‘Proof abounds’
Dear Editor:
RE: Councillor joins ‘End the Lockdowns Caucus’, Feb. 11.
Realizing Centre Wellington councilor Steve VanLeeuwen is one of many choosing to support this cause it is particularly selfish on his part given that he was elected to support his constituency.
Proof abounds that demonstrates that social distancing, masks and lockdowns work. Those measures are not as effective because anti-maskers and other protestors don’t follow the recommendations.
It is not an infringement of our civil rights but rather a process needed to prevent the virus spread.
It is an infringement of mine and other like minded people’s civil rights by taking this selfish posture, ignoring science and needlessly exposing us to severe illness and potentially death.
Michael Fleming,
Fergus
‘Keep going’
Dear Editor:
RE: Councillor joins ‘End the Lockdowns Caucus’, Feb. 11.
I want to applaud those councillors in the Wellington Advertiser who stood up to denounce the lockdown. Bravo.
Unfortunately we only hear one side of the information put out there. Those who do speak out and have other interpretations are fired or demoted.
All I can say to the councillors and others is to keep going.
Darlene Daughen and Elizabeth Rock,
Fergus/Belwood
Open things up
Dear Editor:
RE: Councillor joins ‘End the Lockdowns Caucus’, Feb. 11.
I applaud and thank Councillor Steve VanLeeuwen for joining the brave elected officials who founded the caucus.
Canadians have given the buffoons in Ottawa an entire year of their lives to figure this mess out. That’s quite enough, thank you.
Now, it’s time to restore truth, common sense, open borders, the economy and our Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Doreen Henschel,
Rockwood
Caucus ‘nonsense’
Dear Editor:
RE: Councillor joins ‘End the Lockdowns Caucus’, Feb. 11.
I find it disgraceful that a councillor doesn’t know better than to be part of an extreme-right group, the “End the Lockdown Caucus”.
A response to the COVID-19 pandemic is not a violation of the Charter of Rights given the national, if not a global, crisis to eradicate COVID and its variants.
Instead, Centre Wellington councillor Steven VanLeeuwen should be more outspoken on Premier Doug Ford’s substandard job for his endless lockdowns that could have been avoided if he listened to real medical experts.
Looking at how New Zealand and Australia handled the pandemic; they took immediate action and only opened up once the cases were truly under control and daily counts were in the single digits and contained. If new cases pop up, they take immediate action, unlike Ford, who waits until it is a crisis before taking action.
Centre Wellington councillor Steven VanLeeuwen should also be more focused on why Premier Doug Ford has ignored the LTC crisis and unsafe back-to-school plans.
Australians and New Zealanders are back to a near everyday life, unlike the seesaw effect we have experienced here. Premier Doug Ford has failed Ontarians in every which way with the pandemic and every Ontario resident’s well being.
We need smart leadership at all levels during this pandemic, not the “End the lock-down” nonsense that does nothing to help eradicate the COVID-19 pandemic, so we can all return to everyday lives.
There has been a lot of noise about vaccines’ availability, which they blame on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The shortage is not unique to Canada but a global problem. PMJT has ordered enough vaccine for Canada to choke a horse and then some. In time, Pfizer and Moderna will deliver as promised, and we need to be understanding that some things like delivery are out of our control. For one, I believe that in time, we will get our vaccination once Pharma delivers what our government has ordered.
Centre Wellington councillor Steven VanLeeuwen should be more focused on these things than the “End the Lock-down Caucus” nonsense.
I applaud Mayor Kelly Linton’s move to remove VanLeeuwen as deputy mayor.
John Akermanis,
Palmerston
‘Disappointing’
Dear Editor:
RE: Councillor joins ‘End the Lockdowns Caucus’, Feb. 11.
It is very disappointing that Mayor Kelly Linton is considering removing Steve Vanleeuwen as deputy mayor, especially in light of his loyal service, impressive record and commitment as a member of town council.
This action directly conflicts with the spirit of engaging in fair, unbiased debate and acknowledging differing viewpoints in order to make the best and healthiest choices for constituents. Lately, it seems that there is no tolerance for opposing viewpoints to COVID-19, whether at the municipal, provincial or federal levels of government, an increasingly alarming development in what we are led to believe is a “free” society.
This attitude cannot be condoned if we continue to think of ourselves as participating in a true democracy. Disturbingly, Mayor Linton’s reason for removing Mr. VanLeeuwen seems to be summed up in one thought, as quoted from the Advertiser: “I just don’t like his view on the pandemic.” So much for respecting different viewpoints.
It is not possible to responsibly represent constituents and make decisions without respecting and discussing different viewpoints. Myself, and I am sure many others, expect much more. I hope that this decision is reconsidered.
Geoff Hotson,
Mount Forest
‘Return to living’
Dear Editor:
RE: Councillor joins ‘End the Lockdowns Caucus’, Feb. 11.
At least one local politician has found some sense. The destruction to local small businesses, some won’t recover and the disproportionate effects on lower income people has to end.
The pro-lockdown crowd should be free to remain hidden under their blankets but mind their own business while the rest of us return to living.
Casey Widmeyer,
Fergus
What’s missing?
Dear Editor:
RE: Councillor joins ‘End the Lockdowns Caucus’, Feb. 11.
Regarding the photo on page 36 of the Feb. 11 issue, shouldn’t the “rebels without a clue” be wearing QAnon T-shirts and MAGA hats?
Just curious.
Ken Lancaster,
Rockwood
‘Needless deaths’
Dear Editor:
Doug Ford’s government has refused to offer the necessary protection to residents of long-term care homes hit hard by COVID-19 outbreaks.
Instead, he has legally protected the facilities, not the residents, with his Bill 218. By pardoning the LTCs of any wrongdoing, he has by default, implicated his public health directors in the devastation that has taken place.
It is evident that the public health guidelines which the LTCs have been following are seriously flawed, as proven by the sheer number of needless deaths.
Geoff Hotson,
Mount Forest
‘Do the right thing’
Dear Editor:
Recently I was embarrassed to be a Canadian. When I heard that the Government of Canada was going to be taking 1.9 million doses of vaccine from the COVAX vaccine pool, I was shocked.
The COVAX vaccine pool was specifically designed to get vaccines into the arms of people living in the 92 poorest countries in the world. (COVAX’s goal is that 20% of population in those 92 countries will be vaccinated by the end of 2021. Compare that goal to the Government of Canada stating that all Canadians who wish to be vaccinated will be vaccinated by the end of September 2021.)
When I first heard that the government was investing $440 million in COVAX, I was pleased. Canada was providing assistance and support to the less fortunate. But then it was revealed that half the investment was so that Canada could take vaccines from the COVAX pool and use them in Canada.
Canada is both buying directly from the vaccine suppliers and taking vaccines from the COVAX pool. The 92 countries in the world for whom COVAX was designed, do not have the luxury of doing what the Government of Canada is doing. We are not playing fair. This is not the Canadian way. We should leave the 1.9 million doses in the COVAX pool so that countries with limited resources will be able to get vaccines.
I am prepared to wait a little longer for my vaccination, rather than take vaccine away from those in our world who are frequently overlooked and ignored. The Government of Canada must rescind its decision to take the 1.9 million doses. It is not too late for Canada to do the right thing.
Peter Bush,
Fergus
‘To my last breath’
Dear Editor:
RE: Consultation key, Feb. 4.
In regards to the letter from Erin Mayor Allan Alls last week, I feel some pertinent facts where left out. He neglected to mention outflow rates of the river to support outflow rates of the effluent (which is an obvious component for these abominations to get built), which is in my opinion, of a major concern, as a simple family of beavers can change these numbers from upstream overnight, which I have witnessed in astonishment after hiking daily and being in this environment these past seven decades.
I do not know what the apparent failures were at the sewage plants in Orangeville, Shelburne, Beeton, Tottenham and Bradford, but there is room for research, which you bet, I will do. I already know Bradford got fined. I can only hope we do not get fined or sued by our downstream neighbors with contaminating wells, aquifer and habitat.
I have spent all my recreational time in northern Ontario and I have learned from seasoned veterans of the north how fast beavers can change water flow. We have a beaver dam already, at the 10th line bridge just north of Bush St., on the west side of the bridge. It mysteriously got breached (opened in the middle), needless to say, flow has picked up and I do have pictures.
Wow, what a coincidence, with a flow meter at this location and one can only imagine it had the potential to pick up speed! False readings, in my opinion. I do not need a drone to see what I have seen up or down river, as I have hiked all of it right through Erin, Belfountain, Forks of the Credit, Inglewood thru to Cheltenham, plus I have done the tributaries right from Cedar Valley, Hillsburgh and surrounding area.
Alls neglected to mention new tech septic systems (that I am presently researching) as an option that can be built on smaller lots. Also, he neglected to mention the proposed 7.2 million litres of effluent into the pristine West Credit River, which has a very environmentally sensitive habitat.
Apparently, this effluent does not remove microplastics and medicinal ingredients. And in regards to his comments about downtown Erin businesses that have the expense of their tankage, I truly sympathize with them, but the reality is, I can only hope that these fine and well established businesses move out to the strip malls once the town is paved over so we can still support them there, as I do now.
I will fight this to my last breath … I stand by what I am saying and when I get up in the morning and look in the mirror, I still stand proud. I hope to see you all out on our day of protest, Feb. 20 from 9am to 12pm at this proposed disaster site.
Ken Cowling,
Erin
‘Cowardly’
Dear Editor:
RE: Our hearts are broken, Feb. 4.
This letter is for Abraham Aho and family. I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved dog. I cannot understand why or how people cannot own up to their mistakes that cause other people pain. You are forgiving this person which is big of you because in your shoes, I’m not sure I could do the same.
I lost my little toy poodle Gracie a few years ago to the exact same thing. I was in with the horses, wasn’t watching, we have a very long driveway so for the life of me I don’t know why she took that route, that day. It was broad daylight, I heard a yelp, then saw a car parked by the side of the road. I knew instantly what had happened even though I was trying not to.
The difference between your story and mine is that these two young people stopped and walked up our driveway to tell me that they had hit my little six-pound poodle. And, no she shouldn’t have been out there and that’s on me. They could have just driven on and she would have suffered in pain for who knows how long, because I would have never thought to look for her out there.
She wasn’t gone but very badly injured so we rushed her to the vet and after x-rays I decided the best option would be to put her to sleep.
Ironically those two young people were on the way to a funeral for the young lady’s caretaker. Then they stopped back in on the way home to check out whether she was okay or not, which she wasn’t. She was gone. I forgave them 100% even though my heart was broken.
Point is, they had the courage and integrity to come in and tell me.
We all hugged, they had a horrible day. I had a horrible day. But I can forgive if people are honest and up front. Just leaving a dog somewhere to die without at least having the guts to come and be honest does not sit well with me. It’s cowardly.
Once again I am so sorry for your loss and that the person that did this did not have the courage to be honest. My sympathies.
Kim Walker,
Mapleton
‘Gestation cages’
Dear Editor:
Last December I saw a W5 program on the horrible living conditions of sows in gestation cages at a farm near Putnam Ontario. It was a very disturbing and shocking report. I did not realize that such “torture” devices were still used in Canada. I wonder how many Canadians are aware of this unnecessary and draconian practice?
I know that not all facets of meat production are “pretty.” I am not an activist or a vegetarian but like many Canadians I do love animals and it greatly pained me to see the cruel treatment these intelligent animals endure for the sake of our bacon and ham. Pigs are said to be as, if not more, intelligent than dogs. No one would dream of confining a dog in a cage where he can’t turn around for weeks on end, so why is this okay for pigs?
It seems no one cares. Maybe pigs are not cute and cuddly but I believe it’s more a lack of awareness and I suppose the some pork producers do a great job of keeping their dirty secrets from public view. I
If the industry was more transparent, we would not need to send people with hidden cameras in these barns to see what is truly happening there. We know that stressed animals in cramped conditions are prime candidates for sickness and disease which can be passed on to humans.
This dreadful practice needs to be done away with for good as soon as possible. We need to let our MPs know, support local producers such as the Israel family in Wallenstein who were showcased on CTV recently and make better informed consumer choices at the grocery store.
Look for “gestation crate free” pork products or buy organic.
Helen Brossard,
Harriston