I am not in favour of introducing party politics into municipal elections. I don’t think there will be good consensus on council if political parties are involved.
The current council is dysfunctional in large part because our representatives are not listening to their constituents. For some reason, once elected, city councillors in Calgary seem to forget who elected them.
I think we need new terms of reference for councillors informing them of their main responsibilities. Councils are in place to run the city, not get involved in social issues. Issues such as parking violations, traffic safety and safety at recreation facilities are a few concerns the city needs to deal with.
We are now going to get a new arena. The city is going to fund a huge portion of the project. Calgarians should have been asked whether they wanted the new arena badly enough to warrant the huge tax hikes we are going to be facing.
Surely it is time for Calgarians to decide their own fate?
Philis Heffner, Calgary
A new highway could bring more tourism dollars
Re: Highway 3 redesign threatens Crowsnest Pass, Opinion, Jan. 27
I doubt that merchants and motel owners along Highway 3 would object to more travellers coming through the Crowsnest Pass and turning onto the parallel business road to shop or spend the night.
Some local residents may also appreciate faster and safer highway access. The opinion column is full of assertions of how local residents may not like the redesigned highway.
A redesigned highway often provides for better viewpoints of the surrounding landscape, such as the Park Bridge Trans-Canada Highway crossing of the Kicking Horse River, west of Yoho National Park.
Kurt Hansen, Calgary
A Tucker fan
A big thank you to Tucker Carlson for coming to Alberta and telling it like it is.
The truth is such a rare commodity in Canada these days that I think people were bowled over and just stunned at the breath of fresh air.
We’re still reeling from his degree of common sense and the befitting dire warnings about Justin Trudeau, Chrystia Freeland and Steven Guilbeault, etc., who are systematically and underhandedly ruining our great country.
We need to wake up and throw these dangerous charlatans out of office before the serious damage they’re causing becomes irreversible.
Alma Pedersen, Calgary
A Tucker foe
I read recently that Tucker Carlson had been invited to speak in both Calgary and Edmonton, and that he attracted large audiences.
To what end? Why would the UCP invite an American who is well-known for spreading lies and hateful ideas to speak in the province?
Is this to gain additional power?
I would hate to think a foreigner was being used to help accomplish this. Are you not aware of what has happened in the U.S. partly because of Carlson? Is this what you want for Canada?
You are playing with fire.
Annie Weeks, Victoria. B.C.
Missed chances to learn from tragedy
It’s been two days since the last fatal house fire. Three deaths in three days.
The fire investigator on-site should know the reason for the fire. It would follow that the fire department would have a detailed file on house fires and causes and should make that public.
Also, insurance companies should have a database of causes. Providing that information to homeowners/renters may change behaviours.
Brian McConaghy, Heritage Pointe