Whose top cop?
Given the RCMP’s troubled culture, the headline New RCMP Chief A Cop’s Cop is hardly reassuring (front page, Nov. 16).
For once, it would be nice to see the term “citizen’s cop.” Isn’t that what it’s supposed to be about?
Michael Rapsey, Ottawa
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More than death
You write, “There must be a way for society to allow mentally competent adults suffering from devastating and incurable illnesses to make voluntary and informed choices about how they want to die” (Let Canadians Die With Dignity – editorial, Nov. 16). The fact that we as a nation are more focused on the right to die, versus quality, comprehensive end-of-life care is alarming. Until palliative care gains more attention and is accessible to at least the majority of Canadians, how is it possible to make a decision about assisted suicide?
It seems that access to assisted suicide allows us as a society to avoid any discussion of the lack of availability of palliative care – care that while unable to increase the quantity of life, can increase the quality of life. Dignity is about more than death. It’s about access to quality of life, even at the end of life.
Is this not what the discussion should be about?
Erin MacLeod, Mona, Jamaica
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Abortion, which involves the termination of a new and potentially productive and happy life, is permitted in a medical setting, but the hastening of the ending of a life that has become unbearable to the individual and burdensome to his family and society is a crime.
It is time for our politicians to find their spines and deal with the issue.
Andrzej Derkowski, Oakville, Ont.
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Hockey safety
Ever-increasing levels of protective gear have failed to reduce the risks of serious injury, especially among younger players. Sticks made of space-age composite materials exacerbate hockey’s safety problem (Hockey Canada To Review Risks Of Slap-Shot Blocking – Nov. 15). Such sticks have allowed a much greater percentage of players to shoot the puck at speeds that are capable of causing serious injury or, in 16-year-old Kyle Fundytus’s case, death.
Hockey people should give serious thought to banning composite sticks.
Kevin Patrick Sheedy, father of three young hockey players, Toronto
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Our duty
On Nov. 11, we honour veterans: those who came home, and those who did not (Nov. 11 Inequality – letters, Nov. 16). It is our duty as Canadians to observe it as a Day of Remembrance – not a holiday.
Allan Callard, Mermaid, PEI
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Worth the price
The issue of marketing boards supporting food producers is more complex than simple comparisons between the price of milk here and in the U.S. (Farm Protections On The Table – Nov. 15). Food production in warmer climes is less expensive than it is here. If cheaper U.S. dairy and poultry products invade Canadian markets, what happens when U.S. prices spike upward and supply is diminished? Anyone in the agricultural commodity arena can readily attest to these fluctuations. Canadian supply would be shut down or prices would rise dramatically.
Family food costs, at about 10 per cent of household income, are still cheap. The assurance of a consistent supply of safe, healthy food may well be worth the price.
Martin C. Pick, Lindsay, Ont.
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First Nations’ concerns
Jeffrey Simpson’s column (Pipe-Altering Lessons – Nov. 16) offers some good insights into pipeline politics and government hypocrisy and states accurately that people are opposed to most fossil fuel expansion, not just the oil sands. However, his speculation on First Nations’ opposition to the Northern Gateway project as “pig headed” or not wanting “to join modernity” are offensive and misstate the valid concerns voiced by more than 60 indigenous communities. They are concerned about irreparable damage to the land and salmon migration routes and are well aware how little of the large profits made by energy companies accrues to the First Nations whose land these projects are frequently based on. Their reasons are well founded and well documented by many First Nations, including the Wet’suwet’en.
Bharat Chandramouli, Victoria
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Make it worse
In nearly 30 years as a correctional officer, I’ve found that prolonged isolated lockups with little more than a toilet and Bible only increase prisoners’ anger, resentment and volatility (Bill Would Cut Visits To Punish Inmates – Nov. 16). There are instances where segregation can be an effective tool – say, for post-physical altercation cool-down periods – but this crime bill will do nothing if it creates an even more tense and potentially explosive atmosphere for all involved in the correctional system.
Kill this medieval bill and reintroduce measures that encourage some form of fluid decency in our jail system or, dare I say, rehabilitation?
Dan Fraser, Toronto
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I am a Canadian lawyer and a doctoral student at New York University. I study the history of prison law in North America. These days, many American criminologists, judges and politicians are working desperately to reduce prison populations. Sadly, it took a financial collapse to get this conversation started, but political leaders are now anxious to reduce production of the social dysfunctions that go along with prison expansion.
I have litigated human rights cases on behalf of Canadian prisoners. I know there are seriously mentally ill people in solitary confinement instead of the psychiatric facilities where they belong; rehabilitative programs have long waiting lists; women are separated from their children because of mandatory minimum sentencing, in situations where no judge would have opted for a prison term if she had a choice. While I have empathy for those unable to move past resentment and fear, I have no patience for those who see fit to translate these disturbing emotions into law, leaving the rest of us to pay the cost.
Lisa Coleen Kerr, New York
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About John Galt ...
My sell order is in for my Lululemon stock (For Yoga Devotees, Lululemon’s Bag Slogan Is A Stretch – Report on Business, Nov. 16). Their John Galt/Ayn Rand campaign – tagged to Atlas Shrugged, which advocates self-interest as the way to a better world – is irresponsible, especially given the facts of the current economic mess. If this is the company’s kind of leadership, I’m out. Any profits I make will be donated to a charity and the Occupy movement.
Sheila Petzold, Ottawa
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In the spirit of “two sides to every story,” I encourage Lululemon customers who are unhappy with the new “Who is John Galt?” slogan to consider another interpretation. In 1827, Canada Company Superintendent John Galt founded the town of Guelph. One hundred and eighty-four years later, we Guelphites may have our issues, just like any municipality, but we also celebrate our low unemployment rate, our green spaces, our arts, our university and, may I add, a thriving yoga community. Carry your “Who is John Galt?” bag with pride!
Jean Mills, Guelph, Ont.
