EQUAL REPRESENTATION

This is a battle cry that started in the 60s and there has been, imho, a lot of progress in many areas but it has only proven one thing that incompetence, dishonesty, avarice, etc. is not just a trait of whites......

Re "City of whites" (Oct. 31): Mike Strobel comments on the whiteness of the elected politicians at Toronto's City Hall is equally applicable to the elected MPs from the GTA. The non-white population of the GTA stands at 42.9%, but only 13% of the recently elected MPs from this region are from racialized groups. There are 47 MPs from the GTA and just six of them are racialized. A proportional representation electoral system would go a long way in ensuring that women, racialized people, Aboriginals and other equity-seeking groups' presence in Parliament reflects current demographic reality.

AJAMU NANGWAYA

TORONTO

(We hope voters don't vote for skin colour, but for quality)

STEP UP, MICHAEL

Mike Strobel notes only one of our 44 councillors is black -- referring to Michael Thompson. Maybe one day, if Toronto is really lucky, we might see a fine man like Thompson as mayor. For now though, we have to make do with David Miller. Please Mr. Thompson, do us all a favour and run for mayor. Please. That way, Toronto will get a rational, responsible, accountable mayor.

RON LAFFIN

TORONTO

(Over to you, Michael)

AN ONTARIO MONOPOLY

Re "Ottawa's Monopoly On Pot Over" (Oct. 28): Congratulations to the federal courts for striking down the government's monopoly on growing medical marijuana. Now, how about shattering the other monopoly on government drug distribution, namely the LCBO?

DAVID MAHARAJ

MISSISSAUGA

(Bit of advice: Don't hold off buying booze until it happens)

THE REAL MENACE

Re "Picture this: Gun amnesty won't work" (Oct. 30): Edward Greenspan makes an excellent point. Action taken against brainless inanimate objects is worthless. They cannot plan and carry out crimes. Criminals with thought processes and mobility can and do. Now, all that is required is get the "ban guns" cabal, the firearms control freaks, and the Hug-A-Thug gang in the justice system to realize criminals are the real menace -- and must be dealt with according to what is right, not according to the law. What is right is unchangeable. Laws can be, and have been, changed or replaced at the whim of a ruling political party.

GLEN. J. CONNOLLY

NORTH YORK

(To little effect so far)

HELP FOR STUTTERERS

Re "Woman tells of sex with minister" (Oct. 30): The story said the unidentified woman victim suffers from a lifelong stuttering problem and the alleged offender overcame a stuttering problem earlier in his life. I want to give Sun readers some basic facts about stuttering, which affects 1% of adults -- and 4% of children show signs of stuttering at some point in their development. Researchers have yet to pinpoint a cause, but there are compelling arguments for both genetic and neurological factors. The best thing for a child is intervention with speech therapy as early as possible. The website of The Stuttering Foundation (stutteringhelp.org) has a national listing of proven speech therapists in Canada. This non-profit organization offers a slew of books and DVDs for adults, children and parents.

MARC DEBLOIS

WORCESTER, MA

(Helpful advice)

OBAMA GETS A PASS

Re "McCain's Joe-king" (Oct. 31): Talk about a one-sided look at the American election. According to Michael Den Tandt, McCain supporters are a sullen lot. Sarah Palin is just an avatar from the 1950s. Den Tandt talks about the Republican Party spending $150,000 on a wardrobe for Palin to campaign in, but makes no mention of Barack Obama blowing $5,000,000 to hijack all major TV networks to give his "I'm going to save the world" speech. Den Tandt says Joe the Plumber's nothing but a fraud, he hasn't got his plumber's licence and he owes some back taxes. All this just for asking a question where Obama got the answer wrong.

Ian Coote

Cambridge

(We'll all get the answer Tuesday night -- finally)