Mail bag: 04/09/26
What about speeders?
Dear Editor:
I was out to Walmart in Fergus and noticed that a Wellington OPP had a car stationed at the Fergus LCBO, watching who comes out to determine who they will follow and stop to see if they have been drinking.
I know this because my daughter was stopped outside my house after being there, and questioned about whether she had been drinking and when. She hadn’t been, but was harassed because she stopped to buy something for the weekend.
I live on Sideroad 19, and have personally asked the OPP to set up radar on our street to slow all the speeders down. The answer relayed to me was police can’t spare an officer as they have more important things to do.
Amazing how we can pay an officer $100,000 per year to sit at the liquor store, but not on a residential street posted at 40km/h with constant speeders.
Dave Bittorf,
Fergus
‘Seriously?’
Dear Editor:
RE: ‘I’m glad you shot the guy’: Doug Ford, March 26 and Muddled thinking, April 2
The only “muddled thinking” going on here is by the letter writer. Of course it is sad that this had to happen and Doug Ford should have been a bit more diplomatic, but we are dealing with ruthless career criminals and organized crime, mostly due to the Trudeau era “Canada will take you” episode when all you needed was body heat to gain access to this country and no proper security checks were being made.
Organized crime syndicates could not miss a chance like that and now we are paying the price. At the time of the armed home invasion in Vaughan and the fact the home owner was armed it is likely that “all hell let loose” with bullets flying everywhere with little chance to really do a lot of thinking. It’s a situation that could have gone anywhere.
So, here’s the letter writer saying if the home owner had shot the guy a few more times and become a murderer he would have had to live with it. Seriously?
Also the letter writer states there’s no simple answer to crime. Well, yes, there is and it’s quite simple: stop letting professional criminals out on probation or bail and either keep them in custody or deport them if possible.
It’s time to get serious.
Mac McCulloch,
Fergus
*Editor’s note: Little is known about the incident mentioned by Ford and the suspects involved.
Fanning the flames
Dear Editor:
RE: Fiscal fire, April 2.
Last week’s letter certainly fanned some flames, but completely misstates the nature and purposes of Bill 21 the “Protect Our Food Act.”
The bill is co-sponsored by Independent Haldimand – Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner. Its goal is to ensure the preservation and enhancement of southern Ontario’s farmland. It would amend the Planning Act to provide that the land cannot be rezoned, and permitted uses on the land cannot be changed, unless an agricultural impact assessment has been carried out. The restriction applies to zoning bylaws and Minister’s Zoning Orders.
Gary De Bock’s letter says the bill is targeting a fly. In fact, it responds to the average loss of 319 acres of farmland per day in Ontario, calculated by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture using data from the May 2022 agriculture census.
The provincial agriculture minister noted last year that “agri-food industry in Ontario contributes nearly $51 billion to the province’s GDP and employs over 871,000 people, representing one in nine jobs.” Ontario farms produce more than 200 different commodities, provide 54% of the food consumed in Ontario and shipped $28 billion worth of products to markets around the world in 2024.
The letter writer claims that without aggregate mining, municipal taxes will go up, families will have less money to spend on food, including chicken, and chicken farmers will lose out. That’s a stretch. By contrast, losing 319 acres of farmland every day will inevitably result in less Ontario-produced food and fewer people employed by the sector.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture, National Farmers Union of Ontario and the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario support the initiative. And the Ontario Dietitians in Public Health strongly endorses the bill for its focus on food security and land stewardship. Over 10 municipalities, including Hamilton, Centre Wellington, Prince Edward County and Halton Hills have endorsed the bill to prevent urban sprawl on prime agricultural lands.
Bill 21 addresses a province-wide concern about the health of an important export and employment sector, and our food security in this time of climate change and unstable relations with the U.S. It is not intended to, and does not, stop responsible development projects.
It seems the author of “Fiscal fire” thinks the Nanticoke MZO would not pass a reasonable “agricultural impact assessment.” Nanticoke MZO is not the “surgical goal” of Bill 21.
However, if the author is correct that the project would not pass an impact assessment, it provides a helpful illustration of the need to protect farmland if we’re going to have any hope of feeding our future.
Ailsa Kay,
Fergus
‘Gentle goodbye’
Dear Editor:
RE: Should save lives, March 26.
I wonder if the writer even is aware of the prerequisites necessary for consideration for medical assistance in dying (MAID).
You must be at least 18 years of age. You must be suffering from a grievous or irremediable disease. You must voluntarily request the procedure and consent voluntarily. You must be in an advanced state of decline and/or in unbearable mental or physical suffering that cannot be relieved by medical assistance.
I wonder how this person would feel if they had cancer that was eating away at them and causing pain that couldn’t be helped by any medication and they were told to “tough it out.”
How about ALS, suffocating to your last difficult breath. I have seen both. Not the way to end your life. To add to the injury, your family gets to watch your painful and unnecessary decline and death.
Instead, how about a family and friend gathering where everyone gets to say their goodbyes, perhaps reminisce about old times, express love and feelings together. What follows is a gentle and dignified process ending quietly as your tormented loved one drifts gently to sleep.
When a beloved pet is suffering, you don’t sit and watch it suffer until it takes it’s last breath in agony. You do the loving thing, you let them go to sleep because you love them. Are we, as human beings not allowed the same respect and gentle goodbye? What is the writer’s alternative?
To allow people to suffer unto death is not humane; it is barbaric and without compassion. I am for dignity and gentility and a humane passage.
I also think that people should mind their own business.
Terry Filce,
Belwood
‘Unseemly’
Dear Editor:
I suppose there could be several reactions to Prime Minister Mark Carney publicly rebuking Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau.The news had just broken that two pilots, Mckenzie Gunther and Antoine Forest, flying out of Montreal, unfortunately had died while attempting to land at LaGuardia Airport in New York.
As was appropriate, condolences were swift including one by video message of Mr. Rousseau as he was rushing to catch a plane to take him to the scene of the accident. His fatal flaw, however, was not delivering his message in both official languages, English and French. This did not go unnoticed, resulting in hundreds of phone calls to the government, the media and others.
In response, our prime minister appeared on air berating Air Canada’s CEO for his lack of judgment and compassion for the families of the two pilots. He was summoned to Ottawa by the prime minister. We are officially a bilingual country.
Maybe some people like to see a CEO berated in public. Maybe the Liberals are hoping to hold on to their seats in Quebec and gain others. Maybe Mark Carney forgot he ran in an election a year ago admitting his usage of the French language was rudimentary. Maybe Canadians didn’t care then and felt there were more important issues.
My initial response was that these two tragic deaths had nothing to do with politics and it was unseemly to make it so at that time. I still feel that way.
Janet Calderwood,
Rockwood
Trump is no Ayatollah
Dear Editor:
RE: Double standard, March 26.
To Allan Berry and others who can see little if any difference between the Ayatollah Kamenei and U.S. President Donald Trump, I would suggest that they go to the U.S. and peacefully protest against the president and any actions or policies they disagree with.
Then go to Iran and do the same against whichever Islamic terrorist dictator is in charge. They will soon realize the difference, as tens of thousands of murdered and imprisoned Iranian citizens have experienced. At the same time, I would disagree with Murray Stevenson, who argued (Morally reprehensible, March 19) that cartoonist Steve Nease’s March 12 depiction of Trump as a dictator comparable to the Iranian leader should be considered “hate speech” and be banned from the Wellington Advertiser. (Was he being facetious?)
Cartoonists often use exaggerations, as Nease has done, in order to express their views in a humorous or satirical way. I have seen Nease’s cartoons in another publication and it is obvious that he has no affection for Trump. However, I have also seen some that portray Mark Carney in a less-than-positive light.
For example, a recent cartoon showed Carney standing beside a chart showing four arrows pointing up and one pointing down, saying “Overall, things are looking up.”
The four “up” arrows represented “debt,” “deficit,” “jobless” and “cost of living,” while the “down” arrow was for “economy.”
I would never insist that Nease be banned from the Advertiser. I would just propose that they publish more of his cartoons that those on the political left might find offensive.
Henry Brunsveld,
Puslinch
Like 1930s Germany?
Dear Editor:
I was relieved see Murray Stevenson’s letter (Morally reprehensible, March 19) appear in the Wellington Advertiser.
I would like to point out the irony of the editor’s comments following David Courtney’s letter (Cartoonist is ‘funny,’ March 26). Although your accounts are reasonably accurate as a synopsis of the Nazi rise to power, the real irony lies in your comment: “but the referendum was rife with intimidation and propaganda.”
The irony is in the strong parallel between 1930s Germany and post-2020 Canada. I believe post-2020 Canada is “rife with intimidation and propaganda.”
Government supported propaganda saw a serious uptake starting in March of 2020. Fortunately there are alternate media sources which can neutralize the propaganda for now (Bill C9 among others are seriously infringing our freedom to speak without fear).
As for “intimidation” in Canada, where to begin? Federally we saw organizers of the truckers’ convoy (Tamara Lich and Chris Barber as the most prominent but there were others) imprisoned, with their basic freedom being seriously hampered to this day. Don’t discount the unimaginable defence costs against mischief charges. Supporters’ bank accounts were frozen and unarmed protesters were trampled by heavily armed police and their horses. All because of an illegally imposed Emergencies Act.
Provincially, we saw the Mayor of Emo forced to pay $5,000 to a complainant by the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal for refusing to proclaim Pride Month. We saw Chilliwack B.C. School Board Trustee Barry Neufeld fined $750,000 by the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal for statements about trans/queer-inclusive education.
So called “ethics commissioners” are used to devastating effect on local councils (Lisa Robinson is just one example).
These actions have a very chilling effect, forcing opposition/criticism of government agenda to put up and shut up. This can be viewed in parallel to 1930s Germany and its determination to silence its opposition/criticism.
As Canadians, how far down this rabbit hole are we prepared to go? How far are contributors such as Allen Berry, Paul Dunnill, David Courtney and to a lesser extent Ann Hollings willing to push our country into a socialist/authoritarian nightmare like 1930s Germany?
We need to learn the lessons of our ancestors before those same consequences come knocking on our door(s). Although I do not agree with your cartoonist’s depiction of U.S. President Donald Trump, I fervently agree with his/her freedom to express his/her opinion.
Wayne Baker,
Wellington North
*Editor’s note: An SIU investigation into a single incident of alleged “trampling” in Ottawa, involving a man and woman knocked down by a police horse, was discontinued as there were no significant injuries from the interaction.
Critical thinking ‘PSA’
Dear Editor:
This is my version of a PSA (public service announcement).
When I was in secondary school, a social studies teacher decided to teach us the basics of critical thinking. We brought newspaper clippings of current events, advertisements, government ads, etc. to class, and he would teach us to deconstruct the sentences and identify terminology, misleading language (he called this “weasel words”), evaluate evidence (or note the lack of it), do fact checking, identify faulty reasoning and bias, and challenge assumptions.
I think critical thinking should be part of the curricula of every high school. It is one of the basic skills you need for life. We are being bombarded with advertising, scams, government and media rhetoric (propaganda), fake news, and various other manipulative methods.
If you have never studied critical thinking, I encourage you to try it. It will help you make better fact-based decisions, with less influence by emotions or fear of the unknown.
Dale Gallo-Hendrikx,
Fergus
‘Enjoyable showcase’
Dear Editor:
On March 28 I had the pleasure of attending the Elora Skating Club’s 60th anniversary ice show. It was an enjoyable showcase of local figure skating talent, and an incredible turnout.
Following the show there was a reception with an amazing lunch spread and a display of photos, newspaper articles and awards spanning the club’s history. I have wonderful memories of my time as a young figure skater in Elora.
Shout-out to the board of directors, coaches and parents of all the skaters for their dedication to skating in Elora!
Megan Williams,
Elora
‘Dwindling economy’
Dear Editor:
Within a month Prime Minister Mark Carney and his Liberals could have a majority. This was not the will of the people in the last election. It was a minority with 43 per cent of the vote. I do not dispute Carney is our PM and the Liberal Party got the most seats. I wish him success of course so we can all do well. I am skeptical.
Recent letters here are still playing along with the Trump factor – news flash: if we don’t get this CUSMA free trade agreement renewed, Ontario’s auto sector will take one last hit and we will lose auto parts people and assembly plants very quickly.
I’m so tired of Carney playing the Trump card and so should all Canadians. Trump will go but even democrats had big issues with our trade on dairy.
So far Carney has nothing nailed down here or abroad – promises and memorandums of understanding are not actual deals. How long will we accept our dwindling economy?
Doak McCraney,
Guelph