‘Political economics’
Dear Editor:
An open letter to Premier Doug Ford.
Please stop spending our collective money on supporting any commercial enterprise that cannot support itself.
As a fellow businessman you and I both know that the survival rate of a business that needs government money to start up is very poor. If a good business case could be made, then private venture capital would be pouring in.
The case of supporting the electric vehicle (EV) industry is a classic and should be taught in business schools.
Using batteries to drive vehicles was only considered a temporary measure until more transportable fuels could be made available, e.g. hydrogen. As such the rank-and-file person who simply needs transport and not a mobile statement is waiting until such vehicles become available.
Because the EVs are expensive to produce people just cannot/will not afford them. Of course we could open up the entire market to Chinese dumping, but I doubt that we want that. A couple of other problems are:
– safety if the battery splits in a collision;
– recycling availability; and
– environmental cost of mining and manufacturing.
I know you know all this, because unlike most politicians you can think outside of ideology and mythology; that is why I voted for you.
Come on! Get out of this silly political economics. Don’t get sucked in by the King Ideologue, he has absolutely no idea of the consequences of his actions. How could he? Unlike you and I, he has never had to meet payroll with his initiatives.
Michael Lee,
Salem
Canada Post strike
Dear Editor:
With the postal strike entering its third week, below are some things to consider.
The postal service in Canada is a Crown Corporation, meaning it does not use our taxes; it generates revenue through the goods and services it provides.
The Canada Post Corp. claimed a “loss” of $750 million last year, but that money was actually spent on a huge plant and a fleet of electric vehicles. Management also benefited from $10 million in bonuses.
Benefits for unionized workers were canceled before the strike began.
Canada Post Corporation has not paid into employees’ Pension Plans since 2023.
The unionized workers have not been on strike since 2018, and it was a rotating strike. The workers were forced back to work at that time.
The unionized workers are not allowed to speak out, comment or write about the strike action, as they are forced to sign documents that state they won’t comment.
The unionized workers do get strike pay, $56 dollars a day. This is funded through the union.
Each day of the strike Canada Post Corporation is saving approximately $20 million.
Let’s support our families, friends and neighbours in our community by not spreading misinformation.
Colleen Telford,
Fergus
‘Unnecessary insults’
Dear Editor:
RE: ‘Taj Mahal project,’ Nov. 28.
I share the writer’s concern about the run away cost of the new operations facility.
But why the dig at the citizens of Centre Wellington with his “uber-elitist environmental crowd” comment? I’m sure most citizens care about our environment and want to keep it clean and healthy.
Finally, why the dig at township staff? I see them hard at work fixing pot holes, trimming trees or plowing snow.
The good points he makes are overshadowed by his unnecessary insults.
Brian Paleczny,
Centre Wellington
‘Not willing’ hosts
Dear Editor:
The Township of Centre Wellington is considering a rezoning to allow for a 200MW battery energy storage plant in south Fergus on farm property next to lands that have been approved for homes for 6,000 people and zoned prime agricultural.
Having a battery energy storage plant so close to homes exposes people to the risk of toxic gas emissions and evacuation in the event of a fire. The protocol for fire fighting in these types of plants is to let the fire burn itself out over days or weeks and to spray water on the surrounding containers.
Centre Wellington has a dedicated volunteer fire department and we might have to rely on calling in neighbouring fire departments who may or may not be available. We don’t know the costs or the impacts of an emergency.
Centre Wellington has limited water supplies. Water is precious to us. Save our Water has concerns about this project.
Prime agricultural land is important for this community and the proposed project is larger than allowed as an accessory to farm use under the zoning bylaw and the provincial policy statement. The Wellington Federation of Agriculture has expressed concerns.
This isn’t a question of supporting green technology. There are other ways to do this that better reflect the goals and aspirations of this community – a community that deeply understands and supports environmental issues.
The time to express concerns about this proposal is now and let council know that Centre Wellington residents are not willing to welcome this plant in a residential area on prime agricultural land, and that we are not able to spare the water in the event of an emergency.
Email the mayor and your ward councillor.
Anthea Millikin,
Elora
‘Wake-up call’
Dear Editor:
I was a bit surprised (and happy) when I saw the Toronto Argonauts cartoon in the Nov. 21 edition of the Advertiser.
As a longtime supporter of the CFL, I find it hard to understand why the Argos do not get more press and/or media coverage and certainly more fans attending games.
While the CFL isn’t perfect (neither is the boring NFL) and has some quirkiness to its game and rules, it is still a fun game to watch, with most games being high scoring.
Ticket prices are reasonable, starting around $24, and you can’t beat sitting outside on a warm summer evening or night watching a professional sports team that seems to win with players who play for the love of the game and not for the huge paychecks that the other Toronto professional players/ teams earn, with minimal success over the past few years.
And with a ratio of 50/50 Canadian/American players, we can support our neighbours’ or friends’ sons!
With a population of 7 million-plus in the GTA, there is no reason why the stands cannot be filled for every single home game!
Perhaps this can be a wake-up call for next season!
Robert Gergely,
Belwood
‘Time to get real’
Dear Editor:
RE: Making do, Nov. 21.
Your editorial pooh-poohed the concept of re-using building resources. We discovered in the 1990s that there are practitioners (Mennonites) re-using precious resources when we built our new house near Alma.
We salvaged many 12 pioneer-hewn barn beams, over 40 feet long, which came to support lofts in two new buildings. Bricks for our solar home came from old factories (made in Brampton) in Detroit. When I was 10 years old I spent hours cleaning old bricks for a new fireplace in my parents’ home.
Time to get real! Not everything comes from Home Depot.
Jim Dougan,
Alma
‘Disappointed’
Dear Editor:
Our Township of Centre Wellington departments have been unhelpful with the businesses located on East Mill Street in Elora, during the East Mill Street construction the past two years.
I was the owner of one of the restaurants, which I recently closed for business, who suffered a definite business loss due to the work of the street in front of my restaurant.
In particular, this past July, when the sidewalk was closed for many weeks, specifically not allowing to access my restaurant safely (or at all for few days, due to concrete pouring), we had to shut down for several days until it was safe to access my restaurant.
Despite the various proof sent to the township, they still denied my claim for a small reimbursement of business loss.
Should I take legal action against our own township, of which I have been resident for over 10 years and operated a business for six years? Of course I won’t … and I definitely won’t open any other business in Elora to sustain the economical growth of the town, considering how the township doesn’t seem to care.
Disappointed and frustrated.
Denis Fontana,
Elora
‘Tragic liberal mindset’
Dear Editor:
RE: ‘Drank the Kool Aid’, ‘Obviously satire’ and ‘Must be a mistake,’ Nov. 21.
When I read the letters countering my favour of president-elect Donald Trump, I noticed a common theme. While all these responses attacked my opinion, they lacked any concern for challenging the actual policies of Trump.
Is it not better to judge the positions over the person?
Heide Pieper suggested that my letter was “satire.” Ron Moore questioned my self respect, and alluded to the idea that I had fallen for some great scheme. He also mentioned that in the next election we must “beware of Pierre.” However, I see Mr. Poilievre as the reason I will be able to live in the Canada my parents recall.
Linda Rosier argued another candidate would be a greater aid in restoring peace and unity. But actions speak louder than words. Was it not under the Biden/Harris administration that war broke out time and again, not only on American streets, but across the entire world?
I am a Grade 10 student – I say this only so that those who oppose my views may understand why I say what I do. Daily, I am subjected to the “woke mind virus.” And time and again do I see children my own age fall under the guise of the tragic liberal mindset that poses a threat to our future generations.
Susannah Sinclair,
Fergus
No comparison
Dear Editor:
RE: ‘Drank the Kool Aid,’ Nov. 21.
Although I respect opinions of all who contribute, I must vehemently respond to this letter and any comparison of Pierre Poilievre to Donald Trump.
I too was surprised and had not felt Trump would win but I never ruled it out. What happened in the U.S. had nothing to do with electoral districts and voter intimidation; it simply came down to a horrible candidate – Trump versus an extremely poor candidate and platform of the other candidate – and, I suspect, some very deep rooted prejudices, not only in Republican states but all of the country, as he gained votes virtually everywhere in the country. That rules gerrymandering equation.
Comparing Trump to Poilievre is in itself dangerous in my opinion, as although he is conservative it is no where near the kind of level as in the U.S. There is no hidden agenda; Poilievre simply has deep roots in conservative principles. The party has no interest or policy to change abortion laws and never has.
Conservatives believe in less government controlling our daily lives. Liberals have always believed in more government controlling everything, hence 167,000 more public servants since 2015.
Additionally the Liberals have multiple ongoing scandals and have done what I call a head-scratcher, aligning themselves with a fourth-place party that has no plans or capability of forming government.
The current government also approved the worst deficits in the history of the country and it has a disdain for the older generation, which is quite obvious and stated publicly.
The Liberals finally are poised to lose the next election badly.
I can see the opposition and maybe a few people and media chanting “Pierre is Trump” next election. I strongly suggest that is false and I’m sure Canadians as a whole will not buy that fairy tale.
His message sounds simple but it is a place to start to get us back on track on spending, energy, etc.
Doak McCraney,
Guelph
Music therapy
Dear Editor:
RE: Magic of music, Nov. 21.
I appreciated Jaidynn Kottelenberg’s letter as it mentioned music therapy, a profession I have had for over 20 years.
In the 1950s, a few music therapists introduced the practice to Canada and the first training programs were founded at Capilano College, BC (1976); UQAM, QC (1985); Wilfrid Laurier University (1986); and University of Windsor (1990). Since then programs were established at Mennonite University, MB; Concordia University, QC; Acadia University, NS; and the University of Toronto.
Music therapy has grown over the past 20 years with just over 1,000 music therapists certified in Canada. Although this may seem small, program sizes often have 10 or fewer students graduating yearly per undergrad and graduate programs.
During my career, I have seen people of all ages and abilities gain control over their lives through music. Through its grounding properties, music can bring calm, regulate emotions and lessen trauma.
In general, the right brain is responsible for imagination, intuition, dreams, pictures and non-verbal cues and storing traumatic experiences. Yet the left brain is needed for processing and healing from trauma as it is responsible for sequencing, math, facts, linear thinking and language, which helps puts words to these experiences.
Unfortunately, during traumatic flashbacks the left brain (language) is often inaccessible so experiences that happened decades earlier can appear to be really happening. One positive aspect of music is its ability to enter both hemispheres of the brain and help process trauma non-verbally and verbally by pulling traumatic experiences into the left brain (language).
In this way, traumatic experiences are spread out to more areas of the brain to help repair the hurt and lessen the effects of trauma. Thanks Jaidynn for suggesting music as a healing treatment for trauma. For information visit musictherapy.ca.
Carol O’Neil,
Fergus
Time for common sense
Dear Editor:
I think Canadians are asking themselves: what does a murderer have to do in Canada to warrant a cell in a maximum security prison with no chance of parole for the balance of their lives?
Didn’t Paul Bernardo’s crimes fit that bill? Why should Canadian taxpayers endure the costs of these parole hearings? Why should the French and Mahaffy families endure this pain?
In recent times I think Canadians have demonstrated that they are looking to their political leaders to be able to make bold decisions.
If Bernardo is receiving such benefits as CPP, OAS, etc., it is time that these monies should be applied to the costs of his incarceration. It seems that it is time to fully consider the victims of crimes.
If Bernardo is entitled to these periodic hearings, I do not think that Canada is a better place because of these entitlements. The other criminal that my comments apply to is Russell Williams.
It seems to be time for bold common-sense decisions by our political leaders.
Dave Dorman,
Erin