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Boomer bust
As a boomer recently retired with a pension, I found the Saturday front page offensive (The Boomer Shift, Report on Business, Nov. 6). At no point have I ever considered my fellow citizens "suckers" if they do not have a plan like mine. At no point have I ever been arrogant about my ability to survive the next 20 years or more of my life.
The photo with comments "So long suckers" and "Good luck with the next couple decades," reinforces a stereotype that boomers with good pensions are arrogant about the plight of those who may not have that luxury. How wrong you are. That first impression erodes any reflections made in a more in-depth article elsewhere in your paper.
Colleen Ireland, Sunderland, Ont.
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Do your editors really believe that baby boomers are gleeful about the economic future facing our children and grandchildren? Do you think we are smug about the absurdly high cost of housing, the growing inequality in wealth distribution, the hollowing out of our industrial base, rising levels of carbon emissions? Characterizing whole generations as smug and triumphant is mindless and irresponsible.
Robert Bragg, Calgary
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I didn't see any mention of bolstering the number of taxpayers by tapping into people who are already here. The aboriginal population has the highest growth rate – an excellent source of needed labour in all sectors. We have large numbers of disenfranchised people, including youth, who could use a helping hand but are falling through the cracks.
Perhaps we should dial back immigration numbers, including bringing over parents and grandparents, and focus on people already here who are capable of contributing to Canada's success, if just given a chance and some support. It makes no sense to continue to spend tax dollars to bring in larger numbers of people while we have capable Canadians who are essentially an untapped resource.
Trish Kotow, Calgary
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Keystone XL fallout
The Obama administration's characterization of the Alberta oil sands may be distorted and objectionable, as Konrad Yakabuski points out (It's Not In Canada's Interest To Celebrate Keystone Defeat, Nov. 9).
But that does not mean that Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion should make a big deal out of those inconsistencies. There will come a day, after the Canadian government has revealed its global warming strategy, to renew efforts to build pipelines to the United States.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dion must pick his battles, and there undoubtedly will be many – the Trans-Pacific Partnership, withdrawal of Canadian aircraft from the fight against the Islamic State, cancellation of our purchase of new fighter aircraft, should be major areas of discussion.
Peter Love, Toronto
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The U.S. rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline is a disappointment to Alberta and Canada. However, it is also a big opportunity to turn away from our obsession with fossil fuels and toward making Canada a renewable energy superpower.
Canada, particularly Western Canada, has huge untapped potential for renewable energy production (hydro, geothermal, wind, solar). As many countries have shown, renewable energy technologies are proven and pay big dividends in both energy and greenhouse-gas reductions. Let's get off the hydrocarbon conveyor belt to climate destruction and start tapping into our potential as a renewable energy superpower.
Michael Healey, Peachland, B.C.
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The United States doesn't need our oil; they wouldn't see substantial economic benefits from the project; why risk the headache from the inevitable spill? It's a good play to look green when the environmental argument lines up with the economic one, a leaf the new Canadian government could steal from President Barack Obama's book. The best things Canada can do now are to get serious on emissions reduction, and stimulate new, low-carbon growth and innovation. A national, revenue- neutral, carbon price would do just that. Let's start diversifying our own economy, while showing a greener face to the world.
John Morton, Toronto
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Valued veterans
The shoddy treatment of veterans is not confined to those who served in Afghanistan (Veteran Suicides On The Radar, Nov. 9). My son served in Bosnia as a so-called peacekeeper. He saw atrocities. He testified at the war crimes tribunal. He was discharged after being diagnosed with PTSD, under the universality-of-service rule. He is now fighting lung cancer after exposure to toxic materials in Bosnia. Look after Afghanistan veterans. But please don't neglect those who served in many other conflicts.
R.W. Hill, Hamilton
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Bacardi business
Re Viva La Inspiracion, Travel, Nov. 7: While writer Marissa Stapley correctly states that Bacardi Rum is Cuban, our family certainly did not "abandon" its factories "for less politically challenging places." Although I realize that this is part of the Castro propaganda, the fact remains that our family was forced into exile, we lost our homes, our business and we fled the country in fear for our lives. Our factories and property were confiscated by the Cuban government.
Victoria Bacardi, Toronto
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Watch out, walkers
Re Why The SUV Mentality Needs To Change, Nov. 9: I have to believe that the road aggression I see everywhere has less to do with what people are driving and more to do with whatever aspect of human nature turns people into bullies behind the wheel. I walk a lot because I love to walk, and the way drivers treat pedestrians bewilders me.
I've seen adults at four-way stops blast horns impatiently at children, and others use sheer intimidation to get us bothersome pedestrians (again, very often children) to make way for them. SUVs, vans, cars, trucks, motorcycles … they all do it. I fear it will take something pretty drastic to keep pedestrian casualties from increasing, given the attitude many drivers display toward us.
Maxx Harpur, Toronto
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Wing-less ride
Re Vroom, vroom (Letters, Nov. 9) Justin Trudeau's heirloom auto is a Mercedes-Benz 300SL roadster, not a gull-wing coupe. The coupe is rare and desirable, but not as much as the gull wing. The Trudeau roadster was restored by internationally acknowledged 300SL man Rudi Koniczek, in his shop a few miles from here. Rudi once told me that the gull wing is a hot and uncomfortable car to drive.
Jerry Donaldson, Victoria