Canada in a COVID-induced coma
Sir: Most people contracting the COVID-19 now are asymptomatic.
So why are governments in a blue funk over this virus? Why all the dithering because of an irrational fear of a virus we are learning about each day?
That’s not to diminish in any way the early impact of COVID or the devastating effect it has had on the frail elderly and those who are morbidly obese or afflicted with serious underlying health problems.
Sorry to sound callous, but many of these would have died sooner rather than later anyway.
From the outset, government ministers have given too much credence to the ‘science.’ They’ve been unwilling to challenge the assertions and tunnel vision of Chief Medical Officers.
My fear all along has been that some of the more contentious decisions are based not on what is best for Canada, but on what will protect individual politicians and their advisers when the inevitable public inquiry is held.
Much of the nonsense coming out of government now seems to have been made up on the ‘hoof.’
COVID has infantilized the nation. Policy is made in private, by unaccountable committees and scientists.
In the end, we’re all going to die of something. We can’t spend the rest of our lives trying to postpone the inevitable. Short of a vaccine, we will have to learn to live with this coronavirus in a grown-up fashion for the foreseeable future – not stumbling from one emergency lockdown to another.
Thankfully, our front-line services have done their job in a sterling way. Politicians, advisers and the like should do theirs.
Canada needs a serious plan to get us out of this catastrophic, COVID-induced coma we’re in right now.
Peter Clarke
Sarnia
Christina Street closure has meant dramatic improvement
Sir: This month marked Sarnia’s first, First Friday with the closure of Christina Street. What a difference.
From the perspective of our downtown condo balcony it was an absolute pleasure to witness. The noise of unmuffled cars and motorcycles racing around our downtown streets was replaced by the sounds of laughter and conversation. People walking and enjoying our downtown has brought life and a joie de vivre to our city.
During the three short weeks of this trial the noisy vehicles have all but disappeared. It seems their owners have no interest now that they can no longer fulfill their need to be noticed.
It is amazing how the separation of vehicles and people has made such a dramatic change. If this were to continue, it has the potential of completely transforming life in our city core. Our downtown has so much to offer now with a pedestrian mall of shops, cafes, restaurants and patio bars, with the added benefit of a beautiful waterfront park to stroll through after dinner.
If we want our downtown to become a vibrant people place this should become a permanent fixture. My sincere thanks to our city council for embarking on this bold experiment.
David Lundy
Sarnia
Murphy Woods was a magical place for kids to grow up around
Sir: Residents about my age (early ‘60s) who were fortunate enough to live near the former Murphy Woods may be able to relate to this story.
We lived on Miller Drive until the late ‘70s, when I migrated out to Alberta. My brothers, friends and myself lived in a great part of Sarnia. It was a 15-minute jog on a hot day down Murphy Road to Lake Huron, or a 15-minute walk to the “vast wilderness” of Murphy Woods.
The woods were a great place to build forts, ride bikes on the bumpy lime hills, and hunt for squirrels, rabbits and frogs. Not to far away, we spent countless hours on those awesome tobogganing hills.
I attended Cathcart Boulevard School and before I was old enough to prioritize my social outings, Dad and Mom made us kids attend Olivet Baptist Church. (Now gone and replaced by houses on Marianna Place road.)
The school and church were side by side, with Murphy Woods directly behind. I got away with taking off after school to play in the woods, but only once tried it with my good church duds on (and got a licking from Dad).
The things we did there in the woods were very risky: pellet gun wars, fleeing from police on Skidoos, and swimming in one of the two manmade ponds there. I think they’ve been renamed “Twin Lakes” now?
I remember one had a “Danger Deep” sign floating in it, so we named that lake Danger Deep.
A huge tree had large branches hanging over the edge of that lake, which made an ideal swing-out to the deeper water.
Every time I return to Sarnia I take a drive to this old stomping ground. And you know, it’s getting harder and harder to reminisce of all the great times I spent in old Murphy Woods!
Dan Wever
Grande Prairie, Alberta