VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

INQUIRY VITAL

The horrific details about the Portapique killer should convince Nova Scotians to fully support the call for a public inquiry by 30 faculty members of the Dalhousie University Schulich Law School.

I fail to understand why this timely appeal appears to have fallen on deaf ears: Premier Mcneil has passed the buck to the federal government, while our public media, (notably the CBC and The Chronicle Herald), have referred to the letter but unaccountably have failed to publish it.

The law faculty’s letter rightly calls for an inquiry which not only examines the conduct of the RCMP and EMO officials, but also examines systemic issues, which surely must include the deplorable gaps in Canada’s gun control program, and the virtual disappearance of the policies and programs created decades ago under the governments of Pierre Elliot Trudeau to address spousal assault, family violence and gun crimes.

Scott Burbidge, Port Williams

HARDLY A DISCOVERY

The following blurb appeared in The Chronicle Herald’s Today In History, May 15: “1602: Cape Cod (Massachusetts, USA) is discovered by English navigator Bartholomew Gosnold.”

The only way one could believe the aforementioned statement is to believe that the Indigenous peoples of the Americas were not human. Cape Cod had been occupied by the local Indigenous people for thousands of years, so how could it be “discovered” when that had already happened eons before? A non-racist blurb would read “was the first European to visit Cape Cod.”

This statement about the underlying cause of racism, made by Dalhousie University professor Susan Sherwin, is the best description I’ve ever read. It puts into words why it is so hard to get society to recognize, and accept, that the systemic racism that victimizes the First Nations Peoples of the Americas exists: “... the greatest danger of oppression lies where bias is so pervasive as to be invisible ...”

Daniel N. Paul, Halifax

SHORT OF DUCKS

While some of us have been aware, over the years, of the diminishing duck population in the Halifax Public Gardens and perhaps were hoping, with the birth of ducklings last summer, that this might reverse, it would seem that this is not to be. Over several recent visits to the Public Gardens, I have only seen one single duck.

Some might recall pleasant family Sunday afternoons which included a visit to the Gardens to feed the ducks, when this was still allowed. We might be aware of several family or friends who would, almost daily, take a walk through the Gardens to check on the ducklings. It is sad that what, for some, was a highlight of our visit has been allowed to disappear.

I live half the year in Victoria, B.C., where it is my pleasure to see hundreds of ducks who live in Beacon Hill Park year-round. Admittedly the climate there is more duck-friendly, but I understand that even in Nova Scotia, in Eastern Passage, for example, ducks and ducklings can still be seen.

Perhaps some people in the more duck-populated areas can give our Gardens-keepers some hints on how to rebuild the duck population. This would be nice.

Dr. James Burchill, Halifax

FAULTY LOGIC

The provincial government (including the premier) have regularly stated Nova Scotia was the last province to get COVID-19 cases.

They then indicate this is one of the reasons we are the last province to roll out a recovery plan.

Nova Scotia’s first case was March 15, Newfoundland and Labrador was March 14, Manitoba and Saskatchewan March 12 and New Brunswick March 11.

It is factually correct to state we were last but, as indicated above, it was only by a few days compared with a number of other provinces.

This hardly should provide any basis or logic to justify being the last (by weeks) to generate a comprehensive Nova Scotia COVID-19 recovery plan.

Bob Barton, Halifax