Bulk carrier Ithaca Patience, right, and the crude oil tanker Nord Star, both from Panama, anchored on Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela on Wednesday.MARYORIN MENDEZ/AFP/Getty Images
Stuck in the middle
Re “Venezuela attack shakes Canada’s economy far beyond oil – it’s a reckoning for the ages" (Report on Business, Jan. 10): I’m a big fan of the energy transition, but even I must admit that it takes a heavy toll on the nerves.
Just consider recent events: the seizures of oil tankers by the U.S. Coast Guard; the U.S. assault on Venezuela and the arrest of Nicolás Maduro; Donald Trump’s diktat about where Venezuela will sell its oil and what it will do with the proceeds; the volley of threats over Greenland; the rise of China, driven by renewable energy. As diverse as these events might seem, they have one thing in common: A river of oil runs through every single one.
It all keeps me up at night. Investors are losing sleep, too: Canadian oil majors lost ground on the stock market following the Venezuela action.
In future generations, the phrase “may you live through an energy transition” may be flung down as a curse.
Andy Kubrin Calgary
Mark Carney is going to China to discuss trade matters and energy, particularly. Meanwhile the unleashed Donald Trump has no love for China, to put it mildly.
So picture this: oil tankers leaving British Columbia en route to China. Would U.S. naval ships show up to deter such action? Sadly, this is all too real a possibility.
Mr. Trump could also take the easy way out and cancel the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement in retaliation. At the very least, any negotiations could be based on demands to give the United States easy access to our water, energy, rare earth minerals and so on.
Can we expect an outburst of Americans standing up to challenge such attacks on their northern “friend?” Don’t count on it.
These are dangerous times. We effectively have given three old men – Mr. Trump, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping – the power to end the world. Are they three horsemen?
Peter Belliveau Moncton
SOS
Re “Edmonton doctors call on Alberta to declare state of emergency as hospitals overflow” (Jan. 8): Alberta’s growing wait times for surgery and emergency care are often described as unavoidable, yet I see them as the foreseeable result of decisions made by the United Conservative Party government. Repeated restructuring, funding restraint and conflict with health care professionals have weakened system capacity at the very moment it should be strengthened.
Operating rooms sit idle due to staffing shortages, patients wait months (sometimes years) for necessary procedures, and emergency departments are routinely overwhelmed. These delays should not be considered the failure of health care itself, but of a government choosing instability over sustained investment and collaboration.
The UCP has pointed to delays as justification for expanding private delivery. That approach treats symptoms while ignoring causes and risks entrenching inequity.
Albertans deserve timely care delivered within a stable, well-supported public system. Reducing wait times requires political will, trust in health workers and long-term planning – not constant upheaval.
Joann Limoges Edmonton
Don’t bet on it
Re “Someone made $430,000 betting U.S. would capture Maduro. This is wrong” (Report on Business, Jan. 7): I couldn’t agree more. Canada should ban betting tied to violence and unlawful acts of all kinds. However, such activities seem poised for further growth in the United States and perhaps here.
It is observed that commercial gambling is regulated through provincial “conduct and manage” models, and that securities legislation currently prohibits cash settlement arrangements needed to operate prediction platforms. This hasn’t prevented online sports betting in Canada, an activity seen as a precursor to prediction markets in the U.S. Leading sports betting operators FanDuel and DraftKings recently announced plans to launch their own prediction platforms there and could press for prediction markets here.
Such an outcome would increase problem gambling and related mental health issues and spur various conflicts of interest. To prevent this, we would need to address possible regulatory loopholes or, better yet, revisit federal delegation of authority to provincial frameworks.
Denis Gertler, former director, gaming compliance, Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario; Toronto
Culture war
Re “Canada should be prepared to give up the Online Streaming Act in U.S. trade talks” (Opinion, Jan. 8): It is suggested that the federal government’s abandonment of the Online Streaming Act is a fait accompli, necessary to preserve the domestic dairy industry in U.S. trade negotiations. We believe these musings, which pit Canadian industries against each other, are a dangerous game that plays into the hands of U.S. negotiators.
A strong domestic media production sector has never been more important. Television and movie production in Canada drives massive economic activity. But even more important than the billions of dollars in GDP and tens of thousands of jobs is the significance of an industry that produces and shares Canadian stories with our fellow citizens and global audiences.
We believe the Carney government understands that a strong domestic media sector is a powerful tool to promote Canadian values. We are confident the Prime Minister will stand up for the Online Streaming Act and Canadian cultural sovereignty at the negotiating table.
Reynolds Mastin, president and CEO, Canadian Media Producers Association; Toronto
Left to history
Re “FLQ bombmaker Pierre-Paul Geoffroy terrorized Quebec before the October Crisis” (Obituary, Jan. 6): This brought back some terrible memories from when I lived and worked in Montreal.
When I was in high school I was in the Army Reserve. My sergeant-major was Walter “Rocky” Leja. He was a wonderful man who was idolized by the troops.
I’m not sure how many bombs he defused, but one planted by the Front de libération du Québec in a Westmount mailbox blew up in his face. He became mentally and physically disabled for years before he died.
I believe Pierre-Paul Geoffroy and the rest of his FLQ friends should have been sent to jail and the key thrown away. I don’t believe he deserves even a one-line obituary in The Globe and Mail.
Patrick Callaghan Kawartha Lakes, Ont.
Family tree
Re “The Pitt’s Canadian showrunner R. Scott Gemmill on the perils of AI in the ER” (Jan. 6): It is mentioned that The Pitt creator R. Scott Gemmill got his start as a screenwriter after being hired by Toronto producer Ilana Frank. To her, the writing is key.
Ms. Frank has discovered and hired many other supremely talented Toronto writers, including Semi Chellas (Mad Men), Tassie Cameron (Rookie Blue, Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent) and Adam Pettle (Nurses). As well, she kick-started and supported the careers of countless directors, actors, producers and key creatives in post, including myself.
Mr. Gemmill is a very fine writer and showrunner. Along with his talent, he also had the very good luck to connect with Ms. Frank.
Jane Tattersall Toronto
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