Parkside Drive next to Toronto's High Park where a speed camera was cut from its post by vandals in May, 2025.The Globe and Mail
Help wanted
Re “ICE took half their work force. What now?” (Report on Business, July 28): How many times do we pause to think about the hands that laboured to bring the food in our fridges and on our tables?
Immigration has always been a hot debate. Bad policy and pandering certainly exacerbates these issues. But let’s not forget that it is mainly immigrants who take up jobs that are either too low-paying, labour intensive or both.
This is as true for meatpacking facilities in Nebraska as it is for pork processing in Manitoba or fisheries in the Atlantic. We need urgently to fix issues with immigration levels in this country, and we need to do it in a way that also acknowledges and respects the contributions of immigrants who sustain our day-to-day.
Naba Siddiqui Hamilton
Work on it
Re “NDP release official rules for leadership race to replace Jagmeet Singh” (July 26): New rules for the NDP leadership require candidates to gather at least 500 signatures, of which at least 50 signatures apiece must come from individuals living in five geographical regions, at least 100 from “equity-seeking groups” and at least 10 per cent from youth aged 25 or younger. No more than 50 per cent of signatures can come from non-transgender men.
I find it rather surprising that a social democratic party does not specify the number of signatories that must belong to a labour union.
Brian Caines Ottawa
Bungalows or bust
Re “Seniors don’t like downsizing, leaving fewer options for first-time buyers – here’s what could help" (Report on Business, July 26): Many of my parents’ generation moved from four-bedroom, two-storey houses into smaller postwar bungalows when they retired, so they could still have gardens and a neighborhood. No municipality appears to be protecting those small bungalows.
All over the Greater Toronto Area, small bungalows on spacious lots are being torn down and replaced with monster houses that can be sold for millions of dollars. The bungalows are disappearing, just as baby boomers might become interested in them again.
If developers choose to build accessible houses for seniors, like some that were built in the 1990s, baby boomers might find an alternative to the houses we already have. Many of us aren’t ready for the condo alternative yet.
Joanna Anderson Burlington, Ont.
Fast and furious
Re “Sorry, speed cameras aren’t the problem” (Editorial, July 26): Having felt the impact of Toronto’s speed cameras, I agree they aren’t the problem and are having a positive impact on driving behaviour. So what is the problem with a city close to topping the world’s major cities in traffic congestion?
Slower is safer, but how is this being managed for efficient traffic flow? Are drivers more susceptible to getting caught via cameras due to a conservative approach to speed limits?
Neighbourhood speed limits of 40 km/h or less make sense with streets adjacent to front yards, where kids often play. A 40 km/h limit on arterial roads don’t make sense to me on a relative basis. One of these speed limits is wrong.
We need to be safe, but we also need to be realistic and smart about congestion. Motorists are on the road to get somewhere safely and in a timely manner. Let’s not lose the balance.
Eric Tripp Toronto
I’m all for automated systems of nailing speeding drivers, rather than expensive police officers standing around with radar guns to only catch a handful of culprits.
What’s worse is when officers lurk behind signs or corners to capture their prey. Shabby tricks do nothing to help their public profile.
As for the sanctity of speed limits as the law of the land, I’m more sympathetic to this in a city or small town I pass through on my way somewhere. Respect the community.
Highways must be the biggest grey area of all. Going 20 km/h over the speed limit seems to be the generally held rule. The odd person does 100 km/h on an Ontario highway is reviled by fellow drivers passing them.
What is the answer? As a guy who made it back from Montreal in 4.5 hours (in my diesel car) I look forward to more guidance.
David Roy Toronto
While I think there should be a 10-per-cent tolerance for speeding before fines are issued, I am supportive of speed cameras, especially in residential neighbourhoods and near schools.
Concomitant to that, though, speed limits should be better thought out. While 30 km/h is appropriate near schools, 40 km/h on a regional arterial road feels like a money grab.
The primary consideration should be safety, but facilitating efficient traffic should also be a goal. Unfortunately in Toronto, the goal of traffic planners seems to be gridlock.
It is easy to see how drivers react to these frustrations: aggressive driving, road rage and deliberately defacing licence plates. While obscured plates may defeat speed cameras or road tolls, it also means these cars can leave the scene of accidents without being identified.
In addition to more cameras, we should have better planning and enforcement and an end to “the war on the car.”
John Harris Toronto
Let’s not pretend a drop in ticket volume means drivers are suddenly safer. It proves to me they’ve memorized where cameras are. That’s not behaviour change, it’s avoidance.
I don’t believe speed cameras fix dangerous streets. They ignore context: A worker commuting at 5:30 a.m. past empty sidewalks gets the same fine as someone speeding through a school zone at 9 a.m.
If safety were truly the aim, we’d be investing in road diets, roundabouts, improved signage, better sight lines and smarter engineering. But those things require time, money and vision.
But instead we outsource to machines that are revenue positive and ignore the hard, difficult work our cities need.
Daniel Blenich Toronto
World class
Re “Summer McIntosh faces greatest challenge yet in historic medal chase” (Sports, Aug. 2): Summer McIntosh is, arguably, well on her way to becoming the greatest athlete this country has ever produced.
Her otherworldly talent, steadfast focus and commitment to hard work have combined to create an athlete of unparalleled ability. She is also humble in victory and gracious in her praise, encouragement and support of teammates and competitors alike.
Could there be a better example of Canadianess than that? Go Summer!
Dave Hurley Belleville, Ont.
Teenage dream
Re “International relations? Publicity stunt? Or true love? Laying odds on the Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry dating rumours” (July 31): Cue firework(s)!
As pointed out by my ever-observant husband, there may be another possible scenario: a former prime minister seeking not romance, but a possible musical collaboration for a certain up-and-coming family member.
A dark horse, perhaps.
Lindsay LeBlanc Ottawa
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