Wednesday's letters: Immigrants work hard and give back

I am an immigrant and Canadian citizen. Six years after we came from Europe, Dad passed away, leaving Mom with eight young kids. We are forever grateful to Canada for providing social assistance while Mom qualified to resume her nursing career. She supported us and encouraged post-secondary education.

We have more than repaid that assistance. That’s what immigrants do. We come to Canada, work hard and give back. I am voting yes to stay in Canada and no to the other nine questions.

Ann Elzinga, Sherwood Park

I live in a mature neighbourhood adversely impacted by infill development. I am not opposed to increased density in the core and believe most in my neighbourhood would also support reasonable infill. However, the current development allowed by the city can never be supported by those living in communities seeing eight-plex units replacing single-family homes.

The block I live on includes historic homes as well as a mix of pre- and postwar homes, infill skinnies and an eight-plex. Parking, pressure on an already overtaxed drainage system and reduced property values are just a few of the challenges related to the building of this eight-unit structure on a 60-foot lot. Council has not listened to the concerns of those most affected by large infill projects. I applaud the province for responding to the very reasonable concerns of those most affected by the unfettered development encouraged by council.

Our elected city representatives now have an opportunity to reset plans to increase population in core communities. I hope that this will spur council to review priorities, develop more effective consultation processes and use the massive increase in tax dollars generated by responsible infill to better our city. Until now, they have failed to do this.

Kevin Stevenson, Edmonton

As a 40-year resident of a neighbourhood recently overrun with massive, design-starved multiplexes, I am happy to assert that the majority of my neighbours understand we need greater density. Two skinnies on a former 50-foot lot are fine, maybe even with basement suites.

But infill housing must be respectful and same, not simply as a huge profit opportunity to council’s developer donors.

Alex Macdonald, Edmonton

Don’t leave advance directives up to province

I was pleasantly surprised to hear last week that the federal government is to allow advanced directives within an expanded MAID program. My pleasure soon evaporated when I heard that it would be up to the provinces to pass enabling legislation. Fat chance, then, in Alberta. We already know that the UCP wants to reduce access to MAID, not expand it.

Administering advance requests will be more difficult, for sure. There could be unpleasant scenarios when, say, a dementia patient, forgetful of the request, instinctively resists what is perceived to be an assault. But what is the alternative? Long years warehoused in a dementia ward, mechanically alive but with life no longer of any use, fed and kept clean by strangers, possibly subject to mental torture or anti-social behaviour that is completely out of character, families’ lives hijacked?

This is a future that many of us fear, and it should not be made more likely by the ideological whims of provincial politicians. On the matter of serious mental illness not qualifying for MAID, I wonder what the statistics are on the suicides of sufferers. Are we perhaps swapping suicide for MAID?

P.J. Cotterill, Edmonton

Canadians do appreciate Alberta

To all who live in Alberta, please hear me. You are wanted, appreciated and essential to our great country. I appreciate your strong and unique province, the many people of different origins who helped make this country, and I want you very much to remain in Canada.

That you have grievances and feel unheard, I understand. We have to do better. Listen to me and hear. Please vote to stay in Canada. Help us make this great country better and stronger.

Angela Sirnick, Ottawa