Mail bag: 04/16/26
‘Cleavage between us’
Dear Editor:
RE: Like 1930s Germany? (April 9).
First of all, I should say what I didn’t say, that the cartoonist was funny. I think the cartoonist is way better than funny. His ironic humour, like the Family Day depiction of everyone on their cell phones.
It is a great portrait of many a modern family. Eating at restaurants, more often than not, family members don’t talk – they journey into their screens. So, I applaud it for being insightful characterization.
Now Trump.
But let’s go down a rabbit hole first. My parents were staunch Conservatives. CFRB radio was always on. And come hell or high water my parents were loyal to Diefenbaker and Conservative candidates like Elwood Madill, regardless of platform. And there is the danger – no critical assessment beyond the party line.
My parents were also Evangelicals. I wish they were around to see Trump with his expletive threat-laden vitriol – to destroy a civilization, to maim and murder thousands of civilians. How that jives with “love your neighbour” or “do unto others” escapes me.
What Trump has done to Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and with his buddy Netanyahu in Gaza is beyond disturbing. In North America you better not criticize, but around the world they see it differently. One couldn’t run a better ad campaign for anti-Israeli and anti-American sentiment.
We’re polarized as a country. Some of Mr. Baker’s concerns are my concerns; some are oppositional.
I’m not like my parents. I’m not blindly loyal to any party. I find it disgusting that the truckers could take over our capital city. Where else in the world would that happen?
If the police weren’t supportive of the truckers and of the anti-Trudeau movement, they would have put police tape up and towed the trucks to a pound.
I don’t think there is an honest politician anywhere in Canadian politics. Carney is making a big mistake on defence spending.
We are a country of 40 million with huge geographical boundaries. War is all about using up stockpiles of soon-to-be-outdated weaponry. Einstein, when asked about third world war weaponry said he didn’t know, but the fourth world war would be fought with sticks and stones.
The root problem is the cleavage between us. The letters to the editor are so representative of deep splits. There are more lines in the sand than you can shake a stick at. On April 9 it was reported that (as part of a new book coming out) Trump is still talking about annexing Canada and Greenland.
Try your convoy then and see how many days it lasts.
David Courtney,
Belwood
‘Without consent’?
Dear Editor:
RE: ‘Gentle goodbye,’ April 16.
Next year medical assistance in dying (MAID) will allow euthanizing people who can not give consent. This will be allowed by making mental illness one of the stand alone reasons for euthanasia.
To me, killing people without their consent is murder. Bill 218 which comes up on April 13, deletes this clause. I with others planned to be in Ottawa trying to promote this life-saving bill.
Chris Woode,
Fergus
*Editor’s note: No one can receive MAID without providing consent and everyone seeking MAID must have decision-making capacity and meet a number of criteria.
‘Where is democracy?’
Dear Editor:
Your vote is not worth the “X” you made on your ballot.
Whichever party you chose and was eventually elected count for nought if any sitting MP can cross the floor without approval of the voters who elected them.
If a sitting MP no longer feels they can represent their constituents they should resign, seek to stand as candidate for the new party of their choice and a by-election should be called. The voters should have the final say.
I foolishly and mistakenly believed MPs are supposed to represent their constituents not their own self interest.
Where is the democracy in the present system when one person overrides the wishes of hundreds or thousands of voters who elected them?
Alan Voce,
Elora
‘Democracy is fading’
Dear Editor:
The latest Conservative floor crosser, Marylin Gladu, had about 53 per cent of the vote in the 2025 election.
Sarnia city councillor and Liberal candidate George Vandenberg was second, with 38% of the vote.
These days, it’s tough enough to get voters out. Democracy is fading.
What’s next?
Larry Vettor,
Guelph/Eramosa
‘Be more accurate’
Dear Editor:
RE: Dog dead, woman injured after being hit by transport truck, April 16..
Hello Advertiser?! Perhaps be a little more accurate when describing the news. The dog killed in this heartbreaking incident was a “seeing eye dog” and the lady was blind! Maybe trucks should take more care when turning corners, as I really can’t see how a blind person with a seeing eye dog, who apparently had the right of way, can be any more careful.
Peter Beilke,
Arthur
‘Accountable all year’
Dear Editor:
We deserve year-round leadership, not election-season appearances.
Municipal politics in Wellington County and Guelph should be about genuine service, not just showing up when it’s time to campaign. Too many candidates reappear only during election season, make promises and then fade from view once elected. Our communities deserve leaders who stay engaged, communicate openly, and remain accountable all year.
We need representatives who put residents first, people willing to respect taxpayer dollars, avoid partisan politics and focus on what truly matters locally. Serving in municipal office should be about responsibility, not self-interest or status.
Local government is where decisions most directly affect our lives, from roads and housing to social services.
Let’s elect and support those who show a steady commitment to their neighbours, not just during the race for votes, but every day they hold office.
Alec Purves,
Guelph
‘Tick pathogens’
Dear Editor:
RE: Tick season has arrived; numbers up last year, April 9.
Tick pathogens are causing long-standing diseases in patients locally. Independent researchers conducted a tick study in Centre Wellington and southern Wellington County, and detected the Lyme disease bacterium (Borrelia burgdorferi), human babesiosis (Babesia odocoilei) and human anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in black legged ticks attached to domestic animals.
In total, 96 black legged tick adults were collected by veterinarians and veterinary technicians located at 19 veterinary clinics. Notably, the newest-discovered tick-borne zoonotic pathogen worldwide is Bobesia odocoilei.
This microorganism is an intracellular, red blood cell parasite, and has a notorious reputation for fatigue, sweats and cognitive issues such as dementia. This energy-draining, insidious disease is often labelled by clinicians as multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, POTS, Alzheimer’s disease, depression and more.
The peer-reviewed, scientific article can be downloaded at lymeontario.com.
John Scott,
Fergus
Important ‘helpers’
Dear Editor:
RE: Israeli soldiers turn Gaza-bound doctor back at border, April 9.
I want to sincerely thank Dr. Kapasi and Dr. Hussain for their detailed accounts about attempting to enter Gaza to provide medical aid. I was extremely shocked to see a story this important in our local newspaper and want to thank Robin George for writing it for us.
Within the article I was pleased to see fact-based evidence about the horrors happening in Palestine, as sharing these statistics helps counter any doubt about the atrocities currently happening; and brings to light what has been allowed to continue, for decades.
To read a first-hand account of someone who attempted to enter Gaza was very eye opening, and once again helps destigmatize the conflict. More people need to read this article.
While reading each sentence of the article tears filled my eyes as I read that volunteers are, “not allowed to bring food, medical supplies or other aid to distribute, as this is against Israel’s rules” and that Dr.Kapasi’s stethoscope was confiscated. I believe the Justice Department of Canada would consider this cruel and unusual punishment, and denying medical care falls under the realm of war crimes and collective punishment.
Now Israel is starting the same thing in Lebanon. In times like these with constant death tolls rising in places like Palestine and Lebanon – most often innocent women and children within these numbers – I feel defeated and overwhelmed, especially when my concern is brushed aside.
Then I am reminded of Mr. Rogers’ quote, “in scary times look for the helpers”, and upon reading this article, I found two: Dr. Kapasi and Dr. Hussain.
Shania Dirstein,
Mount Forest
Out of reach
Dear Editor:
NDP leader Marit Stiles tabled an Opposition Day motion on March 31 forcing a vote in the House to repeal the proposed changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).
Our elected official, Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Joseph Racinsky voted in rejection of that motion. OSAP funding is a staple of support to so many Ontario students. Post secondary education is no longer something that is “nice to have.” Post secondary education is now required if youth have any chance of obtaining a job that will pay them a livable wage.
In Wellington County, the average wage of someone working full time with only a high school diploma is $42,000 per year. That works out to $31,000 per year after taxes, or $2,583 per month.
Given the average cost of rent in Wellington county is between $1,900 and $2,500 per month, it does not take difficult math to understand that this is not a livable wage in our region.
If we add the atrocious cost of groceries, the ever-climbing cost of gas, the cost of a used car, vehicle maintenance and insurance, working for that amount of money simply does not pay the bills.
The average cost of a university education in Ontario is $8,500 per year. That does not include books, gas, food, housing, transportation, or the ancillary fees all institutions charge. In 1990 the cost was $1,680 per year. This is a 415% increase while minimum wage has only increased by 230%. The cost of goods and services has increased 106% since 1990.
For those who say they had no grants when they went to school and they were fine, those people did not have the same cost of living burden, or the same tuition costs. The cost today is not comparable to any previous time.
People often say “go into the trades.” This is a great opportunity however it is not so easy. Obtaining a sponsor to become an apprentice is difficult and not a straight forward process.
I’ve heard a lot of people say if university is so expensive, go to college instead. University programs are what educate our teachers, registered nurses, doctors, engineers and researchers. Doug Ford says choose STEM. How?
Melissa Grenier,
Fergus
Warranty worries
Dear Editor:
RE: What your mechanic wants you to know, March 19.
Having worked at a care dealership for almost 50 years, I had a inside view of how things worked in the automotive industry.
I retired eight months ago and can say I saw a lot of changes with both technology and policy.
The question of oil change interval has a somewhat dark background. To understand how things came to be we need to understand how the corporate world is set up.
There are three major groups: sales, engineers and accountants. The sales force will give the engineers direction on what the public wants and engineers design a vehicle based on that information. The accountants have the final say on what actually gets built.
Many large companies, cities and townships will ask automotive manufacturers for a quote for a large fleet purchase. This quote will also include the maintenance costs associated with the vehicles.
The bidding process is very competitive and as an example if GM’s quote for 500 vehicles is $500 less than Ford or Chrysler’s then the accountant on the purchasing side will buy GM, saving the city or township $500. One dollar per vehicle can make or break a sale when it comes to volume. This is where things get questionable.
With pressure from sales to reduce price the accountants will ask the engineers if removing something like the “grease fittings” will cause a problem “within the warranty period.” Their reply is no; however, those steering joints won’t last as long as ones with fittings.
Grease and the labour to install it costs money, so by removing the fittings they can reduce the bid price. The same logic applies to oil changes and other components: extend them a bit or remove them entirely and you have a few less maintenance intervals, again lowering the bid price.
Is it good for the vehicle?
Probably not, but as long as they get the sale and it makes it out of warranty is all that matters to them.
Dan Zabukovec,
Acton
Big raccoon
Dear Editor:
The other morning I had a big raccoon on my porch on my chair that was apparently very sick. I want to give a huge shout-out to Centre Wellington councillor Kim Jefferson who had a number immediately for me to call at the Guelph Humane Society.
I quickly messaged all my neighbours to let them know to stay inside. Within the hour I had a lady named Laura here from the humane society and she captured the big guy. Laura confirmed he was very, very sick.
I wished Laura a Happy Easter and thanked her for her help as it was Easter Sunday and she advised me to be careful about the cleanup on the porch as she felt it was in the late stages of distemper.
My hubby and I donned gloves, antiseptic spray, paper towels, garbage bags, threw cushions and the mat out in the garbage and carefully cleaned up the fecal matter. Laura also said it was her birthday, she was such a lovely lady.
What fabulous service. We live in such a great community of Centre Wellington and it was fast, quick, and she was very gentle. Thank you Kim and Laura.
Brenda Chamberlain,
Elora