A country divided
The discussion around joining the fight against Islamic State is discouraging (Divided House Gives Government Mandate For Combat Mission – Oct. 8). The pro-war crowd seems hopelessly optimistic about what will be achieved; the anti-war crowd precludes the possibility that anything is worth fighting for.
Our isolation and affluence has made us a nation of ninnies who indulge in narrow ideology without having to face the full consequences of our actions or inactions. Analysis and reasoning on both sides is puddle deep, not worthy of international respect.
Those who think we can "win" with half measures are as foolish as those who think we can hide from the world or solve everything with diplomacy.
Darryl Squires, Ottawa
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Once more, the PM has shown us the courage of his convictions. Like the lady, he is not for turning.
Jill Saunders, Saint John
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What would "success" look like? And what would signal failure and the need for the coalition to withdraw? Canada faced enormous moral pressure to join the many nations suckered into this fight. Luckily, we're making just a token effort.
We in the West don't have the stomach for the endless struggle into which Islamic State is manoeuvring our gullible politicians. This mission will almost certainly fail, while creating thousands of new jihadis to boot.
Phil Elder, Calgary
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Stephen Harper badly wants to be a player – a contender, if you will – on the world stage (On Balance, Harper Is Right – editorial, Oct. 8). But Canada's symbolic military contribution to the air assault on Islamic State targets won't do it.
Canada has lost a huge amount of credibility on foreign affairs under Mr. Harper's tutelage. Just look at the climate change file (Tories Behind On Climate Targets – Oct. 8). If Mr. Harper wants the world to notice him, how about committing Canada to working diligently for a political solution to the Syrian civil war, even if it means talking with Iran and Bashar al-Assad? Better yet, let's settle thousands of Syrian refugees in Canada. That would be a concrete and positive step.
Maybe then the world would begin to show Mr. Harper some of the respect he so craves.
Andrew van Velzen, Toronto
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You editorialize that Islamic State is "neither Islamic nor a state." Does IS believe in the three tenets of Islam? Do IS members follow the five pillars? Do they hold sacred the six articles of faith?
If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it's a duck.
Extreme and deranged, but nonetheless a duck.
Marc Riehm, Toronto
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Too big to …
Re SNC Warns Charges Would Close Company (Report on Business, Oct. 8): It is difficult to conclude that Robert Card, CEO at SNC Lavalin, is merely stating facts and not issuing threats when he cites the harm that will befall SNC if it is charged in connection with a bribery scandal, or worse, if it is convicted of these allegations.
It is a sign of what ails us that the slogan "Too big to fail" now sounds like "Too big to jail."
Patrick Cowan, Toronto
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Pick-and-pay TV
Re Viacom Balks At Pick-and-Pay Model (Report on Business, Oct. 8): The current cable and satellite policy is akin to a situation in which people who want to shop for clothing are told that all clothing stores have a standard policy: "To shop here, you must first buy a package of our one-size-fits-all underwear."
Surely the CRTC should be able to apply reasonable standards while at the same time promoting consumer choice, open competition and value for money?
Ahsan J. Sadiq, Toronto
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C.Y. Leung replies
Re Hong Kong's Promised Path (Oct. 3): Chris Patten misreads the Basic Law, a national law of China and a law of Hong Kong.
There is considerable protest and discussion in Hong Kong about the election of Hong Kong's chief executive (CE) in 2017. Article 45 of the Basic Law states that the ultimate aim is the selection of the chief executive by universal suffrage, upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee, in accordance with democratic procedures.
Annex I of the Basic Law also states that any amendment to the CE selection method must be endorsed by a two-thirds majority of our legislature, receive the consent of the CE and be reported to the standing committee of the National People's Congress for approval. These constitutional procedures to amend the CE selection method have been in the Basic Law since it was promulgated in 1990, two years before Mr. Patten was appointed by the British government as Hong Kong's last colonial governor.
Mr. Patten cites a 1993 People's Daily article quoting Lu Ping, then-director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, as saying that, "The [method of universal suffrage] should be reported to [China's Parliament] for record, whereas the central government's agreement is not necessary." What Mr. Lu referred to was the method for forming our Legislative Council, as stated in the Basic Law, not the method for selecting the CE. Mr. Patten keeps mixing up these facts. One day he may get them right.
C. Y. Leung, Chief Executive, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
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Chicken Little's Rx
The hyperbole on both sides of the opioid debate is mind boggling (Doctor, No – Focus, Oct. 4). We hear about crisis, a death sentence, wasted youth, life-sustaining therapy, soul-destroying drugs, on and on.
The truth, as with most things, is somewhere in the middle. If you believed everything in the media, you'd be convinced that opioids are either the devil incarnate or the best thing since sliced bread. Legislators will inevitably side with those who seem to influence the most voters. Bereaved parents are put on TV to recount the evils of prescription drugs and how society's lack of support killed their child. Admissions by medical leaders that physicians need to improve prescribing and monitoring skills are treated with derision by pundits. Blaming becomes the name of the game.
According to the World Health Organization, the burden of disease created by each of alcohol and tobacco, both legal products, is tenfold the cost of illicit drug use, including opioid misuse.
Yes, misuse is a serious problem. But promoting opiophobia, which will make these drugs of last resort unavailable to carefully screened and monitored patients, is unconscionable. We need reasoned calm in this debate. For now, I guess we will continue to hear mostly from Chicken Little.
Desmond Colohan, MD, Charlottetown
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Ice(d) dreams
The cover on Wednesday's Sports section was a fine wrap. It captures Canada, it does. And it's bulletproof: the start of hockey season, all of the captains of our national NHL teams – and just enough iconography to hold us over till baseball begins.
George Roberts, Calgary