Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland delivers remarks during Canada Day celebrations at LeBreton Flats in Ottawa on July 1.Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press
Rock on
Re “Party invite” (Letters, July 19): A letter-writer states, “If the Liberals hope to remain in power, they should find a rock star with brains.”
Chrystia Freeland is a rock star with brains.
Tom Cmajdalka Oakville, Ont.
Perhaps instead of looking for a “rock star with brains” to replace Justin Trudeau as leader, it would be best for the Liberals to develop compelling policies that address the many problems faced by our nation, and a way to convince the electorate that, if re-elected, they actually will implement them.
Michael Arkin Toronto
Chief of staff Katie Telford reportedly thinks that Chrystia Freeland is ineffective in selling the government’s economic policies. That this seems true is likely due to the message as well as the messenger.
I find the Liberal economic policies (of which Ms. Freeland is undoubtedly an author) indefensible, no matter who is doing the selling.
John Harris Toronto
On second thought
Re “The Trudeau Senate is not a better Senate” (Editorial, July 19): The Senate was supposed to be the voice of the provinces in Ottawa. So if undue partisanship in Senate appointments is a problem, let’s get back to basics.
Allow provincial governments to nominate a slate of candidates for Senate vacancies in their province, and the prime minister required to appoint from that slate. Overly partisan nominees would be rejected and provinces would get a real voice in Ottawa.
We would get a less partisan and more representative and effective Senate. And when there are future complaints, the prime minister can blame the provinces.
Steve Parish Ajax, Ont.
I suggest fast-tracking Mark Carney to cabinet.
In Canada, the Prime Minister can appoint senators based on advice, expertise and regional representation. Senators can then become cabinet ministers at the Prime Minister’s discretion, alongside elected MPs.
Ray Brow Three Rivers, PEI
Multiple choice
Re “Canada’s trade and industrial policy in the balance as it contemplates Chinese EV tariffs” (Report on Business, July 15): We cannot ban imports of Chinese electric vehicles with punitively high tariffs without punishing hard-working Canadians.
There may be more than 125,000 good-paying jobs in the automotive industry, but there are more than 26 million vehicle owners trying to maintain transportation options according to their needs. Lower- and middle-class Canadians, who can’t afford an average EV price of nearly $73,000, shouldn’t be forced into gasoline-only options. Is gas the fuel of the poor, electricity the energy of the rich?
We should not wave our arms in the air, like our American neighbours, and impose a blanket 100-per-cent tariff because doing the homework is too hard. Environmental and labour practice deficiencies are not black magic; they are well studied and cost-quantifiable. Canada should match those issues with proportionate tariffs.
Let China compete and allow Canadians to fairly buy whichever EVs we choose.
Michael Campbell Toronto
Non-attendance
Re “Trump recounts assassination attempt, calls for unity and attacks Democrats as he accepts GOP nomination” (July 19): Reading and watching coverage of the Republican convention, much is made of the unity of the party. I see it as a misleading veneer.
Not attending the convention to lend their support to Donald Trump were Mike Pence, George W. Bush, Jeb Bush, Dick Cheney, as well as most members of his first administration. It is not hard to show unity when all critics have been hounded out of the party.
Philip Unger Toronto
Case by case
Re “Despite lung cancer’s deadly toll, screenings remain inaccessible for many” (July 16): Appropriate use of screening has the potential for major benefit, but also for harm.
One important consideration is learning the characteristics of people whose lives are most likely to be improved or lengthened with screening, as reported in the 2021 article “Predicting Life Expectancy to Target Cancer Screening Using Electronic Health Record Clinical Data” from the Journal of Internal General Medicine.
For some, including those with multiple serious chronic diseases, early detection and treatment can cause unnecessary suffering or reduced life expectancy. Some, but not all, patients have the knowledge to ask about the chances, in their circumstance, to benefit or be harmed by screening.
David Zitner Senior health policy fellow, MacDonald Laurier Institute; retired professor and founding director, medical informatics, Dalhousie University; Halifax
Falling behind
Re “You can take workplace pensions off your list of things that are broken in Canada” (Report on Business, July 16): I retired more than 20 years ago. Inflation has rendered my pension pitiful, and with it my medical benefits.
Michael Feld Vancouver
Homegrown
Re “Mainframes, the back-end computers supporting everyday life, are facing a looming crisis” (Report on Business, July 17): Contributor Farhaz Thobani laments the lack of trained mainframe staff. How about his company and others train their staff in the needed skills?
It’s easy to point fingers at universities, colleges, etc. But why not invest in a company’s own people?
John Anderson Burlington, Ont.
Cold comfort
Re “Safekeeping” (Letters, July 18): A letter-writer suggests that wills might well be kept in a freezer for safekeeping. This brings to mind the putative wisdom of those like me who were writing PhD theses in London in the early 1970s.
Travel to Paris, Amsterdam and other delights was close at hand, cheap and popular. We all knew that our precious handwritten or typed drafts and notes were safest in our refrigerators when we travelled (freezers were available only in pubs).
“My flat burned down” was not an excuse for delay. Starting afresh was the only option.
The fridge was our friend in need.
Ian Newbould Toronto
Bullet point
Re “I write lists. Daily. Lots of them. I cannot help myself” (First Person, July 16): I feel vindicated after reading this extensive explanation of being a list-maker.
I too am a list-maker and have been all my life. I too am the subject of jest from family members.
One year, when my granddaughter whispered to me that her mom was giving me a big box of yellow stickies for Christmas, I said, “Great, I won’t have to buy them now.”
I never got the stickies.
Beth Barnes Mississauga, Ont.
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