Readers weigh in on Liberal climate policies, the underfunding of our military, the House vote on Gaza and more
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Re: Trudeau’s not for turning, even as the carbon tax precipice approaches — John Ivison, March 13
Canada’s contribution to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is an infinitesimal 1.6 per cent. Yet, the federal government is demanding a very expensive and ineffective sacrifice from Canada, its people and businesses alike. Why the obsession? Because our prime minister wants to save the planet. But even if we could eliminate our 1.6 per cent, we would not accomplish one iota of a difference globally.
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China is by far the world’s worst GHG emitter. Its contribution to global GHG emissions is about 32 per cent. So, let’s sell China our natural gas, which is a lot cleaner than the coal the Chinese currently use. And sell our LNG to other large emitters as well. This would actually help the planet and would also bring revenues to Canadians. It’s called a “win-win” solution.
Why our PM is rejecting this “win-win” solution is a mystery. Perhaps saving the planet is not his real objective.
André Corriveau, Stittsville, Ont.
In John Ivison’s column, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau characterizes his government as “confident,” since it’s willing to invest in its people. I would argue that a confident administration would tell the climate alarmists within and outside our country that the responsible management of our fossil fuel industries is essential for our energy security and economic well-being and key to helping less fortunate nations reduce their reliance on coal.
A confident country would have the backbone to say that unrealistic targets for carbon-free energy production put our own citizens at risk. A confident country wouldn’t feel the need to criminalize free speech through draconian measures such as the so-called Online Harms Act, C-63. Lastly, a confident leader wouldn’t feel the need to use pejoratives (choose your -ism) against anyone who disagrees with his policies.
Jeffrey Barker, Mississauga, Ont.
You would think by now that Canadians would be on to the bait-and-switch policies of the Liberals. Justin Trudeau said, don’t worry about paying carbon tax, you will get it all back in rebates, which begs the question, if we are getting it all back, why tax us in the first place? The truth is, you will get a rebate but it will won’t come close to equalling the amount you paid, nor will it cover the associated increase in food costs.
Everyone is hurting for money these days and once the government has people dependent on a carbon tax rebate, they will use it as a weapon for opposing the Conservatives’ “axe the tax” election strategy: no tax, no rebate. Rebates are lost leaders; they are nothing more than a bribe used to cover up poor policy decisions, of which the Liberals have many. If the carbon tax was fair, equitable, transparent and effective it would stand on its own merit and no rebate would be required.
Barry Jackson, Millet, Alta.
Re: Canada’s Air Force ends pilot training as Ottawa’s spending priorities grow more unbalanced — John Ivison, March 13
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It was bitterly ironic to read this just days before the Royal Canadian Air Force celebrates its centennial on April 1. In researching the Air Force’s history for an upcoming exhibition at the Oakville Museum, I found some very interesting statistics. In 1945, Canada had the world’s fourth largest Air Force. Through the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, Canada produced 131,533 Allied pilots and aircrew, 72,835 of whom were Canadian. It is not well known that Canada continued to train pilots and aircrew for nine NATO countries from the 1950s onward. And now it seems we will need other countries (or private enterprise) to train our aircrew. Politics has crippled a once proud service.
Michael Johnson, Oakville, Ont.
Forcing the RCAF to scrap its fleet of CT-155 training jets and shutting down its pilot training program is shortsighted and reflects dramatic cuts to military funding at a time of escalating tensions around the world.
The resulting loss of expertise will cost us when there is a sudden need to train the next generation of military pilots. When (not if) there is a conflict in Europe, in Southeast Asia or somewhere else in the world, the flight training programs of our NATO allies will be busy training their own pilots.
The shutdown of domestic flight training will be difficult to reverse. Re-instituting our domestic pilot training program will take years due to the loss of suitable aircraft and training expertise.
Canada is a plumb chicken readymade for plucking by a foreign power.
John Shepherd, Richmond, B.C.
Re: ‘My job is not to be popular’: Trudeau doubles down on April 1st carbon tax increase — Catherine Lévesque, March 13
The Trudeau government’s pursuit of net zero at the expense of retaining a viable Canadian economy reminds one of the pithy comment by Thomas Sowell in his book “Discrimination and Disparities,” to whit: “Killing the goose that lays the golden egg is a viable strategy from a purely political standpoint, provided the goose does not die before the next election.”
H.I. Reiter, Thornhill, Ont.
Justin Trudeau is correct. His job is not to be popular. It is to run the Canadian government well. If he does that and acts in accordance with standard Canadian values he will gain the respect of Canadians.
Unfortunately he has done neither.
Jonathan Usher, North York, Ont.
Re: Photo of Jewish Liberal minister holding hands with Abbas called ‘absolutely shameful’ — March 15
The photograph featuring Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly smiling and shaking hands with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was obscene. Abbas heads a “government“ that pays its citizens compensation for killing people. And, to top it off, it does so with funding provided by the United Nations, to which Canada contributes.
Joly and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who obviously authorized this, should be ashamed of themselves.
Bill Gruenthal, Burnaby
Re: Liberals worry we’ll see just how many of them back Hamas terrorists — Michael Higgins, March 19
The MPs who voted in favour of a patently anti-Israel motion Monday night certainly must know that the Palestinians do not want a two-state solution, or at least not one that accommodates both Jews and Arabs. We know that if there is a two-state “solution” imposed on Israel said state will be Judenrein (Jew-free); they’ve said so themselves … too many times to count. And because of actions like theirs, this Judenrein state is moving closer to reality.
To reward Hamas with a state, because it committed the most heinous act of terror in Israel’s history, represents downright capitulation to terrorism. The unabashed support for Monday night’s non-binding resolution that was passed in the House of Commons was shocking, especially considering that Canada was an ally.
Israel is quite literally fighting an existential battle that continues to worsen by the day, particularly when those who want it destroyed are supported by people like those who hold important positions in government. They, Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran et al, are watching and they see this. Accordingly, they will continue (and have said so) to press on with their genocidal actions towards Israel because they see how well it works. That there are still hostages held, not to mention that there were any hostages to begin with, speaks volumes about the character of those with whom the Israelis must deal.
To be sure, as once said by Shimon Peres, you don’t need to make peace with your friends. This is an oft-quoted statement made by those who still believe that there’s even a possibility for a two-state solution to exist. But this facile concept belies the fact that you can’t make peace with an implacable enemy dedicated to your utter annihilation either.
I am absolutely ashamed of our country right now.
Howard C. Tenenbaum, Thornhill, Ont.
It was rather amusing and not a little ironic to see NDP MP Heather MacPherson trumpeting the success of her motion ending the sale of armaments to Israel. Does she think this will cripple israel? Bring Israel to its knees?
The Israelis, who are far more astute than the NDP and many members of the Liberal caucus, figured out some time ago that they cannot depend on their frenemies like Canada, so they have developed their own arms industry. This has resulted in numerous countries around the world concluding multi-million and even billion-dollar arms purchases from Israel.
In contrast, Canada, by Justin Trudeau’s own admission, has about three days’ worth of arms with which to defend itself should this become necessary. Canada is in fact a sitting duck for any of the superpowers eying our wealth of natural resources, thoughtfully left untouched by the Liberal government. We already have Russian and Chinese submarines operating unhindered in the Arctic. At what point will we face a real challenge?
Should this come to pass, the more likely scenario is that Canada would have to go to Israel, hat in hand, begging for arms.
E. Joan O’Callaghan, Toronto
Re: Canadian ‘outraged’ at $110 charge at Appletree clinic for routine cervical cancer screening — Elizabeth Payne, March 12
Unfortunately, Eileen Murphy’s experience of being charged for health care in Ontario is not an isolated case. RNAO, which represents registered nurses and nurse practitioners in Ontario, knows of other clinics in the province that charge clients to access nurse practitioner services. This is unacceptable. Also unacceptable is that 2.3 million Ontarians don’t have consistent access to primary care.
Nurse practitioners play a critical role delivering comprehensive, top-notch primary care. Access to their expertise is essential and must be covered by the province, not via a price tag to patients.
We are also urging the provincial government to fund additional team-based health-care clinics like the 53 already announced (there are about 100 still waiting for funding). We are hopeful there will be some good news regarding health care in the provincial budget on March 26.
Dr. Doris Grinspun, CEO, Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario
Re: Brian Mulroney did ‘good job’ as prime minister, according to 83 per cent of Canadians: poll — Sharon Kirkey, March 19
It cannot be lost on all Canadians when contemplating the vast accomplishments of the late prime minister Brian Mulroney, not only for us but for the rest of the world, in juxtaposition to our current feckless leader. How did it happen in eight short years that we have a staggering debt load for future Canadians to assume; we cannot get housing built; we spend more per capita on health care than many other OECD countries and yet the system is crumbling under massive bureaucracies and regulations; and our education system has capitulated to the woke mob of cancel culture?
On the world stage, we shirk our NATO responsibilities and shake hands with dictators. We cannot “make the business case” to sell natural gas to Germany and Japan, two of our most powerful allies. Yet we recently witnessed members of Parliament vote overwhelmingly to support a treacherous terrorist entity bent on destroying our only democratic ally in the Middle East. May the court of public opinion judge them appropriately.
Susan Silverman, Toronto
Re: Don’t blame colonialism for Haiti’s woes — Rahim Mohamed, March 12
It is a bit of an exaggeration to say that Haiti was the very first American society “to free itself from the shackles of foreign domination.” That honour belongs to the Thirteen Colonies, who threw off British rule in the American War of Independence. It is also noteworthy that France, through gunboat diplomacy, forced Haiti to pay compensation for the loss of plantations and slaves. Ultimately, Haiti had to take out substantial loans from French and other banks to pay off that debt. The final loan from an American bank was paid off in 1947.
The payment of the debt for the freeing of slaves and the seizure of plantations drained tens of billions of dollars from the Haitian economy. That money could have been used to build schools, hospitals and roads. Such financial debt for the freeing of one’s ancestors must surely be viewed as a type of colonialism.
Bruce Couchman, Ottawa
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