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Tyler Shandro, Alberta Minister of Health
With respect, CPS can do better
I greatly respect the CPS, but I think J.A. Redford misunderstands the situation. City council never said “honourable police officers” are guilty of systemic racism, discrimination, etc., rather that the CPS organization is guilty of that.
Instead of feeling your reputation has been besmirched, you should be asking “What do others see about the CPS that I don’t see?” The most obvious thing is recruiting. The CPS recruits heavily from the U.K. and I wonder why it doesn’t recruit from police forces in India or the Philippines or Nigeria, all of which have significantly larger forces to select from. The CPS is not saying “coloured people need not apply”, but they are saying “white people are welcome to apply”.
You fail to mention that more than one female officer has complained about sexist attitudes, and there are fewer of them.
It is not good enough for officers to say “I’m not a racist and I don’t discriminate therefore I’m not part of the problem.” Look at it from the perspective of those who have had adverse interactions and ask “What could the CPS do better and why isn’t it happening?”
John Piera, Calgary
Ordinary versus privileged
Re: AFL‘s boycott only serves to stoke political flames, Opinion, Oct. 13
AFL president Gil McGowan refers to his members as “ordinary Albertans.” A more accurate term would be “privileged Albertans.”
Without private sector taxes, the public sector could not exist. Through their income taxes, private-sector workers are forced to pay for those better wages (9.3% better on average) and better benefits, while few are entitled to such benefits themselves. I have also not heard of one full-time government employee who lost their job or wages due to the pandemic.
Yes, there is a “union advantage.” And ordinary Albertans are being taken advantage of.
Christine Buchanan, Calgary
