A cyclist rides on Bloor street near Christie Street, in Toronto on Sept. 20, 2023.Sarah Palmer/The Globe and Mail
Cut it out
Re “A plan to strengthen OAS, help younger Canadians and reduce the deficit? Thanks, affluent boomers!” (Report on Business, Oct. 12): I wholeheartedly agree with contributor Paul Kershaw’s suggestion that income support should be provided only to those seniors who need it. The government taking on new debt to give mad money to affluent seniors feels ridiculously unfair for overburdened younger generations.
But we already have a program to relieve poverty among seniors: the Guaranteed Income Supplement. Why don’t we just enhance that program to ensure all seniors have sufficient income, and scrap OAS completely?
Penny Becklumb Comox, B.C.
Since 2021, together with other seniors organization, the Canadian Association of Retired Persons has advocated for Old Age Security increases to match those given to seniors 75 and over.
In a recent survey of our members, a majority believed current clawback thresholds should remain the same. However, there was openness to lowering the higher income threshold. Overwhelmingly, most agreed that any savings should be directed to the lowest income seniors.
Addressing “generational fairness” should not come at the expense of seniors who, for several decades of hard work and sacrifice, have contributed to building Canada’s social safety net. If contributor Paul Kershaw’s motive is to rebalance the budget, he could suggest that the federal government cut back on the $20-billion it spends every year on consultants.
Rudy Buttignol CM; president, CARP Vancouver
Performance review
Re “TD’s expensive board failed to fix years of rot” (Report on Business, Oct. 16): Election by shareholders to the board of directors of a multibillion-dollar financial organization is a privilege. With privilege comes responsibilities and, in the case of Toronto-Dominion Bank, those responsibilities are weighty.
The ill-fated attempt to purchase First Horizon Corp. suggests the board lacked an understanding of the risks associated with the proposed purchase. The apparent awareness that the bank’s U.S. operation was mired in unlawful behaviour clearly violates a commitment to the bank’s values and beliefs to “lead with integrity” and “only take risks we can understand and manage.”
Being found guilty of money laundering violations on a significant scale has led to a breach of trust with customers, investors, employees and regulators in the face of what can only be described as a dereliction of duty. To revive the core trust so essential to the future of TD, a course should be set by new leadership and governance.
Douglas Auld, Adjunct professor, Lang School of Business and Economics, University of Guelph Puslinch, Ont.
Does it track?
Re “Ontario set to ban new bike lanes installed without provincial approval” (Oct. 16): Every day, I drive about two kilometres on Eglinton Avenue from Yonge Street to Chaplin Crescent and back.
This is what I observe: The single lane for car traffic is always slow; the ample sidewalks have a substantial number of pedestrians but are never crowded (the sidewalks are wider than necessary); the reduced number of parking spots are generally full; rarely do I see a cyclist, some days I never see a cyclist; I do see quite a few food-delivery cyclists, electrified, on the bike paths; I do see dangerous riding.
I believe Doug Ford is right about bike paths helping to create congestion. Maybe on streets such as Eglinton, only one bike path, on one side only, is necessary. Down on Queen’s Quay by the waterfront, there is a two-way bike path that works.
Congestion is a problem that has been created by all levels of government. Big mistakes.
Don Pocock Toronto
When asked about new anti-bike lane legislation, Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said, “It’s about giving people more time with their families.” What about the families of the six cyclists killed by drivers in Toronto this year? Do people cease to have families when they get on bikes?
In 12 years of cycling, I’ve been hit twice by drivers. One of them intentionally used his vehicle as a weapon against me, because he could not stand me “sharing the road” on a route with no bike lanes. I lost four teeth and required five years of surgeries to repair the damage he did.
The Ontario government should have as its first priority the safety of road users. Secondary to that, it should consider the reams of data already collected showing that bike lanes have a negligible impact on travel times, while improving road safety for everyone.
Jeff Wintersinger Toronto
A recent report found that Toronto’s traffic is ranked third most-congested in the world; if left to city council, we’d likely be well on our way to No. 1.
This alone should be evidence enough that reducing lanes on arterial roads is out of control. The vast majority of citizens should be pleading with the provincial government to reverse Toronto’s transportation tyranny and get this city moving again.
Meanwhile, why should taxpayers be subsidizing companies such as Uber Eats and Skip The Dishes through their electric-bike food-delivery drivers’ dominant use of these “bike” lanes? Toronto might revisit this project only when there are reliable public transit alternatives.
On this, don’t hold your breath.
Paul Lechtzier Toronto
New menu
Re “Quebec reaches a tipping point on consumer prices” (Editorial, Oct. 12): Even better: Change the culture, pay restaurant staff a living wage and drop tipping. New Zealand has done it for decades and it works very well.
Malcolm Zander Ottawa
Fill in the blank
Re “Why, despite everything, Donald Trump’s support is not waning” (Oct. 18): In the crossword this week: 20 across, five letters – unqualified. I wrote ”TRUMP.”
But I can’t make it fit, so obviously 12 down and 17 down are wrong. Please correct.
Elizabeth Thompson Oakville, Ont.
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