Planet protection
I believe every Canadian has the fundamental right to breathe fresh air, drink clean water and eat safe food. More than 100 countries worldwide now recognize environmental rights in law. It's time Canada caught up.
A stronger Canadian Environmental Protection Act would better protect Canadians and our environment from toxic pollution, which is estimated to cost the Canadian economy $39 billion annually. If implemented, the federal committee's recommendations would help reduce the costs of pollution, improve health and foster growth of the green economy. More than 20,000 Canadians die prematurely every year because of exposure to environmental hazards, and the total cost of pollution in Canada is more than $100 billion a year. We can't afford not to take action. —Lynne Gordon, Halifax
Mother Earth deserves rights too! To give corporations the right to destroy millions of years of development in the name of profit is obscene. To give them rights above the planet that supports us is crazy and to not protect our future in the name of short-term gain is stupid! The federal government should approve the recommended changes to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act for us and those who come after us!
—Jamie Jackson, Halifax
Stupid war games
On the bus one day recently, I overheard a couple of college kids talking about videogames. This was a World War II "simulation" which allows the player to choose any country which participated in the war, and they were extolling the virtues of how wonderful it is to play as a fascist country such as Italy, Germany or Japan and declare war on a whim. This game was obviously developed by people who were not actually there, do not have a clue and I might even be so bold as to say they flunked history. It seems truly disgraceful that kids these days would get their history lessons from something potentially biased
I am a bit of a game designer myself, and I often find games too disturbing these days; there seems to be few regulations as to what can be produced. As the grandson of Leading Airman Vere M. Brydon, RCAF, a Second World War veteran, I know that these brave men fought for many freedoms, but out of respect, we should never treat war like it is a game or oversimplify it like this. I know Canada often wants the story to be told, but not like this.
I do not mind a little "Koopa stomping" or sometimes blasting robots as you might expect in classical Megaman, but I feel that perhaps this goes too far. I am not big on communism or censorship, but I also feel we do not have to be controversial just to attract attention to ourselves or that we should be in it only for the most money for the least effort. —Allistair Fraser, Halifax
East coast proud
When the Liberals won all 32 of the federal seats in Atlantic Canada, we were told that they would work closely with the region's four Liberal premiers to deliver "real" results. However, after two years in office, it is clear that Conservatives are the only ones fighting for Atlantic Canada.
The Liberals failed to champion the Canadian energy sector, resulting in the cancellation of the Energy East Pipeline; failed to negotiate a new softwood lumber agreement, putting thousands of Canadian forestry workers' jobs at risk; and were completely unable to tell the difference between legitimate tax cheats and hardworking mom-and-pop businesses just trying to make a living. Entrepreneurs in Atlantic Canada and their employees deserve better. This year is going to be critical for Canada, with NAFTA negotiations not showing progress and Donald Trump championing his protectionist policies. Given his track record, Canadians are rightly worried that Justin Trudeau is not capable of delivering for hardworking Canadian workers and business operators at the NAFTA negotiating table.
Atlantic Canadians can count on the Conservative Party to keep fighting for them and for projects and policies that will strengthen our economy. —Hon. Rob Moore, Conservative shadow minister for Atlantic Canada