Letters to the editor, July 19: ‘A clear lack of transparency and respect for how public funds in Ontario are used – and abused – by the Progressive Conservatives’

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Doesn’t add up

Re “Why wildfire smoke is difficult to forecast and damaging to our health” (July 17): Massive forest fires due to climate change have become regular occurrences in Canada, the United States and throughout the world.

In parts of Southern Ontario, air quality index ratings recently reached between 300 to 400 or 10+ in the Canadian Air Quality Health Index, which falls in the very unhealthy to dangerous range.

Yet governments, politicians and voters continue to support pipelines rather than cheaper, easier to build and cleaner wind and solar infrastructure. Go figure.

Nick Beveridge Burlington, Ont.

Back again

Re “Bonnie Crombie vows to ‘see it through’ if she’s re-elected Mississauga mayor, again” (July 15): The egos of politicians know no bounds.

Bonnie Crombie left Mississauga to be leader of the Ontario Liberals and was a failure.

Why do we need her back in our lives?

David Chalmers Toronto

More than money

Re “Ford promises MPPs will pay back ‘every single penny’ for hotel expenses as his office cuts staff” (July 17): Sadly, I can’t say I’m surprised that the party of “fiscal responsibility” demonstrates yet again that the rules do not seem to apply to them.

MPP Stan Cho has a driver and lives within a short distance between Queens Park and his home. Doug Ford wants us to believe that the matter is resolved because Mr. Cho was found out, agreed to repay his hotel expenses and resigned as minister of tourism, culture and gaming.

I sense a clear lack of transparency and respect for how public funds in Ontario are used – and abused – by the Progressive Conservatives.

Beverly Bowman Toronto

Local loss

Re “Rogers shuts down six radio stations across country, 80 jobs cut” (Sports, July 8): Rogers Sports and Media suddenly shut our local Kitchener station 570 NewsRadio, leaving our community in shock. So many of us relied on it for local news.

We loved announcer Mike Farwell for his commitment to community; his call-in show gave listeners a chance to share their views. He was the voice for Kitchener Rangers junior hockey and local charities. We miss him.

We are devastated that this happened with no heads up from Rogers to the public. No chance to say goodbye.

Many of us need to get local news from radio, not just from apps on our phones. We wonder how the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is exercising its regulatory authority to ensure the public interest is served.

Mary Kuntz Kitchener, Ont.

History repeating

Re “Bayeux Tapestry spirited into Britain after tight-security operation from France” (July 11): “A vivid visual record of the 1066 Norman invasion, the last successful conquest of England.”

As historian Lisa Jardine argues in her 2008 book Going Dutch: How England Plundered Holland’s Glory, the last successful conquest of England took place in 1688. William of Orange, titular head of the Dutch Republic, showed up at the head of a large navy and an army of 15,000-plus, overthrowing King James II and his government and replacing him.

Perhaps if someone had woven a tapestry marking the event, it would be better remembered today.

Michiel Horn Professor emeritus of history, York University; Toronto

And beyond

Re “Astronaut Jeremy Hansen announces he’s leaving Canadian Space Agency” (July 7): Is there anyone who has impressed Canadians more in the recent past than Jeremy Hansen? You don’t get selected to ride around the Moon and back unless you have all the tools and, based on his performance on the Artemis II lunar sojourn, his toolbox is clearly full.

As he begins consideration of his next chapter, I hope he will consider writing Canadians a white paper that lays out his vision of where he believes our country, as a middle power, should focus in space.

Given his abilities, we should expect our government to support his vision. Leaders are hard to find, we should not waste Mr. Hansen’s talents.

Barry Hunter North Grenville, Ont.

All ages?

Re “Alberta opens regulated online gaming market” (Sports, July 14): “Like Ontario, Alberta has strict rules for advertising, marketing and promotions to ensure operators are not targeting minors or high-risk individuals.”

In Ontario, advertisements for sports betting and other forms of online gambling can be seen on every medium, at any time of day, and continually at live sporting events. Thousands of children and youth see those ads.

The Canadian Pediatric Society reports that underage gambling is common in Canada and can start as young as 9 or 10. The Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addiction recently estimated that 69.4 per cent of young adults aged 18 to 29 who gamble online met the criteria for problem gambling. Psychologists characterize these ads as “engineered addiction” that groom children and youth into a lifetime of dependency.

It would be more accurate to say that Ontario and now Alberta operate minimally regulated markets.

Bruce Kidd Campaign to Ban Ads for Gambling, Toronto

Get up again

Re “McConnell breaks weeks of silence, reveals fall as reason for hospitalization” (July 13): In my late 80s, I tripped on a curb and broke my arm, as did a friend who tripped on a rug. Currently, I have four friends who have fallen directly or sideways on their bums, resulting in coccyx trauma or sacrolilac or pelvic fractures.

Recently one of the above attended a meaningful session on falls in the elderly in her condo. There should be more such seminars to raise awareness in the increasing older population of how to anticipate and avoid loose rugs, curbs and other obstacles.

Bernard Goldman CM, MD, FRCSC; Toronto

Sweet stuff

Re “Sci­ent­ists find sugar deep in our galaxy" (July 14): The use of the term sugar may be misleading for a lot of people.

For most, sugar means table sugar or sucrose, and for others it often means blood sugar or glucose. These scientists found neither of these common sugars in the Milky Way.

There are many sugars in this and apparently other worlds and, chemically speaking, they have similarities. The sugar that was found in our galaxy is erythrulose. It is a simple sugar found in raspberries and commonly used as a tanning agent.

More importantly, erythrulose may be part of the origin of the nucleic acids that became RNA and DNA. So a sugar, but not one of our common earthly sugars.

Still, very exciting.

Irv Salit Toronto

This is old news.

The Milky Way chocolate bar has been around since 1923, so it is obvious that there’s sugar deep in our galaxy.

Could make space travel a sweet ride, though.

Gerry McKenna Clarington, Ont.

Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Keep letters to 150 words or fewer. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here: letters@globeandmail.com