Montreal Gazette Readers Voice Multiple Concerns in Recent Letters
Readers of the Montreal Gazette have recently submitted letters addressing several pressing issues affecting the Montreal community and Quebec at large. These letters cover topics ranging from public transportation reliability to healthcare policies and end-of-life decisions.
REM Winter Performance Questioned
One reader, Arnold Yesovitch of Côte-St-Luc, raises serious questions about the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) light rail system's performance during Montreal winters. Despite last winter not being particularly harsh, the REM experienced frequent breakdowns, prompting Yesovitch to ask whether the system's designers, builders, and rolling stock providers adequately accounted for Montreal's challenging weather conditions.
"Weren't the REM's designers, builders and rolling stock providers supposed to know about Montreal's weather conditions?" Yesovitch questions in his letter responding to a January 29 Gazette article about REM growing pains. This concern comes despite promises of reliable service from REM operators, who have themselves admitted falling short of expectations.
Quebec's New Caregiver Program Under Scrutiny
Another letter from Caroline Jondahl of Westmount addresses Quebec's new Mieux chez soi (better at home) program for family caregivers. Jondahl references concerns raised by two professionals in a January 31 Gazette article about the program.
Ella Amir of AMI-Québec noted that while the program tops up home care funding, other essential services for people with mental health challenges are being cut, affecting both patients and their caregivers. Steven Laperrière of RAPLIQ expressed concerns that funding might get lost to administration rather than reaching front-line workers.
Jondahl questions whether Health Minister Sonia Bélanger made these decisions in consultation with professionals or through the same top-down approach seen in recent years. With a provincial election approaching, Jondahl hopes lessons will be learned about consultation and transparency in healthcare decision-making.
Medication Safety for Seniors
Aylon Wisbaum, a Montreal pharmacist, addresses the rising concern about deadly falls among older Quebecers. Responding to a January 31 article, Wisbaum emphasizes the established link between concurrent use of multiple medications and increased fall risk among seniors.
As a groupe de médecine de famille (GMF) pharmacist, Wisbaum offers three proactive steps for patients:
- Visit the Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network website to make more educated decisions about medications
- Make an appointment with your pharmacist with a prepared list of medications, supplements, and conditions
- Ask if your case should be reviewed by a clinic pharmacist if followed in a GMF or outpatient setting
Wisbaum notes that after more than a decade, patients are still discovering the team-based approach and public resources available in many GMFs across Quebec.
Medical Assistance in Dying Debate
Shloime Perel of Côte-St-Luc addresses medical assistance in dying (MAID) in response to two late January articles. Perel finds it ironic that in a country that has abolished the death penalty, 16,499 Canadians died via MAID in 2024.
Perel advocates for more complete medical care rather than medical assistance in dying, suggesting an important beginning would be passing federal Bill C-218, which would ensure that a mental disorder alone does not qualify someone for MAID. Perel urges the Carney government to support this private member's bill with the message: "Let us choose life, not death."
Letters to the Editor Guidelines
The Montreal Gazette continues its long tradition of publishing reader letters, with specific guidelines for submission. Letters should be sent uniquely to the Gazette by email to letters@montrealgazette.com, ideally responding to or inspired by articles published by the newspaper.
The Gazette prioritizes letters that are timely, clear, factually accurate, and add something new to the conversation. Shorter letters (fewer than 200 words) have a greater chance of publication. All letters are subject to editing and condensation while preserving the core of the writer's argument.
The newspaper does not publish anonymous letters, those with pseudonyms, or open letters addressed to third parties. Letters are published with the author's full name and city or neighbourhood of residence. While phone numbers and addresses are requested for verification purposes, these details are not published.
