Calgary Herald letters, Oct. 8

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If there is the potential for the courts to overturn the city’s blanket rezoning bylaw, council must immediately pause any new or pending approvals as they risk future liability on any projects that are approved under the current rules.

If developers are forced to amend or remove structures built under the overturned bylaw, you can bet they will sue the city for compensation and we as taxpayers will be left holding the bag.

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The only responsible thing to do is to stop any approvals until after the special hearing on Nov. 8.

Julio Savoia, Calgary

Bloated staff doesn’t help government service

According to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, the Trudeau government has added 108,793 new bureaucrats to the government dole — an increase of 42 per cent. On Aug. 28, my cheque was paid in, at a bank, to the receiver general of Canada in payment of estate taxes. On Sept. 5, I was told it had been received but hadn’t been posted yet. As of yesterday, it is still being processed.

No matter when I call, the CRA’s answering machine constantly tells me the lines are busy, call back later. This what our federal employees call working from home. When you’re in an office, you can’t easily get away with having personal phone calls, surfing the Internet, buying on Amazon, tweeting, etc., instead of working. Is productivity for your paycheque too much to expect?

Oh, and by the way, when people can’t get to speak to anyone in their government, it’s called a Politburo.

Mary-Anne Pechet, Calgary

Blame the riders, not the bikes

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Re: E-bikes a menace on paths: Braid, Oct. 7

Don Braid’s finger-pointing here is anecdotal cherry-picking. Yes, there are too many reckless cyclists on our city’s bike lanes. However, he mostly singles out my cohort — those of us who need a little boost to help us over Calgary’s many daunting hills — though we’re hardly the band of rogues he would have readers think we are.

When I’m rolling effortlessly along the Bow’s beautiful banks, it’s not me the pedestrians need to look out for: it’s the wannabe Tour de France speedsters crouched in their skin-tight polyester racing uniforms who pass me at 50 km/h that risk my fall over the brink.

I don’t doubt the scenes Braid witnessed are honest accounts; there are offenders in every camp, including mine. But put the blame on the rider, not what they’re riding.

David Blois, Calgary

Wildfires are a failure of management

Re: Jasper wildfire a political weapon, Opinion, Oct. 9

Don Braid’s column raises an interesting issue with our national parks. If the natural beauty of the parks are left alone, nature has a method of fixing problems — including fire, unless humans act to reduce the risk.

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During the Great Depression in the U.S., the future army commander George Marshall was a principal organizer of the Civilian Conservation Corp. that cleared fire breaks, planted trees, cleaned clogged rivers and did many other conservation projects in the national forests and parks.

If you want to preserve our forests, they need to be managed and conserved. However, left to the mountain pine beetle and fire bugs, which park is next for destruction? Banff, Waterton? Or maybe Jacques Cartier National Park or Mont-Tremblant National Park in Minister Steven Guilbeault’s home province.

Chock this down to another thing the federal government can’t fix. 

Ian Anderson, Calgary

Thursday letters:

Famous 5 statue too important to remove

CFUW Calgary believes Calgarians can recognize the groundbreaking accomplishment of the Persons Case, while repudiating the exclusionary opinions of some of the women who fought for the right to be persons. History is rife with contradictions, and we move forward by learning from them rather than ignoring them.

We urge that the Women Are Persons statue be kept in the redesigned Olympic Plaza, with a full explanatory plaque.

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We should celebrate the immense difference the Persons Case has made for Canadian women. The historical context of racism must be remembered because it should never be repeated.

CFUW Calgary supports the Famous 5 Foundation’s statement: “We believe that it is vital that this tribute to the Famous 5 remain in Olympic Plaza and that it stands as a permanent reminder to the principle of equality for all and to inspire future generations of leaders.”

Susan Miller, co-president, CFUW Calgary

Rezoning can’t stop city’s sprawl

I believe the reasoning behind the rezoning bylaw was to stop urban sprawl.

All one has to do is take a drive to what used to be the edge of the city to see this is a farce. The city limits have grown exponentially in the past couple of years.

Karyn Solar, Calgary

When altruism meets consumerism

An interesting juxtaposition in the Oct. 4 Herald: The top quarter of page A7 has the article titled Rural food banks plead for more donations. Flip to the next page and there’s a full-page ad for new intelligent cellphones costing upwards of $2,500.

I leave for other readers to ponder.

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Paul Griffin, Calgary

Land transfer fees just a hidden tax

Starting Oct. 20, Land Titles will implement a significant disbursement fee increase for both property transfers and mortgage registrations. Fee structure changes will be: On transfers: $5 per $5,000 of property value (previously $2 per $5,000) — a 150 per cent increase. On mortgage registrations: $5 per $5,000 of mortgage value (previously $1.50 per $5,000) — a 233 per cent increase.

Land title fees on a $500,000 condo with a $400,000 mortgage will rise from $420 to $1,000. Similarly, fees on a $1-million house with an $800,000 mortgage will more than double, increasing from $740 to $1,900.

This is a significant adjustment quietly being made.

It is my opinion this is a sneaky, underhanded way for the Alberta government to institute a land transfer tax without calling it such.

Tom Charlton, Calgary

Wednesday letters:

Real people rely on safe consumption site

My son had a workplace injury and became an opioid addict by an approved FDA drug, prescribed by an Alberta doctor. When we sought help 10 years ago, there was nothing available. Thousands of dollars later, we finally had to cut him loose.

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We connected with him this summer, and seeing our son after being on the streets was very painful. This being said, he had finally got help from the Alberta government, he has a roof over his head and is now in a safe place.

He fell off the wagon recently and the Sheldon Chumir safe consumption site is a huge help to him. He goes there for their pharmaceutical opioid replacement, and after he receives his medication he leaves the area. He does not hang out and cause problems.

Despite everything that has been said about Sheldon Chumir, there are a lot of good things happening there, it’s just that most people can’t see it.

Robert McConnell, Calgary

Affordability is not so easy

Re: Ways to reduce cost of living, Oct. 5, Letters

If Robert Dewar can find me smaller and cheaper accommodations that are not immediately a pending sale or wait-listed rental, I will gladly drive there in my very old Japanese car.

Doreen Templeton, Calgary

Social disorder a safety issue

I am dismayed to find out that a number of people are avoiding using the beautiful Snohetta-designed Central Library because they feel unsafe approaching the building, either alone or with their children. The steps up to the building and surrounding area are littered with shopping carts, there is open drug use and some very aggressive people.

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Clearly, there is an urgent requirement to find a solution to the homelessness and drug problem in downtown east Calgary and, as a citizen, I need to know that our elected representatives are actively working on solution.

Carol Mannas, Calgary

Well-planned projects earn support

Re: It’s time to define the Green Line, Opinion, Oct. 3

The Green Line defined by Jeff Binks in his opinion column does sound wonderful, “connecting Calgary’s north-central and southeast communities via downtown,” including Quarry Park, the southeast hospital and the Greenview and Stoney industrial areas.

Quite a utopian vision. But the problem with utopian visions is that they sometimes remain just that. Had realistic expectations been put forth during the planning process, perhaps support for this project would not have eroded.

The Green Line as envisioned in this article could have never been built for the original budget, and are we now really meant to mourn its loss, rather than feel the disappointment in the obvious bait and switch situation we now find ourselves in?

Honest, realistic planning for future projects are likely to receive more public support than imaginary, utopian ideals.

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Tell us what we can afford to build, on time and on budget — not what we can’t.

Brian Findlay, Calgary

Tuesday letters:

Pipeline tax can pay for oilpatch cleanup

I believe it’s time for the Canadian petroleum industry (70 per cent foreign-owned) to direct some of its record profits into addressing the environmental legacy and liability left behind while earning these profits in this province.

The Alberta petroleum industry enjoys the lowest corporate tax rate in Canada, while Alberta has the lowest minimum wage, municipalities are begging the UCP government to force the petroleum industry (and the provincial government for that matter) to pay the back taxes they owe Albertans, Alberta students receive the lowest per-capita funding in Canada, and the health-care and education systems are in crisis — having been underfunded and disrespected for decades now.

I believe an environmental tax on each barrel of oil flowing through Canada’s national pipeline could be placed in a financial trust account to ensure the environmental damage and associated costs to clean it up aren’t left for the taxpayer to fund. It is time for the federal government to ensure Canadians are protected.

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I also call on the provincial government to raise the Alberta corporate tax rate to address the chronic underfunding of public services in this province.

Jeff Toffin, Calgary

Praise for painting the town

Re: The case for back-alley art, Oct. 5

It was so refreshing to read that the growing body of public art has now reached back alleys. It is a delight to see how BUMP (Beltline Urban Mural Project) has transformed huge, formerly drab, grey commercial property bare walls into colourful artworks. Apparently, some inner city business improvement areas have offered this service to some large residential blocks.

But early indications are that Calgary residents are not quite ready for that. One reaction example: “This is our home. It’s not a business.”

Understandable, given that since the 1950s the suburban family, with its unwritten values, is where most of us grew up.

It’s good to read that back alley art may be starting to permeate this history. Long may it continue.

Eilis Hiebert, Calgary

It’s all about greed

Re: Let’s untap the potential of our natural resources, Oct. 4

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For anyone that wants the “too long, didn’t read” version.

Let us rip and tear the place apart to stuff our pockets, and we promise to cut you in.

Darren Jakal, Calgary

WestJet service falling short

Monday letters:

Target public money for public education

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Alberta charter schools receive 100 per cent student funding ($11,601), the same as public schools. Private schools receive 70 per cent ($8,120.70) per student. Education taxes are $2.56/$1,000 for residential/farm equalized assessment value, and $3.76/$1,000 for non-residential.

A home worth $1 million pays $2,560 education tax whether they have one child or five children in school.

Every property owner pays education tax whether they have school-aged children or not. Some say tax dollars should follow their child. That would be great because it would be far less than the total tax dollars they get now.

Charter schools can’t charge tuition but can charge high fees for courses, busing, etc. Charter schools select who they want in their schools. Public schools must accept all students.

Taxes should never support a select number of students in private/charter schools to the detriment of all other Alberta students.

Dominique Wilson, Calgary

Are we subsidizing UCP voters?

Just wondering if any public dollars are being used for Danielle Smith’s town hall meetings around the province. You know, the ones open only to UCPers?

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Grant Hoe, Calgary

City failing in duty to citizens

On Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a federal statutory holiday, all city employees were given the day off with pay even though it is not a provincial stat. Everybody else went to work.

How much did that cost the city? The city has also offered homeowners $10,000 toward the cost of finishing their basements. These are some discretionary costs the city has incurred that weren’t absolutely necessary. Instead of saving the money, we have to pay higher taxes no matter the hardship it creates for Calgarians.

There isn’t even a forum where we can express our displeasure. Courtney Walcott (Ward 8) is my city councillor and he is completely unavailable to hear our concerns. We have sent him many emails and we only ever get a response from his assistant, denying requests for meetings. He doesn’t hold any town halls or come to community events. Where do we go to talk about our concerns? 

It is a great pity that we changed from having municipal elections every three years to four, because I can’t wait for the next one.

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Philis Heffner, Calgary

Shelter from the storm

Re: Energy companies need stable long-term carbon market to make investments in carbon capture: panel

Canada finds itself at a turning point, one at which we can make our communities more resilient, or falter in the face of a looming storm.

Despite all the vicious negativity in our news cycles, our climate policies such as carbon pricing are quietly beginning their long, hard work. From the time it was first introduced, our emissions have dropped. Businesses and industries see a path forward, which encourages clean energy and a bigger piece of the growing renewable pie, but they are missing one thing: certainty.

Not only does the dangerous anti-carbon tax rhetoric let all Canadians down by selling away our future, but it fails businesses by punishing those who have already taken steps to change and by scaring away all those who might have joined them.

The truth is, if you take an axe to everything, eventually there’s no shelter left.

Mark Taylor, Calgary

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