“You’d think the buildings’ owner would have been required to remedy these violations expeditiously.”
It bothers me that the two buildings in the fatal Old Montreal fires had been subject to fire safety-code violations.
You’d think the buildings’ owner would have been required to remedy these violations expeditiously, failing which the fire department would either do this itself at the owner’s expense or close the buildings.
What will the fire department do if this situation arises anywhere else in Montreal, threatening the lives of residents in problematic buildings?
One hopes the lesson learned from these tragedies is that more must be done to safeguard people’s lives.
Robert Hajaly, Montreal
All citizens must fight against hate
Eta Yudin of the Centre for Jewish and Israel Affairs is right: There needs to be stronger leadership in our government to send a message that hate is not to be tolerated on our streets and university campuses.
Antisemitic incidents are also occurring inside our schools, and presentations given by Holocaust survivors are being cancelled by administrators afraid of triggering emotions.
Ordinary citizens must speak up about the incitement to antisemitism expressed daily in our city. Indifference and silence encourage hate to grow and haters to grow bolder.
We can prevent indifference by developing empathy and critical thinking skills in our children so the next generation of leaders will recognize prejudice and call it by its name — loudly and publicly. Education about antisemitism and other forms of hate, both at home and in our schools, plays a critical role in this empowerment.
There are far too many examples throughout history of the dire consequences of allowing antisemitism to become normalized and accepted. As Yudin rightly states, this is not just a fight for the Jewish community, but everyone’s fight to preserve our democratic values and freedoms.
Marcy Bruck, The Foundation for Genocide Education, Montreal
Include tips in price of meals
I strenuously object to credit card readers automatically calculating the server’s gratuity after having added the governments’ combined 15-per-cent sales tax onto the bill. Why should I be tipping on the tax?
Making the matter even more egregious is the fact that, from what I see, many restaurants have now set the suggested gratuity at a minimum 18 per cent, which is an effective rate of 21 per cent. So you are now adding 36 per cent to the price on the menu. It can come as quite the shock when the reader spits out your receipt.
My wife and I have travelled to many countries in Europe, and wherever we’ve gone, all service charges are included in the price of a meal.
Until restaurants here decide to do the same, I will continue to hit the “custom amount” button and calculate the tip myself.
Ian Copnick, Côte-St-Luc
Governor general serves a purpose
While the governor general has a limited role to play as long as our political system runs smoothly, she can become a critical element in solving political disputes.
As she represents the British monarch — an essentially apolitical figure not beholden to local interests — the governor general’s decisions are accepted as authoritative, as happened during former prime minister Stephen Harper’s prorogation crisis.
Getting rid of the governor general means losing a source of authority that may not be easy to replace. In the U.S., the Supreme Court has the role of final arbiter, but it is now seen as political and partisan by many Americans. As presently constituted, our system, I feel, is better.
I hope Mary Simon stays in her position, expanding the use of her limited French to show that she respects current realities.
Bert Markgraf, Hudson
Keep Rose out of Hall of Fame
I strongly disagree with Aislin’s cartoon saying “Pete Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame.”
Yes, Babe Ruth, Hack Wilson and Ty Cobb had awful flaws, but none of them were known to be involved with betting on baseball, and all three were welcomed into the Hall of Fame.
I believe those who choose to act in ways that threaten the integrity of the game should never be allowed in. That is why several of Rose’s contemporaries who were found to use performance-enhancing drugs are not likely to ever be inducted. The list includes such stars as Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez, Mark McGwire and Manny Ramirez.
Regarding betting, one of the superstars of his day, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, was caught up in the “Black Sox Scandal” of 1919 and was banned from baseball for life.
If there was no second chance for all the above, there certainly should not be one for Rose, despite his recent unfortunate passing.
Robert Filler, St-Laurent
Mild temperatures raise concerns
On the first weekend in October, even Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit showed above-freezing temperatures for their high and lows.
My weather app tells me the normal high for Iqaluit this time of year is –1C, yet over the next 10 days — into mid-October! — the temperature is forecast to fall barely below freezing on a couple of nights and remain well above freezing every day, up to 6C.
Scary indeed.
Don Sancton, Beaconsfield
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