‘America’s democratic infrastructure is cracking’
Re: How Putin hoodwinked American conservatives — Adam Zivo, March 10; Liberal minister says he expects U.S. voices against Trump tariffs to ‘get louder’ in coming weeks — Rahim Mohamed, Feb. 7; and Zelenskyy chastised for not wearing suit at Trump meeting. Here’s why he opts for casual attire — March 3
Forget Adam Zivo’s soft take that American conservatives have been misled, “hoodwinked” by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Whether duped or devout, they are cloning themselves after a dictator whose stench of authoritarianism is unmistakable. Serious people — left, right or centre — need to tune in. American conservatism is rotting from within, and it’s not just their problem but a problem for democracy worldwide.
Trump’s GOP-gone-MAGA isn’t just sampling Putin’s playbook, but covering every song. Disdain for democracy, contempt for a free press, and a cozy tolerance for oligarchic corruption define both. Putin invades Ukraine; Trump daydreams about wheeling and dealing Greenland and making Canada the 51st state. This isn’t the old conservative gospel of limited government, individual liberty and free markets — it’s raw power manifesting itself with on-and-off tariffs and territorial greed, all wrapped in the flag of might-is-right Trumpist American imperialism.
The betrayal cuts deep. Republicans once stood for the rule of law and family values; now they peddle Trump’s election lies, stack courts for him and enable him to vandalize institutions with an unelected DOGE CEO.
The damage isn’t theoretical. America’s democratic infrastructure is cracking. Alliances like NATO are now in doubt and fraying, while other autocrats in China and North Korea grin, and norms erode everywhere. Republicans, snap out of it: Putin’s not your saviour hero; he’s your gravedigger.
Everyone else, stay sharp. Democracy’s on the line and it must be preserved, ours in Canada forever strong and free.
Tony D’Andrea, Toronto
History has a way of remembering the brave. It’s because “brave” means to put your fears aside and do the right thing, the honourable thing.
Yet most of the Republicans in Congress appear to fear their leader so much, they refuse to be brave — they choose silence and subservience. They care more about themselves than the people they represent, and their country.
The Republicans who have bowed to Donald Trump’s demands will not be remembered for their bravery but for their selfish desire to stay in office while their country fails to uphold the rule of law.
Rather than remembering them as brave, history books will shame them for their cowardice in allowing America to be destroyed “on their watch.”
L.G. Anderson, Spruce Grove, Alta.
I’ve watched the tape of the meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance a few times now. This was a time for serious people to engage in a serious conversation, and yet the first question to Zelenskyy from a reporter was about why he wasn’t wearing a suit.
The posturing by Trump and Vance that followed was absurd and childish. But what really sickened me was the laughter from those in the room after the question about the suit.
Sitting in that room was the president of Ukraine, a man whose country was invaded by Russia and who has witnessed his citizens being slaughtered for three years by Vladimir Putin, and the Americans in that room were laughing at him. Who was really disrespecting the sanctity of the Oval Office?
Bob Dawson, Sherwood Park, Alta.
‘An egregious attack on democracy’
Re: The outside man moves inside. Meet Mark Carney, Canada’s next prime minister — Adrian Humphreys, March 10
With only 131,674 Liberals actually electing Mark Carney as leader of the Liberal party, and therefore as our next prime minister, no one in Canada should ever condemn how other countries select their leaders. This process was an egregious attack on democracy. Parliament was prorogued for two months, thereby avoiding an urgently needed federal election and allowing the inevitable coronation of Carney.
After all of these Liberal shenanigans, Canada has ended up with one devotee of the World Economic Forum/ globalist agenda being replaced by yet another one.
Larry Comeau, Ottawa
Kudos to RCAF 103 Squadron rescuers
Re: Videos show dramatic rescue after ship runs aground off Newfoundland in 18-foot waves — Chris Lambie, March 7
The story of the rescue operation mounted by the RCAF 103 Search and Rescue Squadron, who saved the crew of a container ship that had run aground off the coast of Newfoundland in stormy weather, was both exciting and refreshing.
It was exciting because of the sheer challenge involved, successfully met by well-trained and dedicated personnel. It was refreshing because it was a story about Canada’s military that did not involve negativity of any kind.
No doubt there are many heroic stories involving the Armed Forces or the Coast Guard that do not receive the attention they deserve. I’m glad this one did.
Patrick McKitrick, Burnaby B.C.
It’s Mark Carney who doesn’t ‘get it’
Re: New Liberal Leader Mark Carney pitches national unity, just not with Conservatives — Chris Selley, March 9
It is a bit rich for Mark Carney to declare that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre “just doesn’t get it.” It is apparent that Carney does not get Canadians. Canadians aren’t simply tired of Justin Trudeau’s sanctimonious virtue signalling, they are tired of the entire Liberal program.
The majority of Canadians are tired of the Liberal green policies that have made life more expensive whilst delivering no evidence that they are reducing Canada’s carbon footprint.
Canadians are tired of the Liberal “catch and release” legal system and the ongoing “safe supply” experiment that are so damaging to communities in Canada.
Canadians are tired of politicians continually harping about Canada’s “world-class” health care while millions lack a family doctor, emergency room wait times are through the roof, wait times for medical procedures can be measured in months, and politicians will pay for health-care services delivered by private health-care providers in the U.S., but not in Canada.
The Liberals selected Carney as their leader. Given that he is replicating much of Justin Trudeau’s program and relying on MPs who enabled 10 years of ruinous government, Canadians should think twice about electing a political neophyte to lead Canada. We have been down that road once, and it was not a pleasant journey.
Gordon S. Clarry, Etobicoke, Ont.
Advice for Pierre Poilievre
Re: Mark Carney, the conspiracy theory prime minister — Carson Jerema, March 10
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre can end speculation that he is avoiding a security briefing because he can’t pass the required security screening, by inviting the screening but declining the briefing. Once cleared, he will have more credibility to emphasize his real point — that the non-disclosure requirement inappropriately restricts legitimate questions about the government’s agenda and actions. The risks of secrecy far outweigh the risks of transparency.
Bob Bryant, West Vancouver
‘The true enemy to our survival’
Re: ‘Reshoring,’ the dumb idea behind tariffs — Terence Corcoran, March 7
As a western Canadian farmer who started farming in the early ’80s, many things have changed since then. One thing I notice the most is where the parts I buy to fix my machinery are manufactured.
I used to be willing to pay a little more for Timken bearings — they were made in the U.S., great quality. Now they are made in China. Two-thirds of my equipment is Case IH. My one chore tractor, a 5230, was built in the U.S. in 1995. My combines, also CaseIH, were built in Grand Island, Neb. But just about every replacement part I buy is manufactured in China. If we went to war with China and my equipment broke down, I would probably be out of luck. China could shut down North America without firing a shot.
I agree that the way Donald Trump is going about reshoring is wrong. In my opinion he has correctly identified the problem but at present his solution is doing more harm than good. We need to continue to build a North American integrated fortress, realizing who the true enemy to our survival is.
Brian Allison, Delburne, Alta.
Invest in the rule of law
Re: What lies behind the 180-degree turn in markets — Mohamed El-Erian, March 11
Investors beware. In a world where value is based on trust, the U.S.A. has eroded internal and external trust. What is a trillion dollars if it is monopoly money? Yes, you can use monopoly money in games, but in real life we need real money based on real trust.
Buy euros, buy Canadian dollars, buy Brazilian real, Australian/NZ money, Indian rupee, buy where democracy and rule of law is stable, where winning is mutual success not multiparty suppression.
Investor, the rest of us are moving on. It will be tough on us to be sure. But as a man fleeing slavery might say, “Better a day free and struggling, than a lifetime of slavery with food on the table and whip on the back.”
John Van Egmond, Brampton, Ont.
The Liberals’ ‘smoke and mirrors’
Re: Mark Carney appoints Marco Mendicino as chief of staff — angering Muslim supporters — Catherine Lévesque and Christopher Nardi, March 10
I am among those who were sorry to learn that former public safety minister Marco Mendicino, who took a strong pro-Israel stance following Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack, does not intend to seek re-election.
Nonetheless, if I have learned anything about the machinations of the Liberals, it is that the party is far more interested in how to win the next election than it is in governing effectively, so it should come as no surprise that Mendicino’s appointment as Mark Carney’s chief of staff raised many eyebrows, and resulted in a spate of phone calls to Mélanie Joly.
To those supporters of Israel and the much beleaguered Jewish citizens of Canada, I would say “caveat emptor.” This might well be just a ploy to lure Jewish and other Israel-supporting voters back into the Liberal fold. Mendicino’s tenure is likely to be short, as a federal election can’t be far off, and either the Liberals will lose, or if they do manage to win (horrors!), Mendicino may find himself bounced to the curbside, having served his purpose.
With the Liberal government, it is always smoke and mirrors.
E. Joan O’Callaghan, Toronto
The trade war and Canada’s sacred cow
Re: Do we fight Trump to our last sacred cow? — William Watson, March 13
A major irritant in the current trade dispute with the U.S. is Canada’s supply management program. What appears to be missing from the conversation is the fact that both countries have huge agricultural management programs involving subsidies or quota programs.
In Canada, the dairy, poultry and egg production industries do not receive the monetary subsidies that other areas of agriculture benefit from, but are protected by a quota system. The U.S. spends US$30 billion per year on agricultural subsidies.
A way of smoothing over the issue would be for Canada to agree to a parallel subsidy program for all food-producing sectors, opening up trade and offering our producers a chance to compete for export markets. Production restrictions would disappear, and the lower Canadian dollar would be beneficial to export promotion.
Mark Sexsmith, Toronto
A clarification from the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board
Re: Carney’s warrior accountants ignore good advice on climate disclosures — Tammy Nemeth, Jan. 30
Despite Tammy Nemeth’s assertions in her opinion piece, the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board (CSSB) conducted a comprehensive consultation, receiving extensive feedback from businesses, experts and communities. Key modifications, including transition reliefs, were made in response to feedback from preparers, many of whom proposed additional time to implement certain standards.
The CSSB has no authority to grant “safe harbour” protections for disclosures: such legal protections fall under the jurisdiction of securities regulators and governments. Nor do the CSSB standards mandate transition planning to phase out emissions, contrary to what was stated in the piece.
The new standards ensure consistency with the international baseline. They do not align with the European Union’s ESRS standards, which are broader in scope.
We appreciate the opportunity to provide this factual clarification.
Bruce Marchand, Interim Chair, Canadian Sustainability Standards Board
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