Makes ‘no sense’
Dear Editor:
Makes dollars, but no sense.
Why is the Canadian government burdening our population with the overwhelming cost of switching to battery powered cars (and heat pumps), while at the same time, spending billions for pipelines to increase our export of fossil fuels?
It’s forcing us to absorb the cost of cutting emissions, while encouraging/enabling other countries not to. This will put even more strain on our people, and make no difference to the world’s atmosphere anyway.
There are ways to cut down emissions, without so much cost.
Paul Dunnill,
Fergus
‘Go with the flow’
Dear Editor:
I have noticed in recent weeks that there have been many letters and articles printed concerning driving habits, speed cameras and accidents in our area (many at Cox Creek unfortunately). There has also been a lot of debate about these subjects on social media and a common element of these discussions and articles has been whether or not speeding is the main issue or is it road design, infrastructure, population growth, cultural or a combination of factors?
This year, we changed our insurance provider and as an incentive to save premium costs, the new provider asked us to download a “safe driving” app that monitors driving habits and can potentially further reduce your insurance premiums. To save a few bucks, we agreed, and after downloading the app, learned that they monitor three areas: speed, smoothness (braking, acceleration) and focus (distracted driving). Upon driving with the app, we quickly learned that driving anything over the speed limit was recorded as an “unsafe speed” and was ultimately a negative impact on your overall driver rating and potentially on your insurance premium. So, we began to use our cruise control to set the speed limit according to road signs (which almost became a distraction itself given the amount of times speed limits change on our roads).
We’ve been using it for almost two months now and what it tells me so far is that the majority of drivers do not drive the posted speed limit. We drive to Guelph on Highway 6 a few times a month and every time we set the cruise to 80, we have drivers behind us waiting to get by and as soon as we enter the passing lane section, virtually everyone passes us.
We were also recently visiting our daughter in KW and as we drove through a school zone with the cruise set to 40, every single car behind us, passed us (fortunately for them, there was no speed camera in this area).
As an experienced driver of more than 50 years, I know that generally, people drive to the speed of traffic flow, which is usually faster than the posted speed limit on most roads. But once you slow down to the actual speed limit and have drivers literally driving as close as a metre behind us, passing us in unsafe areas and throwing their hands up in the air because they can’t pass, has started to feel we are at risk. As a result, we have started to stop using the app as it feels unsafe to try and drive the speed limit on some roads and safer to just “go with the flow.”
Let’s hope we continue to see infrastructure and roads improve but in the meantime, drive safe everyone and please slow down.
Edward OShaughnessy,
Fergus
‘Different perspective’
Dear Editor:
RE: Hard to believe, July 10.
I too have been following our community discussion about photo radar. Michael von Massow brought up some very good points, especially around the allocation of funds.
We at Green Lanes have created an action team to advocate for the allocation of funds generated by the cameras to go directly to fixing the issues of safety and speed on that section of Belsyde Avenue in Fergus. There is a whole array of options beyond plastic speed bumps, paint, and large signs that can be used to slow cars down to the speed we are after. This list is what is commonly referred to as “low hanging fruit.” Things we do that might move the needle a little bit and doesn’t cost much.
Presently, each car lane on Belsyde Avenue is 15 feet wide. One study shows that for every foot above 11 feet the speed increases. When lane widths are 3.3 feet greater, speeds are predicted to be 15km/h faster. With that increase in speed, caused by lane widths, crash rates increase as well as the severity of the crash. So, narrow the lanes.
Belsyde is also a gateway road (higher speeds) connecting us to other towns, so build a proper road entrance (gateway) into Fergus. Pedestrian crossings alleviates the “moving fence” that Belsyde is at the moment and if done at the highest of standards (raised) we not only connect this neighbourhood to public assets (school, church, long-term care, splash pad) we slow traffic down, so build two raised crossings.
With photo radar money we have the opportunity to really fix the problem to such an extent that cameras may not be needed. No need to pick the low hanging fruit. The money generated so far can be viewed as “user pay” instead of a tax grab.
This different perspective of the revenue is more generous to our council who voted in the cameras and better aligned to what we feel is the true motivation of our council: that is, to create safer streets.
John Scott,
Executive director, Green Lanes, Elora
‘Gravely disappointed’
Dear Editor:
Sporadically during the last two years, I have questioned the myriad of “promises” expressed by politicians and councillors regarding the construction of affordable housing.
According to the monthly housing statistics published by the City of Guelph, there were “0” single family home permits issued in Guelph in June .
Each Thursday I rush to my local convenience store to obtain a copy of the Advertiser hoping that I’ll see a shiny silver spade being pushed into the ground, a bunch of councillors, and Advertiser photographers in attendance.
However, lately I’ve been gravely disappointed.
Jim McClure,
Crieff
‘Please buy Canadian’
Dear Editor:
Well Donald Trump continues to attack Canada and has not given up on the 51st state idea. Canadians are rebelling by buying Canadian and curtailing travel to the U.S. Shouldn’t Wellington County also be boycotting American Trump-supporting companies?
Waste Management, whose trucks I see on our streets, is headquartered in the centre of Trump’s MAGA world in Houston, Texas.
Perhaps the local and national press should investigate waste management companies taking our tax dollars away by dominating municipal waste management. Let us buy Canadian.
GFL Environmental, Miller Waste Systems, and Collective Waste Solutions are Canadian owned waste management companies.
Thanks to all for your time.
Please buy Canadian.
Bill Mathison,
Belwood
‘Obscene debt’
Dear Editor:
RE: Thin gruel, July 10.
The editorial last week was spot-on! Our federal, provincial, and municipal governments are all running up an obscene debt that will take decades to lower.
Our brand new shiny Mark Carney should be setting an example for fiscal prudence instead of carrying on with Trudeau tactics. Take for example Centre Wellington: I received my property tax “recalculation” in the mail 10 days ago. My increase is 13.8%. When there is an inflation rate of less than 2%, the math does not add up. The township indicated the cost of repairs to infrastructure got away on them – okay, I understand that. We cannot be without bridges, roads, etc. But I would have been okay with a 3% increase over a few years to get caught up.
It is no wonder the cost of food and housing is more than many can afford. We should see a property tax decrease of 10% next year, but I doubt that will happen. Prove me wrong, Centre Wellington .
Frank Yanchus,
Centre Wellington
‘Shocked’ by taxes
Dear Editor:
The new residents of the Elora Mill condominium development were shocked when they received their 2025 property tax statements in June – many are paying more for their condo unit compared to what is being charged for a single family home valued significantly higher with more square footage and land.
A 1,000 square foot Mill condo is being charged approximately $6,000 annually in comparison to a recently listed detached home in the downtown core that is about 3,500 square feet on just over 1/3 of an acre with property taxes of $7,600.
Another example in Elora is an 1,100 square foot renovated bungalow listed for $1 million paying property taxes of only $4,335.
After further review it was discovered that the tax rate being charged is almost double of that of residential homes (condos are being classified as multi-residential).
How is this considered equitable to charge condo owners so much more per household receiving the same infrastructure and services?
Lastly, why are condos being classified as multi-residential and not simply residential when they are individually owned and not generating income – seems like an oversight that needs further review from Centre Wellington?
Brandie Kucyla,
Centre Wellington