Letters — On boycotting the U.S.: 'It's about us, not about them'

National Post

a day ago

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Before inviting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7, Carney could have asked Trudeau to conduct a ceremonial cremation of the costumes he and his family wore in India in 2018. He could then have formally apologized to Canadians and Indians past, present and future for his silliness and invited Carney to set things straight with Modi.
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Come September this year, Trudeau could also apologize for having taken off to Tofino in 2021 for the first Truth and Reconciliation Day. He could also introduce legislation to repeal the EV targets just before Carney announces Canada's new policies respecting automobile manufacturing.
The list of blunders is long so Minister Trudeau would provide a constant reminder to Prime Minister Carney to avoid doing things that later he would have to undo as the next Minister of Contrition, Apology and Undoing. But there must be one important restriction on Minister Trudeau's activities: he should be forbidden from apologizing for deeds other than his own.
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As a physician who worked throughout the pandemic, I am appalled when doctors and/or nurses voice anti-vaccine statements as fact. Nurse Amy Hamm writes, 'Henry clung to her illiberal and unnecessary vaccine mandate for health-care workers long after it was obvious that the vaccine was not stopping the spread of the virus.' Drs. Theresa Tam and Bonnie Henry tried their best when we did not yet have all the facts about COVID-19, and in return they received death threats. What is true is that COVID vaccines and their mandate for health-care workers saved lives and reduced suffering.
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Dr. Robert D. Wagman, Toronto
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Amy Hamm takes issue with the appointments of Theresa Tam and Bonnie Henry to the Order of Canada because of the 'repeat controversies and scandals that plagued both public-health officers.' Indeed, there was controversy over their orders of vaccine mandates, limitations of gatherings and closure of schools and businesses, many of which had harmful consequences. They are far from perfect.
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But to claim these actions were politically motivated or a conflict of interest without supporting evidence is as irresponsible as the alleged motivations of Drs. Tam and Henry. Do Drs. Tam and Henry not deserve the Order for consistently being the face of keeping calm and carrying on during a chaotic and polarizing two and a half years as well as leading Canada's response that resulted in one third the death rate of the U.S.?
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Dr. Brian Schwartz, Toronto
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Amy Hamm must be praised for identifying valid reasons why Drs. Tam and Henry do not deserve the Order of Canada. However, a more damning rejection is found in the teachings of Dr. Donald Henderson (1928-2016), who eradicated smallpox and is considered by many to be among the world's most experienced and influential public health epidemiologists.
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In 2006 he co-authored a seminal paper on how to control influenza-type pandemics. In it he demonstrated why such measures as indiscriminate quarantining, travel restrictions, the prohibition of social gatherings, school closures, maintaining social distance and the use of masks and personal protective equipment are of unproven value in limiting viral respiratory pandemics.