After months of debate, city euthanizes two coyotes responsible for killing pets in Liberty Village, May 13
The responses of two people whose dogs were attacked by a coyote are telling. One wants better strategies for coexisting, the other wanted coyotes immediately gone, and initiated a campaign to ensure it happened. Many who live in the community would say this was not an unprecedented coyote issue, as Councillor Ausma Malik claims, but an unprecedented people issue.
Fewer than 1,000 of some 21,000 residents joined the neighbourhood coalition to remove coyotes. We of course have a history in 海角社区官网of living peaceably alongside coyotes. Fear is a response of some who lack understanding of wildlife behaviours, or an appreciation of the critical roles coyotes play in our urban ecosystems. This was a case of human actions and intolerance. A tiny but driven minority were largely responsible for what has unfolded here. They appeared, from social media posts at least, to relish the drama and attention. We saw the scorn in the rejection of city efforts, the refusal to leash dogs and avoid areas, the exaggerated or invented claims of attacks, beyond those verified by the city, and even the organized walks with dogs into 鈥渉ot spots鈥 to harass these coyotes. A precedent has now been set in this decision by the city. What happens when the next coyote family moves in? Will we kill them all?
Judy Malone, Toronto听
Want to reduce gridlock? Make walking, public transit and听cycling more attractive
The latest news from the Ford government about removing additional bike lanes on Queen’s Park and Avenue Road is a slap in the face for several reasons. The first is this action throws out all the hard work the Avenue Road Safety Coalition (and other road safety advocates) had done over the past eight years to make that road safer for everyone. The second is three cyclists were killed on Avenue Road over the past decade including Ali Sezgin Armagan in April 2024. Finally, the fact this is included with the province’s budget announcement is unacceptable. Perhaps Premier Doug Ford should instead be focused on making walking, cycling, and transit more attractive? After all, that’s the only proven way to reduce gridlock.
Robert Zaichkowski, Toronto听
It’s the world鈥檚 worst humanitarian crisis
At least 150,000 Sudanese have been killed and some fourteen million displaced. Two years of civil war in Sudan have wreaked bloody ethnic killings, sexualized violence, attacks on medical facilities, and widespread starvation upon its civilian population. Meanwhile outside countries such as the UAE (with which Canada has extensive economic ties) continue to fuel the conflict. Yet the Star, which regularly publishes stories and images of other international conflicts, especially Gaza and Ukraine, rarely documents the suffering of people in Sudan. How shameful that so many Sudanese see their lives diminished not only by war, but by the journalism we depend upon.
Avi Sirlin, Victoria, BC听
Switch to Canadian-grown produce听
Perhaps Loblaws should look at their own procurement practices before blaming tariffs. Example: Why is your PC Coleslaw packaged salad a product of the USA when every ingredient is easily grown in Canada? Plus, Loblaws could also switch its procurement of packaged baby spinach, mixed greens, tomatoes and cucumbers to support the hydroponic/virtual garden industry in Canada, creating a homegrown environment where we support ourselves, create jobs and influence climate change.
Carol Wilson, Toronto
No point to renaming a subway station
If Dundas Street isn鈥檛 being renamed, then Dundas Station shouldn鈥檛 be either. Transit attracts new customers when it鈥檚 simple and easy to figure out, and that means if someone wants to go to Dundas Street, they realize they need to get off at Dundas Station. Stations need to be named for the places people are trying to access.
Jil McIntosh, Oshawa
Starmer’s听acquiescing to Trump听is a national disgrace in the U.K.
Trump keeps 10% tariffs on UK but cuts taxes on British autos, steel and aluminum with trade deal, May 8
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s accommodation of U.S. President Donald Trump with state visit invitations and silence in the face of Trump’s unacceptable attempts to bully Canada is a source of shame to most British people, even those of us who voted for Starmer. His passivity over Trump’s deranged threats to a Commonwealth country is regarded over here as a national disgrace. Starmer will be forgotten by the British long before we forget the Canadian lives sacrificed on countless battlefields over the years and the debt we owe you.
Richard Stanley, Bristol, England
Speed up toll subsidies to trucking industry
Of course, truckers don’t want to pay tolls if prompt deliveries are not needed. Our provincial politicians need to drive Highway 401 across 海角社区官网on any workday afternoon to appreciate just how congested and frustrating it can be. Provincial subsidies for delivery trucking should only take a few months to implement if the changeover is made a priority. Compare that with the years (decades?) it will take to “acquire” the land for Highway 413 and build out the bypass route.
R.A.听Jamieson, Mono, ON
40 hours in four years is not onerous听
As you enter high school, you are informed that you have to do 40 hours of volunteer work to graduate. You do not have to wait until Grade 12 is ending to do this, you have four years to complete this. It is not difficult to do 鈥 help at a food bank for a day during holiday times, you can knock off eight hours! I believe that this is a wonderful way for students to give back to the community. If you do 10 hours a year, it鈥檚 easy to complete.
Carol听Therrien,听Peterborough, ON听
Not surprised by Floridians loudmouth behaviour
Stephen Grant describes with surprise his unfortunate experiences in Florida taking abuse from loudmouth Floridians at his vacation home and a Panthers game. I’m surprised that he’s surprised. He should Google “Florida Man” and observe the search results.
Jeff Keay, Toronto听
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