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Globe and Mail
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Letters to the editor, June 26: ‘Supply management doesn't just limit competition – it enables cartel-like control over how animals are raised'
Re 'Not that that kind of tax reform' (Letters, June 25): A letter-writer states that if Canada's wealth was equitably distributed, we would still have one of the highest living standards ever. History and experience would beg to differ. Nations that flatten wealth distribution by taxation or other means have produced lower overall standards of living. Think about the Soviet Union versus the United States. Wealth-flattening nations tend to hold or attract those who seek to contribute less and receive more, while driving away those who strive to contribute more and receive more. There is a great expression for this: The effort to make us all equal will have us all equally poor. John Budreski Whistler, B.C. Re 'Say less' (Letters, June 24): A letter-writer urges Ontario readers to ask Doug Ford to resign, based on the Premier's recent comments that were deemed offensive to Indigenous people. Perhaps the Premier's comments were a reflection of the changing tide of public opinion. As a taxpaying citizen and descendant of immigrants who came to Canada expecting and receiving nothing from the government, I have little tolerance for those who would block resource development while at the same time receiving increased funding from the government. The recent passing of Bill C-5 by the federal government suggests that the winds of sympathy for Indigenous reconciliation are beginning to ebb. Jeremy Klein Ottawa Re 'The slow crawl of cities on housing reform' (Editorial, June 23): Oh, the irony! Michael Janz has been the leading proponent of increased density on Edmonton city council. And when he proposes some modest concessions to help preserve the character of older neighbourhoods, you ambush him as if he were a NIMBY stalwart. You owe Mr. Janz, and Edmontonians seeking a better balance, an apology. Michael Cohen Edmonton Re 'We can help friendly democracies ditch their dependence on Russian energy' (Opinion, June 23): This article demonstrates that revenues from Russian energy exports to democratic nations exceed the total aid sent to Ukraine. Russians are benefitting more from oil and gas sales than Ukrainians are benefitting from financial support and the shipment of arms from countries such as Canada. Our European allies have long pleaded for help reducing their dependence on Russian gas. The largest importers of Russian oil are China and India, as well as the European Union. The largest importers of Russian LNG are the EU, China and Japan. It is time for Canada to sell oil and LNG to all of these countries. For those who oppose resource development and pipelines, just know you are among Vladimir Putin's best friends. James McAllister Ajax, Ont. Re 'How to crack open Canada's egg market' (Editorial, June 21): The Globe explains how Canada's supply management system locks out new entrants, but it overlooks how the same system keeps hens locked in cages by stalling progress on animal welfare. While nearly half the U.S. egg market is now cage-free, Canada is lagging far behind for the tenth year in a row. Canadian grocery retailers once pledged to sell only cage-free eggs by 2025, but our supply management system hinders this progress, keeping hens in outdated cages with no more space than a single sheet of paper each. By removing market incentives for improvements, the quota system insulates dominant producers and prevents small-scale farmers from entry. Even when companies such as Costco go cage-free in the United St, Britain and Mexico, Canadian consumers are left with no choice. Supply management doesn't just limit competition – it enables cartel-like control over how animals are raised. That's bad for farmers, bad for consumers and, worst of all, for the hens on Canadian farms. P.J. Nyman Toronto Thank you for your editorial exposing the inequities facing some egg producers because of our supply management system. The system was initially devised to protect small farmers but has evolved into one that enables and enriches large industrial operations (which no longer can even be called farms) where millions of birds are crammed into cages, can barely move and never see the light of day. It is the small number of true farmers who humanely raised 'free range' laying hens that now deserve to be protected and who should be the beneficiaries of the supply management system. Jane Harris Vancouver Re 'Canada must not accept any trade deal that includes auto tariffs: Unifor' (Report on Business, June 24): With all the gloomy forecasts for our auto sector, why are our industry leaders so down on a homegrown auto sector, one that designs, manufactures and markets its own line of cars? We have the manufacturing expertise, both in the Canadian divisions of the major auto manufacturers and in our domestic parts manufacturers. Presumably we have, or have easy access to, design expertise, not to mention unique design concepts for cars that reflect the Canadian experience. We certainly have the capital markets necessary to finance such an enterprise. We may well even have some available plant and equipment. So why do we hear downbeat assessments of our potential as an auto manufacturing hub? Why is 'we're not a big enough market to support our own auto industry' given any credence at all? Sweden, with a population of 10.5 million, has several brands, most notably Volvo; manufactures, on average, about 275,000 cars annually; and exports about 85 per cent of them. Why is it not possible for Canada to do the same thing? After all, we already manufacture about 1.5 million cars annually, making us the world's 11th-largest car manufacturer, and every one of them is exported to the United States under American brand names. Nelson Smith Prince Edward County, Ont. Re 'The perfection of imperfection' (June 21): After whipping through the economic and practical sections of the weekend paper, I really appreciate articles like the one by Adam Gopnik. It's refreshing to explore this subject that affects us all and takes us away from current events like the daily trials of the Trump administration administering more harm on the world at a rapid pace. To contemplate our attempts at perfection, to strive to get better at the instrument, the sport, the debate – whatever it is we are working on – that is our universal challenge. This binds us as we appreciate the humanity and humility that this involves. Please bring on more social and philosophical articles that we can ponder over as we make our way through the weekend and brace ourselves for next week's onslaught of the 'U.S. going down…' Helen Henshaw Hudson, Que. 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: letters@
Globe and Mail
09-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Letters to the editor, May 9: ‘Donald Trump … starts negotiations with chaos, then extracts what he wants, it all makes sense'
Re 'Trump's betrayal of Canada is starting to unravel' (May 8): After a 30-plus year investment banking career, I have long lost count of how much money or how many deals I had a role in negotiating. Negotiating styles vary widely from person to person, and industry to industry. Negotiations range from instant agreement on terms to complicated, protracted and sometimes hostile processes. In my experience, the real estate industry was amongst the toughest to negotiate with. Finalized deals often needed abrupt changes. Agreed terms were not always met until further modifications were installed. Participant predictability was tough. Boldness to the extent of truculence occurred. Sound familiar? We should stop calling Donald Trump stupid, crazy, inconsistent and unpredictable. Once one realizes that he starts negotiations with chaos, then extracts what he wants, it all makes sense. It's painful, but it works for him. John Budreski Whistler, B.C. Re 'How can Canada credibly take on Trump when we, too, break global trade rules?' (Report on Business, May 6): As stated, since 2017, the United States has paralyzed the World Trade Organization's Appellate Body by blocking new judge appointments, crippling the dispute resolution system and undermining the rules-based order that country had championed. The U.S. has also withdrawn from major international agreements, such as the Rome Statute that established the International Criminal Court. Israel and Russia have done the same. Given this record, it seems more than a little hypocritical for the U.S. to lecture Canada about following global rules. If credibility is in question, the U.S. should examine its own actions which are far more concerning, as it has removed itself from oversight and consequences entirely. Timothy Kwiatkowski London, Ont. Re 'Indigenous leaders warn that Alberta separation would violate treaty rights' (May 7): Danielle Smith is lowering the bar to enable citizen-led referendums on any issue, including separation. At the same news conference, she stated that any referendum must uphold and honour Treaties 6, 7 and 8 and not violate the constitutional rights of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. These two actions seem incongruous to one another. First Nations leaders have vehemently denounced the idea of a referendum. Why hold a referendum on separation when, by her own assertion, it could not occur? Perhaps the Premier is trying to coddle her base or, what seems most likely, distract Albertans from the serious 'CorruptCare' scandal. Whatever her motives, she should just cut it out. Randy Gurlock Edmonton Re 'How many?' (Letters, May 7): It never seems enough for Danielle Smith and some Albertans. I am wondering whether it's an unwarranted persecution complex. A few exhibits: It was a Conservative government that updated Canada's equalization formula in 2007, the same one Ms. Smith criticizes so vehemently. In 2018, it was Ottawa and Canadian taxpayers who financed the $4.7-billion purchase of the Trans Mountain pipeline. In the 1950s, it was Ottawa that provided loans to ensure the TransCanada Pipelines project would be routed through Canada to get Alberta gas to domestic markets. And today, Ottawa provides billions of dollars in tax subsidies to the oil and gas sector. As for hardships suffered by Albertans: Its citizens pay no provincial sales tax and enjoy the lowest income tax rates and highest average household income of any province. So why the separatist threats that exacerbate an already difficult situation between the United States and Canada? I don't get it. Steven Diener Toronto When outside of Canada, I identify as Canadian. When in Canada but outside of my home province, I am a New Brunswicker. When in province, my community is Harvey Station. I would argue that allegiance to one's home turf is not treasonous, but simply a reflection of human nature. My strongest attachments are to my neighbours and the landscape around me. Albertans are probably as loyal to Canada as the rest of us, if the right question is asked. Ted Wiggans Harvey Station, N.B. Re 'Fair vote' (Letters, May 6): I respectfully but completely disagree with a letter-writer who believes ranked-choice balloting is a better alternative to proportional representation. I do agree that ranked-choice balloting tends to skew to the centre, but it can also skew away from being truly fair. In favouring the second choice of most voters, it robs them of the representation they deserve from their first choice. Only a proportional representation system would guarantee a true and fair representation of what voters want, even if it results in more minority governments, which have proven to be one of the most fair and effective governments in many countries across the world. Gerrard Weedon Toronto Re 'Hospitals across Canada installing weapons detection systems amid apparent rise in ER violence' (May 5): Workplace violence has always been present in health care. In Ontario, especially, the frequency and severity of attacks on health care workers, particularly nurses, is on the rise. I hear of increasingly violent attacks on our union members and the often lacklustre response of hospital CEOs. In my decades-long career as an emergency room nurse, I have been kicked, hit and assaulted numerous times. My own hospital board was reluctant to purchase panic buttons for nurses to call for help in case of violence. Our union has been working with front-line nurses to have effective, proven measures put in place to reduce workplace violence. Part of our advocacy is calling for minimum staffing levels, a proven way to reduce violence, and improve care, retention and recruitment. Until health care management and the provincial government step up and take more action, both patients and nurses will remain unnecessarily at risk. Erin Ariss RN; provincial president, Ontario Nurses' Association Kitchener, Ont. Re 'The measles outbreak shows why we need a vaccine registry' (May 6): I grew up in Malaysia and Singapore. When it was time for vaccinations, nurses came to our school with medical supplies. Students lined up, class by class, held out their bare arms and received the relevant vaccines. Teachers handed over lists of student names and other relevant information to the vaccination team. It was an orderly and routine operation. In our classrooms, teachers provided us with the identities of the vaccines we had received; we had to memorize the names. I went home and told my parents I had received the vaccine Bacillus Calmette-Guérin. A registry was easily compiled. No parental permission was required. Every child in every school was vaccinated. There were also attempts to vaccinate children who were not at school. My aunt was a public nurse who visited families on her bicycle and vaccinated children she encountered. Surely we can do better. Poh-Gek Forkert Toronto 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: letters@
