Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks at the Fairmont Hotel in Vancouver, on Nov. 8.Jennifer Gauthier/Reuters
Lasting legacy
Re ”Former B.C. premier John Horgan dies at 65″ (Nov. 13): I believe many British Columbians, of all political stripes, were saddened to learn of the death of John Horgan, their previous premier.
Mr. Horgan had a deep love and understanding of his province, and people felt it. He was an authentic man and politician who genuinely enjoyed meeting people. His government was focused on trying to improve the living conditions of people – and certainly their health during the pandemic.
He had the qualities of becoming B.C.’s finest premier, had he beaten his cancer.
Rest in peace.
Clive Cocking Vancouver
I recall that pundits in 2017 gave John Horgan’s governing coalition with the BC Green Party little chance of lasting, but it was long enough for him to establish himself as a steady hand at the wheel, to call an election and then win a majority.
More than that, I remember how, in interviews, Mr. Horgan appeared to be a genuinely good man. He didn’t rely on cant, but responded to questions with clear answers, affability, even goodwill. His eyes occasionally twinkled.
As one endures the ongoing spectacle of political partisans of all stripes, doing the same old things in the same old way, one doffs one’s cap in memory of a politician who rose above that crowd. Mr. Horgan appeared dedicated to public service and the public good. Imagine that.
Dale Churchward Toronto
Political preference
Re “Trump’s team wants Trudeau out in favour of the populist Poilievre” (Nov. 14): Chrystia Freeland said that “Canada will be absolutely fine,” referring to possible new tariffs on Canadian goods.
Only thing is it looks like it won’t be the Liberals spearheading this.
Aaron Michaels Grimsby, Ont.
If this is correct, then the Prime Minister must be doing something right.
Thomas Gevrey Montreal-Nord, Que.
Unprepared
Re “In preparation for Trump 2.0, Ottawa must broadcast that our border is closed” (Nov. 12): I agree, but I fear we are witnessing a train wreck in slow motion.
In case anyone doubts it, I see a link between high immigration levels and living standards for Canadians. The recent modest cuts to student visas and other changes seem to have resulted in rent decreases in Toronto and Vancouver of about 9 per cent over the past year.
Donald Trump has been elected. His draconian plans to deport tens of millions of immigrants do not feel like a bluff.
What will these desperate people do? What are their options? Oh, a postnationalist country right next door, with the world’s longest undefended border?
Broadcasting that asylum seekers will not be welcome seems a necessary step to take, but it may be a baby step compared to what is coming. I believe we have the wrong government in place to handle this crisis.
I am not hopeful.
James Nightingale Delta, B.C.
Climate conundrum
Re “Credibility of COP29 talks in question over host’s oil interests” (Report on Business, Nov. 11): Can someone explain to me the point of these annual “climate” conferences?
Year after year, hundreds (thousands?) of politicians, bureaucrats, climate activists (and deniers?), media figures and others spend millions of dollars, and burn mega-millions of gallons of jet fuel, to attend these events in far-flung locations to argue, agree and somehow explain what their constituencies have agreed to do (and mostly failed) and what they propose to do (and likely never will).
I can see the benefit of the first half-dozen events to allow the players to get acquainted and establish rules of engagement. But year after year?
This year the event takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan, where a main conference official appears to shill for oil and gas companies in his country. I don’t begrudge Azerbaijan the lucrative tourist dollars the event will generate, but why not just send them the money and convene the conference on Zoom?
Glenn Allen Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan, Ont.
Profit, patients
Re “Competition Bureau says preferred pharmacy networks may reduce patient choice” (Report on Business, Nov. 5): I am a retired dentist. I was not a businessman; I was a health professional and always put patients’ interests before my own.
About 15 or 20 years ago, corporations started acquiring dental offices. They were more interested in the bottom line, so they started putting pressure on dentists to do more of a certain procedure, whether that was in the interest of the patient or not.
All new patients needed to have expensive X-rays taken whether indicated or not, resulting in higher radiation exposure and more expensive fees. After all, the insurance will cover it, right?
We now have large corporations taking over pharmacies and putting pressure on pharmacists to increase the money they make. After all, health care will pay for it, right?
We have provincial colleges that license the practitioners. They are mandated to protect the public. I believe they have dropped the ball.
Herbert Belman DDS, Toronto
Bets are off
Re “Time to ante up on sports betting ads” (Editorial, Nov. 13): Sports gambling ads should be banned outright, not merely regulated. I see no justification for allowing them in any form.
Shame on the media outlets that accept the ads, happily raking in the bucks while pointing to laughable cautions to “gamble responsibly” as proof they are good corporate citizens. Shame on the sports leagues and club owners, already rolling in cash, that sanction the ads. And shame, too, on the athletes, with their multimillion-dollar contracts, who promote them.
I guess what they say is true: “You can never be too rich.”
Michael Betcherman Toronto
Bad blood
Re “Don’t blame Taylor Swift for her triumphantly middlebrow march around the globe” (Nov. 9) and “Blank space” (Letters, Nov. 14): The sexism and derision toward Taylor Swift and her fan base have the hair under my riot grrrl pits in a tangle. Geez, the boys don’t need to comment on everything.
I don’t remember hearing a peep from these gatekeepers of taste when international pop superstar Justin Bieber toured the world, singing about how sorry he was. Perhaps the fellas should crawl back into their man caves, listen to their pernicious Bob Dylan and Clash vinyl and reflect on why they feel compelled to slam a woman and her (mostly) female fans, who clearly connect through songs about love, life and making their way in what is still, sadly, a man’s world.
Karen Hammond Toronto
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