LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Short-sighted move on land transfer

Re: New hospital site a threat to decades of research, Sept. 21. It was very short-sighted of former federal cabinet minister John Baird to have announced last autumn the eventual transfer of 24 hectares from Field No. 1 of the Central Experimental Farm for lease to The Ottawa Hospital for a new Civic Campus location.

Was he or any federal cabinet member aware of the decades of soil research and experimentation on this land that contributed to the Nobel Prize in 2007?

This apparently ad-hoc gesture should be rescinded by the next federal government.

Federal, municipal, and Civic Hospital officials appear to have forgotten that the Canadian Geology/Geological Survey complex on the east side of Booth Street, built in the mid-1950s, was constructed for its possible use as a hospital during that Cold War period. The building, walls, floors, etc., were extra-reinforced to sustain bombardment.

All hallways, doorways, elevator shafts, housings and doors were made hospital width for movement of beds. Even the offices were made extra-large ward size.

Public Works tendered the contract and continues to maintain the building complex; hence, it would have documentation of the period. Ample parking could be had from the much older EMR sites on the west side of Booth Street opposite. George Neville, Ottawa

Missing the mark on voting picture

Re: Liberals won’t run the table in Ottawa, Sept. 24. Columnist David Reevely’s cup is half empty when it comes to the prospects of opposition parties in four key political battlegrounds in Ottawa.

He provides his usually insightful analysis of this weeks’ Environics Research poll of voting intentions in Orléans, Ottawa West-Nepean, Kanata-Carleton and Nepean, but he misses the mark on the big picture.

Six months ago, few people would have guessed that the Liberals would be holding a narrow lead in Orléans and Ottawa West-Nepean, and far fewer would have guessed that the ridings of Nepean and Kanata-Carleton would be in play.

The fact that these two ridings are now competitive is a major setback for the Conservatives, who no doubt would rather be focusing on picking up new ridings rather than defending previously secure seats.

People interested in change during this election should take heart in the fact that viable alternatives are emerging and the Conservatives are under pressure in almost every riding they currently hold in the Ottawa area. Graham Saul, Executive Director, Ecology Ottawa

Cohen’s column is unfair to Jews

Re: Conservatives pandering to Jewish voters, Sept. 23. Andrew Cohen’s column is more an attack on Canadian Jews than an attack on Conservatives. I am supporting the NDP and leader Tom Mulcair, and I encourage my Jewish friends to do the same, but implying that many Canadian Jews are “oneissue voters” and now more “parochial” in their politics is insulting to Jews, and it is untrue.

Cohen appears to not realize that Jews feel a strong sense of attachment to Israel and are afraid for her future. Jews see today that Israel is attacked from many sides, has very dangerous neighbours, and has an enemy on its way to acquiring nuclear weapons.

When Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaks up boldly in support of Israel, it is an important consideration in how they vote.

Instead of putting down Jews and instead of blaming the Conservatives for trying to attract voters — isn’t that what parties are supposed to do? — Cohen should explain why Jews should not be afraid to vote for another party. His column completely fails to do that. Fred Maroun, Ottawa

Recalling kindness at Terry Fox Run

Re: Thousands turn out as Terry Fox Run turns 35, Sept. 21. When the 35th annual Terry Fox Run took place in Ottawa last Sunday, it reminded me of a great memory. I remember a cold, cold day back in, I believe the 1980s during the annual event in Ottawa. I was stamping cards and freezing, when a young runner about 16 years of age put his sweater on my shoulders and then ran off.

I never forgot him (I’m now 83). I never forget our Terry Fox, either. Denyse Rochette, Winchester