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Kudos and huge thanks to organizers and volunteers who hosted the Three Fires Homecoming Pow Wow and Traditional Gathering in Hagersville this past weekend.

The gathering — first pow wow for the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation since the pandemic lockdown — was simply splendid.

It had been 30 years since I attended my first pow wow as part of my work. This time, I brought family members visiting from Australia and Thailand. Saturday’s gathering was the main event for us in a day that included a visit to the Woodland Cultural Centre and grounds of the former Mohawk Institute Residential School in Brantford. Judging by my sister-in-law’s beaming face as she danced among dozens of experienced pow wow goers, I don’t think her first pow wow will be her last.

The recent plans for seniors presented by the Conservative Minister for Health must be strongly contested. We taxpaying elders have had to endure the dehumanizing term “bed blockers” for several years. Enough!

Does this government think we have forgotten how seniors in long term-care were treated during the pandemic? Nearly 4,000 deaths in Ontario occurred in long-term care during this period. Our government knows about these homes. Currently 30 per cent of LTC homes in Ontario have outbreaks.

Finally, might there be compassionate lawyers in Ontario who would defend the human rights of our older helpless citizens deemed dispensable by this Conservative government? I hope so.

Regarding “It’s now clear Canada has a two-tier justice system” (Aug. 19): The freedom of the press is central to Canadian society. So is freedom of expression. These are sacred principles underlying our great country. They underscore our “freedoms” as Canadians. Thus said, Brian Giesbrecht of the Frontier Centre for Public Policy has the right to express his views as published in the Hamilton Spectator a few days ago.

My questions to the editors at The Spectator is whether newspapers have the obligation to scrutinize the historical backgrounds of authors and their institutional alliances? Mr. Giesbrecht and his views are not new to controversies over interpretations of events and facts. The Winnipeg Sun was challenged in 2021 over Mr. Giesbrecht’s questioning of atrocities inflicted upon Indigenous peoples in residential schools. The far-right think tank he writes for came under fire in 2019 over opinions expressed over the relationship between race and IQ. The centre also boasts prominent climate deniers as research fellows.

I do not profess to have answers to how newspapers decide to whom they provide a platform for controversial opinions. It is time, I think, for editors to apprise us of how such decisions are made.

To writers Oke and McMenemy: Those yahoo drivers with noise-enhancing mufflers may start out in Burlington on their way to Dundas, but they definitely go via Waterdown.

I agree 100 per cent with Michael Coren. Those false Christians are very dangerous. While they claim to be “the true Christians,” their philosophy and lifestyle is exactly the opposite of what Jesus and the apostles taught. They should call themselves something else.

A major coffee chain uses paper straws but plastic cold drink cups. Interesting.

The Trump and Black letter prompts me to question of Mr. Black having renounced his Canadian citizenship for British citizenship, and having been convicted of a felony in the USA. If so what is Mr. Black still doing in Canada?

To rephrase Bob Dylan, “ ... and something’s happening here but you don’t know what it is, do you Mrs. Jones.”

So Sylvia Jones wants Ontario to be “bold, innovative and creative,” but fails to address the elephant in the room, Bill 124, which continues to have an injurious effect on nurses.

Until this bill is rescinded no amount of creativity will help as nurses will continue to flee to the private sector or leave the profession for good.

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