Toronto Blue Jays' Ernie Clement celebrates with George Springer after scoring on a double during the sixth inning in Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday in Toronto.Brynn Anderson/The Associated Press
Good cop, bad cop
Re “Ford the bully, Carney the conciliator: the dream team” (Report on Business, Nov. 3): Sure, we’re known for politeness, but there’s a difference between courtesy and submission. When Doug Ford aired the truth about tariffs on U.S. television, that was courage.
That’s why Mark Carney’s apology shames me as a proud Canadian. After nine months of failed diplomacy, he should read the national mood of resistance to Donald Trump.
Mr. Ford stood up for Canada; Mr. Carney bowed down. His deference whitewashes the aggressor and makes us look like beggars in our own backyard.
We voted for a leader who’d stand tall on the world stage, “elbows up,” advocating for fair trade, enduring alliances and a respected Canada. He should rediscover the bold economist who once charmed Americans on The Daily Show with wit, courage and candor, and spoke truth without flinching.
Mr. Carney should stop apologizing when he is in the right and reclaim his voice. Our pride and principles depend on it.
Tony D’Andrea Toronto
Doug Ford’s ad campaign may have captured headlines, but it backfired when Canada needed unity most. His high-profile push gave Washington an excuse to stall and left our negotiators scrambling to recover lost momentum.
Even if the final deal had fallen short, it could have strengthened our steel and aluminum sectors or laid groundwork for future auto-industry co-operation. Instead, we’re left with uncertainty and nothing concrete to show. Sometimes a bird in the hand truly is worth two in the bush.
Mark Carney showed the leadership Canada needed by being calm, humble and accountable, even when he did nothing wrong. He put the country first.
Now Mr. Ford should do the same: Rally the premiers, reignite Team Canada and help mitigate the growing risks from stalled negotiations.
Zahra Remtulla Vaughan, Ont.
To whose benefit?
Re “How Canada can properly use China as a hedge against Trump” (Report on Business, Oct. 31): What exactly does China stand to gain from our outreach?
I don’t think China would agree to manufacture anything in Canada, including automobiles, as the Chinese economy is structured to keep as many Chinese workers employed as possible, one of the primary causes of that country’s overcapacity problems. Canada’s market would not provide much relief.
Any geopolitical gains for China are limited by Canada’s geography and fundamentally opposed national interests which, I can assure everyone, Beijing has no illusions about. China would also know we are only negotiating with them to get leverage in Washington.
Even ignoring the question of whether Canada should engage with China, our pundits and business leaders shouldn’t be selling false hope that a deal can bail us out of our bind with Donald Trump – or that it is even possible in the first place.
Colin Pugsley Toronto
Leave alone
Re “How Canada can do more, faster” (Report on Business, Nov. 3): Privatization of Canada’s three major airports would be like burning the furniture to heat the house. It reminds me of the sale of Ontario’s 407 toll highway for a paltry $3.1-billion: great for investors and pension funds, not so much for consumers. Leave airports in the capable hands of not-for-profit airport authorities.
The end of supply management and associated tariff barriers would likely result in overturning Canada’s ban on artificial growth hormones, in order for Canadian dairy to compete with an influx of imports. Many Canadians would gladly pay a little more for hormone-free milk produced here. Leave supply management in place.
As for the GST, raise it from 5 to 7 per cent. At the same time, remove the tax from restaurant meals: This would make the increase palatable to Canadians and help the hospitality sector, which has been impacted acutely by rising costs.
Marc Storjohann Brant, Ont.
In and out
Re “Quebec cracks down on doctors – but will imposing a contract improve patient care?" (Oct. 28): It is reported that nearly 150 Quebec doctors have called Doug Ford’s offices to inquire about taking their talents out of La Belle Province.
This isn’t a new phenomenon. I think it’s a good time to point out to Québécois that more Canadian citizens have left the province than moved here since 2000.
Interprovincial migration statistics are generally well known and marks of pride or shame for governments. It staggers me to think the Quebec government happily accepts thousands of citizens fleeing the province.
Even worse, I have the feeling we won’t find a government interested in reversing the trend for many more years.
Raymond Jepson Montreal
Human spirit
Re “Advance requests for MAID ‘generally supported,’ national consultations find” (Oct. 30): An excellent example of the gloomy 18th-century Malthusian theory that populations would outgrow their capacity to generate food, leading to dire consequences for humanity in the future.
Fortunately, throughout the prosperous 20th century, these pessimistic predictions waned with good reason – until today – as Canada is faced with threats to its economic and even existential survival, brought on by the high cost of living and the relative ease of dying thanks to medical assistance in dying.
Listen to the heartless tone of MAID proponents who insist that “advance requests for MAID must be considered with an aging Canadian population” – in other words, the most vulnerable go first.
Canadians can no longer sidestep these hard hearts with narrow beliefs and their disbelief in the power of optimism, human innovation and, yes, the potential for miracles.
Health care exists to promote life, not end it.
Susan Riggs Guelph, Ont.
Love of the game
Re “Canada is still processing being on the losing side of the greatest game ever” (Nov. 3): Darn. Now the Blue Jays won’t get to decline that invitation to the White House.
John Barker Sarnia, Ont.
Re “The Blue Jays and the power of love” (Nov. 3): I have watched my eight-year-old son’s growing love for baseball, and it has been as beautiful to witness as the Blue Jays’ transcendent performance.
As a family who faced a particularly challenging summer, they gave us time to bond and heal together through every game, every breakfast spent breaking down statistics, every eager countdown to first pitch. My son went from a casual sports kid to a baseball fanatic.
As a mother, I measured the Jays’ success beyond the box score. It was the way we saw the values of teamwork – respect, support, grace, fortitude – come alive. In a world where these values can often feel rare, I thank them for living them so boldly for our youngest generations to witness, even through the toughest moments.
What they’ve given us is something invaluable: a reminder of what teamwork and hope look like in action. Thanks doesn’t feel like enough.
Susan Bruckner Vancouver
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