‘We are giving away a tool to protect Canadian business and culture – one we will likely never get back – and getting nothing in return,’ writes Geoff Read.Chris Wattie/Reuters
Get it together
Re “Liberal MP Judy Sgro to visit Taiwan despite China’s sanctions on New Zealand lawmakers” (June 5): While Judy Sgro might have the legal right to travel whenever and wherever she wants, such a trip would be a provocative step and sabotage of Mark Carney’s many efforts to diversify our economy and build new global economic channels. It does not make any sense to me.
Similarly, the Canadian warship that recently transited the Taiwan Strait, despite China’s warning, is not useful, even if our position is that it is international waters.
These examples indicate to me a lack of co-ordination in our efforts as a country to pull together and succeed for our own good. Unless it is a strategy of pull and push, but even if this were the case, it would lead to failure as trust erodes.
Adam Hedayat Calgary
Going, going, gone
Re “Ottawa to direct CRTC to scrap demands for streamers to fund local news, niche broadcasters” (June 8): Capitulating to U.S. demands to slash Canadian content rules for uber-wealthy American streaming companies such as Netflix and Amazon sure doesn’t seem like the “Canada Strong” posture that many Canadians voted for.
Doing so before USMCA negotiations even begin seems like terrible strategy as well. We are giving away a tool to protect Canadian business and culture – one we will likely never get back – and getting nothing in return.
Geoff Read London Ont.
Bear fruit
Re “LNG Canada contractors set to prepare B.C. terminal site for potential expansion” (Report on Business, June 3): Substituting liquefied natural gas over oil or coal for fuel can reduce carbon emissions by about half.
By some estimates, expanded Canadian LNG exports to Asia can reduce that region’s emissions by an annual amount nearly equal to Canada’s total emissions. LNG Canada Phase 1 and its proposed doubling of capacity, along with Woodfibre LNG and Cedar LNG, are well advanced in the effort.
In comparison, a proposed $16.5-million carbon capture and storage facility, affiliated with the Alberta-Ottawa memorandum of understanding for a new pipeline, would only capture an estimated 16 megatonnes of carbon.
Why burden industry or taxpayers with a multibillion-dollar facility when a new independently financed, built and operated LNG plant (or LNG Canada expansion) can help offset more emissions while creating long-term jobs and tax revenue?
This is like buying an expensive boom lift to harvest from the tops, when there is an overabundance of low-hanging fruit.
John Budreski Whistler, B.C.
Financial exposure
Re “Teachers invested early in SpaceX. It could produce an $11-billion windfall upon IPO” (Report on Business, June 5): It could also lose billions on SpaceX.
Pension funds are unique investment vehicles. The longer any fund exists, and the larger it becomes, it lengthens its lifespan and, by definition, stresses the need for quality investments over the long run.
Without being negative, investments in Elon Musk are as much based on hype as investment analytics. Your reporting confirms an apparent “strategy to make late-stage venture investments that typically carry higher risks.”
I question the appropriateness of the fund’s investment in such a venture. One would hope fund managers have set targets for return on investment so that when the returns become excessive, the position can be liquidated.
Riding investments to the top and then back to zero is not an appropriate policy for any pension fund.
Ian Douglas Burlington, Ont.
Made in Canada?
Re “Canada needs our own Mythos AI – and we can achieve that" (Report on Business, June 4): Digital sovereignty sounds nice. Utopia sounds nice, too. It is, likely, also an impossibility and a distraction from issues that could be solved.
It is assumed that government can rectify this issue. It would be a boondoggle of epic proportions.
This is a government that spent $59.5-million on the ArriveCan app, $298-million on the PrescribeIT tool and more than $5-billion on the Phoenix payroll system. It has demonstrated to me zero capability to do anything like create its own Mythos AI.
Government should instead focus on the onerous regulations, restrictions and tax incentives that cause the best and brightest to relocate to the United States.
Adrian Dickman North Vancouver
Re “This is our time: Canada’s national AI strategy is an incredible step forward” (Report on Business, June 6): I don’t understand the hype associated with Canada’s expansion of artificial intelligence delivery. Is the government aware of the energy and water consumption involved with huge data centres?
To build them in cities is almost impossible due to the acreage required. To build them east of the Rockies involves depleting already stressed rivers that face uncertain futures, unless huge wind farms are established close by, due to massive energy infrastructure requirements.
But if Canada doesn’t build them, we rely on U.S. delivery at what cost? AI isn’t magic; the cost of powering it for the long term doesn’t seem to factor in a cost-benefit analysis.
Tony Burt Vancouver
Re “Relax Ygor, I’ve got a good feeling about this one!” (Editorial Cartoon, June 3): As the Frankenstein’s monster of AI is released upon the world, we would do well to remember what ancient Greek playwright Sophocles said: “Nothing vast enters the life of mortals without a curse.”
Patty Benjamin Victoria
Hands down
Re “Working with my hands is endlessly rewarding – and a way to connect with my past" (First Person, June 2): My mother was a professional artist specializing in watercolour paintings of flowers, selling her canvases in Edmonton art galleries and Jasper Park Lodge. But to sell one, it needs to “look good” suitably matted and framed for hanging.
My dad, a good pianist, joined the team and bought a mitre tool for corners and other appropriate supplies and equipment. Along with his “steady hands,” he became an expert at picture framing.
His handy skills sure helped sell a lot of paintings.
Geoffrey Gardiner Toronto
My father also passed away when I was small and, like with the essay-writer, left a treasure trove of mysterious tools which I gradually discovered.
I took up my dad’s hobby of electronics, which became a career for me. While I will never be the woodworker he was, I will always have a standard by which to measure my clumsy efforts.
Leaving small children with unsupervised access to blowtorches and table saws is generally not recommended these days, but it certainly worked for me.
I enjoy thinking that part of my dad lives on whenever I make something.
Rob Cruickshank Toronto
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