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Debate dynamics
Re Leaders Set Tone In Bruising First Debate (Aug. 7): Stephen Harper held his own. Anyone at all disposed to buy what he sells probably came away satisfied with his performance, which was the goal. Nobody landed a decisive "knock-out" blow against him. Mr. Harper had one good moment, at least, when he spoke about national unity.
Bonus point: maintained human form the whole evening.
Justin Trudeau started out speaking in lofty (and repetitious) generalities, but seemed to truly find his passion when speaking about the disenfranchisement of voters under the so-called Fair Elections Act, and about national unity and the NDP's Sherbrooke Declaration. One hiccup at the end, when he forgot to say his final sentence.
Bonus point: wore pants.
Thomas Mulcair underperformed at the beginning, frozen in an awkward posture probably meant to convey both strength and a "friendly" demeanour, but he eventually seemed to find his groove as the calm, elder statesman implacably opposed to Mr. Harper. He spoke convincingly and well on C-51. One hiccup at the end, when he lost his place in his closing statement.
Bonus point: kept all the foam in his mouth.
Elizabeth May was by far the best performer, in terms of demonstrating a mastery of the issues, including detailed knowledge of historical context and familiarity with hard data relevant to every item under discussion. She undermined Mr. Harper repeatedly, as well as Mr. Mulcair, directly, on pipelines, and Mr. Trudeau, by proxy, on C-51. No embarrassing slip-ups.
Bonus point: didn't show up drunk or swear.
Olivier Jarvis Lavoie, Toronto
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Elizabeth May won the Maclean's debate, by a mile. The Green Party Leader didn't numb the viewer's mind by "staying on message." She didn't repeat rehearsed lines in the now-common style of attempting to hijack people's minds through a behaviourist drubbing. She didn't use a "script," she used the power of the English language (example, in the comments on terrorists) to wonderful effect.
The other leaders should sign up for tutorials with her. We're lucky to have her in Parliament.
John Goyder, Oakville, Ont.
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Given that in the likely context of a minority government, the Greens may well hold the balance of power, don't you think it behooves The Globe and Mail to include Elizabeth May in your Sept. 17 leaders' debate?
Maggie Laidlaw, Guelph, Ont.
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The Nixon parallels
Jeffrey Simpson draws fascinating parallels between Richard Nixon and Stephen Harper; there's also a striking difference (Nixon, Harper And The Hallmarks Of Power – Aug. 6). It's not well known that Mr. Nixon, a populist who responded to strong public pressure, signed into law landmark environmental legislation: the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act. These laws have had huge benefits in reducing human impacts on the environment in the U.S. for over four decades.
Mr. Harper has ignored strong public pressure for action on climate change and energy developments, and has undermined Canada's environmental science, assessment and legislation. His dismantling of environmental safeguards will also resonate for decades – but to the detriment of future generations.
David Marmorek, Vancouver
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A far-out side
Pink Floyd was a great band, but they were not such hot astronomers when they titled their 1973 album Dark Side of the Moon (Looking At The Dark Side – Aug. 7). There is no such thing as the dark side of the moon.
The moon rotates on its axis once a month, and all parts of its surface (except craters at the poles that are perpetually in shadow) receive exactly the same amount of day and night.
What you mean is the far side of the moon. That is, the hemisphere of the moon that always faces away from Earth. Tidal locking causes this phenomenon, which is common in many planet-moon systems in the solar system.
But it was a great photo!
Michael Watson, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
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Oil-patch blame
Re Oil-Patch Firm Blames NDP Tax Hike For Large Quarterly Loss (Aug. 7): What self-serving twaddle coming from Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. Oil companies in Alberta have always complained when the people of this province have asked them to pay their fair share in taxes.
The fossil fuel industry in Alberta has been heavily subsidized for decades. Now, when the industry is being called to account, we hear that the NDP government is to "blame" for large quarterly losses because of a 2 percentage point increase in the corporate tax rate. Little mention is made of the fact that oil prices have been driven below $50 a barrel – $45? – by cartels in the Mideast, particularly Saudi Arabia, that are determined to put oil producers in pricier jurisdictions on their heels.
If there is such a grave concern about that large quarterly loss, perhaps those who occupy the corner offices of Canadian Natural might examine their exorbitant pay packets and point a finger at themselves.
Linda C. Hunter, Calgary
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Amnesty, sex work
Re Amnesty's Stance On Sex Work Is Too Narrow In Its Focus (Aug. 5): When you work as a sex worker and as a paralegal officer with Oxfam Canada's partner, the Sexual Rights Centre, in Zimbabwe, you come to appreciate the value of sex work, the horrors of sexual exploitation, and the importance of implementing policy measures that address these distinct phenomena.
Amnesty International has acknowledged this difference, whereas many of its critics choose to confuse the two.
In Bulawayo, sex workers are murdered in their own homes, on roads, in bushes, or on clients' property. Decriminalization matters because we otherwise lack access to services and safe spaces to work.
For individuals like me who have chosen sex work, our rights are also routinely violated by law enforcement officials, health-care providers, and others as a result of the stigmatization associated with our trade.
Abolitionists further impede our ability to be respected by insisting that we would never choose this work and that our trade and choices are neither dignified nor viable.
Barbra Moyo, Sexual Rights Centre, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
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Last of the last
Your obituary of pilot John L. Munro, headlined Last Of The Famed 'Dambuster' Pilots Who Attacked Nazi Heartland (Aug. 5), was interesting indeed – as was your longer obituary of Canadian pilot Ken Brown (Jan. 15, 2003) with its much bolder headline: The Last Of The Dambusters.
Trevor S. Raymond, Georgetown, Ont.