Mayor unfair to old council
I read with interest the comments made by Bob Chiarelli in the Centretown News article “Pool Supporters Celebrate Victory.”
Mr. Chiarelli is quoted as saying that, “One reason is there was a different game of politics at the old City Hall. Now we deal with issues on the basis of their merits, not the politics behind them.”
I very much regret Mr. Chiarelli’s remarks as they do a disservice to the previous Ottawa City Council that was a huge supporter of the Plant Pool.
In fact, Coun. Arnold and I helped to create the very first Plant Pool Reserve Fund of $3 million, that was subsequently removed by the new city council and put into general reserves.
The old city adopted a “fiscally responsible” pay as you go policy that ensured we only spent funds when we had all of the dollars necessary to complete a project.
Our plan would have seen the project start either last year or this year, so I am delighted that the new city has taken up the challenge of seeing this very worthwhile project begin construction.
I still have fond memories of the Plant Pool supporters coming to budget meetings (complete with bathing caps!) and arguing their cause.
Coun. Arnold and the Plant Pool Recreation Association are to be commended for keeping the spirit of the project alive, and despite Mr. Chiarelli’s comments, the old city did judge this to be a priority project based on merit and not politics.
Jim Watson,
Former Mayor of Ottawa
Racist ads should be banned
It is unfortunate that your advertising people must resort to accepting material from racist organizations that condemn non-followers of their (unfounded) beliefs. I am referring to the ad in the Feb. 8 issue in which I read the following: IF ANYONE DOES NOT LOVE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, LET HIM BE ACCURSED.
I request that you refrain from accepting advertising which is so slanderous to so many and supportive of so few. Further, I request you print an apology to all your readers for insulting their beliefs as the above comment is totally unfounded.
Titus Tao,
Queen Elizabeth Driveway
In defence of cloning
Why do we need cloning? This is a question often asked by skeptics.
Cloning will allow us to maintain our population in a more stable way. If people can choose the type of child that appeals to them, then the child is more likely to grow up in a positive environment.
For example, a family of musicians can choose a child with musical genetic traits. The child will grow up in an accepting environment and will have more to offer to the process of creating a harmonious society.
Society must become more harmonious and peaceful if we expect to survive as a human race. Diversity creates harmony while conformity creates conflict.
We cannot have a world filled with only Einsteins or Mozarts because too much similarity leads to destructive competition and conflict.
Michael McRae,
Irving Street