Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens to a reporter's question during a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Oct. 14.Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
Lesser state
Re “First China, now India: an increasingly multipolar world is teaching Canada unpleasant truths” (Oct. 15): I believe Canada’s dire situation is because of an “own goal.”
At the end of the Second World War, we had the world’s fourth largest navy, been an equal partner with our allies in the liberation of Europe and distinguished ourselves in the Korean War. Our diplomacy following the Suez Crisis of 1956 led to Lester Pearson’s Nobel Peace Prize.
Successive governments are responsible for the current situation, where we can be bullied with impunity.
Louis Cabri Ottawa
I see
Re “Blame the four fatal ‘I’s of Justin Trudeau for the lacklustre state of the Liberals” (Opinion, Oct. 12): Contributor Jeffrey Simpson writes that it’s largely unfair to blame the Trudeau government for rising interest rates, pointing the finger instead at the Bank of Canada. But the bank didn’t raise interest rates on a whim: It did so in direct response to inflationary pressures, which I find were created by Liberal government policy.
Under Justin Trudeau, public spending has exploded and his government’s quantitative easing during COVID-19 flooded the economy with money – driving inflation through the roof. The bank had no choice but to raise rates in response.
To suggest the government isn’t responsible would ignore the link between reckless fiscal policy and the inflationary crisis we’re now facing.
Scott McLaren Innisfil, Ont.
Canadians are ready for change, and the Conservatives are the default beneficiaries.
We mostly don’t love Pierre Poilievre. He is just not the incumbent. I believe that’s the only reason he will be our next prime minister. It seems no amount of ink spilled or money spent can change that eventuality.
I say to progressives: Don’t despair. In about seven or eight years, we’ll likely have a Liberal government again. That feels as certain as death and taxes.
Wash, rinse, repeat. How trite.
Paul Terech Clarington, Ont.
Active recovery
Re “We need to consider involuntary treatment for young people battling drug addiction” (Oct. 14): Contributors Tom Warshawski and Grant Charles suggest we consider involuntarily hospitalizing minors with life-threatening substance use to create a pause in this dangerous pattern. They assert that the mind can stabilize, enabling the person a greater ability to make better decisions regarding treatment. That may occur.
The challenge comes afterward, with no guarantee of an immediate treatment opening designed to support continued recovery. We should have seamless transfers between short-term crisis stays and outpatient or residential treatment to solidify gains made during crisis treatment.
Without such seamless transfers, gains made may be wasted and money spent on such treatment thrown away. I have seen this occur, and the results are heart-wrenching.
We should ensure that youth who want additional treatment after a crisis admission receive it immediately, when motivation is high and the determination to rebuild their lives is strong.
Ellen Katz Associate professor emerita, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto
People, including professionals, working with children are required by law to report child abuse to authorities. Children’s aid societies will remove children from unsafe homes, even against the wishes of the child or their parents. Why then would we not remove children from harmful and life-threatening environments where they are engaged in drug use?
Early intervention is key. Let’s help these children, and their families, by giving them treatment to live happy, healthy, meaningful and productive lives.
While treatment is costly, so too is medical intervention, policing and possible incarceration that may be required if these children become lifelong addicts.
Jan Vanderwal Toronto
Hard truth
Re “Five tips for helping a struggling child in school” (Oct. 14): After more than 40 years working with struggling learners and their parents, it is time for me to tell it like it is.
1. Talk to the teacher. This is the first line of defence. Not enough parents do this.
2. Escalate concerns. Ask for a school-based team meeting, but be aware that suggested resources may not be available.
3. Educational psychological assessments are expensive, difficult to understand and impossible to put into practice.
4. Develop an individual education plan, but don’t expect recommendations to be automatically implemented. Not going to happen. Imagine a class of 30 kids, where five of them need individual attention.
5. Tutoring, which many parents see as a first option, may not meet a child’s learning needs.
There is a woeful lack of support for parents. That is why I am still working.
At 78, I would like to retire. But parents keep asking for help. What can I do?
Patricia Porter PhD; Leading to Learning West Vancouver
Whose AI?
Re “With AI, grasp the future… while we can” (Editorial, Oct. 14): Intelligence is one thing, motivation is another. Though artificial intelligence may know all things, be able to do all things and be the most powerful tool, it lacks desire.
I see no possibility that AI alone could ever be “overthrowing humanity.” Why would it bother to do that, or any other thing? Like any tool, it must be wielded by someone wanting to do something.
The changes wrought by humans using it will be immense and unpredictable, no doubt, and one evil genius could dominate the world. But without the will, knowledge alone is sterile and useless.
It even takes humans to find its conclusions interesting.
Tom Fotheringham Ottawa
First things first
Re “The lesson I learned in saving my wife’s life” (Oct. 11): Taking a first aid course, I was told that if a person abruptly left any eating situation, I should clearly establish their condition.
Food stuck in the throat often makes one self-conscious and leave to avoid embarrassment. The instruction was simply to ask: “Are you all right?”
A gesture, grunt or “uh-huh” is not sufficient response, as a person may still be able to do those in the initial stages of choking. A clear verbal response is required, or one should then follow the other person – as columnist Gary Mason did – to check on their condition.
In two accident situations, my first aid training helped me to react and assist immediately while others stood by, helpless. As Mr. Mason notes, knowing first aid is an “incredibly valuable skill.” Everyone should take a course.
Anne Barnfield London, Ont.
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