Teachers want answers
Open Letter to Larry Bagnell, Pam Boyde and Sue Greetham,
The Yukon Teachers’ Association has made representation to the Public Service Superannuation Plan to not delay pension payments to September for teachers North of 60 who retire in June.
The Canadian Teachers’ Federation has also made interventions on our behalf, and received little reaction to correct this disadvantage to our members.
Our members who retire in June cannot access pension payments until September.
Though they work a 10-month school year, our membership, which includes teachers and paraprofessionals, have their annual salary divided into 26 pay periods.
Our members have completed their contract at the end of June, similar to other teachers and paraprofessionals in the country who receive pension benefits for July and August.
What is your position on this matter and will you advocate for our teachers to have this policy reversed?
Sandra Henderson, president, Yukon Teachers’ Association, Whitehorse
Time for a
refreshing change
Some people seem to think that it’s OK to vote for Larry Bagnell even though he represents a party that is corrupt and arrogant.
Some claim that he has done good things.
Excuse me, but it’s the MP’s job to do things and work hard for their constituents.
Every MP gets a big paycheque to do that. Some do it better than others.
Having witnessed the performance of many MPs over the years, I can say Larry is not one of them.
He’s very good at glad-handing, showing up at events, taking credit for things he had nothing to do with and flying the Liberal flag.
But his silence at issues critical to Yukon voters has been deafening.
Just check his voting record at www.howdtheyvote.ca.
Pam Boyde is way nicer than Larry could ever claim to be. And there is no question she’ll work even harder, especially on things that matter to Yukon people and communities.
As an NDP MP, Pam will be able to speak up loud and clear in the House of Commons on any and all Yukon issues. She won’t be silenced by Liberal Party rules.
What a refreshing change that will be.
And with a minority Parliament likely, the best of all options for Yukoners is to have an NDP MP.
A larger NDP caucus will be in an excellent position to advocate for Yukon interests. The NDP got results in the last Parliament; having more NDP MPs after January 23rd will make things even better.
Max Fraser
Whitehorse
Too hard on Lang
Good grief, Archie Lang actually cut trees down on a huge public area, 0.16 hectares, (get out the tape measure boys), in an effort to Firesmart his lot.
That together with his boathouse and floating dock demand, at a minimum, that a judicial inquiry be started and while we are at it, as you suggested, lets dig up his septic tank — who knows what could be hiding inside.
You mentioned that he was sued for selling a squirrel infested house several years ago, but failed to inform us of the outcome of the lawsuit.
I have no problem with you going after Archie on his long outstanding government loan and ministerial responsibilities but RM you do seem to get carried away.
Makes one happy to reside in Watson Lake, where we don’t seem so uptight and there is not a NDP supporter lurking behind every tree.
John Skelton
Watson Lake
Booing embarrassment
Open letter to the management, staff, coaches, and most importantly, the player’s of the USA National Under-20 Hockey Team,
The young men mentioned above competed bravely under great duress at the recent IIHF hockey tournament held in Vancouver, Kamloops and Kelowna, British Columbia, from December 26 to January 5.
They were booed.
Every game they played, they were booed.
Jack Johnson was booed almost every time he touched the puck.
And I am embarrassed.
As a Canadian, I am embarrassed by the fact that many of those fans that booed you were wearing Canadian jerseys. One can only discern then, that those Canadian-jersey-wearers were, mostly I’m sure, Canadians.
On behalf of the Canadians that I have spoken with since the first game you were booed, we are sorry. The conduct of those fans, in our books, was unacceptable. You don’t control softwood lumber, the price of oil, or the war in Iraq.
Why a group of Canadians would blow an opportunity to show the world, at least the ice hockey world, that we are polite, gracious hosts, is beyond me.
Why a group of Canadians would maliciously and unnecessarily boo a hockey team of teenage boys, who wore their country’s jersey with pride, is also beyond me.
I hope that every Canadian fan that booed you is ashamed of themselves. Members of the Canadian media were also confused and embarrassed by the conduct of the booing fans, and made mention of it more than once.
Some Canadians I talked to are furious.
We are sorry.
You played exciting, quality hockey.
You were a pleasure and entertaining to watch, you should be proud of your play, as should your entire country.
That having been said, take this experience you have had, this great adversity you have overcome as being a positive experience.
Anytime life seems tough, never forget how strong you were, you are, to take to the ice in front of 16,000 booing fans for 60 minutes, and play great hockey. That is truly admirable.
You held your heads high and played as champions. You have earned the respect of this Canadian, and every other Canadian I have talked to. You all have great things ahead of you, take this experience and grow from it.
Most importantly, please understand those booing fans were not representative of Canada. It made the rest of us sick to our stomachs to hear, and blush with embarrassment. Keep up the great work, you guys played great!
If you ever hear someone cheering for you from Canada, it’s me.
Timothy Marshall
Puce, Ontario
