There is strength in unity,' says head of Métis nation in Alberta
Andrea Sandmaier, president of Otipemisiwak Métis Government, says she understands why Albertans may feel neglected or ignored by the federal government, but that the rights of Indigenous peoples and treaties with them must be respected.
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Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Letters to the editor, June 12: ‘I fear that without significant constitutional reforms, Canada is in the early stages of inevitable economic demise'
Re 'ArriveCan's main contractor GCStrategies paid without ensuring work was done: A-G' (June 11): The Auditor-General's report makes it clear that at issue was government services not following its own rules in awarding contracts, thus wasting taxpayer dollars. Mark Carney's response was to point out that GCStrategies has been suspended from receiving further contracts. Fine, but what about the individuals and departments found to have broken government rules? Apparently nothing, as Mr. Carney simply pledges to do better going forward. A new government, but seemingly the same values on accountability. David Harper Burlington, Ont. Re 'Canada invites Saudi Crown Prince to G7 summit' (June 11): This deeply disturbs me. Is it possible that the Prime Minister or his advisers are unaware of the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a brutal act with the Crown Prince's fingerprints all over it? Are we so desperate for investment and trade to want to engage with such an authoritarian regime? For a country that professes to believe in the rule of law and human rights, this invitation disgusts me. Ken Pattern Vancouver Re 'Mexico and Canada fell apart over migration. Could it bring us back together?' (June 10): I have long been puzzled by what has appeared to be Canadian indifference toward things Mexican beyond tequila, tacos and beach resorts. Mexicans are enormously diverse, a trait that we share, and know exactly who they are as a people and a nation. Nowhere do I see a sugar-coating of their often-violent history. As a NAFTA partner and, yes, often times a competitor, we have missed an opportunity to gain a solid foothold into our own hemisphere with the world's largest Spanish-speaking nation. Bilingual Canadians will likely find learning Spanish quite easy, as I did during the pandemic. I support the Carney government's look across the ocean to Europe. I would be enthusiastic about deepening engagement with Mexico. David Roy Toronto Re 'The Liberals get around to fixing the thing they broke' (Editorial, June 7): The underlying purpose of refugee law is not to protect those fleeing from past persecution. It is to protect those who face future persecution. The length of time a person has spent in Canada should have no bearing on this issue and thus should not be used as a reason for diluting procedural protections for some claimants. Donald Galloway Victoria Re 'ROI' (Letters, June 11): Letter-writers do a good job of explaining the opposing views on building pipelines as nation-building projects, and I find merit in both arguments. It seems to me that a compromise – where Canada builds pipelines yet does so in the most ethical and efficient manner, with proceeds earmarked for environmental objectives – could win the day. 'Building a nation' with such disparate interests necessitates a balanced approach. Jeff Zuk Hamilton Even before new energy infrastructure projects have been announced, the usual suspects of opposition are out in force. The swell of national unity is, it seems, not unbounded, but conditional. It is becoming increasingly clear to me that Canada is ungovernable. This nation, as currently configured, feels set up to fail. Canada may not only be left behind with respect to major infrastructure: We will likely become technology slaves dependent upon the United States. Optimism alone is not a recipe for success. I fear that without significant constitutional reforms, Canada is in the early stages of inevitable economic demise that will increase the likelihood of 'absorption' by the U.S. Martin McMahon Oak Bay, B.C. Re 'Advocates question tax-cut bill's plan to shield federal parties from provincial privacy laws' (June 10): I find it incomprehensible and shocking that federal parties are not subject to any privacy legislation. And I find it disturbing that the Liberals would attempt to quietly entrench this unacceptable state of affairs in an unrelated bill. The lack of privacy protections for Canadians is not an abstract matter. The infamous 'robocall' data breach and electoral crime of 2011 played out across the country. There were no legal or financial consequences for the Conservative Party itself for this egregious data breach. They were not obligated to inform individuals who had their data compromised. We learned through the Cambridge Analytica scandal in the United States that political parties can amass thousands of data points about every elector. It's long past time for federal parties to be subject to meaningful privacy legislation. Canadians should demand it. Susan Watson Guelph, Ont. I guess we shouldn't look to the federal government to address any privacy concerns we might have, since they want to grant themselves immunity from any such legislation. Do as we say…. Paddy Fuller Ottawa Re 'In a challenging market, a few brave developers push forward' (Real Estate, June 6): There is forecasted to be 24,000 unsold condos sitting on the market in Toronto and 3,500 in Vancouver by the end of the year. Maybe we should figure out how to build stuff people want to live in, and can afford to purchase, before we embark on the federal government's 'build, baby, build' strategy for solving the housing crisis. Barbara Yaffe Vancouver Re 'CIBC chief calls for tax changes to help young Canadians struggling to save money' (Report on Business, June 10): I do not disagree with helping young Canadians, but I think the CIBC CEO's recommendation will serve the bank well. Of course the bank wants to negotiate more mortgages. What is CIBC doing to help young people? Are they reducing banking fees, increasing interest earned on money in the bank or lowering interest rates on loans? Jan Vanderwal Toronto Re 'Is AI dulling critical-thinking skills? As tech companies court students, educators weigh the risks' (June 7): With the advent of the pocket calculator came the mantra that tech will make learning easier. With the personal computer it was that tech will make learning fun. With artificial intelligence it will be that tech will make learning unnecessary. I'm not a Luddite. I'm just reflecting on a lifetime of experience in education, the snake oil that senior decision-makers have bought over the decades and the ill effects of their decisions. Learning requires a mix of effort, focus and discipline. It always has. Before we use the tools, we should learn how to use our brains. Dan Brennan Belleville, Ont. .................................................................................................................................. Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Keep letters to 150 words or fewer. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here: letters@
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Mayor says city should repair buildings if landlords don't, but it hasn't in years
After recently touring an apartment building badly in need of repairs, Toronto's mayor sent a message to landlords: if they can't repair their property, the city should do the work themselves and send them a bill. But city data shows that Toronto hasn't exercised that power since 2021, when it was done once. Though the mayor is working to make the city more prepared to use it, through a successful motion at city council in May. Chow spoke about the enforcement measure known as remedial work Saturday — which the city has the power to use under the property standards bylaw — while addressing tenants of a Rexdale apartment building who are dealing with pest infestations, chronic flooding and other issues. But a 2024 report on RentSafeTO, the city's rental enforcement program, shows the tool has been used infrequently in recent years. It was used four times in 2017, once in 2018, ten times in 2019, once in 2020 and once in 2021. Remedial action wasn't used in 2022, 2023 or 2024, according to the RentSafeTO year in review for 2024. Chiara Padovani, with the York-South Weston tenants union, says renters have been demanding the city use its remedial work enforcement mechanism for years. "What we need the city to actually do is use that tool to use that power and actually implement remedial action when tenants are living in conditions that are impacting their health and safety," Padovani said. "When a landlord is not upholding their basic responsibilities and the bylaws that are in place to protect tenants to have a decent place to live, then the city needs to stop playing nice." WATCH | Residents of Toronto apartment in need of overdue repairs call for mayor's help: Residents of Toronto apartment in need of overdue repairs call on mayor's help 3 days ago Duration 2:52 Mould, insects, and plumbing problems are just some of the issues tenants at a Rexdale apartment complex are raising to Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. Tenants say their landlord isn't doing anything to address the problems, and the city's enforcement is failing them. CBC's Naama Weingarten reports. In a statement, the city said the goal of RentSafeTO is to use "progressive enforcement action" to achieve compliance, reminding tenants that any issues they're having with a building should be brought to the landlord first. It says remedial action is used in "extenuating circumstances." Padovani says a perfect example of the city's lack of enforcement came in a recent ombudsman's report delivered in May. In it, the city's municipal licensing and standards (MLS) department, who are responsible for bylaw enforcement, was criticized for unfairly responding to requests for help from tenants at a building in need of repair. City didn't consider remedial action, homes lost: report The report looked into the city's handling of a rooming house with no heat and water, a loss of vital services that caused 10 of 11 tenants to lose their homes. "MLS never considered using its own power to restore the vital services itself," the report reads. It goes on to say there is no indication MLS considered remedial action for the building. After that report was made public, the mayor put forward a motion requesting city staff to make sure Toronto has a roster of contractors who, if needed, can carry out emergency repairs to keep buildings livable. The property standards bylaw is meant to ensure rentals are free of pests, kept clean and have running hot water, among a variety of other things. If the city has to step in and do work itself, a fee of $74.36 per hour is added to the owner's property tax bill. The head of the city's federation of tenants' associations also can't remember an instance of the city actually using its power to do repairs for tenants. Yaroslava Avila Montenegro, executive director of the Federation Of Metro Tenants' Associations, said if the city exercised that mechanism more regularly, it would make a huge impact. "We at the Federation of Metro Tenants' Associations get calls on maintenance work with different buildings every single day," she said. "I would say around 50 per cent of our intake calls deal with some kind of maintenance issue." She believes there needs to be a shift in the way the city approaches enforcement. "Broadly speaking, in Canada we have this culture that puts homeowners first in terms of priorities. But when it comes to folks who rent, and tenants, we are seen as second-class citizens," she said. The city's website says in some cases issues are resolved by educating landlords, while in others further action is required. A 2024 RentSafeTO report says the enforcement team's objective is to "work with building owners."
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
American tourism to Quebec may have dipped, but visitors are still coming — apologetically
Social Sharing In 25 years working at a Quebec hotel, Stephan Comeau says he's never seen so many Americans come in apologizing for "the political situation in their country." Comeau is the front desk manager at Ripplecove Hôtel & Spa in the Eastern Townships. He said some Americans even call ahead to ask if being from the United States will be a problem. But not everybody is worried. "I feel welcome and I want to support Canada," Daisy Benson told Radio-Canada while having a drink with her partner outside the Hovey Manor in North Hatley, Que., in late May. Border crossing data shows fewer Americans are coming to Canada, and some theorize tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump may be the problem: travellers may fear they won't be welcome north of the border. The number of trips Americans took to Canada by car declined 10.7 per cent in April and 8.4 per cent in May compared to the same months last year. Air travel was also down, with a 5.5 per cent drop in April and a slight 0.3 per cent decline in May, according to data from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Despite the dip compared to 2024, the number of American air travellers over the first three weeks of May remains nearly seven per cent higher than in 2023. Travel was at a near standstill in 2020 and 2021, and remained quite low in 2022. Looking back to 2019, about five per cent more U.S. travellers arrived by air than this year. Encouraging Americans to come visit At least one tourism association, Tourisme Cantons-de-l'Est in the Eastern Townships, has launched an ad campaign to reassure their neighbours they'll be warmly welcomed. It aims to dispel fears as the summer season gets underway. The ad is playing on YouTube and on TVs in northeastern United States. The organization's head, Shanny Hallé, said the exchange rate "is very favourable for Americans right now, so they can experience luxury vacations inexpensively." The campaign emphasizes affordability while "reaffirming our values of hospitality," she said, to help Americans feel welcome. Between January and April, she said, entries at the Quebec-U.S. border fell by a little more than four per cent. Montreal tourism expected to be around par Yves Lalumière, president and CEO of Tourisme Montréal, said the slower start wasn't unexpected given recent tensions, but he expects American travel to remain around average — plus or minus three to five per cent. "We're not looking at any decline that is drastic," Lalumière said, noting the Grand Prix is expected to bring in two million visitors. It's not going to be a record year, he said, but it won't be a bad one either. He called it a stable positive and said there are no signs of a significant slowdown. "We're still early in the game for the summer," he said. "August, September and October are good months for American clientele as well." With fewer Canadians travelling to the U.S., he said Canadian organizations and businesses are planning conventions and meetings in Montreal instead. At the same time, the city is working to attract more international visitors. The Montreal airport has continued diversifying its routes to reduce reliance on any one market. Lalumière said the city is now connected to 156 markets, with flights from places like India, Dubai and Tokyo. "We've added a lot of flights. A lot of countries," said Lalumière. Like Lalumière, Glenn Castanheira said there was a downturn in American travellers, but momentum is returning. He's the executive director of downtown Montreal's merchants' association, which grew concerned when the trade war began and Trump started threatening Canada's sovereignty. While he remains cautiously optimistic, Castanheira said efforts by groups like his — along with the Montreal Chamber of Commerce, Tourisme Montréal and others — suggest Americans aren't particularly worried about crossing into Canada. They know they're welcome, he said, but they're saying "sorry" so often that he jokes Americans may be becoming Canadian. "Add to the mix that the American dollar is to the advantage of the Americans, that's a huge player," said Castanheira, who studied at Harvard University.
