Today’s letters: Here’s why no one joins Canada’s military

Article content

Here’s yet another Canadian military embarrassment. Flooding on ships, which causes corrosion to equipment. Anchors that have insufficient holding power in the best of conditions. Drinking water that contains higher than average levels of lead. Refuelling systems that are too heavy to use as well as structural issues hindering the operation of helicopters.

Article content

Ships can’t perform emergency towing and as well have issues with launching lifeboats. Oh, and the supplier of satellite communications on vessels no longer has the security clearance to provide the navy with parts.

This, along with the military’s skyrocketing budget for aircraft — from $164 billion to $214.8 billion simply because of delays. Let’s not talk about the issues surrounding sexual misconduct, which is rampant in the service. Hard to believe that no one wants to join the Armed Forces. It’s a bit of a joke, but a really bad joke.

Susan Gerrard, Nepean

How about a rebate for snow non-removal?

Many of my neighbours have posts on either side of their driveways indicating that they use one of the various snow removal services available in Ottawa. Given that we’re having an apparent record-low year for snowfall, that got me thinking about how my neighbours pay for this service.

I found out that there’s an escalator clause, whereby if the total snowfall exceeds a certain amount, the snow-clearing company will charge a premium. However, there is no “opposite” clause protecting the consumer when there is very little snow and the service providers have been idle for weeks at a time.

Article content

This means they have not had their usual costs of fuel, staff, equipment maintenance and repair etc., resulting in an extraordinarily profitable season for these service providers. Wouldn’t it be nice if all of their customers contacted them and asked for some kind of compensation, whether a rebate or an early renewal incentive for next year? Wouldn’t it be even nicer if some of these service provider firms did so proactively in the name of customer satisfaction and shared some of their windfall profits with their loyal customers?

In the meantime, I’ll keep going with my large snow scoop shovel next winter.

Murray Kronick, Ottawa

Give us more of Kelly Egan

Re: Egan, How can we honour the innocents killed in Barrhaven? March 11.

Great excitement in the Citizen recently: “He’s back! Kelly Egan is back!” But no. Just looking in, this once, to remind us what a wonderful writer can evoke in us readers: pain, denial, sympathy and regret — but in spite of all, hope.

Please, Ottawa Citizen, could we have more Kelly Egan? We miss him so.

Pat Howard, Ottawa

Share this article in your social network