Northern Secondary School is one of 18 schools in Toronto equipped with an artificial turf field.Galit Rodan/The Globe and Mail
Justice for all
Re ”Homelessness and drug addiction should not leave citizens disenfranchised” (Opinion, Aug. 20): The story of Liah is not unique to Montreal. It’s an epidemic affecting every community in Canada. I found André Picard’s hot dog stand business licence and patio smoking analogy so pertinent yet pathetic in its description of how low we’ve sunk in terms of enforcement and real solutions. I reside in East Village, Calgary. An up-and-coming urban village of high-rise condos affording residents the freedom to “walk, bike and shop to the best of what the city has to offer” is being located right beside a drop-in centre that has deteriorated to the point of simply being a market for one’s drug of choice, the residents tell me. Our local sidewalks are strewn with urine, feces and used needles. Yet East Village is being promoted as a hip location while every effort is made to make prospective residents look the other way. Until all levels of government work together, Canada will remain stalled on this plight, which will only worsen.
Martin Wilkins Calgary
Finally. Thank you, André Picard.
Everything about the encampment at downtown Toronto’s Allan Gardens is illegal, yet the laws are not enforced. The eight or so people still living in the park have effectively forced the thousands of residents that encircle the park to abandon the place where they used to enjoy nature and, perhaps, read a book. There has been a killing, threats with knives, open drug use, loud music past midnight and refuse everywhere. How is this just?
Meanwhile, our streets get dirtier, vagabonds sleep on subway grates and a general feeling of despair invades the city. Can we muster the civil will to reverse all this?
Constance Dilley Toronto
Secret Canada
Re “How transparent is your city? Audit of access requests finds vast differences” (Aug. 19): Why are some cities so much more reluctant to comply with freedom-of-information laws than others? Whether it is a question of retention of records or the allocation of resources to fulfill FOI requests in a timely manner, cities have made choices about how to respond. What benefits accrue to cities such as Edmonton and Hamilton, which perform so poorly? Conversely, are there any harms that accrue to cities like Mississauga and Quebec City, which respond to requests more quickly and more openly? If they can be transparent without any ill effects, then why aren’t all cities more transparent? I’d like to see the Secret Canada team investigate these questions.
James Duthie Nanaimo, B.C.
No refuge
Re “Can we prosecute Ahmed Eldidi for war crimes?” (Opinion, Aug. 20): Kudos to Mark Kersten for giving readers a sober-minded analysis of what Canada must do with the “terrorists amongst us.” These people roaming about freely pose a lingering threat to our society. The sooner we apprehend, prosecute and revoke their Canadian citizenship, the safer our free country becomes.
Irwin Diamond Toronto
Rail strike
Re “CPKC workers union issues 72-hour strike notice as CN prepares to lock out staff” (Aug. 19): The endless cycle of disruption to Canada’s rail infrastructure is set to achieve a new level of economic damage and global embarrassment this week. Something fundamental needs to change. Maybe it is time to have labour representation on the boards of large corporations in Canada, as is the law in countries like Germany, where labour disruptions are fewer and shorter than those of most other industrialized nations. Even centre-right legislators in the U.S. Congress have embraced the idea. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre might want to comment.
Rory McAlpine Victoria
Evergreen
Re “Ready to roll: Artificial turf is taking root on schoolyards, and even winning over some skeptics” (Aug. 19): I’m sorry to read our throw-away society has discovered a new boondoggle in its assault on nature’s turf. The newly ubiquitous ersatz turf playing field is a menace to the health of our bodies and our planet. Any innovation should be better than what it replaces – plastic turf does not satisfy this requirement! Along with the many concerns listed in the article, it stinks (off-gassing that includes hormonal disruptors of particular concern to youth in playgrounds), doesn’t convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, and I’ve never seen a daisy growing in it. I doubt even bugs abide it. I guess the rationale for its use is low maintenance – for 12 years or so, after which the school board must spend a few million dollars on a new one and the turfed turf spends a few million years in a landfill. This doesn’t sound sustainable to me.
Brooks Rapley Toronto
Artificial turf fields contain tonnes of shredded tire rubber “crumb,” migrate 100 kilos of the rubber crumb into the environment each year, along with degraded plastic “grass,” can heat up hotter than asphalt and emit a nauseating burnt tire smell. Natural grass is a natural coolant, a carbon sink and is key to containing storm water run-off. Proponents suggest that plastic turf is needed to offset childhood inactivity – ignoring the irony that children were at their most active in the “good old days” of sweet-smelling natural grass fields.
Alexandra Gruca-Macaulay Ottawa
Looking up
Re “The return to optimism in politics?” (Editorial, Aug. 20):
I agree Kamala Harris’s return to positive politics sets a tone we hope will be emulated in other jurisdictions. The key will be sticking to this throughout the campaign, particularly if the poll advantage she now has narrows.
And showing a positive hand in managing the economy will be just as important. Positive measures like the child tax credit to control child poverty are better than negative ones like blaming grocers for high grocery prices, especially as inflation is now coming down because monetary policy is beginning to work. And showing overall economic balance by paying for any new spending measures through tax increases for upper-income groups will add to her good stature.
If Ms. Harris can stay positive and show a capable hand in managing the economy, she has a real shot in attaining the White House in November.
And just think of the positive message that will send to politicians around the world. Maybe we will all gain by a breath of fresh air in politics, not the other kind.
Ed Dunnett Qualicum Beach, B.C.
He says/she says
Re ”Why is the Trump campaign getting involved in the gender wars? They’re reading the room” (Opinion, Aug. 19): Environics is asking the wrong question. Of course “the father must be master in his own home.” Master is a masculine word, he cannot be mistress. However, there is no way that makes him the boss or final decision-maker. Master and mistress are equal in authority.
Gillian Wood Grimsby, Ont.
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