MP Chris d'Entremont, who crossed the floor from the Conservatives to join the Liberals, arrives at a caucus meeting on Nov. 5, 2025.Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
Cross out
Re “Floor-crossing is not a threat to Canadian democracy – in fact, it might be beneficial to it" (Nov. 12): Rather than proving the democratic bona fides of floor-crossing, I find this merely shows that the practice is consistent with the Canadian system of government. These two things should not be conflated.
The reality is that when voters elect an MP, they are endorsing not just a candidate, but also that candidate’s party affiliation. For an MP to cross the floor without first seeking permission in a by-election represents to me a grave betrayal of the people’s will.
Yes, individual parliamentarians ought to have more power. But that power should come at the expense of party leaders, not voters.
David Taub Bancroft Vancouver
Re “Can the Conservative caucus please eat a Snickers bar?” (Nov. 12): I don’t care if floor-crossing is the “ultimate political betrayal” of one party or another. That is a matter for the “betrayed” party to deal with.
To me, floor-crossing represents the worst form of betrayal for voters who, on election day, voted in support of a party’s political platform represented by the crossing MP.
Elected members of any legislature, who feel they can no longer continue to serve as members of the party they represented on election day, should be obliged to step down and run again in a by-election. The same rule should apply to those who decide to sit as independent legislators.
Robert Lubinski Uxbridge, Ont.
Just a start
Re “Hydro-fibre line to Canada’s North is key to Arctic sovereignty, proponents say” (Report on Business, Nov. 12): The proposed hydro-fibre and transmission lines would not materially assist all of Nunavut in reducing its dependence on fossil fuels.
The links would definitely benefit the Kivalliq region and, inter alia, the Agnico-Eagle Mines site at Meliadine (the Meadowbank complex is scheduled for closure by 2028). However, without enormous additional investment, it would not benefit the Kitikmeot and Qikiqtaaluk regions.
Kivalliq represents only about one-third of Nunavut’s population.
Christopher Wright Digby, N.S.
Adds up
Re “How the Eglinton Crosstown LRT went so wrong, for so long”(Oct. 30) and “Who’s the boss?” (Letters, Nov. 6): A letter-writer wants public projects to be run by senior engineers with powers to block project creep. As a professional engineer for 50 years and project management consultant for 40 years, too often I heard of senior managers directing the project manager: “I know it’s not in your project budget, but that’s what your contingency is for.”
My opinion is that public-private partnerships are the root cause of project creep. A bidder can low-ball its price to win the contract, then recover the “loss” with change orders and delay claims. Conflict is often inevitable.
If there is any good news, it is that the agencies involved have learned a lesson and are moving toward a collaborative process where owners, designers and builders work together to develop scope, schedule and ultimately contract price.
Hopefully this process can deliver future projects on time and within budget. No more fiascos.
Bryan McConachy West Vancouver
Pin it
Re “Should poppies be allowed in Canadian courts?” (Nov. 10): The irony here is that by holding discretionary power to ban poppies from courtrooms, I find it is the judges who are making a political statement.
If a judge is influenced in any way by someone wearing a poppy in court, what we should have are new judges, not new rules. If we cannot agree that paying respect to our veterans, and especially those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, is extremely important, what can we agree upon?
And if someone, somewhere, is offended by that, it should be their issue alone, not ours.
Colin Lockhart Carleton North, N.B.
Link to the past
Re “Poppy ceremony offers a link to the past for a new generation” (Nov. 11): When I left my house on the morning of Nov. 11, I found a plain white envelope sitting on a chair on the porch. Inside there was a printed card with my address and a photo of a Canadian soldier: Private George Ford Duncan (1883-1918), who had died in the First World War.
The card began, “Dear Resident,” and noted the units Pvt. Duncan had served in. It was prepared by an anonymous student at St. Patrick Catholic Secondary School who wrote, “I researched about this soldier and found that he had lived in your house.”
This is a very thoughtful way of connecting both students and homeowners with an important part of our past.
Bruce Couchman Toronto
Walk on
Re “These Gen Z friends gained online fame – and haters – for their hours-long Toronto walks" (Nov. 6): As someone with much grey on my head, this took me back to the days when I would walk with friends for miles chatting, joking and scavenging bottles to turn in for treats at corner stores.
When we walk, we get a different perspective on our surroundings. Most people barely look up or down these days.
I hope the Walkers can keep on walking and provide a good example for others.
Jeff Sutton Ottawa
A group of young adults, all with undergrad degrees, spending their time outside getting exercise and exploring their city. What’s not to like?
What a healthy way to manage the pressures of starting out in life. If only we Gen X-types took a page from them and prioritized our social, mental and physical health, instead of moaning about being too “busy.”
Alison Pidskalny Calgary
What a pleasure to read two articles about the joy of walking, discovered by people generations apart (“For these older Canadians, the Bruce Trail is both a playground and a pilgrimage” – Nov. 8).
We are a group of friends, on the older side, who meet up every Thursday and explore parks, ravines and sometimes quirky streetscapes throughout Toronto. We have had picnics in the snow and eaten our sandwiches while sheltering from the rain under a bridge.
Our weekly excursions came about, as many things did, because of the pandemic. Our Friendship Force club could no longer meet in person, and Zoom calls were not as satisfying.
So some of us decided to walk. And we are still at it, finding great destinations in Etobicoke, in Scarborough, in North York and in the core of the city.
As we wander, perhaps we will encounter others who walk for fitness and friendship.
Deanna Groetzinger Toronto
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