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Re: “Stay or leave Quebec? My thinking has changed” (Robert Libman, Sept. 7)

Robert Libman’s acute analysis of the situation under the Coalition Avenir Québec government strikes a painfully worrisome note as he details the continuing damage to the English-speaking community and concludes: “I feel it would be wrong today to encourage young anglophones to stay” — even if they are perfectly bilingual.

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As I was reading his description of the political and social “peaks and valleys” through the decades after an exodus of anglophones back in the 1970s, I kept looking for a ray of hope that would suggest things may change under a new government, as the currents tend to shift with new parties in power. But Libman barely sounds a hopeful note — even with a Liberal government, he writes, the damage is not likely to be reversed.

I find it to be a sad sign when a stalwart champion for anglophone rights appears to be throwing in the towel on the issue of the future of English-speaking youth in Quebec.

Goldie Olszynko, Mile End

Out-of-province students absent

Re: “Bishop’s blames Quebec government for expected 10% drop in out-of-province enrolment” (The Gazette, Sept. 4)

I work for a property owner on Lincoln Ave., a few blocks from Concordia University. We fill a good portion of our units with out-of-province students.

First-year students on average stay three to five years. We have 47 units. This time of year we are usually full. We now have 15 units available.

The trickle-down effect seems big as well. On a regular day we can have 20 to 25 DoorDash or Uber food deliveries. Now it’s fewer than 10.

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So my thoughts are that François Legault’s government may have just started a deep decline in the economy that may be impossible to turn around any time soon.

Mike Elbaz, Montreal

Royalmount crowd riding the métro?

Re: “Montreal mayor distressed with lack of housing in T.M.R.’s Royalmount project” (The Gazette, Sept. 5)

Mayor Valérie Plante says she is concerned the new Royalmount mall in Town of Mount Royal will worsen traffic in the area, and adds: “So, of course, I am inviting all Montrealers to go shopping, but use the métro.”

Does she really think shoppers going to upscale boutiques will travel to the mall by métro?

Be prepared for massive traffic delays.

Jo Ann Goldwater, Montreal West

Graffiti removed from Dieppe Park

Re: “Protect parks from vandalism” (Letters, Sept. 12)

An update to my letter about vandalism at Dieppe Park near Habitat 67:

In all fairness to the City of Montreal, I’m happy to report that after I informed them the park had been desecrated again, a squad was sent to remove the graffiti a second time — and they did a great job.

Dieppe Park is beautiful again.

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Louise Horlington, Montreal

Not sold on Singh’s NDP

Re: “‘The Canadian dream is fading‘” (NP Montreal, Sept. 6)

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, after withdrawing support for the Liberal government, charges that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “will always cave to corporate greed” and that the federal Liberals cause “endless disappointment and delay.”

This is despite the Liberal government passing legislation banning the use of replacement workers in strikes, and moving forward on NDP demands for a new dental-care program for low-income Canadians, national pharmacare, 10 days of paid sick leave for federally regulated workers and a housing accelerator fund.

The chief source of Singh’s complaint appears to be the Liberal government’s use of forced arbitration to end the recent railway lockout after negotiations broke down. However, could it not be that the government was genuinely trying to ensure the transport of vital goods and not that it was “caving” in any way?

Singh claims Trudeau lacks the courage and strength to tackle issues like the cost of living, housing affordability and access to health care. And yet, from what I can see, he offers no specific ideas of how the NDP would do better than the Liberals.

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Robert Hajaly, Montreal

Give parents more say in our schools

Re: “Former Quebec Liberal minister Pierre Moreau named Canadian senator” (The Gazette, Sept. 10)

Congratulations to Pierre Moreau on his appointment as the new senator from Quebec.

In 2016, he was minister of education mainly responsible for introducing Liberal school board reform Bill 86 — “to give schools a greater say in decision-making and ensure parents’ presence within each school board’s decision-making body,” as the bill says.

Unfortunately, there were dissenting voices, and the bill collapsed.

I believe it is crucial to recognize that the heart of educational progress lies within the school setting. This is exactly why governing boards must prioritize granting parents, who are the first educators, greater influence within their children’s schools.

Chris Eustace Pierrefonds

Reacquainted with familiar artwork

Re: “Where art and medicine meet: A glimpse inside the MUHC’s archives” (Extra, Sept. 7)

Among the artworks at the McGill University Health Centre, I was pleased to note a description of Dr. Norman Bethune’s painting Night Operating Theatre, which is so familiar to me.

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Before it reached the MUHC, it hung over the fireplace in the medical library of the old Royal Victoria Hospital on des Pins Ave. As head librarian for many years, it was always in my line of vision from my office.

Sandra Duchow, Côte-St-Luc

Bravo to Lakeshore ICU’s devoted staff

I recently spent six weeks in the Lakeshore General Hospital’s intensive care unit. The ICU team was awesome. They saved my life and put me on the road to recovery. I will be forever grateful.

During my stay, I got to interact with the numerous kinds of people it takes to operate an ICU: administrators, doctors, nurses, orderlies, respiratory therapists, maintenance workers and more. The people who took care of me provided a high level of professionalism that made a difficult situation much easier.

Not only did they take care of me physically, they also went out of their way to support my family. Their communication and compassion helped reassure my loved ones throughout my treatment, making them feel involved and confident in my recovery. The team was patient, responsive and always available to answer questions, easing the anxiety that naturally comes with a serious health crisis.

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Despite their busy schedules and heavy workloads, the team provided a personal touch that always made me feel safe and cared for. They demonstrated exemplary teamwork as they collaborated across roles and shifts to ensure that my case never missed a beat. They are a super-impressive team and should be recognized for the good work they perform.

Karim Bittar, Kirkland

Fentanyl’s scourge destroying lives

The widespread addiction of fentanyl is spreading like wildfire. All citizens are potential victims.

I became a victim when I was driving in six lanes of traffic and was struck head-on by a woman high on fentanyl travelling at high speed. I was rushed by ambulance to an emergency hospital where they expected to find multiple internal injuries. After several hours of examinations and X-rays, to their amazement they found nothing.

My car was towed to a junkyard in St. Petersburg, Fla. Had I been driving a smaller car, I would have been killed.

The scourge of fentanyl is everywhere and is destroying the lives of many. Parents, be on alert.

Rena Watson, Montreal

Submitting a letter to the editor

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