Why are we paying good money to police a U.S. event?
Sir: Regarding the St. Clair River “floatdown” by U.S. residents.
Why do we spend hard-earned Canadian dollars on Coast Guard, police and RCMP patrol boats and helicopters for this event each summer, some probably on premium time?
For a planned American event that most seem to agree is fraught with danger?
Not to mention the loss of revenue caused by closing the shipping lanes for hours.
Perhaps MP Marilyn Gladu or MPP Bob Bailey will take some action and look into it.
Fred Beneteau
Sarnia
Police should have ticketed youth for attending beach party
Sir: According to media reports, on Sept. 25 Sarnia Police had to disperse a large gathering of more than 100 youth at Bright’s Grove Beach.
As police put it, they were “apparently unaware of the current COVID-19 pandemic.”
Police Chief Norm Hansen said he was “disappointed,” adding that the kids scattered, reconvened in other areas, and parents had to be asked to help get their kids home.
To my shock, he said no tickets were issued. I repeat, no tickets were issued.
More than 100 teenagers gather illegally in defiance of provincial orders, as well as alcohol abuse and fighting, and Sarnia Police Services chose not to issue one single ticket?
“Sooner or later we’ll be forced into laying some charges,” the chief said. How reassuring.
I would like Chief Hansen to know I am a City of Sarnia taxpayer. I’m also a senior citizen who has been doing everything asked to keep myself and others safe since March. In my opinion, police should lay charges sooner, not later. Every single one of those teens is now laughing at police because they broke several laws and got away with it. How will they ever learn?
I expect better from our police force. With Ontario entering a second wave of COVID and the reporting telling us it’s stemming from young people defying provincial orders, police have a duty to get the message out.
The law is the law, and defiance of it shouldn’t be tolerated. Issue tickets, please. Lives depend on it.
Sincerely,
Claudette Gasbarini
Sarnia
Mayor Mike's mask mania
Sir: If only we had a mayor that was even half as committed to reigning in tax increases as he is to imposing mandatory mask-wearing bylaws (if it's all about education, then why attach a $1,000 fine to it?)
But then, it's far easier to pass yet another bylaw then it is to hold property tax increases down to the rate of inflation, let alone below it, as nearby jurisdictions have.
Mayor Mike, despite his recent crusade, will never be known as the mayor who saved us from COVID. He has a much better chance of being remembered as the mayor who never met a tax increase he didn't like.
Bob Graham
Sarnia
Technology prevents seniors from making contribution
Sir: As a senior I wish to bring a problem to the attention of local businesses and charitable organizations.
In this age of increasing technology, there are those of us who presently are not part of that environment. In other words, we are not computer literate.
I am speaking here of online purchases. We are unable to contribute to worthy causes if the only way to do so in online.
There should another method of contact, such as a telephone number where one can actually speak to a person, or a location where tickets can be purchased.
This would make it a lot easier for seniors like myself to contribute to our community.
I sincerely hope this letter will enact change, so all seniors can be included. Thank you.
Dolores Murray
Sarnia