Government benches are seen from the Speaker's chair in the Chamber of the House of Commons in Ottawa.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
Distant hope
Re “Carney, European leaders discuss U.S.-led efforts to end Russia-Ukraine war” (Dec. 31): When Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk opines that “peace is on the horizon,” I’m reminded of the definition of “horizon” as an imaginary point that recedes as one advances. I very much hope I’m wrong.
Robert Ryan Waterloo, Ont.
Back on the Hill
Re “Democracy is not a dinner party” (Dec. 30) and “I know you are but what am I” (Letters, Jan. 2): Several letter-writers have already expressed disagreement with the contention that tough adversarial positions are part of democratic give and take.
The contributor might also reflect on Pierre Poilievre’s claim that his political ideas were fixed during his teenage years and have remained unchanged. I’d suggest that “teenage” also is unacceptably characteristic of his behaviour in Parliament.
In other words, democracy is not a frat party.
Kathryn Hamer Edwards Tantramar, N.B.
Re “A legislative calendar stuffed with holidays” (Editorial, Jan. 2): In Ottawa, Parliament spent only a handful of “sitting days,” from introduction to the first substantive vote, to pass the 2025 budget. How in the world could MPs read, understand, research and process a so-called budget that includes 600-plus pages and 75 legislative measures in such a short time?
Sir John A. Macdonald introduced the Senate, the chamber of “sober second thought,” to ensure Parliament’s thoughtful passage of bills. What happened to “sober first thought” in the House of Commons?
Sadly, both Conservative and Liberal governments have adopted this dubious practice.
Marty Cutler Toronto
Re “Good ideas all around” (Letters, Jan. 1): Well, hardly.
Our Constitution is not a mere administrative inconvenience. Not every 21st-century demand could have been foreseen when jurisdictions were set out in 1867. But we have them, and we have amending procedures to be followed.
Letter-writers seem to favour a unitary government. By 13 strokes of 13 co-operating pens, we can achieve harmony, they believe.
Taken to its logical conclusion, Victoria, Toronto, St. John’s and other provincial capitals would disappear, to be replaced by Ottawa in all matters. One writer somehow offers tiny unilingual Costa Rica as a model for the country with the second-largest land mass, two official languages and huge religious, cultural and attitudinal diversity.
Rather than overriding our Constitution, we should work to eliminate trade barriers, achieve uniformity in areas such as professional qualifications and address other unreasonable obstacles. That would be a reasonable path to greater efficiency; violating the Constitution would not.
John Edmond Ottawa
Back in the day
Re “Ottawa can’t give up on timely justice” (Editorial, Dec. 30): Today, it is incredible how long it takes for trials to conclude (or not).
A research project is currently taking me through Victoria’s Daily British Colonist newspaper from the early 1880s (when Andrew Onderdonk was building the Canadian Pacific Railway in British Columbia for the federal government). At the time, autopsies were frequently conducted the day after death, and trials were often completed within one month.
Frontier justice may not work today, but surely the system could be run much more efficiently. And, as a bonus, more cost-effectively. The elimination of incentives for delay would be a good start.
Roger Burrows Chilliwack, B.C.
Hurry up
Re “Canada’s frightening silence on AI” (Opinion, Jan. 1): It was heartening to read this alert to the dangers of unregulated artificial intelligence and the absolute necessity for government protection against its destructive capacities, which are clearly anticipated by AI experts.
Although the Carney government created an AI Ministry, its minister, by apparently focusing on AI as a source of economic growth rather than as a new technology to be productively managed, seems to be perilously wasting time, given how long it takes to get legislation in place versus how extraordinarily fast AI is evolving.
Alison Reid Toronto
Slippery slope
Re “Calgary residents asked to conserve water after rupture of water main” (Jan. 2): In 2025, the Economist’s Intelligence Unit downgraded Calgary from fifth place to 18th, the largest drop of any city in its Global Liveability Index due to health care issues (with thanks to Danielle Smith).
Now, after two catastrophic breaks over 18 months in the largest line supplying potable water to the city, how much further will Calgary fall due to infrastructure issues? Apparently there is more than $850-million in municipal and provincial funds available to help build a new arena and tear down the iconic Saddledome, but not enough money to fix a critical water pipeline properly.
Absolutely shameful governance by both levels of “government.”
Mike Priaro Calgary
Upper hand
Re “Canada must remember its defeat of the Americans in 1775” (Opinion, Dec. 31): I agree wholeheartedly with the message, but I have a quibble with one characterization: “All that stood between the 1,200 attackers and the conquest of Canada was a defence force of 1,800 British soldiers, sailors and artillery men, and French-Canadian and English militia.”
This seems to imply that our 1,800 defenders were an uncertain match for the 1,200 American attackers. I have heard it said that we Canadians have an inferiority complex, but I think this may be going too far.
Jim Davies London, Ont.
Must-watch
Re “Heated Rivalry charts course for Cancon” (Opinion, Dec. 31): I think the award for the “first great Canadian cultural product to emerge out of the decline of the Canada-U.S. relationship” has to go to another groundbreaking show released in 2025: North of North.
Like Heated Rivalry, this series was picked up by an American streaming service, charmed audiences on both sides of the border, has been green-lighted for a second season and is groundbreaking in many ways. The show was created, written and produced by Inuit filmmakers, features a mostly Indigenous cast and tells the stories of an Inuit community from an Inuit perspective.
It first aired in January, 2025, so I would argue it was our country’s first great cultural product of this difficult year, while Heated Rivalry was its last. As an avid supporter of Canadian culture, all I can say is what a great year and more of each, please.
Tamara Tarasoff La Pêche, Que.
Re “What Lorne Michaels and Graydon Carter can teach us about the American psyche” (Arts & Books, Jan. 3): I am reminded of a sentiment most often attributed to Martin Short, another Canadian who made it big in American media: When Americans watch TV, they’re watching TV. When Canadians watch TV, they’re watching American TV.
Nelson Smith Prince Edward County, 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