LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

CAN’T FORCE IT

Re: Recycling wanted (SP, Feb. 6). Brian Lloyd falsely assumes that only those who pay for green and blue bins recycle their household waste.

We are responsible recyclers, but don’t feel the need to pay to have it picked up. And we know many others who also recycle without pickup. However, sometime this year everyone will be required to pay for recycling when our city implements its new plan.

I doubt that those few who do not now care about the waste they generate will suddenly think responsibly just because the bins will be forced upon them. Helen Beaven Saskatoon

SENATE CHEAPENED

Re: Editorial smear (SP, Feb. 11). If you go on to Senator Dave Tkachuk’s website you find the following explanation of the Canadian Senate’s official role:

“Examining and revising legislation, investigating national issues and representing regional, provincial and minority interests — these are important functions in a modern democracy. They are also the duties of Canada’s Senate. Senators represent, investigate, deliberate and legislate.”

Given this, I think Tkachuk owes Canadians an explanation of why he finds it necessary, as a senator, to defend the Conservative government against a StarPhoenix editorial. There are, after all, Conservative MPS who could have done the job, not to mention the Prime Minister’s Office.

Politicizing the Senate cheapens the institution. However, Tkachuk’s letter can be added to the growing file of why we need an elected Senate. W.R. Turner Saskatoon

TIME TO SCRAP ACT

Many are unaware of why Indian people place such emphasis on treaties and treaty rights.

Briefly, when the British and French were at war in the process of colonizing North America, they dealt with the First Nations as equals in forming alliances. The British eventually won, but the French surrender terms concerned in part the Indian people. Furthermore, the Royal Proclamation of 1763 made it clear that Indian lands couldn’t be taken away without consent — hence, the treaties.

The Indian Act was subsequently enacted as a mechanism of control. The reason why the treaties were so liberal with some promises — medicine, $5 a year, etc. — was because it was believed that Indians were a dying race.

From the millions who were here when the Europeans arrived, their numbers dwindled to mere hundreds of thousands. However, the Indian people did not disappear, and today their population is increasing. Assimilation was tried via residential schools, and we all know the result.

Even today people wonder why the federal government gives billions of dollars and huge tracts of land to peoples of B.C., the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. These people never signed treaties, unlike the plains Indians, and these tracts of land were never Canada’s to give away.

Over the years I’ve heard many Indian people, including Doug Cuthand, bemoan the Indian Act. FSIN is among Indian organizations that have described the act as worse than apartheid.

Yet, now when someone wants to repeal it, they say, not yet. It has been more than 100 years. I think it’s time. Dave Greyeyes Saskatoon

CHOOSE CAREFULLY

Re: Wall lauds success of Sask. viral video (SP, Feb. 11). While Premier Brad Wall found this video humorous, he took issue with one question posed in it: “Are you a conservative or a communist?”

Wall should be aware, according to a new Canadian study published recently in the journal Psychological Science, that linked low intelligence, socially conservative beliefs and prejudice.

Researchers speculate that the draw to social conservatism is due to the ideology’s structure and order.

Researchers said the conclusions are an average of a large group of people, and does not mean that all conservatives are dumb or that all liberals are smart. Wall can take his pick. I’m just happy being a socialist since 1933. Rusty Chartier Saskatoon