A person walks past shelves of bottles of alcohol on display at an outlet in Ottawa, on March 19, 2020.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
Money in the bank
Re “Trudeau unveils $6.28-billion in new spending on two-month GST break, stimulus cheques” (Nov. 22): It will be interesting to see the reaction of all those who decried Doug Ford’s plan in Ontario to give back $200 in the new year to Justin Trudeau’s plan to give out $250 cheques.
Will it be a case of what isn’t good for the goose?
Andrew Suboch Toronto
As a senior citizen whose income comes from pensions and investments, I have major concerns about the statement noting that “all Canadians who worked in 2023 and earned a net individual income of up to $150,000 will receive a cheque for $250.”
I do not have employment income and therefore would not qualify. Justin Trudeau has once again disqualified seniors on a pension, so I think he is completely out of touch with reality.
I do not purchase wine, prepared meals, toys, baby items and seldom go out for dinner. Mr. Trudeau needs a reality check on the items that we are putting in our grocery basket, and not the items to be exempted from GST.
Jane Roberts Parksville, B.C.
The Liberals have announced that they are not only suspending the GST on some items, but also the HST on those items in some provinces. This seems to be a disproportionate benefit to residents of the five provinces with HST.
Who pays for this benefit? Are the feds simply deciding that those provincial governments will be without this tax revenue? That would be unfair to them.
Or, as I suspect, are the feds giving those provinces the money they would have collected? If so, all Canadians are paying for the break given to those five provinces, which is extremely unfair.
Not only do the other provinces and territories not receive this benefit, they may also be helping pay for those that do.
Rob McCullough Edmonton
Instead of a pause in the GST, why don’t we have a graduated GST? A good old luxury tax.
Maserati cars, Brioni suits, Ritz-Carlton hotel stays and Gucci handbags should have a 23-per-cent levy. Basics, lower- and mid-level goods and services and things such as children’s clothes or energy should be taxed at 5 per cent, or maybe lower depending on the snack bracket.
Nigel Smith Toronto
In effect
Re “The ICC arrest warrant will hang over Netanyahu for the rest of his life” (Nov. 22): Judging by the reaction to the International Criminal Court’s 2009 and 2010 warrants to arrest former Sudanese president Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir, Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant need not worry about the International Criminal Court warrants over accusations of war crimes.
During the Sudanese civil war, Mr. al-Bashir oversaw the deaths of as many as 400,000 people and displacement of an estimated 2.5 million people in Darfur. After his 2010 indictment, the Non-Aligned Movement with 120 member states, the Arab League with 22 member states and the African Union with 55 member states all opposed the warrants against Mr. al-Bashir.
Israel’s leaders should have plenty of countries to which they can travel without fear of arrest.
Philip Berger OC, Toronto
At the centre
Re “At the Calgary Petroleum Club, a stage play reflects tension, polarization about Canada’s energy transition” (Report on Business, Nov. 18): In the 2019 America in One Room study, 526 U.S. voters participated in four days of moderated group discussions of polarizing issues such as health care and immigration.
Discussions were evidence-based, using a bipartisan 55-page briefing book, and direct. Like this stage play, personal interaction aimed to minimize the “polarization … often amplified by social media.”
Opinions moved to the centre on 22 of 26 polarized issues (19 statistically significant); Democrats and Republicans increased positive feelings toward each other by 13 to 14 per cent; those acknowledging valid reasons for opposing views increased from 34 per cent to 54 per cent.
The expense and effort of America in One Room makes large-scale implementation unlikely, but “documentary theatre” that entertainingly distills opposing opinions and demonstrates respectful, evidence-based discussion may “nudge us toward more intelligent conversation.”
Chester Fedoruk Toronto
Women’s rights
Re “Abortion is the last refuge of the Liberals” (Editorial, Nov. 21): There is no court ruling or legislation stating that abortion is a fundamental right for women, and doctors can refuse to provide abortions. If eight out of 10 Canadians polled support women’s right to choose whether or not to have an abortion, then politicians should enshrine such in legislation.
What we have in Canada is a material void in women’s rights because of a lack of political will to tackle abortion. If Canada’s avoidance approach is a blessing, then it is well disguised.
Ward Jones Richmond Hill, Ont.
I worked for many years in women’s reproductive health, including abortion services.
As opposed to creating divisions, Justin Trudeau has voiced the concerns that women I speak to are discussing privately. The rolling back of women’s rights in the United States has been disturbing to watch, to put it mildly.
I personally do not trust that Pierre Poilievre’s penchant for embracing and courting the right, as well as his disregard for the work of public health, will not threaten women’s rights. There are many issues where Mr. Poilievre avoids making definitive statements about protecting human rights and issues of social justice, other than denouncing “woke” culture.
Organizations that support women’s health tend to be not-for-profit and publicly funded. Mr. Poilievre is running on a campaign platform of cutting public organizations.
I fear there are no guarantees that cuts will not affect women’s reproductive health.
Margaret Shaw Toronto
Time-out
Re “Cities hurt kids when they ban play in the street” (Editorial, Nov. 18): Our tiny starter home in east end Toronto only had street parking. When we moved in, I was puzzled by the mysterious circular, rusty marks in the body of a neighbour’s van parked on our street.
I soon understood exactly what they were when the neighbours’ kids started using my brand new car as a back stop for their street hockey. After several resounding cracks on my car’s doors, I was outside screaming at the boys and brandishing the broom I’d been using inside.
After several such episodes and heated discussions with their parents, I gave up and moved my car out of danger three blocks away. But those boys continued to favour our quiet street. To them, I was just a noisy witch who happened to live on their street.
Street hockey is not a fond memory for everyone.
Claudette Claereboudt Regina
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