Prime Minister Mark Carney rises in the House of Commons as members vote on the federal budget on Monday.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
Members only
Re “Canada’s ‘dramatic’ budget vote goes exactly according to script” (Nov. 19): I am grateful to the four MPs who abstained from voting on the budget.
It was perhaps the best response in a tricky situation. We know the budget did not please everyone. That would have been the case no matter which groups presented it. Suggestions for improvement are many, but agreement is more difficult.
I read a great deal about how a defeated budget would have affected the various parties and their leadership, who would have had to scrape together funds to fight an election, or be accused of chickening out. Boo hoo.
Our situation as a country is that the U.S. President is open about his goal to ruin our country and ransack its resources. We cannot afford to have an election every few months, just because a few politicians want to blame others for propping up a government and its doubtless imperfect budget.
John Horman Waterloo, Ont.
Re “By the numbers” (Letters, Nov. 18): A letter-writer suggests proportional representation would allow voters to choose their preferred parties “rather than specific candidates.”
The model recommended by the Law Commission of Canada would give two votes: one for a local MP and one for a party’s regional candidate, which counts as a vote for that party, helping elect regionwide MPs for top-up seats, filled by the party’s most popular candidate in that region.
Every MP would still face the voters.
Wilfred Day Port Hope, Ont.
Take flight
Re “Made in Canada” (Letters, Nov. 18): A letter-writer believes that purchase of the Swedish Saab Gripen jet fighter would provide many jobs and boost our economy. All true, as is the change in Canada-U.S. relations.
However, the U.S.-made F-35 is the most advanced fighter jet tactical air platform available and would be an essential factor in NORAD providing seamless co-ordination in times of emergency.
Telling Donald Trump to “sue us” does not help ongoing trade negotiations.
Bernard Goldman Toronto
With Donald Trump now promising to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, Canada has a perfect opportunity to say to the United States that we will forego our F-35s – without penalty – so they can place the aircraft with the Saudis.
Then we would maintain our military commitments by going with Sweden’s Gripen jets. What an artful deal.
Richard Dean Sidney, B.C.
At odds
Re “Alberta invokes notwithstanding clause on three bills affecting trans and gender-diverse youth” (Nov. 19): Danielle Smith says courts should expect governments to invoke the notwithstanding clause if they continue to make decisions with which governments disagree.
This blatant attack on the judiciary is particularly fraught, at a time when courts are often all that stand between democracy and authoritarianism. I can think of a particular president who would love to trample rights, notwithstanding the constraints of that country’s constitution.
Let Canada show some restraint.
Nicole Chrolavicius Lawyer and lecturer, constitutional law, Osgoode Hall Law School; Toronto
Downsides
Re “Alberta defends public-private health care model as experts say it could violate Canada Health Act” (Nov. 19): I believe private medical care only benefits two groups: those with a lot of resources to pay and skip the line, and those who own private medical companies. But it hurts the rest of us by vacuuming up doctors and nurses from the public system, causing delays in care and leading to more illness and disability in our labour force.
Alberta Health Services used to be one of the most efficient health systems in the world. Now it’s been broken apart and may be replaced by an expensive model that will benefit a tiny few.
A government truly serious about improving access to care and ensuring a healthy labour market to enable business to thrive would invest heavily in primary care, which has been shown repeatedly to lead to better health outcomes for all, and at an overall cheaper price.
David Keegan MD, Calgary
Re “At a cost” (Letters, Nov. 19): A letter-writer’s suggestion to tax people who pay for private care ignores that others can move ahead because they got out of the public queue.
They also continue to pay taxes for the public system, even if they don’t use it.
David Phillip Jones Edmonton
A letter-writer suggests those skipping the line should pay a hefty premium for private health care that will go back into supporting the public system.
Those who can afford to pay for health care are already paying the lion’s share of taxes toward our public system due to higher income. When Canadians travel to the United States for $500 MRIs or $200 ear, nose and throat appointments, they are also saving the system money.
The better solution would be an overhaul of health care with new ideas. Perhaps we can start a fundraiser for medical and business schools to solve this problem.
It would beat doing the same things over and over and expecting new results.
E.L. McDonald London, Ont.
Food for thought
Re “Some Canadian shoppers have switched back to U.S. products, Loblaw CEO says” (Report on Business, Nov. 13): Loblaw glowingly reports same-store sales grew by 2 per cent in the quarter. By my shopping experience, same-quarter prices rose by about 5 per cent. So, not a great metric.
That, along with the fewer points offered, deceptive sale advertising, miserly price-matching, checkout mistakes and unstocked shelves I see, are why I shop my local Loblaws less frequently now.
Roger Burrows Chilliwack, B.C.
I am increasingly frustrated by Loblaw, Empire and Metro. I fear their economic practices will disillusion and destabilize Canadians to the point of threatening our democracy.
As Canadians struggle with food affordability, these companies continue to make substantial profit. Although increased food prices are affected by external factors such as climate change, war and transportation costs, they can be reduced if grocery chains lower profit margins.
Much of the frustrated electorate expects the government to curtail the high cost of food, and blames them for failures to do so. But in reality, the government is not very empowered to directly influence food prices.
Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson’s 2012 classic Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty explains how extraction by the wealthy elite is a pathway to downfall and dictatorship. I am concerned Canada’s grocery conglomerates are choosing profit at the expense of democracy.
Mary Burge Toronto
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