É«É«À²

Carol Cummings, É«É«À²

Wildfires are burning out of control, and there’s nothing in Ontario’s budget for waterbombers. Yet the Ford government has finalized plans for the redevelopment of Ontario Place, which includes an above-ground parking garage. It reminds me of the story of Nero fiddling while Rome burned.

Clyde McDonald, Bracebridge, ON

No respect for our elders

He’s 91 and facing eviction. How É«É«À²â€™s housing crisis is playing out for this senior, July 7

The cruelty of the Ford government is now on full display. As seen during the Greenbelt fiasco, the premier is very friendly with developers and landlords. The same people hiking rents and fighting rent control are among his biggest contributors. His policies have made the housing crisis worse. The province has enabled private investment corporations to buy up affordable housing and helped developers shift costs onto taxpayers. Ford has enacted legislation ostensibly intended to bolster tenants’ rights that has weakened them instead, while also making life easier for corporate landlords. In Ford’s Ontario, regulations that once protected tenants are being eroded for the benefit of the premier’s developer friends. No wonder there are so many homeless encampments.

Paul Kahnert, Markham, ON

I wish I had a room for Isidoro Ventullo, whose story of being evicted from a building that has an empty apartment is heartbreaking. The fact that it’s a common story, especially among those living in care homes, is devastating. There are agencies that help seniors, but that’s obviously not enough. The city should make planning for seniors a priority. Perhaps we need a seniors’ advocate within the municipal government to ensure they’re always at least considered in planning and decision making. We also need to be kinder, gentler and more generous people. Only a selfish tyrant would think of evicting the elderly.

Gail Rutherford, É«É«À²

Playing the field

Parents call on TDSB to halt demolition of high school track in favour of turf in deal with private club, July 6

It’s surprising and disappointing that the É«É«À² Lands Corporation appears comfortable with this initiative, given that its own website professes to put students first. If anyone were to be granted exclusive use of the field at Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute, why wouldn’t students be at the top of the list? Why are they being forced off of their own field? How is it that private interests can purchase control of school property for a measly $1.5 million? This whole deal stinks.

Eugene Spanier, É«É«À²

Paying the Canadian ferryman

Transport committee will study BC Ferries’ receiving $1B loan for Chinese ships, July 7

Although this story has been slow in catching wind, I think every Canadian should be very aware of and concerned about the double standards here. Just a few months ago, British Columbia Premier David Eby was adamant about the importance of Canadians buying Canadian products and investing in Canadian companies. We have capable shipyards on both coasts, and if Canada is truly going to return to manufacturing — be it ships, planes or cars — then we must accept the added costs that result from good wages and health benefits, which are vital to our Canadian workers’ quality of life. This BC Ferry fiasco with China should be scuttled immediately. The federal and provincial governments are both out of their depth on this file.

Richard Chadwick, Halton Hills, ON

Mistake by the lake

Olivia Chow doesn’t need to share the blame for Doug Ford’s Ontario Place parking mistake, July 7

Martin Regg Cohn couldn’t be more correct about the provincial government’s new parkade, which will block views of the lake and be an unwelcome sight to people arriving in É«É«À². Building a parking structure at Ontario Place rather than at Exhibition Place is a mistake we’ll all have to live with. Most world-class cities would love to have this kind of land in their portfolio, given what it could mean for the public realm. We could make the site better for residents, better for visitors and better for tourism. Where are our politicians’ visions for a better future?

Jim Melvin, É«É«À²

The ring of truth

Did Ontario’s school cellphone ban change student behaviour? Here’s what students and staff say, June 24

Are students today really less focused than they were generations ago? As a very old supply teacher, I have little issue with students’ amazing pocket gizmos. When used properly, they’re like miniature encyclopedias. And some teachers do enforce strict guidelines as to when and how they can be used. I’ve been in a few classrooms that have designated pouches where phones must be kept. But folks demanding a total ban aren’t in the trenches dealing with adolescents.

Though distracting, these devices serve a purpose. They can serve as teenage soothers, keeping students who won’t do their schoolwork occupied without disturbing their classmates. This brouhaha about teenagers being unable to focus at school will never be resolved. Concerned parents could make sure that their offspring leave their beloved gadgets at home, and a school phone could be used in case of an emergency. But the truth is that good students, those who have high academic aspirations, will continue to excel in their studies — phones be damned.

Garry Burle, Oro-Medonte, ON