Dear Editor,
I would like to thank our Member of Parliament, Cheryl Gallant, for publicly reminding us, her constituents, that we have to let her know what our concerns are. If we don’t all keep her informed, she simply can not know what we are thinking. Ms. Gallant publicly stated recently that we, her constituents, are only concerned about health care, unemployment and lower taxes, all of which suffered during the last Federal government’s rule.
The desire for lower taxes stems from Mr. Harper giving big tax cuts to the rich people and corporations of Canada. Supposedly on the theory they will spend it on creating new jobs. Instead, the stats show that those receiving big tax cuts took that excess $$ out of Canada and our economy. They stowed it in off-shore tax havens, using tax loopholes he created for them. Hundreds of billions of dollars every year, which the government could have used to fund more doctors to cut wait times, preventive health & emotional education and care, more jobs in upgrading infrastructure, etc, and to ease the tax burden on the 98% rest of us.
Another concern of the people of Renfrew County is the high rate of domestic violence and how to prevent it. This was very visibly seen and heard in late September after three local women were murdered in one morning allegedly by someone they all knew. Conspicuous by her absence was our MP. Not a public word of sympathy to any of the victims’ families, friends or communities came forth from our MP’s office. Somehow, no one let her know about this.
Ms. Gallant also said we’re not concerned about climate change. I know, from talking to many people, that this is not true. Perhaps no one bothered to tell her.
One has only to see the title of the Renfrew County Chapter of the Ontario Woodlot Association’s new book, “Managing Your Forest in a Changing Climate, Practical advice for Renfrew County woodlot owners ” to know that the effects of climate change are being noticed by local people working in the woods. The book suggests ways to deal with the increasing effects of climate change. Local farmers and gardeners are also speaking of the changes the climate is bringing, even if it’s just new pests that were never here before when the climate was colder.
At last week’s Paris Climate Conference, the only climate change deniers were big oil and mining corporations who don’t want to cut back on production and profits.
The time of denial is past. We need to focus, like the local Woodlot owners, on what the effects are, what they could be in the near and distant future, and especially on what we can do now to be prepared to deal with all these effects.
The majority of us did not vote for Cheryl Gallant to be our representative to the Government in Ottawa. Still, thanks to the old “first past the post” electoral system, she is the MP for all of us in this riding. Please, let’s all let her know what we are thinking and what we are concerned about so she can speak for us and not just parrot the Conservative Party Line.
Emails can be sent free to: [email protected]
Letters and postcards can be sent free to: 84 Isabella Street, Pembroke, ON K8A 5S5
Phone calls are to: 613-332-4404
Congratulations to Ms. Gallant for being named to the “Shadow Cabinet”.
Happy Solstice everyone. May we all enjoy Monday’s shift towards days growing longer, And may Sun’s shine soon radiate through the clouds,
Robbie Anderman
Killaloe ON
