Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Try to keep letters to fewer than 150 words. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here: letters@globeandmail.com
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Dying-time, delay
As a retired physician, one who is aging, palliative care and doctor-assisted death concern me on several fronts (Palliative Care Inadequate: Study – Jan. 12). Most importantly, particularly with doctor-assisted death, who is to do it and how is it to be done? In my view, doctor-assisted death is just an extension of palliative care.
These issues have already been a focus for consideration and will continue to be as long as palliative care and doctor-assisted death are practised. Delay at the Supreme Court level would only slow the process of considering how to improve the methodology and implementation.
Dean Chamberlain, MD, Toronto
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Spare me the rhetorical rationale of "avoiding harm to the public" (There's No Room For Delay When Charter Rights Are Being Violated – Jan. 12). Society has an enormous interest in ensuring this is done right. The necessary time for that is paramount, even for those now suffering – and for future sufferers as well.
Joan McNamee, Kamloops, B.C.
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'Oscar for hypocrisy'
Re Tories Press Government To Justify Saudi Deal (Jan. 12): This is rich. Tony Clement challenging the arms deal with the Saudis – the deal he originally supported?
What's next? Donald Trump telling us how to run a successful casino? Bill Cosby providing counselling on appropriate sexual behaviour? I can hardly wait!
Gino Nicodemo, London, Ont.
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In light of foreign affairs critic Tony Clement's remark that "Canadians don't want these weaponized vehicles to be used against innocents in Saudi Arabia," I suggest the Conservatives change their name to the Chutzpah Party.
Mickey Belman, Toronto
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And the Oscar for hypocrisy goes to …
Rachel Saunders, St. John's
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Evaluating the deal
The hypocrisy of the Conservatives is astonishing – demanding that the Liberal government justify a deal that the Conservatives themselves brokered. Tony Clement knows perfectly well the calculus that went into the deal to sell LAVs to Saudi Arabia: jobs in Canada and support for a regime which, however distasteful, represents a degree of stability in the chaotic Middle East.
Perhaps the advocates of human rights would like to consider how much more misery and human rights violations would result if the House of Saud were to fall and Saudi Arabia were to become another stronghold of IS.
Human rights are important, but in the world of realpolitik one sometimes has to settle for the least bad outcome.
James Duthie, Nanaimo, B.C.
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I looked up the directors of the Canadian Commercial Corporation, which approved and promoted the $15-billion deal to sell combat vehicles to the Saudis. Here's what I found: five of the directors are current or former defence contractors (among the others are a former two-term Conservative MP, an intellectual property lawyer, and a banker who specializes in alternative asset investments).
In the absence of any ethicists, diplomats, or political scientists on the board to offer insight on the propriety of military materiel sales to dodgy regimes, the CCC might develop some helpful ratios for evaluating future projects: How about a J/CD ratio (jobs/collateral damage) or V/AV ratio (votes per armoured vehicle).
At the very least, perhaps each board meeting might begin with a moment of silence to consider the importance of balancing principles with profit.
Chris Clark, Uxbridge, Ont.
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Sexually acceptable
As a former refugee, current Canadian, former medical director of and continuing physician-examiner on the Sexual Assault Service in Vancouver, I feel compelled to say that while the recent acts by "Arab and North African men" in Germany and Sweden are shocking the Western media, non-Arab and non-North African men – Christian, Muslim, all faiths – continue to assault women and girls (and other men and boys) openly and covertly, in much higher numbers in our Western communities (Germany's Brutal Awakening – Jan. 12).
By all means, introduce "sex education classes to inform newcomers that sexual assault is not acceptable." Make those "newcomers" include all kids (male, female and in-between) entering preschool and kindergarten. Let's educate some of the oldcomers, in our homes, schools, workplaces and governments, too.
Blanka Jurenka, North Vancouver
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When European authorities cover up immigrant crimes, fearing right-wing, racist backlash, they are being racist in a different kind of way – by failing to hold all citizens equally accountable. It seems to me that if you want respect, you need to be responsible.
John Van Sloten, Calgary
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Bombardier boost
Re Ottawa Mulls Options To Give Bombardier Financial Boost (Jan. 12): In December, absent the results of the most recent study on the impact of allowing Bombardier's new C Series jet to be used by Porter Airlines at Toronto's Billy Bishop Airport, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said no to the planes at the airport, that the matter was closed.
Now, the same Liberal government is contemplating a $1.3-billion investment or line of credit to keep the C Series development alive. Perhaps Mr. Garneau should consider the unintended consequences of quashing the lead Canadian order for the very aircraft his government now is considering investing in. If the government wants ownership in Bombardier, showcase it here in T.O. by allowing the C Series at Billy Bishop – or stay out of the aircraft manufacturing business altogether and put our taxes elsewhere.
Gordon Young, Toronto
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Canadian innovation
Re Ontario Gave $18.3-Million To U Of T For MaRS Biotech Collaboration (Jan. 4): The University of Toronto announced its intent to lease four floors of the MaRS West Tower long before it finalized an agreement with Johnson & Johnson to house its biotech incubator (JLabs) on one of the floors.
Toronto has attracted the first JLabs facility outside the U.S., and the university's grant will be used to build high-tech wet labs to speed the growth of our best health startups – world-class commercialization infrastructure that stays here. That's a clear win for Canadian innovation.
Ilse Treurnicht, CEO, MaRS Discovery District
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Just like me?
Rarely has an artist shaped music and culture so profoundly, leaving behind many enduring messages, living fearlessly, never pandering to the conventional (David Bowie – Folio, Jan. 12).
As we mourn him and celebrate his life, Bowie has left us with a fitting final promise in Lazarus: "This way or no way, You know I'll be free. Just like that bluebird, Now, ain't that just like me?"
Maria Aylward, Montreal