This index compiles Flemming’s various letters to politicians and newspapers, written over a number of years.
The debate concerning freedom of speech and the Human Rights Commissions rages on. I worked for the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission for six years and for the Canadian Commission for twelve years, and retired in 1991, so I have … Continue reading
I highly recommend a fascinating history of how the role of government, attitudes towards social justice and economic development have developed and changed over the last 100 years particularly in the democracies of Europe and North America, given in a … Continue reading
Letter to the Editor, Chronicle Herald Dan Leger’s article in the February 9 issue is in my opinion an accurate and most succinct analysis of the causes of the present financial crisis. Were it not for human greed – the … Continue reading
Sent to: The Hon. Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, Ottawa, ON Dear Mr. Flaherty: I hear that you are consulting widely prior to finalizing your budget proposals. I trust that you are giving adequate consideration to two groups of people: … Continue reading
In the present situation in Ottawa, what is the Governor General to do? 1. The Conservative Government has apparently lost the confidence of the House of Commons. We have been told that this will be confirmed next week. If it … Continue reading
What a mess the world is in these days! (or is it just that I’m getting old and can’t keep up with the latest inanities?) The American Republican government has raised free enterprise, rampant capitalism and American exceptionalism to the … Continue reading
For me, there are two main issues in this year’s federal election. 1. One is the environment. In recent years we have had ample evidence that the climate is changing. We have seen it in the extreme weather and the … Continue reading
Your editorial of August 31 laments Russia’s violation of Georgia, which was apparently undertaken to guarantee a dependable supply of oil and to strengthen Russia’s position in Europe and Asia. I agree that this action is extremely regrettable, and potentially … Continue reading
In the 1970s both the American and the Canadian Psychiatric Associations struck homosexuality from their lists of disorders to be cured. In 1979 a study of the scholarly literature on the subject of sexual orientation was carried out by a … Continue reading
Our Canadian Government holds that our complicity in Guantanamo Bay is the litmus test for our devotion to the American War on Terror. Is our complicity in American treatment of Omar Khadr and Maher Arar the litmus test for our … Continue reading
The abortion controversy hits the headlines again – and the Op-Ed pages. And again the emphasis is on women’s rights, versus the taking of innocent lives. Doesn’t anyone consider the quality of life that the child may have if he/she … Continue reading
The Chronicle Herald The cartoon on your editorial page, June 26 was right on. It showed the oilsands producers polishing their carbon imprint through a PR campaign. Would it not be more beneficial to reduce the carbon imprint? On the … Continue reading
The Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister. Ottawa Dear Sir: “Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion” – Plutarch (46-120 A.D.) The ancients knew it. The federal government seems to have forgotten. … Continue reading
So, it will cost ten million dollars to renovate the Prime Minister’s residence at 24 Sussex Drive. This, while hundreds of thousands of Canadians would be happy to live in a two hundred thousand dollar house, and thousands more are … Continue reading
Someone has written of believing six impossible things before breakfast. It is strange what impossible things we believe when we think it is to our advantage to do so. For example: – that tobacco smoke is harmless; – that global … Continue reading
Letter to Michael Baker, Minister of Finance, Province of Nova Scotia. Dear Sir: I understand from an item in the Chronicle Herald that you are planning to review the Province’s tax system, and the article contains comments by some representatives … Continue reading
Sent to Michael Baker, Minister of Finance, Province of Nova Scotia Dear Sir: I have noted in today’s paper that you are launching an on-line survey in preparation for your annual budget. I implore you to do what you can … Continue reading
To: The Hon. Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, Ottawa Dear Mr. Flaherty: I am enclosing a copy of an article that appeared in today’s Halifax newspaper, stating that, of the Canadian people, “the top one per cent pay total tax … Continue reading
An article appeared in today’s Halifax newspaper, stating that, of the Canadian people, “the top one per cent pay total tax rates as much as six percentage points of income lower than families in the middle. . . . the … Continue reading
Finance Minister Flaherty has promised us tax cuts. The recent surplus, and projections for the future, make such a promise possible. And many people and corporations are happy. But we would prefer to see more compassionate and progressive use of … Continue reading
Periodically, one hears of a survey being carried out, to determine which of the many nations of the world stand highest in the estimation of their own citizens. Time and again, we learn that the population of Canada rate their … Continue reading
I used to think democracy was firmly established in Canada. After all, the Doctrine of the Divine Right of Kings was buried in 1649 when King Charles I lost his head, wasn’t it? But now we hear that our Prime … Continue reading
Dear Prime Minister: I must have been asleep at the switch – or wherever I was at the time – to have missed Silver Donald Cameron’s article in the NovaScotian on July 30. But the letters in today’s Chronicle Herald … Continue reading
I understand that the Palestinian people are suffering enormous deprivation partly because the international embargo is crippling their economy. It is bad enough that Israel is taking over much of the most valuable Palestinian property through the illegal “settlements”, is … Continue reading
The Hon. Judy Streatch, M.L.A. Government of Nova Scotia Dear Judy: It was very kind of you to meet with our group at Grace McClung’s on May 25. I hope you got – and continue to get – some satisfaction … Continue reading
The Hon. Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of Canada Ottawa, ON. Dear Peter MacKay: I have heard on reliable authority that since 2001 more than 800 social activists in the Philippines have been assassinated in waves of state-sponsored … Continue reading
The Hon. Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, House of Commons, Ottawa. Dear Mr. Prentice: I understand that your Department has begun to search archival records for information concerning deaths of students at residential schools. This is … Continue reading
Dear Gerald Keddy, M.P., My income consists totally of pension payments, and has always been modest. But I fully expect that if Canada is to deal adequately with its environmental problems the action will cost me at least a thousand … Continue reading
I object to the federal government cuts to grants to women’s and social programs. Many people in our society need a hand let down from above before they can stand on their own feet and take their places as contributing … Continue reading
The Hon. Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Government of Canada. Dear Monte Solberg: Just in case you missed it, I am enclosing a copy of a recent article published in the November issue of The United Church Observer, … Continue reading
Excerpts of a letter to a Canadian politician There is no question in my mind that we had to divest ourselves of the corrupt Liberal Government. Not that everyone at the top of the Liberal Party was complicit – far … Continue reading
The Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada Dear Mr. Harper: Apparently the Canadian government has allied itself with Israel in its struggle against the Palestinians. I want to remind you of some Biblical and historical facts. In the … Continue reading
Yesterday I saw Jeffrey Sachs on CPAC, and was most impressed. He is Special Advisor to Kofi Annan on the subject of the Millennium Goals, and is with the Earth Institute of Columbia University. He expressed most eloquently some thoughts … Continue reading