海角社区官网

Al Truscott, Collingwood, ON听

Bus boats could ease Toronto’s traffic woes

The article by Jake Edmiston听听intrigued me as my work (now retired) was architecture with some urban and community planning.听

In Bangkok, Thailand, the Chao Phraya River Express Boat system is the “spine” of river transit from the Nonthaburi Terminal in the north suburbs to the city centre and on to near the mouth of the river flowing into the Gulf of Thailand. It stops at about 25 dock/stations on both sides of the river, some connecting with other boat lines radiating on connecting canals from the main line, the BTS Skytrain, and the subway at certain points.

So, to answer your headline question, the simple answer is a 鈥測es.鈥� I see similar 鈥渂us boats鈥� operating all along the GTA waterfront, stopping at conveniently placed dock/stations, even taking passengers up short distances into the Humber and Don Rivers. I think it could help lessen the traffic woes of the city of Toronto.

Arthur Peach, Sudbury, ON

A rural solution to Canada’s housing crisis: think small scale with a national scope

Ontarians want to protect the environment and also need more homes. Can we afford to keep the Greenbelt off limits for development? Sept. 4

In Canada鈥檚 rural areas and small communities, there are hundreds if not thousands of empty buildings听which might be converted听to low-income rental housing: schools, empty churches, community centres, commercial buildings. They dot the landscape听coast to coast to coast, as their time of intended use has ended.

Case in point: In my area, we have vacant churches in Baltimore and Plainville. Both have good bones still. They could be converted to multiplexes. Just north听of Port Hope is the abandoned听George Hamilton Public School which could be eight units. And we have an empty modular house building factory 鈥� Viceroy Homes in Port Hope.

A national housing strategy must include repurposing existing buildings, not just focusing on new large developments. Thousands of mini projects would generate听local interest and participation, as communities would be engaged 鈥� doing their part in a Canada wide effort. It would employ local contractors, labourers, engineers, architects, building inspectors. Creating a national NFP component听which operates on a local level would听encourage private contributions.听

Let鈥檚 think small scale, but national in scope. Let鈥檚 unleash Canadian pride, purpose and participation!

Al Seymour, Cobourg, ON听

What is the correct level of force for self defence?

Kawartha Lakes police defend charging resident with assault after alleged break-in, Aug. 21

The Kawartha Police Chief stated that if someone breaks into your house, at night, only the appropriate level of force should be used for defence. I therefore assume you should politely ask 鈥淓xcuse me, Mr. Intruder, what weapons are you armed with, so that I can obtain and defend myself with something similar and appropriate?鈥�

Does that mean if someone threateningly approaches a police officer while wielding a baseball bat or a knife, the armed, trained, alert, and physically fit cop should only use that level of force to defend himself? What has happened in the past?听

Edward A Collis, Burlington

John Tory has some explaining to do

New poll shows how Olivia Chow might fare against possible mayoral contenders 鈥� including John Tory, Sept. 5

Former mayor John Tory owes Torontonians a full accounting for the escalating costs of the World Cup, regardless of whether he chooses to run for office again, which he should not.

Mark Dowling, Toronto

Poilievre still relying on tired, old slogans

It amazes me that all Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre can say after a huge economic initiative by Prime Minister Mark Carney is: it’s 鈥渁 big show about nothing.鈥�

This “big show about nothing” includes a $5 billion Strategic Response fund, a new re-skilling package for those laid off, extension of EI to 20 extra weeks, a buy Canadian policy and financial support for the agriculture and seafood industries.

I鈥檒l tell you who is running on nothing 鈥� it is Poilievre who, rather than respond with his own policies, relies on tired, old slogans.

As our country faces challenges posed by听 U.S. President Donald Trump , we need leadership that champions policies and a vision that guides us toward an economically stronger Canada. We do not need empty slogans or meaningless criticism.

David Gladstone, 海角社区官网ON

Ford government’s Bill 33 is a direct attack on democracy

On Sept. 8, the Ontario NDP hosted an online town hall that brought together parents, educators, and political leaders from across the province. Participants shared deep concerns about Bill 33 and the Ford government鈥檚 broader attacks on public education.

Bill 33 would allow the Minister of Education to remove locally elected school trustees and replace them with unelected, unaccountable appointees. This is a direct attack on democracy. Parents and communities would lose their voice in shaping schools, replaced by government insiders who cannot be voted out and whose decisions cannot be challenged in court.

At the same time, the Ford government has already cut $6.3 billion from education. These cuts have left classrooms overcrowded, repairs deferred, and students without the supports they need. Instead of strengthening public schools, the government is weakening them and pushing families toward private schools.

Public education is the backbone of our province, and it depends on both adequate funding and democratic accountability. Parents, teachers, and students deserve better than government overreach and chronic underfunding.

I urge readers to take action: contact your local MPP, Education Minister Paul Calandra, and Premier Doug Ford. Tell them to withdraw Bill 33, respect local democracy, and invest in repairing and funding our schools.

Ontario鈥檚 children deserve safe, well-funded classrooms and a government that listens to its communities 鈥� not one that silences them.

Kyle Tilley, Barrie