Letters to the Editor: September 7, 2024

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Better sports coverage

The Mustangs defeated Waterloo 71-3 at home on Sunday night. The next paper on Tuesday does not mention the game, though there are articles on the CFL and many other sports.

At least The Globe and Mail provided the score. Please do a better job of covering local sports.

D. Michael Grace, London

Don’t stop there

Thanks to the city for the beautiful repavement of the Thames Valley Trail between the Oxford Street bridge and Gibbons Park. Now, how about that bumpy section between Richmond Street and the new Victoria Bridge?

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Michael Elie, London

Too lenient on bail

Regarding the article ‘My god, this is a home invasion’ (Aug. 24).

Unfortunately, we have another example of a judge being too lenient in granting bail.

Justice Kevin McHugh granted bail to Brandon Ford to allow him to spend time with his daughter.

There’s nothing wrong with this picture, is there? Unless, of course, you take into account Ford was in custody charged with discharging a firearm, robbery with a weapon, breaching probation and two counts of breaching a release order.

Mind you, the police recognize this guy is dangerous and, when he failed to show for court, they warned the public not to approach him.

Somehow, none of the above is taken into account by some judges.

Dennis Lee, Komoka

Stop name-calling

How disappointing to see Pierre Poilievre model himself after Donald Trump with his name calling. Referring to Jagmeet Singh as Sellout Singh speaks to Poilievre’s character.

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If we’re talking about selling out, before the Liberals defeated the Conservatives in 2015, the plan was in place to deny seniors old age security (OAS) at age 65. Beginning in 2023, the age of eligibility for OAS and the guaranteed income supplement (GIS) was set to rise from 65 to 67. Canadians born after March 31, 1958, would have to wait up to two years longer to receive payments. This would have been the biggest cut ever made to Canada’s public pension system, making retirement more difficult and potentially pushing thousands of seniors into poverty.

I appreciate the carbon rebate. I certainly don’t think if it was cancelled, we’d suddenly see cheaper groceries, merchandise, car repairs, gas, vet bills, phone, internet, and every other expense that skyrocketed during the pandemic.

Jennifer Mills, London

Empathy two-way street

In response to the article ‘I wouldn’t be here’ (Sept. 4) concerning supervised consumption sites.

I take umbrage that Reggie Garrett has a plan for himself to “end up in a park” and will continue to use drugs if more sites are closed.

He has had numerous chances to turn his life around, including a two-week stay in a hospital for sepsis. If he chooses not to get clean and sober, and then, possibly, work to help others, then so be it.

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Those of us who have worked 30 or 40 or 50A years, paid our taxes and were committed to our families and communities, we also faced tough times.

Did we want to give up? Many times, but we carried on.

Carmelita Baird-Gendlin complains others can’t empathize with “people like us.”

She fails to understand that addiction in many forms is suffered by the rest of us, but we haven’t given up.

We can empathize, but our compassion and tax dollars are running low.

Be responsible.

B. McArthur, Dorchester

Bill the councillors

A recent article in a Toronto newspaper talks about destination golf courses built by communities cashing in on the latest $14.2-billion golf boom.

London should get a footnote for destroying destination-quality courses. The wonderful River Road course could have brought thousands of golfers to town.

Somebody should bill the councillors, three of them are left, who were flat out dumb enough to close that course amid the COVID-19 pandemic that started the boom.

I’d say $5 million for damages to the asset, $2 million for lost revenue for three years, and who knows how many million for lost revenue from destination golf.

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Angus Johnson, London

Singh pulls plug at last

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh finally pulled the plug on his deal with Justin Trudeau’s minority government.

He backed the Grits’ costly 2024 budget, but was a no-show when MPs sought more health-care funding. He criticized and coddled Liberals, but got his Canada dental plan at a cost of $4.4 billion for nine million people.

NDP support is down to 15 per cent and it must be clear to Singh Canucks want an election, and blame him for backing Trudeau.

Peter J. Middlemore Sr., Windsor

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