Imposing names

Re: Naming Rights, Fr. Raymond de Souza, June 21.

I have to agree wholeheartedly with Fr. Raymond de Souza that bridges, roads, airports and even parks should not be named after politicians, as they are the only ones who get to decide these things. I grew up at Yonge and Davisville in Toronto, and played and lived at Davisville park for many many years. When I saw that it is now called June Rowlands Park, I cringed. I’ ll bet that if they had asked the people of the neighbourhood or the city, they would not have received approval.

One group of Canadian citizens that is worthy of honour is the taxpayers. Why not present a medal ( maybe confidentially) of all those who have cumulatively paid $ 5 million in income tax? This would not be that hard to do, just get the Canada Revenue Agency to tally the numbers up by social insurance number. These are the people who should be honoured, not the usual media types, party faithful, heads of non-governmental organizations, do- good dreamers, retired politicians, entertainers ( most of which have long left Canada), etc. These are the people that keep the prime minister’s jet fuelled up f or t he next summit meeting, wherever it may be.