Metro- Halifax : Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the editor: Thursday November 17, 2011

2011/11/17

Bill c-10.
We do not need more hardened criminals and an outrageously expensive prison system that gives us nothing back. Erin Ellis, Ottawa

We know that this approach will fail at achieving its stated goals — Texas gives a clear example of this. The Canadian Bar Association has taken a clear stance against it, stating that it may actually worsen the problems it is purported to fix. High costs — both monetary and social. It targets those in our country who are already most vulnerable, the poor, mentally ill and addicted. Matt Taves, Vancouver

It just doesn’t make sense to jail an 18-year-old drug dealer and then release them in five or 10 years and imagine that s/he will suddenly be a law-abiding citizen. How can they when they haven’t learned how? But if those years are used to teach that person how to live without drugs, to treat their depression, how to get a job, then the chances seem much better that that person can survive without turning to crime, and not re-offend.

Dr Laura Clark, MD, Toronto

Letters to the editor: Wednesday November 16, 2011

2011/11/16

Dear mayoral candidates, and other elected officials in the city of Vancouver: Stop hiding behind acronyms, show us your humanity, and understand that the movement felt around the world is not going away.

It is a causal flaw in the machinery of our economic system that will not allow any current desirable progress without first addressing the symptoms directly. Occupy Vancouver is a cog in the machine that does not need greasing, but needs redefining and re-machining so that we can all move forward together. If you want to garner our votes instead of putting fundamental issues aside until after Nov. 19, then you will look at what this movement has become and what it represents in this city.

The 99 per cent are screaming to be heard, and in Vancouver they are letting you know that basic human necessities are not being afforded to all our residents. So, I ask you, why are you so worried about shutting this movement down instead of finding a space that is owned by the city that is not being used for a relocation of this “tent city.”

Jayce Rowen, VANCOUVER

Letters to the editor: Tuesday November 15, 2011

2011/11/14

Thank you for the coverage of the G20 meetings.

The agenda for the current G20 meeting in France was originally to be about helping the poor and hungry of the world. Of course all the headlines now are about Europe and Greece. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, whose government has decided to freeze Canada’s development aid, will hear from French President Sarkozy and even Bill Gates that aid reduction is not the way to go.

Canadians are a generous and compassionate people but the government is allocating only 0.32 per cent of our national income in development aid. That’s less than half of the 0.7 per cent Mr. Harper keeps promising to give and then failing to deliver. Donor nations agree that 0.7 per cent is the amount necessary to make serious progress towards alleviating extreme poverty to 1 billion people in the world.

There are great things happening with the money Canada is sending. If we could just live up to our own promises we could be part of the solution to eradicate mortal hunger in our lifetime.

Paul Ingram, Dartmouth, N.S.

Letters to the editor: Thursday November 10, 2011

2011/11/10

Veterans. RE: Homeless veterans in fight for their lives, published Nov. 8

As a Second World War veteran, 90-years-old on March 10, 2012, this item caught my eye. It points out several salient bits of information. I too believe vets would benefit from having more Veterans Affairs outreach workers coming to them and explaining how to qualify for government support.

Vets simply do not know because the information is not out in the public.

A further concern is that while Second World War veterans may qualify for help if they have a disability related to their war experience, what happens if someone who got a one-time payout develops a service-related illness later in life?

Finally, Veterans Affairs Canada in their publication Salute publishes a column called “How to Reach Us.” Somehow that should appear in most federal government offices.

And, regional offices should have funding for an individual and or individuals who are available for on-site meetings with veterans.

John Beeching, Vancouver

Letters to the editor: Friday October 4, 2011

2011/11/04

Just think of yourself starting out in the morning, taking your young daughter to school and then heading off to work.

Sounds like a nice start to the day, when all of a sudden some crazy woman comes racing up to you in your driveway, scaring the hell out of your daughter and yelling something at you that you’re not quite sure what she’s saying.

Well, that’s what happened to my mayor who by the way has received death threats for doing his job.

He turned around and took his daughter back into his house and called 911. When nothing happened after a while he called again and was obviously a little frustrated (Who wouldn’t be?) His language got a little colourful and under the circumstances whose wouldn’t be?

When I saw this woman’s picture in the newspaper I didn’t recognize her because I don’t watch the program that she is on. Maybe Rob doesn’t watch it either.

Media should start looking at a picture from both sides not just the side that makes the big headlines no matter how unpopular that might be.

George Neale, Toronto

Letters to the editor: Wednesday November 2, 2011

2011/11/02

RE: Canadian released from Saudi jail, published Nov. 1

I would like to personally thank you on behalf of the Muslim youth of Vancouver on reporting the story of Usama Al-Atar, the 33-year-old researcher who was jailed in Saudi Arabia during his recent trip for being a Shia Muslim.

I have known Al-Atar for about 15 years now. He is a mentor, teacher, friend and like a brother to me. I thank God for his safe release and once again and I thank Metro and those who made this story possible for people to read and be aware of the injustice that not only Usama Al-Atar faced, but what many other Shia Hajj pilgrims face every year.

Mohammed Rashid, Vancouver

I wanted to thank you for publishing the article about Usama Al-Atar. I appreciate your efforts to publish news about Canadians who are faced with difficulties even in other countries, which truly demonstrates your fidelity towards delivering the right news, regardless of whatever background or religion they have.

Saeed Ash

Letters to the editor: Tuesday November 1, 2011

2011/11/01

The country is heavily in debt, we are heading into a double-dip recession and what is this so-called Conservative government doing? Well, why not spend a fortune and add more seats to the House of Commons. Yes, indeed, more MP salaries, expensive staff and money flushed down the toilet yearly.

Reduce the amount of seats where the provinces are over represented such as Quebec. This fixes the problem without costing a fortune.

Anthony Silvestro, Ottawa

RE: Protecting Lightfoot’s legacy, published Oct. 31

Thank you for the interesting reading about the Canadian musical legend.

He may be a “mean drunk and a bad husband,” but the immutable fact remains — his music transcends any personal flaws he might have. He is one of the few Canadian music icons popular worldwide.

I judge the High Priest of Canadian music only on the basis of his fabulous, immortal music for which I am, forever, thankful — nothing else.

Harry S. Anchan, Calgary

Letters to the editor: Monday October 31, 2011

2011/10/31

RE: Confession: I have a thing for the GOP, published Oct. 27.

I am a fourth year Simon Fraser University student taking a course that focuses on Canadian racism, classism, and sexism. Mr. Mazerolle’s column was used as an example of racism in the media in our class. In fact, his article was such a strong exemplar that it became the star of our class discussions addressing various aspects of racism, including what is called cultural racism and the homogenization of racism.

Cultural racism, also known as the “new racism” refers to individuals or groups of people making claims that particular ethnic groups are inferior based on their race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, and so on.

The article was culturally racist towards: Americans (it offended the U.S. citizens in our class, irregardless of their race, nationality, religion, gender, class, sexual orientation), Conservatives, and Christians who are part of a group that represents a 33,000+ total number of “Christian” denominations.

Maryanne, Vancouver

Letters to the editor: Thursday October 27, 2011

2011/10/27

Cudos and a big “Well Done” to the CPC for living up to their promise to rid us of the ineffective and expensive long-gun registry. Hopefully this is only step one in the process of ridding Canada of other such failed and failing social engineering projects. It’s a refreshing change to have some common sense coming out of Ottawa.

Mr. Ken Decarle Gabriola Island, B.C.

RE: Lesbian couple turfed from Timmies, published Oct. 25

I do not understand why the lesbian couple did not apologize to customers of Tim Hortons for making out in a public space, in the first place.

I am more than sure that the Tim Hortons staff was aware what this couple was doing and unfortunately did nothing about it until other customers started to complain. I am more than sure, that it was not done at first out of fear.

No one should have the rights to bother others if one does not want to be sued by them for discrimination on a base of their sexual orientation and they use it to whole extent.

Bozenna Siedlecka , Port Moody, B.C.

Letters to the editor: Wednesday October 26, 2011

2011/10/26

When Canada’s current regime of gun control legislation was drafted, the law-abiding gun owners in this nation rallied against it.

The government of the day pushed the bill through in spite of many flaws, some of which contradict the Charter of Rights and Freedoms; going as far as to subject legal gun owners to illegal search and seizure and suspension of the right to remain silent during investigation.

Well, now the landscape has changed. It is clear that Canadians no longer want to see Ottawa waste precious resources on legislation that targets law-abiding citizens and leaves criminals to their misdeeds.

The current government has decided that it is not the law-abiding gun owners of this country that need to have their freedoms curtailed, but the lawless, the organized gangs. It is with this vision that we hope there are less victims for the victim’s advocates to mourn, less criminal acts with firearms for the Coalition for Gun Control to rail against, more resources for mental health and more money for policing.

Mr. Kevin Ordowicz
Saint-hubert, Que.