Readers Speak Out: February 13, 2022

Fairness from Farrow

I would like to express my appreciation for Anna Farrow’s article “I did see a mob; it wasn’t the truckers.” The piece was fair and accurate in its insight given that Farrow was actually in Ottawa and able to judge what she saw. I liked, as well, her inclusion of the religious aspect of the protest, a fact that has not been noted. Canadians joined in the prayer even if they were not Catholics.

Her disappointment was not with what she witnessed, but rather what was being reported via Twitter, and politicians such as Jagmeet Singh with their denigration of yet another freedom of Canadians right to protest.  

Jennifer Aitken,

Scarborough, Ont.

Driving who crazy?

When truckers need a vaccine mandate for being “alone” in their transport trucks because governments believe accommodation is unrealistic for truckers, the mental health of politicians, within science and of society at large needs more widespread examination than governments, science or society are willing to admit.

Louise Domingues,

Unionville, Ont.

Daycare’s inequality

Federal agreements being signed with each province and territory are historic in their push to provide low-cost daycare to the nation’s young. The benefit to parents who use daycare will be significant and the media reports their relief. Daycare workers are also happy and so are their unions.

However, it is being noticed that this agreement is not inclusive of all parenting styles. It deprives many of funding. Parents who use small independent daycares, sitters and nannies notice that the fees they pay are not supported by this plan. Parents who have a family member provide care notice their income sacrifice and cost of providing care are not recognized.

The issue being raised then, politely, is what about the rest of parents? The issue is not against daycare but a more basic one — about equality, equal benefit, parental choice. Several small daycare operators, parenting groups, economists and legal theorists have been seeing this lopsided pattern develop and are concerned.

You may wish to consider the “other ways” to take care of children and examine the case for equal funding for all.

Beverly Smith,

Calgary, Alta.

Spare the children

It’s truly puzzling to see recommendations coming from the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association, the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association and the Ontario Catholic Secondary Teachers’ Association calling for COVID injections to be on the list of nine diseases children must be vaccinated against.

Throughout the pandemic, citizens have been advised to “follow the science.” Yet these three organizations seem to take a different approach than does the Ontario Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kieran Moore, and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization. 

Dr. Moore states, “It is a new vaccine. As a result, we want greater experience with it before we would ever mandate it.” Following that advice, parents would be wise to do further research before giving their children an injection that is new.

My understanding is the benefits do not outweigh the risks; only children at risk of severe illness should get the shot. Our children should never be sacrificed for “love of neighbour,” “the common good” or for any other reason.

Anne Marie Manna Peter,

Toronto