Letters: Dear Canada, please don't abandon us

Montreal Gazette

18 hours ago

The letter writer states Canadian-U.S. relations have been permanently tarnished and concludes that 'America has shown us who they are.'
But as in most things, perception is in the eye of the beholder. As a grieving American, I ask our irate neighbours to consider a different view.
If a good and trusted friend (the U.S.) begins to act weirdly, which we have, should the other (Canada) just decide the relationship is toast? Instead, wouldn't this purported friend delve into what's wrong and perhaps intervene to help?
This is not to negate Canadians' disappointment and anger. But please realize the last U.S. presidential election saw Donald Trump triumph over Kamala Harris with only 49.8 per cent of the popular vote. Overall, the turnout was about 64 per cent of eligible voters. And during the 2024 election cycle, Elon Musk donated as much as US$292 million to the victor.
Such data, while hardly soothing the profound concern and dismay many Americans are experiencing, suggest apathy and Big Money were instrumental in the result.
Finally, Canadians might also temper their scorn by considering their erstwhile friend is utterly embroiled in a battle for its survival. The appeal of the populist movement, which thrust Trump to power, has shown itself to be an insatiable wolf.
In short, Canada, don't abandon your stricken neighbour. Understand our plight instead — and pray democracy may yet prevail.
R. Jay Allain, Orleans, Mass.
Immigration rules to please Trump?
Yosniel Alginis Villalon Lopez, a native of Cuba, is yet another potential Canadian who was forced into ICE detention after being rejected by the Canada Border Services Agency at the Lacolle border crossing. And yet he is married to a resident of Quebec.
The so-called Safe Third Country Agreement, by which he was refused entry, is only an executive agreement between the Canadian and U.S. governments. It hasn't been passed by Parliament, and only in rare cases does it apply to refugee claimants arriving at Canadian airports from elsewhere.
Our federal government's proposed Bill C-2 will make it almost impossible for most people entering Canada via the U.S. to have their refugee claim reviewed by the Immigration and Refugee Board. It has also been severely criticized for provisions affecting human rights in Canada.
One may wonder whether all this is intended to please the Trump administration.
Shloime Perel, Côte-St-Luc
An acronym fit for stats bureau
Donald Trump, upset with weaker than expected job numbers and a subsequent hit on markets, fired Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) commissioner Erika McEntarfer.
He will, no doubt, replace her with someone who will bend the knee and report numbers that he wants to hear, even if they are untrue.
Maybe the bureau's name will be changed from BLS to simply the Bureau of Statistics, or more to the point, BS.
Robert Filler, St-Laurent
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