Sound Off -- Dec.17, 2012

Cowardly act

As a full-time student at Brandon University I am outraged that it is mandatory for all students to pay a $35 fee per semester to use the new Healthy Living Centre. I have only entered the old gym to write finals and will never use the Healthy Living Centre to regain my $35. Why should all students have to pay for the equipment that will mostly be used by the university Bobcats players? This is a sheepish act by the university especially because most students were informed by email on Nov. 30 telling them that the fees would be added to their account on Dec. 3.

Constantly wanting more

Just bought a new house for around $237,000 and paid $2,674 in land transfer tax and $7,280 in GST. That’s a total of $9,954, and that’s a small home! Plus the province still wants another five per cent on almost everything I buy in Manitoba. I saw in the paper the other day that the government still had a debit of just over $437 million from last year. I ask you, when is this government going to balance the books? It’s the NDP way ... just spend, spend, spend and mortgage my great grandchild’s future!

The right to go free?

I guess if you are an aboriginal and have a lasting impact of European colonization, it doesn’t matter what crime you commit — especially ‘horrific’ ones — you are free to go and do no time. For one, I’m sick of all the excuses.

Start your own fundraising like others have done

Now that the Murray House has completed raising funds they can start building and not have to wait for government handouts. When is the Strand going to get off their butts and start raising funds and demonstrate to the provincial and federal government that they have raised a good precentage of the required funds themselves. So far, they have done nothing that I have heard of in raising the necessary funds themselves. The federal government should turn them down again when they submit their request.

Bylaws need to be enforced

Yes, the law is the law and our city council and police force should be enforcing it when it comes to our “bylaws.” It just shows our council have no intention of ordering enforcement, they just enjoy passing bylaws, it makes them look busy. Our garbage bin bylaw, and many more, need to be enforced by council ordering them to be enforced.

Well, back in the day

I think that the discussion on the F-35 could be somewhat like the discussion that might have taken place in 1949. “Should we purchase these expensive new-fangled jet planes or the latest versions of the Spitfire?” We know how to work on them and we know how to fly them. The F-35 makes all other planes, with the exception of the F-22, obsolete.

Let’s be a little more realistic

Regarding percentage wage hikes. As the annual wages are very high and increases seem to run around the two per cent mark for those who think with a sound mind. The percentage raises increase the difference between the top and the bottom staff which is not fair, as the bottom personnel cost of living is the same as the top personnel. As the city employees make what most taxpayers believe is a fair wage let’s try and keep the increases more in line to what we can afford. Perhaps the unions could meet us half way and only hold out one hand instead of both hands.

Let’s get the facts straight

I personally remember Henry Champ in his youth. I do not remember him being a remarkable athlete. At best he was a mediocre player in the old YMCA league. I do not dispute his outstanding career as a renowned journalist. Indeed in this area he was “remarkable.” If the truth were told “the old BU gym” is being named after him posthumously because of his role as chancellor and his worldwide visibility as a foreign correspondent.

Can’t pay the fine

I know if you break the law you must do the time or pay the fine, but is the fine system fair? A person who makes $25-$40 a hour has little trouble paying off a $100 fine, the person who earns minimum wage has a tough time with this system, as we all know these people need all the help they can get to provide food and shelter for themselves and their family.

Karma will get you

Regarding puppies left at the side of the road. I, too, am sickened by the cruelty exhibited by the people who left the puppies by the side of the road. If you can throw out animals by the side of the road, why can you not leave them outside the Humane Society or a vet clinic? The only thing that comforts me is what goes around comes around. It may take a while, but it will happen.

Family room missing

I was disappointed to see that two years ago when I was on the palliative care ward at the hospital that there was a family room furnished with donations from previous families and patients. I was recently there to visit and this family room has been removed and is now an office. I think that is very unfortunate. Now there is nowhere for families to get away for a few moments or to talk to the doctors or whatever is necessary. Plus, where did all this stuff that was donated go?

Appreciate people being so honest

I would like to sincerely thank the person who turned in my purse from the shopping cart from the south end Sobey’s on Dec. 11 in the afternoon. I am so appreciative and can’t thank you enough.

Turn down the volume

In the Dec. 13 paper on page A5 there was an article entitled, “Health Canada Reminds You To Turn Down Volume To Protect Your Hearing.” Maybe the Keystone Centre and the Brandon Wheat Kings should give it a read and do something about that loud music they play at the hockey games. They wouldn’t like to work in that noise so perhaps if they turned it down a bit they might get more people out to the hockey games.

Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition December 17, 2012