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w at er lo oc hr on ic le .c a W at er lo o C hr on ic le | T hu rs da y, D ec em be r 3, 20 20 | 6 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 70 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the news- paper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca editorial@waterloochronicle.ca facebook.com/waterloochronicle @wlchronicle WHO WE ARE VP, Regional Publisher Kelly Montague Regional General Manager Nelson Parreira nparreira@metroland.com Regional Director of Media Heather Dunbar hdunbar@starmetrolandmedia.com Advertising Representatives Cassandra Dellow, Jan Bodanka, Matt Miller, Lisa Humphreys, Sheri-Lyn Blair, Chris Rego Managing Editor Robyn Wilkinson Online Editor Adam Jackson Reporters Bill Jackson CONTACT US Waterloo Chronicle 475 Thompson Dr., Units 1-4 Cambridge, ON N1T 2K7 Phone: 519-886-2830 Fax: 519-623-9155 Web: www.waterloochronicle.ca Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at waterloochronicle.ca Delivery For all delivery inquiries, e-mail customerservice@metroland.com or call 519-894-3000 OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT WATERLOOCHRONICLE.CA EDITORIAL VULNERABLE SENIORS SHOULD GET STRONG LEGAL PROTECTION A just society will pro- tect all its citizens. Many of our vulnerable seniors suffered and some had passed away in long- term care homes due to the apparent failures in the re- quired management of CO- VID -- 19. I wondered what might have happened if a vulner- able child were to have been the victim in similar circumstances? In Ontario, legislation exists to ensure the safety, security, well-being and just treatment of the child. The protection of a vul- nerable child is a priority. When an individual has direct knowledge that a child is a victim of abuse or neglect or is at risk, then they are required to report and bring the concern to the attention of Family and Children's Services. I believe our vulnerable LETTERS & COMMENTARY The federal government's latest stab at fighting cli- mate change can be summed up in three little words: not good enough. If Canadians had just awakened to the dangers of global warming, the legislation tabled recently by Justin Trudeau's Liberals could be applauded as a promising beginning. It legally requires this country to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and sets out an agen- da that would supposedly make it happen. But the fact is, we're not newbies in this battle. For over a quarter of a century, Canadians have known about the existential threat carbon emissions and the climate change they're driving pose to humanity. Successive Canadian governments have talked big about stopping global warming ever since the United Nation's Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit of 1992 -- without ever keeping their promises. What this country needs today is a comprehensive action plan with the muscle to ensure our federal gov- ernment finally lives up to the commitments it's made to the world. Unfortunately, the Liberals' Canadian Net Zero Emis- sions Accountability Act scores close to a zero in guar- anteeing this will happen. Although the Liberals will indeed set targets for re- ducing greenhouse gas emissions, the first of those tar- gets -- along with the plan for achieving them -- won't take effect until 2030. What a letdown. In last year's federal election the Liberals, who had previously declared a nationwide "climate emergency," promised to set "legally binding" targets for greenhouse gas emissions every five years. Their proposed legislation completely ignores 2025 as the starting point for those targets. Instead, it kicks the can down the road for a full 10 years, when another government with different priori- ties and different ideas about climate change could well be in power. Where's the urgency? Even when those 2030 reduction targets become offi- cial, they won't, on their own, carry enough weight to make a difference. True, the legislation will create a new advisory body to serve the environment minister, while the commis- sioner of the environment and sustainable development will provide some kind of an assessment every five years. But neither the advisory body nor the commis- sioner will carry the big stick that can force a govern- ment to act. Despite its failings, the Liberals' new legislation at least makes it official that the net-zero carbon emissions era is supposed to begin in 2030. That in itself is a benchmark by which future govern- ments can be judged. The opposition parties should prod the minority Liberals to make these changes in return for passing what could become a pivotal act in stopping climate change. CLIMATE PLAN KICKS CAN OF RESPONSIBILITY TO THE FUTURE SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT WATERLOOCHRONICLE.CA seniors would benefit from having legislation enacted that mandates individuals to report to an agency, if they have direct knowl- edge that a senior of dimin- ished capacity has suffered abuse or neglect or is at risk. This would safeguard their well-being. Might a Crown prosecu- tor, the Attorney General of a province, or the Solici- tor General have a legal opinion on the protection of our vulnerable seniors? JOSEPH AMATRUDA, WATERLOO CHILDREN SHOULDN'T HAVE SNOW DAYS TAKEN AWAY RE: So long, snow days (view article at waterloo- chronicle.ca, Nov. 16): Wow. In the middle of a global pandemic and local COVID cases surging, we take snow days, which have long been one of the very best parts of being a kid, from those who have al- ready lost far more than we can begin to calculate. Children are the only people who truly relish mounds of snow outside, and we tell them: "No snow for you!" C'mon. As a psychologist and an instructor in public health, I can say with certainty that our grandson in junior kindergarten will not miss anything of worth if he misses a small handful of online teaching days, and spends the time instead joyfully sledding down a hill, absorbing Vitamin D with loved ones! KELLY ANTHONY, WATERLOO