Wednesday, April 2: Getting too close to the U.S. on the economy was a bad idea, a reader says. You can write to us too, at [email protected]
Turner was right on U.S. free trade
Former Liberal prime minister John Turner opposed all free trade deals between Canada and the United States, eventually adding Mexico. They were negotiated over the years, starting in 1988, under both Conservative and Liberal governments. Turner repeatedly explained those deals contained the seeds of significant threats to Canada’s identity, economic security and sovereignty — which have now fiercely materialized under U.S. President DonaldTrump. Those trade deals were negotiated by democratically elected governments and supported by Canadian public opinion.
If Turner were still alive today, the exemplary gentleman he is might find it difficult to say tactfully “I told you so.”
André Branchaud, Rockland
ER workers are health-care heroes
Re: Two nights in hospital showed me we need to do better for our health-care system, March 31.
I just read Keith Egli’s article on his recent epic visit to the Ottawa Civic campus ER. I totally appreciate our front-line nurses and doctors, who do a superior job with the limited resources. They are true heroes.
I recently made a trip to the Montfort Hospital ER. I was told it would be a 10-to-11 hour wait. Fortunately for me, it was only five hours. Some people were there hours before me and were still there when l, fortunately, went home. I wish my stay could be the norm.
Penny Anderson, Ottawa
We’re grateful for the paramedics
In the past year, Ottawa paramedics have been called to our house three times to transport a family member to hospital because of sudden health issues. Two of those visits were in the dead of night.
Each time, the paramedics arrived promptly, assessed the situation with great professionalism and were kind and reassuring. An ambulance trip to emergency is always alarming, but their efforts made the experience much less harrowing than it might otherwise have been.
The men and women of the Ottawa Paramedic Service, including the 911 operators, are truly unsung heroes of our health-care system. In moments of crisis, it is comforting to know that they will rise to the occasion. My family is deeply grateful for their dedication and competence.
Don Butler, Ottawa
Help rural areas prevent disasters
I am guessing the City of Ottawa, Ottawa Hydro and Hydro One learned nothing from the massive ice storm more almost three decades ago.
I have spoken to our departing councillor and called 311 a number of times about overgrown trees in city ditches and right of ways. One only has to drive down any rural road to see hydro lines weaving between branches. These are the same trees that break or fall during ice storms. Some of these trees are well over 30 feet tall.
Milking the rural taxpayers, then neglecting roads and ditches in rural wards is simply mismanagement. Ice storms, flooding and other natural disasters leave rural residents to fend for themselves and pay fees to conservation authorities; pay taxes for drainage without any hope for help; and even fend for themselves if a well is contaminated
Rural voters cannot be blamed if they feel councillors are powerless to act on rural issues.
Brian Vachon, Greely
CORRECTION:
A Saturday column about rail service to the airport should have said running trains from Line 4 directly to points on Line 2 is physically possible, but because the platforms at Uplands and Airport stations are shorter, only a single LINT train could be used for that service.
