Letters: In the name of Canada, please go Justin Trudeau

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‘Deaf and blind to the plight of Canadians’

Re: Will Justin Trudeau follow in his father’s footsteps and resign on Feb. 29? — Raymond J. de Souza, Feb. 28

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“ It is not fit that you should sit here any longer. You have sat here too long for any good you have been doing lately … In the name of God go.“

So spoke Oliver Cromwell to the British parliament in 1653. The result was the “protectorate” — a dictatorship in all but name. And that is the risk of a government that becomes increasingly out of touch with the needs and wishes of the people it governs.

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Which brings us to today.

In the United States, a long running shift towards ever increasing social engineering has created a backlash — one that, ignored too long by those inside the Washington beltway, has led not only to Donald Trump, but the even worse groups who, for example, threaten to jail doctors who perform medically-necessary abortions if politicians and judges happen to disagree with the medical opinions of experts.

In Canada, the government has not merely become deaf and blind to the plight of Canadians — it is now actively prohibiting Canadians from defending themselves by, for example, unilaterally shutting down the Winnipeg labs inquiry, postponing amendments to the Emergencies Act, and threatening to jail people who might possibly be planning to criticize it.

It is too much. In the name of Canada, go.

Tom Curran, Prince Edward County

‘Toxic environment for Jewish students’

Re: Jewish students targeted by violent messages, death threats at Ontario arts university — Bryan Passifiume, March 6

While it was disturbing and disheartening to read about the toxic environment for Jewish students at the Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCAD), I was happy to see the institution finally outed. Sadly, the situation described so articulately by Bryan Passifiume has been allowed to fester for quite some time now.

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I was contacted two years ago by a friend whose daughter was a student at OCAD. She described much the same situation as Samantha Kline encountered. OCAD’s Diversity Office posted anti-Jewish and anti-Israel statements (diversity does not seem to include Jews) and a professor advised her not to include anything in her portfolio that would reveal her Jewish identity. When students attempted to make their concerns known to OCAD’s administration, they were met with indifference. So it was really a bit rich to see OCAD’s administration cough up the pro forma and utterly meaningless twaddle about taking the students’ security seriously. Amazing the impact a little media coverage can achieve.

Words are meaningless unless bolstered by action and I am waiting to see just how seriously OCAD does take the safety of its Jewish students — waiting, but not holding my breath.

E. Joan O’Callaghan, Toronto

‘Huge flaws with our Canadian-style democracy’

Re: The awe-inspiring conservative counter-offensive against woke nonsense — Jordan Peterson, Feb. 29; and This is why Canada’s prime ministers can be dictators — Tom Curran, Letter to the editor, Feb. 11

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The two recent commentaries referenced above highlight some of the reasons for the sad decline of western democracy.

Jordan Peterson’s assurance that there appears to be a glimmer of hope for us lesser mortals that western societies are finally getting fed up with woke dogma is good news. I appreciate his positive coaching to conservatives in the Canadian political scene and hope that politicians will heed his advice.

There are huge flaws with our Canadian-style democracy. Tom Curran’s letter to the editor exposed the fact that Canada’s “bastardized version of Westminster parliament allows a prime minister to be all but dictator.” Our constitutions from 1867 and 1982 and the Charter of Rights really need to be modernized.

Another major flaw in our current democratic process appears to be the lax qualifications to become nominated as a candidate for the larger federal parties. This process should be similar to any other job application. Both major parties make it very clear that the most important factor to become a successful candidate depends on how much money you can raise for the party coffers. And the next step for the candidate is to win the nomination ballot, which then depends on who you know. No educational requirements, no work experience, no need to prove maturity or responsibility or accountability or how your values align with the party values. The hapless voter now has the answer to the question of how in the world did that MP ever get chosen to be on the ballot and get elected?

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If the federal Conservative party does manage to win the next election, the first issue it needs to address is electoral reform. Without that, democracy will continue to wither.

Glynis Van Steen, Burlington, Ont.

‘What costly coalition plan will taxpayers be on the hook for next?’

Re: NP View: Provinces should reject Trudeau-Singh socialized pharmacare scheme — Editorial, March 2

In a democracy we usually expect a government elected by the people that operates for the people. Currently in Canada we have a socialist coalition formed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wanting power until 2025 and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh agreeing to keep him there in order to extract his party’s top priorities.

Singh, with only 17.8 per cent of the popular vote, a mere 25 seats and no clear mandate from voters has secured a dental plan costing taxpayers an estimated $4.4 billion annually. And now he likely will extract a pharmacare plan the Parliamentary Budget Officer has estimated will cost around $14 billion annually when it’s fully operational. What costly coalition plan will taxpayers be on the hook for next?

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There is a lot of truth in the saying “power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Trudeau will do anything to cling to power.

Larry Comeau, Ottawa

‘Time for police to bring back their batons’

Re: FIRST READING: Police respond to accusations that they’ve surrendered streets to the anti-Israel mob — Tristin Hopper, March 7

Protests and public demonstrations are a long-standing part of Canadian culture. I participated in my share half a century ago. I cherished my right to march, to wave flags and banners. I understood that those I demonstrated against also had rights. If I interfered with those rights, the police would act, batons swinging as they charged into crowds, either on foot or horseback. I was tear-gassed, had a bayonet in my face, was pushed out of the way. Many of us were arrested, many needed medical treatment.

Today the police bring hot coffee to the demonstrators, rather than batons. There is no risk to disrupting a city, violating the rights of others, targeting an identifiable ethnic group (Jews). Many of the demonstrations are led by foreign students, while their local supporters know next-to-nothing about the subject they are so vehement about.

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It’s time for police to bring back their batons and tear gas. It’s time to protect Canadians against racism and intimidation from a small, vocal, but increasingly bold crowd.

Nathan Elberg, Montreal

A police helicopter circles overhead; its centre point is a Thornhill synagogue. It is the target for the second day of pro-Palestinian protesters. Having been forbidden from the constant blockage of a main route into a Toronto Jewish community, they have set their sights there.

Canada values the freedom to protest, but within certain limitations. It should not impede people, harass them or threaten police. Those civil restraints are regularly broken, yet the municipal, provincial and federal governments are silent and permissive.

And what exactly is being protested? The synagogue itself? The protesters have been captured on video chanting “Death to Israel. Death to the Jews,” “Intifada,” and more, including “F Canada,” which should indicate where their loyalties are.

So the answer to what they are protesting becomes clear. They are protesting Jews themselves. Protest has long since crossed over to hate, and free speech is hate speech. The fabric of society is being destroyed.

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Anthony Dayton, Thornhill, Ont.

What not to expect from the next budget

Re: FIRST READING: Amid an ever-shrinking middle class, Liberals now pledging prosperity for ‘the next generation’ — Tristin Hopper, March 6

We cannot know what will be in this budget update until it is released to the public but we can look to previous budgets from Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland to anticipate what will not be in this budget update. There will be no significant reductions in taxes, especially for middle-class taxpayers, and there will be no attempt to grow Canada’s economy through natural resource extraction, especially in the energy sector that has always been Canada’s greatest single source of wealth. And there will be absolutely no reduction in the size or cost of government.

Mike Edwards, Garibaldi Highlands, B.C.

‘Let us for once celebrate our oil companies’

Re: Canada’s economy grows more than expected, dodging recession — Naimul Karim, Feb. 29

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The irony of Canada being saved from recession by, of all things, crude oil, will not be lost on Post readers. This commodity, which is supposed to be on its way out, aided and abetted by government anti-fossil-fuel schemes, is a bizarre candidate for saving our economic blushes.

So let us for once celebrate our oil companies, not see them as merely obstacles preventing us from attaining a greener future. Let’s see them for what they are — suppliers of vitally needed products to the world, and bringers of economic vitality to Canada. Be glad they are willing, without subsidy, to shoulder the risks of competitive world markets and an uncertain future.

It will be too much to ask Justin Trudeau and Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault to see things this way. An ideological fanaticism for decarbonization and net zero will prevent that. But the days of two solitudes are surely numbered, as the costs and difficulties of an easy transition pile up, and as the benefits delivered by this productive and profit-driven industry are demonstrated.

Ron McTavish, St. Catharines, Ont.

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Carbon tax shell game

Re: Two-thirds of Canadians oppose April 1st carbon tax increase: poll — Bryan Passifiume, March 4

The carbon tax is wealth redistribution intended to buy votes, disguised as a crusade to save the world. It is a shell game. It is snake oil. What it isn’t is good economic or ecological policy. How can the Canadian carbon tax save the world while Canada is still exporting coal to India and China? Canada would do more to save the world — and itself — by selling our LNG and clean oil to those countries burning coal. The hypocrisy and uselessness of the carbon tax is breathtaking.

Gordon S. Clarry, Rogers, Ark.

‘Why should Canadian pension funds take the risk private investors shun?’

Re: Canadian pensions face new call to invest at home, this time from major business leaders — Barbara Shecter, March 6

The fact that some of Canada’s largest companies CEOs are pleading for investment monies from pension funds indicates the lack of confidence in Canada’s economy.

If private investment money is leaving Canada for more profitable and stable environs, why should Canadian pension funds take the risk private investors shun? The CCPIB, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and AIMCo have a mandate to their shareholders to maximize returns with the least amount of risk.

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An unstable regulatory regime, such as that currently in Canada, is not the place to gamble on pension futures. Layers and layers of consultations, regulatory red tape and a lack of government policy is why investment money is leaving. The fix is a government with a vision that allows private investment without telling them how and where it is to be spent.

George Ferrall, Orleans, Ont.

Stay on strike, York University academic workers

Re: Academic workers go on strike after York University fails to meet demand to ‘address affordability crisis’ — Feb. 26

With York University’s academic workers on strike, Canadians will be spared the torrent of hateful antisemitism that has been streaming from the taxpayer-supported university since Oct. 7. May the strike continue forever!

Daniel McAlister, Toronto

National Post and Financial Post welcome letters to the editor (200 words or fewer). Please include your name, address and daytime phone number. Email letters@nationalpost.com. Letters may be edited for length or clarity.

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