Re: “Wish list long, money short for improving public transit” (The Gazette, Aug. 11)
The photo of the line of workers at the new Vertières métro station immediately brought to mind the song Heigh-Ho from the classic movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Thanks for bringing back great memories and making me smile, even if it wasn’t The Gazette’s intention.
Terry Smith, St-Lambert
Patients pay price as Quebec government shirks its health-care responsibility
Re: “Despite Santé Québec’s efforts, ER overcrowding getting worse” (The Gazette, July 25)
In Quebec, there is always an excuse for the overcrowding, dysfunction and danger in its emergency departments.
If it’s not the summer, then it’s the winter. If it’s not flu season, then it’s heat and humidity. There is always some convenient reason Quebecers are forced to suffer and, in some cases, die prematurely and unnecessarily, and the government gets to escape responsibility for its failure to meaningfully address the issue.
Hospital overcrowding and congested ERs are driven in large part by inadequate acute-care hospital bed capacity, forcing patients to languish on ER stretchers for hours or even days. In occupying limited essential treatment areas of the ER, those in the waiting room are forced to wait until their privacy and dignity can be assured.
The Quebec government has never accepted this reality and instead clings to the long-discredited myth that overcrowding is caused by patients with minor illnesses and that the solution is to divert them away from the ERs to community clinics.
Alan Drummond, MD, Perth, Ont.
Mexico and Canada should test Trump by halting food and energy exports to U.S.
Re: “Trump points finger at Quebec as he hits Canada with 50% tariffs, citing booze, dairy disputes” (The Gazette, July 20)
Donald Trump said he is “not looking to renew” the USMCA trade agreement and that the U.S. does not need anything from Mexico and Canada.
In that case, I think Mexico should stop exporting fruits and vegetables north of the border, and Canada should stop exporting electricity, oil and natural gas south to the States.
What would he have to say then?
Danny Katz, Laval
Former head of Centennial Academy helped students thrive
Re: “Pioneering educator’s secret is ‘believe in students’ ” (The Gazette, June 27)
What a fabulous article about Angela Burgos, the head of Centennial Academy, who stepped down from her post on June 30 after 28 years.
Her approach to educating students who learn differently from mainstream pupils succeeded in helping many believe in themselves so that they are able to reach their potential academically and socially.
I know first-hand how wonderful Centennial Academy is because my son graduated from that school even before Burgos became head of it. He went on to graduate from CEGEP and Concordia University.
Students need positive enforcement and realistic boundaries to succeed. Centennial Academy certainly did that for so many.
I wish Ms. Burgos much good health in her retirement.
Franceen Goodman Finesilver, Côte-St-Luc
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