Tough talk

Re “The Trump shock: A trade war that will reshape North America” (Feb. 3): America wants respect.

In commenting on the recent U.S. spat with Colombia, the White House press secretary said, “Today’s events make clear to the world that America is respected again,” while the commerce secretary nominee tells Canada to “show us the respect.”

But respect born out of coercion and intimidation is not necessarily respect, it is fear. It is the instrument of bullies everywhere, from the schoolyard to gangsters, from the Kremlin to the White House. It more often than not leads to resentment and then loathing.

If the United States really wants respect, it should seek respect based on admiration for its values and principles. That sort of respect is due, for example, to bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, who asked Donald Trump to show mercy and compassion. Mr. Trump, of course, wasn’t able to show respect to the bishop.

Trevor Hancock Victoria

Canadians should boycott everything possible that is American.

We can make a difference by not visiting towns and cities that border Canada and stop holidaying in the United States. This would hurt the parts of the U.S. tourism industry reliant on snowbirds.

The weak Canadian dollar would also help to stop Canadians from going to the U.S., plus make our exports attractive to other countries. This should be a lesson to our future governments to assist and push companies to diversify our export markets.

Will Kronenberg Toronto

Instead of diversifying our trade with other countries, our country under Justin Trudeau seems to have gone out of its way to make enemies of the world’s leading powers. Now our so-called friends to the south have turned on us and we must re-evaluate our place in the world.

I hope our next government will have the wisdom, and knowledge to move away from this destructive path that Mr. Trudeau, and Stephen Harper before him, have put us on. It is gratifying to see that Canadian nationalism is finally awakening. That gives me hope.

Paul Kelley Lunenburg, N.S.

Re “A manifesto for Canadian voters in 2025 (and beyond)” (Editorial, Feb. 3): An excellent list. Another key issue is removing impediments to large-scale natural resource extraction and transportation projects, including oil and gas.

Complex and overlapping regulatory processes drag out urgently needed projects until they die. Our valuable minerals and energy resources remain landlocked, while we buy offshore replacements in U.S. dollars to meet Eastern Canadian needs.

Foreign investors, essential for all such projects, have lost confidence in Canada. We should be fighting to rebuild this confidence.

Sir John A. Macdonald learned this lesson well when the Canadian Pacific Railway project was faltering. We urgently should learn it again.

Donald Bell Ottawa

Carney for Canada

Re “Can Mark Carney make Canada work again?” (Jan. 31): Why are so few skilled professionals willing to become politicians? It is a sacrifice of time and privacy, and poorly paid for the abuse involved.

So when someone of the calibre and experience that Mark Carney offers is willing to sacrifice a multimillion-dollar yearly income for the public good, we should be grateful and examine his policies and compare them fairly to the alternatives.

The griping about his academic speaking style and French fluency are surely of little importance compared to what he offers: his intellect, experience and personal contacts with world leaders. Compare that to the alternatives and please be fair.

Paul Zalan Toronto

Given Mark Carney’s global track record of prescient fiscal policies implemented swiftly and strategically, in precise and measured actions, Canada’s electorate should be encouraged by his potential for both his party and our country.

He has already begun the work, heeding the people’s call with his pledge to cancel the unpopular consumer carbon tax. He has further committed to engaging business leaders in finding solutions equitable for all Canadians and building a strong economy.

Other parties seem to play politics by sloganeering, shirking duties and engaging in pranks. I see Mr. Carney as a poised leader who offers a steady hand on our coffers and a return to societal values of substance and civility.

Time is of the essence for Canada. Bread, not circuses. Vote accordingly.

Marianna Kingsmill Hamilton

Health scare

Re “Ontario pledges $1.8-billion to get more residents access to family doctors or nurse practitioners” (Jan. 28): My 93-year-old mother, who is in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s, was recently in an emergency bay for two nights because they couldn’t find room for her somewhere in the system, whether public or private.

Doug Ford, it seems, has the cynicism to dangle $1.8-billion for health care before calling an election, after spending the last few years advocating for developers, dreaming of superhighways and destroying Ontario’s Greenbelt.

We who have been caring for the vulnerable in our families, because of the lack of support, have been too busy and tired to protest. This Ontario election is our chance.

Karen Schwinghamer Ottawa

High potential

Re “International med school graduates are an untapped resource, as well as a complex challenge” (Jan. 28): I have seen what this means to Canada’s new immigrants, who arrive filled with hope for a better life.

The cashier at a local supermarket has an aeronautics degree, another a criminology degree. They keep applying to work in their fields, and each time the answer is they lack “Canadian experience.”

Some time ago, a family arrived from Eritrea. The husband was an expert on water management and spent years working for international organizations.

He was determined to succeed and applied everywhere. BC Hydro told him he was “overqualified” and he ended up bagging groceries.

The saddest instance I have seen of Canada’s indifference is that of a Russian pulmonary specialist with a PhD in tuberculosis. His wife was a pediatrician.

Both speak flawless English, but were refused help everywhere. He ended up fixing dialysis machines.

I have no doubt these few examples have been repeated everywhere. Shame on Canada.

Elly Werb Vancouver

Get loud

Re “Booing Canadian hockey fans let Americans know we aren’t buddies anymore” (Feb. 3): That Trump tariffs have angered Canadians is obvious. But I was saddened to see sports fans booing the U.S. national anthem. I find it rude and disrespectful.

Rather we should do nothing when that anthem plays. Think of it as a moment of silence for the death of democracy we are seeing in the “Land of the Free.” And then sing O Canada at the top of our lungs.

Charles Brown Toronto

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