Liberals to outlaw single-use plastics, June 10

We are in what some media like to call the Silly Season, which is the run-up to the official federal election campaign. Potential voters should never make the mistake of believing that politicians and candidates have the faintest idea what they are talking about when responding to questions from the media or the public during the Silly Season. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has given many wonderful examples of how to stumble, fumble and mumble when trying to answer a simple question without having a scripted answer in front of him. Such was the case on Monday, when making announcements about banning single-use plastics in Canada by 2021. A reporter asked, “What do you and your family do to cut back on plastics?” His response: “We have recently switched to drinking water bottles out of …water out of …when we have water bottles out of plastic. Sorry! Away away from plastic towards paper like drink-box water bottles sort of things.” Proving once again that election campaigns are great entertainment for those of us who never take politicians nor themselves too seriously.

Bernie Smith, Parksville, B.C.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that he is looking at different options to limit the use of “single-use” plastics; and just in time — for the upcoming elections. Where has our prime minister been all this time on this important environmental issue? We have had this problem for decades and only now is our prime minister looking to take action and, at that, not until 2021. Regrettably, this sounds much like the “election reform” rhetoric of years past. Is this just more “smoke and screen” election strategy from our prime minister’s play book?

Donald Cangiano, Oakville

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