Boyle McCauley News

Since 1979 • April-May 2024 • Circulation 5000

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Concern over Goldring’s Comments

My wife and I live just east of the Boyle Street/McCauley area. I try to read your newspaper whenever I can. I really admire your work and its positive support for the neighbourhoods it covers and the people and groups who strive to make this part of Edmonton a good place to live and work.

I’m writing, though, to express serious concern and dismay about the Peter Goldring’s notice in the December 2011/January 2012 issue. I understand it is entirely appropriate and an important service for newspapers like yours to carry news from elected representatives, so that constituents can be informed about what is happening in parliament or the legislature. However, this last installment was pointedly partisan (attacking one party), deliberately false, and inflammatory. It is one thing to invite people to attend a forum about an important public issue; it is another thing altogether to offer what can only be described as an overly partisan and negative rant.

If Mr. Goldring had written a letter to the editor, or had been offered a space to write an opinion column, that would be one thing. But to put his piece under the cover of his role as an MP is entirely inappropriate. Regardless of his own political or party affiliation and his own views about things, as an MP he represents all constituents in Edmonton East, a significant percentage of whom neither voted for him in the last election nor share his particular opinions.

Apart from the inappropriate partisanship of Mr. Goldring’s announcement, it also makes false and deliberately derogatory statements (for example, “the official opposition continues to work against Alberta and Canada.” As well, the NDP never called for a shutdown of the oil sands.), and statements that are inflammatory and insulting (such as, “supporting international environmental extremists” when many of those groups are legitimate and mainstream organizations whose interest is the public good).

The issue that Mr. Goldring raises is something that should be open to public debate and discussion, but in language that is honest, open and respectful of all individuals, groups and yes, political parties. I think and hope your paper would strive to exemplify that kind of inclusiveness, and avoid content that attacks those who may have different but legitimate views.

Sincerely,
Hans Smits

Regardless of his own political or party affiliation and his own views about things, as an MP he represents all constituents in Edmonton East, a significant percentage of whom neither voted for him in the last election nor share his particular opinions.

Response from the Editor:

Mr. Goldring’s comments that appear in Boyle McCauley News are paid advertisements, and as such, are not subject to the same editorial scrutiny as regular columns and articles that are published in the paper. He pays to submit the same advertisement each month to a number of community newspapers in Edmonton.

Federal official rules allow for an MP to spend up to 10 percent of their Member’s Office Budget on advertising and can include issuing partisan opinions or advocacy statements. We hope that our readers find Mr. Goldring’s comments useful in making decisions about the various issues he raises, and influences their choices when going to the polls during an election.

We also encourage readers to write Letters to the Editor to comment on any material appearing in this newspaper that prompts the need for a response, and to raise other issues of interest to the community.

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