Letters to the editor, July 8: ‘Digital services tax … Mark Carney may well have done the right thing, but in the worst possible way’

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Play nice

Re “Suddenly, MPs are behaving like grown-ups” (Editorial, July 4): I wonder if it has anything to do with the absences of Pierre Poilievre and Justin Trudeau from the House.

Mr. Poilievre is a savant when it comes to cutting verbal attacks, and the former prime minister could give as good as he got. Their respective caucuses took cues from their leaders, and we all saw the result.

Mr. Trudeau is gone for good but, barring the unforeseen, Mr. Poilievre will likely be back by the fall sitting. Will he embrace the new civility? We’ll see.

Steve Mertl Vancouver

Gone tomorrow

Re “U.S. tech giants still charging Canadian advertisers extra fee despite Ottawa’s vow to scrap digital services tax” (Report on Business, June 5): Where is government leadership on this issue? Why has the Minister of Finance not informed Google, Amazon and others that if they continue to ask Canadian advertisers to pay the digital services tax, then he would view it as charging a fee under false pretenses?

Also, why hasn’t the minister said that he expects these companies to refund Canadian advertisers for tax-related fees that they have paid since October, 2024?

Constance Smith Victoria

My view is that attempting to impose a digital services tax on non-resident corporations was a reckless move, inviting retaliation that could destroy Canadian exporting companies.

If Mark Carney believed the tax was wrongheaded, and knew full well it was a major irritant for both U.S. Republicans and Democrats, then he could have axed it early on, along with the carbon tax, with little domestic repercussions.

He also could have axed it in exchange for something tangible and made himself appear more like a strong negotiator. Instead, he seems to have given it up in exchange for nothing but a faint hope. As the White House puts it, the appearance is that he caved.

With Donald Trump, appearances matter. Those who kowtow to him risk both his contempt and the anger of domestic voters.

Mr. Carney may well have done the right thing, but in the worst possible way.

Tom Curran Prince Edward County, Ont.

Made in Canada

Re “Ottawa must steel itself against tariffs” (Editorial, June 30): You warn against protectionism and invoke “basic economics” as a justification. But it’s basic economics that got us here in the first place: decades of ideological commitment to open borders and minimal state intervention as our trading partners used subsidies, strategic investment and trade circumvention to their advantage.

Even mainstream economists are coming around to the idea that “basic” economics will not cut it in today’s competitive environment. They call for a more sophisticated approach to trade and industrial policy, one that recognizes the strategic role of steel and aluminum, enforces fair trade, protects workers and aligns with climate and job-creation goals.

Steelworkers aren’t asking for walls, we’re asking for action. Close loopholes, expand enforcement based on origin, discipline bad actors and use public procurement to support Canadian-made steel and aluminum.

Without this, Ottawa’s plan would remain a half-measure – and working people and communities would continue to pay the price.

Troy Lundblad Department leader, research, United Steelworkers; Toronto

Re “Ontario’s wounded economy is dragging down Canada’s growth” (July 7): We are in prime beer-drinking season in Canada, a reminder that we import the vast majority of our aluminum cans from the United States, using aluminum that comes in large part from Canada. We make aluminum and brew beer in Canada, yet beer prices are expected to rise as a result of Trump tariffs.

It is observed that manufacturing in Ontario is in decline. Surely a nation of more than 41 million people, many of whom drink beer, can support new Canadian can manufacturers.

Canadian beer in Canadian-made aluminum cans. Elbows up.

Nicholas Pashley Toronto

Time elapsed

Re “Military police reopen investigation into allegations of racist posts” (July 5): The Commander of the Canadian Army said a report about alleged racist social posts was sent to the chain of command – whatever that means – in December, but he was personally made aware of its existence only last week. (I do hope that messages to the “chain of command” move faster in case of war.)

The honorary colonel for the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa said “this unfortunate situation will be dealt with immediately.” Do we detect some disconnect here between half a year and “immediately?”

Still the same results. No consequences yet. Nice words, no action.

Thomas Verny Stratford, Ont.

Eye for an eye?

Re “Crime and punishment” (Letters, July 3): In supporting Justice Russell Silverstein for not imposing a jail sentence for someone convicted of being an accessory to manslaughter, a letter-writer defends the appropriateness of the decision “not just for the individual involved but for the people of Ontario.”

However, in speaking for the people of Ontario, I believe he neglects an inescapable fact of human nature: a desire for punishment.

Lorne Hicks Georgina, Ont.

Loud and clear

Re “Manitoba’s Accessibility Minister apologizes for ‘demeaning’ comment about sign-language interpreter” (July 7): “Frantic hand movements.” Apparently that’s what Manitoba’s Accessibility Minister thinks of American Sign Language.

As a child of deaf parents, I grew up using ASL as my first language. To read of the beautiful sign language being denigrated in this way by the minister, especially in the context of denying an interpreter during an award ceremony that included a deaf Métis woman and her daughter, is incomprehensible to me and totally unacceptable.

The Premier and Accessibility Minister should offer a sincere public apology not only to the two women, but to the entire Canadian deaf community. And while the Premier has our attention, he could remind Canadians that there is a pressing need to revitalize Indigenous sign languages. Indeed, they have recently been recognized by Canada in the landmark Indigenous Languages Act.

Both mother and daughter have stated that they feel exhausted, demoralized and excluded, and I don’t blame them.

James MacDougall CM, Montreal

Double up

Re “Canada’s moment at Wimbledon fails to materialize” (Sports, July 4): There is Canadian legend Gabriela Dabrowski, who is still in the running at Wimbledon in women’s doubles.

She has won 18 titles, including a Women’s Tennis Association Tour Finals and three Grand Slams. She was also a leader and inspiration for Team Canada to win the Billie Jean King Cup in 2023.

I hope she realizes how much she is respected in Canada.

Carol Ashwell Vancouver

Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Keep letters to 150 words or fewer. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here: letters@globeandmail.com