Your letters: Churchill's words should guide future leaders
In August 1929, while Winston Churchill was touring Canada with his son, Randolph, he wrote to his wife, Clementine, 'The United States are stretching their tentacles out in all directions, but the Canadian national spirit and personality is becoming so powerful and self-contained that I do not think that we need to fear the future.'
Article content
He further wrote 12 days later, 'Darling, I am greatly attracted to this country, immense developments are going forward. There are fortunes to be made in many directions.'
Article content
Article content
Article content
Back in the 20th century, Churchill saw our strength and determination and we, in the 21st, must see that as well and strive to fulfil his predictions and his faith in our abilities.
Article content
Article content
Canadians need to bear this in mind as we vote for the leaders of the future who must lead us on the path to being as great as they suggest we are.
Article content
Article content
Our premier seems to want to separate from Canada, but can't separate government from family interference.
Article content
Ian Wishart, Calgary
Article content
Article content
We're not special
Article content
To answer letter writer Chris Robertson's question, Quebec separatism is based on emotions and Alberta separatism is based on greed.
Article content
Article content
Does he expect children to put up posters asking, 'Please, Alberta, stay with us, how many dollars do you want?'
Article content
Alberta, by the way, is already the richest province. As for being an energy powerhouse, what nonsense.
Article content
For how long, when the world is actively in the process of phasing out fossil fuel consumption?
Article content
Murray Gibbs, Calgary
Article content
Article content
Sign of the times in Marda Loop
Article content
I see there is a new sign for the entrance to my neighbourhood from Crowchild Trail on to 33rd Avenue S.W. that declares itself the Marda Loop.
Article content
However, it is missing two vital pieces of information: 'Abandon hope all ye who enter here' and 'No parking, anywhere.'
Article content
Dennis J Gordica, Calgary
Article content
Article content
Alberta separation a fantasy
Article content
This relates to the letter of July 17 comparing the issue of Quebec separation to that of Alberta.
Article content
When Quebec separation was a possibility years ago, people were rightly concerned and did promote Canadian unity to convince Quebecers to stay in Canada. However, it's nonsense to compare that situation to the noise being made by the small number of Albertans who want to leave Canada.
Article content
The world is a very different place than it was all those years ago, with the biggest threat to Canada now being our southern neighbour.
Article content
Small wonder that the country and Canadians as a whole are more concerned about protecting our national sovereignty, our jobs and the economy from that threat than from a boisterous bunch whose narrative consists of a fantasy about the type of relationship Alberta will have with the rest of Canada and the world.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Toronto Star
6 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Canadian government needs to stand up for lumber workers, says United Steelworkers union
BURNABY, British Columbia, July 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The United Steelworkers union (USW) District 3 and the USW Wood Council are calling on the federal government to take urgent action in response to the latest escalation in the softwood lumber trade dispute. Following the U.S. Department of Commerce's decision to increase anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber exports to 20.56%, the USW is demanding immediate support for forestry workers and communities across the country.
Vancouver Sun
7 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
Canada's trade talks with U.S. in 'intense phase' after European Union makes deal ahead of deadline
WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Mark Carney said Monday that Canada's negotiations with the United States are in an 'intense phase' after President Donald Trump achieved a critical agreement with the European Union days away from his tariff deadline. The prime minister's comments come after Trump last week told reporters that Canada wasn't a priority ahead of his Aug. 1 deadline to make trade deals. 'There are many aspects to these negotiations,' Carney said in P.E.I. 'We are engaged in them but the assurance for Canadian business, for Canadians, is we will only sign a deal that's the right deal, that's a good deal for Canada.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The EU framework announced Sunday gave Trump a much-needed win as he looks to realign global trade — and it indicates that no nations are likely to get a reprieve from his tariffs. It sets a 15 per cent tariff on most goods, including European automobiles. Trump said 50 per cent tariffs will remain on steel and aluminum. Other details of the deal remain unclear, including its effects on measures the U.S. considers trade irritants, such as Europe's digital services taxes and non-tariff barriers. Trump said the EU had agreed to buy US$750 billion worth of U.S. energy and invest an additional US$600 billion in the United States. The president recently said that countries will have to 'buy down' the threatened tariff rate. Baseline tariffs were also a part of trade deal frameworks previously announced for Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and the United Kingdom. Countries around the world have been watching to see how many trade deals materialize before the deadline, and what can be gleaned from them for their own negotiations with the Trump administration. Christopher Sands, director of Johns Hopkins University's Center for Canadian Studies, said the EU deal builds on Trump's negotiating style — he loses interest, suggests no deal will happen, insults the other side and 'then at the 11th hour something comes through.' 'I know there's been a lot of negativity around a Canada security and economic agreement but it doesn't necessarily mean that we are doomed,' Sands said. 'It may be that we are close and we have a surprise deal.' Trump sent a letter to Carney threatening to impose 35 per cent tariffs if Canada doesn't make a trade deal by Friday. The White House has said those duties would not apply to goods compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade, better known as CUSMA. Carney and other Canadian officials have been downplaying expectations that a deal will be made by Friday. Most of the goods Canada sends to the U.S. are CUSMA-compliant and won't be affected by the 35 per cent duties. The Canadian economy is still being slammed by Trump's Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles, and will be hit by copper tariffs the president has said will take effect by the week's end. So far, Trump's trade deals 'are really bad omens for Canada,' said William Pellerin, a trade lawyer and partner at the firm McMillan LLP. '(It shows) that the tariffs, particularly the sectoral tariffs, are stickier than we would have thought,' Pellerin said. 'If none of those countries were able to secure a drop in the sectoral tariffs, that is certainly bad news.' Those Section 232 duties are a key target for Canadian negotiators and Pellerin said it's unlikely any deal will be struck by Ottawa if they remain at their current levels. While there are similarities between the Canada-U.S. negotiations and those involving Europe, Carney said there are also many differences. While Europe is looking to end its reliance on Russian energy, Carney said Canada is a reliable supplier of energy to the United States. The prime minister said negotiations remain complex but 'there is a landing zone that's possible.' 'But we have to get there,' he said. The EU agreement also averts significant retaliatory duties from a major United States customer — meaning that if Canada can't reach a deal with Washington, it would be more isolated if it attempts to retaliate against the U.S. Canada and China have implemented retaliatory tariffs in response to Trump's trade war but, to allow talks to continue, Ottawa didn't move forward with additional duties. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Monday he supports a dollar-for-dollar tariff response, particularly to Trump's treatment of Canada's steel and aluminum industry. 'I'm confident with Prime Minister Carney, I know he's going to do his very best to get a deal,' Ford said. 'But I don't trust President Trump.' B.C. Premier David Eby said Canada is in a 'different position' than the European Union or Japan, given the deeply integrated nature of North American supply chains. 'We are a reliable partner, we are a good partner, but we also won't get kicked around,' he said. Sands said Carney's recent move to limit imports of foreign steel into Canada will help shore up the domestic market during the tariff tumult while also avoiding the ire of the Trump administration. The prime minister recognizes you can engage in retaliation, Sands said, but 'it doesn't bring you much joy.' He said there are other actions, such as import quotas, that would better protect Canadian markets. — With files from Liam Casey in Toronto and Wolfgang Depner in Victoria Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Edmonton Journal
7 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
Canada's trade talks with U.S. in 'intense phase' after European Union makes deal ahead of deadline
Article content Carney and other Canadian officials have been downplaying expectations that a deal will be made by Friday. Article content Most of the goods Canada sends to the U.S. are CUSMA-compliant and won't be affected by the 35 per cent duties. The Canadian economy is still being slammed by Trump's Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles, and will be hit by copper tariffs the president has said will take effect by the week's end. Article content So far, Trump's trade deals 'are really bad omens for Canada,' said William Pellerin, a trade lawyer and partner at the firm McMillan LLP. Article content '(It shows) that the tariffs, particularly the sectoral tariffs, are stickier than we would have thought,' Pellerin said. 'If none of those countries were able to secure a drop in the sectoral tariffs, that is certainly bad news.' Article content Those Section 232 duties are a key target for Canadian negotiators and Pellerin said it's unlikely any deal will be struck by Ottawa if they remain at their current levels. Article content Article content While there are similarities between the Canada-U.S. negotiations and those involving Europe, Carney said there are also many differences. While Europe is looking to end its reliance on Russian energy, Carney said Canada is a reliable supplier of energy to the United States. Article content The prime minister said negotiations remain complex but 'there is a landing zone that's possible.' Article content 'But we have to get there,' he said. Article content The EU agreement also averts significant retaliatory duties from a major United States customer — meaning that if Canada can't reach a deal with Washington, it would be more isolated if it attempts to retaliate against the U.S. Article content Canada and China have implemented retaliatory tariffs in response to Trump's trade war but, to allow talks to continue, Ottawa didn't move forward with additional duties. Article content Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Monday he supports a dollar-for-dollar tariff response, particularly to Trump's treatment of Canada's steel and aluminum industry. Article content Article content 'I'm confident with Prime Minister Carney, I know he's going to do his very best to get a deal,' Ford said. 'But I don't trust President Trump.' Article content B.C. Premier David Eby said Canada is in a 'different position' than the European Union or Japan, given the deeply integrated nature of North American supply chains. Article content 'We are a reliable partner, we are a good partner, but we also won't get kicked around,' he said. Article content Sands said Carney's recent move to limit imports of foreign steel into Canada will help shore up the domestic market during the tariff tumult while also avoiding the ire of the Trump administration. Article content The prime minister recognizes you can engage in retaliation, Sands said, but 'it doesn't bring you much joy.' He said there are other actions, such as import quotas, that would better protect Canadian markets.
