Britain's King Charles steps out of a vehicle during a visit to the Tower Brewery in Burton-Upon-Trent, Britain, on Feb. 24.Jaimi Joy/Reuters
Royal pain
Re “King Charles issues personal invite for Trump to visit Britain for state visit” (Feb. 28): Britain is our historic homeland. King Charles is our head of state, nominally, and Canada is a great supporter of the British Commonwealth.
Perhaps this invitation was at the behest of the British Prime Minister. Canada and Britain have always been the best and most reliable of allies, from two World Wars to conflict in the Falklands, yet somehow, we have been thrown under the bus.
Just maybe, Donald Trump will have helped Canada to grow up if we eliminate interprovincial tariffs – and the yoke of monarchy.
Joe Wong Toronto
Britain will use King Charles as a leverage point to try to get what it needs, knowing the U.S. President usually falls all over himself in front of royalty.
Every country is trying to navigate this craziness. The monarchy is a great tool to try to bring some sanity to a world turned upside down.
The King has some surprisingly progressive positions on many issues. Better his ideas than making America great again.
Nigel Smith Toronto
En français
Re “Will Mark Carney’s weak French be his Achilles’ heel in Quebec?” (Feb. 27): That Quebeckers do not have a history of supporting federal parties led by non-francophones from outside the province depends on when history starts.
If it starts in 1953, well, all right. If one goes back to 1921, however, Quebeckers supported Mackenzie King throughout his 22-plus years of leadership. Mr. King backed Quebec in the anti-conscription struggles of two World Wars and was always careful to have a Quebec lieutenant in his government.
Quebeckers as a bloc are shrewd voters when it comes to federal politics. It should be noted there was not strong support from Quebec francophones for Stéphane Dion in 2008, rather parking their votes with the Bloc Québécois until Stephen Harper was gone.
Mark Carney can win Quebec, if he listens to them.
Richard Belliveau Ottawa
It is exceedingly frustrating to read criticisms of Mark Carney’s French fluency.
Quebec and its citizens are a vital part of Canada and deserve to understand what is being said that impacts on them. However, the emphasis should be on “what,” not “how.”
The debates offered instantaneous translation, as do meetings of every international organization. While being fluent in both of our official languages is an asset, it is not essential.
An emphasis on bilingualism limits unilingual individuals on either side, who may be more equipped to be our leaders than some who are bilingual, from serving.
This has to stop.
John Martin Victoria
Nuclear options
Re “As tensions rise, Canada to lean on U.S. for uranium enrichment” (Report on Business, Feb. 24): Modernized CANDU technology can create Canadian jobs and an exportable product.
A proven Canadian technology that does not require enriched uranium is appealing when both of the primary suppliers of it, the United States and Russia, should be viewed as hostile states. Thorium use is another future selling point.
If we are going to import technology such as small modular reactors that require enriched uranium, we should work with Japan, France and Britain to assure that enrichment capabilities exist which cannot be held hostage by the U.S. government – they can no longer be viewed as a dependable ally. As Chrystia Freeland has pointed out, this would also give us access to a nuclear deterrent.
Whichever approach we take would require large project management skills. Start by making sure we hire a top-flight executive manager who has read the 2023 book How Big Things Get Done by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner.
Alex Cameron Toronto
Worth sharing
Re “What if we taught our kids that not sharing is actually okay?” (Feb. 24) and “It takes a community to get a wheelchair through the snow” (First Person, Feb. 25): I am a mom of four. Sharing is not about giving up autonomy, but rather about building community.
A child that desires another child’s possessions is not actually desiring the item, but the experience and witnessed joy on the other child’s face. An invitation to share in play would likely calm any tears, rather than a demand to give the toy up or take turns.
When we see others experiencing joy, or hardship, our reaction reveals our humanity: Have we been taught to share or to look away? Those who enter into the experience come away happier.
We should teach our children to share, so that they grow up to help those around them in powerful displays of community interdependence. No one should feel they must “endure alone” – that can be taught from the very beginning through shared play.
Sharing, and building community, is the cornerstone of a good life.
Marya Moore Ottawa
This seems to be taking a step backward.
I agree that very young children do not naturally want to share. Nevertheless, parents should encourage them to do so.
Will these naturally selfish kids miraculously wake up when they are 10, 15 or 20 years of age and have an epiphany that sharing is good? Sharing is a learned behaviour. It is what differentiates us from other species.
Looking at today’s societal dysfunction we see many individuals, as well as entire nations, only out for themselves and care little for those who are suffering and less fortunate. I believe we are selling short our childrens’ ability to be influenced by our guidance to develop the full potential of their value systems, even at a very young age.
Michael Gilman Toronto
Down a notch
Re “Donald Trump praises ‘friend’ Wayne Gretzky amid backlash at home” (Feb. 27): I am flummoxed about the criticism of Wayne Gretzky. He was a Canadian athlete and he played hockey for Canada, for a while, then he left.
It continues to amaze me that people hoist athletes and movie stars up on pedestals, expecting them to reflect all our righteous personal and cultural values. They play, they act, they perform. And by the way, it’s all business, ones that pay obscene amounts of money.
They are not heroes. Mr. Gretzky was a great hockey player. No more, no less.
Sure, we can be disappointed when one of our tribe members leaves our community, but maybe we should refocus our energy on elevating Canadians who teach our children, save lives and do less glamorous jobs which are critical to our collective well-being.
Lisa De Pieri Burlington, Ont.
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