Public sentiment is running high on issues of government fiscal management and public safety, as revealed in a recent batch of letters to the editor. Readers have voiced sharp critiques concerning a proposal to bolster Canada's defence spending and a controversial provincial decision on traffic enforcement.
Defence Budget or 'Paper Shuffle'?
One letter writer, Syd Evans of Dundas, Ontario, responded to a column by Lorne Gunter regarding the merit of having civil servants serve in the reserves. While acknowledging some potential value in the idea, Evans expressed deep skepticism about its true purpose. The reader suggested this could be a budgetary sleight-of-hand, reminiscent of tactics used by Mark Carney.
The core of the concern is that by adding an estimated 300,000 'reservists' who might receive only a single week of training, the government could artificially inflate its defence budget. This manoeuvre, the letter argues, would allow Canada to claim it has met the 5% spending goal on defence through a 'paper shuffle' rather than a genuine, substantive investment in military capacity. Evans concluded that this plan is not likely to end well for the country.
Road Safety Spending Under Fire
Another major point of contention among readers is the Ontario government's decision to ban speed cameras and subsequently allocate $210 million for alternative traffic calming measures. One correspondent, Bill Vernon, questioned the logic of this move, describing the substantial sum as taxpayer money being 'flushed.'
Vernon rhetorically asked what the money would be used for, suggesting speed bumps or flashing signs as likely but potentially ineffective alternatives. He criticized the seemingly arbitrary nature of the $210 million figure and lamented the loss of revenue previously generated from speeding fines. The reader argued this decision leaves Ontarians with less-safe roads and deeper public debt, calling it a consequence of 'political posturing.' He urged authorities to focus on more serious crime instead of targeting speeders.
Questions for the Ford Government
A third letter, from Bill Plancke of St. Davids, Ont., expressed general support for Premier Doug Ford's government but highlighted specific fiscal concerns. Plancke questioned the wisdom of spending $9.1 million on a report that concluded a proposed 401 tunnel was a '$100 billion pipe dream.'
Furthermore, the reader challenged the logic behind making speed cameras illegal only to provide $210 million to municipalities for other traffic safety measures. Plancke proposed a more straightforward solution: allowing municipalities to keep the speed cameras and mandating that the generated revenues be used exclusively for installing other safety options. He lamented that this approach might be an example of 'too much common sense,' implying that the government's current path is a wasteful and inefficient use of public funds.
