Canadian and American flags fly near the Ambassador Bridge at the border crossing in Windsor, Ont. on March 21, 2020.Rob Gurdebeke/The Canadian Press
Missing in action
Re “Iced out” (Letters, Feb. 14): Yes, Ukraine should be in NATO, but membership itself may no longer be a guarantee against Russian invasion.
NATO can effectively defend one of its member states against Russian invasion only with the full military participation of the United States; with Donald Trump, that is a known unknown.
Still, better to be in NATO than not.
Reiner Jaakson Oakville, Ont.
Fight back
Re “Trump ramps up global trade war with plan for reciprocal tariffs, including on Canada” (Feb. 14): When Donald Trump muses about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state, his underlying intent should be taken seriously.
Although even he should realize that turning Canada into a state would threaten the Republican Party’s hold on power, Mr. Trump seems determined to emasculate Canada and turn it into something equivalent to Puerto Rico: under the control of the United States but without representation. His tariffs on aluminum and steel seem aimed squarely at Canada.
I am convinced that over time we will see a continuing succession of moves designed to bring Canada to heel. Our best response, I believe, is to strengthen our economy by expanding interprovincial trade and creating a tax structure that encourages investment, while we begin the laborious process of diversifying our exports.
John Sutherland Calgary
Since his inauguration, Donald Trump has simply reasserted U.S. international trade hegemony.
Would we not rather have that be the case and be the huge trading partner next door, than be caught in the vortex of an uncertain and unsettling economic trade war between China and the United States?
Barry Stagg Toronto
Move on
Re “Barrick considering redomiciling from Canada to the U.S. and Trump could make it happen faster, says CEO Mark Bristow” (Report on Business, Feb. 14): Barrick’s CEO really knows how to read the room.
What poor timing for an announcement about potentially moving a key head office from Canada to the United States. As many Canadians boycott U.S. products and services, they are looking for leadership and empathy from their corporate leaders.
Paul Jelec Mississauga
Self-inflicted
Re “Trump’s 2018 steel tariffs brought higher prices, did little to boost jobs” (Report on Business, Feb. 13): Facts matter. This piece makes that point.
But don’t bury the lede: Donald Trump’s tariffs cost U.S. jobs. Full stop.
Canada’s challenge, then, is to pound these facts through the skulls of Mr. Trump and his base. How about a follow-up story talking to those Americans who lost their jobs because of the 2018 tariffs?
Jeff Sallot Ottawa
Everyone seems pessimistic about the future of Canadian industry and employment over tariffs. I’d like to suggest a positive view.
Replacement sources for U.S. needs for aluminum, crude oil, lumber and numerous other commodities are insufficient for the quantities required. Transportation costs would rise. Factory capacity increases would demand huge capital costs and years to reach full production.
It looks like the American consumer would just have to pay. Mr. Trump’s power would be curtailed.
The predicted weakness of the Canadian dollar would give us a labour cost advantage, the very reason why much manufacturing is sent overseas in the first place. Canada should sit back and watch the turmoil for a while.
America looks like it is self-destructing, as many economists have predicted.
Ken Mackenzie Calgary
Who’s in charge?
Re “Conservatives launch partisan attacks on Liberal leadership front-runner Mark Carney” (Feb. 15): Does Canada need as prime minister one who has been a career politician, whose main distinction has been his role as an attack dog?
Who consistently spews negativity about the country’s challenges? Who uses name-calling against those with opposing views? Who has an anti-climate record? Who wants to cut federal programs and services? Who would fire the Governor of the Bank of Canada? Who views mainstream media as opposition to be crushed? Who presents himself as our sole saviour?
We see this type of leader ruling our southern neighbour. Let us not duplicate that nightmare.
What Canada needs is a leader with proven leadership skills, who understands how economies work. Who has real-world experience at the highest levels. Who will work with others. Who sees climate change for the existential threat that is. Who exudes confidence and faith in this country’s people and ability to address our issues.
Rick Griffiths Whitehorse
Naturally speaking
Re “Energy experts question Chrystia Freeland’s pledge to push LNG” (Online, Feb. 8): The Liberals should not be trusted on liquefied natural gas or any significant resource development in Canada. There are lots of sayings, but “a leopard doesn’t change its spots” comes to mind.
Justin Trudeau bluntly refused overtures by Germany, Japan and Greece to supply Canadian LNG in the future. A couple of years go by and here we are: Japan has signed on with a proposal to buy Alaskan LNG, such that it gives the Americans a foothold on competing against future Canadian LNG in Asia.
We had our chance and the Liberals did not take the bull by the horns and give Canadians a higher standard of living, via a truly Canadian energy corridor, coast to coast. It would have also helped to clean up the world’s dependence on oil and coal.
I’ve seen no economic vision for Canada for almost 10 years. Let’s not fall for that again.
Neil Stephenson Kelowna, B.C.
Not like the other
Re “At a time when we’re searching for identity, Sidney Crosby represents the very best of Canada” (Sports, Feb. 12): “Decent and dependable … proud, but not prideful … unshowy, to a fault … show up, especially when it’s hard.”
In short, the opposite of Donald Trump.
Grace Skogstad Toronto
Wrong number
Re “Fax me, baby: This Valentine’s Day, consider sending a love letter by fax” (Opinion, Feb. 8): A love letter to the facsimile machine portrays it as virtually impervious to hacking; I disagree.
Some years ago, my own office fax kept getting pages from a doctor’s office in Kelowna, B.C. I checked phone numbers and found that my office line was one digit away from that of Vancouver General Hospital.
I called the doctor. “Are you aware,” I asked, “that you have been sending your patients’ most intimate medical details to a Globe and Mail frequent contributor in science and technology?”
The faxing ended immediately; I suspect the employment of the doctor’s administrative assistant did so, too.
Conclusion: No communication is totally safe.
Bill Atkinson Toronto
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