LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Bird deaths worse at wind farms Re: 50 birds dead after landing on tailings pond, May 6

Imperial Oil reported that 50 birds had died after landing in a tailings pond in northern Alberta. Although it is extremely distressing that these birds died, Imperial

Oil and other oil companies appear to be making every effort to prevent these deaths. But all tailings pond issues are reported on, usually being sensationalized by anti-oil industry groups.

For comparison, here are some statistics from Energy Minute, (energyminute.ca), regarding annual bird deaths: Canadian oil industry, 1,000; In North America: wind farms, 250,000; power lines and cellphone towers, 64 million (2014). I don’t recall seeing an article or hearing a news report about how many birds have been killed on any local wind farms lately.

Mike Ryall, Cochrane

How about free PPE for our seniors?

Our Alberta premier has very generously donated medical supplies, undoubtedly purchased with Alberta taxpayer money, to a number of provinces that blithely swallowed the early federal line regarding the seriousness of the COVID-19 virus and were caught unprepared. Will Premier Kenny also provide, somewhat late, gratis masks, gloves and hand sanitizers to one of the more vulnerable segments of the Alberta population, namely its senior citizens, who, like me, have faithfully paid their taxes for over 57 years? Furthermore, I’ve spent about $600 to date on a motley assortment of mask, gloves and sanitizers. Will I be allowed to deduct this amount from my income tax, some without receipts? Frank Brenner, Calgary

NHL playoff plan fails to score

Re: Substance vs. sparkle in NHL hub-city bids; Vancouver’s experience, facilities face off against Edmonton’s spacious new arena, May 6 The National Hockey League is considering using a few “hub-cities” to have teams play in empty rinks to finish the season and begin the playoffs. A few teams would gather, stay housed in hotels and play in one rink. It’s all about the TV revenue, of course. Two cities in Western Canada — Edmonton and Vancouver — are being considered.

What no one wants to address, though, is how you get players from all over the world into the country when there are no planes flying and anyone entering would have to immediately go into a 14-day quarantine. And they would have to be tested for the COVID-19 before they could be allowed in contact with anyone else.

How would the rest of the citizens feel, especially us older ones, if privileged sports figures got bumped up the queue to get tested while the rest of us waited to become eligible? Or sick! Not very good about it I can tell you!

Pearson James, Calgary

Can’t pay taxes if we don’t have jobs

Re: Have we opened a Pandora’s box by shutting down the economy?, Opinion, May 4

I found this to be a very well written and thought-out comment on our current dilemma and possible future. I worry greatly about overreaction and my kid’s future. Without work and exports to finance our current economy, we will lack jobs, income, food, and shelter (forget about education and health care, they will be the first to go). Our government gets its money from us. I don’t know about you, but I cannot give money to the government that I do not have. I guess they will give me yours. Thanks in advance by the way.

Don Thorssen, Calgary

Plenty of distancing at campgrounds

I object to the decision to only allow 50 per cent occupancy at provincial campgrounds. This makes absolutely no sense; campsites are never so close to each other to create a safe-distance problem, nor are the trails so crowded. The only thing this decision is achieving is to deny Alberta campers the joy of the great outdoors, based on a clear lack of camping knowledge by the decision-makers.

George Duska, Calgary

Golfer teed off by sexist language

Re: Beat the bunker mentality, Opinion, May 7

As a woman who enjoys golfing, I was halfway through enjoying this article, when I found out it wasn’t written for me to read, it was written only for men.

Apparently, allowing sharing a golf cart with your spouse “is the least they can do for guys who have to golf with their wives.” That was followed by a section about how it’s now acceptable (even your “social responsibility”) to take a leak outside on the course. Presumably, you’ll then put your uncleaned hands all over that golf cart you’re sharing with your wife.

This could easily have been written to include your female readers, simply by choosing words like “people” and “spouses.”

Carola Preusser, Calgary

Let’s cut off all oil and gas to Quebec

Re: Attack on industry is ‘un-canadian’, Opinion, May 8

I have to congratulate Don Braid on his very honest and truthful article. It is sad that in these tragic and traumatic times, we have to deal with the likes of Blanchet and his Bloc Quebecois. I don’t recall any other country where politicians are publicly paid to destroy the federation.

I suggest cutting all oil and gas to Quebec, because they don’t need or want it any longer, and cutting all transfer payments. I wholeheartedly support a united Canada, but not sacrificing all of us for the sake of Quebec. We need a leader who will stand up to Quebec and defend the rest of the provinces and territories. Gerhard Sieberg, Calgary

Strong economy aids environment

What leftists like Green party leader Elizabeth May fail to grasp, and what makes them so incredibly dangerous to the environment as well as to society’s social and economic well-being, is that it’s only with a strong economy that one can have the resources to protect the environment.

Indeed, this was the great lesson of the 20th century to those paying attention. In the debate between socialism and capitalism, played out between east and west, the greatest environmental disasters consistently came from the centrally planned economies of the east. The same policies and societies May and her ilk advocate today are what consistently deliver the greatest economic, social and environmental misery.

Alberta is merely responding to the global demand for oil. If it isn’t met from ethical, environmentally responsible jurisdictions like Alberta, to the great benefit of all Canadians, it will continue to instead prop up despicable despots abroad.

Doug Walker, Calgary

Relocating workers will shift votes

I would venture another scenario should federal aid not be forthcoming for the oilpatch. Alberta has a huge, young, skilled workforce. Alberta tradespeople and professionals are not looking for separation or a government handout. They want a career and a way to support their families. To do this they will relocate to more prosperous economies in Canada, including Quebec and B.C. They will enrich their new communities. But they will never vote Bloc or Green; federally or provincially.

Ms. May and M. Blanchett, careful what you wish for.

You might get it.

Ian Anderson, Cochrane

Stampede not only cancelled festival

Re: Petition seeks Ottawa aid for businesses and groups hit by cancelled Stampede, May 8 Michelle Rempel Garner needs to get off her holier-than-thou horse. Yes, the Calgary Stampede is an important part of the city’s culture and a phenomenal revenue stream but is she even slightly aware of the many other festivals across the country that have been cancelled and that are equally as strong or even greater revenue generators to their respective cities?

Maybe I’ve missed it, but I haven’t heard organizers of the F1, Montreal Jazz Festival or Toronto’s Pride and Caribana festivals asking for handouts.

Marvin Matthews, Calgary

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