Letters to the editor, June 10: ‘AI is not only an issue in higher education, but at the grade-school level as well'

Globe and Mail

18 hours ago

Re 'B.C.'s energy minister says Ottawa should focus on practical projects with ready investors' (Report on Business, June 9): A retired economist would like to appeal to the former economist and now Prime Minister. I hope the process for nation-building projects is the international gold standard for public decision-making: cost-benefit analysis.
We economists know that broad consultation in a transparent, structured decision-making process is the best way to find projects which provide the highest net benefits to Canadians. The government should grant standing in these analyses to First Nations and affected citizens.
Mark Carney should take a lead in setting the inputs to these analyses. Progressive governments make this information known when taxpayers are on the hook for infrastructure projects.
Provinces can provide the projects, but the feds should transparently control the process, parameters and participants. Published shadow wage, social costs of carbon, value of life and other cost-benefit parameters would mean that fantasy and knee-jerk projects are filtered out as bad for the health and well-being of Canadians.
John Parker Toronto
Re 'Carney to announce Canada's defence spending will hit NATO's target of 2% of GDP this fiscal year, sources say' (June 9): With the western half of the country on fire, a massive housing and infrastructure shortage, a drug epidemic and a health care crisis, how is it at all responsible to commit to increasing Canada's NATO spending to 2 per cent of GDP?
It is said that this increase can cost between $15- to $20-billion, an enormous sum of money that should be used to address the aforementioned issues, which I see as more urgent threats to our national 'security' and well-being than anything this NATO spending may address.
Mark Carney makes the case that this will boost our own homegrown defence industry. And herein lies the true aim of this new direction, in my opinion: a massive corporate handout to Canadian defence contractors and firms that would send large portions of this capital to their shareholders and executives.
War is a racket, and Mark Carney was a banker, but I think we should expect more from our government amidst such dire circumstances.
Evan Marnoch Winnipeg
Re 'Toronto wrangles with a simple question: What is a multiplex?' (Real Estate, June 6): What stands out to me is again greedy developers pushing the boundaries of proposed zoning to maximize profit.
Planning is then tied up in knots trying to regulate these outlandish proposals. This then creates the outcomes referenced: a couple of hundred applications on hold.
Until we give city planners final authority on design, developers will likely continue to slow development approvals, not the city.
Michael Marmoreo Toronto
Re 'Canada can't solve its housing crisis without the provinces' (June 6): The most depressing aspect of this analysis and conclusion is that it could have been articulated five or even 10 years ago. The same paralysis remains, the same roadblocks in place hindering meaningful progress.
In my own parcel of the country, at least two plots of city-owned land, publicly designated for affordable or seniors housing, have sat for years unscathed by any signs of development.
Much of the public is tired of the shell game between federal, provincial or municipal jurisdictional. Just get it built already.
Terry Sherbino Penticton, B.C.
Re 'The criminal justice system keeps failing sexual-assault survivors. There has to be a better way' (June 9): As a practicing criminal lawyer, I commend the recommendation that it's time for Ontario to lift the moratorium on the option of restorative justice for sexual offences.
In the right case, with an accused willing to accept accountability for their actions and a complainant who would be satisfied hearing that in a supportive, structured setting, the justice system and society would benefit from the use of that process.
To deny that alternative would be an unjustifiable form of paternalism.
Jeffrey Manishen Hamilton
Re 'Some university professors say AI is here to stay, so students should learn how to use it' (June 4): Such use of artificial intelligence, if prevalent, circumvents the purpose of a university education, which is to read primary sources, to think and to analyze information.
A return to individual oral presentations as tests could help ensure that students are doing some learning at a university level.
Sandra Witelson, PhD Hamilton
Parent of a Grade 4 student here. Dismayed to report that artificial intelligence is not only an issue in higher education, but at the grade-school level as well.
My daughter recently brought home a research assignment and advised me that her slides could be completed by copying and pasting online search results. When I asked her teacher for clarification, the response was that 'many students have utilized the AI results.'
Very disappointing that students are not given the chance to learn how to write an essay. I hope we can harness the power of AI soon to develop critical thinkers.
As for now, it is proving to be a bumpy ride.
Sarah Timney Toronto
Re 'In this economy, can we even afford dogs and cats any more?' (June 5): Ironically, we had taken our dog to our veterinarian the day before this article was published.
Our healthy five-year old's bill was $550 (this included five pills for ticks, heartworm and fleas). Our vet's practice was bought out by a U.S. company. A solution to this issue would be to increase the number of vets being graduated from Canadian colleges and universities.
Our dentist's practice was also bought out by a U.S. company. When calling around for a new dentist, this wasn't the only one in town.
If U.S. companies can profit from this, why can't Canadians?
Jo-Anne Twamley Belleville, Ont.
Re 'For the love of God, can someone please help CRA fix its website?' (Report on Business, June 3): An unfortunately funny article. Instead of just getting the limited functionality of the Canada Revenue Agency website to work, how about we go for gold and get some improvements?
Most Canadians tax returns are simple enough that the CRA could complete the entire return automatically, requiring only approval; Finland and others already do this.
Require institutions with tax-fee savings account holdings to issue monthly, not yearly, reports. Allow sort-by date of tax slips so users don't have to scroll through dozens to find out which institution filed after April 30.
Respond faster than 'if you don't hear from us in six months, try calling us at 1-800-I-GIVE-UP.'
We can and should expect more from our national institutions.
Barry Bortnick Calgary
Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Keep letters to 150 words or fewer. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here: [e-mail]