a day ago
Letters to the editor, June 14: ‘American tourists … without exception they expressed sorrow and embarrassment at their President's behaviour toward Canadians'
Re 'It's time to rein in Canada's runaway Crown corporations' (Opinion, June 7): While there is a 5-per-cent share for the CBC's English television, there is also the 23.4-per-cent share for French television, 14.6 per cent for English radio and 24.8 per cent for French radio. Last year, 65 per cent of Canadians used at least one of the CBC's services in a typical month.
Forty years ago, the CBC's parliamentary appropriation was about $1.09-billion. Last year, it was $1.44-billion. When adjusted for inflation, that's a 50-per-cent cut. During the same period, Canada's population has grown by 54 per cent. Not exactly a 'runaway corporation.'
The CBC has lost audience share in part because of fragmentation caused by digital platforms. This is most pronounced on English television, where the CBC competes with U.S. programming. It would be naive not to expect consequences from the dramatic reductions in the CBC's grant.
The CBC is not perfect. Let's make it better, not rein it in.
Tony Manera Former president, CBC; Ottawa
Re 'Canada's national archives need more than just a facelift' (Opinion, June 7): Contributor Charlotte Gray has done us the important service of revealing the impoverished state of our national collection of historical documents at Library and Archives Canada.
At this time of national reckoning and rediscovery, Canadians need knowledge of their country more than ever, especially since Canadian history has almost vanished from school curricula. Mark Carney's ambitious plans for rebuilding Canada should include new resources for this vital institution to do its job.
Roy MacSkimming Perth, Ont.
Re 'The Hockey Canada trial shows how we need to be talking to young men' (Opinion, June 7): The toxic behaviours of many men is disturbing.
Whether a result of cultural norms, familiar influences, online activities or patriarchy, I'm uncertain. But I'm certain that calling out noxious behaviours and using laws to enforce aggrieved acts should coincide with educated discussions about fair treatment for all.
Men, including young men, should know better.
Gregory Enright Hamilton
Many years ago, in my late 20s, I was on a bus in Vancouver, sitting in the back half along with a group of young men.
They were high-school-aged and talking loudly and performatively. I don't recall the details, but it had toxic male overtones that made me uncomfortable. I wondered how they could talk like that right in front of me.
Eventually another man, probably around 40 years old, went and sat with them. He spoke quietly with them for the rest of the ride. I don't know what he said, but they quieted down and listened.
I thanked him after we had gotten off the bus. It took awareness, concern, thoughtfulness, responsibility and perhaps some bravery to speak to the young men. I hope it made a lasting impression on them, as it did on me.
Are there still men who would do that today? I hope so.
Tuula Talvila Ottawa
Re 'A river cruise with our American frenemies – what could go wrong?' (Opinion, June 7): I have had only positive encounters with American tourists.
On my recent holiday to Milan and Lake Como, my identical twin sister and I met many Americans from a variety of states. Without exception they were friendly, kind and respectful. Without exception they expressed sorrow and embarrassment at their President's behaviour toward Canadians.
Earlier in February, we had a similar experience on a two-week prepaid holiday to Florida. Without exception, Americans from all over approached us expressing their discomfort and regret with Donald Trump's actions. One family from Florida even invited us to join them for lunch.
We reciprocated with polite gratitude, feeling proud and thankful that we live in such a wonderful country.
Elaine Snider Toronto
Our recent travel experience in the United States could not have been more different from this tale of woe.
We have enjoyed an annual trip to a beach in North Carolina for more than 20 years. We did think twice about going this May, but had prepaid for our condo so off we went.
Clearing U.S. customs at Toronto Pearson International Airport was efficient and ended with the agent saying, with a smile, 'Enjoy your trip.' When it came up naturally during interactions with North Carolinians, we did not disguise our citizenship.
A typical, fairly illustrative interaction was with a woman in the grocery checkout line. When she heard our accents and we answered her question about where we were from, she said, 'Well, welcome, y'all. We are so glad you're here.'
Martin Birt Uxbridge, Ont.
We recently returned from a two-week cruise around the British Isles and along the Norwegian coast with about 900 other passengers, most of whom were American.
The many U.S. travellers who we met over meals and other activities were uniformly gracious and apologetic regarding the actions of their President and his administration. We met none of the 'ugly Americans' as depicted.
While we won't travel to the United States while the Trump crowd is in control, personal contacts with Americans abroad or here should not be discouraged.
Richard Mosley Ottawa
I had a similar experience on a transatlantic crossing during Donald Trump's first term.
At dinner on the first night, an American next to me, on learning I was Canadian, started berating me on the evils of Canada's system of socialist health care. I replied with the usual statistics most Canadians know: health care per capita is much less costly in Canada than in the United States; health outcomes are significantly better on our side of the border; essentially every Canadian has coverage while millions of Americans are still uninsured.
My neighbour pointedly ignored me for the rest of the meal. The following evening, he moved to another table.
We met many sympathetic Americans on this and other trips. I guess we had bad luck in encountering a prototypical 'ugly American' this once.
Sadly, there seem to be many more of them as we suffer through Mr. Trump's second term.
Charles Magill Ottawa
Re 'Bruce Flatt has some advice for investors: One day this will all be forgotten' (Report on Business, June 7): 'In the long run, we are all dead.' –John Maynard Keynes, 1923.
Capitalism: Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.
Paul Childs Edmonton
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