Fighting climate change is top priority
Re A matter of priorities, Editorial, Nov. 14 For those of us who see the stark and convincing evidence that we are destroying our planet through human-induced climate change, the cry has gone out to governments to take strong action to reduce our carbon footprint before this planet we call home reaches the point of no return.
And, according to environmental science, that point is fast approaching.
But people vehemently protest when ideas such as cap and trade (a program that was working extremely well) or a carbon tax are initiated. We want action, but not if it costs “me.”
The Ford government prefers to tap into our fears and inherent self interest by stating that saving the environment will cost too many jobs and add to the cost of operating our vehicles and heating our homes. So they fight the very initiatives they should be supporting.
Rather than justifying inaction, it is government’s responsibility to lead the way in educating every citizen on the environmental emergency facing this and future generations. Instead they close their eyes to this inconvenient truth, saying they got elected on improving the economy so that’s their priority.
Nothing is more important than doing all that can be done to reverse the effects of climate change. And it is time for each citizen to insist that we are willing to inconvenience ourselves and contribute financially to government and private initiatives to save our planet.
Present and future generations will be grateful instead of cursing our stupidity and short-sightedness. Jack Gallop, Thornhill As happy as I was to see your editorial take the Ford government to task for expensive “petty, vindictive politics,” I wish you’d done so with more attention to grammar.
See, there in paragraph four, “This government, after all, has made cutting costs it’s No. 1 priority.” OMG, it’s? The it’s that means it is? Recently more than a few Facebook users were delighted to see a photo of two of the members of the Grammar Police. Their motto, is, of course “to serve and correct.” David Reville, Toronto Re Ford funding of free legal work ought to be a nobrainer, Opinion, Nov. 14 Pam Hrick repeats Premier Doug Ford’s mantra “first ever government for the people” several times throughout her excellent column extolling the business case for the continued funding of Pro Bono Ontario legal services.
With apologies to Pogo (the comic strip), we have identified the people, and it ain’t us. Doug Calver, Campbellford, Ont.