U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., on Jan. 3.Alex Brandon/The Associated Press
Water, not oil
Re “The Trump Doctrine is aimed at Canada” (Report on Business, Jan. 9): Duelling columnists – I like it. Last Thursday, Lawrence Martin and Konrad Yakabuski were of the opinion that Canada is not in Mr. Trump’s sights at the moment. On Friday, Tony Keller asserted that “in this reality no country is more at risk than Canada.” I agree with Mr. Keller.
When the Trump administration realizes that the water crisis in the American West has become critical, their gaze will shift northward to what they think is Canada’s limitless supply of fresh water. It wouldn’t be for the first time. In the 1950s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hatched a scheme to divert Canadian water south – the North American Water and Power Alliance. It’s only a matter of time before this scheme, or something like it, is revived, with annexation as a necessary prerequisite.
James Duthie Nanaimo, B.C.
No, it’s about oil
Re “The demise of Venezuelan exceptionalism” (Jan. 10): Venezuela is a cautionary tale for Canada and many provinces. They’ve invested heavily in fossil fuel development to the detriment of other sectors and our own democracy – felt acutely when fossil fuel lobbyists are prioritized over Indigenous and civil society representatives.
And now they are upping the ante with plans to pour billions more into infrastructure – and dodgy technology such as carbon capture and storage – to prop up an industry that’s picking a fight against cheaper energy from renewables, the world’s fastest-growing power source.
What are we doing? Are we too invested in the “hewer of wood” narrative about ourselves to see the danger ahead? When are we finally going to have the courage to think of ourselves in another way – as innovators and creators – and skate to where the puck on the global rink is heading?
Cheryl McNamara Toronto
Inherent vice
Re “Don’t bet on it” (Letters, Jan. 13): A letter writer states that “capturing Maduro,” a form of prediction betting, should be a non-starter. I couldn’t agree more. However, isn’t that like banning tequila so an alcoholic who prefers tequila will stop drinking.
Steven Howard Brown Toronto
Stuffing and churning
Re “Seniors’ group CEO criticizes Big Five banks for ‘predatory’ practices” (Report on Business, Jan. 12): Once again, I see in your pages complaints arising from the inappropriate behaviour of some bank-employed financial advisers with regards to selling bank-sponsored investment products to seniors. In the investment industry this process is known as “stuffing.”
The Canadian banks were instituted through charters giving them the privilege as quasi-utilities to provide banking services to Canadians. The government should take steps to restrain them from participating in the risky investment business before we face the necessity of having to promulgate something as drastic as America’s Glass Steagall Act of 1933, which prohibits banks from participating in both retail and investment banking.
Forty years ago, stuffing and churning were limited to the small client base of the brokerage industry. Today they are rampant because the much larger client base of the banks is exposed to the processes. The banks were not involved in the brokerage business 40 years ago. Take them out of that business and the problem will be substantially diminished.
Alex C. Doulis Toronto
The party guest that never leaves
Re “Why Canada should make a bid to host the United Nations headquarters” (Opinion, Jan. 12): Hosting the UN headquarters would be an unmitigated disaster for the host city – and country. It would be like hosting a permanent Olympics, without any compensating revenue. As diplomats pay no local taxes, none of the additional costs to the host city would be offset.
Security costs would be massive. Diplomats’ demand for housing would raise home prices and rental costs for locals. The costs of hotels and restaurant meals would skyrocket. Traffic congestion due to dignitary travel would forever gridlock local travellers.
Face it, providing a permanent home for the UN would be a curse.
Ron Freedman Toronto
Contributors Mark Raymond and David Welch provide good arguments for moving UN headquarters to Canada, but it would be a mistake to place the emphasis solely on U.S. President Donald Trump.
My father, Ervin Ross (Spike) Marlin was involved in the postwar establishment of the Provisional International Civil Aviation Association and was among those recommending Montreal as the location. He was a deeply patriotic U.S. citizen who saw the U.S. as a contributor to world harmony and peace. His reason for recommending Montreal was that what later became the ICAO would be more credible and effective if it appeared less subservient to U.S. interests. The fact of spoken French made the city especially hospitable to a sizable non-anglophone world.
Randal Marlin Ottawa
Above the law?
Re “Top court to revisit Trudeau’s WE Charity scandal in pivotal case for administrative law” (Jan. 12): The machinations in Ottawa always seem to be intriguing. How can situations where there is obvious conflict of interest still be within the law? When “the law stipulates that orders and decisions made by the commissioner in most cases are final and shall not be questioned or reviewed in any court”? Does this not put the federal Ethics Commissioner above the law? Oh well, there’s always the smell test.
Leslie Martel Mississauga
Sticker shock
Re “Proposed increase to electricity rate may reveal real cost of Ontario’s nuclear ambitions” (Report on Business, Jan. 13): It is stunning to read of the major electricity cost increases we are facing, driven by nuclear power spending in Ontario.
It is even more stunning to read York University professor Mark Winfield saying that another option is to reconsider the province’s electricity plans to focus on lower-cost options.
Low-cost options should not just be considered, they should be mandated. I suspect the trouble with this approach is that it involves wind and solar energy, which the current government has seen fit to ignore. Evidence from countries around the world shows that, coupled with battery storage, wind and solar can be reliable and are the cheapest options. Let’s get dog-whistle politics out of electricity generation.
Dave Carson Hamilton
The snail’s pace of the 21st century
Re “Construction on high-speed rail linking Toronto and Quebec City to begin by 2032, CEO says” (Jan. 13): I am delighted to know that Canada may finally be starting construction of a high-speed rail network. I am perplexed, however, to find that the first portion between Ottawa and Montreal won’t be finished till 2037. In the late 19th century, the entire CPR was built in 4½ years.
Kenneth Oppel Toronto
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