Conservative member of Parliament Michael Barrett holds press conference in the foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill on Feb. 18.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
European front
Re “What will ‘peace’ even mean for Ukraine?” (Feb. 19): NATO membership would likely mean NATO jets landing from time to time in Kyiv, as well as NATO troop exercises along the long border with Russia. For someone like Vladimir Putin, who has a strong distrust of the West, such prospects are likely unacceptable.
As an alternative, NATO and Russia could mutually declare Ukraine a no-go area: NATO stays out if Russia does the same.
The difference for Ukrainian security would be minimal. But the optics for Russia would be huge.
Ed Dunnett Qualicum Beach, B.C.
I don’t see the slightest chance Ukraine will be sidelined in Russia-U.S. talks – more like bought and sold.
Edward Carson Toronto
Re “Kyiv, European allies must be part of peace negotiations, leaders tell U.S.” (Feb. 14): It was foolish for U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to say that Ukraine will not get back all its territory in negotiations.
It weakens Ukraine’s position even before talks have commenced. Vladimir Putin’s illegal aggression should not be rewarded with territorial gains.
A significant part of any peace offer by Ukraine should be protection of the Russian language and the rights of Russian speakers in Ukraine. That would enable Mr. Putin to claim a partial victory, which is probably essential for any peace settlement.
A protective force should also be made available to Ukraine without it becoming a member of NATO. Possible NATO membership should be given low priority.
Bruce Couchman Ottawa
Re “Europe in disarray and ill-prepared after Donald Trump cuts it out of Ukraine talks. It missed a lot of signals” (Feb. 18): JD Vance should rewrite the speech he delivered at the Munich Security Conference accusing European governments of retreating from their values, limiting the right of free speech and spreading misinformation and disinformation.
He is better describing the actions of his government in the United States. The Vice-President should clean up his own house before attempting to bully, criticize and demean European nations.
Daria Olynyk Toronto
Europe’s reliance on NATO collective security has emboldened it to trash the spirit and letter of the 1975 Helsinki Accords and its sequel in the 1990 Paris Charter, freed its constituent republics to define their own future, endorsed German reunification and put an end to the Warsaw Pact.
But instead of seizing the opportunity to pursue the common security approach of the Paris Charter, successive U.S. administrations, with the European Union in tow, launched the eastern expansion of NATO, which has revived Cold War-style East-West military confrontation with a vengeance, centred but by no means limited to the war in Ukraine.
The way forward is unclear, to say the least. But the starting point for NATO should be to exercise a bit of humility and acknowledge the disastrous consequences of NATO and EU overreach, diplomatic isolation, economic sanctions and blanket refusals to acknowledge Russian security concerns.
Scott Burbidge Port Williams, N.S.
Spend much?
Re “Opposition MPs criticize Liberals for failing to rein in record federal spending on outsourcing” (Feb. 19): While totally depressing, I’m sure no one is surprised by our government’s continued spending.
Like most Canadians, I dislike Donald Trump and really can’t stand Elon Musk. But I have to applaud their attempts to do something about bureaucratic bloat and inefficiency.
Enough is enough. We taxpayers should not have to keep paying for so many federal civil servants, along with all the consultants doing their jobs for them.
We should have our own department of government efficiency. Whoever commits to this will get my vote in an election.
Graham Farrell Toronto
It is beyond tiring for me to read about the federal government’s penchant for excessive spending in so many areas. Officials should be called out and punished for this continuing waste.
Parkinson’s Law – “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion” – seems to have applied to government bureaucracies from their very inception. And if they cannot grow the workforce due to public outcry, then it seems so easy to outsource the work.
Donald Trump and Elon Musk are providing a crash course in gutting government spending in all spheres. Unfortunately, this slash-and-burn approach will have predictable negative consequences in some areas.
But bold and determined action is needed in Canada to improve the productivity of our governmental bureaucracies. With the possibility of extraordinary added costs imposed upon our citizens, it should be a moral imperative to reduce waste.
Kanti Makan Cambridge, Ont.
Safe and sound
Re “Meet the new Liberals. Same as the old Liberals” (Editorial, Feb 13): At a time where Americans are lining up for hours to buy eggs and paying skyrocketing prices for this staple food item, both the supply and retail price of eggs and milk in Canada have remained stable because of our co-operative supply management system.
As tensions rise with our neighbours to the south and consumers across the country embrace patriotic purchasing decisions, most are pleased to have systems such as supply management that keep high-quality Canadian food items on our store shelves. “Product of Canada” isn’t just a slogan or a campaign soundbite, it’s peace of mind for Canadians who want reliable access to nutritious food products made here.
The more than 14,500 dairy, egg and poultry farmers have always been part of this Team Canada approach. Are you?
Roger Pelissero, chair, Egg Farmers of Canada West Lincoln, Ont.
David Wiens, president, Dairy Farmers of Canada Grunthal, Man.
Tim Klompmaker, chair, Chicken Farmers of Canada Asphodel-Norwood, Ont.
Darren Ference, chair, Turkey Farmers of Canada Monitor, Alta.
Brian Bilkes, chair, Canadian Hatching Egg Producers Chilliwack, B.C.
Stars on ice
Re “Player brawls during the 4 Nations Canada-U.S. match show there is worth to being the bad guy” (Sports, Feb. 17): It’s been said that sports is not a matter of life or death – it’s more important than that. This exaggerated and theatrical sense of itself came to life when some sort of ignoble record was set by having three fights in the first nine seconds of the Canada-U.S. game.
I find it interesting, and sad, how, in light of the U.S. tariff war with Canada, pundits have portrayed the game as more than it is. But history was not being made, nor was it the greatest-ever start to a hockey game.
It made for great theatre, but I saw it as an embarrassment to the game, even more so because Canada lost, and the best we can do is reframe the fights a moral victory.
Jon Heshka Kamloops, B.C.
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