King Charles waits for a meeting at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on May 26.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
Royal visit
Re “Looking back at King Charles’s royal visits to Canada” (May 26): Thank you so much for sharing those wonderful photographs. King Charles III is a very special man. I am hopeful that his visit will be a successful one.
He has never been afraid to stand up for and support issues that are important to him. The fact that he is making that long journey here to Canada for such a short visit, proves that he not only supports our Prime Minister but our country as well.
Let us show him our support and make this visit the most happy and memorable yet. Time for some more photographic memories.
Thank you, King Charles III. Please visit Victoria next time!
Diana Black Victoria
Re “As King Charles’s arrival nears, the mood in Ottawa ranges from excitement to indifference” (May 26): I’m not sure how the King’s delivery of the ceremonial Speech from the Throne enhances Canada’s image as an independent, sovereign nation. But it certainly speaks to the power we wield vis-à-vis the monarch.
In diplomatic circles and the echelons of world leaders, relative power is signalled by who travels to see whom.
U.S. President Donald Trump wouldn’t deign to go to Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin or Xi Jinping – they must come to him.
Mr. Trump may be going to Buckingham Palace to bask in the royal glow, but King Charles III is coming to Parliament Hill at our request – and on short notice.
Definitely a win for Canada!
Joyce Rowlands Toronto
It’s high time to stop politicizing King Charles III’s visit as a demonstration of Canadian sovereignty.
It’s much more than that and its significance goes way beyond trying to impress or annoy U.S. President Donald Trump or the United States.
The way this royal visit is unfolding in its multifaceted manner is key. It features Canada and the many aspects of how most of us feel regarding our identity and culture.
Bruce Fowler Vernon, B.C.
Switching allegiances
Re “Pledge allegiance” (Letters, May 26): Canada is a constitutional monarchy, which is proving to be one of the most stable democratic systems of government in the 21st century.
When MPs swear an oath to the King, they commit themselves to respecting Canada’s constitutional order and obeying the nation’s laws.
They still can work to change them, but they must do so through a legal and democratic process.
Swearing an oath to Canada or to the people or Canada can mean anything they want, and thus gives them licence to undermine our democracy, peace, and security at the expense of us all.
Carl Benn Professor, Toronto Metropolitan University, Department of History; Toronto
Own enemy
Re “The real threat to Canada auto isn’t Trump. It’s our own government forcing EVs on us” (Report on Business, May 26): This article raises an important question. Is it better to try and change economic behaviour by raising costs or setting outcomes?
It stresses the problem with the California-driven zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which prohibits the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEV) by 2035.
The mandate controls outcomes – i.e. zero car emissions – but at a prohibitive cost. The U.S. House of Representatives recently voted to suspend the California mandate because of this.
And yet the raising-costs approach has encountered similar political headwinds here when the Prime Minister and others abandoned their support for the consumer carbon tax in Canada.
The failure of both approaches leaves essentially one remaining option, which is to subsidize clean alternatives.
Maybe that is the best way forward to reduce worldwide emissions.
But before relying completely on this approach, a further public debate might be worthwhile.
Ed Dunnett Qualicum Beach, B.C.
Stay afloat
Re “The truth is that Canada Post was simply set up to fail” (Report on Business, May 23): The Canadian public does indeed have the right to a viable and effective postal service. Letting market forces rule won’t work. Postal service will go the way of buses and trains – which is to say, gone from smaller places.
There are small communities all over Canada that depend on Canada Post − especially small businesses that use it to get their products to market. We saw this dilemma during the last strike.
Creating community postal hubs, combined with Service Canada functions (and maybe Service Ontario ones) is a brilliant idea. Let’s go with it.
I, for one, do not accept that Canada Post should go bankrupt – especially if it means we all become even more dependent on American corporations.
Carol Town Hamilton
Changing channels
Re “Quebec to set quotas for French-language content on streaming platforms” (May 22): Most of the quality streaming services, like it or not, are American, British or Australian in content.
Quebec’s unrealistic stronghold on streamlining language control is in effect trying to swim against the current.
Why would you force people to listen to Shakespeare or Jane Austen in any other than the original tongue?
If Celine Dion only sang in French, she would be severely be limited and would not have the incredible international reputation that she has been privileged to have.
Quebec should use a Statue of Liberty policy, rather than an Alcatraz approach.
Douglas Cornish Ottawa
Unsupported
Re “If the Leafs are serious about winning they should stop losing with caveats” (Sports, May 26): Why does success in the Stanley Cup playoffs continue to elude the Toronto Maple Leafs?
I believe all eyes need to turn away from the players and look outward to the seats – to the fans who continue to show up year after year, but don’t truly show up for the players.
Other cities have a fan base that cheers their team. They can count on their fans to stick with them through the rough patches. Toronto fans, by contrast, are ready to give up on the team at the first disappointment.
Until Toronto fans develop dedication to support the players, the players have no good reason to fight through the gruelling challenges of the playoff season.
Fight for people who boo, throw jerseys on ice, and stream out in droves when the team is not winning. That’s just plain disrespect.
You only get what you give, Toronto.
Leanne Taylor Brantford, Ont.
Life’s certainties
Re “Telecom giants taking action to address the debt elephant in the room” (Report on Business, May 26): If life, death and taxes are certainties, they are followed by the truism that telecoms will arbitrarily raise subscribers’ rates by $5 per month for “infrastructure.” to pay down their debt.
So much for contracts.
Marty Cutler Toronto