VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

SOME CAN’T WAIT

It would appear that Dr. Robert Strang, the province's chief medical officer of health, puts seniors without underlying medical issues before all the people who have no immune system in vaccine priority. He believes the latter can wait until the general public are being vaccinated.

I have a daughter on dialysis who cannot go out for fear of catching COVID-19. Her two boys cannot attend school in case they get infected, which is quite likely now. She is doing her best to homeschool them even though her energy levels are compromised.

How many others are in fear of their lives? Once again, our health-care system is letting them down. I write “care,” but that is not the word for our appalling lack of it.

Tony Morris, Dartmouth

INSULTING DESTRUCTION

The demolition over the weekend of Dec. 5-6 of the Reid House in Avonport (built 1760s), a registered provincial heritage building (1993), is an irreparable loss.

Halifax-based owner NANCO Developments (a Nahas family enterprise) appears to have proceeded without going through the proper process or authorization. This blatant disregard for Nova Scotian heritage is a serious matter under the pertinent provincial heritage act.

Moreover, the demolition disrespected all New England Planter families of the Annapolis Valley and their ancestors — it was a statement that Planter families, and the built heritage they left, have no value. When NANCO Developments (that is, the Nahas family) tore down the Reid House, they insulted the community of Avonport, belittled Planter descendants and ignored those who have laboured to preserve built heritage for future generations.

If unaddressed, this action sets a dangerous precedent which leaves all registered heritage properties throughout the length and breadth of Nova Scotia without effective protection regardless of the ethnic or cultural groups these are meant to honour.

NANCO Developments has thrust a poker into a wasps' nest — they should be prepared for the public backlash which will demand that the government enforce the penalties for their actions.

Allen B. Robertson, Halifax

NOTHING STOPPING HRM

HRM can build, own and manage affordable housing, contrary to its public position on the topic (see pages 45, 46, 51 of the HRM Charter.)

There is no service agreement in place with the province preventing HRM from providing affordable housing. The HRM just doesn't want to pay for it. While there is no provincial funding formula in place because of the 1995⁄ 96 service exchange that was part of the amalgamation process, HRM is free to provide affordable housing if it so chooses.

Unless HRM expects regions outside of this one to subsidize affordable housing within it, it really makes no difference who pays for it because the tax base is the same. The province has means of taxation that HRM does not, but ultimately if HRM taxes people within this region to pay for affordable housing or the province does, it makes no difference.

The city is also free to seek funding from the federal government and other organizations like the CMHC. The federal affordable housing “projects stream” funding is available to HRM to fund the construction of new

affordable housing projects. HRM has the added advantage of owning $40 million worth of property, like the Bloomfield Centre, with which to bargain with the other players in the housing game.

David Fright, Halifax

GAUGE LIBERAL CANDIDATES

I, and several others, have written detailing the steps that Premier Mcneil could have taken to cement the environmental legacy for his many years as premier. Unfortunately, he has not followed our excellent advice.

COVID has shown us that our world can change in an instant; McNeil reacted strongly and effectively to these changes. The devastation caused by climate change and environmental degradation is more gradual but more destructive than COVID. Slowing climate change, protecting biodiversity and decreasing environmental degradation are essential for the health of future generations.

Yet, Mcneil has done little to protect the environment. He has not implemented the Parks and Protected Areas Plan, he has not established the climate change regulations stipulated by the weakened version of the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act, he has not finalized the Biodiversity Act, his government

has not acted to protect species at risk and finally, and perhaps most egregiously, he has not enacted the recommendations for ecological forestry of the Lahey report.

Mcneil commissioned this report. Two years ago, his government committed to implementing the Lahey recommendations. Since, the recommendations for ecological forestry have been discussed and revised, but nothing has been implemented. The Mcneil government has kicked the can down the road, while industrial forestry is continuing apace.

As Premier Mcneil seems to have abandoned all pretense of acting to support our environment, concerned citizens must look to our next premier. Three members of the Mcneil government are offering to become the next leader of the Liberal Party, and by default, the next premier. We need to look carefully at their platforms to see who is best for our future.

Given the structure of power in the current government, the actions of these individuals during their time as ministers may not reflect their beliefs. Concerned citizens and Liberal party members need to look at the candidates' platforms and their commitments. Which candidates are actually aware of and committed to addressing the grave environmental problems that face us?

Liberal party delegates have a big decision to make this coming winter, and that decision will have strong impacts on the future of our environment.

Helga Guderley, Boutiliers Point

LOSING NATURE

A few Christmases ago, I started giving my grandchildren a themed ornament every year, so that, when they had places of their own, they would have a tradition and a matching set of ornaments for their Christmas trees.

This September, my latest grandson was born, and I asked my daughter what theme his ornaments should be. She suggested animals like the ones on his nursery wall. “But that might just make him sad,” I said, “because all those animals will be long gone by the time he is a grown man.”

And since, I will also be long gone, my daughter will try to describe to him the moose and the marten, the coyotes and the wolves of long ago, but that when he was born the world was ruled by white men like the Trumps, the Mcneils, Rankins, Momberquettes, and so many others who saw the world of nature — its mysteries, its miracles, its beauty — in a way very different from our own.