Letters to the editor, May 27: ‘The Liberal government’s double standard with respect to Quebec and the West’

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SOS

Re “Global conference floats solutions to combat sharp drop in official development assistance” (May 20): When governments slash foreign aid, as Canada, Britain, the United States and others have done, they sometimes gather in shamefaced meetings to discuss “reform,” “bold new approaches,” improved “resilience,” more “trade” and, yet again, greater involvement of the private sector and charities.

In the face of growing poverty, disease, war and climate-related disasters to come, this conference underscored the moral, political and financial bankruptcy of the Western foreign aid endeavour.

This is sad, but not surprising to me, after decades of badly conceived, poorly implemented, inconsistent, inadequate, self-serving and, ultimately, ineffectual development assistance.

Ian Smillie Ottawa

West unrest

Re “Carney calls Alberta separation vote unhelpful, undemocratic” (May 26): Quebec has had two government-initiated referendums on separation and may soon have a third. Ottawa rightfully opposes Quebec separation, but it does not loudly proclaim these referenda to be “undemocratic.”

But when the Alberta government proposes a referendum – not on separation, but on whether to even allow a referendum on the subject – this is loudly denounced by the Prime Minister.

It is this hypocrisy – the Liberal government’s double standard with respect to Quebec and the West – that so infuriates many Albertans and drives the most exasperated into the separatist camp.

Preston Manning Calgary

Re “Majority of party members likely to back Alberta separation, UCP president says” (May 26): Polls show that the majority of Albertans are proud Canadians, but also believe Alberta gets a raw deal in confederation. Where does this contradiction come from?

It can’t be the standard of living in Alberta, where generally houses are cheaper and wages higher compared to, for example, British Columbia and Ontario. That it is an attractive place to live and work is confirmed by the large net immigration from the rest of Canada.

One is forced to conclude, then, that there is persistent propaganda, lies and disinformation heavily laced with U.S.-style libertarianism, originating with Alberta elites who want to play in a bigger sandbox. They have historically been Reform Party supporters, but now describe themselves as separatists.

These ambitions have transformed into movements, fuelled by oil companies that continue to benefit from cheap royalties, lax regulation, freedom to trample property rights and freedom from the consequences of “polluter pays” legislation.

Alan Ball New Westminster, B.C.

Danielle Smith contends she is respecting democracy by holding a referendum on whether Alberta should consider secession or remain within Canada. I find what she is actually doing is subverting democracy by holding an illegitimate referendum already rejected by a court, and one that she has no mandate to pursue.

Based on multiple polls, the secession question has limited popular support, its malcontent cadre primarily within the fringe right wing of the UCP. Ms. Smith seems to either hold secret secessionist views herself, or fear these malcontents so much that she will not stand up to the rabble.

Alberta should hold an election.

Frank Malone Aurora, Ont.

Back to school

Re “In a recruitment blitz, military colleges seek new ways to turn the class into the brass” (May 22): As an ex-cadet of Royal Military College, many of these changes being implemented feel long overdue.

It will be 50 years ago in August that I entered RMC as a new recruit. The college of that era was a hidebound institution with an austere, unforgiving environment and deeply entrenched traditions, many of which had long become obsolete.

Many good recruits fell by the wayside for reasons that could have been prevented, had the will to do so been there. This represented a tremendous loss of talent for the Canadian Armed Forces.

I have been mightily impressed by the current generation of cadets. They are a great group of young Canadians with tremendous potential to contribute to this country.

I hope CAF leadership will continue its efforts to bring RMC into the 21st century. The young men and women willing to meet the demands of military service deserve nothing less.

Mike Kennedy RMC No. 12570, Toronto

We are helpfully introduced to the forward-looking approach of the Canadian Military Colleges. Yet Canada has been here before.

In 1948, then-minister of national defence Brooke Claxton stated: “Today the need for good officers is obvious … war is not inevitable, but neither is peace certain, and until peace is certain, no self-respecting country, particularly with the position and the resources of Canada, can afford to ignore her defences.”

In this same rebuilding era, Royal Military College leaders Donald Agnew and William Reginald Sawyer also laid out what Canada needs: A military profession able to conceptualize and communicate, and a modern officer who is both technically and generally educated.

Can you feel the parallel between Canada’s national security mood then and the mood now as we head into an uncertain, complex future? Let’s support the CMCs so they can meet the challenges of the postmodern battlespace.

Pete Avis Kingston, Ont.

Economic penalty

Re “The World Cup is a party, not an economic windfall” (Editorial, May 22): Soccer has billions of fans worldwide, dwarfing more hyped sports in Canada such as hockey not just in fan base, but revenue potential. Canada has known for eight years the World Cup was coming here, yet up until recently I heard hardly a whisper.

I think all levels of government have missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to demonstrate to the world who we really are, especially in this economic and political climate. The World Cup was an opportunity for a windfall, but sadly, that has been missed.

Mark Spurr Toronto

Side by side

Re “I take walks in my local cemetery because it exudes life” (First Person, May 21): I, too, am a fan of Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

More than 40 years ago, my then-husband and I were searching for a burial place for my father-in-law. We were struggling graduate students; my father-in-law immigrated to Canada from war-torn Europe in his 50s, then went to work as a labourer on the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto.

At the time of his death, Mount Pleasant Cemetery had opened up burial spaces between monuments that one could purchase for not very much money if one were willing to restrict the marker to a small, flat plaque. We chose a plot adjacent to Mackenzie King’s coffin-size stone.

Astonishing, I thought at the time and still think, that we could walk in off the street and bury a loved one beside the country’s longest-serving prime minister. For me, this remains a profoundly democratic and Canadian moment.

Leah Bradshaw Thorold, Ont.

Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Keep letters to 150 words or fewer. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here: letters@globeandmail.com