Increasing NATO spending a bad look for Canada

Toronto Star

3 days ago

Canada's increase in NATO spending is money better spent at home
Carney vows Canada will meet 2% NATO spending pledge this year, June 9
With the Western half of the country on fire, a massive housing and infrastructure shortage, drug epidemic and healthcare crisis, how is it at all responsible to commit to increasing Canada's NATO spending to 2 per cent of GDP?
It is said this increase will cost billions. That's an enormous sum of money that should be put to use addressing the aforementioned issues, which are much more urgent threats to our national 'security' and well-being as a society than anything this NATO spending may address.
Who are we at war with by the way? Other than a trade war with our belligerent neighbours to the south.
Besides, Prime Minister Mark Carney is selling this move as a way of distancing ourselves from the 'unreliable' Americans by moving closer to our European allies. In reality we're trading, allegedly — the Americans are still a NATO member — one unreliable partner for another, as Europe's economy is in shambles as well. He's also making the case this will boost our own homegrown defence industry through new industrial policy, developed in direct partnership with industry leaders.
And herein lies the true aim of this new direction, in my opinion; a massive corporate handout to Canadian defence contractors and firms that will send large portions of this capital to their shareholders and executives.
War is a racket, and Carney is a banker, but I think we should expect more from our government amidst such dire circumstances in the year 2025.
Our children and grandchildren deserve better than fanning the flames of war, especially when our own house is already on fire.
Evan Marnoch, Winnipeg
Canada Post is a cherished national institution
Canada Post effectively 'bankrupt,' federal mediator says in report pushing for weekend delivery, June 4
The ongoing risk of labour action is not about Canada Post being broke, as media outlets keep repeating.
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It's about the survival of critical public infrastructure.
Canada Post has ignored Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) recommendations and concerns for years related to loss of parcel service share and proposals to expand services for a revitalized Canada Post. The recent government-initiated report on the company was an industry report. It treats Canada Post as a for-profit company and not what it actually is: a public service.
We've seen this before; it's the standard technique of privatization: 'defund, make sure things don't work, people get angry, you hand it over to private capital.'
CUPW isn't just trying to defend their charter right to bargain, their livelihoods or working conditions: they are trying to defend our cherished national institution. Canada Post serves Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast, not just those in densely populated regions like Toronto. It ties us all together.
With a vast and diverse physical infrastructure and millions of daily human interactions, what if we used the Post Office to expand banking services, internet services, wellness checks and emission reductions?
Andria Babbington, Toronto
Passing of Bill 5 a shameful act by Ford's Tories
Doug Ford pushes through rapid development law despite objections of First Nations, June 4
It is appalling the Ontario Tories have passed Bill 5, especially during the month of June, Canada's National Indigenous History Month.
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This bill provides the Ontario government with sweeping powers to fast-track mining and development projects without any consultation with Indigenous peoples. Premier Doug Ford is ignoring all the harm done in Grassy Narrows decades ago and more recently, when the Reed Paper Company threw toxic waste into the Wabigoon River.
Ford is also violating many of the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that demand that governments honour Indigenous treaties.
Furthermore, the Ontario Government has ignored UNDRIP, the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which Canada signed in 2021. This calls on all provinces to respect the rights and treaties of Indigenous peoples. In passing Bill 5, Ford and his Ontario Tories have taken Indigenous relations in this province back many decades.
All in the name of speeding up development for his cronies. Shame on them.
Joanne Clarke, Toronto
Carney starting off on the wrong foot
Insiders say Mark Carney could compromise on emissions cap, June 6
Prime Minister Mark Carney's first moves are to continue subsidizing Alberta's oil industry and increase military spending.
So now we know which way he wants to go, and it's sad.
If Canada subsidized renewable energy industries as much as we subsidize the oil industry, Canada could solve its climate change problems and help reduce the number of forest fires. Investing in renewable energy technologies would also increase employment.
If Canada cut military spending in half and invested that money in housing Canada's housing problems could also be solved.
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As long as billion-dollar oil subsidies and more military spending remain our federal government's top priorities, Canada's problems will continue to grow, all because of lack of investment funding for housing and renewables.
Max Moore, Toronto
Conservatives' blind allegiance to Poilievre galling
Apparently Pierre Poilievre's defeat in the last election has not affected his popularity in the Conservative Party.
He is now asking a duly elected MP in Alberta to relinquish his seat in order to force an expensive by-election. The message delivered by the voters in Ottawa Carleton, a seat Poilievre held for more than 20 years, is being ignored by the true believers who have taken over the Conservative Party.
Is it not obvious those voters in Ottawa who handed him his walking papers had reason to do so? Obviously they did not like his belligerent and mean-spirited tactics. Or maybe it was his and his party's daily use of disruptive and childish tactics in Parliament?
I believe there is a simpler reason: The voters in Ottawa-Carleton saw beyond the 'new' Poilievre with his contact lenses, his better haircut and tailored suits.
They remembered the Poilievre who rushed to the side of the protesters who shut down and terrorized Ottawa for days. Who can forget the photos of him sitting on the bumper of a semi tractor trailer gleefully sharing a beverage with people who were breaking the law, disrupting innocent people's lives for days on end.
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It amazes me he had the unmitigated gall, the audacity, to ask these same people in Carleton to re-elect him.
I believe if the Conservative Party wishes to keep him in Parliament they will be doing Prime Minister Mark Carney a huge favour.
Richard Murri, Niagara Falls, Ont.