A woman works to clear heavy snow on her street in Toronto on Jan. 15.Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
Stuck with you
Re “Amid a wave of Canada-wide unity, Alberta’s separatism movement pushes back” (Jan. 31): It’s time to take the Alberta separation petitioners seriously.
If Danielle Smith is indeed for Canadian unity, then she should speak honestly to Albertans about the benefits of being part of Canada. I am not holding my breath, though.
It does, nonetheless, behoove Albertans who believe in Canadian unity to speak up. Far better to hear from Albertans who love Canada, and to have them stand against the voices of division and grievance, than from other Canadians who would be saddened to see the separatists persevere.
Families often don’t agree, and they do not remain together if they only focus on the grievances pulling them apart. They must identify and strengthen the glue that binds them.
It’s time Albertans do so alongside other Canadians actively supporting the mission of Canadian unity.
Desmond Pouyat Toronto
Courting controversy
Re “Danielle Smith calls on Mark Carney to give Alberta more say in selection of judges” (Feb. 4): It is conspicuous that the suggested framework for selecting judges that Danielle Smith has put forward seems to be an entirely political one: “two picks from Alberta and two from Ottawa.”
That the Premier suggests, by omission, cutting out Alberta’s chief justice and both national and Albertan lawyers groups to me indicates an attempt to undermine the independence of the justice system for short-term gains.
We need look no further than the United States for how political judicial appointments have soured that Supreme Court.
David Thomas Devine Aurora, Ont.
How ironic: Danielle Smith would be the first to scream loudly about any alleged federal intrusion into provincial jurisdiction. Yet she demands to have what would amount to a provincial veto in an area of federal authority. You can cut the hypocrisy with a knife.
The federal response should be clear: The Premier should take her own advice and stay in her lane. And while she’s at it, she should have the courage to call out the separatists in her own party instead of pandering to them.
Michael Kaczorowski Wolfville, N.S.
All aboard
Re “Canada’s passenger rail lines are getting revived after decades of vanishing service” (Opinion, Jan. 31): Grassroots efforts to bring back passenger train service to northern areas of the country are to be applauded. It would be nice, however, to see trains returning as well to some less remote locations.
I live in Lindsay, a town situated roughly 130 kilometres from downtown Toronto. It was once a major hub for both passenger and freight trains, but service began to be scaled back in the 1960s and ended altogether in the 1980s. Now we have no way to get to Toronto except by car on increasingly congested highways.
Many of the old rights of way have been converted to recreational trails. It would be a great benefit if one or more of those corridors were restored for train service.
I remember reading of a time when one could board a train in Lindsay and be at Toronto’s Union Station a mere two hours later. ‘Tis to dream.
Peter Maitland Lindsay, Ont.
Back in the mid-20th century, I used to travel with my grandmother on her rail pass; my grandfather and several uncles all worked for Canadian Pacific Railway. It was such a lovely adventure for a preteen, sleeping in a berth lulled by the rhythm of the wheels, watching the countryside roll by.
I had heard the Ontario Northland train route was returning. I used to take it to Gravenhurst in the morning, spend the day in town, then take the 5 p.m. train back to Toronto.
Another lovely adventure that I hope to revisit.
Susan Griffin Toronto
Community building
Re “What is the cost of consultation?” (Jan. 20): This critique of the Wabash Community Recreation Centre’s budget and timeline raises valid concerns about municipal project delivery. However, portraying community advocacy as the primary cause of delays misreads the project’s history.
Without decades of local advocacy, there might be no community centre to debate. Years ago, an independent consultation of more than 1,000 residents was shared with the city to move the project forward.
When the city mandated a pool, residents intervened to reposition the building’s footprint, preserving and strengthening the town square by orienting the main entrance toward it. This wasn’t an aesthetic whim but a functional breakthrough that preserved existing public assets.
Delays and rising costs cannot be understood so simply. Timelines were extended as the city prioritized other projects, while costs rose due to inflation, market conditions, regulatory requirements and heritage considerations.
The real failure was not excess community voice, but a lack of municipal agility.
Joël Campbell Chair, Friends of Sorauren Park; Toronto
Dig out
Re “The slippery politics of snow removal” (Editorial, Feb. 3): Torontonians complain bitterly about snow not being promptly cleared in front of their own houses. Ever heard of a shovel?
In Calgary, sidewalks in front of properties (residential and commercial) must be shovelled down to bare pavement by owners within 24 hours of a snowfall, or face a fine.
Often people will hire snow removal companies at their own expense. Sometimes kind neighbours do shovelling for one another. But either way, it must be done.
Save money and aggravation with city snow-clearing crews and do it yourselves.
Mary Lou Ditta Calgary
After arriving home from my downtown Toronto bike commute, I now read exactly what has been on my mind throughout the entire journey: Cyclists in this city are a planning afterthought.
While we all curse the road congestion here, urban planners understand the reality: The only way to reduce the number of cars is to provide viable alternatives. Most winter days here, there are zero reliable alternatives (don’t get me started on the failures of Toronto public transit).
For those of my townsfolk who blame the climate, it’s been reported that the Finnish city of Oulu, 100 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle, sees 12 per cent of winter journeys made by bicycle. It’s not the temperature or the snow, then, it’s a matter of planning priorities.
I want a livable, walkable city, but the only year-round options involve a motorized vehicle.
Jonathan Ball Toronto
I am sending a helpful update on snow removal from Kamloops, B.C.: All homeowners and businesses are responsible for snow removal in front of their properties.
If unable to do so, one hires a person. It creates work and lowers the number of heart attacks.
Pat Kaatz Kamloops, B.C.
Good as new
Re “Let me tell you a story about my wonky refrigerator” (Jan. 29) and “Old faithful” (Letters, Feb. 5): I suppose my husband and I are sentimental old fools.
We moved into a lovely condo two weeks ago after living in the same house for 51 years. Rather than buying five brand new appliances, we moved our old ones.
Our prized refrigerator, no bells and whistles, was purchased in 1995 from Sears. It’s an arm’s length away from me as I write and is already covered with family pictures. We have a certain style to our decorating: It’s called friendly.
Our stove, circa 2004-ish, is beloved by me. It even has outlets on the back panel (most don’t now – yes, I do know why they are omitted) so I can plug in my hearing aids on one side and my phone or tablet on the other.
Perfect for my lifestyle.
Edie Lewis Brantford, Ont.
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