LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Ageism and disdain for democracy

RE: NEW REGIONAL COUNCILLORS MULLING OVER NEXT CHAIR, NOV. 5 Why is Sandie Bellows being so silly? Her remarks were odd for someone who was elected and allegedly represents the people of Niagara.

She said she was annoyed by an email campaign in support of Jim Bradley being made regional chair.

“It’s not Jim's doing, but people who support him,” she said. “I’m getting messages every day. I don’t like it.”

People getting together to lobby for an outcome is part of democracy and occurs every day. If Bellows finds people expressing their point of view to her “annoying” then perhaps she can publish guidelines for those views she will consider and for those that will annoy her and which would be unworthy of her attention.

As for wanting someone younger, I assume she means younger than Mr. Bradley. Is this ageism or anti-Bradleyism? If she is against those above a certain age, she should also announce what that age is.

Age does not determine competence. Ms. Bellows’ age shows that people born that year can say ridiculous things that show a disdain of our democracy.

Barry Wilson

St Catharines

Gale has too much baggage

Wow, Niagara Falls regional Coun. Bob Gale has a lot of moxie to think anyone even wants him to be regional chair.

Hasn’t he learned from his prior mistakes, especially in his dealings with the Niagara Regional Police? He should be held accountable for the money taxpayers had to pay to cover the payout to former police chief Jeff McGuire.

Does he honestly think the public can’t see what he’s done and keeps doing? Like, come on, read the paper.

I’m hopeful these new councillors have learned why they are there — and previous ones are not.

It’s nice to see the transparency. The cabal is gone .

Sharon Chepil

St. Catharines

Rate hikes shouldn’t hit existing loans

RE: GET USED TO RISING INTEREST RATES, NOV. 6

The biggest concerns of the Bank of Canada are inflation and the high level of consumer debt.

Another concern is the length of time it is taking consumers to pay off their debts.

To combat inflation the favourite tool of the bank is to increase the prime lending rate.

Lenders immediately raise their rates not only to new loans but also to existing variable rate loans or mortgages.

If the borrowers are unable to increase the rate of payment they had budgeted to pay interest plus an amount against the principal then the principal payback is reduced, thereby increasing the length of time the loan is in effect.

I have no problem with lenders immediately raising their rate to cover the increase from the central bank, but it should not apply to existing loans and mortgages, only to new ones.

At the time the lenders granted the loans or mortgages, they had monies in the system to support them, so any increase in their prime rate does not increase the cost of carrying the loans and actually increases their profitability.

A major mortgage lender in the U.S. advertises that if you take a mortgage with them and the prime rate goes up, your rate does not increase. Furthermore, if the prime rate goes down, so does yours.

I am not suggesting Canadian banks should reduce the rate on existing loans or mortgages when there is a reduction in the prime rate. Let them realize the additional profit this would produce.

Jim McDowell

Thorold