Letters: March 4

Re: First Nations History Month, Peigi Wilson

Acts of God

Recent articles in the Frontenac News have covered the story of how Addington Highlands council was unsuccessful in its request to the Ontario government for relief due to the post-Christmas ice storm. According to Addington Highlands Reeve Henry Hogg, the response of the province was that the trees along the roads that had become dangerous should have been cut prior to the storm. In the case of the ice-snow-ice storm we experienced over many days, trees along our township roads were bowed over by the tremendous weight of the ice and snow frozen on the branches, stubbornly refusing to melt. Over several days the trunks of the trees, even maples, simply could not withstand the pressure and bent over while stressing the root systems to the limit of their adhesion to the ground. The situation, as explained to me by a hydro forestry crew member, is that the frost around the roots will hold the tree upright as the snow and ice melt in the branches and the tree will appear to recover. But the real danger is that when the frost comes out of the ground, the tree will fall unexpectedly. So according to the province, the problem of these falling trees is quite preventable. I'm not an insurance adjuster, but haven't governments been able to absolve themselves of blame if trees fall on someone or cause accidents using the age-old" Act of God" provision? Right now it appears that falling trees in Ontario can no longer be considered as "Acts of God" and the government is now liable if your vehicle is struck by a falling tree in Ontario.

Steve Giles

Re: First Nations History Month

I am writing with respect to the letter to the Editor in the Frontenac News, 25 February 2010 edition from Jennifer Bennett respecting ‘First Nations History Month’.

I am pleased to report that as of 4 June 2009, a private members bill sponsored by the Federal New Democratic Party was passed with unanimous consent in the House of Commons, pronouncing June as ‘Aboriginal History Month’.

This is an opportunity to share ‘the richness of culture, language, medicine, music, art and social interaction’ of Aboriginal peoples across Canada. As a Métis person, I look forward to an opportunity to do just that.

What we need now is for the federal and provincial governments to actually allocate resources to informing Canadians about Aboriginal history month and support efforts of schools, businesses, social groups, and communities, particularly Aboriginal communities, to celebrate the event.

This June, being the first full Aboriginal history month, provides an excellent opportunity for Frontenac County to reach out to Aboriginal residents and communities and come together in a spirit of respect and reconciliation. I suggest a formal gathering of mayors and other elected officials from the non-Aboriginal community along with representatives of local Aboriginal communities to share a peace pipe and renew positive relations.

All our relations,

Peigi Wilson, LL.M.

Double standard?

First and foremost, I need to express that I fully support our police. I just need to know where there is a clause in the Ontario Provincial law about hand-held devices, that excludes the police. Today I am driving up Road 38, and coming southbound is an OPP cruiser, and lo and behold the officer is talking on his "hand-held" device - no it was not a walkie-talkie; no it was not his radio - it was a cell phone - up to his ear. Now if I were talking on mine, he would pull me over and give me a ticket. That is why I have a bluetooth. So why do we not provide the officers with hands-free devices, such as Bluetooth, etc. and make them use them?

We should all be made to abide by the new law - police included.

Deb Fischer