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...................................................................................................................................Kuwait concerns
Re Ottawa Pushes Military Deals With Kuwait Despite UN Concerns Over Human Rights (Feb. 10): Canada should not be supporting its domestic defence industry though the export sales of military equipment to Kuwait or Saudi Arabia, either directly or through foreign intermediaries, whether it be the U.S. Navy or other entities.
It's high time the Canadian government got out of the arms sales racket. Further, where does the profit revenue flow that is orchestrated by our government's supported Canadian defence industry? How does the Canadian public benefit directly?
André Bennett, Toronto
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Great news?
Of the Great Bear Rainforest deal, Ian McAllister of Pacific Wild notes, "This agreement proposes to log 2.5 million cubic metres of old growth forests every year for the next 10 years" (Battle To Protect Great Bear Rainforest Ends With Broadly Supported Agreement, Feb. 1).
In a province that likes to see itself as leading the world in atmospheric carbon reduction, one would think that the principals involved in this "deal" could have shown the world something better.
It's estimated that the Great Bear Rainforest occupies about 3 per cent of the B.C. land mass. How difficult would it have been simply to leave it alone? Wouldn't that have been a better "model" to hold up to the world?
Brian Nimeroski, Sooke, B.C.
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I travelled in this area last August and was stunned by its singular beauty. I saw a mother grizzly (with her two cubs) feeding on salmon, a giant, 300-pound sunfish, howling wolves, dozens of whales. What a privilege! Thank you, to all four parties, with diverse interests, in finding common ground.
Julie Beaudoin Pearce, Victoria
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Bombardier's battle
Bombardier remains a fine, family-controlled, Canadian company with one exception – the C Series (The Battle Bombardier Didn't Expect And Was Loath To Fight, Report on Business, Jan. 20).
A flawed strategy from the outset, it was based on assumptions of high oil prices, no competition and continued government backstopping. As evidenced by a share price close to penny-stock status, the market has lost confidence in the C Series. As evidenced by the dearth of orders, so have potential customers.
The federal government needs to take a hard look at the C Series business case, based on realistic assumptions, and recognize that there is no merit in continuing to pour taxpayer money into a project that likely will never make a profit.
Fred Kardel, Nanaimo, B.C.
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Behind the anger
In all the head scratching about the appeal of Donald Trump and other anti-establishment candidates, it's surprising that there has been so little discussion of the role of more than 30 years of neoconservative economic policies (Anger Roils Both Sides Of Political Divide, Feb. 1).
Working people were assured that deregulation, privatization, tax cuts for corporations, and cuts to social services, would make people's lives better. This has so obviously not been the case that it's a rational response to turn against those who made the promises.
It is our loss that the traditional left has not found a way to respond adequately to this mistrust and alienation.
Julie Beddoes, Toronto
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Beyond genes
Re The Explosive Science Of Genetics (Focus, Jan. 31) Margaret Wente advises parents of their children, "read to them or not – it really doesn't matter." As a special education teacher, I must protest this incorrect advice. Many studies show that school readiness, one important aspect of which is early exposure to books and being read to, plays a very significant role in future academic success.
To say that genes are the only influence on our children's futures is foolhardy and short-sighted. Please, please do read to your children early in their development; there is a great deal of evidence that this practice leads to success in life.
Gillian Coy, Shawnigan Lake, B.C.
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I appreciate Ms. Wente's sharing of the latest intel in the science of establishing the role of genetics as a determinant of one's intelligence, personality, depression, etc. Her closing statement, "Whatever's wrong with your kids is probably not your fault," is reassuring – that's me off the hook then. I still want credit for all the great stuff, though.
Bill Kerson, Toronto
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No news is …
The old adage – no news is good news – has never been more wrong (A Newspaper Dies, And A City Is Lesser For It , Jan. 30). Across the country, the local newspaper has been the community stalwart, source of verifiable accounts and hard evidence, the underpinning of evidence-based decisions. And social media, with its swirl of information, misinformation and opinion, cannot fill this void.
Alas, the loss of the Guelph Mercury will not be the last. Newspapers pass away, and a nation is lesser for it.
James Schaefer, Peterborough, Ont.
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On Jan. 29 the Nanaimo Daily News ceased publication after more than 141 years, B.C.'s second-oldest newspaper. On the same day, the Guelph Mercury, eight years older, ceased publication. All the coverage in the next day's Globe paid tribute to the Guelph Mercury with only passing reference to Nanaimo.
When a newspaper dies in British Columbia, it is no less traumatic for that community and those workers than when a newspaper dies in Ontario. Please, broaden your perspective beyond your immediate neighbourhood.
Rob Munro, Kelowna, B.C.
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Goose, gander
Re Trial Turns Spotlight On A Career Prosecutor (Jan. 31): The article referred to Jian Ghomeshi's "high-priced lawyer," Marie Heinen, but Crown prosecutor Michael Callaghan is entitled to the same respect. He should have been referred to as "the Crown's high-priced lawyer." He deserves that description, judging by Ontario's 2015 Sunshine List.
Henry Van Drunen, Stratford, Ont.
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The article described Mr. Ghomeshi's female lawyer as "a sharkish defence counsel in stiletto heels" but the description of the "capable" Crown prosecutor omits any description whatsoever of his footwear. In an effort to maintain balanced reporting, will you at least be letting us know if he'll perhaps be wearing Oxfords? Maybe even brogues?
P. Ritchie, Grand Forks, B.C.