Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Oct. 29.Blair Gable/Reuters
Source material
Re “Top officials admit leaking details on India foreign interference with Washington Post that were not shared with Canadians” (Oct. 30): So let me get this straight.
The information surrounding India’s interference in Canada was top secret. So secret in fact that our Prime Minister insists that only those with the proper security clearance are entitled to view it. However it seems that exceptions are made if a paper, such as the Washington Post, is owned by one of the richest men on Earth.
What purpose was served by this? An ego stoked, a chance to be seen as a big player on the intelligence scene?
Congratulations to the Post. Perhaps we should be thankful that it, like The Globe and Mail, actually digs into important matters and gets the story out, so all of us can see what is really going on.
Stew Valcour Halifax
Come what may
Re “Justin Trudeau is spoiling for a fight, even if it means taking his party down with him” (Oct. 30): Justin Trudeau, like many CEOs and senior politicians, seems to possess the gene that has them believing they are “the one” to lead their organization or country to a better future. This is not necessarily bad; one could not sustain the effort required without it.
Also, it’s apparent to me that Mr. Trudeau holds strong antipathy toward Pierre Poilievre and vice-versa. However, I think there is a strong political calculation at play.
Senior Liberals and the Prime Minister likely believe the Conservatives have peaked too early, that their lead in polls cannot be sustained through scrutiny. Whatever significant events the next year brings, the “sloganeering light on actual policy” approach will likely not stand the test of time.
Maybe. But it’s a big maybe to bet on. And it requires the government to survive for a year.
John Madill Oshawa, Ont.
Priced out
Re “Poilievre’s ‘common-sense’ tax cuts won’t solve the housing crisis” (Report on Business, Oct. 30): A developer of a property has to pay GST on their inputs (lumber, shingles, architect and contractor fees).
A developer recovers these payments by netting them against the GST collected on selling the property. Only the net GST goes to the government.
So what do we think a developer will do when denied the ability to charge GST on the sale? Raise the base price, perhaps?
Just asking.
P. Diane Bond Kelowna, B.C.
Re “Statistics Canada survey shows homeowners’ net worth dwarfs that of renters” (Report on Business, Oct. 30): I think many factors are in play regarding young homeowners and net worth.
Young homeowners probably earn more than non-homeowners. They probably save more and, over the course of their lives, are likely to invest more. Some of them also have help from affluent parents along the way or benefit from inheritances.
Correlation doesn’t necessarily indicate causation. While homeownership has contributed to good financial outcomes, the 10-times wealth gap at younger ages or the 30-times wealth gap near retirement is most likely as a result of many factors, of which homeownership is but one.
John Harris Toronto
Money for …
Re “Ontario Premier Doug Ford announces $200 tax-free rebate cheques” (Oct. 30): Instead of viewing Ontario’s pending $200 rebate cheques as bribes or gimmicks, let’s be positive and consider them an opportunity to painlessly allocate funding to charitable causes of our choice.
In an ideal world, our tax dollars would amply support the arts, education and health care. But since all of these areas are underfunded, we can each do our small part to assist the worthwhile causes of our choice.
Perhaps, needless to say, recipients of the cheques who need the funds for food and other necessities should feel free to utilize the money for their own needs.
Dan Lyon Toronto
If the Premier is truly concerned about the high cost of living, perhaps he could direct his attention to the poorest and most vulnerable people in Ontario: those receiving his government’s Ontario Works cheques.
In 2018, the year he came to power, a single person receiving the maximum housing allowance received the princely sum of $8,796 to live on for a year. Six years later, after massive increases in housing and food costs, they still get the exact same amount.
It’s easy to picture the incredible stress and suffering this creates for people already facing many challenges. When we get alarmed about the growing numbers and increasing desperation of people on our streets and in public spaces, Ontario voters should keep in mind that a significant portion of this misery is a “made in Ontario” problem, courtesy of our Premier.
Tim Wainwright Toronto
Truth to power
Re “B.C. intellectual came of age during a turbulent era of protest” (Obituary, Oct. 26): Thank you for the wonderful obituary of Stan Persky, a true, happy warrior.
He was everywhere on campus when I was a fresh-faced student at the University of British Columbia in the late 1960s. He raised students’ consciousness and politicians’ blood pressure in equal measure every time he opened his mouth.
Glad to hear his was a happy ending.
Lindy Williams Ottawa
Down under
Re “Hell no, we won’t go: What do we lose when we stop believing in eternal damnation?” (Opinion, Oct. 26): Belief in hell has been used by some unscrupulous religious leaders as a doctrine of fear, to rule over believers with threats to “do as I say, or you will go to hell.” Young children who are impressionable may be damaged for life by such threats.
In certain versions of Christianity, belief in hell is partnered with belief in original sin, predicated on a self-fulfilling prophecy that we are, and remain for life, sinners from the minute we are born. Some early Christian theologians came up with these interpretations.
I believe instead that we are born good, but often learn to be bad and create our own hells right here on Earth.
Reiner Jaakson Oakville, Ont.
From what I’ve heard and read in recent times, avoiding hell means being overly conservative.
But I believe in science such as vaccine efficacy, that human-made climate change is for real and evolution makes sense. I’m not staunchly anti-abortion, I don’t hate the LGBTQ+ community.
That makes me a godless Liberal, and destined for hell if it’s real. At least I’d be with like-minded souls.
Doug Payne London, 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