YOU SAID IT: Knowing not a prerequisite

KNOWING NOT A PREREQUISITE

Re: FIRST READING: The new public safety minister doesn’t appear to know stuff, online, June 10

Article content

Recommended Videos

Article content

Article content

You would think that to become a minister responsible for any portfolio, that person should have at least a working knowledge of what he/she is looking after, but you would be wrong. The new minister of public safety really does not have a clue, and it showed during question period when asked about the most basic rules around firearms as well as the decriminalization of hard drugs.

This way of thinking runs rampant in every level of government, and I saw it first hand when totally competent people were micro-managed and forced to explain every aspect of their job because the new boss didn’t want to look stupid when questioned on something he/she knew nothing about.

There are only two ways to become a good boss: The first is to come through the ranks and understand what you are looking at, or second, allow those underneath you to make all the relevant decisions and you just stand there and look pretty.

Article content

WAYNE BOYCE
CARLETON PLACE

CHEW ON THIS

While watching the hockey playoffs, I’ve noticed the players’ mouthguards are constantly hanging out of their mouths. The players seem to enjoy chewing on them.

Aren’t the guards intended to protect the wearer’s mouth/teeth? What’s the use of having a mouthguard if it’s not worn properly? It’s like wearing a jock strap on your knee.

TOM C. NEWELL
NIAGARA FALLS, ONT.

MAKE IT MORE MEATY

Re: CHARLEBOIS: Where’s the beef? Priced out of the Canadian grill, online, June 5

A very good read by Dr. Sylvain Charlebois on the Canadian beef industry. While he brings up some very good points, a more direct approach would be to put up a timeline, starting in 1990, showing what the farmer got paid per pound for the cow and what a pound of hamburger cost. Go every five years or so.

It will show where the money is going. Spoiler alert, it is not to the farmer.

STEVE WALKER
RICHMOND HILL, ONT.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Your letters are welcome, at: OttSun.Oped@sunmedia.ca. Include your first and last name AND city/town. Keep your letters short — and please try to be civil, even when criticizing or disagreeing. We edit for accuracy, length, clarity and legal concerns.

Article content