The production line at a factory of Chinese EV maker Nio in Hefei, China. Chinese vehicles accounted for more than 11 million of the 17 million EVs sold worldwide in 2024.Florence Lo/Reuters
A change would…
Re “Iran is the latest example of the great strategic bombing delusion” (July 8): Valid points are made about the lack of effectiveness of widespread civilian bombing as a principal means of wartime conquest. Although it was widely accepted between the First and Second world wars that civilian bombing would bring about the collapse of the enemy, it is now widely accepted in military circles that this was a false premise.
However, I believe it is a false analogy to equate widespread civilian bombings with the recent strategic attacks on Iran by Israel and latterly the United States. These were focused and limited, aimed at military and nuclear targets only, with a deliberate effort to avoid civilian targets wherever possible.
The objective was not to demoralize the general population into submission, but rather to achieve specific military objectives. That these attacks have not brought about regime change should not be seen as evidence they were a failure.
Jeffrey Green St. Thomas, Ont.
To the left
Re “The NDP will rise again” (July 3): It felt like a favourable portent that on the same day as this was published, Uber drivers in Victoria received union certification.
If the NDP advocates for better working conditions and benefits for gig workers, then it will likely rise again. And with the Carney Liberals sliding to the right on climate and defence, these are two other policy areas for a renewed NDP to distinguish itself at the ballot box.
Derek Wilson Port Moody, B.C.
Money to burn
Re “Ontario wants to work with Alberta on building pipelines, railways” (July 8): If we must burn more gas during the transition to renewables, generate electricity with it first and then deliver it.
Long-distance, high-voltage, direct-current transmission of electricity moves energy more efficiently than pipelines moving natural gas. The end-use efficiency of heat pumps and electric vehicles would offset power-plant losses at the other end of the line.
Canada is good at long-distance electricity transmission, and there is even talk of a transatlantic transmission line. So let’s build a transmission line, not another pipeline.
Alberta producers would lower their risks and increase profit by selling higher-valued electricity rather than gas. Everybody wins.
Ralph Torrie Director of research, Corporate Knights; Cobourg, Ont.
The almost 500 wildfires burning across Canada, ravaging forests, industry and communities alike, illustrate succinctly what I believe to be the absolute folly of building more oil and gas infrastructure.
The “nation-building projects” that our governments should be considering are cross-country, integrated electricity grids powered increasingly by renewable energy sources, as well as high-speed rail between major urban centres.
The ones who suffer the frightening consequences of our failure to address climate change are our children and grandchildren. Isn’t it time Canadians show as much passion for our descendants’ futures as we show for our hockey teams, and decisively transition to a low-carbon economy?
Murray Chantler Qualicum Beach, B.C.
Re “Ottawa spending $21.5-million to develop five Alberta carbon-capture projects” (Report on Business, July 5): From what I’ve seen, carbon capture is where tax dollars go to die.
It is a concept that has been around for decades. If it was already feasible, it would have been implemented long ago. A cursory examination of the physics shows why oil companies, which stand to be the big beneficiary, have avoided it, especially if they must use their own money.
But like many puzzling myths such as sasquatches and unicorns, carbon capture seems to persist regardless of science and economics. If a roomful of oil and gas executives convene to discuss carbon capture, it won’t become any more feasible.
But what a roomful of oil and gas executives can do is get some government money, because taxpayers can be made to believe anything.
Ronald Kelly Surrey, B.C.
Re “Canada should consider hiking GST, other taxes to pay for defence-spending boost: analysts” (July 5): It is suggested that to meet our defence spending commitments, Canadians must “run bigger deficits, raise taxes or make major cuts to spending.” Another option would be to increase exports.
For example, it has been reported that from 2022 to 2025, Russia received US$939-billion from worldwide exports of fossil fuels. Canada has the same raw resources and could provide an ethical alternative that defunds Russia’s army while also increasing Canadian revenues.
More exports mean more royalties and tax receipts, but without increasing tax rates.
Scott Newson Nanaimo, B.C.
Electric avenue
Re “Facing such fancy Chinese EVs, do Western carmakers even have a future?” (Report on Business, July 7): There are many ways the Chinese government is a bad actor, but we have a serious problem to solve: global warming. I think we should be working with China on that.
China is building factories around the world to manufacture electric vehicles. Ford and General Motors want to build gas-guzzling trucks up here.
I think we should also let China build a factory here, then many more of us could afford an EV. This would give Canadian autoworkers an opportunity to work with the latest technologies in vehicle manufacturing – and, who knows, perhaps in future export these EVs to the United States.
Alison Dennis Calgary
On the humbling of the Ford CEO by new Chinese electric vehicles, I see a simple reason why the West is so far behind on EVs.
In short, Ford adds tech to their wheels, whereas Chinese automakers add wheels to their tech. It is a completely different mindset and the results are before us.
Christopher White Hamilton
Waving flag
Re “Ottawa’s flag flap is a signal of deeper dysfunction” (Editorial, July 8): This year, I flew both Canadian and U.S. flags (in their proper places) on July 4. None of my neighbours in this small town complained.
This year, more than most, we should acknowledge and support the thousands of Canadians and Americans who have friends and relatives on both sides of the border, and who are appalled by the Trump administration.
While Donald Trump may want to harm Canada, the majority of Americans are our friends. Flying the U.S. flag on July 4 shows respect for that friendship.
William Bowden Saugeen Shores, Ont.
You castigate the city of Ottawa’s public servants for mindlessly flying the American flag on July 4 as a matter of routine, and suggest that in future the mayor should personally approve all flags.
It was a refreshing change from your other editorials complaining about our sclerotic, risk-avoiding Canadian bureaucracy, hamstrung by excessively centralized decision-making.
Jonathan Malloy Ottawa
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