Hoy’s analogy was off the mark

I am writing to comment on Claire Hoy’s column “Toews just giving somebody else a chance.” I wish to remark not about the monotonous predictability of his article (the usual liberals/Liberals bad, conservatives/Conservatives good nonsense), but on his inability to do the research necessary to write a good newspaper column.

Hoy said; “Like Pablov’s dogs, who barked at a given command, ...” First of all, the researcher’s name was Pavlov. Secondly, his experiment involved having dogs salivate in anticipation of food when a bell was rung. This has particular resonance for his article because we can see him salivating over the idea that a Conservative might be appointed to the Supreme Court.

John Steckley

Bolton