Readers decry the death of Richard Bilkszto, along with the GG's outsized spending and suggestions that Toronto is Islamophobic
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‘Appalling that a dedicated educator … should be treated cruelly’
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Re: Toronto principal bullied over false charge of racism dies from suicide — Jamie Sarkonak, July 21
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My emotions were stirred in reading about the extremely sad death of Richard Bilkszto, the school principal who was bullied and humiliated by the leaders of a DEI training session and by the Toronto District School Board.
It’s appalling that a dedicated educator who worked hard to assist adults in particular to move forward in life should be treated cruelly, to the point where his mental health deteriorated so sharply that he took his own life. And all because he dared to question the narrative that Canada is riddled with racism. Our education system needs a major overhaul.
Surely the people of this country are going to wake up and push back against school boards and other bodies that continue to promote radical left-wing agendas at taxpayers’ expense.
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Thanks, Jamie Sarkonak, for telling the story of this fine man.
John Vaudry, Pembroke, Ont.
The family of Richard Bilkszto should hire outstanding Canadian lawyer Marie Henein to sue the Toronto District School Board and the Province of Ontario for the utterly unfounded and outrageous bullying of a dedicated lifetime educator. The citizens of Toronto and Ontario should demand a full judicial inquiry into this outrageous incident, to hold the persons responsible fully accountable, and to prevent it from ever happening again.
Warren Williams, Calgary
The death of school principal Richard Bilkszto is a prime example of why the Ontario government needs to take a scorched-earth approach to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training in the workplace, especially in schools at all levels.
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DEI only perpetuates victimhood and fuels intolerance. Its divisive teachings need to be stopped.
The sooner we ban DEI in the workplace, the better.
Corey Needer, Vaughan, Ont.
‘Random acts do not constitute “institutionalized” Islamophobia’
Re: Canadians do not need lectures on tolerance from their politicians — Chris Selley, July 18
As a Muslim who has lived in Toronto for over three decades, I was taken aback to hear that Toronto is Islamophobic.
As Chris Selley has written, and I agree, some forms of racism, xenophobia and discrimination exist in all communities because such is human nature and we have to deal with these directly. However, individual and random acts do not constitute “institutionalized” Islamophobia as suggested by the ad campaign.
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For me, Toronto (the good) is one of the most tolerant cities in the world — all we have to do is look around and see how diversity thrives organically. This is why Muslims enjoy the freedoms (hijab and all) offered by Canada and migrate from countries that do not support individual freedoms.
So please get over the “victim” mentality and start to deal with life and living in Canada in a more pro-active way.
Raheel Raza, President of Muslims Facing Tomorrow
I hope Canada is not becoming a country where critical thinking (in the non-woke sense) comes to die. The Western political system emerged from intense debate over the centuries, giving us the freedoms we have today.
Though Justin Trudeau may not like the suggestion, a culture of diverse beliefs can give rise to inconvenient contradictions and unresolved issues. Yet when this happens, this does not mean that all inquiry must stop, because truth gives comfort to some, but uncertainty to others.
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Contrary to popular Liberal opinion, the pursuit of happiness requires truth rather than pantomime and puppetry.
Gordon Watson, Rocky Mountain House, Alta.
Israel’s ‘reasonableness law’ won’t solve anything
Re: Israeli parliament takes first major step in Netanyahu’s contentious overhaul, deepening divisions — July 24
Nothing will be solved by the passage of Israel’s “reasonableness law” curtailing judicial review of political decisions. Those on the other side of the debate will find an occasion to put the law on trial, and the courts will likely strike down the reasonableness law, declaring it to be unreasonable. After all, the courts, not the legislators, are still the final arbiters of the law in a liberal democracy.
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Of course, in that eventuality, the streets will again be overrun by protesters, this time by those who support limiting judicial power. I prefer the courts to the mob six days out of seven, with a day of rest, of course, on the seventh.
Howard Greenfield, Montreal
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is “very concerned” about the judicial reforms that the government of Israel is moving forward with.
This from the man who invoked the Emergencies Act and compelled businesses to provide services to the state and froze assets of Canadians without due process, all when there was no national risk and no terrorists running around murdering people.
Sam Mitnick, Cote St. Luc, Que.
‘Shut down GG’s out-of-control spending’
Re: The limousine and luxury-suite lifestyle of our oblivious leaders — John Ivison, July 15; and Governor General has come to embody the extravagant hypocrisy of our Liberal elite — John Robson, July 19
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Gov. Gen. Mary Simon spent $71,000 on limo services for a four-day trip to Iceland when her hotel was less than half a kilometre from the conference site? With apologies to David Dingwall, it’s clear that Her Excellency believes she’s “entitled to her entitlements.” The time to shut down this out-of-control spending is long past. Chances of that happening in Justin Trudeau’s Ottawa? Adjacent to zero.
Walter Tedman, Kingston, Ont.
National Post and Financial Post welcome letters to the editor (150 words or fewer). Please include your name, address and daytime phone number. Email letters@nationalpost.com. Letters may be edited for length or clarity.
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Letters: Tragic suicide of bullied school principal demands a full inquiry - National Post
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