Avi Lewis, the new leader of the federal NDP, speaks at a news conference in Winnipeg on Monday.JOHN WOODS/The Canadian Press
To the left?
Re “NDP Leader Avi Lewis vows to move party to the left and stop oil industry expansion” (March 31): As a longtime NDP member and a strong supporter of Avi Lewis, I don’t think saying he is moving the party to the left is a helpful strategy for the policies for which he advocates; it can only serve as an impediment to getting Canadians on side.
These policies will stand alone based on their credibility and positive impact. Too often the word “left” is used to dismiss policies out of hand. Let the press interpret his position on the ideological scale, but Mr. Lewis should firmly and continually focus on the why and how his programs and policies will improve the lives of Canadians.
He is already doing a commendable job of convincing Canadians of his agenda.
Robert Milan Victoria
Basic math
Re “Canada’s military spending officially hits 2% of GDP, NATO says” (March 27): Great news. Is it the numerator or denominator that fixed the problem?
David Parkes Ottawa
Now we’re talking
Re “Air Canada’s board shares blame for CEO’s latest French faux pas” (March 31): I’ll hazard a guess: Most passengers don’t really care what language or languages Air Canada’s next CEO speaks, so long as they can improve customer service.
David Thomson Vernon, B.C.
Not ideal
Re “Alberta Education Minister introduces wide-ranging bill meant to remove ‘ideology’ from classrooms” (April 1): The Alberta Education Minister should look in the mirror: His dictates are suffused with ideology and politics.
Controlling what teachers or students say in the classroom should be seen as an attempt to demonize what teachers do and silence students’ concerns about issues such as sexuality. Some students have gay parents and are sometimes gay themselves, so whose ideology are conservatives afraid of?
The education system can’t keep the world away, nor should it.
Diane Sullivan Toronto
This raises the question of what is “ideology?”
One answer is that ideologies are fictions used to stabilize the interests of the group promoting them. So it is worth noting that Alberta’s anti-ideology position is based upon one such fiction: that education is neutral or value-free.
The notion of an entirely value-free approach to the social sciences is a myth. What is studied, how it is studied, what is included in a curriculum, what is excluded, whose voices are silenced: all reflect the various positions of researchers, curriculum designers and educations.
Alberta’s plan to eliminate ideology from the classroom, then, is doomed to fail as this legislation’s purpose seems to be to impose its own fictions on Alberta’s teachers and students.
Scott Grills Sociology, Brandon University (retired); Parksville, B.C.
If you build it…
Re “Memo to the PM: Fix 24 Sussex now” (March 27): I see no better time than now to renovate our beautiful official residence to showcase our national pride.
Many Canadians worry about a lack of identity and complain about American culture overtaking us. Yet given the opportunity to strengthen our cultural identity and reinforce our sovereignty, we let our heritage crumble away.
Former prime ministers have fallen for the cheap political trap of being afraid to invest in 24 Sussex given current housing challenges. But it would be shortsighted not to realize the importance of the official residence as part of our national heritage.
Let’s recognize 24 Sussex as a nation-building project.
Janet LeBlanc Ottawa
It is acknowledged that the estimated cost to turn this Gothic Revival-style sow’s ear into a silk purse is very high.
I was once an engineer in training with the National Capital Commission for a summer. I suggest that a competition be opened to Canadian architects for a new contemporary design of 24 Sussex with passive energy requirements. Demolishing the old building would give the greatest freedom in placement and orientation on the property to maximize views and security.
A “secure room” in the basement might allow the Prime Minister to designate the cost of the new residence as a defence expenditure toward the 5-per-cent NATO target.
Derek Wilson Port Moody, B.C.
I was directly involved in organizing First Ministers’ meetings for more than 20 years. One was held at 24 Sussex at the request of the then-prime minister.
In my discussions with the house manager, I asked if the ministers accompanying the prime minister could be accommodated in a room on the second floor, just above the official dining room. The answer I received was that we could not use it when the dining room was occupied, because ceiling chips were falling off when people walked above. We also had to have generators brought on site to make sure needed equipment could be serviced.
24 Sussex is indeed a beautiful location that was home to many of our prime ministers. We should look forward to seeing it regain the role it has played in our history. Let’s do it.
Colette Trent Chelsea, Que.
Let’s play ball
Re “The 20 best baseball songs aren’t all about baseball” (March 26): I am compelled to make an important addition. In 1941, Les Brown and His Orchestra released the catchy Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio in homage to the Yankee Clipper’s 56-game hitting streak of the same year. The lyrics were by Ben Homer and Alan Courtney, while Betty Bonney sang on the recording.
“He’ll live in baseball’s Hall of Fame / He got there blow by blow / Our kids will tell their kids his name / Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio.”
J. D. M. Stewart Toronto
I’d like to add a baseball song by Greg Brown called Laughing River.
“Twenty years in the minor leagues / Ain’t no place I didn’t go / Well I gotta few hits / But I never made the show.”
John Ross Vancouver
To this prestigious list, I would add Go Cubs Go and A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request by Steve Goodman.
Also for your consideration: Angels of Fenway by James Taylor.
Here’s to a great season.
John Manning Oshawa, Ont.
Forever young
Re “Stephen Lewis, humanitarian and former Ontario NDP leader, dies at 88″ (April 1): A number of tributes have referred to Stephen Lewis as an elder statesman. That is certainly true, but he was also a youthful statesman.
During his entire career, he preserved the energy, enthusiasm and idealism of his early years.
Bruce Couchman Toronto
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