A recent story published by the Ottawa Citizen has prompted strong reactions from its readership, with several individuals writing to the editor to express their views on issues ranging from immigration to city planning and public health. The letters, published on Thursday, December 18, 2025, highlight community concerns on pressing local and national matters.
Immigration System Fails a Valued Healthcare Worker
One letter, from Judith Dinsdale of Ottawa, was a direct response to a feature about Sa'id Altawalbeh, a nurse at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). Dinsdale, who stated she had never written to a newspaper before, was deeply disturbed by the article's revelation. Altawelbeh, who came to Canada from Jordan five years ago as an international student, now faces the prospect of having to leave the country with his family because he may not obtain permanent residency before his work visa expires.
Dinsdale's central question cuts to the heart of a national dilemma: Why would Canada deport highly trained health-care workers? She points to the acute shortage of nurses and argues that the government's bureaucratic points system is failing. Her hope is for a swift policy adjustment to allow worthy immigrants like the Altawalbeh family to stay and contribute to building a better Canada.
Criticism of Ottawa's Evolving Skyline
Another reader, G.B. Wright of Ottawa, shifted focus to the city's physical landscape. Reacting to news that Ottawa will have a new tallest tower after a committee approval, Wright labeled such tall towers as eyesores that clash with the city's urban character. The criticism extended to the development at LeBreton Flats, described as a jungle of ugly towers that threatens to overshadow the new, architecturally interesting main library.
Wright's letter concludes with a pointed question about the role of the city planner, questioning the oversight and vision guiding Ottawa's rapid vertical growth.
Safety Concerns in High-Rise Living
Building on the theme of urban living, Yvonne Temple of Ottawa wrote in with specific safety concerns regarding tall buildings. She referenced a past incident years ago at Ottawa's tallest building, where a three-day power outage left elderly tenants without elevator access or water due to a lack of generators—a problem later fixed after her previous letter.
However, Temple reports a new issue: recent maintenance conducted on all three of the building's elevators simultaneously. While cost-effective, she argues this practice is unsafe, potentially blocking ambulance access in an emergency. Citing disasters in large buildings worldwide, Temple calls for essential safety precautions to always be available to tenants.
Call for Stronger Public Health Policy in Ontario
A final letter addressed the state of public health in Ontario. The writer noted the irony of Ottawa's Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Vera Etches, dealing with a spike in preventable cases at CHEO. The letter calls for Public Health, including officials like Dr. Robin Arnason and Dr. Brent Sherar, to stand up aggressively against anti-vaccine and anti-masking sentiment.
The proposed solutions are direct: implement mandatory masking for all patients and visitors in hospitals during every flu season, and launch aggressive annual campaigns by Public Health and family doctors to encourage flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, even with imperfect variant matches.
These collected voices from the community underscore a week of significant public discourse in the nation's capital, touching on fundamental issues of belonging, city identity, safety, and health.
