Letters to the editor, July 30: ‘Justin Trudeau will likely lose the next election. I think he should follow Joe Biden’s honourable example of passing the torch to another capable leader’

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Cancellation penalty

Re “Israel vows to make Hezbollah pay after rocket kills 12 children” (July 29): As the Middle East seems to be hurtling toward a greater war, I’d like to remind readers about the lost peace engineered by Barack Obama and former U.S. secretary of state John Kerry.

After years of exhausting negotiation, wonderfully detailed in Trita Parsi’s 2017 book Losing an Enemy: Obama, Iran, and the Triumph of Diplomacy, Iran and the United States came to an agreement about the handling of Iran’s nuclear program. During those many years, the principal opponent was Benjamin Netanyahu, who did everything he could to thwart the deal, even travelling to address U.S. Congress behind Mr. Obama’s back.

Donald Trump cancelled the agreement, which was considered an opportunity to begin settling other outstanding issues between the two countries. An opportunity to talk.

Iran’s current aggressive stance, then, is a direct result of that cancellation, and Mr. Trump and Mr. Netanyahu are largely responsible for this crisis.

Robert Swain Kingston

Case made

Re “Pierre Poilievre makes his case for dismantling what the Trudeau government has built” (July 29): I agree with many of Justin Trudeau’s policies, although implementation has been less than satisfactory.

Under a Poilievre government, the thought of loosening environmental controls in light of all the floods and fires owing to climate change, and weakening protection for minorities, alarms me. Moreover Pierre Poilievre even plans to use the notwithstanding clause, which would make our Charter of Rights and Freedoms a mockery.

With an abysmal and probably irreversible poll rating, Mr. Trudeau will likely lose the next election. I think he should follow Joe Biden’s honourable example of passing the torch to another capable leader. This would preserve his legacy and save us from the extremist policies of a Poilievre government.

Mr. Trudeau should do it before it’s too late, and save his party and country.

Irene Fung Mississauga

Fireproof plans

Re “In wildfire’s wake, scope of devastation in Jasper starts to emerge” (July 29): Federal and local authorities seem complacent about forest management in Jasper, Alta. They shouldn’t be.

I attended a mountain pine beetle seminar in Jasper in 2017 with scientists and forest-health practitioners from across Canada. But I did not see anybody connected with Jasper National Park in attendance; many later made it to Jasper’s canoe event for Canada’s 150th birthday.

They skipped the one about how mountain pine beetle infestations leave all kinds of dead, dry wood just waiting to burn out of control, something other national parks, along with federal and local authorities, have dealt with aggressively along the leading edge of infestations.

Now they’re blaming the fires on climate change. But bad forest management is to blame, as some of us tried to warn years ago.

Stuart Taylor, RPF (retired) Hinton, Alta.

More recently, attention has shifted to means of minimizing the dangers of forest fires. To a lesser degree has been recognition that professional forest management can play an important role in such forests to reduce fuels and modify forest stand structure, thus minimizing community losses.

Canada has a body of licensed professional foresters who are knowledgeable in forest management, including the use of prescribed burning and selective harvesting. Unfortunately, the costs of such management are dimmed in the light of much larger costs from the impact of fires on communities such as Jasper.

Part of the problem lies in public perception – aided by certain groups opposed to harvesting trees, especially in designated parks – about the professional management of Canada’s forests.

It is time for governments to substantially fund and support the professional forest management necessary to minimize community losses from future forest fires.

Kenneth Armson, OC, RPF (retired) Toronto

We can no longer ignore the fact that climate change is a primary cause of events such as the Jasper fire, the recent torrential rainstorm in Toronto and other heat domes, droughts, floods and forest fires throughout Canada. These events cause massive disruptions to lives and livelihoods, can cripple power grids and other critical public infrastructure, and give rise to serious public-health risks.

In future elections, at all levels, voters should remember Jasper’s fire, Toronto’s rainstorm and all the other disastrous effects of our warming climate. Canadians should press candidates to explain how they will take credible measures to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, and help our country adapt to the effects of ever-rising temperatures.

Jeffrey Levitt Toronto

The tragedy in Jasper is the latest in a series of climate disasters, underscoring the urgency of addressing the climate emergency by rapidly reducing global emissions.

Climate change has increased temperatures and droughts in western North America, which combine to create “fire weather.” Even fires that are started by humans are likelier to burn out of control because of climate change. Last week, the Earth had some of the hottest days ever recorded.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a clarion call on extreme heat. He called for limiting global warming to 1.5 C, entailing a 30-per-cent reduction in the production and consumption of fossil fuels over the next six years, along with a tripling of renewable energy and an end to deforestation.

The challenge ahead is equally momentous and necessary. As Canadians, we should rise to the occasion.

For the world. For Jasper.

Saverio Colasanto Powell River, B.C.

Play on?

Re “Vanessa Gilles casts off the villain role in win-or-nothing soccer match for Canada” (July 29): Sorry to Vanessa Gilles, but I believe her team are cheaters.

They has benefited from a cheating coaching team. It is difficult for me to believe that all players were unaware. Hopefully, further investigation will prove that one way or another.

This behaviour is contrary to the ethos of the Olympics and that of good sportsmanship. This feels like a huge humiliation for Canada.

Any public funding should be withheld for at least four years. Should it be shown that any players knew their training had been altered because of information from videos in this year’s Olympics or the last Games in Tokyo, they should be dismissed.

Madeline Sharp Carrying Place, Ont.

I find that FIFA deducting six points, equivalent to two wins, is manifestly unfair and without precedent.

Censuring the Canadian coaches is reasonable to me, but six points is a punishment for the players, which is not in the spirit of the Olympics.

An appeal should overturn this penalty. What advantage is gained through drone-spying baffles me.

I would question the impartiality of the governing body.

Anoop Khanna Waterloo, Ont.

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