Latest news with #JohnAdamthwaite

Toronto Star

Speed bumps can't be vandalized

Speed camera on Parkside Drive — one of Toronto's most dangerous streets — reinstalled for the fourth time, May 14 If the city truly wanted to slow traffic on Parkside Drive, there is a simple solution: install speed bumps. Unlike speed enforcement cameras, they can't be vandalized. But Toronto won't because it makes too much money. John Adamthwaite, Thornhill, ON Bill 5 is another Greenbelt fiasco — only worse What Doug Ford is really 'unleashing' with Bill 5? May 17 Bill 5 is proof that environmental protection is not unnecessary bureaucracy. Using economic uncertainty to justify overriding environmental laws to fast-track approval of corporate development and infrastructure projects without consultation has always been part of Doug Ford's agenda. It's the Greenbelt fiasco revisited only worse. Kat Duffy, Mississauga Dufferin Street residents rely on the curb lane How this transit plan could finally make 'Sufferin' Dufferin' a thing of the past, May 19 Dufferin Street is an original concession road. The land abutting that part of Dufferin that Shawn Micallef is writing about was subdivided well over a century ago, before cars or buses existed. It is, in fact, a residential street without any driveways with small houses standing shoulder to shoulder. All those residents rely on the curb lane Dufferin to conduct their everyday lives. The street was planned that way. Take away their established rights to use the curb lane, and they will suffer. Micallef instead wants bus riders on Dufferin to have exclusive access to the curb lane. He dismisses the burden this will put on properties that have relied on that curb lane to be available to them for more than a hundred years. Historically, cities would decide that the existing subdivision of the lands has outlived its usefulness to the community and expropriate all the property and start again. But of course, Toronto stopped doing that 60 years ago. Graham Haig, Toronto Where are the Canadian-owned battery manufacturers? Honda's plans to delay electric vehicle factories 'a blow to the community,' May 1 We keep hearing how Ontario has the knowledge, technology and skilled labour to build car batteries. Ontario and Canada also have money to give to companies for a battery plant. If we have all this, why do we seem beholden to foreign companies? Why isn't there a large Canadian battery manufacturer? We seem to have all the necessary requirements. If there was a Canadian battery company, perhaps we wouldn't worry too much if, say, Honda postpones their plans. A Canadian battery company could pivot sales to another customer. I believe if we're good enough for foreign companies, then we should be good enough for ourselves. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Julius Olajos, Cambridge, ON Fund education, not alcohol Ontario to spend hundreds of millions to boost alcohol sector, May 15 All Ontarians need to speak up about the consistent underfunding to schools, colleges and universities by the Conservative government. Investment in youth and an educated population will do more to improve life in Ontario that reductions to alcohol costs. It is shameful to have unqualified people in classrooms, no custodians and crumbling school buildings. These practices are reminiscent of conditions in developing countries. There has been consistent animosity toward teachers from the Conservatives who seem more concerned with scoring business deals at any cost and without concern for proper oversight. Education in properly funded, resourced and clean schools is a right all young people should have. Diane Sullivan, Toronto All motor vehicles in Canada need to be fitted with the following safety features 'Those kids were her world': Three children killed in Highway 401 crash involving allegedly impaired driver, May 19 People who are impaired do not have the judgment to stay off the road, so they need to be protected from themselves. All motor vehicles in Canada need to be fitted with the following safety features: 1. Ignition interlock to prevent the vehicle from operating when alcohol or drugs are detected on the driver. 2. Speed limiter with the limit set from the current roadway. 3. Cellphone disabler for the driver's compartment with GPS functional (for modern drivers who rely on GPS). The first two features are already available. The third might require some ingenuity to implement. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW William Lynn, Toronto Why should status in the sports world have bearing on this trial? Jury dismissed. Hockey Canada trial to go judge-alone after jurors report being 'made fun of' by defence lawyers, May 21 I'm puzzled as to why the trial of five young men continues to be characterized as a Hockey Canada sexual assault trial. While I understand their involvement in the 2018 Canadian world junior championship team, it seems irrelevant to the nature of the charges laid against them. Canadians are naturally proud of men and women who represent their country and are understandably shocked by the alleged behaviour of these young hockey players. But why should their status in the sports world have any bearing on this trial? Are we, in some way, judging this type of behaviour differently due to their elevated status in the sports community? I sincerely hope not. Legal cases such as this should be dealt with regardless of an individual's personal achievements or affiliations, sporting or otherwise. Keith Spicer, Oakville Province should expropriate privately owned sections of Highway 407 It's time to seriously look at expropriating the privately owned sections of Highway 407 and returning them to the public realm. The reasons are obvious: 1) It will be both cheaper and faster to 'buy' a complete highway than build a replacement. 2) Ontario does not need a third highway across southern Ontario. Building a new highway (or tunnel) would use too much new land and expel unnecessary carbon. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 3) Recent talk of subsidizing trucks (and cars too?) on the 407 would be money poorly spent on 'rental' instead of ownership. Legally the province has the right to take back Highway 407 in the public's interest. Further, it was a sale of a major public asset that was not examined outside of Cabinet. Expropriation does not have to be bad. A fair purchase price would repay all new investments, plus interest: not including re-investments of toll revenue. Does the Ford government really want to solve gridlock in the GTA? Expropriation would be by far the fastest and best way to fulfil their promise. Richard Cassel, Toronto Canada's 'Core 4' economy Our economy is failing for the same reason the Toronto Maple Leafs have — repeatedly. When too few players take too great a portion of the available resources there is not enough left to build a successful economy. A rebuild is the only option for both. Rick Lockman, Orillia, ON