Prime Minister Mark Carney meets with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in Calgary on Nov. 27.Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press
Pipe up
Re “Carney is doing the right thing on oil and pipelines. Will we ever forgive him?” (Report on Business, Dec. 2): It is important to not let the focus on an unlikely pipeline overshadow other critical reversals on Canada’s climate policies embedded in the Canada-Alberta memorandum of understanding.
The exemption for Alberta from clean electricity regulations – already significantly weakened to accommodate provincial concerns, but still identified as one of the most important contributors to future emissions reductions in the government’s climate plans – will likely set off a cascade of demands for similar exemptions from other provinces with electricity systems that remain heavily fossil fuel dependent, notably Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
The likely outcome, given the Alberta precedent, will render the achievement of any significant progress on reducing Canada’s emissions an even more distant prospect than ever.
Mark Winfield Co-chair, Sustainable Energy Initiative, faculty of environmental and urban change, York University; Toronto
Re “A pipeline is just the beginning: More threats coming for Indigenous rights” (Report on Business, Dec. 1): I submit Section 35 of Canada’s Constitution and First Nations in British Columbia could be what save us from a pipeline across Northern B.C.
I am not a lawyer, but I am a former MP who had the privilege of sitting on two parliamentary committees on the Constitution. Section 35 recognizes and affirms the existing Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in Canada. These rights were previously protected under common law, but could be extinguished by Parliament; now, they are constitutionally protected.
Does Mark Carney intend to amend the Constitution as part of his nation-building projects?
Lynn Hunter Former MP, Saanich Gulf Islands (1988-1993) Victoria
Keep it up
Re “Immigrants from China struggling to obtain security clearances for government jobs, senator says” (Nov. 28): I believe Senator Yuen Pau Woo is missing or ignoring the reality.
The Chinese government is notorious for planting spies in Canada to steal technology and confidential government and corporate information. They can do so by coercion and blackmail, threatening the well-being of families of Chinese immigrants. Those with connections to the Chinese government, however tangential, are especially potential security risks.
It is my hope that the RCMP and CSIS use diligence and discretion to protect all Canadians from this issue fraught with considerable risk, regardless of the country of origin of job seekers.
Marty Cutler Toronto
Lift up
Re “The NDP should become the Canadian champion of class-based politics” (Nov. 26): Workers have been losing economic ground since the late 1970s, and the NDP should support their union-driven quest for economic justice. But the gargantuan disparity in our society is between the comfortable middle class and people who, unable to work, are so impoverished they are literally living hand to mouth.
As of 2022, approximately 30 per cent of Canadians aged 25 to 64 were not in the labour force due, in large part, to physical, mental or drug-related disabilities. Look around homeless encampments: That’s where desperate poverty resides.
I’m tired of hearing about the “working class,” because even workers earning paltry minimum wage are able to eat and house themselves. Our focus should be on the non-working class barely surviving on food drives and soup kitchens.
The NDP should talk about the moral imperative of social justice and our responsibility to extend a helping hand to those most in need.
Michael Craig Owen Sound, Ont.
Just do it
Re “Advocates fear Liberals have abandoned election pledges on animal welfare” (Nov. 29): Animal welfare might not be the highest priority for this or any government. But with more than 2,500 lawyers in the Department of Justice, one might think that drafting a bill might not be unreasonable.
Parliament going through the motions of passing such legislation might find one thing upon which all parties can agree, despite some Conservative senators having reservations (which I would love to hear).
Surely Parliament can address single-issue bills promptly in this session without losing sight of the minutiae of larger and more complex issues. If they cannot, perhaps they should sit longer.
Len Ashby Toronto
Man in the mirror
Re “A confused Britain fidgets as it gets pushed to the brink” (Report on Business, Nov. 26): British MP Tom Tugendhat blames regulatory volatility and domestic pension plans for his country’s slumbering economy.
The Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research recently released a study of nine years of post-Brexit economic data. It suggests Britain’s European Union departure has reduced GDP by 6 to 8 per cent, employment and productivity levels by 3 to 4 per cent and overall investment by 12 to 18 per cent.
Mr. Tugendhat was an early supporter of Liz Truss, the prime minister whose first budget shocked voters and global investors, leading to her swift departure. This former cabinet minister may indeed have insights about regulatory volatility and investor sentiment, but we would learn more if he looked inward rather than point his finger at other peoples’ money.
Jordan Berger Toronto
Lifeline
Re “Indigenous company Eeyou Mobility to bring cell service to ‘dead zone’ rural Quebec highways” (Nov. 26): Eeyou Mobility’s $100-million in investment and network expansion fills me with a profound sense of pride, not just for the technological achievement, but for the sheer grit of bootstrap innovation that made this possible.
The company succeeded where so many others have failed over the past 20 years, proving that local determination often triumphs where large-scale corporate interest wanes. By eliminating dead zones, it is building a critical safety net for the community.
Six or seven years ago, I and a few others conceived of a “communications hub” that was strikingly similar to this project. At the time, however, the severe lack of reliable internet access up North was an insurmountable barrier that kept our concept from taking flight.
I look forward to watching the continued expansion and safety this brings to everyone traveling and living in Eeyou Istchee. Finally the little guy had the chance to make things happen.
John Leonardelli Vaughan, Ont.
Come together
Re “Hudson’s Bay charter to be sold to Thomson, Weston families after $18-million joint bid, source says” (Dec. 2): My loudest cheers for the Thomson and Weston families. Their honourable action to work together to preserve the 1670 Hudson’s Bay charter is one of the finest examples of giving for the benefit of all.
What a commendable example they present to all politicians in Canada and this fractured world. Just a little more co-operation to work together would be appreciated by everyone.
Respect for all is our hope.
H.A. Lackner Kitchener, Ont.
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