I am writing to comment on the matter of front row seating for sale at Owen Sound's annual Canada Day celebration.

Canada Day is a national celebration funded by the Federal (and Provincial and local)  Governments from revenues derived from the Canadian people. You will note, the celebration is for all Canadians. It is in its very essence an egalitarian event.

This attempt to resell what has been already paid for to an elite group of citizens while denying the same to those who are less wealthy is the very opposite of egalitarian.

It would be useful to know how this elite access is funded, who is selling the tables, who will profit from the sale. I had a look at the city page advertising the Canada Day event and saw no mention of it. Someone has been allowed to monopolize a privileged section of the stage seating for profit. Owen Sounders who cannot afford to pay extra for what they already own will just have to get to the back of the line.

Assuming that any profit derived from the sale of privileged access will fall to the city and I expect will be styled as "helping to defray the cost" of the celebration I would counter that the government money should be enough. If the planned celebration cannot be afforded without additional funding I suggest that the expenses should be brought in line with the revenue.

Katherine Mann Jensen, Owen Sound