BC Conservative Leader John Rustad gives a thumbs up after addressing supporters on election night in Vancouver, on Oct. 19.ETHAN CAIRNS/The Canadian Press
Now what?
Re “B.C. voters sharply divided, facing long path to determine who will form government” (Oct. 21): Although some have suggested that the B.C. election result should be viewed as a breakthrough by a new party that was, until recently, a minor and fringe party, that seems to me far from the truth.
I find nothing “new” about John Rustad or his party. He is a former BC Liberal who was thrown out of that party because of what members regarded as his “extreme” views.
The BC Conservatives are backed and supported by the same interests and power blocs that supported BC United, the BC Liberals before that and BC Social Credit. The only thing I saw different in this election is that the “moderate” faction evaporated, giving the same old gang yet another opportunity to “rebrand” themselves.
What we have is just another example of old wine in new bottles.
Paul Russell Victoria
Re “B.C. election produces another Big Bang political moment” (Oct. 21): After reading Gary Mason’s column, I now have to label myself a “climate denier.”
All these years, I felt like I was on board with family and friends in the root causes of the effects of rising global temperatures. To be in the B.C. Interior and watch firsthand the beginning of a major blaze from its infancy confirms the results of an atmosphere in trouble.
The part that puts me on the same page as John Rustad is the idea that taxing the working class into submission is not going to lower temperatures, but rather force people to make wrong choices just to feed their families. If, for instance, David Eby returned the provincial carbon tax to B.C. residents of all incomes, more people would be on board.
Shawn Hull Vancouver
Since the population of British Columbia voted roughly 50/50, why not have a coalition government between the BC Conservatives and NDP?
There should be some policies they both agree on for the benefit of British Columbians. It would also mean that the more extreme policies from both parties would not be acted upon.
Both parties should realize they are there to serve the interests of voters and not their own. The MLAs might even have to talk to those in the other party.
Am I naïve? Sadly, yes.
David Selley Toronto
Action required
Re “Trudeau appears to be wooing the public by undermining Poilievre. It’s unclear if it will work” (Oct. 18): Apparently our government has intelligence information that some MPs have colluded with foreign countries to damage and interfere with Canadian elections. I do not understand the actions of our Prime Minister in not identifying and taking legal action against those parliamentarians.
It does not make sense to make a political issue of this situation instead of taking firm action. If the intelligence service has evidence that these transgressions have taken place, then legal action should be taken.
If there is no evidence, then there should not be an issue to be raised.
Gary Lewis Owen Sound, Ont.
Buyout
Re “Ontario Legislature returns after extended summer break amid early election speculation” (Oct. 21): So now the Premier is trying to buy our votes with a $200 rebate? This would cost the province a cool $3.2-billion.
This when universities are underfunded and cutting programs, and the health care system is a shambles and near collapse. We have a Premier who seems to think only of roads, booze and voter buyouts when climate change, health care, housing and education are the real issues of the day.
I, for one, will be donating my $200 to my alma mater. I would urge others to do the same.
Carol Lynn Watson London, Ont.
Welcome mat
Re “Immigrants are this country’s best friend. Don’t forget it” (Oct. 16): I am both eased and affirmed by what columnist Gary Mason writes.
As a former political staffer at Queen’s Park on the immigrant and labour market file, we similarly cited sources that showed our workforce would spiral into some collapse without immigrants. We advocated that welcoming and empowering immigrants was the right, smart and necessary thing to do for our economic prosperity – or even survival.
As a South Korean immigrant kid who grew up in the 1970s, it is even more personal to see a high-profile journalist who, like my former cabinet minister, is a white male arguing that immigrants (including myself) “should neither be demonized nor used as convenient political scapegoats.”
That comes with great relief, due honour and hope. If only the mentioned political leader, and others south of the border, felt the same.
Rick Byun Toronto
Re “Clear majority of Canadians say there is too much immigration, new poll suggests” (Oct. 18): The high and increasing number of Canadians who believe immigration levels are too high may be partly due to confusion about what constitutes immigration.
I long considered immigration to describe the approximately 500,000 newcomers who intend to be permanent residents in Canada, selected through a relatively well-managed and transparent process that includes economic, family and humanitarian factors.
Recent and widely discussed concerns about housing and infrastructure have made many of us aware of another form of immigration: The astounding 2.6 million work and study permit holders and their families, a number that almost doubled over the past two years (tapering off under public outcry) and is managed by a process far less understood, and perhaps also less scrutinized.
Future surveys, analysis and discussion might benefit from distinguishing these two immigration streams.
Chester Fedoruk Toronto
Fall classic
Re “The thrill of seeing the Yankees be the Yankees again” (Sports, Oct. 21): I write to you as a Brooklyn-born baseball fan, who may be the only living person in the Greater Toronto Area to attend games at Ebbets Field.
I returned to Brooklyn in August, 1947, from my wartime exile in Derry, Northern Ireland. Jackie Robinson had arrived on the Brooklyn Dodgers a few months before.
The Dodgers then met the New York Yankees in the World Series that season. I was a Dodgers fan until Walter O’Malley’s treachery in moving the team to Los Angeles.
Now once again there will be a Dodgers-Yankees showdown. I shall push aside Mr. O’Malley and relive my youthful days rooting for them against their hated rivals.
Edward Gabis Toronto
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