Glen Dale
To the editor:
The current hardships endured by families of area mill workers and forestry labour force are compelling.
These have received a deserved and respectful hearing at MP John Rafferty’s well-attended “town hall” sessions. Promised financial settlements are in question; contractors’ faint hope of past due remuneration means their homes and equipment are being lost.
There are properly-budgeted funds for just such area accessibility that’s expected of an MP. Douglas Judson’s rant of so-called waste to carry out the MP’s normal role is a sham.
As the out of service assistant to the recently-defeated MP, former public servant Judson should know better than to preach such nonsense.
What is the merit in bashing our elected MP for carrying out his job of attending to his constituents’ concerns? An elected federal representative’s duty is to represent his area in the deliberation and in committees of Parliament. The aim is that regional concerns result in policy and government action.
How better to perform an MP’s essential duty than to make this direct contact in the scattered, populated town centres of this vast riding?
Mr. Rafferty appears to be a careful listener and, in some cases, manages to cross party lines in alleviating personal hardships.
Is it possible that Mr. Judson’s rants are merely his opening campaign for the return of his old employer-boss? If so, his tactics are unfortunate because his former boss used to argue for civility in politics and for addressing the real issues.
(Signed),
Glen Dale
Neebing, Ont.
