Real scoop on trash talk
You missed the real reason driving City Hall’s garbage privateers in 10 Reasons Why Private Garbage Is A Trashy Idea (NOW, February 3-9). They want to send Toronto’s garbage to Covanta’s new incinerator, being built in Clarington in Durham Region.
As CUPE Ontario’s briefing to Durham Region Council in 2009 stated: “Durham Region will either have to keep producing mountains of garbage to burn or will have to solicit garbage from Toronto and other parts of the GTA to keep this [incinerator] plant going.”
In May 2009, Clarington council voted in a $10-per-tonne tipping fee “royalty” to go directly to Clarington for waste received specifically from Toronto. And, yes, that would mean cutting recycling and waste diversion plans here.
Joyce Nelson
Toronto
Private vs. public garbage
Although pro-privatization forces argue that garbage privatization will reduce strikes, there is no guarantee of that. The private sector has strikes, too.
But what happens then? The politicians are no longer responsible. They can’t, or as happened in the case of the driver examiners, won’t intervene in a private sector strike.
The last garbage strike lasted six weeks. The strike by privatized driver examiners the same year lasted 16 weeks. That political pressure to settle disappears with privatization.
Gary Curl
Toronto
Livability score missed bikes
It’s great to have some accountings of consumption and environmental problems, but in one key area the Living City Scorecard (NOW, February 3-9) is quite misleading. Bikes appear twice in a list of transport alternatives in back-end segments.
Sadly, despite some good segments and work, this report is functioning more like a greenwash than an accurate accounting of our carbon overloading.
Hamish Wilson
Toronto
Heat on black history
Help put Black History Month (NOW, February 3-9) where it’s supposed to be – August. That’s when it all began here, so let’s not keep following our politicians who hang onto U.S. coattails. If Americans want it in the coldest, shortest month of the year, let them have it. Lord Simcoe had good sense by emancipating Canadian slaves, so let’s acknowledge his wisdom and our heritage.
Write your politicians. Simply point to this country’s history or, better yet, the economic gain that would come from holding Black History Month in the summer.
Johnie Chase
Toronto
Down on Adam Giambrone
Regarding TTC takeover a no-go, by Adam Giambrone (NOW, February 3-9). After all his time as chair of the TTC, the best Giambrone can come up with is that we need more money for transit? We all know the TTC needs more funding. Surely, he must have seen and heard much more about what goes on behind the scenes. Then again, after his wonderful profile of placid Sudan, I should have remembered he’s a tad myopic. Please spare the greater populace his inane ramblings and find someone better to write about transit issues.
Daniel Sekulich
Toronto
Egypt puts tyrants on notice
There are things to be learned from the events in Egypt (NOW, February 3-9). It shows once again that the existence of Israel is not the reason for strife in the region.
On the contrary. It is a notice to tyrants everywhere, and it should be clear in Egypt more than anywhere else that all God’s children just want to be free.
Sheila Mediena
Toronto
