A paramedic closes the doors of an ambulance at a hospital in Toronto on April 6, 2021.Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
To the rescue
Re “Inside Operation Abraham’s daring effort to save Afghans from the Taliban” (Oct. 26): How utterly harrowing for all the participants. True heroism all around.
It is sad, though, that this ever needed to happen. The Taliban has to go.
As well, our government still has to move faster to process the people still there, who are in danger every day.
Connie Reynolds Kelowna, B.C.
I know one of the families helped by Operation Abraham.
Yes, Canada’s immigration targets have been high the past few years. However, we have welcomed many people whose lives were in serious danger.
They are now safe, grateful and contributing to the Canadian economy.
Heather Lewis Ottawa
Up, then down
Re “With immigration cuts, Ottawa is rethinking its economic principles” (Report on Business, Oct. 26): My grandmother had 16 children; my mother had 4; I had none. Talk about demographic collapse.
In his 2019 book Empty Planet: The Shock of Global Population Decline, columnist John Ibbitson argued that the global population will peak and decline sooner than the United Nations predicted. It now appears that he is right.
Rapidly declining global population will reshape economies and geopolitics, and place enormous pressure on health care and social security. Despite the potential dangers, I take hope in the thought that it will slow climate change.
When I was not having children in the 1980s and 1990s, childlessness was stigmatized, as it still is today (see: “childless cat ladies”). But this, too, shall change.
As Mr. Ibbitson put it, “Once women obtain enough education and autonomy to decide for themselves how many children they will have, they invariably choose to have fewer, and nothing can change their minds” (”Fewer babies are being born around the world, and not only in the places you’d expect” – Oct. 17).
Lauralee Morris MD; Brampton, Ont.
Care package
Re “Use primary-care reform as the opportunity to inject more competition into Canada’s health care system” (Opinion, Oct. 26): Canada ought to spend more of its total health budget on primary care.
It currently sits at 5.3 per cent in comparison to the average of 8.1 per cent among other members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Jane Philpott’s proposed “home” model is adapted from the College of Family Physicians of Canada’s Patient Medical Home vision for the organization of primary care and family practice. It is widely accepted by governments, but fails expectations in its implementation.
Let us support Dr. Philpott’s proposal for accelerated evolution, and capitalize what we have learned from better performing countries. This includes support for team-based care, better integration between primary care and other parts of the health care system, organized after-hours care and, equally important, care close to home.
Francine Lemire CM, MD; past CEO, CFPC; Corner Brook, Nfld.
I believe the biggest hindrance to accessing health care in a timely fashion is limited manpower, be it doctors, nurses or nurse practitioners.
Many family doctors have no need to compete for patients. As long as their numbers are severely restricted, they are unlikely in need of doing so.
Meanwhile, family health teams using capitated payment schemes, which seem similar to doctor Jane Philpott’s suggested primary-care homes, have existed in Ontario since 2005. Yet the government has severely restricted the expansion of these teams, presumably for cost reasons.
Capitation payments for family physicians would not increase access to health care without increasing the numbers of family doctors.
David Barker MD (retired); Whitby, Ont.
Frankly, we have been presented with many excellent recommendations for health care reforms over the past 20 years or so. As a user of the system, I am numb to more solutions. We can blame all of our political parties for not responding to warning signs over the years of the crisis to come.
The question should really be: When will reforms take place? How can we as citizens make this happen?
Voting differently at the ballot box has not worked. Protest in the streets?
Karin Zabel Ottawa
Just watch
Re “Why the CBC’s new president could be its last” (Opinion, Oct. 26): Columnist Konrad Yakabuski is consistent in his opinion of the CBC despite the public broadcaster’s successes.
He could ask the 27 million Canadians who tuned in for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris what would be lost if the CBC did not exist. Or the 21 million Canadians who find the news – for free – on our digital sites each month, or who listen to the 95,000 hours of local news on radio and watch the 45,000 hours of Canadian shows on television, CBC Gem and ICI TOU.TV.
In this challenging time for all media, Catherine Tait has led with foresight, determination and resilience, guided by her commitment to public service and her profound belief in the critical importance of our public broadcaster to Canadians.
Michael Goldbloom Chair of the board of directors, CBC/Radio-Canada; Montreal
Heavy stuff
Re “Just do it: Why obligation shouldn’t be considered a dirty word” (Opinion, Oct. 26): I do not awaken in the morning and wonder if this will be the day I brush my teeth. I just do it. And I bring the same attitude to exercise.
One will be much better off if some things become habitual and are not relegated to one’s whims.
Paul Thiessen Vancouver
Contributor Linda Besner strikes deep at what it means to live in civil society and speaks to wisdom lost by many, as evidenced by Jan. 6 in the United States and the trucker protests in Canada.
As a boy in faith and later as a lawyer, I learned that rights have responsibilities. They, too, are obligations: to our family, neighbours, newcomers and country. But this notion must start from within oneself and one’s socialization.
In my faith and many others, the Sabbath is termed an obligation. It’s not. We fulfill it not just because we made a promise, but because it gives us hope in our future selves. It brings us joy to be in communion with others.
In a few words, Ms. Besner neatly demolishes Nietzschean nihilism (and, I would add, that of Ayn Rand). Obligation should not be viewed as a burden, if one looks at it right.
Sean Michael Kennedy Oakville, Ont.
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