Mail bag: 01/29/26
‘Support Canadian’
Dear Editor:
Canada’s not for sale, we’re giving it away.
Why is our government still sponsoring the country that has declared a trade war against us, instead of keeping Canadian interests first?
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford made claims that they would stand strong against the attrition from our southern neighbor, yet still continue to support and submit to them.
The U.S. has instilled tariffs on our products to the point we can’t sell our wares below the border, while our government drops our tariffs against them (at the insistence of U.S. President Donald Trump). This has made it challenging for Canadian industry to compete even domestically, so they’re jumping ship (just like Trump anticipated) and moving operations to the U.S., where they can have tariff-free production and commerce with the U.S., plus face no levy to sell their products here.
The States get our industry, and a free, open market to sell here. It’s a win-win for them. This is their design for protecting the free trade agreement, which Trump will likely walk away from anyway. And why not, he has nothing left to gain if we have nothing left to offer. Do we even have any Trump cards left to play?
And why, with the oppression we are under from the states (including the ongoing threat to our sovereignty), would our government buy any of the outdated F-35 fighters from them, when we have the potential to build/buy fighters domestically?
A Swedish company has offered to set up industries here to build fighters, creating up to 15,000 jobs, if we’ll buy some. We’re buying fighters anyway, and I’d rather sponsor companies that are providing employment here building them, rather than the U.S., that won’t be.
Besides, I don’t think it’s prudent to have our entire air force under the control of a country with an underhanded leader like Trump.
It’s up to us now, the consumers, to support Canadian manufacturers before we don’t have any. If we don’t build it, we don’t buy it.
Paul Dunnill,
Fergus
‘Fed up’ with collection
Dear Editor:
Is anyone else fed up with our recycling routinely not being collected on the scheduled day? I woke up Thursday morning to find that not only had our recycling been skipped yet again, but my bins – and those of my neighbours – had been knocked over by the snowplow and left scattered across the street.
This is not an isolated incident; it is becoming the norm.
So, remind me, how much did our property taxes increase this year? Because they certainly did not go up for reduced or unreliable service.
If the township feels justified in continuing to raise already burdensome property taxes, then residents should reasonably expect a basic level of consistency and accountability in municipal services.
At the very least, collect what we pay for.
Adam Lesniewski,
Fergus
*Editor’s note: It is Wellington County – and not lower-tier municipalities – that is generally in charge of waste services across the county. However, as of Jan. 1, Wellington’s residential recycling program is fully managed by Circular Materials Ontario, along with Waste Management and Recycling Services.
‘Effective’ humour
Dear Editor:
RE: U.S. ‘values democracy,’ Jan. 22.
I would like to express my appreciation to Carolann Krusky for her letter to the editor.
As someone with no political affiliation, her suggestion that the current American administration values democracy and freedom, and that Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre is in any way suited to meet this particular moment in history, was the funniest thing I’ve read in a long time.
Humour as effective as this is especially valuable in these troubled times. She may wish to consider a career as a stand-up comic.
David Brandow,
Guelph
‘Demand better’
Dear Editor:
RE: U.S. ‘values democracy,’ Jan. 22.
Letters like this frame our current moment as a simple choice between leaders and between countries. I think that misses the deeper issue.
We are not living in normal times. Canada is facing economic strain, global instability and growing pressure from powerful nations pursuing their own interests. In that reality, the question shouldn’t be whether we trust the U.S. more than China, or whether one politician is better than another.
The real question is how Canada protects its sovereignty, its democracy and its people in a world where no major power is acting out of goodwill.
The United States today is not the same country it was even a decade ago. China is not a benign actor either. Pretending one side is purely “good” and the other purely “bad” oversimplifies a dangerous and complex world. Serious times demand serious thinking, not slogans.
What concerns me most is how politics has become a team sport. We argue about who won, who lost and who to fear, while far less attention is paid to plans, accountability and the growing concentration of power. No party, and no leader, should be beyond tough questioning. Liberal or Conservative, every government must be challenged on what it is actually doing, who benefits and how Canadians’ real needs are being met.
If we truly care about democracy and freedom, then our responsibility doesn’t end at the ballot box. We need to stay engaged, stop treating politics like a spectator sport and start demanding better, from all of them.
That conversation matters more than which political jersey we wear.
Lori Berlot,
Elora
‘Sickening’
Dear Editor:
Sickening as it is that Mark Carney wishes to infect Canada with Chinese electric vehicles, the consumer market will solve that problem itself.
No new car buyer would, in good conscience, choose a vehicle loaded with spy tech (a given) or nanoweapons (potentially) and supplied by a self-serving country with a disgusting human rights record.
Instead, new car buyers will opt, correctly and morally, for a vehicle built in southern Ontario by one of the regional manufacturers that have been creating jobs locally for decades.
Rob Zelch,
Fergus
Wage theft a problem
Dear Editor:
I have seen a disturbing trend lately, where people who shoplift from local, billionaire-owned establishments are posted online, looked for and wished ill upon. There is general agreement that stealing is bad. Understood. It’s clearly stealing when someone puts unpaid merchandise in their backpack or backs their truck up to a loading dock, but I assure you, your fight is elsewhere.
In Canada the most common type of theft is wage-theft; wealthy business owners not paying wages owed to hard working people. In Ontario alone, $200 million is owed to workers, according to Wage Theft Ontario; and those numbers reflect only the theft reported.
Wage theft is much less obvious, much less demonized, but I would argue it is considerably worse than a private citizen stealing from a company who makes their money on the backs of minimum wage workers, while they pad the pockets of wealthy shareholders.
In this country the cost of food has gone up 25% in the last five years, at the exact same time Galen Weston Jr., the owner of Loblaws, has more than doubled his fortune from $8 billion in 2020 to over $18 billion (McLeans).
We are told over and over “supply chain issues” are being passed down to the consumer, but my guess would be that those $10 billion dollars passed down to the consumer would make a considerable difference in food prices.
Your fight isn’t with a dude in a pickup truck or his girlfriend in sweat pants; it’s with politicians who continue to allow corporations to steal wages from workers and allow rich people to get richer on your basic necessities.
Your fight is with billionaires who don’t care if you eat or not, they are more interested in their next yacht. Stop demonizing small-time criminals; start calling your MPs.
Tiffany Burtch,
Fergus
‘Slow learner’?
Dear Editor:
I have recently noticed an inconsistent playbook is used in pricing at grocery stores – especially for canned goods, packaged meats and produce.
There are great bold price signs for each item, but look closer. Are they prices per unit, per 100g, per pound, per kilogram, per package? And for one or two? Pricing strategies are there to keep you guessing. They seem to change the playbook rules at a whim.
The most sure way to know is at the checkout if you check each item as it is scanned. I found an item as I did self-check. It was usually priced per unit, but came to the checkout at three times the cost because I had not read the tiny print on the sale sign.
Are you sharper than I am or am I just a slow learner?
Marg Strom,
Guelph
‘Pathetic approach’
Dear Editor:
RE: Repugnant, Jan. 1.
The editor made a couple of comments to my previous letter about Guelph/Eramosa Township having provided some funding to the Concerned Residents Coalition (CRC) in the fight against the Hidden Quarry and that the township had been a party to the hearing of the Ontario Land Tribunal.
While the township was supportive of the CRC early in the process, when it came time for the hearing, they were largely missing in action. The township did not call a case and present evidence in opposition to the quarry.
In it decision, the tribunal noted, “The township did not participate in the hearing except to attend the beginning and end of the hearing to apprise the tribunal of its position and to provide recommended conditions should the tribunal approve the quarry.”
This pathetic approach by the township sent a very unfortunate message to the tribunal and undermined the work of the CRC in opposition to the quarry.
Dan Kennaley,
Rockwood
Story of ‘kindness’
Dear Editor:
We are all very different, for many reasons, and now that almost everyone is embroiled in the really mucky state of universal anger, greed, unnecessary hatred, let alone natural disasters, many people have become despondent and youth are turning to crime or the refuge of drugs and alcohol. Understandable, but sad.
All is not lost, as there are many kindnesses and positive actions all around us, so perhaps, if a few of us sent local accounts to you, such news might beat the sadness of the weekly police reports.
On the morning of Jan. 22 it was -17C, and the wind was blowing when my other half went out to the barn to collect the yellow bags and recycling materials for collection at the end of our long driveway.
He took with him a notice I had written on a large envelope to nail to the gatepost for a delivery truck, suggesting that they call us, and we would meet them at the road. One of my daughters had sent me a gift, but as our driveway was once again covered in snow, on top of ice, even though it had just been blown, we did not want anyone to get stuck unnecessarily.
Later, as we were finishing a late lunch, our dog announced that there was a visitor.
To our amazement it was the driver of the Dragonfly truck. He had walked all the way down our long slippery laneway with the parcel. Poor man, it was so cold and windy, yet he had a big smile on his kind face, and handed over the parcel. Such an uncomfortable effort was not necessary, as the shipping label had also suggested calling us, so we could make the collection.
However, to him the personal delivery was part of his job. We thanked him profusely, and my daughter wrote a very grateful report to the office. So many people would not have considered walking the 100 metres of bad footing, to prevent the parcel from being stolen, but he did. A kindness to be remembered.
I know of several people with similar stories.
Carol Williams,
Elora
Grand opening
Dear Editor:
Jan. 18 saw the grand opening of Riverside Events Centre at 500 Blair St. in Fergus.
The former Legion hall has had significant upgrades over the past few months with a new stage, bar, lighting and a universal washroom. The facility was tastefully decorated for the opening by Cobblestone Creations, with examples of a wedding, seasonal décor and a business meeting. Tasty finger foods were graciously supplied by Fraberts Fresh Food of Fergus.
Special guests included Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Joseph Racinsky, Centre Wellington Mayor Shawn Watters, and past president of Ontario Command of the Royal Canadian Legion Derek Moore. All expressed the need for such community facilities, especially with the rapid growth in population in Centre Wellington.
Those in attendance were impressed with what the centre has to offer. For those who could not make it, please feel free to drop by during business hours, take a brochure and have a look around.
A very special thanks to all the community businesses that helped bring Riverside Events Centre to reality, providing a local, affordable option for a special event.
Randy Graham,
President, RCL Branch 275 Fergus