‘Gamblification’
Dear Editor:
An open letter to Wellington-Halton Hills MP Michael Chong.
I have to bring to your attention the very disturbing circumstances of major inroads of various forms of gambling in our society.
As an elder Canadian I have watched the process starting with legitimizing casinos and wholesale lotteries assembled ostensibly to turn money over to the public in the form of funds to build sports complexes and lump sums to local townships.
Now more recently we have massive corporate lobbying and “gamblification” of sports in Canada and hiring of sports heroes to further their reach to impressionable young people and children. Further, these corporations have drawn in the sports governing bodies and even the federal judicial side of sports control.
This is all wrong because it is preying on what is, or becomes, uncontrollable vice in a portion of the population; 85% of gambling proceeds generated by these corporations is from 8% of the population and incites suicides in many that cannot control the habit.
I urge you, Michael, in your effective legislative role, to roll back laws that have allowed this uncontrolled use of vice to generate billions of dollars for these Canadian and international corporations. Disallow the hiring of sports heroes into this business and remove corporate collaboration with national sports groups and legislative groups.
As an indication of this overwhelming control gambling corporations have, you only need to watch any Canadian sports event on TV and see that every second advertisement urges use of their “convenient” gambling access to thousands of games, even displaying the odds.
Peter Little,
Fergus
‘Empirical evidence’
Dear Editor:
RE: Resist the urge, Jan. 12.
Dave Adsett’s “battle cry” about his version of common sense in dealing with police funding and reviewing the budgets of what he labels the “publicly funded hangers-on” needs a reply.
Asdett and his collective “we” need to know that many readers are not astounded by professors and organizations employing frontline staff advocating for a reallocation of community resources.
We are the people who know that what Asdett believes is “theoretical spew” is in fact based on empirical evidence which shows that communities always fare much better when resources are allocated at the front-end of the system, instead of the back-end on enforcement and the penal system.
Contrary to what Asdett understands, these facts are known. Those communities have lower crime rates, reduced need for ever increasing police budgets, and are populated with educated citizens who don’t fall for the fear-mongering catchy slogans which inevitably result from a story about a good Samaritan getting ambushed as the only rationale being considered for a societal shift toward a police state.
That is what makes sense to the public.
David Fast,
Ariss
‘Gone forever’
Dear Editor:
The Wellington Federation of Agriculture have been keeping abreast of Bill 23 and the other provincial changes that have gone along with it and have been reading the letters to the editor in this publication about it.
WFA is in communication with local tier municipalities regarding Bill 23 and other agriculture issues. There is much to be concerned about and we are glad that others outside of the agriculture sector are seeing that. The 2021 census found that farmland in Ontario was now being lost at a rate of 319 acres a day. The previous number from the 2016 census was 175 acres. Both are huge numbers when considering that only about five per cent of the province’s land can support growing food, fiber or fuel.
Prior to the passing of Bill 23, WFA was reviewing a report by Watson and Associates – the consultants commissioned by Wellington County to assist with the Official Plan Review. The report states that the county will need to add 25% more to its growth plan to meet the provincial required targets by 2051. This growth will require expansion of the urban settlement boundaries and will see farmland disappear forever.
A presentation to the county planning committee and a public meeting took place on Jan 12 for the official plan amendment No. 120 for the County of Wellington. The presentation and proposed land needs assessment for the local tiers in Wellington County can be found on the county’s PlanWell page on its website.
As part of the County’s Official Plan Review, WFA have asked the county to remove the designation of secondary agriculture from the Official Plan and treat all farmland as prime and increase the urban intensification target to 25% from the recommended 15%. Wellington County is in a unique position in Ontario; over 80% of the land in its boundary can be used for agriculture. Not only is Wellington County capable of supplying enough food for a large part of Ontario, but it also feeds the world. There are many areas that cannot supply their own food. We are very fortunate here.
Ontario Federation of Agriculture farm policy analyst Emily Sousa has done a great job explaining the effects of farmland loss and land planning to the public at large. Her conversations/interviews can be found online with Bern Tobin of Real Agriculture (Dec. 2) and Mike Farwell of Kitchener City News (Nov. 23).
Education about what will happen if the loss of farmland continues at the rate it is disappearing at is important. We encourage everyone, urban and rural, to understand the importance of a non-renewable resource such as farmland. Once it is paved over, it is gone forever.
Barclay Nap, Vice president,
Wellington Federation of Agriculture (WFA), on behalf of the WFA Board of Directors
Amazon issues
Dear Editor:
I have a serious issue with Amazon! It has bothered me for quite some time now and I’d like to talk about it.
I am an avid reader, and over many years have purchased 800-plus books from Amazon for my Kindle. I’ve also been the victim of identity theft – twice! When I could find no way to delete my credit card information I deleted my Amazon account itself. I figured I had accumulated enough reading material anyway. The next day I opened my Kindle reader only to find it empty!
I called Amazon on three separate occasions and was told tough luck! I tried to contact Kindle customer service online and found out an account is required.
I am left with a simple question: what right do they have to take my property? If it had been a shirt or a pair of jeans that I had purchased they could not have taken those back from me.
It’s so easy to purchase anything you require online but you cannot protect yourself, or your purchases.
Elaine Deacon Dirstein,
Grand Valley
‘Peace is losing’
Dear Editor:
Once upon a time there was a war. A war initiated by a once great power on its weaker neighbour. Because this invasion took place in a part of the world that had mainly enjoyed peace for a considerable period of time, its citizens reacted with horror and disbelief, immediately mobilizing against its belligerent neighbour.
The political reaction to this illegal incursion came from a coalition of countries in its immediate neighbourhood and from another rival great power much farther away. Massive support of weapons, money, technical advice, training and material aid flowed in astonishing abundance to prevent an even greater cataclysm from occurring. Refugees fleeing from danger were immediately given refuge in welcoming countries.
What has not yet been decided or agreed upon is how and when this war will end. How much damage will the rest of the world be willing to bear? How much suffering does this small, but important country take upon itself? Some voices do speak out against this war with its immediate and long-term implications, but they are quickly silenced. Everyone, even the mainstream media, seem paralyzed, frozen in time and thought.
War is supported in many ways, by action and inaction. Reverend Martin Luther King said, “War can no longer be considered a negative good.” Food for thought!
Gandhi said, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” How can we already have forgotten the lessons of past wars? War corrupts everyone.
Wars end when people who live in vibrant democracies say, “It is enough! It is over!” Until then this once-in-a-time war will continue. The machines of war and their allies have not heard from the people. War is winning and peace is losing.
Janet Calderwood,
Rockwood
In the dark?
Dear Editor:
Who is responsible – over the last couple of weeks, I have driven through the down town area of Fergus after dark. I have noticed the street lighting is in sad repair. Especially beside the Bank of Commerce parking lot.
I can’t be the only person who notices this.
David Haynes,
Fergus