VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

SLAM-DUNK PARENTING

I was impressed by Nate Darling’s successes in his quest to play professional basketball (Nov. 27 story). I wish him well and would love to watch him play in the NBA.

But I was actually more impressed by his parents and their “hands off” approach during Nate’s basketball journey.

After hearing so many stories about parents who pressure their children to play sports, and who punish them when they do not excel in what should be an enjoyable experience, I was thrilled to see that Nate’s parents treated him in a most appropriate and respectful manner. They should be congratulated.

The article reminded me of a humorous story about children in sports and adult interference.

A few years ago, lacrosse was the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. When a reporter asked a young boy why he decided to play the game, he gave a classic answer: “It’s the only sport that my parents know nothing about.”

Don Dougherty, Halifax

REINVENTING THE WHEEL

I read with mixed emotions your Nov. 25 article discussing the pilot project whereby the province will be funding three accessible vans to be operated by EHS for non-emergency transportation.

The good news is that the province is addressing the issue of finding an alternate to the very costly use of a resource that is not being efficiently utilized — transferring patients who do not require medical care.

The puzzling side is, why does the province not instead use the services of the 19 rural transit services now in operation to perform this service? We already offer door-to-door services. We already have accessible vans largely funded through the province’s Accessible Transportation Assistance Program. We all have dispatch systems, and in the normal course of business, a significant portion of our ridership already involves transporting individuals to hospitals and medical appointments, using both our paid drivers and our volunteer drivers. Each Transit organization also is supported by general operating funding through the Community Transportation Assistance Program.

We truly need to work together, to create greater efficiencies through eliminating duplication and using what we have.

Bill Smyth, past president, Queens County Transit Society

ASK A SCIENTIST

I am not sure I need my COVID vaccine information to be provided by a political science professor (Nov. 27 story). If I had not read this article carefully, I might have mistaken this info as coming from a qualified source. It is not the professor’s fault. Why does your paper ask questions of people on matters in which they are not experts? They can only give opinions, not be knowledgeable about the facts.

Brian Smith, Dartmouth

ALC PROMO UNHELPFUL

Atlantic Lottery Corporation has a promotion on (Nov. 26-30) whereby folks who deposit $60 online and spend $20 on instant-win tickets will get a bonus of $20 deposited to their account.

At a time when more folks are isolating and likely spending more time at their computer, Atlantic Lottery has come up with a program to hook more people on online gaming. There are enough problems with addiction to gaming without our provincial governments condoning such practices.

Yes, ALC has developed the program, but the corporation is owned by our provincial governments and they are responsible and accountable. It is also likely that some folks who put this initial $60 in cannot afford it and over time will spend much more.

It is time to act responsibly and limit activities that encourage gaming. Kevin Mcnamara, Gold River

RIGHT-STUFF LITMUS TEST

I had a dream the other night — perhaps it was a vision.

What would the premier do if all three Liberal candidates vying for his job were to indicate that they would not support the Dec.18 vote to prorogue the legislature?

Well, there would be no motion by the premier to prorogue. And indeed we might see some solid proposed legislation laid on the table the following Monday.

The House would debate these matters and adjourn for the holiday break on about Dec. 23. The members would reconvene on about Jan. 4, 2021 and go back to work with committee meetings, public input, and would pass some bills and in early February, we’d have an adjournment for the Liberal leadership convention and the House would promptly go back to work.

Is there any work to do? There sure is, since the House has not been in session since March 10 and the three leadership contenders are generating their own ideas for needed legislation. As well, the leaders of the Opposition already have some good members’ bills on the table.

The problem is that the premier has allowed himself to be painted into a tiny corner of his own making. Such a habitual a lame duck should just quietly step aside and let’s see what the legislature can do. Perhaps it was not a vision, but rather a good test of what spine we have in the three contenders who would have us believe that they have the right stuff to lead Nova Scotia. Alan Ruffman, HRM

BLUENOSE BOOKENDS?

Let us hope that a brief history of democracy in Nova Scotia does not begin with Joe Howe’s “what is for the public good” and end with Stephen Mcneil’s notion of “I know what’s good for the people.”

Eric Llewellyn Dartmouth