Wednesday, Oct. 30: There’s more to leaf blowers than noise — they help you get the job done sooner (so you can enjoy the peace and quiet), a reader says. You can write to us too, at letters@ottawacitizen.com
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When leaf blowers are a good idea
Re: Deachman: Leaf blowers — the autumn assault on Ottawa’s eardrums is well underway, Oct. 23.
I enjoyed Bruce Deachman’s opinion columns most of the time, like the one on using goats to manage invasive plant species in our green spaces. But last week, writing on leaf blowers, he just got my goat (excuse the pun).
Managing property an acre in size, in a “forested” community, requires a lot of effort in the fall as the leaves invade my property from all around. Like most people, we value our time and look for ways to do things in the most effective, timely way.
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I am an owner of a 800cc leaf blower with a maximum air velocity of 239 mph. It moves not only leaves but branches and zillions of acorns. I could go electric with a handheld blower at 145 mph that has a very high-pitched whining sound and “spend days bothering my neighbours with noise” as it ineffectively moves leaves a couple of feet with each pass. I chose to buy a blower that gets the job effectively done in a few hours.
You can purchase attachments to also safely blow the leaves out of the gutters, without getting on a slippery roof.
As a senior, my time is precious so it is a win-win for the mighty leaf blowers when purchased to get the job done in a timely safe way so I can enjoy the peace and quiet of our beautifully forested neighbour.
Jim Houston, Woodlawn
Don’t ban foreign medical students
I compliment Premier Doug Ford for his efforts to increase the number of family doctors in Ontario by introducing the “Learn and Stay” program designed to reduce the financial burden on Ontario medical students and encourage them, upon graduation, to set up practice in Ontario, which is woefully short of family doctors.
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However, I am less sanguine about the premier’s plan to ban international students from admission to Ontario medical schools. In 2023-24, about 3,800 students were registered in Ontario medical schools. Of that number, only 10 were international students, hardly a tsunami unfairly denying a large number of Ontario students a seat in the classroom. In light of these numbers, the banning of international students from Ontario medical schools sails, perhaps unwittingly, very close to the borders of xenophobia.
Douglas Parker, Ottawa
We need civility in our Parliament
One of the hallmarks of a well-functioning democracy is civility and constructive dialogue. If name-calling, lies and excessive partisanship are accepted, we all lose.
Name-calling, lies and unfounded slogans (although popular with some) do nothing to inform the public on important issues. Such behaviour can also drag others into similar conduct and further degrade discussion.
Just look at what is happening south of the border. It’s time to call our elected officials to account and restore a well functioning Parliament.
Michael Wiggin, Ottawa
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