LETTER

Tramway Meeting:  wrong lessons learned

 

I left last evening’s meeting very concerned. This is my second MP’s town hall meeting. How can we have a discussion, with feedback, if unilingual participants are excluded?

I am a unilingual Anglophone resident of Aylmer since1975, with lived experience of six cultures. I would have liked to have commented on what I heard.  And to offer ideas based on my life experiences as a 72-year old activist for First Nations issues regarding the ecology and environment. I left early, completely feeling that my presence and voice were not valued or respected.

Many Elders have wisdom to offer about what is happening in our cities. As noise increases, health declines. Noise is a great trauma to the mental, emotional, spiritual and physical body, of any age. We are living in an aging culture where our young are turning to drugs or suicide and where health-care costs and aging infrastructure are not sustainable.

Transportation is key to saving billions in health-care costs. We must create healthier environments as cars, diesel and school buses overrun our living spaces and buildings are built right next to streets.  Thanks for in the future offering bilingual translations at Town Hall Meetings!

Loan translation equipment to our City Council Meetings and political leaders so they can include, not exclude, citizens who wish to support our elected reps.

We must wake up to what we are doing to our living environments, our waterways (our drinking water) and to each other.  Please, Mr Fergus, as a cutting edge leader, offer bilingual formats or translations to include all voters.    

Judith Matheson
Heart + Soul Light Centre
Aylmer