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5 Comment(s)

Moose draw too lenient

To The Editor:

As an avid hunter I would like to know why every man and his dog has the right to apply for the yearly moose hunt draw.

I've been applying for the last 15 years with no success. I enquired with the Department of Natural Resources and they told me that I was in a certain class which gave me a better chance at the draw. No luck again this year!

What angers me is that a neighbour's daughter applied for the first time this year in the same zone as me and was successful. This person does not own a firearm, has never hunted, does not have a firearm safety course and had someone else shoot a moose for her.

I strongly believe there should be a rule set up. If you want to hunt you should at the very least produce a firearm possession certificate and pass a hunter safety course like the rest of us.

Is it just me that feels this way? Please describe hunting to me, DNR. I figure that it all boils down to the same thing, the big cash grab.

Our government promotes hunter safety but lets every Tom, Dick and no experience Harry apply, thus reducing my chances again.

Daniel Bastarache,

Lakeville

Drivers have to wake up!

To The Editor:

A few day's ago I watched with dismay as a lady with a stroller tried to cross Mountain Road at Hildegard: although she had the walk signal, the traffic would not allow her to walk.

I could see the frustration and fear on her face as they just kept making their right turns, cutting her off each time!

I wonder what it's going to take for drivers in this city to wake up?

Pedestrians do have the right of way. Maybe they do need higher insurance premiums.

Now this morning I walked my grandson to day care and coming back had the same problem at the same intersection, almost being run into by a pickup truck making a right turn off Hildergard.

For one thing, there is a light post right on the corner that should not be there as it blocks the drivers' view; also there needs to be an audible warning when the walk signal is pushed, or perhaps all lights should turn red at the same time.

There are far too many drivers running lights in this city and not paying attention in general, talking on cell phones, not using blinkers, driving over painted medians, speeding, changing lanes in intersections while making turns, changing lanes as soon as the person in front touches the brake (again most times with no signal), and the list goes on.

Perhaps what we need is a little more enforcement. If people start getting big fines they might realize that their driving habits need to change.

Oh, another good one is the mad dash through the parking lots to avoid a couple of minutes wait at a light!

I have complained to the last three administrations at city hall but to no avail; they are too preoccupied with chili peppers and Swiss Char to do something constructive; oh yeah, and bonuses.

In closing I challenge this paper to go out and spend time at a few of these intersections to see for themselves . . . and don't forget your camera.

G. Finck,

Moncton

Back to the basement?

To The Editor:

This city is fortunate to have a facility such as The Moncton Hospital. With the new ambulatory care centre slated to open sometime soon, the hospital will surely rank among the best in Atlantic Canada.

In an ironic and not so funny twist, however, you must risk life and limb to enter the building. Years ago, the smokers were relegated to a little indoor room where they could indulge their vice, all the while enjoying all their fellow smokers' cast-offs.

In our forward thinking manner we banned all indoor smoking. This should be a good thing, but the smokers didn't go away . . . they went outside to our parks, pools, sidewalks, trails, entryways and doorways. So the city banned outdoor smoking (effective Jan. 8, 2007) except in parking lots. "Citizens and employees must remain at least 10 metres away from all entranceways, doorways, and walkways WITHIN the parking lot). The hospital addressed the issue of outdoor smoking by expanding the no smoking area directly in front of the main entranceway to the building. This lasted all but a week or two. There are now ashtrays less than 10 metres from the door (to the left coming out, right by the tree everyone goes under).

There is a mangled mess of IV poles, wheelchairs and patients, to the right as you leave and a strong contingent of staff directly across the street sitting on the curb at the crosswalk (walkway).

This past spring the gutters were white with discarded stumps of filth.

And so the decision . . . does one risk second-hand smoke exposure and therefore life to enter the hospital or does one risk limb and jaywalk in a vain attempt to avoid at least one obstacle of the gauntlet that is the front of The Moncton Hospital?

Couldn't we just put them back in the basement?

Kay Browne,

Riverview

Excellent care at hospital

To The Editor:

More often we hear the negatives about health care, lack of doctors, nurses, funding, etc., but my recent experience in the health care system was a positive one.

I spent five days in The Moncton Hospital, 3rd Floor Cardiac Critical Care, and a day in Emergency.

With the only exception being my illness, my experience was a very positive one. The care and attention I received, from admitting to the 3rd Floor Cardiac unit, was excellent. All doctors, nurses, technicians and attendants went that extra mile to ensure comfort, care and attention was given at all times. Not once did I hear a complaint of how busy they were.

I thank them very much for upholding an excellent standard of care. I'm sure it is contributing to my recovery.

Tony Baker

Moncton

Subliminal politics?

To The Editor:

I found the subliminal message put forth by the CBC during the two electoral debates to have been, quite frankly, amateurish. I do hope that other Canadians noticed the same thing.

At a round (sic) table we had the three major opposition parties (Liberals, NDP, Bloc) on one side and the Conservatives and the (we really don't want you here but public outrage demands it) Greens on the other.

Coincidence?

I don't think so.

Ron Murphy,

Shediac Bridge