Love and respect for each other plain to see in Governor General and his wife
Re: Ex-astronaut to be next governor general; Julie Payette, July 13
Do you know what I will miss? The smiling, kind face of David Johnston, the soon-to-be former governor general of Canada.
Here was a man who loved his work and above all was not afraid to show his love for his wife. In every picture of the couple, he showed love, respect and admiration for her. She returned that by the love in her face.
I will miss them. Anne van den Hoogen, Calgary
Canada’s similarity to South Africa
We just watched The Secret Path, an animated film made by ailing rock star Gord Downie. It’s about an Indigenous boy who ran away from a residential school in 1966 and died trying to make the trek back home in northern Ontario. Very moving and well done.
I realized that at the time I was teaching in Uganda on behalf of the Canadian government, the same government was putting Indigenous kids into often abusive residential schools.
In 1966, while that boy lay dying, I travelled to South Africa. I was stunned at the signs saying “whites only.
I came home and joined boycotts of South African produce, unaware the residential schools were still committing cultural genocide in my own country.
I hope we Canadians do more to repair the damage done by our apartheid system. Larry MacKillop, Nanton
Council pay review a waste of money Re: Colley-Urquhart seeks review of councillors’ pay and perks, July 14
Once again city councillor Diane Colley-Urquhart has found a way to spend our money when it’s not necessary, and guess what? It’s just before an election. How coincidental!
But not really, as that seems to be council’s style, to spend our money on unnecessary surveys or reviews, and do so with the most exposure. Hey council, outside reviews and surveys are not always needed, just sit down and do your own.
That money could be used for more important things like supporting housing for seniors or the handicapped, assisting the food bank in providing food to starving families, anything but another review or survey! If you need to spend our money then make darn sure it is for something important or desperately needed! Valerie Gower, Calgary
What is real reason for Khadr payout? Re: Judge denies Khadr asset freeze, July 14
First we are told the federal government needed to pay Omar Khadr $10.5 million because his charter rights had been violated. Now, we are told the government had to pay because the unproven $20-million civil suit was going to cost the government $30 million to $40 million.
So, is it about the rule of law or more like a business decision to settle a nuisance lawsuit? Will there be a new justification next week?
It seems our PM has not learned a basic lesson in life. When in a hole, stop digging. Jim Williams, Calgary
Gripes perpetuate Alberta stereotype Re: Nenshi weighs in after Trudeau gaffe: ‘Are we that fragile?’ July 4
The recent political cartoon about Albertans’ reaction to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accidental skipping of Alberta when naming the provinces and territories, along with the many barbed remarks in opinion columns since July 1, merely serve to perpetuate the tired stereotype of Albertans as petulant adolescents who must reflexively take offence when none is meant.
But Alberta is the not the same province we moved to 38 years ago; the province is more diverse and no longer has the knee-jerk reaction against anything related to the former Trudeau years.
I was on Parliament Hill when the PM made his unfortunate flub — he began by naming British Columbia, then the northern territories, then geographically eastward to name Saskatchewan and the other provinces, missing Alberta. If the prime minister is guilty of anything, it is of taking the dreaded risk of omitting a name when enthusiastically reciting a list.
Please do not paint all Albertans as such delicate flowers in need of coddling. Loretta Biasutti, Calgary
Fluoride decision should be our call Re: Fluoride debate flares amid alarm over kids’ cavities, July 13
According to a July 13 article, Coun. Andre Chabot is not interested in revisiting the issue of fluoridating our drinking water. With all due respect, that is not his decision to make. Calgarians have a right to decide for themselves whether we want to fluoridate our drinking water.
In 1989 and 1999, Calgarians, including myself, voted to fluoridate our drinking water. In 2011, city council decided to stop fluoridating with no expert panel consultation or public vote.
When is city council going to realize it is not up to them to make decisions that affect all of us based on their own personal ideology? I am tired of city council shoving their views down my throat with such authority that you would think it was they alone who had all the answers. I long for the days where I felt I was a part of the city, and that my voice was being heard.
Hopefully, in the fall election we will elect a council willing to work with their constituents. Lynne Danis, Calgary
Chuckwagon racers love animals, too Re: “Animal Death Tarnishes Stampede” Letter, July 12
In response to the letter above, I, too, am always saddened when an animal dies at the Stampede.
But before you start condemning the chuckwagon races and the Stampede, you need to know where these horses come from. Most are thoroughbreds, bred specifically for the racetrack. When they are no longer deemed “useful” by racing standards, they are put up for sale and often sent to slaughterhouses. If it weren’t for the chuckwagon owners buying these horses, they could have ended up on someone’s plate in Japan or Europe.
These horses are born to run. They are treated with love and respect and provided the best care possible. When an unfortunate incident happens and an animal has to be put down, it hurts everyone. Laura Cook, Airdrie