‘Our democracy feels like a sham’
Re: ‘Total unity’: Trudeau pours more cold water on caucus detractors, as MPs call for vote on his leadership — Ryan Tumilty, Oct. 28; and How to get political leaders to walk the plank — Father Raymond J. de Souza, Oct. 27
Justin Trudeau’s vow to remain in power, despite polls forecasting a severe defeat, reflects a troubling disconnect from his duty as a servant of the people. Our democracy now feels like a sham — a hoax Trudeau imposes on all Canadians. Once known for his “sunny ways,” his leadership has become a political tragedy, clinging to power despite clear public rejection. His refusal to step aside has turned a dignified exit into a cautionary tale of hubris, as his cabinet’s concerns fall on deaf ears. Trudeau, once the face of progressive politics, now appears more focused on preserving power than public service — a vanity project for the history books.
The irony? The leader who once championed democratic renewal now embodies what ails it. The solution is clear: those who believe in democracy must clean house. Voting for someone with such undemocratic leanings is a moral compromise too great to bear. Regardless of policy disagreements with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, voting Trudeau out has become imperative.
Tony D’Andrea, Toronto
Canadians and the Liberal party have for nine years borne the consequences of choosing style over substance. It should have been clear that Justin Trudeau had neither the background nor the gravitas to lead this country through difficult times. Instead we chose to go for the stylish young man bearing the historic Trudeau name.
The government failures in managing the economy, immigration, national security, natural resources and foreign policy are well documented in the press. The irony is that even this very limited PM could have done better had he not committed the grievous error for which he criticized his predecessor, Stephen Harper: by concentrating too much power in the Prime Minister’s Office, he kneecapped the democratic process and isolated himself from advice that would have kept him from making so many bad choices. Let us hope we make a better choice — and soon.
S. David Rosner, London, Ont.
Members of the Liberal caucus serve democracy in two capacities: as members of the Liberal caucus and as members of Parliament. As members of a caucus that has not formally adopted the powers available under the Reform Act, it may seem that they are powerless to eject their leader. As members of Parliament, however, they have the power to vote in favour of motions of non-confidence raised by opposition parties. This is a much more effective cudgel than simply abstaining from such votes, but it invites expulsion from the Liberal caucus and the inability to run as Liberals in future elections.
So, what would happen if 30 Liberal backbenchers advised their leader and deputy leader that unless caucus is granted the privilege of a secret vote on Trudeau’s continued party leadership, they would support the Conservatives’ next non-confidence motion? It seems logical that Trudeau would choose a secret vote in caucus over a secret vote in a general election to be held in the next three months. Put bluntly, if Trudeau were to send 30 MPs to purgatory in the ranks of independent MPs, he would wound himself irreparably before the next election no matter when it takes place.
If Trudeau offers a secret ballot to the dissidents and wins that vote, he could rightly expect peace within his caucus. Of course, if he loses the secret ballot, then Chrystia Freeland’s claim that the vast majority of Liberal caucus members support Trudeau would be demonstrably hollow. A Liberal party convention would follow in order to choose a new leader and Freeland’s chances of ever becoming party leader would be seriously compromised.
Patrick Cowan, Toronto
Privatize the CBC
Re: Even Catherine Tait doesn’t know why we need the CBC — Jesse Kline, Oct. 23; and Reform, don’t dismantle the CBC — Letter to the editor, Oct. 27
I will not cry a river for outgoing CBC president Catherine Tait or the broadcaster itself. The CBC is unwatchable whether you are talking about its news programs, its sports coverage, its Canadian productions or its reruns of Coronation Street.
The Mother Corp is out of touch with Canadian values as it pushes its socialist, DEI agenda. As a taxpayer, I object to being forced to pay for a service I do not consume, and a service I do not want, simply because there is a handful of silk-stocking socialists who think that taxpayers should support their fetish for the tripe the CBC is pushing.
I say privatize the CBC and let the free market determine whether it thrives or dies.
Gordon S. Clarry, Etobicoke, Ont.
A letter writer states, “It’s vital that all Canadians recognize the value of public broadcasting …”
We’ve looked and all we see is a self-congratulatory money vacuum that bludgeons us with the glorification of the federal Liberal party, climate alarmism and wokeism, and the rabid demonization of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and conservative free market principles.
Regarding national treasures, the CBC isn’t on that list. But there is probably some value in demonstrating how not to run a public broadcaster.
David Korchinski, Calgary
Letter supporting Jewish Canadians ‘uplifting and inspiring’
Re: Support Jewish Canadians — Letter to the editor, Oct. 27
As a Jewish Canadian I thank the National Post for publishing the heartwarming letter to the editor from Rob and Penny Richards and Mike and Linda Radcliffe.
My parents came to Canada from Hungary in 1957 — after surviving the Holocaust, my mother having lost her father in the Shoa — and built a life here, contributing in every way to Canadian society.
My mother is very worried about the rise in anti-Jewish hatred and feels echoes of the 1930s. I am blessed to have many non-Jewish friends who have expressed strong support for Israel and the Jewish people. Like many Jews, though, I am now afraid to wear any symbol of my religion when walking downtown, afraid to speak Hebrew, afraid to mention the word Israel or to even read the National Post on the subway.
It was so wonderful to read the letter from these four wonderful unknown Canadians who expressed their support, unsolicited. I thank them for their support and for speaking up and expressing it. It means so very much.
Kathy Schneider, Toronto
The letter to the editor in support of Jewish Canadians was most uplifting and inspiring.
As a Jewish woman who has lived her whole life safely in Toronto, over the past year I have experienced very uncomfortable antisemitic and rude comments. The letter from the Richards in Toronto and the Radcliffes in Winnipeg strengthened me.
Kol hakavod — all the honour — to these two couples. It was heartwarming to read that we “can count on” their support. It encourages me to believe that there are others who share these sentiments.
Susan Steinberg, Toronto
N.B. voters turn to ‘big-spending Liberals’
Re: NP View: New Brunswick will miss Blaine Higgs. He saved it from fiscal ruin — Editorial, Oct. 22
It took New Brunswick’s Conservative government six years to get provincial finances back in order and begin paying down debt, and just as the benefits for doing so were starting to accrue, voters in New Brunswick’s recent provincial election delivered a majority government to the big-spending Liberals, showing just how addled the brains of Canadians have become.
Voters in New Brunswick are so addicted to government spending that they voted out a fiscally sound government as soon the books were balanced. As voters there likely mirror the national electorate at large, there’s a lesson the Conservatives might heed should they win the next federal election. The faster they restore fiscal order in Ottawa, the faster they might find themselves back in opposition, such is the confusion and addiction to government spending of Canadian voters.
Gary Krieger, North York, Ont.
When free speech crosses the line
Re: Let the terrorists speak, so we know who they are — Amy Hamm, Oct. 24
The problem with free speech is when it crosses into hate speech, crosses into incitement for violence against the targeted groups. We know from Nazi Germany that words that spread lies and hate and incitement to violence against a group of people have consequences.
Amy Hamm is wrong to argue that it is better for terrorists and their supporters to have free speech, so the terrorists can out themselves, because it doesn’t stop at that. It leads to violence like shooting up a Jewish girls school and fire-bombing Jewish establishments. There have to be limits to hate speech and incitement before they result in something much worse.
Cathy Chernin, Thornhill, Ont.
David Eby déjà vu
Re: Lt.-Gov. asks Eby to form B.C. government, but majority or minority status still unknown — Dirk Meissner, Oct. 28
The B.C. election was about whether the people wanted to get rid of Premier David Eby badly enough to take a chance on Conservative Leader John Rustad. The answer was almost.
Eby has been wounded and unless he mends his ways, he and the NDP will be knocked out next time. But in the meantime, in the words of Thomas Jefferson, the people are going to get the government they deserve. After another four years of Eby’s woke socialism, the province will be bankrupt and its economic foundations destroyed.
The problem with Eby is that he is long on promises and very short on delivering solutions. In another four years, all of the problems we face today will have become much worse. By then the people will be desperate for a change but it may be too late and too much damage may have been done for a successor government to rebuild the province’s economy.
Garth M. Evans, Vancouver
‘Trudeau government has declared war on Jewish community’
Re: As Israel declares UNRWA a terror front, Canada doubles down again — Tristin Hopper, Oct. 30
So Mélanie Joly is back at it, braying at Israel, this time because the Israelis had the courage to actually block one of the agencies of that sacred cow, the UN.
The plain truth of the matter is that the Trudeau government, desperate for votes, has declared war on Canada’s Jewish community over the past year. With apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning, let me count the ways:
• Condemning Israel for defending itself and its people against vicious terrorist entities, at every turn.
• Being one of the few world leaders not to visit Israel in the aftermath of the horrific October massacre.
• Not apologizing when they get it wrong (i.e. the Al-Ahli Hospital explosion).
• Making it very difficult and outrageously expensive for religious Jews to obtain kosher meat.
• Providing major payouts to Jew-haters like “consultant” Laith Marouf (which will never be repaid).
• Almost hiring another person linked to anti-Israel posts — Birju Dattani — before being called out.
• Unconscionable foot-dragging on listing Samidoun as a terrorist entity.
• Playing smoke and mirrors with payouts to UNRWA.
• Stopping arms shipments (such as they are) to Israel.
• Stripping long and well-established Jewish charities of their charitable status.
• Insulting the Jewish community by sending Anthony Housefather on a charm offensive to various Toronto synagogues — nobody was fooled.
What might we expect next from this farce of a government?
E. Joan O’Callaghan, Toronto
To some degree we can take some solace in the fact that Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly’s status, and for that matter Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s status, or lack thereof, on the world stage is negligible.
This said, I have a couple of thoughts. Firstly, Canada was not alone in signing on to the criticism of Israel’s decision to evict a proven terrorist entity from its soil (i.e., UNWRA). This is world politics as usual, but it is still concerning. But perhaps the most worrisome issue is that whilst she has little to no influence on worldwide politics, Joly’s actions, and by extension the actions of our government, provide even more fodder for the antisemites living amongst us right here in Canada; a fact that makes it increasingly more difficult to be a proud Canadian as I used to be. The latter problem will lead to even more acts of increasingly violent antisemitic rhetoric and action. That’s what we should be concerned with despite the fact that the world basically ignores both Joly and Trudeau, and for good reason.
Hopefully one day, when Pierre Poilievre is elected as PM and we’re finally freed of those currently running our country, I can once again stand tall as a very proud Canadian.
Howard C. Tenenbaum, Thornhill, Ont.
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