Letters to the Editor

Democracy is broken
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
THE EDITOR,
What can Canadians think except that our democracy is broken. From an electoral system which gives 38.9% of the popular vote 100% of the power for 4 years, to a prime minister who subverts the role of parliament at every opportunity, to Senators who believe themselves to be above any standards of common sense and basic ethics - we are a broken democracy. Yes, we have a veneer of democracy, but it is nothing more than that.
What Canada needs is an Arab Spring - to clean house and re-build a system of good governance and common decency we all once thought we had.
Memories of a caller
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
THE EDITOR,
For some time I have been attending the competitions of the square dance groups.
They are putting on a wonderful show along with the musicians.
It was pretty hard for me to sit quiet. I had done this bit as a caller for 30 years.
When the Ormstown portion of the competition was complete I walked up to the lady “caller” and asked if she had learned the “call” from Bill Hooker.
She seemed to be astonished when I brought out his name. She was a relative.
Want to be part of history?
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
THE EDITOR,
As part of our Paul Émile Séguin Memorial Car Show for the Alzheimer Society on September 22 in Vankleek Hill, we have as a special feature a 1903 Model A Ford from the first production year of the Ford Motor Company, in conjunction with Henry Ford’s 150th Anniversary. 
We are trying to have a representative (for most, it will be a descendant) of all past Hawkesbury / Vankleek Hill Ford dealers. 
A 1920 ad from The Review lists Lacelle & Sons of Vankleek Hill and Walter H. Crooks of Vankleek Hill as probably the first local Ford dealers of the region. 
Public service salaries make no sense, should not be decided by other public servants
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
The Editor,
Hawkesbury paid $613,200 to the four firemen or $1,680 per day for 365 days. The top-paid guy would have made $483 per day if he worked every one of the 365 days. The next one, $462 per day if he worked every one of the 365 days and the others a bit less but it is easy to do the math.
I do not know how many fires were fought in Hawkesbury last year but if there were more than 10 I would be surprised so that would put the cost at $60,000 per fire.
You can’t judge a book by its cover
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
THE EDITOR,
This letter is in response to the article entitled “Alfred-Plantagenet Mayor says anti-asphalt plant signage makes region look bad” published May 1, 2013
According to Mr. Lalonde, the signs put up by citizens are of “poor taste and casting a shadow on the municipality”.
What a statement! 
Does Mr. Mayor think that an asphalt plant on the Jessup’s Falls Escarpment is of better taste and puts a ray of sunshine on the municipality? 
We could have a lifetime debate on trying to establish standards for good taste and still not reach an agreement.
Carry remembrance into the future
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
the Editor,
In 2013, we mark the Year of the Korean War Veteran and the 60th anniversary of the Korean War armistice.
As a member of The War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program, I am proud to be part of its Operation Legacy, a group of committed young people who are dedicated to preserving Canada’s military heritage.
Charging for library use is a slap in the face: citizen
Wednesday, April 17, 2013

The Editor,
I am contacting you regarding the new fee charged to The Nation residents for use of the library.
As a resident of The Nation, I would like to tell you how disappointed I am with the decision to charge us, as residents, to use the Casselman library. I urge you to rethink your decision.
My husband works in Ottawa and we go to church there as well, so it is very easy for us to do our shopping in Ottawa. But we go out of our way to shop locally as much as we can.

Time-saver for travelling east
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
The Editor,
Is it possible we may have to rescind the Quebec (or Montreal) infrastructure oxymoron? If not, then this new piece of highway has gone a long way in that direction.  For the province (city) with a disgusting level of corruption in the construction industry (an industry which sees fit to take a two-week holiday in the middle of a short repair season); for a city which has more potholes than people and is forced to get them fixed by companies with dubious credentials; for a province and city which has cornered the world market on pylons, this is earth-shattering news.
What is the real purpose of food?
Wednesday, April 17, 2013

The Editor,
A question for readers: Is the primary purpose of plant seed to repopulate the organism and thereby create food for people and animals? Or is it to make corporations rich?
This question comes to mind from a statement made by Chief Justice John Roberts of the US Supreme Court while hearing the case of Bowman vs. Monsanto. I quote. “Why in the world would anyone invest time and money into seeds if it were so easy to avoid patent protection?”

Boisés Est pleased with woodlot program
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The Editor:
Boisés Est enr. welcomes the new version of the Wood Advisory Service announced on the cover page of your March 13 issue. Together with the SD&G Certified Forest Owners (SD&G CFO), we represented the private woodlot owners in the Collaborative responsible for the original program, delivered by the South Nation Conservation (SNC) Authority over the 2010-2012 period. Other partners included the United Counties of Prescott& Russell (UCPR), the Raisin Region Conservation Authority (RRCA) and the Ontario Trillium Foundation, which provided much of the funding.
Candidate will run again
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The Editor,
Just 146 votes from victory, which definitely means that our municipality wants a solid change and a much brighter future, but wants payback for the mega taxhikes and lawsuits expenses first.
Property owners afraid of the heavy hand of government
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
The Editor:
We could not easily miss it, could we? This is your second major, front page assault on the owners of treed lots that are being harvested. There are, however a number of pertinent questions that you avoided asking.
Why are owners in such a hurry to cut down trees? One reason is that they are afraid of the heavy hand of government coming down on them and preventing them from using their own land for other purposes, and that, without any measurable compensation.
This is simply one more assault of growing government on private property rights.
What it takes to preserve a woodlot
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
The Editor,
Re: If a tree falls in the forest, by Lianne Lahaie
THE EDITOR,
A new beginning
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
The Editor,
We, the Congregation of the Lachute United Church, would like to notify everyone, of our new location at 232 Hamford Street in Lachute.
Our red brick building, a landmark on Main Street (rue Principale), has been sold to the Town of Lachute so they can expand the community library and possibly, someday, the residence can expand on the back property.  We are presently settled into our new location at 232 Hamford Street which is more suited for our dedicated congregation.  Now we can put more effort into community activities.
Transportation master plan a good idea
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
The Editor,
As a  transport consultant who has survey the mobility needs of much of the United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR) and beyond, I can state that the United Counties  seem to be ripe for a coordinated effort to provide an overall plan for transportation. 
It is good to see that the UCPR will include taking a look at development of public transport.
Education is not about proficiency in answering multi-choice questions
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The Editor, The Upper Canada District School Board’s disparagement of the Fraser Institute’s methods of grading schools has great merit. Examination of teaching methods in highly rated schools shows that their teachers are experts at training students in how to ace multi-choice questionnaires. Often there is tremendous pressure on the teachers to do this as high ratings will attract enrollments. After all, government grants are issued on a per pupil basis! But think of what has to be set aside while focus is put on this.
Councillors should not seek re-election: citizen
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The Editor,
The following was submitted as an open letter to the interim mayor and members of Grenville-sur-la-Rouge council.
I would like to formally protest, in the strongest terms, the resolution passed at the extraordinary meeting of council on February 26 authorizing legal action against former Mayor John Saywell at the expense of taxpayers.
What’s up with Canada Post?
Thursday, February 28, 2013
The Editor:
I wonder how many other residents on rural routes served by the Hawkesbury post office have experienced mail problems recently.
Our service deteriorated in the last while, becoming very unreliable starting in late November and continuing for about two months. There were up to three days in a row with no delivery or pick up. Calls and e-mails to Canada Post made no difference.
New lease on life
Thursday, February 28, 2013
The Editor:
Most of you will remember me as the former Fundraising Coordinator and Secretary for the ongoing community organization called Friends of Feral Cats in Hawkesbury.
I left the group at the end of July 2012 to pursue a new TNR project for the abandoned and homeless cats of our community and surrounding area that I had been working on. I am very happy to announce that Kathleen Adams (original founder of the FFC) has joined me on this project and we now have two veterinarians on board who have agreed to offer the low-cost spay/neuter service.
In memory of the penny
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
The Editor:
It is with great, great sadness that we announce the sudden, but expected passing of Every Penny.
On February 4, 2013, after a long, courageous battle with “political disease” the death of Every Penny occurred.
Penny leaves behind its bigger siblings Nickel, Dime, Quarter, Loonie and Toonie.
At Penny’s request, there will be no visitation or service. Cremation/melt down has already begun.
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