
Letter-writer Bruna Nota-Our forests, communities are going up in smoke & we’re spending billions on fighter jets?
Letter sent on June 5, 2023
To: Bill Blair <bill.blair@parl.gc.ca>, Chrystia Freeland <fin.minfinance-financemin.fin@canada.ca>, Jonathan Wilkinson <jonathan.wilkinson@parl.gc.ca>, Guilbeault Steven <ec.ministre-minister.ec@canada.ca>, Anita Anand <anita.anand@parl.gc.ca>, Justin Trudeau <justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca>, Melanie Joly <melanie.joly@international.gc.ca> </melanie.joly@international.gc.ca></justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca></anita.anand@parl.gc.ca></ec.ministre-minister.ec@canada.ca></jonathan.wilkinson@parl.gc.ca></fin.minfinance-financemin.fin@canada.ca></bill.blair@parl.gc.ca>
Cc: Carolyn Bennett <carolyn.bennett@parl.gc.ca>, Pierre Polievre <pierre.poilievre@parl.gc.ca>, Jagmeet Singh <jagmeet.singh@parl.gc.ca>, Yves-Francois Blanchet <yves-francois.blanchet@parl.gc.ca>, Elizabeth May <elizabeth.may@parl.gc.ca></elizabeth.may@parl.gc.ca></yves-francois.blanchet@parl.gc.ca></jagmeet.singh@parl.gc.ca></pierre.poilievre@parl.gc.ca></carolyn.bennett@parl.gc.ca>
Subject: safety, security, budgetary prudence?
Dear Prime Minister, Dear Ministers,
I hope you and cabinet will take time to reflect on the wisdom of some of the decisions you have made at budget time and continue to make day to day.
Will fighter jets provide Canadians more security than water bombing planes?
Will increased spending on military preparedness provide more security and safety to Canadians and the flora and fauna that sustain us than investments in wild fires fighting preparedness, floods prevention, pharmaceutical and pandemic self-reliance, national housing policy that is affordable, sustainable, just and appropriate to the climate changes we are experiencing and that we must anticipate?
Will continuing subsidies to the fossil fuel industry provide more safety and security to First Nations and remote citizens than investments in accessible drinkable and water accessible for fire fighting?
We need a government that has the courage to govern for the longterm wellbeing of all its citizens in these very trying times.
We don’t need more aspirational promises, promises only to be broken at the first whiff of contrary wind.
We need a government that has the courage to plan for and lead the country through well managed dramatic changes required by the present situation. We need a government willing and able to scale down our usage of Earth resources to meet this unique planet carrying capacity that we have abused and continue to abuse so recklessly. Will you be that government or will you wait to be booted out by more virulent and violent demands?
Any real answer to at least some of these questions will be most welcome.
Sincerely,
Bruna Nota