Peacekeeping polls dubious

Re One year on and still in honeymoon mode, Oct. 16 The two Forum Research poll questions cited in this Star article, on Canada’s apparently upcoming military role in Africa, speak of “peacekeeping missions” and “Canadian peacekeepers.”

What the government of Canada seems to have in mind for Africa, though, is not really Canadian “peacekeeping” at all (as Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan seems to acknowledge), but is, rather, active Canadian participation in combat, on the side of one or more of the currently incumbent governments in Africa, against rebellious forces there of which we disapprove. How useful, then, were these poll questions? Let’s see how the people of Canada respond if they are asked whether we should be intervening on one side or another in active military combat, in Africa or anywhere else in the world. John F. Fagan, Willowdale

Media are not fulfilling their mission

Re Opposition leadership races fail to interest public, Opinion Oct. 16 If the NDP and Conservative leadership races appear boring I suggest it is due to the lack of media coverage, which is typical of newspapers and CBC radio. No in-depth reporting on policy issues but just politics as entertainment — of the lowest kind.

Hence the unending attention given to Donald Trump’s every utterance. I remind you that we in Canada do not have a vote in the U.S. presidential election. We only need to know who wins and what that might mean to Canada’s trade relations, etc.

The media cannot be run like just any other business. It is citizen’s source of information and we need an informed populace for democracy to work. Barbara Sternberg, Toronto

Is seniors exam road tested?

Re Should you report unsafe elderly drivers? Oct. 15 Ken Gallinger’s description of the over-80 road test certainly seems embarrassing at first sight.

With a flood of octogenarians about to be unleashed on our roads, it certainly seems irresponsible for the ministry to be so simple-minded in their approach.

However, before I rush to judgment, I would like to know the research, if any, that is behind this practice.

Assuming the present road test is a valid predictor of driver competence, has there been any correlation studies with this test and the present “ridiculous” screening device?

If not, how is such a test justified? Barry Abramsky, Toronto I have taken the over-80 driver’s “test” many times; it was only two years ago that it was changed from a lecture and a written test (on rules of the road). Now it is a “cognitive” test, designed to weed out anyone who might be senile.

The test is as Mr. Gallinger described it (and, believe it or not, it has been failed), but he omitted to say that if a person has had an accident in the previous year, he/she must take an actual driving test. Joan Cervin, Toronto