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Pa ge 6 T hu rs da y, M ay 2 1, 2 01 5 - T he IF P - H al to n H ill s - w w w .th ei fp .c a The Independent & Free Press is published Thursday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. The Independent & Free Press is a member of the Ontario Press Coun- cil, which is an independent ethical organization established to deal with editorial concerns. For additional information or to file a complaint, contact info@ ontpress.com or call 416-340-1981. The Independent & Free Press Chong's efforts likely for naught Letters to the editor 905-873-0301 Publisher: Dana Robbins General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@theifp.ca) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@theifp.ca) Managing editor: Chris Vernon (cvernon@metroland.com) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@theifp.ca) Classifieds/Real Estate Kristie Pells (realestate@theifp.ca) Classified Call Centre 1-855-415-8237 classified@theifp.ca Accounting 1-866-773-6575 Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@theifp.ca) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@theifp.ca) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@theifp.ca) Get the latest headlines delivered to your inbox by signing up for our twice weekly electronic newsletter. Go to www.theifp.ca and click on 'Newsletter sign-up' at the bottom of the homepage. Animals deserved better Thanks for the kindness Wellington-Halton Hills MP Michael Chong has just urged Canadians to pressure "their senators" to pass a democratic reform bill before it's too late to do so dur- ing this period of Parliament. It follows Chong earlier this year crediting Canadi- ans with lobbying their elected members to work at developing the reform package he had crafted after years of consultation and many efforts to productively amend the workings of our democracy. It also follows Chong noting and making public his dismay at the Red Chamber's slow work at considering the much softened but still meaningful reform bill, and in so doing putting it at risk of dying. That's because it needs to pass before this term of the government ends. "It would be an abomination if the Senate were to block a democratic reform bill of the House of Com- mons," said Chong, the determined creator of the bill. "Canadians need to contact their senators, demand that the Senate pass the bill before the end of June, be- cause time is running out." Chong is correct about the abomination bit. But seeking Canadians to consider senators as "their" representatives and as ones who might be re- sponsive to pressure from the public to change their ways and show democratic leadership seems a huge reach. A disappointing proportion of Canadians would struggle to name their own member of parliament. A staggeringly low rate would be able to identify whether they have a local senator or which one they might ap- proach to pressure on this point or any other. Sadly, our most recognized Senate figures are infa- mous ones. Think Senate and you don't quickly think of names of Red Chamber members who clearly consider the public's wishes and interests. One thinks of suspend- ed members and of others, such as Nancy Ruth, who seemingly consider the office one of entitlement and one of not humble, responsible and accountable pub- lic service. Perhaps Chong's call to action will yield re- sults and help save his bill. If it or other political plays don't lead to this bill becoming law, Canadians' view of the Senate may be- come even worse. Imagine that. And expect Senate reform to be a more likely policy topic Canadians will want to hear about on the fast- approaching campaign trail. We would just like to say thanks to the person or people who decided it was a good idea to drop three Guinea Pigs off in a field on the 8th Line south of Georgetown. It was somewhat kind that you thought enough to put them in a waxed cardboard box, but wait, we had several heavy rain storms over the past few days. If it hadn't been for my husband and my son fixing the gate at the road, these three little helpless critters would have surely become coyote food. Just a sug- gestion to the person or people who thought this to be the best choice, you are so wrong. You could have easily tak- en them to the Humane Society, or even dropped them off at a pet store. Lucky for the three little fury critters they found safety under an old barbecue and managed to create a path to a near- by ditch for water. We are not sure how long they had been there but after rescuing them from the very heavy rains of Monday night, OPINION Letters must include the author's name, address and daytime phone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. Let- ters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/ or length. Publication is not guaranteed. Email: cvernon@metroland.com Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 77, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. Letters policy they now have a dry and loving place to live. Just a word of advice, please think long and hard before buying or acquir- ing pets. They deserve better. They didn't choose you-- you chose them. Be a re- sponsible pet purchaser and owner. Oh, and for those who dropped them off there is now a vacancy in the waxed coated box and under the barbecue lid if you are in need of a place to stay when someone finds out what you did with their pets. Shame on you. Catherine McPhail, Halton Hills On Monday morning, April 13, I had the misfortune to fall heavily onto a concrete driveway. I was all alone except for two work- men who were laying the foundations for the new mailboxes on Prince Charles Drive across from me. They rushed to my aid, and immedi- ately phoned for an ambulance as I was bleeding profusely with a double wrist fracture, which left me in the hospital for two and half days. I just want them to know without their extreme actions, I could have been a lot worse. Thank you so much for your kindness and caring help. Rita Court, Halton Hills