WHEN THE GOVERNMENT TURNS AGAINST ITS OWN CITIZENS

A letter from one of our readers addressed to C.A.G.E.'s vice-president Iro Cyr, that speaks volumes on how public health is hurting more than it is helping. And please don't think that Nadia is an isolated incident. We are surrounded with persons that are either too afraid to say what is on their mind or too fearful to tip the pot in fear of being labelled as negative or disgruntled. If you have had just about enough of your life being dictated by those who are paid to serve us, please remember that you are not alone. Massively expressing it to our elected officials will inevitably turn our whispers into cries.

Quite frankly, I don't know where to begin.... I have often felt as the "odd" duck throughout my life. I am a 43 year old woman living in Ontario and I am filled with such anger and feel as though my opinions and beliefs have been ignored. I am known as a very outspoken and passionate person. I have a problem being told what I should think and how I should act or react in a situation. It's not that I have an issue with being told what to do but I do have a very BIG issue with being told what to do when not given a good enough or valid reason for doing it.

When I read your biography on line, I was so inspired to see that you had the ambition and drive to go after what you believed in. I respected your passion and commitment for the cause at hand. When I was reading your biography, I had shivers up my back as I truly made a connection with what you stood for. It never ceases to amaze me as to how many people fear "freedom of speech & expression". I am in an environment that feels as though I am surrounded by robots that are willing to go day to day without having an option or at least not bothering to express what they really feel.

I HAVE HAD ENOUGH WITH OUR GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION!!!! I am a first generation Canadian. My parents immigrated here from Europe almost 50 years ago and when they arrived, they weren't given any sort of financial or emotional support like they do for the immigrants of today. My parents recalled having a bus pick them up early in the mornings to go work in the fields. My parents never collected a dime from Welfare as the were never told what Welfare was or what Government programs were available to them. They lived in Montreal when they first came and then made their way to Hamilton, Ontario. Not only did they not know the system but they also had a language barrier issue. I have enormous respect for both of them and it angers me so much to see that some of their liberties are being taken away after sacrificing so much to the success of this country. It was on their broken backs that this Government prospered and now that they are retired, this Government will not allow them to sit in a cafe and have a cigarette.

My parents are seniors and live in an apartment and just recently I heard that these non-smoking advocats are now considering the banning of smoking in apartment buildings....Where the hell do they get off???

My parents are old and they both smoke, have always smoked and will continue to smoke. What right do persons have to tell other people what they can do in the privacy of their own home? What will be next?? Don't people see that everytime we allow the government to create another senseless law that we are giving up another one of our freedoms. Just because a particular law may not apply to someone, the public fails to see that the Government is closing us in more and more. These bureaucrats that sit in parliament get paid to make up and support laws regardless of how stupid or inappropriate they may be. They need to justify their jobs and positions at the expense of Canadians and their rights.

It makes me ill when I hear persons say "we are a free country"!!! Everyday we are becoming less free than the day before. Now with the excuse of a recession, the term "socialist" is becoming clearer. A system of social organization (namely our Government) in which the means of producing and distributing good is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy. Ontario's Premier, Dalton McGuinty has now passed a Harmonized Tax in Ontario stating that the reason for this is to help the Ontario economy to recover from the recession. What a lot of hogwash!!! This is going to cost the average home an extra $500 to $600 annually. We are already tripled taxed!! I pay tax to work, I pay tax to eat and soon we will be paying a tax to breath!

I am so tired and frustrated with the people of this country for being so passive. I am now frustrated with Health Canada and their failure to actively reasearch the ecigarette that is now available in the USA and abroad. I have been a smoker for over 20 years and I have tried every method available to quit. I am very interested in this new electronic cigarette and would like it available to me. Now, I am a level headed and reasonable person and do know that the FDA in the US is a lot quicker at releasing items to the public a lot more freely than Canada. I do think that Health Canada should further reaserch the ecigarette but I want them to assure me that they will examine it and not sweep it under the carpet. If they can allow the patch, the inhaler and the gum just to name a few, then why not allow this gadget. We all know why and it's about time that we step up.

I have so many more issues that I want to get off my chest and do not have platform to do so. I am sorry for sending such a long winded email but I am at my witts end. Thank you for listening and most importantly for what you stand for!

Nadia Kosta