Today’s letters: New passport erases part of Canada’s history

Today’s letters: New passport erases part of Canada’s history

Saturday, May 13: Reviews of the new, more secure Canadian travel document don’t impress Citizen readers. You can write to us too, at letters@ottawacitizen.com

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Don’t erase iconic images from the passport

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Re: Federal government unveils new, heavily redesigned ‘state-of-the-art’ passportMay 10.

Canada is now a multi-racial, multicultural nation. A new passport design should have reflected that reality.

Keep the images of Terry Fox, Vimy and so on, but also introduce other cultures into the passport landscape. Replacing Canadian icons, which are recognized internationally, with birds and snowflakes is a head-scratcher. Birds and snowflakes can be found in many countries, so probably the only clue to which country this passport actually belongs to is the word “Canada” on the cover.

Symbols define and put a voice to national identity. Snowflakes will only eventually melt, but true Canadian historical icons will (and should) remain embedded in our psyche. Regrettably, they are not now found in the one important document that Canadians carry with them when they venture out into the world.

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Security can be inserted into any image; it’s been done on our currency. Removing Canadian historical fundamentals from the Canadian passport is really erasing part of our history. History should be added to, not be intentionally eliminated.

Douglas Cornish, Ottawa

We knew he’d choose snowflakes

So Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has removed Vimy Ridge and Terry Fox  from the Canadian passport and has replaced them with snowflakes. Figures.

Terry Toll, Campbell’s Bay

Passport service went quite well

Given all the negative coverage of the passport process in recent years, I would like to add a more positive experience. I had made an appointment online although the queue for those that hadn’t was short. An agent went through those waiting before the office opened officially and checked our paperwork.

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At 8:30 a.m., a large number of agents appeared and started to process applicants. I was ushered into a private office where I was treated with great courtesy and professionalism. In fact, the process went so smoothly it would be churlish of me to even mention the fee.

Paddy Fuller, Ottawa

Growth rate affects garbage

Re: Everything you need to know about Ottawa’s proposed bag-tag garbage planMay 9.

I’m not opposed to reducing garbage. The issue is that when the Trail Road landfill opened in 1980, it was calculated for a population of 750,000. Now that we’re well over one million, why does it fall on us to pay more? Shouldn’t the City of Ottawa consider investing in another site meant for four times the present population? We are growing at a substantial rate.

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Rene Tremblay, Ottawa

Let us all earn our garbage tags

Instead of the City of Ottawa “granting” us the seemingly random number of 55 garbage bag tags per year, I would like to propose a different approach. What if we were to “earn” our garbage bag tags? If we didn’t put out any garbage on a particular collection day, we could ”earn” a tag! Put out a green bin, or a blue bin? “Earn” a tag.

I’m pretty sure most readers have probably figured out that adult (and indeed younger) humans respond more positively to “earning” something rather than having it “taken away.”

Doug Tansley, Ottawa

Waste-to-energy won’t work well

Re: Denley: Bag tags won’t solve Ottawa’s growing garbage problemMay 9.

Waste-to-energy plants tend to be expensive, hard to operate, polluting, and they typically break down well before any significant benefits are realized (sort of like the LRT).

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Check out the track record of Ottawa’s failed attempt at such an operation with Plasco. Also check out the results of similar projects around the world. They don’t work as promised and if you value your health, you don’t want to be living downwind of one of these systems.

It is becoming clear that the practical way to deal with excessive trash is to limit the production and use of unnecessary items that make up much of that trash and to effectively recycle most of the rest. That will require a coordinated effort by all Canadians, all levels of government, and industry.

Jake Cole, Ottawa

Garbage in, garbage out?

It seems that the city is considering finding a new landfill site for its garbage. Don’t you think that the space for waste is a waste of space?

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Pat McAlpine, Kanata

No subsidies for NHL arena

In April of 2019, the City of Ottawa declared a climate emergency. In January of 2020, the city declared a housing and homelessness emergency. A Vacant Unit Tax was recently brought in, requiring some action on the part of every property owner. Very soon, council will be considering whether or not to implement a garbage tag program in an effort to extend the life of the Trail Road landfill.

If one dime of municipal taxpayer money is spent to subsidize the construction of a new home for the Ottawa Senators, then the politicians who bring that about should immediately resign. They will have no business being in charge of the public purse. Why public funds could be necessary to help billionaire owners and their millionaire players, particularly when the city has far more pressing concerns, is beyond me.

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Todd Campbell, Ottawa

Don’t close the Driveway

Re: NCC’s ‘bike days’ and parkway closures to vehicles begin this weekend in OttawaMay 11.

The Queen Elizabeth Driveway was built for everyone from all places to drive along and soak up the beauty of Canada’s capital beside the Rideau Canal. It also gives a spectacular view of the Château Laurier and the Parliament Buildings as we approach the centre of our beautiful city. It is very important at Winterlude and The Tulip Festival to help people from far and wide see these super events.

Having the Driveway closed much of the time only serves the people of central Ottawa, not everyone. There are many paths and open areas for people to walk and cycle. There is a lot of traffic lined up near Preston Street at rush hour beside Dow’s Lake, which no longer has that parking lot. I wonder why we should be deprived of the opportunity to drive along this scenic route.

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Fran Dawson, Woodlawn

A better idea for the $20 bill

Re: King Charles will replace Queen Elizabeth on Canadian $20 bill and coinsMay 6.

I suggest that Canada follow the example of Australia and replace Queen Elizabeth on the $20 with an Indigenous-themed bill. There is precedent: The $10 bill has the image of Viola Desmond, commemorating a civil rights leader.

It’s time our currency recognized our native heritage.

Carl Raskin, Ottawa

Why Trump still has supporters

Re: Cohen: Fatigue at Trump’s many follies may ultimately kill his support, May 10.

I agree with Andrew Cohen’s assessment of Donald Trump as unfit to be U.S. president. He has done too many horrible things in the last few years to be considered a serious candidate in the 2024 presidential election, and yet he is a leading candidate of the Republican Party. This raises the question: why would millions of Americans still want to vote for him?

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Partly, this may be that the Democrats have gone too far with their almost unlimited spending spree; the latest is a mind-boggling $1-trillion bill on a variety of issues, which could lead to more inflation. Partly, I believe the Democrats have been unsuccessful in dealing with the huge uncontrollable immigration from the South, a problem causing anxiety in many states.

Lastly, I believe that Joe Biden’s candidacy given his age — he would be 86 by the end of the second term — is an uninspiring proposition for many.

Let’s hope that Republicans will come to their senses and select a serious candidate for the 2024 election and send Trump to the trash heap of history. Canadians will be watching the presidential election with interest. Their democracy, as well as ours, needs a competent and responsible opposition to function successfully.

Rafal Pomian, Ottawa

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