Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland delivers remarks during Canada Day celebrations at LeBreton Flats in Ottawa, on July 1. Freeland says the 'vast, vast majority' of Liberal MPs continue to support their leader.Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press
Liberal lead
Re “Freeland says ‘vast, vast majority’ of Liberal caucus supports Trudeau in wake of Toronto by-election loss” (July 5): Even if Chrystia Freeland is correct, I find her assessment moot.
Has she forgotten that parties don’t attain, or retain, power through their members? In democracies, it’s the people that matter.
If the Liberal Party were listening, they would know that most people don’t want to hear about track record, as impressive as it may be. They want a vision of the future, one in which they are better off.
They are looking for a leader who can take them there. To me, the current one isn’t it.
Mark Spurr Toronto
Canadians want change? I do, too. But change from what to what? We, as a society, seem so used to having wants met instantaneously.
I am a retired widow with a small pension, still living on my own with family and friends close by. I shop and eat well. I have an insured medical plan, including dental work and home care. I live in a democratic country free from war, which gives me protection and justice if needed.
Most people are employed. We have excellent educational facilities and social programs, along with improved living standards for seniors.
Our Liberal government, although not perfect, comes as close to what this citizen needs as anyone can get. I find them open and generous with their policies.
Our Prime Minister does not seem like one to demean himself by denigrating others to better his own case. I think I’ll stick with Justin Trudeau.
G. A. Teske Sherwood Park, Alta.
Step by step
Re “How arbitration plans went awry ahead of WestJet mechanics strike” (Report on Business, July 3): There is no mention of mediation, also known as alternate dispute resolution.
Mediation at WestJet should have started weeks ago, with the parties only going to arbitration if it failed. A strike is a last resort and unpleasant for everyone.
Margaret Hutchison, Mediator Clearview, Ont.
Other options
Re “Can pod hotels solve Vancouver’s office space surplus?” (Report on Business, July 2): What a wonderful opportunity to both reward landlords as well as give aid and succour to those made homeless by soaring rent costs. Why not instead turn empty office buildings into pod-shelters for the homeless?
As noted, such facilities already have shared washrooms and kitchens plus controlled access. These features, coupled with modular pod-capsules, could quickly provide clean, safe spaces from which Vancouver’s homeless population could relaunch into society.
If the city pays rent and contracts with non-profit organizations to provide staff, it would be win-win for everyone.
Alan Ball New Westminster, B.C.
Colour me intrigued
Re “Different schools of thought on why Canada drapes itself with red and white” (June 29): Flag designer George Stanley took inspiration from the flag of the Royal Military College of Canada and submitted his design to the parliamentary flag committee.
John Matheson, then MP for Leeds, championed the design on the committee, and it was adopted as our nation’s flag in 1965. There is even a plaque commemorating this on the parade square at RMC.
The red-and-white design of the RMC flag was itself inspired by the red-and-white stripes of the Canada General Service Medal.
Robert Teuma-Castelletti Kingston
Canada’s colours are red and white for obvious reasons: White for snow, and red for the colour one sees when the driveway is plowed in after shovelling for hours.
Dianne Skoll Ottawa
Meet the letter-writers
Throughout the late spring and summer, The Globe will feature personal insights and missives from some of our most frequent contributors every Sunday in Letters to the Editor. Survey responses were collected as a part of the research behind A Nation’s Paper: The Globe and Mail in the Life of Canada, a collection of history essays from Globe writers past and present, coming this fall from Signal/McClelland & Stewart.
(The following responses were received by The Globe after a call for submissions in May, 2023.)
I save all my letters in a file folder. The oldest Globe letter I can find is from Oct. 24, 2005, about the benefits of harm reduction.
I also write letters to the Delta Optimist, Vancouver Sun, New York Times and Guardian. I write letters to The Globe because you are the Canadian paper I read most regularly.
I like the Letters section because it gives me an idea of what issues people find important. Politicians should pay attention.
I’m a pretty good writer, and I have figured out the sweet spot for length so I don’t get edited.
Jane McCall Delta, B.C.
I write letters to The Globe to point out hypocrisy, irony or bias. My interests are varied, including the Middle East. The Globe often avoids those letters, but I feel better after writing them.
When others write on a key topic, there are probably 100 similar ones that get received. Often, I have written a similar one.
I wrote a few letters that my wife and I thought were very good and should have been published. Then lo and behold, later, there is an editorial or op ed which exactly mirrors my unpublished letter.
Either I twigged a new thought, or my letter was not chosen because something similar was about to be published.
Irv Salit Toronto
My first job was delivering The Globe for seven years.
One of the unpublished letters I wrote to you was about your 1985 book Shocked and Appalled: A Century of Letters to The Globe and Mail. I requested that you come out with a second edition.
There were several things I enjoyed about it. First was the change from lengthy, essay-type letters, similar to modern opinion pieces but with more rambling and tangential comments. I also found the information about former senator Eugene Forsey interesting, as is the fact he has the record for most letters published.
Finally, there was a beautiful description of how the editor felt when a letter arrived from Austin Small. Austin was my godfather, so I got to meet him several times. His comments were often in verse, always pertinent and pithy.
The Letters column is a must-read. I’m pleased you’ve added a Sunday edition online.
Hugh Molesworth Orangeville, Ont.
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