Letters to the editor

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A letter to the future prime minister.

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Many Canadians are still asking themselves which candidate will provide the leadership needed to address the affordable housing crisis that is having a devastating effect on families and communities throughout the country. While each of the major parties have presented plans that either restate previously made commitments or provide band-aid solutions - none have presented a clear and comprehensive housing strategy that will drive new investment and energy into affordable housing initiatives.

Today, there are four million people across Canada living in need of adequate and affordable housing.

Last week we celebrated World Habitat Day, designated to "reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic human right to adequate shelter for all." Its purpose is to remind us of our collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.

I believe it can serve as a call to action to you and your party to present a new and robust plan that outlines how your government will battle the affordable housing crisis in Canada.

Canada has dropped the ball on affordable housing. Where we were once a leader and innovator, we're now in trouble.

Mr. Future Prime Minister, we all have a role to play in ensuring a mother does not have to decide between a roof over her child's head or food in her child's mouth. I ask only that you make affordable housing a priority in the next government.

I can assure you we will all be listening.

DAVID HUGHES

President & CEO, Habitat for Humanity Canada

Green shift an absurd proposal

With his "Green Shift," Stéphane Dion is proposing the absurd: that he can actually change the weather through taxes. By trumpeting a manmade "climate crisis," both Dion and Elizabeth May have harangued Canadians into believing that colourless, odourless CO2 is a vile pollutant.

Breaking the cardinal rule to never rely on only one source, this gullible pair have swallowed the alarmist projections of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a pseudo-scientific propaganda machine whose name tells you all you need to know about their "impartiality."

Thankfully, many respected scientists and researchers have exposed the IPCC's fabrications and politically motivated reports. This scientific backlash has even compelled 32,000 U.S. scientists to sign the anti-Kyoto petitionproject.org. Meanwhile, NASA data shows the planet on a decade-long cooling trend, the Arctic is freezing over again, and the phony "climate catastrophe" is missing in action.

The Liberal/Greens have failed to practice due diligence on the leading issue in their platforms. What's worse, they even propose increasing annual immigration to an environmentally unsustainable 1 per cent of the population, the equivalent of adding Nova Scotia's population every three years.

Meanwhile, Liberals have unjustly vilified the Conservatives for being weak in the planet-saving business - despite the Conservatives having established the world's largest marine protected area, created national parks and bioreserves, contributed to the Nature Conservancy, and restricted pollutants, highlighting the Liberal's dismal environmental legacy.

BRENT WINCHESTER

Quispamsis

Arts, culture are underestimated

It is interesting to see that artists, art and culture are making the headlines and, to my knowledge, initiating a debate never seen before in our country.

However, we should worry that none of the political parties who could make a difference don't take a stand for the return of the programs abolished by the actual government.

Artists, art and culture are underestimated values and yet they can't be ignored at all the levels of our society: The economy, the tourism industry, the schools, the pride of our country, the social development and the identity of all the communities are dependent upon them.

What would our towns and villages be without art and culture? What would Kings Landing be without arts and culture? What would we be without festivals and art galleries? What would the school and education system be without art and culture?

Statistics Canada has indicated that for every dollar invested in the arts, the return is seven times on the investment. In N.B., the arts and culture sector contributed $604 million to our economy in 2002. In Canada, it contributed $40 billion, five billion more than the oil industries. Yet if you work in the oil industries you can expect to earn almost five times more than if you invest your energies in the arts and culture sectors. Let's us hope that the debate awakens all of us!

BENOÎT DUGUAY

Chairperson of ARTSNB.

Arts should be self-sustaining

Once again I am amazed at the attitude of the "arts" community. What makes them think that they have an entitlement to my hard earned money?

I am referring to the Bravo Show called "Does Art Matter?" The arts community talk about how great they are and how they deserve funding from the government. The government does not have money! The government has my money.

As I understand it, Stephen Harper is not advocating cutting all funding to the Arts and Culture, only a reduction of $45 million out of a budget of $3.3 billion - a total of 0.136 per cent of the arts and culture budget.

When we have a situation where people are forced to make choices of heating their homes or feeding their families, do you think that they want their money going to pay for the arts?

If the arts are a viable community, then it should be able to be self-sustaining. Please keep your hands out of my pockets!

MARG PHILLIPS

Kingston

Canada needs steady hand at the helm

With federal election day hours away Canadians should seriously ponder the very future of our country. The leaders of all parties are making interesting promises, but which ones are do-able and within our financial means? We all know promises can be broken.

Liberal leader Stéphane Dion is promising to provide expensive drugs not presently covered by medicare, which could amount to millions annually. A noble idea, but if his Liberal government were to get elected, would this promise ever be fulfilled? It sounds much like the 1993 election when Liberal Jean Chrétien promised to eliminate the GST.

Another serious concern is his proposed carbon tax. If large corporations were hit with such a tax, how many would move to another country? The ones that do remain will obviously pass the added cost on to consumers.

Another danger with such a tax would be to alienate the western oil producing provinces.

For the past few years there have been rumblings, that if not treated more fairly by Ottawa the western provinces would seriously consider separating from the rest of Canada. These party leaders should be well aware that if this were to happen, Quebec and the Maritimes would soon freeze in the dark.

For Canada to continue to survive as a nation we must keep a steady hand at the helm. Only he deserves power who has the wisdom to use it wisely.

RONALD BUBAR

Douglas

NDP has real crime solutions

I am writing to express my deep concern with Stephen Harper's platform on crime. Harper has said that Canada is not doing enough when in reality crime rates have been diminishing over the last few years.

He has argued that in pursuit of justice, criminals must be punished to the full extent. He argues that you cannot rehabilitate somebody unless you drive home to them the seriousness of violent crimes. Harper has also maintained that Canadians want to see tougher punishment a more retributive system.

I argue that Canadians have always valued rehabilitation over retribution. In the beginning of the 20th century these values were written into the Juvenile Delinquents Act. These values aim to balance society's interests of protection with Canada's interest of rehabilitation. Canadians have always aimed at creating citizens, not prisoners. Harper's proposals have missed both of these values.

Jack Layton and the NDP would ensure that the justice system works to create real results and make our homes and neighbourhoods a safer place. He has said that he will hire 2,500 more police officers as well as allow provinces or cities to implement a complete ban on handguns and target internet gun sales. A New Democratic government would spend money on prevention programs rather reactive retribution programs. I believe an NDP government will create real solutions for crime and uphold the true values of Canadians.

ALEC STRATFORD

Fredericton