U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday.Julia Demaree Nikhinson/The Associated Press
New normal?
Re “Donald Trump is not an aberration. He is America” (Opinion, May 2): Criticism of U.S. policy is fair and necessary. But as a dual American-Canadian citizen living and working across both countries, I find that broad characterizations of Americans risk crossing into something more divisive – and inherently un-Canadian.
If even one reader walks away assuming that I, or millions of other Americans, are defined as racist or authoritarian simply by virtue of citizenship, that would be a disservice to the very principles such critiques claim to defend.
Mark Carney carefully threads this needle, standing firm where necessary while maintaining respect for Americans and the relationship between our countries. This matters now more than ever. Millions of Americans are actively engaged in protests and defending democratic norms.
What we are witnessing is a serious affront to one of the world’s closest and most enduring partnerships. At moments like this, we should defend our principles without mirroring divisive rhetoric.
We should lead by example.
Adrienne Willis New York
I think Bruce Cockburn said it best: “The trouble with normal is it only gets worse.”
Catherine Orion Toronto
Captures the mood
Re “Canada should back away from carbon capture and storage and focus on infrastructure like pipelines” (Opinion, May 2): Contributor Martha Hall Findlay illustrates her argument by invoking household spending, cautioning against accumulating debt for projects that don’t add material value. Fair enough.
The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis has concluded that “the chances for recouping public funds that have been sunk into the [Trans Mountain pipeline] are slim.” Canada’s most recent publicly backed pipeline may generate revenue but, to extend Ms. Findlay’s analogy, the “rent” from that basement suite is unlikely to cover construction costs.
I see no reason to expect another pipeline to be different, particularly as confidence in long-term oil demand in emerging markets is shaken by the war in Iran. If global markets indeed want what Canada has, let them bet on the pipeline business case.
Dustin Carey Ottawa
Contributor Martha Hall Findlay cares deeply about climate change and Canada “doing its part,” but then recommends we shouldn’t be so concerned about our carbon footprint because Canada produces only 1.3 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
This selected use of statistics minimizes our real impact and is often used to justify our wasteful ways by those seeking to avoid meaningful action. Our per capita emissions are shamefully some of the highest in the world, at 17.86 tonnes per person in 2022. This is a more meaningful statistic which demonstrates that Canada is not even close to “doing its part.”
If the rest of the world lived as wastefully as we do, we would need many more planets to support us. The last time I looked, we only have one.
Alex Speigel Grey Highlands, Ont.
Canada’s share of global greenhouse gas emissions is indeed small, about 1.41 per cent by some measures. But altogether, the 180-plus countries with the same or lower levels of emissions as Canada make up a total share of at least one-third – not paltry. If we abandon our responsibilities, why shouldn’t others?
As well, numerous countries, including Canada, are making serious investments in carbon capture and storage. If Canada withdraws, it would leave us on the outside and let others market their expertise while controlling emissions.
We need to use every tool in the toolbox to control our emissions. Let’s stay the course.
Michael Mann Nanaimo, B.C.
As a former senior provincial environmental regulator, and now as an environmental consultant working mostly in the oil sands region, I have experienced firsthand the industry in general, and certain companies in particular, making every effort to avoid, minimize or transfer to taxpayers the costs associated with addressing their significant environmental impact.
Canadians should remind this sector of the first principle in the 1998 Canada-wide Accord on Environmental Harmonization: “Those who generate pollution and waste should bear the cost of prevention, containment, cleanup or abatement (polluter pays principle).” Yet the mantra for the sector has become: “We are committed to addressing our environmental issues and impacts, but not just yet.”
It is unfortunate that we have an important economic sector which we need and want, but which increasingly puts profit ahead of basic and reasonable environmental protection actions. It is also unfortunate that the Alberta government allows this to happen.
David Spink St. Albert, Alta.
Copy that
Re “Those who don’t create intellectual property should respect the creations of those who do” (Opinion, May 2): It seems that even the government doesn’t respect intellectual property, as the Copyright Act was gutted a number of years ago. Universities no longer have to pay for most of the countless articles they ask students to read.
I am a nurse. I have written and published a lot of articles pertinent to nursing practice. I know that universities are utilizing them in their teaching.
Access Copyright used to pay me several hundred dollars a year for the use of my articles. Now I’m lucky to get $50.
The Copyright Act should be fixed.
Jane McCall Delta, B.C.
Classic case
Re “The free exploration of library shelves is the essence of childhood reading” (Opinion, May 2): In my teenage years during the 1950s, one of the few unexpurgated sources for Lady Chatterley’s Lover in English was a publisher in France. For British schoolboys on school trips to Paris, an added bonus was to smuggle back a paperback copy.
This all ended in 1960 when a British jury decided the novel was not obscene. The trial is notable for the way in which prosecuting counsel framed a key question for the jury: “Is it a book that you would even wish your wife or your servants to read?” The jury, drawn from social strata apparently wider than counsel’s experience, were not beguiled.
A classic lesson in how young people often find ways around adult shibboleths, and the dangers of constraining desirable human activities to satisfy narrow-minded agendas.
John McLaren Victoria
Hot tip
Re “Reporting from the Far North is important, even when it freezes your cameras solid” (May 2): As a proud Winnipegger, I know cold and feel compelled to offer some unsolicited advice.
Smear a tiny dab of Vaseline (like the Brylcreem ad of my childhood, “a little dab’ll do ya”) over closed eyes, cheekbones and nose. This tiny layer prevents frostnip and its evil cousin frostbite on exposed areas of the face.
It also prevents “eye-cicles” and unsightly “snot-cicles” from forming.
Michael Bennett Winnipeg
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