A person walks on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Sept. 5.Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
Wean off
Re “EU faces existential crisis without urgent investment and reform, says former European Central Bank president” (Report on Business, Sept. 10): There is widespread recognition that China’s mercantilism is an enormous threat to Western economies. The conventional wisdom is that governments should respond with massive subsidies to business, which passes as industrial policy.
I believe that instead we should first systematically, albeit intelligently, reduce or eliminate Chinese imports. Second, governments should leave it to the private sector to decide what investments should be made to replace those imports, without subsidies, rather than gambling many billions of taxpayer dollars on risky ventures.
This would be a good tonic for businesses that have spent too much energy lobbying for government subsidies and would be obliged to refocus on producing useful products. It might even mean governments could lower taxes, thus enabling and encouraging more productive business investment.
Jim Paulin Ottawa
Better way
Re “Ottawa embraces Luddite thinking in forcing civil servants back to the office” (Report on Business, Sept. 9): I feel the government’s decision has to do with public perception that the civil service is not working hard or well enough and needs more oversight to improve productivity.
Since the Trudeau government came to office in 2015, the federal public service has reached more than 365,000 employees – a record – growing by more than 40 per cent. Despite all these extra workers, the ubiquitous messages of “we’re experiencing heavier than usual call volume” seem to continue at every department, and overall service levels are far from prepandemic levels.
It’s time to get back into the office, get some oversight going, boost productivity and service levels and regain taxpayer trust. And if there aren’t enough offices for everyone, perhaps we should look at layoffs – that’s what we do in the private sector when things get bloated.
Graham Farrell Toronto
Take care
Re “For some, institutional care is essential” (Opinion, Sept. 10): The allegations against Brendan Colin McBride have brought into focus how we treat those with mental illness.
Mental illness covers a broad swath of concerns, many that do not pose risks to the public. People with mental illness are more likely to be victims as opposed to perpetrators.
When deinstitutionalization was implemented in the 1970s, the plan included community support such as outpatient care, housing and social workers for those who were released. That did not happen.
What we now have is a system whereby many people go from hospital to arrest, courts, probation or jail and back around again. While we do not know this individual’s story, what I can say is that the system often fails those who need our support and the general public, who deserve safety.
Prevention is cheaper than incarceration and institutionalization. It is long overdue for governments to provide solid investment in psychiatric and psychological aftercare.
John Watters Ottawa
While hospital access can save lives and reduce suffering, research shows that access to evidence-based community care can dramatically reduce the need for hospitalization.
Data from Ontario show that assertive community treatment teams for people with complex mental-health problems can reduce hospital stays by 82 per cent.
In 2012, the Mental Health Commission of Canada recommended that provinces spend 9 per cent of health funding on evidence-based mental-health care. No province has reached this benchmark; most spend 5 per cent or less.
In 2004, then-senator Michael Kirby recommended funding 57,000 supportive housing units across Canada. We are still far from meeting this goal.
That said, there are some promising practices that can be scaled. Toronto’s community crisis teams divert people from police apprehensions and connect them to community care, avoiding hospitalization 80 per cent of the time.
We need to spread and scale access to community-based care.
Steve Lurie, CM; former chair, service systems advisory committee, Mental Health Commission of Canada Toronto
Build up
Re “We can’t build houses with buzzwords” (Opinion, Sept. 6): I don’t understand why the government doesn’t propose legislation encouraging more co-operative housing, with provincial boards keeping a watchful eye over maintenance, rents and pricing. There is a way forward.
However, governments would need to commit to action with a sensible financial plan that restricts the number and type of tenants (no free ride for those who can afford otherwise) and offers a reality check for some tenants who want larger spaces than their finances can handle.
There also has to be an adult in the room to negotiate between the wants and needs of both sides: Business will likely cry poor and never stop taking; the poor will likely never stop denying the nature of economics. The difference between the two, a precarious balance.
Blair Boudreau Toronto
Look on
Re “In this time of war, we cannot forget about Afghan women” (Opinion, Sept. 9): With the world’s attention elsewhere, we cannot forget about Afghan women.
I have volunteered to help an Afghan family that fled to Canada after the Taliban takeover in 2021. I learned more about not only the dangers they faced before fleeing but the continuing plight of primarily women and girls in their country.
Yes, this issue is complex, but I believe strongly that keeping it as front and centre as possible is one way to keep international attention focused on it, with the goal of (hopefully, some day) improving the situation for women and girls in Afghanistan.
Susan Scott Peterborough, Ont.
Food for thought
Re “Canada’s school food program is taking shape, slowly” (Opinion, Sept. 10): In Finland (and many other countries) all children, rich or poor, are guaranteed free school meals.
In visiting some of these schools, I have seen little kids filling their plates with salads and healthy meals. At that time I was trying hard, without much luck, to get rid of fries and gravy in some Ontario schools.
Fortunately, many principals and teachers today have persisted in making healthy meals and snacks a priority. It is still too easy for us to dismiss school food programs by suggesting it is the responsibility of parents to ensure their children come to school well fed and ready to learn.
Feeding kids certainly has long-term learning, student success, health and economic benefits. Let’s ensure that this worthwhile initiative does take shape and moves faster, for the benefit of our children, our future and our constantly maturing democracy.
Avis Glaze, international education adviser Delta, B.C.
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