Today's letters: Ottawa public servants, bring your cats to work

Wednesday, Sept. 18: Public servants returning to infested offices might like to let loose some mouse-hungry felines, says one reader. You can write to us too, at [email protected]

Published Sep 18, 2024  •  Last updated 6 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

Yeeeccchh: There were 70 confirmed cases reported of mice in federal government buildings this spring. Photo by Handout

Felines can fix office pest problems

Re: Bats, rats and bedbugs: Ottawa public servants returning to pest-ridden buildings, Sept. 12.

As a federal retiree, I count myself lucky not to have to report to a makeshift, rodent-infested office three days a week. But for those less fortunate folk still accruing their pensionable service, allow me to offer a small suggestion: Why not organize a Bring Your Cat to Work Day?

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I’m confident that once these felines witness the sumptuous spread that awaits them, they will be clamouring to frequent the office not just three or four days a week, but 24/7!

Barbara Kaye, Nepean

Where’s Canada’s Taylor Swift?

No matter who is elected at any level in Canada, our voter turnout is usually a huge disappointment. Far too often, “I really don’t care” or “they’re all the same” wins the undeclared poll.

I am not a “Swiftie.” But Taylor Swift is getting so many Americans off the couch to become real voters and register for the November election.

With important elections on our own horizon, where’s our “Swift bump”? Blake, The Weeknd, Alanis, K.D., Celine…? Your time is now!

Thomas Brawn, Orléans

Transpo should stop free riders

I have been a regular user of OC Transpo since 1982. I am well aware that most security officers were removed from the buses when the O-Train was put into service.

I still use the bus system, and on almost every trip I see people getting on, usually at the middle or back door, without paying. These are adults, not students. On one recent trip, I counted 19 free riders boarding.

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Maybe, if the brass at OC Transpo took a bus once in a while, they would understand the reasons for some of that large deficit.

Donald Bedier, Ottawa

Cash-strapped city shouldn’t help fund arena

The citizens of Ottawa are facing a potential 2.9 per cent property tax increase, and a transit fare increase of up to 75 per cent in the upcoming 2025 municipal budget. That is the worst-case scenario, and likely won’t come to that, and you can blame whoever you want for whatever is to come. The fact of the matter is that the city is in quite a financial mess.

At the same time, Ottawa Senators’ owner Michael Andlauer is insisting on public “support” from all three levels of government to get a new arena, along with building an “arena district.” He says he is willing to pay his “fair share.” How big of him.

It would be completely ludicrous and irresponsible for the city to consider, for one second, putting a single dime into such a venture.

Todd Campbell, Ottawa

Officer, please curb your enthusiasm

I recently received a ticket even though I was parked in a perfectly legal spot, between the white line on the road and the curb. My offence? Parking “more than 15 cm from the raised curb.”

Perhaps our cash-strapped capital city wants us to carry measuring tapes so we can ensure we are not parking 16 cm or more from the curb, even in a legal parking spot.

Firdaus Kharas, Ottawa

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