Friday's letters: Will UCP force treatment on gambling addicts?

Now that online gambling platforms have received the blessing of our UCP government, I’m wondering what plans Premier Danielle Smith has for increasing the number of “involuntary addiction treatment centres” to accommodate the ever-increasing numbers of addicted gamblers in our province. As if lotteries, bingos and casinos weren’t adequately supplying enough opportunity to gamble in [...]

Now that online gambling platforms have received the blessing of our UCP government, I’m wondering what plans Premier Danielle Smith has for increasing the number of “involuntary addiction treatment centres” to accommodate the ever-increasing numbers of addicted gamblers in our province. As if lotteries, bingos and casinos weren’t adequately supplying enough opportunity to gamble in our province, we are now inundated with TV ads promoting innumerable private sports betting and sports lottery opportunities. Our youth, as well as those in the lower socioeconomic strata of society, are particularly at risk of gambling-addictive behaviours and these addicts, in turn, adversely affect eight-10 other individuals in some way.

And I’m wondering, if or when Premier Smith decides to build these needed treatment centres, will Sam Mraiche be involved in any “undisclosed roles” in these future construction projects? Lorie Grundy, Edmonton UCP double standard on addictions It’s interesting that the UCP is supportive of government safe gambling sites but not of safe drug consumption sites. Could it be the risk of becoming addicted to gambling is worth it because the UCP make money?

Mark Edwards, Edmonton B.C. pipeline tolls a step backward We are urgently trying to increase interprovincial trade, thus building a stronger Canada. This has been a Liberal Party, Prime Minister Carney-led initiative as one of several responses to our current U.S. trade situation. So, why the complete change of course?

Why are we encouraging B.C. to charge tolls for the transportation of oil from Alberta to B.C.? Toll charges for the transportation of goods from one province to another. Is this the way we want to go?

How is this going to encourage interprovincial trade? How is this going to build a stronger Canada? Regan Pinkoski, Sherwood Park There is a right way to build data centres I am writing in response to Jackie Carmichael’s July 11 article entitled “Responsible corporate citizen: Meta, Premier Danielle Smith defend $13B Alberta mega data centre plan.”

As the director of electricity at the Pembina Institute, I wish to correct the record in regards to the following excerpt: “On the airwaves Saturday, Premier Danielle Smith went to bat for the Meta project her ‘concierge team’ has been wooing to Alberta for two years, after the Pembina Institute bashed the plan with a news release appealing to the broadest base possible, looking to impale the project on the twin horns of economic and ecological dilemmas.” Carmichael’s wording is a misrepresentation of our position — the Pembina Institute is not against responsible business development, nor are we against data centres.

Data centres can be developed in a way that encourage low-cost, clean energy and grid flexibility, or in a way that risks increasing harmful emissions and consumer costs. While leading jurisdictions push for the former, in Alberta, we see the latter. Premier Smith’s comments on her radio show confirmed her government’s approach is explicitly designed to promote natural gas in Alberta.

Increasing demand for gas while putting up barriers for farmers, industry and businesses to deploy lower-cost renewable projects is likely to drive up gas and electricity costs for all consumers. Policy choices have impacts — and it’s important that Albertans understand the full scope of risks associated with new ventures such as Meta’s new data centre. David Pickup, Pembina Institute Building materials for LRT left to rust I have driven Stony Plain Road several times in the last few months.

There were piles of rebar just left out on the ground exposed to the elements. The now- rusted rebar is being tied by the iron workers to be used to reinforce the concrete being poured along the LRT route. This line is costing taxpayers a total of $2.6 billion.

Yes, that’s 2.6 billion of your tax dollars. You would think, for that price, they would protect or prevent the rebar being used to reinforce the concrete, from rusting before being covered with concrete forever. Perhaps a large, century-long holdback is required to ensure the concrete doesn’t crack?

Where is the oversight? Chris Skrobot, Edmonton Climate change hits close to home Well, people can deny climate change all they want, but in 50 years of living in Castle Downs, I’ve never seen such a lake in front of my home. Steve Blanes, Edmonton Where are the all the moderate voices?

Where are the centrist, reasonable people in our society today? Where is their voice? We have a far-right, authoritarian UCP provincial government, banning books and embracing gambling to keep our children safe from predatory gambling sites.

Is it too much of a stretch of imagination that it’s only a matter of time before the UCP decide to distribute cocaine, heroin and fentanyl to keep our children safe from drug dealers? We have a far-left ideological gang of five on Edmonton council focused on uneconomic projects of point-to-point LRT transit and bike lanes, consuming our taxes, rather than focusing on the needed basic maintenance and hardening of Edmonton’s city infrastructure for our real climate-crisis future. Where can I hear the voice of normal, compassionate, sensible people these days?

John Baker, Edmonton Spruce Grove Elks would be safer for fans I fully agree with the Edmonton