LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Farmers market disputes are unappetizing
Where is the city’s involvement in this long-standing farmers market feud that is bringing a disreputable reputation to this city? The city has many guidelines and policies for core seasonal rentals that affect this city’s image (Dragon Boat Festival, Ribfest, the Peterborough Folk Festival, etc.) to which power is given to a few to organize, implement and represent this city’s image and reputation. This includes vendors selling their wares at these events and on city premises. These events seem to run smoothly.
The differences between the farmers markets and the examples above are that the farmers markets are long-term weekly happenings and not singular in nature. They directly affect the income of taxpaying local producers and vendors, but are governed by boards that have seemingly independent and final authority without oversight while operating on publicly owned land.
A city-appointed ombudsman position is needed to review and adjudicate policies, and to resolve disputes in a third-party format. The city needs to ratchet down the warring tribes and disgruntled vendors and focus on enhancing the customers’ positive experiences.
I recommend that the city only grant a short-term extension to one or both of the proposed bidders and not enter into any long-term agreements until this has been thoroughly reviewed and discussed, and an ombudsman’s office is established for farmers’ markets.
After many years of going to these farmers markets and being subjected to their ongoing negative atmospheres, I am going to take a break until the joy of going to the farmers markets is available again.
John Shannon, Omemee
Every councillor has an important role to play
You wouldn’t judge a goalie by their ability to score. Much like a hockey team, everyone on council has their own role to play. The scope of the “Council Report Card” recently published by The Examiner was extremely limited and divisive. As a council and a community it is well past time that we put our differences aside and focus on the one thing that ties us all together — our desire to do what is best for our city.
Council is reflective of the people living in Peterborough. We all have different political views, different strengths and different areas of interest. We won’t always agree, and that is a good thing. Having respectful debate and discussion regarding issues impacting Peterborough is what is expected of us. We all have different perspectives and everyone’s point of view is important.
The report card created by the Peterborough Ratepayers’ Association leaves out a substantial amount of the important work undertaken by each councillor and the mayor. While I certainly respect the right of individuals and special interest groups to hold council accountable on the issues that are important to them, it is important to look at the bigger picture.
Each person on council manages different portfolios with a focus on different areas of city business, and each of those areas is important to the overall quality of life we experience in Peterborough. A councillor is not a “failure” because they didn’t measure up to one or two arbitrary criteria set out by a single special interest group that completely ignores other aspects of their role.
I am proud of my “team” and the work we have done to date. We will continue to work together and do what we were elected to do: make Peterborough a great place to live, work and raise a family.
Coun. Stephen Wright, Northcrest Ward
Lack of cannabis stores fuels Ontario’s illicit market
Few sectors in Ontario have invested as much or created as many jobs as the legal cannabis industry. Today, 45 per cent of Canada’s licensed cannabis producers are located in Ontario. At the end of 2018, the sector directly employed approximately 5,700 across the province and cannabis companies have invested hundreds of millions of dollars into the Ontario economy.
Unfortunately, an inability to get stores operating in Ontario is undermining an entire new sector. There is one cannabis store for every 590,000 Ontarians, versus one for every 14,000 Albertans. The lack of cannabis stores in Ontario is a boon to the illicit market and a source of frustration for cannabis consumers. There is ample supply to support a market rollout of new stores in Ontario. Providing access to regulated cannabis is the best way to combat the illicit market while generating revenue to fund our schools and hospitals.
Right now, cannabis consumers are crying out for more access, joined by licensed producers and thousands of employees who have products ready to go. The good news is, we can fix the problem. What we need is a partner at the provincial level to facilitate our progress.
Caitlin O’Hara, Canopy Growth Corporation, on behalf of Cannabis Council of Canada
It’s time for strong women to lead political parties
Much has recently been said in the media about whether or not Andrew Scheer should remain as leader of the Conservative party. His performance in this past election easily answers the question. His personal life views have no place as this country’s leader.
But little or nothing has been said about Justin Trudeau. His leadership is questionable, unacceptable. If Scheer wasn’t so electorally ineffective more focus (and fewer seats) would have been placed on Trudeau.
He lied to Canadians; his performance in the SNC-Lavalin debacle was disrespectful in its audacity to Canadians, his arrogant treatment of the three women who stood up to him was disgraceful and belied his “feminist” posture. With an effective opponent his name would be in leadership question headlines too.
There is hope out there; two Canadian women could make a huge difference. Lisa Raitt for the Conservatives, Chrystia Freeland for the Liberals.
Let’s bring them on.
Martin C. Pick, Cavan