‘Frightening’ bill
Dear Editor:
RE: Bill 5 ‘a disaster,’ May 15.
We would like to emphasize the importance of last week’s letter and thank Jeannine d’Entremont for writing it.
The bill is quietly moving forward with little mention and few are aware of the destructive powers embedded in this bill, including stripping protection away from wildlife, habitats, the environment – all in the name of “unleashing the economy.”
It is frightening to learn that our government thinks it is justifiable to allow this destruction. How shortsighted. We all know that the health and well being of the people, depends upon the health and well being of the environment.
In contrast, Puslinch Township’s municipal government has taken an interest in protecting its rural character by looking to locate new industrial development in areas where the least harm will be inflicted.
The Puslinch by Design Study, conducted by a consulting group, has determined the most suitable placement for future industrial growth in Puslinch to be the area south of the 401, bordered by the 401 and roads built for heavy traffic. Gravel pits, industry, heavy truck traffic, etc. already exist there, meaning additional industry will have little new negative impact.
And yet, speculators/developers approach farmers on lands declared less preferred for industry – lands on quiet side roads lined with farms, nature, forests, country residential – trying to buy up the farmland to rezone to industrial.
There appears to be no moral compass with our provincial government and with speculators/developers in terms of getting this right; no genuine interest to protect and preserve by avoiding the sensitive lands and choosing locations that avoid the greatest harm.
We will live with the needless destruction they cause forever. How sad.
Donna and Jim Christie,
Puslinch
Education ‘broken’
Dear Editor:
May 5 to 9 was Education Week and Mental Health Week in Ontario. As an elementary teacher, I am writing to let readers know that this is a very challenging time to be a student and a worker in the education system.
Because of severe Conservative spending cuts to schools, which began in the 1990s with Mike Harris and have continued for the past seven-plus years “thanks” to Doug Ford, schools do not have enough money to meet the needs of our kids. Despite the courageous, patient and diligent efforts of EAs, DECEs, custodians, administrators, and teachers to hold the system together and care for our students, Conservative policies have seriously broken the system.
Just as in health care, more and more responsibilities pile up on frontline workers’ shoulders (most of whom are women), while fewer and fewer supports come our way.
Now, Ford and his privatizing agenda is trying to shift the blame for this situation to local school boards for their supposed lack of fiscal responsibility. Adjusted for inflation, the province/Ministry of Education now gives school boards $1,500 less per student than in 2018.
Students with special needs are especially at risk because the current funding is based on projections rather than actual needs of students, putting schools in the position of having to ration things like psychological assessments and special education resources. Perhaps Ford and his ministry are trying to scapegoat local school boards instead of taking responsibility for not providing enough money in the first place.
Ontario doesn’t want or need a $200-billion tunnel under Highway 401 (maybe we could just buy back the 407 that Mike Harris sold off to private companies?). But we do want and need real investments in our public health care and education systems and the future citizens of our province.
The education funding formula is flawed and needs to be updated to meet the needs of our current society. Our young people are being robbed by greedy, private interests so that their mental health and learning needs are not being met, and I hope parents will learn more, organize and speak to their MPPs and school board trustees on this issue.
And please consider attending the upcoming Education Forum at Centre Wellington District High School in Fergus on May 22 at 7pm to learn more and share your experiences.
Rebekah Jamieson,
Guelph
Empowerment efforts
Dear Editor:
I have the pleasure of running a very passionate leadership group at Elora Public School called Students Create Change.
I couldn’t be prouder of them for running Empowerment Day on May 8 for over 5,000 students across the Upper Grand District School Board.
They set up the day before, were emcees, introduced speakers, managed backstage and pursued sponsorships through presentations leading into the event. They did nothing but impress and were very professional. Congratulations to you all for “pushing beyond” and making a positive difference in your community.
This event doesn’t happen without incredible businesses, organizations and people helping us. Thank you so much to all of our sponsors.
This includes our impact sponsor Skyline, our legacy partner The Optimist Clubs of the Upper Grand area, and gold sponsor Kat Florence. This also includes SHSM, Red Car Service, Fergus-Elora Rotary, Fergus Legion Branch 275, RLB, TD Bank, Grand River Agricultural Society, Aypa Power, and many private donations.
You all have made such a massive difference in helping empower many students!
Andy Speers,
Elora Public School Teacher
Big bite coming?
Dear Editor:
RE: Bit in the butt, May 7.
Perhaps Bill Snyder’s article last week was penned a bit prematurely. Perhaps he missed the opportunity to properly examine the meeting between Prime Minister Carney and President Donald Trump (though little analysis is needed). It seems he and I witnessed two different outcomes; maybe he accidentally muted the part where Trump assured our prime minister, and our country, that a trade deal was not on the horizon and, in his words, “that’s just the way it is.”
Despite the differences between Mr. Snyder and myself – and the broader political divide that has crept into our country – we all want the same thing: to be the “True North strong and free.” We simply have different visions for how to get there, and I can certainly appreciate Mr. Snyder’s attitude toward party collaboration.
That being said, Mr. Snyder also raised the issue of Pierre Poilievre’s repeated appeals to public pathos. While his references to the “lost Liberal decade” and commentary on the last 10 years may be repetitive, they are far from meaningless.
Was Poilievre wrong to ask Canadians whether they truly want four more years of the same government – one that has presided over record inflation, rising unemployment and deepening division? The Liberal Party may have changed its face, but it hasn’t changed what lies behind it.
I concur with Mr. Snyder on one thing, however: it’s true, sometimes our words do come back to bite us in the butt. For his sake, I just hope he’s turned around in time to see it coming.
Susannah Sinclair,
Elora
‘Get to work’
Dear Editor:
Now that we’ve heard all the promises from all the candidates at all levels of government, we can get to work.
Whether it is the thousands of affordable homes, the Highway 6 bypass in Morriston or the servicing of land in Wilmot, I hope we are given the courtesy of advanced notices of intended road closures.
No doubt, these road closures and detours were discussed and their implementation astutely planned well in advance.
Renting a little space in the Advertiser to notify Wellington citizens would be prudent and greatly appreciated .
Jim McClure,
Crieff
Strong mayor ‘scourge’
Dear Editor:
Nothing is more appropriate on, or about, Queen Victoria’s birthday, then to bring in that Canada, as a nation, is a “constitutional Monarchy.”
Queen Victoria was the sovereign who made Confederation possible, under her government in 1867. One could conclude that it was Queen Victoria who began the journey of this great nation and yet she would have been decidedly concerned that democracy, one of hallmarks of our constitution, is well and truly under attack.
From the inquiry on interference in our government institutions: “Public trust in democratic government institutions is important in a democratic country like Canada. Trust leads to greater acceptance of public policies, nurtures political participation, strengthens social cohesion and builds institutional legitimacy.”
Democracy is something that, for centuries, has had to be hard fought for. Now, with a simple stroke of a pen, the province of Ontario, has violated a fundamental trust by removing democracy from our municipal “institutions.”
The constitution allows the province to create these institutions (historically at the petition of the people); it allows the province to create legislation to restrict these municipal institutions; it allows the province to explain the role of Councils; it allows these institutions to have “the capacity, rights, powers and privileges of a natural person”; it allows the province to restrict financial obligations; it allows the province to support a process that only democracy can bring.
But our constitution does not allow the province to remove those hard-fought-for rights delineated through democracy. This provincial government has done just that by implementing “strong mayor powers.”
This stroke of the pen can be placed on the same footing as the scourge that has invaded our electoral system and undermined our democratic institutions.
Never again will there be trust in these government institutions; never again will there be avenues for residents to bring forward substantiated information to their elected representatives; and never again can anyone in Ontario trust this government.
Next election will be something, because the only thing people will remember about this sitting provincial government will be how it removed every citizens’ rights to democracy and destroyed their trust in our democratic institutions – something the people have relied on since this nation’s creation.
Happy Birthday, Queen Victoria. Your representative, the Lieutenant Governor and the premier have failed you and your people.
Elizabeth Marshall,
Director of research, Ontario Landowners Association
Wants ‘proper’ court
Dear Editor:
I am a student at John Black Public School in Fergus, and I want to raise awareness about the strong need for a proper basketball court at our school.
Currently, we only have two basketball hoops mounted on the wall, and these hoops have no nets, making it difficult and frustrating to play. The double rims on the hoops also make shooting challenging, which makes getting a friendly roll not an option.
Basketball promotes physical fitness, teamwork and important social skills that help us grow both on and off the court. It also supports mental health by reducing stress and boosting confidence.
St. Joseph Public School has great nets and the people in charge of purchasing nets should take a look at theirs. If you know who makes decisions like this please pass along this letter.
Koen Guenter,
Fergus
Supports b-ball call
Dear Editor:
I am from John Black Public School and I would like to have a real basketball court here.
I have a few reasons and here is one: at John Black we only have singular nets, which does work great, yet when we play basketball it gets really easy to clear the ball past the check line. It’s not a big court because there is only one net, which we have to use for both of the teams.
Whenever we play basketball there is never any out-of-bounds line or three pointer lines, which just makes it really confusing when playing. People say that the one net is good, but it’s not in the best condition and at recess there is nowhere to play basketball for the people who can’t join the others.
I hope you agree with me and share this idea with anyone who has any say in this matter or will make this happen!
Kyrsten Bell,
Fergus
Hates invasive vine
Dear Editor:
I’m a Grade 8 student at John Black PS. I think that the dog strangling vine, which is an invasive plant that is growing on the banks of the Grand River, is super harmful.
Dog strangling vine wraps around native plants and baby trees and might be toxic to livestock. Many native animals rely on plants and the dog strangling vine is killing the plants so the animals won’t be able to eat.
We need to work as a community to help our forests’ ecosystems and remove this harmful invasive species. It looks like oval leaves with pointy tips, arranged oppositely on the steam, and it grows up to two metres tall.
To remove it grab from the base of the plant and pull up making sure you got the roots, then dispose of it into a yellow county bag. This is something I think that everyone should be aware of.
Graham Dickie,
Fergus
‘Make PB great again’
Dear Editor:
I am a student in Grade 8 at John Black Public School and I don’t think it’s a good idea to not allow peanut butter at school.
Firstly, I think peanut butter should be allowed at school because there are many other allergies besides peanut butter that we don’t have rules for.
Outside of school I put peanut butter on my sandwiches and knowing I can’t bring it to school for my lunch as one of my main courses kind of hurts. For example, nobody in my class is allergic to peanuts, so I think the allergy checks should go by class, and if nobody has the allergy it should be allowed in the class.
Secondly, I think peanut butter should be allowed at school because allowing peanut butter would have nutritional benefits. What I mean by that is peanut butter provides positive impacts to the body due to the nutrients it contains.
Some of the benefits from eating peanut butter could include improved health, increased energy when being active and it keeps the muscles healthy when keeping active like playing sports, working out and keeping the eyes healthier and more clear when reading.
Thirdly, I think peanut butter should be allowed at school because it’s affordable and because pre-made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a quick and easy option when making lunch.
The nutrients that peanut butter has are protein, fibres, healthy fats and minerals, as well as being an alternative that can substitute for unhealthy options like chips and cookies. Please consider making peanut butter great again.
Lucas Benton,
Fergus
Thanks to farmers
Dear Editor:
On a trip to Port Elgin last weekend I was struck by not only the brilliant yellow fields of winter canola, but by the extensive newly tilled and seeded acreages.
It reminded me of the great thanks we owe to farmers in our area for their sustainable practices maintaining nature and providing food for us all. Further north entering the Bruce there were fields of cattle happy to be back on pasture, resting as they chewed their cud.
Let us all compliment and support our farming communities for their efforts.
Peter Little,
Fergus