The news about Peter Duffy’s new gig (Reality Bites, page 5) just
proves that our leadership has its head stuck somewhere far less
pleasant than the sand.
I respect that work experience comes with a certain amount of
wisdom, which serves anyone well in a new job. Fine. But new ideas and
new perspectives are just as important. In fact, I think they will keep
this city and province from going in the toilet. But you have to
actually hire people with those new ideas and perspectives, and not
give the gigs to old farts who’ve been around the block.
Young people aren’t leaving just because they can’t make decent
money; they leave because they aren’t respected here. The real
champions of this city aren’t those who think it’s great already and
doesn’t need to be changed; the real champions are those who see its
potential and know it can do better. Can’t we give them a chance for
once? —Suzanne Rent, Halifax
This article appears in Sep 3-9, 2009.