Mail bag: 11/12/26

‘What changed?’

Dear Editor:

An open letter to Minister of Veterans Affairs Jill McKnight.

I have to let you know that as a veteran I am disgusted that your government elected to terminate the first refusal contract with the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires. 

It indicates to me that the rubbish your government has pushed about elbows up applies only when it suits your political narrative and not when it relates to the needs of veterans.

In December 2024 your government honoured the corps and recognized it as an “event of historic significance”. Steven Guilbeault (remember him?) stated, “For almost a hundred years, the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires has provided veterans, families of veterans and former members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with employment support in recognition and commemoration of their valuable role in service to Canada. Commemoration, or remembrance, helps link our past and our present and helps Canadians learn about the country’s past, in all its richness and complexity.”

So what changed in the past two years? Well we have a newly minted prime minister, albeit using an old Liberal mold, and almost the same old government team we have had for the previous 10 years. What changed? One change is that the newish PM has required the rallying of the troops to fight against the big bad man to the south of us. “Onward into the breach and buy Canadian!” So how does rallying of the troops align with disadvantaging veteran employment?

Military people have a dark sense of humour, for many reasons. One saying springs to mind that I think is appropriate in this happenstance: “I am your leader, charge the enemy, I am right behind you.”

So the government in its wisdom, and after giving obviously false accolades to the corps, decides to not renew a contract with the corps but instead contract an American owned company because they are 0.8% cheaper. Does the big bad man give you kudos for this? What happened to buy Canadian?

I submit that if your government practised a modicum of fiscal restraint (belly laugh), perhaps trim down the number of junkets, or dare I say, cut out foreign financial support for questionable groups, you could easily find that 0.8%.

Michael Lee,
Salem

‘Demented spending’

Dear Editor:

The federal budget released last week only strengthens my opinion on Prime Minister Mark Carney. How on Earth is adding billions more to our already staggering national debt sustainable? What kind of financial lunacy is this? Does anyone in Ottawa have the slightest clue how to balance a cheque book anymore?

I’m pleading with your readers to take action! If there’s a lawyer out there willing to spearhead a class-action lawsuit against this government’s inexcusable lack of accountability, please do! I’d like my taxes back! This government has done absolutely nothing to deserve our hard-earned money, let alone the right to squander it so recklessly.

This government is completely out of touch with reality, and it desperately needs to be taught a valuable lesson! If Indigenous groups can sue the government over claims that some Canadians find preposterous, why on earth can’t taxpayers sue over this demented spending spree?

We’ve clearly reached a point where our democratic system is failing us. The House of Commons has become an absolute joke! MPs crossing the floor to manufacture a majority is a disgrace to the voters who elected them. What happened to political integrity? What happened to accountability? Does any of it even matter anymore?

And what happens when Carney finally retires – or better yet, resigns? He’ll walk away with his millions, comfortably insulated from the financial wreckage, without giving a damn about the Canadians left to pick up the pieces. Meanwhile, those of us who genuinely believe this country is still worth fighting for will be stuck paying for this government’s incompetence for generations.

The damage being done to this country is staggering, and I genuinely fear we may never fully recover. Enough is enough! Where are the consequences? Where is the accountability? Where is the outrage? For crying out loud, somebody with some common sense, please do something.

Doug Vanderveen,
Belwood

*Editor’s note: Floor crossings (changing political parties in the middle of a term) have been part of the parliamentary system in Canada since Confederation.

‘What’s the problem?’

Dear Editor:

There seems to be a controversy over Elora being split on certain issues and with change, that is inevitable. So here’s the issue in my opinion. Townsfolk feel as if they are being mistreated by elements that are out of their control and in retrospect they are (ie. – tourism).

I believe if a person or company chose to invest in an Airbnb or by whatever you want to call it, this enterprise should be taxed at commercial rates, because it is a commercial enterprise. They are not. If it is in your house or you convert properties to this endeavour it is a commercial property.

The other issue is parking. The town has spent money on setting up parking meters and added some new parking spaces (liquor store) and these spaces cost approximately $60,000 per space.

If you are local and register your car plate’s you are exempt from this charge. So the question is what’s the problem? Do we have a problem with this? I would hope not

Werner Raab,
Elora