Friday’s letters: Yes, soaring Capital Line budget is a ‘cost overrun’

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Re. “Capital Line budget jumps by $242M, June 11

When Amarjeet Sohi said the higher price should not be seen as a cost overrun, he must think Edmontonians are stupid. Of course, it’s an overrun. It’s a 22-per-cent overrun and many a project director has been fired for less. Project estimates are supposed to include contingencies to account for these risks and there are risk analyses that are supposed to monetize these risks. To me, it’s just a poorly managed project with poor governance, which seems like par for the course on anything this city administration touches.

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Also, when Sohi talks about most of the money is coming from provincial and federal governments, it’s still Edmontonians’ tax dollars. It’s time politicians, of all sorts, start treating taxpayers’ money with respect; it’s not a limitless bank.

The Capital Line LRT is a nice-to-have. It’s time to stop funding nice-to-haves. The Capital Line should be placed on hold until the leadership and project governance is fixed.

Tony Nutting, Edmonton

City finances need more scrutiny

When you pay your property taxes on June 30, you will hear the loudest sound of toilet flushing known to man. This city has mismanaged their finances for years and most of it has been done behind closed doors well out of the ears and eyes of ordinary citizens who diligently pay their taxes each year. There seems to be few if any competing bids; contract dollar estimates appear meaningless. There are no guarantees for times of completion and no penalties, holdbacks or fines for missing deadlines, cost overruns or shoddy work.

This city should be used as a university business case for how to mismanage one’s finances. There appear to be no auditors, no one legally enforcing contracts, and the only solution is to borrow more and increase property taxes. We need to bring in an independent audit firm now from outside the province to assess the situation and not be surprised if they advise a complete restructuring of debt and call for the dismissal of those making the financial decisions.

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Inez Dyer, Edmonton

No place for chokeholds in hockey

We have all seen checking that goes wrong. In our Stanley Cup finals right now there are plenty of examples of a check that is too hard, too high, gets a penalty, doesn’t get a penalty. But, since when did a chokehold become part of our NHL?

Ekblad pulls Bouchard out of a scrum and does a chokehold. Bouchard does a UFC tapping out to get Ekblad to release him. This doesn’t result in a game suspension for Ekblad. Really? What are we promoting here? Especially for all our youth to see.

Regan Pinkoski, Sherwood Park

Capital gains tax impact overstated

“Capital gains tax hike hits families, Letters, June 13, seems to have the math wrong. First, the family has had the enjoyment of the cabin since 1956 which was its purpose, not a money-making real-estate investment. Second, the higher capital gains increase only kicks in at over $250,000 of profit so calling this summer home a “cabin” might be an understatement. Thirdly the children’s inheritance would only be reduced by 16 per cent if the parents are in a 100-per-cent tax bracket, which nobody in Canada is.

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These cabin owners should be very thankful for this windfall since most people’s holiday costs are a 100-per-cent loss, not an estate-augmenting investment.

S.I. Petersen, Nanaimo, B.C.

LRT spending decisions unjustified

Well, there goes another $250 million of taxpayer dollars thrown into the maw of the money-chewing LRT expansion — a project that is looking less and less justifiable all the time. That said, and regardless of how you feel about spending on the LRT, it is the manner in which it was done that is both inappropriate and unconscionable. It was debated and decided weeks ago behind closed doors and its “public announcement” was to sneak in that nearly $250 million of new spending by hiding it within an attachment to a borrowing bylaw, probably hoping the public wouldn’t notice it.

And then, without any public input or debate, they sign the contract for it making this a done deal. That is a textbook example of being sneaky and underhanded and such behaviour is inexcusable from those whose main task is to safeguard the public purse and be mindful of the tax burden their constituents must bear. Shame on you, council. You have demonstrated, yet again, that you all need to be replaced next election. Too bad it is still months away.

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Bob Thompson, Edmonton

Minister’s swipe at cities uncalled-for

Re. “What Alberta is doing about affordability,” Opinion, June 12

I just read Nathan Neudorf’s overly effusive piece on how well the UCP government is looking after us. I was very disappointed, although not at all surprised, to see his completely unsubstantiated attack on municipalities. Come on, Nathan, do you really believe this, or did they make you put it in?

Kim Bouwmeester, Edmonton

Alberta right to defend energy sector

The NDP is entitled to its hatred of the oil and gas industry, but actually, petroleum products are a mainstay of our culture. Since we need these products, critics should admit that Canada is the cleanest source. If we shut down Alberta’s industry, we’d increase use from China with much lower environmental standards. Basically, we need Alberta oil and gas to protect the global environment.

The war room confronted heroically the barrage of misinformation that naively vilified the entire industry. I am thrilled that advocacy defending Alberta’s high standards, economy and jobs will continue with this government, despite the hysteria of critics.

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Beverley Smith, Calgary

NHL views Oiler foes as angelic

So far, during every round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Oilers have played against “Angels.” NHL officiating has converted the Kings, Canucks, Stars and Panthers into the Angels. It has been the Edmonton Oilers against the L.A. Angels, Vancouver Angels, Dallas Angels and now Florida Angels.

The Oilers have been physically bruised and battered, tripped, interfered with, hooked, roughed, held without the Angels being penalized. If the Oilers retaliate, they are penalized or fined. If two players accidentally crash into each other, the Oiler is given a game misconduct.

Angels knock off the net without penalty when Oilers are about to score. Oilers are tackled while in the act of shooting during breakaways but Angels are not penalized. If an Angel shoots the puck over glass to delay the game, NHL rules purportedly make it not reviewable when the four officials missed what 18,000 fans and a million viewers on TV so obviously witnessed.

And all those dives taken by the Angels produce Oiler penalties for legal hits that the officials call when the Angel fans demand a penalty. And whenever there is a scrum, officials pick an Oiler for the penalty because no Angel would ever initiate a scrum. In the NHL, it is always those “dirty” Oilers against their Angel opponents.

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Randy B. Williams, St. Albert

Calgary’s water crisis should give pause

Although the water situation in Calgary doesn’t relate to climate change, it’s my hope that we all take a moment to think about our own water usage. Before the break and the last big rainfall, we were in the midst of a drought, as we were last summer.

This is a serious and real situation and one that we must confront in a mindful manner.

Mary King, Calgary

Letters welcome

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