Letters, Nov. 16: Include public service in bill to ban replacement workers

Article content

The new bill to ban replacement workers during strikes and lockouts marks a pivotal shift in labour dynamics. With my background in global health and policy, I recognize this as more than a legal change; it’s a stride toward healthier, more equitable work environments.

However, omitting federal public service workers hits a sour note, highlighting inconsistencies in our labour policy. This bill should be the opening act, not the finale, in a series of comprehensive labour reforms. It’s time to orchestrate a labour rights movement that ensures every worker’s voice is heard, creating a harmonious balance of fairness and justice in the workplace.

Article content

Article content

Mubariz Maqsood, Calgary

Coming out ahead on carbon cash

Hearing so much about how high the carbon tax was, I decided to calculate how much we paid for carbon tax in the past 12 months. For natural gas heating in Calgary, it was $398.44 and for gasoline it was $126 (approximately 900 litres at $0.14 per litre).

So we paid a total of $524.44 and received Climate Action Incentive Payments equalling $1,158. We were ahead by $633.56. We rarely hear about the rebates, only the tax itself.

Evelyn Tait, Calgary

Leadership or hidden agendas?

The UCP platform 2023 makes no reference to a moratorium on renewable energy project approvals, creating a homemade pension plan for Albertans, or a massive restructuring of our health-care system — all announced in the past 90 days.

What is driving these so-recently unforeseen necessities by our newly elected rookie premier? The word megalomania comes to mind.

Voters, beware of politicians with solutions to non-existent problems. Are hidden agendas at play here?

Brian Patterson, Calgary

Arena money could be better spent

Look no further than the better part of a billion dollars in taxpayer money to fund a new arena for its billionaire owners. Probably about 90 per cent of taxpayers will never set foot in the new arena to watch a hockey game.

Article content

Appropriated without taxpayer approval, that expenditure will reduce funds available for badly needed services and infrastructure that would serve all Calgarians.

I can think of transit service and safety, the homeless and drug abuse, the food bank, timely plowing of residential streets — just to name a few.

Mike Priaro, Calgary

Politics, not proper analysis, at heart of APP

Political ideology, not common sense, is driving the Alberta pension plan discussion. Ideology and the Fair Deal Panel’s recommendation to leave the CPP is not the right driver for good decisions when large amounts of risk, money and effect on people is involved.

The financial case of an APP is misleading and wrong. The LifeWorks report uses a $334-billion asset transfer for its calculations. As a Canadian first, I will not support an asset transfer that leaves the CPP for the rest of Canada in ruin.

In places such as Ukraine and Israel/Gaza, people are fearing for their lives and the future of their country. In Canada, particularly in Alberta, we fight over money, perhaps because we have too much of it.

That is so pathetic.

Wayne Ell, Calgary

Article content