Slainte! Today’s topics: NDP infighting; Health Canada’s role in the drug shortage; live theatres’ woes; things Irish ... and moreReuters
Out with infighting
How sad that former NDP leader Ed Broadbent sees fit to weigh in negatively during his party's leadership vote (NDP Infighting Intensifies As Vote Nears – March 16). His barbs seem aimed at splintering New Democrats and persuading them to stay fixed in time – his time.
Sourness among politicians is a leading cause of apathy among Canadian voters. I used to think of Ed Broadbent as an elder statesman of the NDP. Now I think of him simply as an elder.
Janet Ingram-Johnson, Aldergrove, B.C.
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As a member of the NDP since it was formed in 1961, I've seen many contests melt down but the party always gelled afterward. Most bitter in my experience was the "anyone but Svend (Robinson) movement."
In the last contest, I was disappointed when Ed Broadbent's choice, Jack Layton, topped Bill Blaikie. Now it is Ed's turn as his choice, Brian Topp, loses ground to my pick, Thomas Mulcair.
Ed Broadbent should have taken counsel from Stephen Lewis, who is allowing the next generation to have its say. They will be most affected by the progress of the NDP when Ed, Stephen and myself are tucked into our nursing homes.
Larry MacKillop, Nanton, Alta.
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A few days ago, I joined both the federal NDP and the federal Liberal Party. Why? I do not believe in mergers; what is necessary is some kind of truce that would last until the next election.
Dyed-in-the-wool party members who will never give up allegiance to their own party can treat it as an armed truce. Those with a more pragmatic approach can consider it as a more amicable arrangement. But first they must agree to limit their political attacks to the Tories, so they will begin to make a difference. There must be many constituencies where a non-Tory would win if not otherwise opposed by a third party. With negotiation and limited truce-length agreements, Liberals, NDP and Greens can secure enough seats to vanquish the Tories.
Tom Priestly, Edmonton
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Health Canada's role?
Much finger-pointing is going on in an attempt to blame someone for the current shortage of critical drugs across Canada (Government To Fast-Track Approvals Of Vital Drugs – March 16). Why is Health Canada getting a pass on this? The shortage is due to reduced output of a key supplier located in Boucherville, Que. The reduced output will continue as the company makes modifications to comply with quite reasonable issues repeatedly raised by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2011 – some of which trace to FDA concerns in 2009. The problems pointed out by the FDA are basic quality issues relating to manufacturing sterile injectable drug products. This is not rocket science.
The fact that the FDA crosses the border, inspects one of our plants and finds major issues should be an embarrassment to Health Canada, the regulatory body that is supposed to oversee drug manufacturing here.
Health Canada is expected to inspect these manufacturing plants on an annual basis. Part of that inspection is reviewing various internal and external audit reports. Surely they should have seen the FDA reports. Surely they should have reviewed the reports and the findings. Where were they in 2009? 2010? 2011?
Why have they not issued a report? Why have we given Health Canada a free pass? Why are ill Canadians put at risk because of a drug shortage?
Jeffrey Brooks, Montreal
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Life's stages
Having just seen Nicola Cavendish deliver her fabulous performance in Shirley Valentine at Theatre Calgary, I realized that any live theatre, not just the Vancouver Playhouse, is facing at least two life-threatening challenges (Curtain Falling On Vancouver's Cultural Scene – March 15). One is the e-entertainment the young generation favours, and the other – sadly – is an apparent lack of interest among visible minorities and new immigrants. Just look around the auditorium and see how many people are under 50 or a member of a visible minority.
John Cihal, Calgary
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For 15 years, I was a freelance reviewer in Vancouver. I regularly lamented the Playhouse stage as "awkward" and "amorphous": too detached from the audience for intimate scripts, yet too thin and skimpy for more sumptuous productions.
Since I became a paying consumer of live theatre, it has seldom been the company's choice of scripts that has kept me away. It's the off-putting venue, simple as that. The place needs a serious retrofit as theatre-in-the-round. That would connect viewers to the stage literally and figuratively. As W.P. Kinsella put it: Build it and they will come.
W. Baird Blackstone, Tsawwassen, B.C.
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Just wondering
Re Direct Energy Backs Down On New Water Heater Cancellation Fees (March 15): So Direct Energy has apologized for confusing its customers. When did confusing them become a synonym for making them angry?
Lyman MacInnis, Toronto
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Public sector P-word
As a citizen of The New Greece (a.k.a. Ontario), I continue to be disappointed that discussions on budget deficits seldom bring up the "P" word, "productivity" (Duncan Fighting A Five-Front Budget Battle – March 16). I enjoy enormously being lectured by senior members of government or the Bank of Canada on the appalling lack of it in the private sector, where I work. But never do I hear that public-sector management and labour are discussing ways to improve it, as an alternative to service cuts or lowering benefits to individuals.
Perhaps some of our highly paid public servants might take a few minutes out of their 35-hour work weeks and contemplate why so much has to be done with an equal mixture of high cost and inefficiency.
Paul Bond, Toronto
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Things Irish
While Sarah Hampson reveals the authentic traditions of an Irish St. Patrick's Day celebration (Caught In An Irish Dream – Life, March 15), as one who regularly visits Ireland, I wish to address her comment: "no such things as big highways in most of Ireland."
In recent years, Ireland's major road network has undergone multiple-bypass surgery, reducing cross-country driving times considerably. Most of Ireland actually enjoys free-flowing arteries that are, in my experience, in better health than many Canadian highways, while actually boasting the thrill of a bend or two. Speed limits on Irish motorways are realistic, with maximum limits of 120 km/h.
Driving across Ireland is quick and convenient, but there is always opportunity to slow down for scenic detours to enjoy Ireland's incredible beauty and culture.
Sheila Sproule, London, Ont.
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Sarah Hampson's delightful account of her travels in Ireland – an experience far from green beer and dollar-store Leprechauns – brought to mind a wonderful week we spent there last March. We picked up a small plate in the West with a proverb on it that hangs in our kitchen. It's become a favourite toast: "May you live to be a hundred years, with one extra year to repent. Slainte!"
Moira Murphy, St. John's