Your letters for Jan. 31

All hail the motorist

Re: Druh Farrell pledges more “climate change” oversight, Jan. 24

So Councillors Farrell and Gian-Carlo Carra have now earnestly latched onto the modern progressive’s favourite new cudgel or hockey stick — climate targets — as a tool for beating on Calgarians. Particularly telling is how Carra decries a survey result declaring Calgary the best city for driving — a result that in a more rational era would be considered a victory, a victory that happened in spite of our mayor’s fervent efforts to paralyze traffic.

Farrell and Carra display an utter contempt for Calgarians’ mobility needs and rights. Evidently, the City believes that respect for commuting and lifestyle needs takes us off the shining path towards a city where everyone lives in ugly, densely packed neighbourhoods and spends an oversized portion of their free time on transit. Calgary is ripe for more than just a business tax revolt.

Kerry Kaminski, Calgary

A price to pay

When the Conservatives promise a balanced budget, I know it will not be a good time to be a woman in Alberta, especially for teachers and nurses. And the rest of us are not unaffected by the move to ultra libertarian right-wing policies either.

My Alberta Seniors Benefit is no longer indexed to the cost of living. Meanwhile, I have to pay 11 per cent more for power because the UCP removed the cap that utility companies can charge for electricity.

Due to UCP funding cuts to the university, my niece is now doing the job of three people after two women were laid off. No one is concerned about the stress of overloading of responsibility will have on her health. And the E.I. for the laid-off employees is paid by the feds. The UCP saves money on both fronts.

Can Albertans tolerate another three years of this anti-woman, anti-environment, tar sands-obsessed UCP government?

Florence Rachansky, Calgary

Quid pro quo

As if the Liberals could not alienate the West any worse, they have reached a new pinnacle — using their new bill to politically force Alberta to jump through environmental hoops to obtain approval of the Tech project. This project should be approved on its own merits. Once again their eastern base is controlling the Liberals’ decision. This may be grounds for impeachment based upon the quid pro quo requested.

Bob Woima, Calgary

Find new ways

The revised Green Line plan is an improvement but there is still work to be done. If City Council were more open to public input, they might hear some good ideas.

Has a survey been done on how many people want to travel through the city north/south? A minority, I’m guessing, and those that do can change trains. If the aim is to get passengers to and from downtown, why all this tunnelling?

With government funding uncertain, let’s find a less costly alternative.

Hazel Scott, Calgary