Alberta Premier Danielle Smith leaves the podium after announcing the New North America Initiative, led by the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy in Calgary, on May 16.Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press
King and country
Re “Mark Carney’s royal Canadian symbolism” (May 27): Many commentators have tied Canada’s sovereignty to King Charles III’s Throne Speech. I think this misrepresents the relationship.
The King speaks to our traditional allegiance, but not our full ability to govern ourselves. That requires an independent Canada.
Perhaps this is an aspirational destiny, but not our current reality.
Patrick O’Neill Toronto
Thanks to Mark Carney for recognizing the historical and heritage foundations of Canada’s “core identity,” which have built a country attractive to millions of immigrants.
Note to Justin Trudeau: Along with our modern multicultural strengths, “this is who we are.”
Joe O’Brien Halifax
I am reminded of a quotation about the American Revolution from my 2018 book Different Strokes: Answers to the Perplexing Differences Between Americans and Canadians: “Still other Loyalists chose to stay on their farms and protect their land and their belongings. They were often beaten or sent to jail and had their homes destroyed by rebel forces. Being persecuted just made them more determined to remain loyal to the British king.
“Bostonian Mather Byles asked, ‘Which is better? To be ruled by one tyrant 3,000 miles away, or 3,000 tyrants not a mile away?’ The Loyalists saw their persecution as tyranny in the name of liberty.”
This is the source of our history as a constitutional monarchy. It was a conscious decision made as a result of the personal experiences of many of our forebears.
God save the King, and our wonderful country of Canada.
Janet Snider Woodstock, Ont.
Housing boom?
Re “To make housing more affordable, drop the tax hammer on real estate investors” (Report on Business, May 27): We have a housing shortage in Canada, which results in shelter being unaffordable for many. As a result, we also have high housing prices. Classic supply and demand.
The immediate problem demanding solutions is providing shelter to the unhoused and underhoused at (more) affordable prices than currently can be found on the market. It should be irrelevant whether new housing is owned by residents or investors. But rather than incentivizing such development, taxing real estate investors and making financing more difficult would have the opposite effect.
Boomers, myself included, who have been fortunate to own homes, can’t really book the profit until they sell, which depends on there being willing and able buyers. Those buyers, of necessity, would come from pools of individuals currently priced out of the market.
As more supply from boomers comes on the market, simple economics should take over and reduce prices until equilibrium is reached.
John Harris Toronto
Hold out hope
Re “How fentanyl transformed Victoria’s Pandora Avenue from downtown hub to open-air drug market” (May 24): Reading this left me feeling sad, embarrassed and frustrated: sad because we are continually reminded of those in desperate need; embarrassed to be in an affluent city and country that cannot meet these needs; frustrated because I personally want to find ways to help.
Since retiring to Victoria from Ontario, I have volunteered with the Salvation Army for several years. I have witnessed a sense of hope for those wanting to turn their lives around.
The Salvation Army here offers clean housing and healthy food, as well as programs that support rehabilitation, permanent housing, employment assistance and community lunches. It somewhat eases my frustration to personally and financially support this cause.
As well as ruminating on inadequacies, we should also applaud and support the positive efforts that are going on in our community.
Janice Glasgow Victoria
Access granted
Re “Patient records should belong to patients” (Editorial, May 19): Canada’s health system still reflects a paternalistic approach, treating patients as passive recipients rather than informed citizens in a publicly funded, single-payer system where they should hold meaningful power.
This culture has bred fragmentation and a lack of accountability in how medical information is managed. Physicians and other health care practitioners carry a heavy clinical and ethical burden; we must be careful not to increase that load without reason. But the answer isn’t to gatekeep access, it’s to build systems that allow patients to safely and efficiently access their own records, making them true partners in care.
Access to health information is not a privilege to be requested, it’s a right. Empowering patients improves safety, co-ordination and trust. It’s time we stopped acting as if this is revolutionary, and started treating it as essential.
Adrián Noriega de la Colina Montreal
Read on
Re “Alberta to hold public consultation on which books should be banned from school libraries” (May 27): I have spent more than 30 years in education.
I have come to know a number of school librarians; they are thoughtful, sensible people who understand how to serve their students best. Decisions about what books are appropriate should be made by them, not distant politicians currying favour by trying to frame this as a “parents’ rights” exercise.
I once worked in a school where there was a furor over a book called Heather Has Two Mommies. Luckily the book remained on school shelves, and no one forced the children of offended parents to read it.
“Strong enough safeguards” are almost certainly the thin edge of the wedge. If a parent doesn’t want their child reading a book, that is up to them. But they should have absolutely no right to tell others what their kids can’t read.
Experience tells me that is where some parents want this to go.
Rob Ruttan Barrie, Ont.
Pony up
Re “If the Leafs are serious about winning they should stop losing with caveats” (Sports, May 26): I’m familiar with Real Madrid (even if I’m an FC Barcelona fan) having spent extensive periods in Spain. For years, I’ve thought about the comparison between Madrid and Toronto for the media attention and public expectations toward Real and the Leafs.
If Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment president and CEO Keith Pelley wants to call the Leafs “the greatest hockey team in the world,” he should put his money where his mouth is. There is little patience for excuses in Madrid or Barcelona.
Jean-François Obregón Vaughan, Ont.
Talk to me
Re “We are only one AI chatbot away from falling in love” (Opinion, May 24): I find it a paradox that in modern times, some people are turning to artificial intelligence for relationships.
The problem was likely caused in the first place by staying home and spending too much time in front of computer screens, instead of getting out and socializing more.
Doug Payne London, Ont.
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