Letter: Respect lost

To the editor:

I had to reply to Coun. Aldo Ruberto's letter in your Sept 30. newspaper.

Wow, is he ever out of touch with the lives of the average person in Thunder Bay. I suggest he visit a few locations in order to have his eyes opened and to be able to properly serve the people of Thunder Bay.

It is a sad affair when the suffering of families is treated with such a flippant attitude. I take great offense with his use of misinformation.

No, Mr. Ruberto our young people are not properly and respectfully employed. Perhaps the young adults in his milieu are due to the fact that he has many connections.

Since very few people without connections are employed in Thunder Bay, many have resorted to calling Thunder Bay the new Walkerton. But being so out of touch he probably hasn't heard that one. I suggest that he visit the airport before a flight is leaving for Alberta or Saskatchewan.

There are always tears as the majority of passengers are leaving home in order to have the opportunity to work.

The number of families separated from grandchildren, children, aunts, uncles is mindboggling. Check the facts at both boards of education to see that enrollment is down due to the mass exodus of young families.

Check the facts, to see how many people are working two and three minimum wage jobs just to try to make a living here.Yes, that is why our jobless rates seem lower than the rest of Ontario.

Visit Little Thunder Bay in Edmonton, Calgary and Saskatoon and actually talk to the thousands of young people who desparately want to be with their families in the Thunder Bay area.

Or just look at the huge number of Alberta license plates in our city. They are people visiting family and struggling with the fact that they cannot work here. I guess our unemployment rate benefits from them leaving.

Talk to all of the recent graduates who cannot get an apprenticeship here even though our government has told them that is where the jobs are and will be. They now have $20-30,000 of education debt and no job.

Please explain why Shelter House cannot deal with the serious increase in starving people.

Visit the injured workers who are expected to live on less than what is allotted to needy people on welfare. Share all of the facts about mining and exploration and how it is being delayed by our goverments’ continued mistreatment of Aboriginal rights, workers rights and share the terrible statistics regarding the working conditions of miners and disregard for safety in these mines.

I share your respect for Michael Gravelle and Bill Mauro. I know they have worked hard and have done much for this region. But I now have a hard time respecting Mr. Ruberto.

I agree the future of Thunder Bay can be bright again, but in order to do that we need representatives that are in touch with all people, not just those who are gainfully employed.

We need representatives who have a giant heart and do allow emotions to help them make decisions otherwise life in this city will become more heartless and depressing.

I do believe Thunder  Bay has an incredible amount to offer, but I refuse to be misleading with the true facts.
If we continue to disregard the feelings and suffering of so many families, then there will not be any progress. No one will care. Our Liberal politicians are working hard, we need to support them, but they also need to support us, especialyy at the council level.


Name withheld,
Thunder Bay