‘Vote buying’ poetry

Re: Spreading The Wealth, letter to the editor, Sept. 22. In his criticism of Ralph Klein’s plan to give out $400 cheques to every Alberta resident, Fraser Petrick asks what rhymes with “vote buying”? This is hypocritical. In agreeing to the Kyoto Protocol, the Liberal government exempted Central Canada’s car industry from its emission controls. Is this not a form of vote buying in Ontario?

Don’t worry, Alberta will help Canada when needed, but Albertans will decide where our hard-earned money goes

And to answer his question: Vote buying rhymes with ( or at least is parallel to) Central Canadian Liberal lemmings. Derek Begin, Calgary. Ontario resident Fraser Petrick complains about Ralph Klein giving $400 to Albertans and wants to know what rhymes with “ vote buying.” Try “ quit crying.” E. J. Adams, Regina. How about “Liberal lying”? Graeme Strathdee, Sylvan Lake, Alta. Ralph Klein will be retiring from provincial politics, so I don’t know what kind of vote buying Mr. Petrick is referring to.

This letter smacks of Ontario envy of Alberta’s oil. I’d like a news report done on how many products Albertans buy from Ontario companies, including steel, cars and other industrialized goods. What is good for Alberta is good for Ontarians, but you wouldn’t know that by reading most news stories. Dean Patzer, Ottawa.