Kudos to city for the road improvements in Canatara
Sir: I would like to thank the city for a job well done on the road, roundabout and flooded fountain area in Canatara Park.
As a frequent user of our crown jewel of public parks, I would also like to thank the construction company that did the work. It looks just beautiful, and comes with a new and improved walking path.
With the raised elevation, it shouldn’t flood any more and will be much safer to use.
In a letter The Journal published earlier this year I complained about the sad state of the condition of the park, and now, at least one neglected area has been fixed.
Thank you!
James Holmes
Sarnia
Make menstrual products freely available
Sir: In response to Ms. Timperley’s letter of June 20, “Menstrual products in public buildings shouldn’t be free.”
I would like to express my sincere disappointment with her false equivalency of “scavengers” who steal copper wire from buildings having designs on free menstrual products.
Perhaps Ms. Timperley is fortunate enough that her privilege in life has prevented her from having to make the decision between purchasing menstrual products or food for her family, but, unfortunately, many in this city are not so fortunate.
A 2018 study by Plan International revealed that one-third of women under 25 have experienced period poverty. There are women in our community who are particularly affected; our Indigenous sisters, women of colour, immigrants and the disabled.
Putting up a pay barrier between sanitary products is unnecessarily cruel. We are one of the richest, most developed countries in the world, and yet many women are shackled by a basic biological function, and I find that so disheartening.
There is no discrimination to providing a vulnerable group with essential sanitary items, and if Ms. Timperley sees a need for other personal care items to be provided for free, I invite her to start an initiative to provide these items.
A little kindness and a little less condemnation of Sarnia’s disadvantaged groups would serve our city well.
I would also suggest that these free menstrual products be available in all-gender washrooms and men’s washrooms, as our LGBTQ+ population also need our support.
Jessica Lalonde
Sarnia
Federal carbon tax best way to reduce greenhouse emissions
Sir: Regarding the letter, ‘Trudeau’s Carbon tax pointlessly penalizes Canadians’ (June 20).
It is not ‘Trudeau’s’ carbon tax; over 40 countries and 20 cities already price carbon.
Trudeau is engaging Canada to join the rest of these developed nations since climate warming knows no borders. The writer of this letter mentioned China and India. Though they pollute more tonnage than Canada, per capita Canada is a top global C02 emissions offender.
Even China has a five-year plan to reduce coal usage and increase electricity from nuclear, solar and wind power. The writer mentioned ‘lightning strikes produce carbon emissions no carbon tax could reduce’ yet omits how the increasing number of lightning strikes is due to climate warming, as well as the increase in wildfires they cause.
Last year, a Nobel Prize was awarded to Yale University Professor and scientist Bill Nordhaus who demonstrated a revenue neutral carbon tax (like Canada’s) is the most cost efficient way to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change.
Co-recipient and economist Paul Romer demonstrated the best way for the planet to ensure stabilized future economic growth is through use of carbon taxes because they spur climate-friendlier development and millions of new jobs worldwide.
The writer sardonically calls Justin Trudeau a ‘genius,’ but one only has to look out the window to realize the number and size of storms, wildfires, floods and droughts are increasing all over the planet. Perhaps the writer keeps his windows closed.
Ignoring if not denying climate change will cost Canadians billions of dollars more in everything from government to health care to insurance costs than any carbon pricing proposed by Trudeau’s Liberals. And Canada’s federal Conservative Party has no plan at all, apparently preferring more and bigger storms, wildfires, floods and droughts and the far higher ‘penalty’ costs that come with them.
In the end, I will take not only the word of Yale climate and economics professors over the writer’s, but Justin Trudeau’s ‘genius’ on the issue, as well.
Dave Prowse
Sarnia
Successful e-waste recycling day helped out many people
Sir: The Bluewater Lions Club would like to thank the Sarnia Journal for the April 8 article about our e-waste recycling day at Premier Recycling.
Thanks to that article, we had the best public turnout ever and raised over $1,000 for our sight and hearing projects.
Lions Clubs are the main supporters of Leader Dogs, and Guide Dogs for the blind, and support this work in Canada and Michigan.
We also support local charities such the Wheels of Hope, Diabetes, and Camps for the Blind, as well as a summer camp for people on dialysis.
Many thanks also to the people who brought their unwanted electronics to be recycled. Without the support of Sarnia’s citizens the e-Waste Day would not have been successful.
Francis Taylor
President, Lions Club of Sarnia
Now’s the time to make Highway 40 twinning a priority
Sir: For 30-plus years various local politicians have promised to complete the twinning of Highway 40 around the east and south sides of Sarnia.
Is there another city anywhere in Canada with nearly 100,000 residents in which the only way to get around it is a two-lane country road?
Highway 40 handles massive amounts of dangerous and other goods moving in and out of Sarnia, as well as employees and residents in the south end and further downriver.
I wrote MPP Bob Bailey over a year ago suggesting that NOW would be a good time to get this project underway, with $2 billion being spent on the Nova polyethylene plant and other expansions. Somehow, he lost the letter.
Recently, an announcement was made that the overpass on Highway 40 over the CNR tracks “was nearing the end of it’s service life” and would have to be replaced in a couple of years. I wrote MPP Bailey again and suggested if the Highway 40 project could ever get started, part of the new construction should be in place over the CNR tracks before the existing bridge is torn town.
The official response from his office: “MPP Bailey is supportive of twinning Highway 40 for safety reasons” (sounds great!); “Unfortunately, the previous government failed to start, let alone complete, any of the necessary environmental assessments needed to move the project forward.”
(So Bob’s now going to do what by when?).
The response concluded: “Currently the MTO has no plans to move the project forward”
And that ends the discussion? Why doesn’t Bob see it’s his job to work with his buddy Premier Ford to make this happen?
“Ontario – Open For Business” – if only you can get there!
Mort White
Mooretown
