EV issues
Dear Editor:
Finally, an alternative to those horrible, polluting and gas guzzling automobiles! Electric vehicles (EV) have arrived and have even been legislated to replace all gasoline powered vehicles by 2035. Salvation at last! Or is it?
It would seem like our forward-thinking PM and his brilliant minister of the environment have saved the nation! But is Canada the right place for EVs?”
Given the economic climate of today, just how is it possible for average families, struggling to meet everyday living expenses, have the wherewithal to even consider the extra cost of any new vehicle, especially one with the current exorbitant price tags on EVs?
Consider the limitations of these creatures; the lack of availability for charging, the mathematics of calculating range dependent on so many variables, many of them unknown.
Consider Canada itself. Heat in summer demands air conditioning; cold in winter drains the battery more quickly, both thereby reducing the range. Distances between cities is often vast, making alternatives like public transit less convenient or often impractical.
Consider the future demands put on the electrical grid of the province. That extra demand for power does not come without a substantial cost.
Consider how disposal of used batteries is to be done, and even the costs associated with their replacement to the owner. The building of battery plants is rampant, but we have not heard much of any recycling plants specific to this industry. Is there no other viable way to decrease our carbon footprint for transport? How about providing incentives for everyday folks to do their part, short of gambling on this new technology, which is seemingly ahead of reality.
How about implementing a system similar to the old Ontario licensing annual renewals where the smaller the engine, the lesser the fee? Perhaps a further incentive acknowledging and rewarding lesser than a set standard allowance for distance driven.
If we are going to accept the carbon tax, then give a break to all agricultural workers and small business entrepreneurs. I know this may tread on a few toes, but do we really need so many pickups for basic family transport? Farmers, of course, trades folk too, but please think about the reality of the urban environment rather than a personal ego trip for some sort of ridiculous status symbol.
Time and technology will tell, and there will be alternatives to EVs. For now, use alternatives in which we can all participate and do our part, while waiting for solutions to all the difficulties these machines have already created.
Ron Johnson,
Mount Forest
Bad decision
Dear Editor:
RE: Council declares park surplus, opens door for new Catholic high school in Fergus, Feb. 1.
One of the most ridiculous things Centre Wellington council has done is declare this park as surplus.
Parkland is scarce with the in-filling these days.Councillor Bronwynne Wilton is quite right: this is a badly congested area now when school lets out and goes in. What will it be like in the future with a high school in the mix?
Don’t the taxpayers have a say in this deal? How about asking the area residents what they want, not what Mayor Shawn Watters thinks is best? Watters criticized the previous council and now it appears he overrules his councillors and it has to be his way.
There is land set aside in Storybrook Garden for schools. Put the high school there.
J. Alexander,
Fergus
*Editor’s note: Each member of a municipal council gets one vote. The mayor cannot “overrule” other councillors in this type of decision.
‘Interesting’ column
Dear Editor:
RE: Bringing back memory of conservationist Robert Kerr, Feb. 8.
Steven Thorning’s article about Robert Kerr was quite interesting. Such vision, interest and tenacity was astounding! He really was the little engine that could. And did.
My father was an Irish immigrant who settled in the West Montrose, Conestogo area as a farm hand in the spring of 1925.
He must have purchased a camera at some time. There are many photos of bank barns and the building of the Conestogo Dam. One photo appears to have been taken prior to the completion of this dam. Many were taken at the Elora Gorge.
I can only assume that he sent these photos back home to show his family what his new life in Canada looked like.
Liz Hughes,
Puslinch
‘Worthless’ gift cards
Dear Editor:
I’m writing to alert folks about gift card scams, which are “popular” across Canada.
We purchased two $50 Amazon gift cards in December at the Shoppers Drug Mart. When unsealed, the cards had the authentication number partially scratched out, so neither card could be used. We complained to the store manager, who advised he could not help, and to call the 1-800 Shoppers number. The 1-800 people told us they could not help, and said to call Amazon. After four hours on the phone with Amazon, they could do nothing for us. So we are out $100. We are pursuing this with Shoppers’ parent company, Loblaws.
A friend advised she had a similar problem with Winners cards purchased at Shoppers – when trying to use the cards, they had zero value on them. Shoppers advised her this was Winners problem.
Another friend sent us a link to a Vancouver TV station report on unusable cards purchased at Shoppers.
In summary, don’t buy gift cards! If you do, be prepared for a fight if (when) it turns out they are worthless.
Ken Lancaster,
Rockwood
Transportation issues
Dear Editor:
Recent news articles have described well our angst and anger over issues we feel we can’t control: worsening climate change and the need to reduce our carbon footprint, inflation with rising costs in food and transport in particular, lack of affordable housing, rising property taxes. But rather than argue the details of our existential crises in this letter, I would like to ask readers a few questions.
How many of us commute outside of our hometown? In 2019, the Centre Wellington Community Foundation Vital Signs survey said that 60% of Centre Wellington residents do so, mostly to Guelph and Kitchener-Waterloo.
Now, how many of us own two or more vehicles? Often two workers in the family means you must have two cars. Even with one salaried worker, the family needs another car for errands and childcare.
Now, what if you could manage with just one car? Think of the savings in car payments, insurance, maintenance, and repairs to say nothing of the reduction in trips to the gas station.
How could that be possible? Only if our local governments provide reliable, convenient and affordable intercommunity public transportation. Providing a service that meets the needs of commuters to Guelph and Kitchener-Waterloo would address many financial and lifestyle stressors in our lives.
Not only would it save money for individuals and families, but also for our governments. Local governments are currently preparing for a future that needs more new roads, new bridges and bypasses for its growing populations.
Let’s instead work on reducing the need for new infrastructure through reducing the number of private, single-occupant vehicles on those roads.
We need up-to-date information on commuting in Wellington County – origin and destination, length of trip, frequency of trips, vehicle type, number of occupants, etc.
Does this information exist? We need to explore public transportation options, e.g., could Guelph transit evolve into a Wellington County transit system?
Public transportation is a public good and critical to the health of a growing community – and we have been told we must grow. Yet I have heard very little from our governments on this matter beyond the Ride Well program which, while providing a needed service for individuals, likely doesn’t meet the larger needs of effectively reducing single-occupant private vehicles.
The people of Wellington County need the option to not drive our car and instead hop on a reliable, convenient and affordable public transportation that can get us to work and home. My final question – what would it take for you to not drive your car to work and instead take public transportation? Now, let your local councillor know.
Paula Menzies,
Fergus
‘Beautiful’ column
Dear Editor:
RE: The Open Mind column on Feb. 15, entitled “Love in your life.”
I had to say, what a wonderful article in the “Open Mind” column by Alba Zalli. Beautiful.
Christy Doraty,
Fergus
‘Readers don’t know’
Dear Editor:
RE: Green light imposter? (Feb. 8).
On page 6 of the Feb. 8 issue of the Wellington Advertiser, you reported that a driver was charged with improper use of a green flashing light. You don’t, however, explain what a green flashing light is used for and why its use was improper in this occasion.
I’m taking a guess here, but I believe that, probably, most of your readers don’t know the purpose of a green flashing light.
Anthony Martins,
Elora
*Editor’s note: Flashing green lights are used in the personal vehicles of volunteer firefighters on their way to the fire hall after being paged for an emergency call. Other drivers should yield the right of way to vehicles with these lights (pull over and allow them to pass if it is safe to do so). Though not fully explained by the OPP in the case noted above, improper use of such lights would include any use other than during an emergency situation or use by anyone other than a first responder.
‘Let them be children’
Dear Editor:
Why restrict cell phones in schools and cause a lot of grief? Just take money from school budget and buy a cell jammer and not say anything; who is the teacher?
The parents should not even give their child a cell phone. Let them be children and leave all the bullies at school and not in their pocket and take them with them.
Robert Kay,
Palmerston
Cartoon ‘reality’
Dear Editor:
I just opened the Feb. 15 Advertiser to see the cartoon illustration of Trump with Polievre in a baby carrier on his front … very funny actually. I get the point of how this association is being used by the Liberal Party of Canada, but rather than calling it spin, maybe call it “reality”.
The only change I would make would be to make it a double carrier with Danielle Smith in it as well!
Mark Walker,
Elora
‘Reckless’ with life
Dear Editor:
I recently watched the chilling play Radium Girls at the Fergus Grand Theatre, with spectacular acting and set design all around. A wonderful mix of drama, a twisting plot, and dance. So proud of everyone who contributed.
The true story is about the U.S. Radium Corporation in the 1920s, trying to cover up the harmful effects of radium even as it was poisoning the girls who painted the watches, and soon entered the marketplace with toxic radium products. It’s a forever relevant story as this happens time and time again. A mega-corporation leaps onto an untested new fad and then cuts corners in ways that harm the safety of the staff and the general public.
The answer of course is to pass laws and regulations that ensure accountability and transparency from the most powerful of corporations and their products. After all, the most powerful should be expected to be the most responsible, since their actions strongly affect the rest of us.
But whenever something new comes along, usually the proper protocols, laws and research don’t exist yet.
And the greedy rush to sell a product and dominate the market overshadows basic critical thinking. A factory run by snake oil salesmen is a frightening thing, and even scarier when the workers are kept in the dark.
Thankfully in the story, the female workers started questioning the practices of their company, and didn’t stay silent, seeking out the help of women’s groups and unions. With them speaking up and going to court, the law (and science) finally caught up, but not before death took its toll.
Mega-corporations have the right to sell you products, but they don’t have the right to be reckless with human life and keep us in the dark.
Nathan Gatten,
Fergus