Our ‘last’ Christmas?
Dear Editor:
Wake up, Canada. Call me an alarmist but I woke up one night in a cold sweat with the thought of a dystopian scenario in my head. What if president-elect Donald Trump tore a page out of history and followed in Vladimir Putin’s footsteps and invaded his resource-rich neighbour to the north?
Impossible, you say? But who would stop him? Our woefully undermanned and ill equipped army forces? Our disarmed populace?
Now Trump’s rhetoric has turned to calling our prime minister a governor of the “state” of Canada. Oh, he was only joking! What if he and his cabal are not joking?
His close associates from his first term in office have warned us that he is not fit to hold office. Trump has publicly stated that he plans to prosecute his political opponents and rule as a dictator on day one of his presidency.
Is no one listening? Am I the little boy in the crowd saying that the emperor has no clothes?
That said, I wish everyone a merry Christmas. It may be our last for years to come.
Robert Sevigny,
Centre Wellington
Nothing but slogans
Dear Editor:
Over the past 12 months Pierre Poilievre and his Conservative cohorts have put forward five motions against the carbon tax, citing high food costs and increased inflation while completely ignoring the rebates which return 90% of carbon-generated revenue back to Canadian households.
Statistics Canada estimates the carbon tax has increased the price of food by 0.3%.
Meanwhile climate change continues to impact food prices globally due to extreme weather.
Olive oil, coffee, cacao, rice and Canadian beef prices have all been pushed up drastically due to drought or flood conditions. A report published in the journal Communications Earth and Environment states climate change could easily drive up the cost of food by over 3% per year.
I wonder why Poilievre isn’t railing against climate change with the same fervour. I guess that would require a tangible, comprehensive plan rather than just a silly catchy slogan.
Sue Braiden,
Erin
ER a ‘necessity’
Dear Editor:
RE: Louise Marshall emergency department closed Saturday, Dec. 12.
Apparently we can’t keep the emergency department at Louise Marshall Hospital in Mount Forest open 24/7/365, even though it is vital to our town!
The closing on Dec. 7 was attributed to “a staffing shortage.” Then hire more staff.
Wellington North is quite eager to spend millions of dollars on a fancy (not necessary) swimming pool, but appears to be reluctant to contribute more to our hospital.
The hospital should be open 365 days a year; the emergency department is a necessity for everyone.
An outdoor swimming pool would be open roughly May 24 to Sept. 30, so about 129 days per year weather permitting, and only used by a handful of taxpayers if they still have their health.
Mike Kelly,
Mount Forest
*Editor’s note: Generally speaking, health care is the responsibility of the provincial government, not municipal governments.
‘Outrageous situation’
Dear Editor:
RE: ‘Unnecessary insults,’ Dec. 5.
The writer of this letter is grossly mistaken by projection and taking the words out of context.
If you had watched the council meeting on video which the Advertiser article was reporting on (Cost of Centre Wellington operations centre climbs to $44 million, Nov. 21), which the letter was addressed to, he would clearly understand the “crowd” mentioned was not the general public and citizens of Centre Wellington. It was the people at the meeting.
The letter was in defence of citizens who clearly were told by the mayor and other councillors that affordable housing was a primary priority for the future council. Many voted for them on that premise and a need for change.
At no time was the “Taj Mahal project” mentioned or a priority when the election was happening. You can tell a lot about governments and elected officials by what they prioritize to spend money on, not just talk about. Over $44 million for the staff’s new operating centre; zero for affordable housing – zero.
The staff at that meeting are all on the Sunshine List and most of them do not live or pay taxes in Centre Wellington.
The letter I wrote was to express this outrageous situation from a citizen’s perspective and I received many compliments toward it. Effective communication should have the rhetoric and the content match.
Stephen Kitras,
Centre Wellington
Concerns ‘quite right’
Dear Editor:
RE: Public has misgivings about proposed battery storage facility, Nov. 28.
The concerns of the people at the meeting were quite right. Pierre Chauvin states there aren’t that many sites in the province. Is it any wonder? Who wants a potential explosion, fire or deadly smoke in their community?
If there was a fire or leakage and residents had to leave their homes, the company could declare bankruptcy and walk away.
What type of containment would be in place in the event of a fire? Water would not be the go-to, to put it out; it would probably vaporize with the heat. Sea can containers would fold up like tin cans and not contain anything inside.
These battery facilities in the U.S. do not have a good track record regarding fire. The fire chief has a flippant attitude about a fire plan. These small-town fire departments have no experience or equipment to handle battery fires of this size.
The bunker gear is not rated for the heat of this type of fire. This facility could also increase in size, who’s to know?
J. Alexander,
Fergus
Seniors, homelessness
Dear Editor:
RE: County suspends ‘Continuum of Care’ project due to lack of funding options, Dec. 5.
Everyone deserves the money from taxes, fundraising, marketing campaigns and more.
Where are those people to live? There is quite a bit of homelessness and it is increasing. How many of these “seniors” in the coming years will be homeless?
A month, a year, five years or more?
We need affordable housing now. Put some of that money into projects that will help the residents with the basics of life. Maybe an “influencer” can channel some money into a “Hallmark” life for the Senior Housing Plan.
Let the light of our area shine bright for all.
Lucy Dyment,
Fergus
Lack of parking
Dear Editor:
I was recently invited to discuss the extreme lack of accessible parking spaces in Elora and Fergus with Centre Wellington Mayor Shawn Watters and clerk Kerri O’Kane.
I also pointed out the recent accident involving an Elora veteran and the need to slow down the traffic flow through the Elora downtown area and over the new bridge.
I presented some outside-the-box suggestions which were enthusiastically accepted for consideration. These included some one-way streets, diagonal parking where possible, speed bumps and a much lower speed limit.
Recent reconstruction, apparently requested by the BIA, which removed many parking spaces on Mill Street East in Elora, created an even bigger challenge for people trying to park. The other result is fewer suitable locations for accessible parking.
Another topic of note was the large number of vehicles that contravened The Highway Traffic Act (mainly with illegal exhaust systems and wheels sticking out beyond the fenders), that are coming into Elora and Fergus lately and a request for some action regarding this.
Malcolm McCulloch,
Centre Wellington
Nativity display
Dear Editor:
On behalf of Knox Presbyterian Church in Conn, we sincerely thank all those who attended our annual nativity display from Dec. 6 to 8.
We enjoyed sharing our 580 nativities, over 200 angels, Christmas card collections, and international Christmas traditions and hope that they enhanced everyone’s spirit of Christmas.
Thank you to those who joined in sharing their unique nativities along with ours for everyone’s enjoyment.
Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Penny Renken,
Clerk, Knox Presbyterian Church
‘Deconstruction’
Dear Editor:
RE: ‘Time to get real,’ Dec. 5.
I would like to thank Jim Dougan for his letter regarding his experiences with deconstruction.
While the practice of deconstruction is in its infancy, there has been significant research and dialogue about deconstruction (for example discussions about urban mining and circular economics).
A number of North American cities have adopted deconstruction and construction recycling ordinances.
With the support of municipalities, the deconstruction movement can continue to grow and become an integral part of the design and construction process.
Paula Hamilton,
Puslinch