Time for change is now
Dear Editor:
This letter is addressed to two specific cohorts: the youth eligible to vote and to the baby boomers (and older) seniors. This is our opportunity to change the course of history in Ontario and we can do that by casting a ballot for another party other than the Ford/Arnott team. The upcoming election has serious implications for everyone if the Ford team is elected for another four years. Do not forfeit your opportunity to vote on June 2.
To the younger folks in Ontario, this is your chance and responsibility to truly make a difference in terms of the Ontario that you want to see going forward. This election could be won by you. You have the power to make a true difference for your personal future and the generations to come. This is a chance to elect people who truly believe that climate change is real, concrete and important for your healthy, livable future.
To the boomers and those of us who qualify as older, it is time to take off the blinders, to remember the mistakes and scandals of the last four years, especially in long-term care, and look to another party to support in the upcoming election. This election determines how we will be treated in our remaining years and how the future will look for our grandchildren and their grandchildren.
The present administration has passed legislation to privatize home care and to remove regulations on seniors care. With the use of Ministerial Zoning Orders (MZOs) the environment and the natural world are at risk. There are very clear indicators that privatized health care and education are on the agenda with the Ford/Arnott team counting on your vote.
Please, to both groups, be prepared to vote for a new vision for Ontario and a real change in Wellington-Halton Hills. We need a government prepared to work for the best interests of the whole community not just wealthy friends and donors.
We cannot afford another four years of Doug Ford. We need real change to return to a democracy that cares for the interconnected web and a just society for everyone. The time is now.
Respectfully submitted by a Grandma who cares deeply.
Burna Wilton,
Centre Wellington
No Fergus nightlife?
Dear Editor:
It was suddenly brought to our attention a couple of weekends ago that the opening times of restaurants in Fergus are not conducive to “having a night out locally”.
My husband and I and a couple of friends were attending the organ concert at Melville Church at 7pm on a Saturday night. We agreed to meet at a restaurant at one end of the main street at 5:30pm. When we told the server where we were going she very kindly said that as they had only one chef that night, and a large party of 40, we likely couldn’t be out in time. We thanked her for letting us know and left to seek out another restaurant.
We were disappointed to find that nearly all eating places on the main street were either closed, takeout only, or not ready for customers. At 6pm on a Saturday night! We did end up at an establishment at the other end of the main street and enjoyed our meal even though by then we had to almost eat and run.
Our friends are from Elora where the main street is always buzzing with people and roughly a dozen restaurants are open to serve at all hours.
What happened to Fergus tourists? Locals like to have a meal out without having to use the car too.
Melanie Reed,
Fergus
‘Blindsided’
Dear Editor:
I am revisiting the unsavoury situation of having to pay to park at the Trailside Medical Centre.
Fergus residents clearly indicated that they did not want this kind of thing introduced, when it concerned any medical services.
This directly affects our most vulnerable citizens (ie. – veterans and seniors with medical issues and are likely on fixed pensions).
Many people were blindsided by this action, but have basically decided to just try and live with it. Hopefully, sooner or later, the owners of Trailside may decide to reconsider their disgusting, anti-social, pension-impacting tactics against the sick and vulnerable and just increase the rents of the occupying tenants, some of whom already refund the cost of parking anyway.
Adding to the bad policies of the Trailside owners, is the 15-minute free policy, which possibly may apply to the ever-ready bunny. It is possible to book into the blood clinic and be outside in approximately 10 minutes, but if you put your ticket into the machine to be validated, it ignores that fact and asks for payment. It does not validate your ticket to get out free. Do you drive out and hope to get through without getting stuck against the barrier or just pay? Also, this need for “zoom zoom tactics” to avoid paying surely has the potential to cause an accident someday.
Malcolm McCulloch,
Fergus