Letters to the editor, June 12: ‘I fear that without significant constitutional reforms, Canada is in the early stages of inevitable economic demise'

Globe and Mail

a day ago

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.
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