Readers weigh in on bonuses to CBC executives, women-only seats on airliners, political personality 'cults,' and other issues of the day

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Re: No decision made on bonus for CBC President Catherine Tait for past two years, says federal government — Stephanie Taylor, Aug. 15; and Pierre Poilievre, the next leader of the free world — Carson Jerema, Aug. 19

So CBC executives and managers get more than $13 million in bonuses while 141 front-line workers get the axe, and another 205 vacancies go unfilled. Shades of Marie Antoinette. It also makes one think of the famous words of former Liberal MP and cabinet minister David Dingwall: “I am entitled to my entitlements.”

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It is purported that funding the CBC costs each Canadian $33 annually. I personally do not want one penny of my $33 contribution going to “performance pay” for executives. “Let them eat cake” instead of getting bonuses.

Bob Erwin, Ottawa

Pierre Poilievre is “my guy” too — I applaud his beliefs in less government, less taxes and living within one’s means. You can’t spend what you don’t have.

I truly hope he defunds the CBC. I am appalled that executives gave themselves bonuses while laying off employees, and have the gall to ask for more taxpayers’ money. Fire them all and use the money saved on worthwhile causes.

Sybil Fretz, Pickering, Ont.

Re: Women-only plane seats a shameful attack on men — Amy Hamm, Aug. 22

On the surface (or in the air), Amy Hamm’s criticism of women-only plane seats in India doesn’t seem unreasonable. However, looking deeper we see that in India an average of nearly 90 rapes per day were reported in 2022. Add groping, and you can imagine that the figure really takes off.

Even in Japan, where rape reports are much lower, women-only train cars to address groping are widely accepted.

In short, women-only plane seats is not feminism gone wild. The idea may succeed or fail. However, let it be free enterprise and consumers who decide.

John Tak, West Vancouver

Re: Renovating NYC consul general’s residence would cost $2.6M, so Global Affairs bought $9M condo instead: documents — Christopher Nardi, Aug. 15; and ‘In New York, one needs to have a presence’ — Letter to the editor, Aug. 21

Canada certainly did make an impression with its purchase of an $8.8-million condo on New York’s “Billionaire’s Row” to house our consul general — the impression that the Canadian government is out of control and spending money like idiots. It would have been better to have made the impression that we know and understand values and live by them. That, however, would have been obviously untrue for this government.

Jonathan Usher, North York, Ont.

Re: Non-disclosure agreements in sports and the workplace are different beasts — Howard Levitt and Jeffrey Buchan, Aug. 14

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