Today’s letters: Canada should train own pilots, not send them south

Article content

We can train our own pilots

Re: Canada’s Air Force ends pilot training as Ottawa’s spending priorities grow more unbalanced, March 13. 

Article content

As a former RCAF pilot and instructor, I was greatly disappointed in the recent decision to cancel future pilot training and have our future pilots train to Wings Standard in the United States.

In the past, Canadians always set a high standard for training pilots. During my career, I had the privilege of Instructing on The T-33, Silver Star. I instructed students from all NATO countries. It is sad to see such expertise lost to our Canadian youth.

Article content

Don McKay, Carleton Place

Cellular services still quite costly

Today, on the news, it was stated that inflation was slowing and this was partly due to the cost of cellular service in Canada going down by 24 per cent. I cannot accept this when Bell just sent me notice this month that the cost of two cellphones was going up $6 a month for each.

One will now cost $50.50 a month and the other $86. That is an increase of 13.5 per cent for one and eight per cent for the other. Some decrease.

Ian C.D. Moffat, Ottawa

Funding: It’s still a man’s world

Re: Funding to end for program that reviews cases of sexual assault, March 15.

This program came into being because sexual assault cases are being closed, inappropriately, by police. No matter that we have women living in fear for their lives and their children’s lives.

Women are disadvantaged because research/data fail to take gender into account. Males are treated as the default — the normal human — and females as atypical.  Consequently, bias and discrimination are baked into our systems. Women pay tremendous costs for this insidious bias, often with their lives.

Article content

Women figured  prominently and authoritatively in church history, taking leadership in many early church communities. Yet today religion is one of patriarchy’s strongholds.

In last Saturday’s Citizen, Ann Hornaday bemoans the lack of female representation in all areas of film-making. Female designers are underrepresented in the automative industry at around 10 per cent, yet are responsible for: adjustable lumbar seats, child latch systems that hold car seats, and retractable seat belts. They are still fighting to have storage for purses.

It’s a one-size-fits-all and that size fits men.

Alma Haggart, Orlèans

Great family, great story-telling

Re: ‘He was all about family’, March 15.

Congratulations to Sabrina Bedford on a great writing job on the life and times of Joe Hudson and his family. Sad times for the family but they must be very proud of their father.

Great story-telling and a great family. Keep up the good work.

D.J. Phillips, Gloucester

Article content