Chris Young/The Canadian Press
Don’t count on platforms
Re “How to address ‘awful but lawful’ speech” (July 31): The discrepancy between a social media platform’s stated policy and its actual practice is easy to spot.
During the last year I have reported dozens of posts that disseminate false information, dehumanize people and incite violence. The words and memes were vile hate speech of which Goebbels would have been proud. Indeed, some of them were recycled Nazi propaganda, circulating freely on the socials.
In all but one instance, the platform declared that the hate speech “met community standards.” Their own standards apparently have no status.
Elaine Bander Montreal
Pro prenup
Re “The prenup paradox” (July 30): Canada already has a default legal framework that governs separation. Division of property, spousal support and custody are all outlined in provincial and federal law. In effect, every married couple already has a built‑in prenup, whether they sign anything or not.
So I’m puzzled by the premise that prenups are an unusual safeguard. Aren’t they simply an alternative to the existing contract the law already provides? However, it is worth noting that legal protections differ sharply when it comes to co‑habitation, rather than marriage.
Debra Dolan Vancouver
The best way to counteract the feeling that prenups are unromantic and pessimistic is with a countervailing superstition that it tempts fate to marry without one.
I acknowledge the word itself is unattractive, though, and has picked up some unpleasant associations. Perhaps, especially given prenups’ increasing role in protecting parental property, it’s time to bring back the satisfyingly Bridgerton-y term “marriage settlement”?
David Arthur Cambridge, Ont.
Nickel for your thoughts
Re “Ottawa approves construction of massive Canada Nickel mine” (July 31): Does this investment make any sense? It is a low grade (albeit large) nickel deposit near Timmins. Nickel is not in short supply. Indonesia has been dumping nickel for years and the take up on electric cars (and the lithium nickel batteries they require) has not taken place.
The stock has been a dud. The cap ex is enormous. So why Canada Nickel and not any number of other better mines or better projects with better outcomes? I wonder whether it has to do with the manpower and jobs needed to create this mine, which may be just a giant earth-moving exercise.
Bureaucrats should not be in the business of choosing which mine (or indeed any project) has merit over another. The government should be in the business of creating the environment for free enterprise to build projects and not in the business of which ones get the nod.
Derek Jansen Toronto
Change can be good
Re “What will Alberta achieve with self-referring diagnostic tests?” (July 31): I agree that the Alberta Premier is introducing a private public system by stealth. It is acceptable to argue that this isn’t the best way to proceed, but ignoring the problems of our failing public-only system is also wrong.
Every time the argument is made for some form of public-private model – apparently effective in other countries – we are told that it would never work in Canada and we should be thankful for what we have.
Arguing we have the best health care system in the world is disingenuous at best, however. Change by stealth isn’t ideal, but it may initiate the conversation we seem to be unwilling to even begin.
David Harper Burlington, Ont.
Mr. Brightside
Re “In these times of uncertainty, there is bright side aplenty for businesses” (July 31): This article notes the synergies between the federal government and the provinces in supporting pipeline expansions and the development of liquefied natural gas infrastructure for export. However, there’s no reference about where the world energy markets will be in 2031, a realistic (optimistic?) completion date for these infrastructure developments.
Why mention 2031? Because the International Energy Agency expects that by then nearly half of global electricity demand will be supplied from renewable energy (solar and wind). Utility-scale storage, measured in gigawatts, will smooth out the intermittent nature of our wind and solar resources.
These renewable resources also need to have a place in the “longer-term, strategic mindset” of our infrastructure planners. “Bright side aplenty” indeed!
Chris Gates Cobourg, Ont
That’s enough
Re “Unfair taxes” (Letters, July 31): A recent letter-writer supports a capital gains tax on the sale of one’s primary residence. But homeowners, over decades, already pay property taxes to support their community infrastructure, as well as personal services such as snow removal and garbage pickup. Home tax dollars also go to support parks, recreation, libraries and policing.
To support the home, several thousands of dollars are often paid out annually to service people, who in turn pay their own income tax. All of these home expenses are paid with after-tax dollars.
If one tallied up all these costs over 40 years, I think it would more than surpass the capital gain on the sale of the home. So, no, homeowners should not pay capital gains on the sale of their primary residence.
Ken Stock Port Hope, Ont.
For the record
Re “Former Conservative cabinet minister enters Toronto’s mayoral race” (July 30): Chris Alexander describes the 2015 proposal to establish a “barbaric cultural practices” tip line when he was the Conservative government’s federal immigration minister as a “mistake.”
A far more serious mistake was his defence of the federal government’s 2012 drastic cuts to health care for refugee claimants. In 2014, the Ontario Ministry of Health stepped in to provide health coverage for claimants. Alexander pronounced this would “force Ontario taxpayers and their families to line up for care behind failed asylum seekers.” That never happened.
Given that more than half of Toronto residents, including refugees, have been born outside of Canada, I doubt that he would be welcome as mayor.
Philip Berger Toronto
Penalty kicks
Re “FIFA’s Infantino sets deadline for members to accept Kushner-backed World Cup investor plan” (Sports, July 30): I see Gianni Infantino must have discussed more than just red-card reversals in his chats with President Donald Trump.
Too bad Infantino didn’t take Trump’s marketing advice. The President does have a flair for naming things, and I am sure Trump was pushing for this investment opportunity to coincide with renaming soccer “the Big Beautiful Game.” (It’s a “can’t miss” opportunity!) Sounds like a big beautiful tax bill.
Patrick Stewart Toronto
The UEFA Europa League has decided to boycott FIFA should it proceed with plans to bring private investors into a consortium overseen by a member of the Trump clan. While not a participant in the prediction markets, I would consider slapping down a sawbuck on new tariffs being placed on the European Union.
Peter James Vancouver
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