Edmonton escaped hospital chaos
Re: “We’re paying For Klein’s debt-slaying Dickensian slashes,” Don Braid, Opinion, June 9.
I think Don Braid nailed it.
Ralph Klein was dead wrong to blow up the General Hospital and shut down Holy Cross Hospital, because he had nothing planned whatsoever to fix the shortage of hospital space that he must have anticipated. Nor did the next several leaders of the foundering PC party.
No leadership there, sad to say. I often wonder why Edmonton did not face the assault on hospitals that the PCs inflicted on Calgary.
Hopefully, the NDP will carry on with addressing the critical bed shortages left here in Calgary; we need them now more than ever.
For Flames, new arena should be a no-brainer
Re: ‘Blowhard’ Burke in dark on ‘positive’ arena talks,” June 8.
I have no problem with the Flames building a new arena, as long as they pay for everything themselves and leave us taxpayers alone.
If the returns are going to be as wonderful as they suggest, they should have no problem making their money back in no time.
Mike Jones, Calgary
Majority of Calgarians are ignored
Senators serving taxpayers well
The headline should read “Diligent Senate to amend budget.”
Thankfully, we have a Senate to review proposed legislation that can affect Canadians for a long time, regardless of which party is in power.
Bill C-44, the omnibus bill, includes the creation of the Canadian Infrastructure Bank, a large financial agency, which requires proper scrutiny on structure, governance and implementation.
The Senate is diligently proposing extracting this section for further study.
The alcohol tax included in this bill creates an annual increase in the excise tax on alcohol, which is an automatic inflationary increase without parliamentary authorization.
Some senators have a problem with the automatic tax increases to Canadians without reason. Rightfully so.
Keep up the good work, checks and balances.
Mike LaBerge, Calgary
