Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks in Edmonton on April 10, 2024. Smith's office has released an official itinerary outlining a five-day diplomatic trip to Washington, D.C. including the presidential inauguration on Capitol Hill Monday.JASON FRANSON/The Canadian Press
Look who’s back?
Re “Trump redux: Why the returning president is likely to become one of history’s most consequential figures” (Opinion, Jan. 18): While the political comeback of Donald Trump has disturbed the repose of the chattering class in Ottawa and other state capitals, I doubt his impact will “propagate through time to the farthest reaches of humanity’s future.”
Humanity has had people and events which did indeed exert such influence, but the forces which brought Mr. Trump back should be seen as a culmination of recent events: the betrayal many Americans feel from a globalized economy; seemingly unfair trade deals; a woeful lack of border controls; a culture of progressive elitist “group-think.”
Canadians should no longer assume that privileged access to the world’s largest market will continue without taking responsibility for the defence of their own nation. Mr. Trump should be a wakeup call for Canada to confront its own problems and get serious about border security, defence spending, criminal money laundering and numerous other issues.
It is long overdue.
Paul Kantor Los Angeles
Re “Trump’s tariffs are the price Canada must pay for freeriding on defence” (Jan. 16): Our leaders have focused on retaliatory tariffs, which not only hurt both sides but threaten to gravely weaken our confederation. Retaliation may have its place, but why not first consider resolving what Donald Trump made clear in his first term, that Canada is “freeriding off of U.S. defence protection” while enjoying unfettered access to the U.S. market?
Let’s take this opportunity to meet our NATO defence expenditure commitments. As a sovereign nation, we are responsible for shoring up our own land, sea and air military capabilities in the Arctic.
Savings garnered from avoiding tariffs would help offset defence expenditures, and contracts with U.S. suppliers would assuage Mr. Trump’s concerns over any trade imbalance.
F. S. Carpenter Ottawa
Oh, well. Only 1,460 days to go.
Robert Caldwell Waterloo, Ont.
One for all
Re “Stopping oil exports to the U.S. is the nuclear option – and it risks harming us more than them” (Report on Business, Jan. 17): All Canadians should be supporting Danielle Smith’s decision not to sign the “Team Canada” communication.
I believe Ms. Smith is standing up for the constitutional rights of all provinces when she stands up for Alberta’s rights. I would say that makes her more Canadian than the Prime Minister, who seems to have no problem stomping on provincial rights.
Why do we have a Canadian Constitution if a prime minister or government can pick and choose when to abide by it? Thanks to Ms. Smith for standing up for the rights of all Canadians.
Jane Steckley Calgary
Hit the mark?
Re “Carney staked out ground but his first day didn’t dazzle” (Jan. 17): Grappling with the question of style versus substance, I am reminded of the saying “big hat, no cattle.”
Give me the candidate with the smaller hat and gigantic herd. We need leaders who deliver rather than “dazzle.”
Anita Bryant London, Ont.
When I moved to Ontario from Alberta a few decades ago, I was a staunch conservative.
However, an open mind and a broader perspective led me to move left, then more left, until I became a wholehearted Liberal supporter. My family in Edmonton almost disowned me when they heard me defending Liberal policies.
But now we have the opportunity to support a true hometown boy. He’s even from west Edmonton, my old stomping grounds. We would’ve gone to the same high school if I were Catholic. I love him already.
When we add to that his middle-class background, impressive track record and good taste as an Oilers fan, how can we not love the guy? I see that he’s smart, sincere and seasoned.
If anyone can inspire Albertans to vote Liberal, it’s Mark Carney. Let’s make it happen.
JoAnne Barton North Grenville, Ont.
If Mark Carney truly wanted to help Canada, then where was he these past few years when the Liberals were begging him to be finance minister?
Political experience was thought to be a prerequisite before becoming prime minister. Further, being fluently bilingual, of which Mr. Carney clearly is not, was also thought to be a prerequisite up until last week.
(To be fair, I find his English delivery also very lacking.)
I have many questions as well. How would he handle Question Period? How would he act as a part of cabinet? How would he react to and deal with being a part of the Liberal machine?
I suggest he run to be an MP first. Learn the political ropes, learn French and learn how to inspire people when speaking.
Only then should Mr. Carney bring his much-needed financial acumen to a leadership race and a run for prime minister.
Robert McCullough Edmonton
Consumer satisfaction
Re “Freeland would scrap consumer carbon price, Carney would make major changes: sources” (Jan. 17): I am disappointed to learn that the front-runners for the Liberal leadership are backing away from consumer carbon pricing.
To my mind, this measure is one of the positive legacies of Justin Trudeau’s government. Carbon pricing has been shown to be an effective way to reduce emissions.
I am one of what I believe is a majority of citizens who is receiving more in rebates than the cost of the tax. It is unfortunate that the clear benefits of the program were not successfully explained to the public, and that this positive environmental initiative is now something most politicians will no longer defend.
Donnie Friedman Toronto
Eat the cost
Re “Wider benefits of Ozempic, Wegovy put pressure on Canadian insurers to expand drug coverage” (Jan. 14): I did some math after reading about the wider benefits of semaglutide.
A Tim Hortons honey cruller has roughly the same number of calories as 1.5 pounds of carrots. The calories in a single serving of Loblaws President’s Choice Smokin’ Stampede Pork Back Ribs (a measly 140 grams, by the nutrition label) is about the equivalent of 1.75 pounds of that same underrated root vegetable.
I can understand the reluctance of insurers to offer universal coverage of the drug, given the breathtaking cost implications. Perhaps it’s time to ask the processed-food and fast-food industries to begin pitching in.
They are, after all, benefiting mightily from foods that contribute to the epidemic of obesity and heart disease.
John Challis Severn, Ont.
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