A residential building damaged following a Russian air attack on Kyiv, on July 3.SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images
Senseless war
Re “Rescuers search for survivors as Kyiv mourns at least 30 killed in Russian attack” (Online, July 3): This tells me everything I need to know about the morality of Vladimir Putin and Russia’s war against Ukraine: Ukraine attacks Russian oil facilities; Russia retaliates by killing Ukrainian civilians.
The end of the Putin regime can’t come soon enough.
David Phillips Calgary
Dollars and cents
Re “Ottawa will match up to $4-million in donations for Venezuelans reeling from earthquakes” (July 1): Given that Canada’s population is approximately 41.4 million, this potential donation of $9-milion (including a $5-million commitment) from the federal government amounts to less than 22 cents per person.
While I realize that Canadians have a reputation for frugality, this is ridiculous and embarrassing.
John Reilly Victoria
Behind the curtain
Re “There is more bad news coming for separatists in Alberta” (July 2): I find it irony verging on tragedy that this well-reasoned opinion and other analyses of the economic impact of Alberta separation will likely have little effect on its supporters.
To see why I am so pessimistic, we can go back to ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes who said “give me a lever long enough and a place to stand, and I will move the world.” He may as well have predicted the enormous influence of social media in the far future.
It is established that bad foreign actors such as Russian and the United States are actively meddling in the Alberta separation campaign. The best economic reasoning can be deflected with “fake news.”
Covert foreign interests feeding Albertans false hopes about separation are often unacknowledged motivators for Alberta separation.
Moses Shuldiner Toronto
Second to lose
Re “Deep Sky delivers North America’s first direct air capture carbon credits to RBC, Microsoft” (Report on Business, June 30): A Canada-based company operating in Alberta aims to capture 3,000 metric tons of emissions each year.
Before everybody gets excited about this miraculous solution to global heating, there’s one figure we should consider: 1,100 metric tons, approximately the rate of global carbon emissions per second.
So far this project will remove two to three seconds worth of carbon in the course of a year. I believe the companies behind this are investing in greenwashing, not serious climate action.
Oliver Whitehead London, Ont.
Canadian way
Re “Inspired by Canada, UK says it will open sponsorship routes for eligible refugees” (Online, June 27): Western nations can help legitimate refugee claimants find new, safe homes for themselves and their children without giving rise to widespread anger among their citizens against newcomers.
Canada has used such a system, for example, that since 2015 has enabled charities and other community groups to sponsor tens of thousands of refugee claimants from Syria who have been vetted and pre-selected before departing for this country. There has been no significant public opposition to the program. It works.
It works best when coupled with effective measures to ensure that other refugee claimants are not permitted to enter or stay in Canada, unless they had such pre-clearance before arrival.
It is gratifying to see that Britain recognizes the value of such a program and is setting up something similar.
Peter Love Toronto
DIY
Re “With AI costs rising, companies are hiring experts to answer a crucial question: Is it worth it?” (Report on Business, July 3): Surely if artificial intelligence is all it’s cracked up to be, companies could use it to work out the return on investment?
Dianne Skoll Ottawa
Lead by example
Re “Students can miss class for sports, extracurricular activities under new attendance rules, Ontario education minister says” (July 1): Kids are not showing up for class. Why?
The Ontario Ministry of Education should be finding out why instead of merely bringing in new rules that penalize kids who aren’t in class.
Is the curriculum outdated? Are students falling behind? Are classes too big? Is there bullying? Are classrooms and teachers welcoming?
Surely we want to teach students problem-solving skills. So the ministry should do better at finding out the causes of poor attendance and come up with creative solutions.
Jan Vanderwal Toronto
If it ain’t broke
Re Rank ‘em (Letters, July 2): A letter-writer wants FIFA to schedule the knockout stage of the World Cup based on country rankings. But these are established historically, whereas this tournament’s approach rewards tournament performance by ensuring most of the teams finishing first in a group initially play a third-place finisher.
If two heavyweights clash early on, that’s their faults for not doing well in the group stage. It also makes the tournament more exciting.
Adam Plackett Toronto
At the movies
Re “The 100 best Canadian films ever made” (Online, July 1): How great to go through the list of top films on Canada Day.
There are so many I have enjoyed, even the ones by David Cronenberg that scared the pants off me. Sarah Polley’s work is always so honest and revealing. And, if you’re asking, Don McKellar’s Last Night remains my favourite film of all time.
I’m now compiling a list of those bijoux I have not seen, but here’s the rub: More than 10 per cent are not even available in Canada. Denys Arcand’s The Barbarian Invasions won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2004 but is unavailable here? And Goin’ Down the Road?
Crave boasts that it is “proudly Canadian,” then advertises for Love Island USA. Perhaps now that we have lost the right to watch Hockey Night in Canada on our national network, the CBC can counter by showing these 100 gems on Saturday nights.
Kevin Tibbles Les Éboulements, Que.
Caption this
Re “Hockey-loving diplomat Gary J. Smith helped organize historic 1972 Summit Series” (Obituary, June 27): The main photo caption describes Gary J. Smith making a presentation to Soviet officials and seemingly showing a document to one of those officials sitting prominently to his left.
This caused some pause for my family, given that the person was my father Lou Lefaive, who was then director of Sport Canada.
We would like readers to know that dad was the most patriotic of Canadians and proud of the role he played in negotiating the 1972 Summit Series on behalf of his country. So are we.
Louise Meagher Ottawa
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