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Sears? Disgusting
Re Out In The Cold: Sears Staff, Retirees Live Amid Uncertainty (Report on Business, Dec. 28): The federal and Ontario governments should be ashamed at the treatment of Sears pensioners and employees. Instead of helping, government action – or inaction – is actually making it worse, not just for Sears staff and pensioners, but also those who will be hurt by other bankruptcies.
Ottawa should have extended "super priority" status to give retirees and employees first call on company assets in a bankruptcy – as many European countries have done. It works well in Europe. Why not in Canada?
In Ontario, the government has exhibited even greater disdain for pensioners. While the Sears bankruptcy has been playing out, the Wynne government actually passed legislation dropping pension plan solvency funding requirements to 85 per cent. That increases the risk to pensioners while benefiting companies like Sears, which underfunded its pension plan by $266-million – while paying billions to shareholders. Shame!
C.R. Jenkins, Stouffville, Ont.
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You report that Sears "employees and retirees wonder how a company can sell assets worth billions yet be unable to meet its pension commitments."
They need wonder no more. The answer is simple: government incompetence, and a callous disregard for the welfare of Canadian workers. Disgusting.
Jennifer Connors, Fredericton
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Respect for the RCMP
Re Dreaming Of A Red Christmas (Opinion Section, Dec. 23): It disturbs me deeply that The Globe and Mail would publish such an unfair, critical account about the world-renowned Mountie image.
Paradoxically, in the same edition of The Globe, you sadly reported that a dedicated Mountie, who died in a collision during the first wave of unauthorized border crossings in Quebec in March, may have fallen asleep as he drove his police vehicle into a slow-moving tractor at 112 kilometres an hour (Fatigue May Have Role In Fatal RCMP Crash).
And at the same time that Carly Lewis's critical column appeared, thousands of police officers, often away from their families, were busy keeping Canadians safe during the Christmas holidays.
I served as a Mountie for 30 years and our home is decorated with many iconic reminders of a police force that has existed for more than 140 years. And just like water off a duck's back, Mounties who read this article will demonstrate their resilience and professionalism by continuing to keep Ms. Lewis, and everyone else for that matter, safe.
Michael Duncan, Ottawa
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You call this is a win?
Is Loblaw really feeling the sting of the Competition Bureau's lash, as you claim? (A Win For The Competition Bureau – editorial, Dec. 22). Loblaw will distribute $25 gift cards to customers in compensation for fixing bread prices. You say that might cost the grocer $150-million.
But the $150-million will only be incurred if all the cards are picked up by customers, if all the cards are used, and if none of the cards induce spending from customers they wouldn't otherwise have done. It's highly unlikely all of those conditions will be met.
Since Loblaw is more experienced at running in-store promotions than officials at the Competition Bureau, the company will have a much better estimate than the bureau of what the cost will turn out to be.
It seems as though the bureau has punished Loblaw by using this scheme instead of a fine.
Even if it costs Loblaw $150-million, by way of comparison the grocer reported revenues of $14.2-billion in the third quarter of 2017. So, the Competition Bureau has imposed a punishment that would – when all is said and done – very likely be around 1 per cent of the company's third quarter revenues – maybe. And this is a win?
David McGrath, Kingston
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A Buffett-like bet
Re School-Aged And Already Home Owners (Dec. 26): You report that Brad Lamb, president of Brad J. Lamb Realty, says that "he recently bought his five-year-old a condo. 'It's 800 square feet – I paid around $450,000 … When she's 20 in 15 years, that will probably be worth $3-million.' "
If that really played out, then it would be 6.6 times the current price, and would be close to a 13.5-per-cent annual compound rate of return for the next 15 years. As Toronto real estate prices have already increased well beyond inflation for the past 20 years (the bottom being around 1997), I think it is delusional to believe Toronto real estate will increase 6.6 times in the next 15 years. In fact, I would be willing to make a Warren Buffett-like bet against that.
Ted Huang, Woodbridge, Ont.
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Hmm. Praise takes wing?
Re Birds Of A Feather: In Annual Tradition, Thousands Of Canadians Flock To Keep Tabs On Avian Populations (Dec. 27): My thanks to The Globe and Mail for your coverage of the annual Christmas bird counts. These are an important bird-population monitoring tool, and for the many Canadians who donate their time, face the (often trying) winter conditions, and do the actual legwork to complete these surveys, your story was a well-merited bit of recognition.
I have one plea though, for your headline writers: Could you please, please retire the "birds of a feather" and "flock" clichés for bird-related stories? As in, forever? These are right down there with "beekeepers all abuzz about" and "newborn pandas un-Bear-ably adorable!"
Peter Coo, Kitchener, Ont.
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Perhaps I should have been counting the birds instead of sitting at my window in awe as dozens and dozens of winter robins, Steller's jays and chickadees flew into our South Surrey strata looking for berries. What a glorious Christmas Day gift!
Lynne Collins, South Surrey, B.C.
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Beavers in residence
Re Britain Is Bringing Back The Beaver (Dec. 23): What happened to the beavers we've given them in the past?
At a 1970 celebration at Fort Garry in Winnipeg, the Hudson's Bay Company presented two live beavers to the Queen in payment of land rental (another story).
I cite an account contained in the HBC Heritage Archives: "Her Majesty's rodent subjects spent the ceremony swimming and frolicking in the water. According to one account, at one point the frolicking got distinctly out of hand. As Queen Elizabeth bent over the tank to inspect her new possessions, she turned to HBC Governor Viscount Amory and asked, "Whatever are they doing?" Showing remarkable diplomatic tact, the governor replied, "Ma'am, it's no use asking me. I am a bachelor."
The beavers were relocated to a special enclosure at the London Zoo. No mention if the frolicking produced offspring.
K.R. O'Brien, Kingston