{"id":42374,"date":"2023-01-16T05:28:53","date_gmt":"2023-01-16T05:28:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.brandon.ddtest.info\/multisite-test\/letters-to-the-editor-little-to-show-but-skyrocketing-levels-of-debt-liberal-spending-vs-liberal-achievements-plus-other-letters-to-the-editor-for-jan-15\/"},"modified":"2023-01-16T05:28:53","modified_gmt":"2023-01-16T05:28:53","slug":"letters-to-the-editor-little-to-show-but-skyrocketing-levels-of-debt-liberal-spending-vs-liberal-achievements-plus-other-letters-to-the-editor-for-jan-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.brandon.ddtest.info\/multisite-test\/letters-to-the-editor-little-to-show-but-skyrocketing-levels-of-debt-liberal-spending-vs-liberal-achievements-plus-other-letters-to-the-editor-for-jan-15\/","title":{"rendered":"Letters to the editor: \u2018Little to show but skyrocketing levels of debt.\u2019 Liberal spending vs. Liberal achievements, plus other letters to the editor for Jan. 15"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> \n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<figure class=\"BodyImage__BodyImagePhoto-xeeopr-0 hlZAht\"><picture class=\"l-media\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/resizer\/kT1iAi0_6_92IHt0bqrYVPDKwzk=\/1200x0\/filters:quality(80):format(webp)\/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com\/tgam\/FZRJGZQH6VKEZMKLWOYI4PSUBI.JPG 1200w\" sizes=\"940px\" media=\"(min-width: 80rem)\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/resizer\/5YM8FvGjR15d64DE08vy4kp3OXE=\/1200x0\/filters:quality(80):format(jpeg)\/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com\/tgam\/FZRJGZQH6VKEZMKLWOYI4PSUBI.JPG 1200w\" sizes=\"940px\" media=\"(min-width: 80rem)\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/resizer\/QuJ_yQOZN8AYWUWgM0RoDxE9EKY=\/900x0\/filters:quality(80):format(webp)\/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com\/tgam\/FZRJGZQH6VKEZMKLWOYI4PSUBI.JPG 900w\" sizes=\"690px\" media=\"(min-width: 48rem) and (max-width: 79.9rem)\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/resizer\/n2ffY8e-VURfzi_cJFtyRP5nk80=\/900x0\/filters:quality(80):format(jpeg)\/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com\/tgam\/FZRJGZQH6VKEZMKLWOYI4PSUBI.JPG 900w\" sizes=\"690px\" media=\"(min-width: 48rem) and (max-width: 79.9rem)\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/resizer\/ZmQIVM8KvJThJcdJxuNSTg0-VWA=\/600x0\/filters:quality(80):format(webp)\/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com\/tgam\/FZRJGZQH6VKEZMKLWOYI4PSUBI.JPG 600w\" sizes=\"100vw\" media=\"(max-width: 47.9rem)\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/resizer\/XJSm2yhgZvgv5z289ORCxQTkYW0=\/600x0\/filters:quality(80):format(jpeg)\/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com\/tgam\/FZRJGZQH6VKEZMKLWOYI4PSUBI.JPG 600w\" sizes=\"100vw\" media=\"(max-width: 47.9rem)\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"c-image\" width=\"600\" height=\"373\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/resizer\/XJSm2yhgZvgv5z289ORCxQTkYW0=\/600x0\/filters:quality(80):format(jpeg)\/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com\/tgam\/FZRJGZQH6VKEZMKLWOYI4PSUBI.JPG\" alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/picture><figcaption class=\"c-image-figcap font-gmsans c-image-figcap--block\">\n<div class=\"figcap-grid\">\n<div class=\"figcap-cc\">\n<p class=\"figcap-text\"><span class=\"caption cap-1\">Canada Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault  addresses a news conference at the COP15 UN conference on biodiversity in Montreal, on Dec. 16.<\/span><span class=\"credit acl-1\">Paul Chiasson\/The Canadian Press<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"text-pb-6 hl3 mt-40 mb-24 font-pratt-bold c-article-body__subheading-v2 c-article-body__subheading-v2--level3 c-article-body__subheading-v2--regular\">Other means<\/h3>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">Re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/world\/article-ukraine-needs-at-least-179-billion-to-restore-telecoms-sector-to-pre\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ukraine Needs At Least $1.79-billion To Restore Telecoms Sector To Pre-war Levels, UN Report Says<\/a> (Online, Jan. 6): Justin Trudeau keeps saying we have Ukraine\u2019s back. Well, we don\u2019t have it with any military equipment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">We do have telecom equipment and we do have transformers, light bulbs and generators. I haven\u2019t heard a word about sending any of those things to Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">They would go some way, along with more parkas, blankets and medical supplies, to helping Ukrainians who need more than words to keep warm and connected.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\"><b>Marilyn Dolenko<\/b> <i>Ottawa<\/i><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"text-pb-6 hl3 mt-40 mb-24 font-pratt-bold c-article-body__subheading-v2 c-article-body__subheading-v2--level3 c-article-body__subheading-v2--regular\">Change coming<\/h3>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">Re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/business\/industry-news\/energy-and-resources\/article-canadian-oil-sands-producers-to-begin-evaluating-proposed-carbon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pathways Signs Carbon Storage Site Deal<\/a> (Report on Business, Jan. 5): This carbon capture and storage plan is expected to cost about $16.5-billion by 2030 and, despite our government unveiling a CCS investment tax credit, the oil industry wants still more financial support.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">Why not? Their business is to make profit. But why should taxpayers subsidize an industry\u2019s attempt to sequester production emissions, only to flood the market afterward with fossil fuels? Sequestration at taxpayer expense, even if it works, doesn\u2019t seem to do one bit of good if the resulting product wreaks ever-increasing havoc on our environment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">Production and associated environmental costs should be borne by the oil industry and users of their products that emit harmful emissions. Taxes on profit and on end users should be directly related to the enormous and ever-rising costs of climate change.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">Revenues should be used to ease the transition to clean electricity for our energy needs to the extent possible.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\"><b>Frederic Carpenter<\/b> <i>Ottawa<\/i><\/p>\n<hr class=\"article-divider\"\/>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">Re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/politics\/article-an-activist-in-office-steven-guilbeaults-first-year-as-environment\/\">An Activist In Office: Steven Guilbeault\u2019s First Year As Environment Minister<\/a> (Jan. 2): While I\u2019m sure likeminded ideologues will praise Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault\u2019s accomplishments, throwing money at everything, everywhere shouldn\u2019t be recognized as an achievement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">A more noteworthy accomplishment would be an audit showing that the millions, or billions, of dollars given to any cause were wisely spent, and predetermined goals resulted in measurable benefits. That climate change goals have never been met is a perfect example to me of failure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">Instead, I think Mr. Guilbeault\u2019s advancements will be fleeting and no more meaningful than the billions of dollars this government has already spent, with little to show but skyrocketing levels of debt.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\"><b>Paul Baumberg <\/b><i>Dead Man\u2019s Flats, Alta.<\/i><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"text-pb-6 hl3 mt-40 mb-24 font-pratt-bold c-article-body__subheading-v2 c-article-body__subheading-v2--level3 c-article-body__subheading-v2--regular\">Into the wild<\/h3>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">Re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/canada\/alberta\/article-environmental-groups-welcome-parks-canada-buyout-of-jasper-park\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Buyout Of Jasper Park Businesses Welcomed To Protect Caribou <\/a>(Jan. 6): Crushing news.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">For more than 50 years, I have been going to Jasper National Park\u2019s wonderful Tonquin Valley. I have stayed at both lodges and hiked in as a teen. I have brought my family twice.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">It\u2019s where I am a speck on the planet, in the valley of grizzlies with a sky spilling over with stars at night. Pure magic. Tonquin Valley is my screensaver; a print hangs in my living room and in my medical office.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">The valley\u2019s backcountry lodges offered a world-class experience of our spectacular Rocky Mountains. I believe the world has nothing else like it, and it was ours to offer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">To dismantle a Canadian gem created by the likes of Fred Brewster and other parks visionaries feels devastating and myopic of Parks Canada. Not everyone is a hiker.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">At 63 I suppose, sadly, that I will never be able to see my touchstone again.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\"><b>Clare Dossetor <\/b><i>Ottawa<\/i><\/p>\n<hr class=\"article-divider\"\/>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">Re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/canada\/article-canada-urban-tree-planting\/\">Alliance Aims To Strengthen Urban Forests<\/a> (Jan. 9): Forests Ontario commends these organizations for their collaboration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">In Toronto, Forests Ontario is a year into the Tree Seed Diversity Program with the city. This partnership will secure a variety of native, source-appropriate stock that will support the city\u2019s forest-restoration planting programs and strengthen biodiversity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">Forests Ontario worked with more than 40 provincial seed and cone collectors who acquired approximately 12 million viable seeds this year. In total, our seed bank is comprised of 205 million viable seeds, which helps ensure our nursery partners can grow the right tree, for the right place, at the right time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">The urban environment presents a challenge, but the benefits of a healthy urban canopy to residents and in the fight against climate change are worth it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\"><b>Rob Keen RPF; CEO, Forests Ontario and Forest Recovery Canada<\/b> <i>Barrie, Ont.<\/i><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"text-pb-6 hl3 mt-40 mb-24 font-pratt-bold c-article-body__subheading-v2 c-article-body__subheading-v2--level3 c-article-body__subheading-v2--regular\">At home<\/h3>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">Re Five Steps For Tackling Canada\u2019s Long-term Care Crisis (Jan. 3): It is disheartening to me that the focus for senior care is mostly on long-term care institutions. Allowing our seniors to live at home with proper in-home support would be the ideal solution.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">Housing people in institutions should only occur when medical needs can no longer be met at home. Cutting ribbons in front of new care homes doesn\u2019t come close to meeting the needs of our aging population. And it is the more expensive option.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\"><b>Janice Couch<\/b> <i>Kingston<\/i><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"text-pb-6 hl3 mt-40 mb-24 font-pratt-bold c-article-body__subheading-v2 c-article-body__subheading-v2--level3 c-article-body__subheading-v2--regular\">Planes, trains<\/h3>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">Re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/investing\/personal-finance\/article-cta-air-passenger-complaints\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CTA To Extend Claims Decisions To Those On Same Flight<\/a> (Jan. 11): A few years ago, I submitted a complaint to the Canadian Transportation Agency regarding a late-evening flight from Washington to Ottawa that was cancelled by United Airlines.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">We were advised that United was cancelling the flight due to bad weather in Ottawa. But when I later did some research, I discovered it was the only cancelled flight into Ottawa that night. And the weather was actually fine. Nevertheless, United refused to reimburse me for the cost of the hotel, dinner and taxis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">I assumed the CTA would support my claim. To my astonishment, I was advised that it \u201cdoes not have the jurisdiction to dispute an airline\u2019s reason for a flight cancellation.\u201d Which left me wondering just what authority it did have.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">I assume that in any instance where an airline says it cancelled flights due to poor weather, passengers may as well not bother seeking compensation through the CTA.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\"><b>John Ambridge<\/b> <i>Ottawa<\/i><\/p>\n<hr class=\"article-divider\"\/>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">Re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/business\/commentary\/article-via-rails-holiday-meltdown-shows-canadas-railway-policy-has-utterly\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Via Rail\u2019s Holiday Meltdown Shows Canada\u2019s Railway Policy Has Failed Us<\/a> (Report on Business, Dec. 30): On Christmas, we travelled from Michigan to Sarnia, Ont., for a train trip to Toronto. We greatly missed the city the past two years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">When we boarded in Sarnia at 8:40 a.m., it was bitterly cold and the great blizzard was whirling snow. After St. Mary\u2019s station, the train slowed considerably. We were informed that the engines were losing power.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">A crew member, in jest, said to us, \u201cDon\u2019t worry, we could probably coast the rest of the way to Toronto.\u201d But the engineers fixed the problem, so we were shortly off and running again.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">When we arrived at Union Station in Toronto, we noticed how iced up and snow-covered our engine and cars were. We thought to ourselves, Via Rail train 84 was truly a \u201cpolar express,\u201d though more \u201cpolar\u201d than \u201cexpress.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">A hearty shoutout to our friends at Via. We wish all Canadians a happy and healthy 2023.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\"><b>Joe Neussendorfer<\/b> <i>Shelby Township, Mich.<\/i><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"text-pb-6 hl3 mt-40 mb-24 font-pratt-bold c-article-body__subheading-v2 c-article-body__subheading-v2--level3 c-article-body__subheading-v2--regular\">Critic\u2019s pick<\/h3>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">Re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/opinion\/letters\/article-the-prime-minister-is-not-a-monarch-or-president-do-we-need-a-canadian\/\">Patriotism, Artistic Expression Clash After Electric Riff on O Canada<\/a> (Jan. 3): The discussion about Big Sugar guitarist Gordie Johnson\u2019s performance of <i>O Canada<\/i> shows me how far we have come.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">During the 1980s, when I was a DJ at the Toronto radio station that broadcast Blue Jays games, I sang the anthem a couple of times. And, like just about everyone who performs it at games, I sang the last two notes up an octave. It gives a more rousing finish, perfect for a sporting event.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">Afterward, I received a stern letter from a music teacher who was outraged that I dared to alter the ending from what had been written more than a century earlier. I could practically feel my knuckles being rapped.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\">Today we are debating Mr. Johnson\u2019s interpretation of <i>O Canada<\/i>, rather than whether he even should have. And that is progress. That\u2019s what art is supposed to do: Make us examine ourselves, our culture and our beliefs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\"><b>Scott Walker<\/b> <i>Toronto<\/i><\/p>\n<hr class=\"article-divider\"\/>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5 font-pratt\"><i>Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Try to keep letters to fewer than 150 words. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here:<\/i> <a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/__i\/rss\/rd\/articles\/mailto:letters@globeandmail.com\">letters@globeandmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/__i\/rss\/rd\/articles\/CBMie2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZWdsb2JlYW5kbWFpbC5jb20vb3Bpbmlvbi9sZXR0ZXJzL2FydGljbGUtbGl0dGxlLXRvLXNob3ctYnV0LXNreXJvY2tldGluZy1sZXZlbHMtb2YtZGVidC1saWJlcmFsLXNwZW5kaW5nLXZzL9IBAA?oc=5\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Canada Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault addresses a news conference at the COP15 UN conference on biodiversity in Montreal, on Dec. 16.Paul Chiasson\/The Canadian Press Other means Re Ukraine Needs At Least $1.79-billion To Restore Telecoms Sector To Pre-war Levels, UN Report Says (Online, Jan. 6): Justin Trudeau keeps saying we have Ukraine\u2019s back. Well, we &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42375,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[161],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.brandon.ddtest.info\/multisite-test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42374"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.brandon.ddtest.info\/multisite-test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.brandon.ddtest.info\/multisite-test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.brandon.ddtest.info\/multisite-test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.brandon.ddtest.info\/multisite-test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42374"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.brandon.ddtest.info\/multisite-test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42374\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.brandon.ddtest.info\/multisite-test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42375"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.brandon.ddtest.info\/multisite-test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42374"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.brandon.ddtest.info\/multisite-test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42374"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.brandon.ddtest.info\/multisite-test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42374"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}