Tuesday’s letters: Danielle Smith off-base with Kenney criticism

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Its true that Trump, some of his supporters, and some conspiracy-believing Republicans have said its persecution and a witch hunt. That doesnt make it so. Surely editorial views should have some basis in fact. It would seem your cartoonist thinks its clever to simply express an attitude. So, does the paper really think Mayes latest conspiracy-promoting cartoon is OK? Just asking.

Bruce Rogers, Edmonton

FBI cartoon dangerous in divisive time

As a person having dual citizenship in Canada and the United States, I was very dismayed to see Malcom Mayes cartoon in the Journal on Friday. It is especially distressing that it would be published the day after a man armed with an assault rifle tried to enter FBI offices in Cincinnati. This type of rhetoric, insinuating that the FBI is a puppet of the Democratic Party, is extremely dangerous. I realize that people are entitled to their political opinions, but some common sense should prevail in this very divisive time.

Karen Clarke, Edmonton

Cougar killed with good reason

Re. Killing cougar was unnecessary, Letters, Aug. 5

Fifty-one years ago, I was pinned down and held in the jaws of an animal that outweighed me. I was also rescued by a bystander. That animal was proven to have had a severe toothache.

The many cats that I have seen disappeared from view in seconds, fearful of any encounter with a human but with one exception. I was recently stalked by a cougar for several minutes. I was fully armed, and thing to see the event through without harming the animal. My forest cabin was nearby. That cat waited outside my door for several minutes, stalking back and forth. The only action I took was photographs through the glass door, but my mind was playing back the bite marks on my head, and wondering what would cause a cougar to stalk a 180-pound man in broad daylight. An animal that quietly stalks and bites its prey on the top or back of the head has one intention, to kill.

It is my measured opinion that something is wrong with this particular animal. That forest at this time of year is filled with prey plenty enough to feed a large cat. If it cannot catch those due to injury or sickness, it simply wont survive. It is always unfortunate to have to dispense with a wild animal, and I can assure you the fish and wildlife officer took no pleasure in his duties.

Roger Kehoe, Edmonton/Whitecourt

Article unfair to MAID proponents

Re. Put to death, Aug. 13

It is difficult to put into words the depth of my outrage and offense when I read this article. For Alan Nichols family to describe his passing as having been put to death or killed is outrageous and irrevocably smears his memory. To add insult to injury, they contacted the police in an attempt to bring charges against his medical providers.

It was his right and decision to choose medical assistance in dying (MAID) when he found his living situation intolerable. His family had no right to attempt to overturn his decision. Others mentioned in the article are fear-mongering the Dying with Dignity organization, which last year provided MAID to over 10,000 Canadians. This organization has every safeguard in place to prevent all the issues that they are being accused of.

Death is unavoidable but how we start this life is our choice. We can either linger on in pain and suffering or drugged up as Alan Nichols family would have preferred him to do or depart peacefully through MAID as he thing to do. This article should never have been published. He should just have been allowed to rest in peace not used as a platform for the fear-mongers.

Edward S. Redshaw, Edmonton

Downtown businesses need basic housekeeping

As the City of Edmonton attempts to revitalize its downtown core, I cant help but think this will be a fruitless endeavor without some basic housekeeping by downtown tenants. Recently, my family and I began our own re-exploration of Edmontons downtown restaurants and businesses. When parking, we choose the Rice Howard Parkade. This is billed as one of the best Edmonton parking options! (at least according to the owners website).

What greeted us in the parkade, was the overpowering aroma of stale urine, multiple pairs of visibly soiled underwear, discarded syringes, copious amounts of garbage and broken glass at all levels. This was hardly an appealing $12 appetizer before a dinner or event in downtown. This structure (which is approximately one block from City Hall), is a shameful reminder that high-level investment in our downtown core will fall short without the bare minimum of pride amongst its tenants.

Keith Rourke, Edmonton

Food Bank should lobby Ottawa instead of city

The Food Bank is seeing an unprecedented increase in demand and thinks the city can solve the root causes of poverty that is driving this increase. Perhaps the Food Bank should be pressing Ottawa on this rather than the city. Its the Liberal governments policies that have driven billions of dollars of investment out of Alberta and destroyed thousands of good-paying Alberta jobs.

While inflation is a global problem, again Liberal government policies are adding to it in Canada by driving up the cost of energy which in turn drives up the cost of food. And if you think food inflation is bad now, wait until you see the impact on food prices thats going to come from the federal governments coming attack on farmers use of fertilizer which is going to decrease production and add costs, all of which will be passed on to consumers.

Ron Nichol, Sherwood Park

Letters welcome

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