Letters to the Editor: January 4, 2025

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BRT right move

In his letter North, west BRT leg revival too late (Dec. 28) Roy Hanson raises some interesting issues about the city’s development.

I disagree with his claim the BRT should not be extended to the north and west parts of the city. The construction will cause traffic to be worse, but so will everything else.

If commuters are given no viable options, they will be forced to drive. If the city refuses to permit a large industrial or commercial corridor near Highway 402, then tens of thousands of additional drivers will flood south with the morning commute. And this will all happen on city streets because London refused to build an expressway.

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I suspect the real culprits here are not the mayors and councils of the past, but Londoners themselves. Voters refused the expressway, the LRT, the north-end BRT, and probably prevented highways 401 and 402 from being located closer. Had those highways actually entered the city as they have elsewhere, they could have been used as expressways. As well, the economy would have benefited, as the 401 has benefited Toronto.

David Nielsen, London

Rules toothless

I sympathize with the dog owner in the article Dog bite prompts push for change to licensing rules (Jan. 2)

Our 14-kilogram leashed American cocker spaniel was attacked by two off-leash large dogs, one a Rottweiler, at the city pumping station on Highbury Avenue just south of Westminster Drive on Nov. 26 resulting in a large open wound. My wife held our dog high in the air while I tried to hold off the dogs, but out dog was still attacked as the owners had lost total control. Two vet visits were needed to close the wound.

I got the first name (they would not give a last name), phone number and license plate of the dogs owner. I called London Animal Control and gave them the details. They called the next day and stated both owners had been charged with dogs off leash. In spite of repeated calls, the owner refuses to reply or offer to pay the bills. Animal Control would not give us the offender’s name and address. Something has to change.

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Dave Mathers, St. Thomas

Don’t criticize, help

Regarding Laurie Adkin’s column A night in ER shows fallout of Alberta policies (Dec. 31).

Again, a political party is taken to task over the long wait times in a Alberta hospital ER.

In my opinion, there are many people who, due to addictions, have lost their jobs, homes and families but have not taken responsibility for their own actions.

Adkin noted one patient’s catheter bag could be seen by all. The hospital deals with every human condition and we should be mature enough to accept some uncomfortable sights, sounds and smells may occur during an ER visit. Also, the homeless man Adkin thought may have a skin infection was, in all likelihood, lice, bed bugs or scabies.

Actions can speak louder than words so I do hope Adkin, a retired professor, now has time to deal with the homeless on a more personal level. I worked at a local hospital and grew accustomed to such sad stories.

Let’s not place the blame so quickly on a premier without understanding the causes, and give some of our own personal time and monies.

B. McArthur, Dorchester

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Corporate greed

Regarding the farewell speech of retired U.S. attorney general Jonathan Kanter, Our battle against the influence machine (Dec. 28) says the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 functions as the Magna Carta of free enterprise and economic liberty which has been rarely enforced during the last few decades and is slowly being dismantled.

He warns Americans that giant corporations control every part of our lives in incidious ways to undermine our freedom by imposing their own rules and private taxation in the form of higher prices.

They have influenced our thinking that, by accepting their big profits, we too will profit with job creation and increasing our wealth; it has not worked for most of us.

Kanter reminds us that kind of power and wealth is a form of dictatorship.

Governments, by not enforcing the anti-trust laws, have compounded the hardships of citizens, by not giving them protection and choice from dominant greed.

Hiedi Vamvalis, London

Election platform

Various points our next prime minister should consider:

Eliminate the carbon tax.

Balance the budget in one or two years.

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Reduce the size of the federal civil service.

Reduce immigration and only allow in those who possess skills or attributes the country requires.

Be more forceful and aggressive against proposed U.S. restrictive trade policies.

Improve our image on the world stage.

Reduce the amount and number of grants given to other countries. Adopt a Canada-first policy.

Approve the construction of pipelines to allow the use of domestic crude oil across Canada and allow greater export activity.

Approve more LNG production and exporting.

Encourage more mining of our natural resources for domestic and export purposes.

Eliminate wasteful government spending, which should translate into lower taxes.

Reduce the capital gains tax to a more competitive level.

Change the parole laws with the emphasis on the victim.

With more manufacturing, less government, and lower taxes this will translate into a more vibrant economy, upbeat mindset, and productive citizenry.

John Peake, London

Cut from the top

Regarding the article Thames Valley students will feel effects of teaching cuts (Dec. 21)

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I rarely comment on issues but this type of waste is getting too regular. It seems many publicly funded institutions are overspending and then, looking to cut programs to try to balance the books.

Don’t overlook mismanagement and the failure of trustees to oversee mangers. Cut over-paid superintendents and redundant mangers in the system.

Don’t cut programs. Cut from the top down and put students first.

Ian Baldock, London

Will he, or won’t he?

U.S. president-elect Donald Trump already has stated he doesn’t care about the voters, just their votes. We will soon find out if he is devoid of any compassion for average Americans when he is actually in office. Are his threats to impose additional tariffs simply bluster or will he do it?

I’m sure, by now, enough people with knowledge of how tariffs work have explained to him how this will make everything more expensive for Americans. Perhaps Trump’s reason to impose this added cost on the taxpayers is to make up for his planned trillion-dollar tax cuts he wants to give to his billionaire friends.

The proof, as they say, will be in the pudding.

Steve Matthews, London

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