Lakeshore Advance, 2011-01-12, Page 44 Lakeshore Advance • Wed
, January 12, 2011
Gerund Bend
letters to the editor
Mufti Advance Library group lobbies for improvements
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Dear Fditor:
We'd like to welcome the new
councilors to the liluewater council and
keep you informed on the status of the
'/.urich library and the Friends oldie
Library committee.
Since' 2001 the Friends of the I.Ihriery
have chosen many different approaches
to advertise and lobby for improvement at
the Zurich Library. Our group suggested
renting the empty store space In Zurich
(Plantations at the time), or moving into a
space with the building of the new arena
in Zurich We also approached the Zurich
and area Medical Association proposing
sharing the Conner 1 lay Mutual site,
The Friends of the Library realized early
in our process that the present building at
50 Main Street was inadequate,
Renovating a two storey building would
require an elevator which would decrease
the square footage and requite two staff
running the library which is not feasible
or economically responsible.
The Friends of the library would like
to Kee:
• A more visible library on ground level
with the twain floor space increasing the
computer area, as well as separate spare
for teens, children and seniors,
• An accessible entrance with power push
doors.
• A larger parking lot that is well lit at
night.
• Accessible washrooms, shelving, and
check out area.
• Separate programming area for library
programs (e.g., summer children's
programs) with storage for suppliers which
also could be utilized by community
groups.
lhe Zurich Library is an important part
of our community. With over 1700
members, the Zurich branch is very well
utilized by Bluewater residents. A new
accessible library would attract consumer
dollars to Zurich and encourage re -invest-
ment in this area. It would give the local
residents hope that Zurich will continue
to thrive in the current economic
situation,
'Thank you for your consideration, time
and support. 'the Friends of the I.ibraty
recognizes the challenges of the current
economic situation. We trust a reasonable
judgement to find an equitable solution
that will set' our library and its services
remain in Zurich will be made with this
council. Our committee encourages all
members of the community to talk with
councillors about the future of our library.
We hope this is the beginning of a new
chapter in the Zurich Library's history
leading us towards an accessible future
allowing all patrons regardless of abilities
to utilize the library independently.
Sincerely,
Patti Down, Mary Earle and Brenda Regier
What's going on with
veterans asks reader
Dear Milton
1 find myself wondering what/who is behind
the many negative Veteran's Affairs media arti-
cles that Canadians have suddenly been exposed
to over the past year or so? There may well be
some real issues involved, but are they new, and
therefore suddenly newsworthy'?
1 have reluctantly come to the conclusion that
somehow in this outpouring there must be
money b1 it for some people, or political benefit,
- if not, what?
Ihe article on the front page abut. 4/11 Free
Press, about homeless veterans, is a rase in point.
It is a bunch of loosely -connected dubious 'facts'
and 'opinions' masquerading as a research
report. Here are a couple of quotes from this
so-called research...
Quote: "1 toneless Veterans may number in
the hundreds or thousands ". (big difference,
which is it?)
Quote: "Average delay between leaving the
military and becoming homeless 24 years" (and
the military is the sole rause after all this tinge?)
I didn't read one fact that substantiated that
Canadian veterans have any more likelihood of
becoming homeless after leaving the military,
than those leaving any other major life -career.
1 am a veteran myself and I wonder what is
going an here?
Respectfully,
Despite government's promises, veterans issues abandoned in 2010
Dear Editor,
"Without substantive and enduring cultural
changes to the system that mistreats our
ve'te'rans, hou►el'e'r, to any promises of
improvement are as shallow as Brian Dyck 's
final h►t'aths." Col. Patrick Stogran,
26 October 2010.
'These were the words Canada's 1st Veterans
Ombudsman, Col, Patrick Stogran, used to
describe the effects of any proposed
legislation without substantial changes in the
manner Veterans Affairs Canada operates.
Brian Dyck died approximately 2 weeks after
Prime Minister l harper personally announced
veterans afflicted by ALS a,k,a, Lott Gehrig's
disease would he provided support through
Veterans Affairs Canada, Tragically, Mr. Dyck
succumbed to this insidious disease before
receiving the support he and his family so
richly deserved.
'There would be other unsavotuy
revelations, foremost being the criminal
violations of (:apt. Sean Bruyea's and Col.
Stogran's confidential VA(: medical records.
And many others, apparently. \'et justice,
months later, has yet to be served.
Considering the government's illusory'llnagh
on Crime mantra, it is profoundly disappoint-
ing to note the government has yet to accept
their responsibility as members of Parliament
and instruct the RCMP to launch a criminal
investigation. Are those who committed these
crimes above the law? lust who is Minister
Blackburn protecting and just how high alp
the government chain of command do these
criminal violations go? One law, one nation!
The government also made several
promises to veterans since 26 October, 2010.
Minister Blackburn would repeatedly claim
he has heard veterans' voices and through his
corrective legislation, they would acknowl-
edge and address the hardships. Important
financial supplements, measures necessitated
through the consequences inflicted through
the enactment of the New Veterans Charter in
2006, would ensure that 2000 veterans would
he accorded a minimum salary of $40 000
(pretax), 35(X) veterans who were denied
financial supplementary programs in the past
(WI IY?) would now be eligible for the E1.8.
Truly, the seriousness of the adversities
would be profoundly highlighted by the
creation of the $1(XX) Catastrophic Injury
Award, the baseline PRE-TAX sahuy of
$40,(XX), changes to the eligibility criteria for
the Permanent Injury Award and the Earnings
loss Benefit. The government would propose
$2 billion yet contradictorily, these funds will
not be retroactively provided to the very
veterans the legislation was designed to
support. Over 140 Canadians have died since
the enactment of the New Veterans Charter.
'there have been an estimated 3000
casualties.
Sadly, there are serious flaws within the
proposals Minister Blackburn and Minister
MacKay have announced. First, these
proposals alt' not retroactive and as such,
W. H. Metcalfe
10257 Pinetree Drive
Grand Bend ON
519-238-5987
incomprehensibly; do not provide financial
relief for the very veterans these proposals
were designed to assist! Secondly, despite the
need for urgent reform, despite the
acknowledgment of so many disabled
veterans currently living in substandard
conditions, the government did NOT address
the Issue within the flurry of hills pushed for-
ward during the last week of 2010's
Parliamentary session.
I)o you believe this reflects the lifetime
standard of dignified support Canada is
obliged to provide to those we have deployed
into harm's Way, to those we have deliberately
exposed to the consequences of war'? Single,
double, triple amputees? 'those who have
sustained terrible injuries, the maimed, blind
and deaf? 'those who have been psychologi-
cally impacted? 1 would encourage Canadians
who support our troops and veterans during
this time of wan' to contact their Minister of
Parliament and demand the restoration,
through nonpartisan legislation, of the life-
time obligation parliament abandoned in
2OXXi. It only take's a moment to call ore -mail,
the addresses are available online. Feel free to
simply copy and paste this letter.
1)o something! Together, we can make a
significant difference.
Michael L Blais CD
Founder, Canadian Veterans Advocacy.
6618 Harper Drive Niagara Falls Ontario, Canada.
905-357-3306 MLBIaIsRCR @Gmail.com