‘Petulant children’
Dear Editor:
RE: Province needs ‘reality check’ when it comes to funding to replace speed camera revenue: Lennox, Dec. 4.
I would like to suggest that it is Mayor Andy Lennox who could use a reality check when it comes to revenue from the “speed tax.”
We are arguably the most heavily taxed society to ever walk the face of the Earth, yet the speed tax proponents would like to continue fleecing the public at every opportunity.
Using the speed cameras to generate millions of dollars is simply a “tax” and no amount of weasel words or rhetoric changes that.
When a government as useless and bloated as the Doug Ford gang calls you out on a clear-cut case of gouging the public, you’ve obviously hit a new low and perhaps need to reflect a little.
Instead, and in what appears to be a true sore-loser moment, they’re stomping their feet like petulant children and insisting they’re keeping the cameras to gather traffic info? It’s transparent and embarrassing, really.
Perhaps in a true democracy we could actually have a public vote, referendum or type of plebiscite on issues such as this. But alas, instead we’re forced to listen to the greedy moaning of stuffed shirts like the mayors and chiefs of police who lined up lock step to support an obvious tax grab in true “let them eat cake” fashion.
“A tax makes the road safer” – brought to you by the same geniuses that think a tax can change the weather.
Peter Beilke,
Wellington North
‘Effective portrayal’
Dear Editor:
RE: “In very poor taste,” Dec. 4.
I must disagree with Mr. Drexler’s opinion that the cartoon of Nov. 27 was in very poor taste.
He seems to have found it to be so because the world leaders portrayed deserve respect but did not get it. A review of world history will show any number of world leaders not worthy of any respect, notwithstanding their status as a world leader. Our remembrance on Nov. 11 brings to mind several. Status as a world leader, without more, should not garner respect.
Drexler seems to realize that as he attempts to provide some reason for respecting U.S. President Donald Trump other than simply as a world leader (i.e. his assertion that Trump stopped eight wars – an assertion correctly refuted by the editor).
Therefore, I can not agree with him as to the cartoon being disrespectful. I found it an effective portrayal of the current dynamics between those political leaders.
Allister Ogilvie,
Guelph
‘Vile leaders’
Dear Editor:
RE: “In very poor taste,” Dec. 4.
The Wellington Advertiser appears to be receiving more and more letters to the editor from far right (alt-right?) folks and this one is no exception.
To take issue with Mr. Nease’s political cartoon of Nov. 27 and saying “Whether you agree or disagree they are world leaders and deserve respect – especially Trump, he has stopped eight wars” (the editor noted “Donald Trump has not stopped eight wars”) would have been enough.
But what enraged me is Mr. Drexler is asking that we respect these leaders by virtue of being leaders, despite one being charged and convicted of war crimes and a second leader who could very well be charged with war crimes (amongst a litany of crimes).
The loss of lives that both Putin and Trump are responsible for is both hideous and obscene. Although I must confess to not seeing the “offensive” cartoon, if there is anything that would have “poked the bear” within myself was Mr. Nease’s inclusion of President Zelensky in the same cartoon as the other two vile leaders.
Zelensky has more leadership, more bravery, more compassion, more everything in his little finger than those two combined. But what’s really sad is Mr. Drexler’s short memory of such brave folks like Alexei Navalny who dared to speak up against Putin and the unspeakable treatment sanctioned by Putin himself that led to his ultimate demise.
And yet because of his position as Russia’s president, we’re to respect him? And that also goes for one of the most incompetent presidents in the history of the U.S.?!
Respect deserves respect … And only one of the three depicted by Mr. Nease deserves the world’s respect.
Brett Davis,
Erin
‘Bullies’
Dear Editor:
RE: “In very poor taste,” Dec. 4.
I thought the Nov. 27 cartoon was a perfect depiction of what is really happening.
Trump and Putin deserve no respect. They are bullies who enjoy picking on anyone weaker.
Keith McEwen,
Guelph
‘Squeeze’ it through
Dear Editor:
RE: Headaches for Estill as residents oppose zoning change proposal, Nov. 27.
I’ve been involved in six of these development project community meetings. What got my attention here was a resident commenting that the proposal hasn’t changed much since it was introduced. I take that as no real effort by Danby/Estill to make it more suited to the area.
I assure you the following experiences I have had are closer to what is likely to happen than most people will admit.
I would speculate, based on many experiences, the gym and day care are loss-leaders, meant to be “community friendly.” What person working a physical job is going to workout at an on-site gym? The day care will be expensive or under-attended and eventually close. Under-attended day care is the perfect escape, because the “community” is to blame. Those spaces would then become profitable general commercial leases. Developer wins again.
I would speculate this property was much lower cost than land already zoned and deemed appropriate with proper infrastructure. As the consultant points out, there are more appropriate and properly zoned locations. Why is this being ignored? Simple: money.
As a younger person, I attended “community meetings” on various development projects. In summary, the meetings are actually telling the people “how it’s going to go down.” The community “vents,” gets exhausted during the lengthy process and the developer wins almost all the time, with little to no concessions and will likely receive more than the original proposal. Case in point: a condo next door to my property was proposed as nine storeys. After many meetings with many people objecting to the height, the number of units and city infrastructure burden, the developer proposed 15 storeys. Another year and two meetings passed, the proposal was lowered to 12 stories and construction was completed the following year.
I overheard a city planner and developer after a different meeting describing how they could make changes to “marketing strategies” rather than address the actual objections. The meeting was actually a fact finding mission to plan how to squeeze the project through.
An acquaintance and real estate lawyer for commercial and residential development was well known for their ability to see difficult projects through the system and get approvals despite community objections. Sure, people sometimes resist any change at all, but reasonable and perfectly logical objections are ignored.
I have seen this too many times to not recognize the M.O.
Tom Szuba,
Puslinch
Parade thanks
Dear Editor:
A blustery Saturday Dec. 5 morning witnessed a bee hive of intense activity at the A.O. Smith employees parking lot, as participants in the 2025 Fergus Santa Claus parade busily assembled and decorated their floats in time for the 1:30pm start.
There were 48 entries in this year’s parade, and all were anxious to get going. One participant described the activity as “organized chaos,” but everything settled into place and the parade began on time.
As usual, the Colour Party from Branch 275 Royal Canadian Legion led the parade. CW Food Bank was on hand to collect donations, and the Fergus Postal Workers were in the lead off group to collect letters to Santa – 150 letters were collected.
During the parade, Barb Evoy and Peter Mohr did a real time presentation on the Elora-Fergus Pod-cast. It was a successful parade, with a mounted unit leading the Fergus Brass Band and finally Santa.
We, the organizers, would like to thank the management of A.O. Smith for allowing the parade to use their parking lot once again. Also thanks to CW Roads Dept. for supplying the barricades along the route.
Thanks also go out to our sponsors – Ron Wilkin Jewelers; Baker Tilly; and Graham Giddy Funeral Home – for your generous support.
And finally, our thanks to you, the people of Fergus, for coming out to enjoy the parade.
Brian Martin,
Parade marshal, Fergus
Campaign support
Dear Editor:
On behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion, Elora Branch 229, we wish to thank all our community residents, both private and commercial, for their continued and outstanding support again during this year’s Poppy Campaign.
We greatly appreciate all who attended our Remembrance services held at the cenotaphs in Salem and in Elora and special thanks to those who attended our Remembrance veterans’ dinner.
We would like to thank those who volunteered their store counter or employment space for a poppy box, the canvassing volunteers including the cadets who all contributed their time and enthusiasm and to everyone who wore a poppy.
We must especially show our sincere appreciation to our corporate donors: Artech Millnghts Ltd., Bert’s Auto & Tire, Buehler Automotive, Elements Casino, Elora Distilling Co., Grand River Agricultural Society, Husky Farm Equipment Ltd., Kitchener Liveslock/Bruce Feil, Lloyd Scott Enterprises, McManus Plastering & Drywall, Mermaid in Elora, Paul Kraemer Construction, Paul Noonan Antiques, Polycorp Ltd., Provision Printing, Rona Building Centre, Speers Electric Ltd., Stumpf Bros. Excavating Ltd., Summit Laser & Manufacturing Ltd., 1863152 Ontario Ltd. and The Walser Tradition. It all makes a difference!
Our sincere gratitude for supporting Legion activities, our Poppy Campaign and our Veterans and their families.
Lest we forget.
Jim Paterson,
Poppy chair, Elora Legion