Your letters for Friday, Sept. 16

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Be taught a strong lesson from Ontario

 Re: “NDP commits to inexperienced vitality,” Sept. 15.

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Ontarians had been additionally pressured to simply accept happening the ideologically pushed, extremely inefficient and closely backed inexperienced highway.

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This determination has made electrical energy the best priced in North America and brought on quite a few giant corporations to flee the province, taking 1000’s of well-paying jobs with them. Householders are struggling to maintain up with the doubling and tripling of their  payments.

Overseas corporations raked in tens of billions for photo voltaic programs and wind generators, whereas the expected 1000’s of inexperienced jobs merely by no means materialized.

After spending an estimated $20 billion going inexperienced, these renewable sources of electrical energy nonetheless solely produce a really small fraction of Ontario’s general electrical energy wants. I certain hope Albertans would not have this similar fiscally and financial system damaging expertise.

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Larry Comeau, Ottawa 

Not impressed with waiving of charge

Re: “Inexperienced bin charges to be waived,” Sept. 14.

Metropolis council’s determination to waive first-year charges for the inexperienced field program is a hole gesture.

It tells Calgarians: “We don’t know the best way to sort out rising prices, so we’re going to attempt to appease you earlier than the following election.”

Sorry, council and Mayor Naheed Nenshi, this strategy to managing calgary’s fiscal issues doesn’t minimize it. It’s time to get severe about our debt and the best way to take care of it past merely taking cash from the wet day fund for one-offs.

Want some options? You’ve already privatized parks upkeep. What about rubbish assortment? Snow elimination? Golf course operation and upkeep? Possibly related value financial savings could be present in these areas by contracting out the work.

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Jerry Burdenie, Calgary

Wage hikes aren’t that scary

 Re: “Notley defends determination to hike minimal wage,” Sept. 14.

With the Alberta authorities set to lift the minimal wage to $15 per hour by 2018, the media has been circulating the parable that elevating the minimal wage will kill jobs.

The truth, nevertheless, is extra advanced. In a letter to U.S. President Barak Obama and congressional leaders, greater than 600 economists, together with seven Nobel Prize winners, acknowledged that “the burden of proof now exhibits that will increase to the minimal wage have had little or no damaging impact on the employment of minimum-wage staff.”

The economists then stated will increase to the minimal wage can, in truth, have a small stimulative impact on the financial system, as low-wage earners spend their extra earnings. In different phrases, a better minimal wage shouldn’t be that scary.

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Andrew Torry, Calgary

 PM has mandate to vary system

Re: “Referendum a should to vary system,” Letter, Sept. 14.

Defenders of the present voting system reminiscent of Michael Poland are portray themselves into an ungainly nook after they declare that the present authorities has no mandate to vary the voting system as a result of, though they received a majority in Parliament, they didn’t get a majority of the votes.

The prime minister stated fairly clearly through the election marketing campaign that this might be the final election below first previous the submit. In case you consider the present system is legit, then the PM has not solely a mandate, however an obligation, to vary the voting system.

In case you don’t consider the present system is legit, and he has no mandate to vary it, then clearly he has no mandate to do something in any respect, and we’d like a brand new voting system.

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Wayne Smith, Toronto, Ont.

Grateful for first-rate well being care

 It upsets me to learn damaging articles within the media concerning our health-care system and staff. Certain, we are able to at all times enhance, however my private expertise has been nothing however optimistic.

Two and a half years in the past, I used to be identified with a number of life-threatening illnesses inside a few-months span. Since then, I’ve undergone all the scans and “oscopies” recognized to man in three metropolis hospitals, seen greater than six specialists, been below the care of a gaggle of nurses, and as lately as final week, had main surgical procedure.

The care, compassion and effectivity of the health-care system has been nothing in need of outstanding. My “workforce” consults with one another, sharing data and problem-solving on my behalf.

I’m really grateful to the system and the individuals who work in it, and grateful that I reside in Alberta.

Gord Smith, Calgary