Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre arrives on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Oct. 9.Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
Who knew what?
Re “PMO staff say nobody told them about CSIS request to surveil Liberal powerbroker in 2021″ (Oct. 16): Why is it that when the stinky stuff hits the fan for any of the many scandals that have plagued Justin Trudeau and his government, ministers, top advisers and spokespeople usually resort to an impersonation of Nathan Thurm, the lying, denying lawyer character of Martin Short on Saturday Night Live?
Any time a stink rises, there doesn’t seem to be anyone who knows anything about it, or they were not informed by any of the hundreds of thousands of federal civil servants. To me, the refrain that no information was brought forward by ministerial staff to the executive level is becoming laughable.
Or is the government of Mr. Trudeau so inept that everything it touches turns into the stinky stuff?
Patrick Boyle Kelowna, B.C.
All clear
Re “This is not a diplomatic spat: it’s state terrorism, and Canada is right to call it out” (Oct. 16): Representatives of India are accused of criminal acts in Canada. Their “foreign interference” apparently includes murder. Columnist Andrew Coyne says Canadians “are living in a very dangerous world, for which we are distinctly ill-prepared.”
In June, the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians reported an allegation that India also interfered in a Conservative leadership race. The details were redacted from the public report.
Pierre Poilievre refuses to seek top-secret security clearance to read the complete report, on the specious grounds that he would then be unable to speak freely. But now, he should be duty-bound to get his clearance, get informed and then speak as freely as he can about the allegation.
A person who believes he should be prime minister should not have an option to choose to stay “distinctly ill-prepared.”
John Kidder Ashcroft, B.C.
Unbuilt
Re “Immigrants are this country’s best friend. Don’t forget it” (Oct. 16): There’s no doubt the Liberals are in trouble over immigration, but it’s not simply the numbers.
Some 98 years ago, my parents’ families came to Canada as immigrants. In 1926, when Canada’s population was 9.45 million, 135,100 immigrants arrived here. Members of both families quickly found employment and prospered.
In 2023, with a population of 40.5 million, Canada admitted 477,771 immigrants. On the basis of percentage of population, the ratios are almost the same. However in 1926, we didn’t have universal health care and we had far more farms that absorbed many of the newcomers. Higher education was not as sought after as it is today.
Liberal immigration policy, if indeed we can call it a policy, has not reflected these changes.
David Enns Cornwall, Ont.
Healthy approach?
Re “The Liberals’ costly error on pharmacare” (Editorial, Oct. 15): The federal government would launch pharmacare with two medications needed by large segments of the population.
Prescription birth control, in particular, is an option for women to control their reproduction and make life choices. But many of the women who would choose it are students, workers in the gig economy, part-time workers or unemployed or low-income, with no drug insurance.
I believe free birth control is vital to women’s health, autonomy and freedom. It would prevent many unplanned pregnancies as well as medical and surgical abortions. Fewer women would have to make those difficult decisions, and the health care system would benefit from significant savings.
Therefore providing free birth control would not be an error – it would be about 50 years overdue.
Carolyn Brown Ottawa
Re “An Unhealthy Debate: The duty of care that governments owe to Canadians” (Editorial, Oct. 10): I am scheduled to have same-day knee replacement surgery soon, which will eliminate a hospital stay.
As part of the process, I have had multiple appointments at two separate multihospital teaching centres in downtown Toronto. Some of these appointments have been cancelled and rescheduled owing to staff shortages.
When inquiring further, I was surprised to hear repeatedly that one of the primary reasons for the shortages is that hospital personnel are now spending more time on completing computer forms and requirements than on clinical care. It is hard to imagine how this contributes to either staff or patient satisfaction, or quality of care.
Marcia Zalev Toronto
Time to lead
Re “Pope Francis must change his narrative about women and their place in the Catholic Church” (Oct. 11): The future of the world is women, and the future of the Catholic Church is also women, if the church is to survive.
An institution run by celibate men (many of whom have secretly broken their vows of celibacy) does not fit well with a modern world. In an increasingly secular world, the Catholic Church is at a crossroads where it must choose between power for power’s sake, or giving more power to women and allowing priests to marry.
Women’s sensitivity and humanity could revive the church to heights it hasn’t seen in centuries. A female pope is even in the cards if it’s willing to be bold.
Change or eventually wither, to where the Catholic Church may become a tourist destination for those who are solely interested in architecture and art.
Douglas Cornish Ottawa
Safety first
Re “The lesson I learned in saving my wife’s life” (Oct. 11): In the early 1980s, I attended a house party held by a couple whose baby daughter had just been christened.
As the proud parents passed the little girl around to the adoring guests, she was constantly sucking her thumb. Then one unthinking guest decided it might be nice to let her suck on the end of a baby carrot that was part of the crudité being served.
Instantly, the carrot disappeared down the baby’s throat and she started to turn blue. People began screaming and frantically asking each other what to do.
Fortunately, I had taken a lifesaving course in university. I asked the mother to give me her daughter. After two or three fisted tugs under her tiny diaphragm, the carrot came flying out of her mouth and she started to cry.
The lesson learned is that this procedure can work for all ages, even the very youngest.
James McCreath Toronto
Another important thing to learn is how to do the Heimlich manoeuvre when choking and alone: bending over a hard chair with it just below the sternum, then pushing down with one’s whole body or up with the chair if possible.
But don’t take it from me. Take a course, or look it up.
Steven Brown Toronto
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