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The O'Leary factor
Re O'Leary Mulls Bid For Tory Leadership (Jan. 15): Since we just barely survived the Ford brothers and Harper presidency, can we take a pass on the O'Leary factor?
Stewart Lamont, Tangier, N.S.
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Wow! Kevin O'Leary is willing to invest $1-million in the Alberta economy if Premier Rachel Notley resigns. That should have quite an impact on a $50-billion-plus economy. Next, he will be generously offering $10 to his favourite charity. Are we supposed to be impressed?
Michael Rea, Toronto
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Kevin O'Leary would never get elected. One of the first things he'd do is stop the gravy train. There are too many people on it.
M.E. Penny, Mississauga
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Crime speaks
Misha Glenny, who writes about organized crime, explains that we need to know the reason behind criminals' rise to infamous power – and he's just the guy to interview them and he's not there to judge them (Sean Penn: Journalist In Action – Jan. 14).
Really? Why not? They are killers and drug dealers, ruining lives of innocent men, women and children. I'm not aware of such actions being a part of an acceptable moral code.
And what positive gains are made from these interviews? Beyond facilitating book sales?
The best result of Sean Penn's interview was the capture of a notorious drug lord. It's a shame that none of Mr. Glenny's interviews garnered the same result.
R.J. Mazza, Stoney Creek, Ont.
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Canada's better self
The Liberals are going ahead with selling the Saudis $15-billion worth of weaponized vehicles. This despite the horrific human rights record of the Kingdom, a place so repressive, homosexuality is punishable by death, women are forbidden from driving, and even moderate dissent will likely get you beheaded.
Why might selling one of the world's most repressive regimes billions of dollars in arms in the name of business be a bad idea?
Because it's 2016 and Canada is better than this.
Kevin Caners, Berlin
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Pain, gain, climate
A month ago, Canadians took pride in the leadership Canada showed at the Paris climate conference. Today, as headlines shift to "economic long-term pain," Canadians anxiously await the government's promised stimulus spending.
Let's hope the Liberals don't lose sight of the first objective in their haste to execute the second (Ottawa To Fast-Track Stimulus Spending – Jan. 14). Before writing cheques to municipalities, the federal government should insist on two things: that they commit to maintaining critical infrastructure rather than running "concrete deficits" as they currently do, and that new projects demonstrate energy consumption significantly below the status quo.
Having spent 15 years in municipal politics in Hamilton, I've seen how stimulus spending typically plays out. It will be profoundly disappointing if the projects selected for this round are, as usual, drawn from a backlog of items previously prioritized and with no concern for climate change.
The Liberals insist that environmental and economic incentives can be aligned to create win-wins for Canada. Here's a chance for them to prove it.
Dave Braden, Flamborough, Ont.
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The Toronto Stock Exchange is having its worst year since the global financial crisis of 2008, as a deep slump in oil prices and other commodities weighs on Canada's resource-linked markets.
To feel those effects, just look at your retirement portfolio and, especially here in Alberta, at friends, neighbours and family who've lost their jobs.
The importance of oil, and the oil sands in particular, to the economic well-being of all Canadians must be acknowledged. Their continued viability through innovation, infrastructure, adding value, and respect for the environment must be supported and advanced by all of us.
Mike Priaro, Calgary