Letters to the Editor

A happy resolution

To the editor:

The charm and magic of music is to be found in its discords and their resolution. I therefore think that the eventual successful outcome of the 'battle of the playing fields' of Westmount has been a superb exercise. I am sure you have the congratulations of everyone for the crucial part played by the Westmount Examiner.

The role of the Examiner has indeed given democracy a new lease of life in Westmount. Doubtless there will be fine tuning left to be done. I trust the Examiner's keen ear will help in the process. As in music, life would be deadly dull in this Eden were it not for discords and their resolution.

I wish you and the Westmount Examiner a fruitful and happy New Year!

Stephen Chin

Sherbrooke Street



Thank you, Westmount!

To the editor:

This week is the last opportunity for me to thank all the electors of Westmount-Ville-Marie who have elected me five times since 1995.

Often being a politician is a thankless job, but it can be extremely rewarding when we succeed in serving our constituents. The riding of Westmount-Ville Marie is composed of vibrant and diversified communities. From Hingston Street in NDG to Old Montreal, from Habitat ’67 to the McGill Ghetto, this riding is a good example of what Canada is today: aboriginal people, francophone and anglophone, new immigrants, young and old, rich and poor, and many others.

Westmounters represent 21.6 per cent of the electors in this riding, but I must say they are 100 per cent committed to our national life!

The people of Westmount are keenly interested by local matters when federal responsibility is involved. Let me give you some examples: if a family has a problem with Immigration Canada, they will ask the support of their MP. If community organizations such as the Visual Art Center, the Y of Westmount, or the Contactivity Centre for seniors, need assistance concerning federal programs they get in touch with their MP, as will others if the city asks to be recognized in the Infrastructure program, or if certain legislation or regulations could apply to local projects, or if the Canadian Army seeks support to renovate one of their buildings, or if the protection of Mount Royal is at stake.

I have also found that the people of Westmount are also very interested by what is happening on the national scene. Every day I received comments about the government’s positions on different issues: the environment, health, higher education, literacy, poverty, our mission in Afghanistan, our position in the Middle East, the lack of intervention in Darfur, etc.

Those examples prove that Westmounters are good Canadian citizens committed in their local community and also to their country.

Throughout the years, I have worked wholeheartedly and I would like to think I have shown that it is possible to be in politics and be true to one’s self, by staying true to one’s values, by being loyal and honest and maintaining a sense of duty.

I will certainly continue to contribute to my country but now in a different way and again I want to thank you for the privilege of being your representative in Ottawa for almost 13 years.

In closing, I wish all the best to Marc Garneau as the Liberal candidate for this riding.

Lucienne Robillard

MP for Westmount-Ville Marie