying Canada. We are a nation with so much. We can protect climate if we use the resources we have wisely.
But to ignore the resources we have in our province and nation, a nation that must have fuel for heating and travel from one place to another within the nation, and state that by taking this action, promotes management of climate change, is corrupt in my view.
Let’s take our vote very seriously. Let’s vote very responsibly in this election and the federal election and encourage our families to vote wisely.
Carolann Krusky,
Fergus
‘An extra stress’
Dear Editor:
RE: Blindsided, May 26.
I have made many visits to the Trailside Clinic during all kinds of weather.
At 87 years of age, I am lucky to have mobility, but it is impossible to use the entry or exit parking kiosks without getting out of the front seat of my car since they are positioned beyond arm’s reach.
This means that entering or leaving the clinic, I am subject to rain, snow, wind or any weather event over the seasons. Even when all is calm, the formidable exit ticket machine inside the front door must be dealt with on leaving unless I purchase an item from the pharmacy to get a free pass.
On several levels, the parking arrangement is an extra stress for vulnerable patients.
Arlene Callaghan,
Fergus
Overzealous officer?
Dear Editor:
My wife was just pulled over by a police officer who threatened her and my kids with a ticket because she wasn’t wearing a helmet.
It is not uncommon for us to go on bike rides with our kids around town. We encourage them to ride to locations that are close rather then taking a car. And the kids always wear a helmet as is the law.
What isn’t the law is the requirement for someone over the age of 18 to wear a helmet.
Now we have kids who were scared by the experience, and have now learned that cops don’t know the law. It’s fine to enforce the law, but know the laws you are enforcing.
For reference the law is: a bicycle helmet is strongly recommended but not legally required if you are 18 or over (from the ontario.ca bicycle page).
Stephen Gariepy,
Fergus
Successful derby
Dear Editor:
The Belwood Lions thank all of the anglers who attended the 40th anniversary Pike Derby and the first annual Walleye Tournament May 28 and 29.
It was a great success. Belwood Lions pledged the purchase of a vital signs monitor for the endoscopy department of Groves hospital, and was pleased to present the first of two annual $5,000 cheques in payment.
Thank you to our sponsors for their support: Geranium, Lower Twin Lakes Lodge, Electromart (Ont), Chalmers Fuel, Reel Canadian Anglers, Red Chevron Club, Royal City Fishing Club, Core Fuels, Freshco, Zehrs, Belwood Country Market, Grand 101, Wellington Advertiser and Highland Pines.
Our next derby will be held on May 27 and 28, 2023. See you then!
Gordon Hufnagel,
Belwood Lions
Be safe around mowers
Dear Editor:
Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. When I was four years old, I was playing outside when I slipped on the grass and fell underneath a riding lawn mower. I lost my left leg below the knee.
I grew up in The War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program, and today, I help pass on the Association’s “Play safe” message. With lawn cutting season here, I want every kid across the country to know they should never be around lawn mowers.
I accept who I am today, but I wouldn’t want anyone else to go through what I did.
I hope that by sharing my story, it will prevent even just one child from being injured.
If you would like to learn more about how to play safely and hear stories from other young amputees like me who have lost limbs in accidents, visit waramps.ca/playsafe.
Zoe Gottwald, 16
CHAMP