Letters, Might 11: Calgary is failing its most weak

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We’re not caring for our most weak Calgarians — our homeless, addicted and mentally sick. They’re dwelling on the road with out housing, revenue or assist. Calgary is turning into a metropolis the place they dwell and die on the road, and the answer is supportive housing. Give a person a house, an revenue and assist to get organized and established, and also you’ll have one much less particular person on the road.

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I preserve fascinated about the $900 million that went to the sector — a undertaking with little profit to Calgarians.

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However even when it value $500,000 per unit to construct a low-income house constructing and embrace assist for a yr . . . that’s 2,000 individuals housed, and with care, remedy, well being and a lifetime of dignity and small comforts. And likewise making a metropolis that’s protected and past reproach for all Calgarians.

Pat Anderson, Calgary

Farm employee safety is required

Apparently, Premier Danielle Smith is anxious that Invoice 6, the primary Alberta laws to guard the well being of paid farm staff and labour requirements for youngsters, could be reinstated by NDP Chief Rachel Notley (International TV interview, Might 5). The UCP revoked Notley’s Invoice 6 after being elected in 2019. Invoice 6 didn’t apply to household farms and relations, opposite to disinformation unfold by Conservative politicians.

A current report from RBC (Local weather Report; April 2023) recognized a severe shortfall of farm and greenhouse labour of 24,000 inside 10 years, and with out a assure of farm security and compensation requirements (Invoice 6) that different provinces get pleasure from, it’s no marvel Alberta has its personal crucial scarcity and loses million of {dollars} yearly in productiveness — roughly $900 million in losses in 2019. These are priceless staff who put meals on our tables and deserve excessive requirements of employment, security and compensation, as all staff do

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And what of the tragic lack of lives that continues in farming and ranching? The Alberta Farmer Specific (Erin Kelly; April 24) reported from 1990 to 2020 there have been 2,814 agriculture-related fatalities in Canada, a mean of 91 deaths annually. Of explicit concern is the fatality fee for the under-14 age group, based on Dr. Don Voaklander, U of A researcher. Invoice 6 offered evidence-based requirements for protected ages and particular work; a primary in Alberta.

Invoice 6 has been wrongly vilified for political functions. Its reinstatement would go a protracted method to attracting wanted farm and greenhouse labour, and defend the well being and lives of farm staff, together with youngsters.

David Swann, Calgary

Take assets export into our personal fingers

We have to develop the services at Churchill or different locations alongside the Manitoba coast with Hudson Bay.

This may make exporting LNG, oil and all kinds of grains a lot simpler than going to the east or west coast. We don’t should take care of the Quebec politics nor the woke U.S. president to get our assets to market.

We are able to do that from our personal Prairie provinces. Why should not Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba getting collectively to develop this.

Neglect in regards to the federal authorities, as a result of all they’re keen on helps Quebec.

Invoice Stemp, Calgary