Today's letters: Conservatives won't make Ottawa a world-class capital

Wednesday, Oct. 9: By its nature, conservatism isn't about progress, so don't count on Pierre Poilievre to enhance Ottawa as a city, says one reader. You can write to us at [email protected]

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Share this Story : Today's letters: Conservatives won't make Ottawa a world-class capital Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Breadcrumb Trail Links Opinion Letters Today's letters: Conservatives won't make Ottawa a world-class capital Wednesday, Oct. 9: By its nature, conservatism isn't about progress, so don't count on Pierre Poilievre to enhance Ottawa as a city, says one reader. You can write to us at letters@ottawacitizen.

com Author of the article: Citizen letters Published Oct 09, 2024 • Last updated 6 minutes ago • 2 minute read Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here . Or sign-in if you have an account. The West Block of Parliament Hill: who can make Ottawa a great G7 capital? Photo by Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press Article content Pierre Poilievre isn’t about progress Re: MacDougall, Ottawa could be a great world capital — if the next prime minister makes it one , Oct.



5. The opinion column by Andrew MacDougall — one of the best opinion contributors — was, I thought, ironic in it’s premise that a Conservative prime minister would have the vision to turn Ottawa into a world leader in any number of areas. The irony is that Conservatism, almost by definition, eschews “progress.

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Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account Email Address Continue or View more offers If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, unlimited online access is included in your subscription. Activate your Online Access Now Article content So I wouldn’t hold out much hope of a Pierre Poilievre government providing intellectual, architectural, technological or other progress, unless you count slashing taxes that pay for societal services as progress.

Neil MacAndrew, Ottawa Tunnel under 401 kickstarts a discussion Re: Pellerin, Doug Ford’s tunnel idea is simple, and simplistic , Oct. 5. Premier Doug Ford’s idea of a tunnel under Highway 401 is fantastic.

It’s fantastic because it starts a discussion on how to solve a problem and establishes a baseline solution to challenge all of us to do better. To find a better solution, simply stand anywhere in Toronto; preferably near a shopping mall or “park and ride” and open your eyes. Now, imagine a four-to-10 — or more — storey multi-use building above that parking area where levels going up are parking, light industrial, retail commercial, recreational, commercial office, and residential; or, any subset or variation of this you can imagine.

This idea can solve the transportation problems Toronto and the rest of Ontario have by allowing people to work physically close to where they live. If you think back 100 to 200 years ago, most of Canada’s population lived on small farms or ran small shops right beside where they lived. Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content If people worked beside — or near — where they live, Toronto’s commuting problems would end. (Also, everyone who did so would get a two-to-three- hour per week day dividend of free time to enjoy their family or whatever). In response to Brigitte Pellerin’s and Randall Denley’s articles, be thankful for Doug Ford’s idea.

Richard Kuzell, Ottawa A big thanks to Alex Munter Re: After 13 years, Alex Munter says goodbye, and thank you, to CHEO , Oct. 8. Elizabeth Payne’s article on Alex Munter’s departure from CHEO prompts me to convey my sincere thanks to him for the multiple leadership roles he has played within our area already: community newspaper editor; Kanata, Ottawa and regional councils; Youth Services Bureau; Champlain LHIN; and CHEO.

In each role, he has shown integrity, hard work and self-effacing leadership. I look forward to seeing how his leadership will influence the Canadian Medical Association on the many files that need new approaches with, and from government to address the health-care challenges facing Canada. Thank you, Alex Munter, for all that you do to make our community a better place to live.

I wish you well in your endeavours. Linda Murphy, Ottawa PSAC claims are not what they seem Re: Analysis shows public sector productivity grew while working from home , Oct. 3.

Statistics are so interesting when you manipulate them to show what you want. PSAC claims a rise of 4.5 per cent in productivity from 2019 to 2023.

What it fails to mention is the hiring increase of approximately three per cent a year or 12 per cent overall in that time frame. The 4.5 per cent doesn’t look as good anymore.

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