YOU SAID IT: Agitated Alghabra

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AGITATED ALGHABRA

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Apparently, Omar Alghabra is mad as hell, and he’s not going to take it anymore. In the wake of a normally five-hour Via Rail trip from Ottawa to Toronto turning into a 24-hour dystopian odyssey, the transport minister emphatically declared it “unacceptable”.

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Perhaps someone should point out to the agitated Alghabra that Via Rail no more controls the weather than his government, with its punitive “price on pollution” and the numerous other economically stifling regulations and legislation, controls the climate.

With soaring inflation and skyrocketing interest rates, might Canadians soon tire of the pious Liberal pandering that will punish citizens, while reducing global GHG emissions that amount to the equivalent of a statistical rounding error?

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Perhaps, “Fund health care, not hyperbole,” should now be the new mantra. Dare to dream!

AL WILLEY

EDMONTON

(While the government may not control the weather, it can attempt to pressure CN to sort out rail issues like the one that affected Via Rail.)

DIDN’T ACT FAST IN THE PAST

Re: A refugee group saying the federal government will help bring 600 LGBTQ Afghans to Canada

After President Biden totally botched the withdrawal from Afghanistan, including removing American troops prematurely, many Afghans who had helped Canada as translators and in other capacities were left behind at the mercy of the Taliban. Trudeau refused to act quickly to extricate these individuals, many of whom no doubt were hunted down and killed by the Taliban.

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Yet here is a virtue-signalling move he will fast-track with the removal of LGBTQ Afghans? I hope Canada never has to rely on a foreign country’s citizens in the future after the appalling way Trudeau treated brave Afghans who provided invaluable assistance.

Shame on the Trudeau government for playing political games with lives.

LARRY COMEAU

OTTAWA

(Thanks for reading.)

CHECKING IT TWICE

Re: Christmas vacation; Off to Jamaica for fun in the sun, Dec. 24

Just like Old St. Nick, Mr. Freeze, before he jetted off to Jamaica (carbon footprint and all), was making his list and checking it twice regarding ethical guidelines. Here we have the supposed leader of our nation having to check with the federal ethics commissioner if everything is, in fact, hunky dory. One would think that he would surely know what is right and what is not.

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He said he would also remain in constant contact with Ottawa while on the sunny, warm beach. Perhaps it would be better if he didn’t.

STEPHEN FLANAGAN

OTTAWA

(No harm in double checking.)

IT’S RESOLUTION TIME

More people are feeling glum;

Hearts are becoming numb.

So much news about dying

Is preventing us from crying.

Citizens turn their eyes away,

Not knowing what to do or say.

Many will greet the new year,

But will do so without cheer.

Fewer will look to the Pope

For words to engender hope.

Wouldn’t this world be grand,

If we all reached out a hand.

That would plant the seeds

For heart-warming deeds.

LLOYD ATKINS

VERNON, B.C.

(Nice work.)