Is T.O. ready for both Expo and Olympics?
Why can’t the city of Toronto and surrounding area host both Expo 2025 and the Olympics in 2024 (NOW, July 30-August 5)?
Because the Toronto Pan Am Games had the facilities and infrastructure to host the competition at international standards, compliance with Olympic standards would be straightforward and cost effective.
Dave Craig
Toronto
Blame Harper for G20
Re G20: 5 Years Later. Stephen Harper had planned the 2010 meeting of the G8 up in his pal Tony Clement’s riding of Huntsville with the intent of following it there with the G20. Then, at the last possible moment, he decided to move the much bigger G20 down to an unsuspecting Toronto. Security became a zoo, with police from different jurisdictions vying for control. Cops were shipped in from all over Canada to put down protests in the big smoke. With little overall control, Chief Bill Blair did his best, but it was a losing situation from the beginning. He became the scapegoat, but the true blame lies with Harper – as usual.
Don Young
Toronto
Calling out cop racism
I totally agree with Paul Barrett that anti-black racism in Canada is systemic (NOW, July 23-29). The July 10 killing of 45-year-old Sudanese-Canadian Andrew Loku is the most recent tragic example of Toronto police failure to de-escalate a situation in which a person is in personal crisis.
Over the last 35 years, there have been many other similar police killings in Toronto. Virtually all have been wrongly attributed to the victim’s supposed mental illness and/or potential dangerousness, which police wrongly associated with skin colour. It’s time that national political leaders denounce Canada’s long history of racism.
Don Weitz
Toronto
Tattoo love is only skin deep
Re Tattoos For People Who Can’t Commit To Tattoos (NOW, July 22). Why has skin become so devalued that it can’t be looked at without a tattoo?
Arif Uddin
Toronto
Lita Ford, badass
Really enjoyed Carla Gillis’s Lita Ford interview (NOW, July 31). She’s a legit badass and a great guitar player. I can only imagine what went on between her and the Runaways. Anyway, enjoyed the read. Thanks!
Joseph Chiarolanza
Toronto
Olivia Chow’s choice
To tell you the truth, I never understood who advised Olivia Chow to leave Ottawa to run for mayor of Toronto.
Though I live in Toronto-Danforth (Craig Scott, MP), I support Adam Vaughan in Spadina-Fort York over Chow (NOW, July 30-August 6).
The NDP should cooperate to elect Green candidates when they resonate with a community and, while holding our noses regarding Justin Trudeau, back Liberals like Vaughan who genuinely represent the best interests of the people.
Any person splitting votes helps Harper. Chow could choose a different riding.
Doris Power
Toronto
Water for profit
Re Peak Water Is Here (NOW, July 30-August 5). The issue with water is its use in the constant drive for profits, not consumption. There’s more than enough to drink.
Robert Croghan
Toronto
Climate action up to you, dear citizen
Thank you for sharing news about scientist James Hansen’s new study on climate change and rising sea levels (NOW, July 30-August 5).
The key message is Hansen’s call for a rapid phase-out (not merely reduction) of fossil fuel use. That seems an overwhelming task, and we might well ask ourselves if it’s even possible. But progressive provinces and U.S. states are already moving in the direction Hansen says we must.
Now it’s up to citizens to ensure governments meet these visionary targets.
Gideon Forman
David Suzuki Foundation
Toronto