Sorry is as sorry does
It's a good thing to apologize, and better late than never, even if it's a generation or two in coming ( A Clean Slate For An Icon Of Freedom: N.S. Grants Apology To 'Canada's Rosa Parks' - April 16). Now, let's get creative: What are we doing today that our children and grandchildren will have to apologize for? If we fix it now, we'll save them the trouble of apologizing later.
John Loosemore, Toronto
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Viola Desmond will receive a rare free pardon, have a day set aside to honour her, and act as a focus to the end of racism in Canada after she was jailed for a day.
In 1965, Everett George Klippert, after being investigated but cleared in connection with an arson charge, was then arrested and eventually convicted of being "incurably homosexual" after admitting to having consensual sex. He was sentenced to indefinite preventive detention as a dangerous sexual offender. Shortly after Mr. Klippert's appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada was denied, Pierre Trudeau presented the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1968-69, that included the decriminalization of homosexual acts between consenting adults. Even though the act was passed in 1969, Mr. Klippert remained in prison until July, 1971.
Having spent years in jail, will Mr. Klippert now be considered the gays' Viola Desmond?
Ronald G. Rowswell, Edmonton
In no shape to go forward
I am dismayed to read Brian Mulroney's blanket endorsement of the Saudi government's approach to governance in his opinion piece, where he calls Saudi Arabia a "dynamic economy" that offers Canadian businesses "tremendous opportunities" ( Saudis, Our Friends And Business Partners - April 16).
Their economy is not dynamic; it is a stone-age economy in which the petroleum sector accounts for 90 per cent of export earnings. Furthermore, the petroleum economy is carried by the blood and sweat of millions of South Asian workers, who are routinely discriminated against and ill-treated.
For Canada and Saudi Arabia to move forward together, much has to change in Saudi Arabia. For starters, the Saud clan has to give up its dictatorial control over government and trillions of dollars of natural resources. A democratic Arabia (the Saudi adjective has to go), which shares the global values of equality and social justice, and allows women to drive, travel alone and vote, and permits non-Muslims to build churches, synagogues, and temples could march alongside Canada.
The misogynist Saudi regime is in no shape to go forward with anyone.
Murtaza Haider, Toronto
EI, EI ... oh
We're told premiums for employment insurance are set to rise to cover a reported shortfall of $10.7-billion ( EI Premiums Expected To Rise By $535 - April 15). What the spin doctors in Ottawa hope we will forget is that there was a $57-billion surplus in 2008, and that $53-billion of that was reportedly used to "balance the books" and on other programs.
Unfortunately, the Supreme Court of Canada did not order the government to return the money (no surprise there). That does not change the fact that money collected for unemployed workers is not now available and the rates are going up.
Gord Marshall, Kelowna. B.C.
A crucible of our moment
In the interest of assuaging fears that may have been aroused by Gloria Galloway's article on the National Gallery of Canada's summer exhibition, Pop Life: Art in a Material World, let me emphasize that this thought-provoking exhibition can indeed be visited by audiences of all ages ( National Gallery To Bar Under-18s From Exhibit - April 15).
Yes, it does contain two rooms that are potentially unsuitable for younger viewers. Pop Life is an intelligent, timely and unprecedented examination of how some of today's best known living artists created highly successful careers by exploiting the media, the marketplace and mainstream culture. Consequently, that sexual themes have been explored by some of these artists should come as no surprise. They represent only a small part of the show.
The gallery always ensures visitors have choices. As sensitive material will be displayed in separate rooms with clear signage, they can be easily avoided. For Ms. Galloway to state that Piotr Uklanski has a "fascination with film stars in Nazi uniforms," is something of an exaggeration, since he has only created one such work and it exposes Hollywood's fascination with them, not his own. This exhibition is a unique opportunity for audiences to discover the many nuances of an almost unexplored chapter in recent art history - a crucible of our own moment.
Marc Mayer, director, National Gallery of Canada
Fluoridation is your friend
While the prevalence of fluoridation is one difference between Ontario and Quebec, there are many other factors to be studied ( Fluoridation May Not Do Much For Cavities - April 16). Water fluoridation and proper dental hygiene, a good diet and preventive dental care and programs are equally responsible for keeping tooth decay in check. Fluoridation provides another layer of protection for Canadians. It is a safety net for those individuals for whom a trip to the dentist or a new toothbrush and toothpaste are rare. It is a safety net that continues to be supported by dental associations around the world, Health Canada and the World Health Organization as one of the most cost-effective and efficient means of reducing tooth decay.
Don Friedlander, DDS, president, Canadian Dental Association
Safe passage
Keeping his tongue and cheek well apart, letter writer Douglas Martin ( In Toronto, Meanwhile - April 16) mocks the idea of travelling University Avenue on a bicycle - as he says, without a car's protective windows, roof, doors, engine, insurance and so on. With exquisite irony, Mr. Martin manages to make the point precisely by missing it entirely. The idea that safe passage on such a dignified street should be reserved only for those who bring their cars would be comical, were it not so sad.
Geoff Noxon, Ottawa
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I doubt many disagree with cycling's virtues as exercise or with its environmental benefits. The objection to bicycle lanes is the choice of where to put them. They should be kept away from major arterial roads and restricted to adjacent side streets. This should keep cyclists safer, motorists satisfied and mayoralty candidates happy (Shame On Cynical Candidates For Attacking Bike Lanes - April 15).
Peter Douglas, Toronto
Promise and hope
The Northwest Territories Chamber of Commerce was surprised at the "doom and gloom" tone of your article The North Scrapes Bottom (April 10). The NWT continues to be the home of some of the greatest mineral, diamond and oil and gas potential in the world.
Our "pipeline hopes" have not "died." As the National Energy Board prepares to hear final arguments with respect to the Mackenzie Gas Project, the proponents, government and supporters remain positive about the $16.2-billion project and the benefits it will provide to not only Northerners, but to businesses, workers and the Canadian economy.
We are not only "open for business," we are "in business" and "doing business." Since 1991, the NWT's GDP has tripled from $1.6-billion to an estimated $4.5-billion in 2009. No area of Canada was untouched by the global recession and the NWT is no exception. We are not "scraping bottom" - we are looking to a future filled with promise.
Curtis Shaw, president, Northwest Territories Chamber of Commerce
Rights, wrongs, democracy
The board majority of Rights and Democracy discovered, among other major problems, spending on terrorist-linked organizations and events and had to deal with gross insubordination ( Fights And Hypocrisy - editorial, April 15). The board's choice was to accept poor judgment by senior staff in silence and be criticized for inaction, or to act.
It must be noted that the late Rémy Beauregard, on Jan. 7, 2010, actually voted with the board majority and against those senior staff who favoured giving financial assistance to terrorist-linked organizations. It is sad when the firemen are confused with the arsonists, and sadder still when the firemen are attacked for using the necessary amount of water to put out the flames.
Aurel Braun, chair, board of directors, Rights and Democracy
Collective gratitude
With all due respect to your correspondents from the University of Regina ( Project Hero - letters, April 16), they are wrong in insisting that the gracious provisions of Project Hero glorify war, an allegation akin to avoiding serious discussion about a view you disagree with by labelling it "hate." War is an unpleasant reality with which all societies have to come to terms. Some in our society have been willing to put themselves in harm's way as surrogates for all law-abiding citizens. Offering assistance to a child who has lost a parent from this tragedy is a mark of civilized collective gratitude, not of war-mongering.
Iain Clayre, Edmonton
Those P-words again
If this increasingly tawdry issue ( RCMP Investigating Guergis Over Drug Claims: Report - April 15; Private Investigator At Centre Of Guergis Affair Owes $13 Million - April 16) is all that MPs have to discuss, I say prorogue Parliament again.
Richard Dean, Nelson, B.C.