‘It's time for some co-operative federalism.' Letters to the editor for June 18

Globe and Mail

5 hours ago

Re 'Carney accelerates talks with Trump to reach economic-security deal within 30 days' (June 17): U.S. President Donald Trump used his short-lived presence at the G7 summit to once more spout untruths: that Justin Trudeau excluded Russia from the group, and to imply that were it not for the actions of Barack Obama and Mr. Trudeau, there would not have been a war in Ukraine.
He doesn't seem to care about facts.
And his advisers, where are they? They must have the same attitude towards reality.
The scariest thing is, of course, that Canada is attempting to make a 'deal' with that same person.
Sinclair Robinson Ottawa
Re 'Africa largely sidelined at G7 summit, despite multiple wars and massive aid cuts' (June 17): Sadly, the U.S. policy led by the Trump administration of dismantling USAID, coupled with calls for substantial increases to defence spending, seems to be spreading to the other G7 countries.
Canada and the rest of the Group of Seven are facing numerous problems. But if we can't solve them without sacrificing foreign aid, the consequences to Africa will be severe.
One of Donald Trump's predecessors, John F. Kennedy, once said: 'If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.'
T.S. Ramsay Guelph, Ont.
Re 'Alberta, Saskatchewan premiers push for port-to-port corridor as Carney touts energy security at G7' (Report on Business, June 17): Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe wants to see words turn into action regarding a proposal on building a port-to-port energy corridor from Prince Rupert, B.C., to Hudson Bay at Churchill, Man.
He speaks of investors and infrastructure. But he does not speak of risks such as environmental damage, nor does he offer benefits to British Columbia and Manitoba.
The woeful record of Alberta and Saskatchewan at letting thousands of orphan wells pollute unattended should make us wary of the off-loaded costs of this project.
Perhaps he should engage the Premiers of Manitoba and B.C. in discussions guaranteeing environmental protections and even some upside profit-sharing of resource revenues.
Instead, he relies on the powers of the federal government to impose a solution.
It's time for some co-operative federalism.
Michael Levin Toronto
Re 'Ottawa to put latest Canada Post offer up to a union vote' (June 13) and 'Cutting corners' (Letters, June 17): Some of the comments in the article and a subsequent letter to the editor appear to misunderstand the underlying purpose of the vote sought by Canada Post on its most recent offer to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW).
In particular, the letter writer suggests that the request made by Canada Post is shameful and ignores the right of CUPW to represent its members.
Canada Post is doing nothing unlawful by asking for a vote. In fact, the Canada Labour Code expressly provides for a vote on an employer's offer in the current circumstances.
Canada Post appears to be of the view that the positions taken by CUPW do not reflect the desire of its members, and it is simply exercising its statutory right to ask for a vote.
Whether the view held by Canada Post is correct remains to be seen.
Lee Shouldice Former Vice-Chair Ontario Labour Relations Board, Toronto
Re 'Late start' (Letters, June 13): A letter writer believes NATO's existing forces are sufficient to defend against a Russian invasion. They are not.
NATO knows it can no longer rely on help from the United States and is rapidly improving its defence capabilities.
The letter writer disparages that as 'NATO's increasingly aggressive posture.'
Russia, not NATO, is the aggressor.
Some analysts believe Russia's continuing war against Ukraine is temporarily delaying Vladimir Putin from occupying again some of Russia's other former Soviet territories like the Baltic states.
If a future larger war in Europe were to be started by Russia, it's probable that China and North Korea (and others) may be involved.
The increasing cost of our defence preparedness is unfortunate but necessary as avoiding it could end up costing us even more.
Reiner Jaakson Oakville, Ont.
Re 'No Benefit' (Letters, June 17) and 'Germany embraces militarism for the first time since the Second World War' (June 13): In the real world, military spending is a necessary investment for safety and security. The ancient adage, si vis pacem, para bellum (meaning if you want peace, prepare for war), still applies.
In addition, military research has provided many beneficial products that have raised our living standards including penicillin, canned and freeze-dried foods, the internet, GPS, microwave ovens and Jeep vehicles.
Jiti Khanna Vancouver
Re 'Housing remedy' (Letters, June 17): The letter writer is right to point out that there are many advantages to increasing the density of existing residential areas.
But upzoning needs to include design requirements to ensure that infills or replacements fit with the neighbourhood (particularly if it has a historic nature).
There are examples in Edmonton's Garneau neighbourhood of very sensitively designed new multiunit buildings, but also numerous 'grain elevators' which are sore thumbs and overbearing on their neighbours.
There is also no guarantee that infill or replacement housing will in fact be affordable – that has certainly not been the case in Garneau.
And there needs to be a requirement for reasonably sized two, three and four bedroom rental units to be able to accommodate the families that make the area such a vibrant village.
More thought is required.
David Phillip Jones Edmonton
Re 'Canadian gynecologists group issues new compassionate care guidelines for miscarriage patients' (June 16): My story is similar to Ms. Payton's.
My first pregnancy ended in the washroom of an emergency waiting room. The hospital was ill-equipped to respond to the complex needs of a parent who just lost a child before birth.
Over years of trying, I 'got good' at responding to my needs. With each miscarriage, I had my doctor, naturopath, therapist and best friend on speed dial.
My story has a happy ending. In the midst of seven miscarriages, we have two children. I still remember hearing the ultrasound tech saying to me for the first time: 'Yes, there's a live baby in there.'
What a gift. But the journey was one of unnecessary secrets and trauma that was hard for the medical system to comprehend.
Alison Pidskalny Calgary
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