Robo-rath
Canadians have travelled the world to promote the idea of free and fair elections. How humiliating to learn how far we fall short (Opposition Points To New Ridings In 'Robo-Call' Affair – Feb. 27).
Richard Simeon, Toronto
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John Ibbitson's article on the robo-calls scandal finishes with a statement that left me aghast: "Mr. Harper must act openly, swiftly and ruthlessly to demonstrate that he won't tolerate unethical – at least beyond a certain point – or illegal campaign behaviour" (Voter-Suppression Scandal Will Be A Test Of Harper's Leadership – Feb. 27). Could Mr. Ibbitson please tell Canadian voters why we should have to tolerate any unethical behaviour in election campaigns?
Sascha Maicher, Ottawa
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Fair elections are vital to the very essence of democracy. It is less important which political party governs us than that, whichever political party governs us, it is honest, just and fair in all its dealings, including contesting elections.
Yazad Bhathena, Mississauga
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Oil, toil, roil
Re Ontario Urged To Speak Up For Oil Sands (Feb. 27): There is an unfortunate irony in this headline. If Canada had a prime minister interested in maximizing our economic interests, he would encourage refining oil sands crude in Canada, creating jobs and tax revenue here, not in China. Maybe the Premier of Ontario should speak up for Canada's interests so that his province can get a few bread crumbs.
Rick Munro, Kingston
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Alberta Premier Alison Redford might find more enthusiasm in other provinces for oil sands production if she in turn would acknowledge that these projects impose significant costs as well as benefits on the rest of Canada. While consumers in B.C. pay a carbon tax and the government of Ontario invests in green energy, Alberta and the oil industry seek only to increase carbon-heavy tar sands production. Canada desperately needs a national energy strategy that does more than find ways to dodge environmental and regulatory frameworks for energy exports.
Martha Musgrove, Ottawa
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Skye's the limit
The objection to the $350-million Skye project, based on the argument that the upper floors of the building would be visible from within the walls of the Halifax Citadel and thereby diminish the experience is ridiculous (Battle Brewing To Redraw Halifax Skyline – Feb. 25). I cannot fathom, in my wildest imaginings, a visitor to this historic installation remarking "Wow, what an incredible place. Too bad, if I strain my neck, I can see the tops of two buildings in the middle distance."
Halifax must get past its attitude toward development, or risk being relegated to a future as an East Coast backwater.
Shaun Clarke, Lunenburg, N.S.
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Off the rails
On Sept. 1, 1947, in Dugald, Man., 31 people were killed and 81 injured when two passenger trains smashed into each other (Deadly Accidents – Feb. 27). My father was on one of the trains (known as the Minaki Camper Special, bringing campers home from having closed up their cottages on the long weekend). He helped people in his own coach get out, then helped rescue others. The death toll was particularly high because of the many gas lamps in the wooden coaches, which burst into flame.
Cathy Carlyle, Port Hope, Ont.
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Stand up
Your editorial The Young and the Spineless (Feb. 27) could, with minor edits, be reprinted as "The OPP or Ontario Government and the Spineless." The setting of course would change from Pitt Meadows, B.C., to Caledonia. Ont. Police and government also have an obligation to stand up for the law and against brutality.
Don't criticize the young people who are fearful of standing up when those who have the power and resources of government behind them refuse to stand up for a lawful society.
Donald T. Monk, Ottawa
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German honour
Andrew and Harriet Lyons, while justified in applauding Greek stoicism, avoid recent history when they write: "Imagine what would happen in Canada if our government were replaced by a coalition headed by an unelected prime minister and approved by foreign politicians who included the representatives of a nation that had once participated in the slaughter and starvation of our citizens, laid waste our country, and was now giving us lectures about frugality and good governance" (Greek Honour – letters, Feb. 25). First, all of that applies to how we have treated First Nations, who have been more non-violent than the Greeks. Second, since the Second World War more than one million Greeks have gone to Germany to work, over 300,000 continue to reside there.
Germans took thousands of refugees from the Greek civil war (which involved much disastrous outside intervention) and during the Greek dictatorship. The relations of Germans and Greeks has been more complicated than the letter writers' attitudes would suggest.
Dieter K. Buse, professor emeritus, history, Laurentian University
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Don't look there
Luis Moreno Ocampo is a criminal prosecutor, not a sheriff, "white-suited" or otherwise (Ocampo's Crusades Tainted The Idea Of International Justice – Feb. 25). As the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, his work involves compiling legal evidence, then presenting his case to the ICC's judges. If an arrest warrant is issued, there is no ICC police force to capture the accused. It is up to states themselves to stop criminals in their tracks.
Two key issues demand attention: why states have not taken any decisive steps to stop Bashar al-Assad and who is responsible for bringing peace and security to Syria. The answers have little to do with Mr. Ocampo and the ICC.
Vanessa Reshitnyk, Ottawa
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Oscar, times three
Meryl Streep has deserved an Oscar many times (Oscar Gold – Feb. 27). It is unfortunate that she should get a third one for a role that taints her career. The concept of making a movie about a once powerful woman, still alive but in her dotage, has a tasteless, unethical reek about it. Imagine if a British actor had starred in a parallel examination of former U.S. president Ronald Reagan's career and decline while Mr. Regan was still alive, enduring his "long goodbye."
Margaret Thatcher cannot give her opinion about how her life story is being told. Perhaps Ms. Streep herself, and many of us, will be in the same situation before our last goodbye. I won't go see Iron Lady, even though I respect the amazing talent of Meryl Streep.
William Emigh, Victoria
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As far as I'm concerned, there are only three Oscars in the world: Oscar Wilde, Oscar the Grouch and … Oscar night in Hollywood. When it comes to being entertaining, I'll take the first two over the last one any day.
Sebastian Grunstra, Ottawa