Saturday Letters: Canadians Who Stay Home Deserve Thanks

Article content

Doubly vaccinated Canadians crossing the border, especially snowbirds, should be ashamed of their unabashed exuberance. None of these non-essential travelers have ever been heard to say anything that is not completely selfish; it’s about them.

Commercial

Article content

Don’t you see that our Canadian economy is suffering? However, they have chosen to leave their country at a critical time. By heading south, they will support the American economy instead of ours. Wrong and selfish.

And what about all the moaning and wailing about having to perform a PCR test within 72 hours of your eventual return to Canada, at your own expense? It makes perfect sense that anyone who has taken non-essential travel needs to prove they are not infected. After all, the US has more than 10 times our population and a much lower vaccination rate than Canada.

Don’t people understand that double vaccination doesn’t mean they can’t get COVID-19? Look at Canadian hospitalization statistics where COVID patients include up to 25 percent of fully vaccinated people. And yes, several of them have died.
Why isn’t fair press coverage offered to Canadians who refuse to take nonessential travel, even within Canada’s borders, until the pandemic is over? Those are the conscientious Canadians who deserve to be applauded.

Commercial

Article content

EC Fowler, Edmonton

PCR tests for travelers are too expensive

My husband and I are fully vaccinated and we wear our masks all the time indoors. We have not traveled since COVID arrived and we were hoping to escape this winter.

It is very frustrating to find out that we have to pay for a PCR test in order to return to Canada. These tests are very expensive and the price ranges from $ 150 to $ 300. I called Shoppers Drug Mart and they said they charge $ 40 for the antigen test, which is what is required to enter the United States. This is a reasonable amount.

The travel industry is struggling, and yet the government is making travel difficult for Canadians. Families with children cannot afford these PCR tests and it is not fair to Canadians who want to travel. The government of Canada must eliminate mandatory PCR testing immediately because Canadians will continue to refrain from travel and the travel industry will continue to suffer.

Commercial

Article content

Lindiwe Carter, Edmonton

Politics do matter in a pandemic

In his November 10 column, David Staples stated that he does not believe that politicians “are in any way the owners of the levers that control such a complex issue as a pandemic.” He is wrong. While no politician or scientist can be one hundred percent right when it comes to a new virus, let’s be clear: politics is important.

We constantly read comparisons between Sweden and Quebec or New Zealand and Texas, but these comparisons compare apples to oranges. A study, conducted by Johns Hopkins University, found that, after accounting for demographic differences, access to health care, and other important factors, people were nearly twice as likely to get sick and die from COVID in states controlled by Republicans compared to the controlled. by the Democrats. These findings led the researchers to conclude that political decisions significantly influenced the spread of the virus.

Commercial

Article content

For anyone who has lived in Alberta in recent months, the findings of the John Hopkins study are not surprising. We are living bad political decisions. Yes, policies matter and politicians and other leaders can make a difference, a difference that includes reducing the loss of life.

Anthony McClellan, Edmonton

Yes to COVID measures for tourists

Re. “COVID-19 Testing Deters Banff Visitors: Experts”, Nov 10

Last week we went to Jasper just to go somewhere for an overnight visit. All hotels, restaurants and stores required to see proof of vaccination and identification before receiving the service. This is the way it should be. Is the law!

If people, Canadians or from other countries, including the US, want to see our beautiful country and meet the amazing people who want to serve them, get vaccinated.

Sharon Beadle, Lake Island

Welcome letters

We invite you to write letters to the editor. A maximum of 150 words is preferred. The letters must have a first and last name, or two initials and a last name, and include an address and a telephone number during the day. All letters are subject to editing. We do not publish letters addressed to third parties or sent to other publications. Email: [email protected]

    Commercial

Comments

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civilized discussion forum and encourages all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments can take up to an hour to moderate before appearing on the site. We ask that you keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications – you will now receive an email if you receive a response to your comment, there is an update from a comment thread you follow, or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Principles for more information and details on how to adjust your E-mail settings.

Reference-edmontonjournal.com

Leave a Comment