BIRD TALK

To all those who didn’t heed the directions of the Canadian government and left the country anyway − you were warned that it is a changing environment and that rules could change when you are away, as the pandemic changes. The spring Bird Talk only had letters from the group that are complaining about the quarantine and testing requirements. Well, most of us who stayed home do not agree with your view. The biggest thing I would like to object to is that the editor of CSANews has such an unbalanced view. Before you offer DeSantis the medal of freedom, maybe you should make sure that everyone knows that Florida has 1.5 times the population of Ontario and have had 2.275 MILLION COVID cases and deaths of about 36,000. Compare that to Ontario’s and maybe our lockdown and masks weren’t such a bad idea after all. Do you really think that we need you all arriving back in Ontario with numbers like these and we just say welcome home? Also, DeSantis is against vaccine passports for cruise industry as another example of his “wonderful” policies. And don’t get me started on him making sure that his friend’s Florida development got special treatment for receiving vaccines – oh, and Publix getting the distribution rights for vaccines, despite the distance from the poor areas of Florida − meaning that poor, black Floridians have hardship to get a vaccine. (To take a dog to the U.S. you need proof of a rabies vaccine). Who then can object to a vaccine passport for humans? I hope to go to Florida for the winter of 2022, but I won’t be jumping on the DeSantis for sainthood bandwagon.

Jane Gibson,  Toronto, ON

Ed.: We have had numerous e-mails that are very similar to Ms. Gibson’s, with hundreds of different “Facts” and I expect that any snowbird who stayed home would agree with her. The only difference between us, really, is the definition of “essential” travel. It was essential that I go to the U.S. for dozens and dozens of reasons. Those who travelled have been vilified, unjustly in my opinion. I believe that they bring back a safer presence − having mostly had both vaccination shots in the U.S. and most having had three (3) negative COVID-19 tests immediately on arrival. Canadians who stayed home are still struggling to get the first shot in many cases. And we are a danger to the people who stayed home? I will let you decide.