We welcome comments from our readers. You can share your comment by completing our Letters to the Editor form or by posting a comment at the end of an article.
Here are a few thought-provoking comments from recent weeks:
Editorial: Canadians must look to a bilateral future beyond Trump
I mostly enjoy and find resonance with your reporting and editorials, but this one is a bit troubling.
Trump’s continued, now amplified, threats to annex another sovereign territory “by whatever means necessary” vis-a-vis Greenland, and his threats against Canada, does not fit with the editorial’s narrative. You appear to imagine that the economic and geopolitical forces he has unleashed would dissipate or be otherwise abated, should he lose in the mid-terms, finish his term, or die in-between. It has the appearance of promoting a policy of appeasement. “It will go away if we but wait.”
From Diefenbaker to the present, our capitulation and complacency as “the U.S.’s most significant trading partner” has naïvely allowed their consolidation of key sectors of Canadian industry. Now, with the U.S. predisposed toward an even more virulent form of exceptionalism, failing to diversify, not just economically, but also militarily, will only serve to further our subjugation.
– Terry LeBlanc
Editorial: Canada’s surprisingly good ‘bad’ year
We needed to see this editorial. It is easy to look at Canada and see bad over the good. This article summarizes nicely the gains that have been made, and we need to give credit where credit is due.
Mark Carney is not Justin Trudeau. He has shown he can move us forward. It will be interesting to see if he can lead the caucus to be citizen-focused instead of ideological focused.
On my Christmas wish list for next year: Focus immigration on quality not quantity; eliminate antisemitism; see the nation-building projects go from a vision to a reality; and make Canada an energy and natural resource powerhouse in an environmentally responsible way.
– Ralph Forte
The high cost of high-speed rail
I am beyond understanding why Canadian taxpayers all across Canada are expected to pay for rail between Ottawa and a province that wants to separate from said country?
– Karin
There will be significant disruption in places along the high-speed rail corridor. Here in Peterborough, land costs will rise, while median income will not. Housing pressure will become worse than it already is.
I can’t help but think that there could be wiser ways to use $80 billion. (Boring a tunnel under the 401 would not be one of these, I hasten to add.)
– Rparcels
Robots are a hobby of mine. I own several companion robots and two robotic cat litter boxes. One big reason why Canada is slow to adopt robots is that the major manufacturers refuse to sell them in Canada. Both Sony and Casio make extremely popular robot companions which are sold everywhere but Canada.
Even if you manage to import one, they geo-block the apps that update and control them. Companies that do sell here don’t release new products to Canadians until months after they’re selling to every other country. Canada is literally years behind other countries in adopting consumer robots for this reason, and our weak currency doesn’t help.
– Cattipat
Distance caregivers’ conundrum
The time has come for adults to plan for and pay for their own care in their final years. It is unreasonable to assume a child in their 50s or 60s will be able to do it. The physical and financial strain it imposes is cruelty in the highest order. Nobody who has been the caregiver can in good conscience impose that on their children. The insurance industry has been too slow to adapt to this, but it needs to. More importantly, we need to adapt our own attitudes about it.
– Dcchrome66
Should Canada drop Mexico from U.S. trade talks?
Free trade or not, I strongly suggest keeping it at three – meaning Canada, Mexico and the U.S. Reason being Trump who keeps chipping away at any form of unity. There is strength in numbers!
– Mario Bonifacio
Until Trump is out of office I think Canada should trade more with Mexico and other nations and less with the U.S. Also, Canada should buy the Gripen and kick the F-35 to the curb.
– Donald Watson
Op-Ed: What work needs to look like now
This article on women in the workplace needs to go to the prime minister and every premier, every business owner and down the line!
Stop forcing people to work in office spaces when they have proven work from home can be extremely productive. The fight to recognize women’s contributions to the GDP need to be recognized.
– Maureen Atherton
MAID increases — Ottawa holds firm
I’m glad that Canada is humane enough to allow MAID. It should be an option in all countries.
One of our neighbours with an incurable, advancing medical condition recently took advantage of MAID. It was his choice and he passed with dignity. His family was very happy he had the MAID option as opposed to continued pain and suffering as his condition worsened.
– Brian and Kim Allan
I live in the U.S. and am thankful that MAID is not legal in my state. I’ll do everything possible to make sure that this doesn’t happen.
– mckeownsw
Educators warn about Canada’s loss of religious literacy
The article says, “Most Canadian public schools no longer teach about religion.” Great decision! Religion has been the source of so many global conflicts it is time we got rid of it!
– bwana4swahili
I grew up as a Unitarian, and that church was very important to me as a place where I could associate with peers and elders without the stress of socializing in my high school. It’s very easy to get an idea about other religions by just attending different kinds of church services. It’s worth it, and very eye opening.
– Charles Justice
There must be a source of justice for Americans abused by ICE, which is, after all for immigration and customs. Shouldn’t the Int’l Criminal Court step in when this happens?