HYPOCRITICAL GOVERNMENT

Re "Tories smoking mad at pot plans," (Dec. 11): I got a good laugh from
Ontario Health Minister Tony Clement when he said "This is another type of
pollution of one's body, quite frankly, and if we want to concern ourselves
with health and wellness, this seems to be going the other direction," in
response to the parliamentary committee's sensible suggestion that we
decriminalize pot.

Is this the same MP whose government has increased made-in-Ontario air
pollution steadily since taking power, leading to smog alert after smog
alert all summer long? Isn't he a member of the same government whose
energy policy has resulted in much more coal-based electricity generation,
in a province where there are already over 1,000 deaths a year because of
the choking haze? (And don't even get me started on the skyrocketing
electricity prices we got as a bonus, if we were lucky enough to survive
the summer.)

That isn't even all -- isn't he with all of those good-time boys now under
fire for all that expensive wining and dining (especially wining) on the
taxpayer's tab? And by the way, what kind of mixed message does all that
send to kids?

Dave Haans

Toronto

(Keep your receipts?)