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I am again dismayed and discouraged at the UCP government making yet another decision to negatively affect Albertans — both present and future generations. I am a proud Canadian and was a proud Albertan before this government started enacting very questionable policies. The determination that Albertans will not benefit from the national pharmacare program is an affront. How dare they decide for me that I cannot benefit from being a Canadian?
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I do not trust that the UCP government will provide a better plan, or that the transferred funds would indeed go into a comprehensive pharmacare program. The government seems determined to break our public health-care system through its reorganization, when I fear their agenda is to create a scenario where private delivery is the answer to the chaos they created.
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I desire a buffer from these reactionary, ideological decisions being made, and want to continue benefiting from a national pharmacare program.
Janet Gourlay-Vallance, Calgary
Mulroney an example for politicians of today
Regardless of political stripe, the type of strong, courageous leadership that the late Brian Mulroney provided our nation — without compromise and with the needs and well-being of both Canadians and Canada at heart — is sorely required today.
Currying political favour and proselytizing for electoral success has little to do with action and leadership, and more akin to political self-preservation.
Bob Mackan, Strathmore
Put pipeline profits into environment
I was not surprised the Canadian taxpayer (federal government) ended up underwriting the investment risk for the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, leaving you and me on the hook for the costs to complete the project.
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I believe Canadian municipal, provincial and federal taxpayers (us) should demand all levels of government support a requirement that Canadian petroleum producers (70 per cent foreign-owned) invest significant amounts of their projected profits to the backlog of environmental hazards and unpaid taxes left behind.
Investment in environmental cleanup will not only reduce the physical risks associated with living near these hazards, but it has the potential to employ many Canadians.
Jeff Toffin, Calgary
Population growth puts pressure on water supply
Re: Our water crisis is just getting started, Opinion, March 1
Our water crisis is a symptom of a much bigger problem — Alberta’s obsession with growth.
Economic growth sounds good, but it has not done any good for Albertans. I came here in 1979 and there were no food banks. If you worked, you could afford to rent or buy a house. Health care was good. After decades of so-called economic growth, the socioeconomic status of our province has only gone down, except for a few. Economic growth is a term for the elite.
Now our government also strives for population growth. This ensures we have to pay for parking in front of our homes and highrise buildings in residential areas.
I am an immigrant myself, so I don’t blame people for coming to Alberta. But from a government perspective, the real and easy solution to our (water) problem is not through growth.
A decrease in population means more water per person, more available housing, no need for new infrastructure and a healthy environment.
Jan Burgerhout, Calgary
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