Prime Minister Mark Carney makes remarks after touring Global Container Terminals’ Deltaport facility at Roberts Bank in Delta, B.C., on July 30.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
Stranger than fiction
Re “Christian nationalists aim to remake the U.S. in their image, starting with this Idaho town” (Aug. 8): Reading about pastor Doug Wilson and his efforts to “make America Christian again” felt like a synopsis of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. Frightening.
Gregory Leng St. Catharines, Ont.
In some ways
Re “It can happen here: Why an autocrat could rise to power in Canada” (Opinion, Aug. 8): We should also be aware of the ways Canadian governments already subvert democracy.
The federal government, without extensive debate, gave itself under Bill C-5 the authority to bypass many existing laws and regulations for projects deemed in the national interest. And, at least in Ontario and often with little public discussion, the provincial government frequently overrules the decisions of municipal governments.
We won’t be safe from potential tyrants while governments can still rush through omnibus bills undiscussed and until municipalities are masters of their own houses.
Julie Beddoes Toronto
Shine a light
Re “With a new oil pipeline, Canadians are being asked to make a bet on the past” (Opinion, Aug. 8): A masterful analysis of the shortsighted Liberal approach to energy, climate change and environmental policies.
Many Liberals who voted for Mark Carney because of his previously stated climate values share the utter disappointment in his not taking a green path to growth, and thus a low-carbon economy. The rapid growth of solar power around the world, and the rapid decline in costs, should be enough to signal where the puck is going.
The dilemma for frustrated Liberals who voted for Mr. Carney is that the Conservatives do not seem interested in taking up the challenge; the Greens and NDP are unlikely to form government.
Thanks to this analysis, the writing on the wall has become even more legible and cogent. Let us hope that Mr. Carney reads it.
Simon Miles Toronto
Local view
Re “Vancouver’s ‘villages’ plan to create shopping, residential areas scuppered from lack of public engagement, experts say” (Real Estate, Aug. 7): An overview of the problem with having an at-large municipal government, and a fundamental argument for the development of a ward system in Vancouver.
Encouraging public engagement on developments that impact residents of a theoretical Vancouver ward, while knowing that elements such as cultural input and tax distribution will be considered within that neighbourhood, would put the power in the hands of that neighbourhood, as expressed by their elected ward councillor.
This discussion is not new, but growth in our city has created the need for it to be considered again. We need more refined discussions about how we accommodate newcomers than the current plan to turn the Broadway corridor into a kilometres-long wall of towers.
Wards would allow neighbourhoods to contribute to the solution.
John Moody Vancouver
By the by
Re “Canada will build at speeds not seen in generations – unless, of course, there’s a byelection” (Opinion, Aug. 8): The Carney government’s refusal to back expansion plans at Toronto’s island airport is framed as a lack of commitment to build critical new infrastructure.
I see it as an elbows up response to protect Torontonians’ quality of life from the predations of the anonymous investors who own the airport terminal, and who would be the primary beneficiaries of expansion.
John McLeod Toronto
Mark Carney was given evidence, on many levels, that expanding the island airport to allow jets in the limited space of the Toronto harbour does not work. An equivalent visual to imagine is those giant cruise ships trying to squeeze into Venice.
This proposal made zero sense for local business, tourists and residents, as well as air and water health and all future real estate development planned for the waterfront. Downtown Liberal MPs heard about all these reasons from those who would be impacted.
Jets are huge. They belong at Pearson Airport. The jobs can go up there.
A smart decision, all in all.
Barbara Klunder Toronto
What is the purpose of an island airport expansion? What markets are not being served by Pearson Airport, which has more than 50 airlines and is accessible from highways and public transit?
I believe job creation would have largely been limited to the construction of the runway extension – jobs that could also be created by meaningful works. Ongoing economic output would have merely been a substitution from Pearson, not new economic activity. And in providing convenience to significantly few travellers, island expansion would have been significantly detrimental to the area.
Today, the island airport augments Pearson well. It is a niche airport serving a few highly travelled short-haul destinations.
The project should not be allowed to fly, even without a by-election.
Tom Driedger Toronto
The assertion of federal hypocrisy in blocking island airport expansion seems overstated and not entirely because of a by-election.
More than 87,000 public responses, the majority negative, is significant and any government would take this into account. I also believe recent polling confirms that many Toronto residents are simply fed up with yet another attempt by the Premier to undermine the authority of the city.
Had Doug Ford actually worked with the city and local MPPs and MPs to promote a slight runway extension to accommodate quieter, more efficient small jets, he quite possibly would have been successful. However, in typical Ford style, he made it into a large and grandiose expansion. Legislation was hastily pushed through to give the province control over the project.
Polls suggest that an increasing number of people across Ontario are tiring of this style of governance, something many Torontonians have known all along.
Paul Thomson Brockville, Ont.
Another universe
Re “The long odyssey to reopen the Imax Cinesphere at Ontario Place is tragic and embarrassing” (Arts & Books, Aug. 8): I am reminded of another tragic opportunity missed in Toronto. I hope the lessons learned may convince government to make a reopening possible.
The McLaughlin Planetarium opened in 1968 at a cost of $2.25-million; today’s value of the gift from former General Motors of Canada chairman R. Samuel McLaughlin is roughly $20-million. The magnificent venue boasted a domed screen 23 metres in diameter and featured 150 projectors. This was one of the first and finest of its kind in the world.
What became of such a marvel? A tragic loss: the McLaughlin Planetarium was closed in 1995 and demolished earlier this year.
Let’s not let that happen twice.
Neil McLaughlin Burlington, Ont.
Once in a lifetime
Re “Maureen Halushak leaves Chatelaine full of hope for the magazine’s future” (Aug. 8): This reminds me of my own ancient connection with Chatelaine.
As a Toronto history student, I was hired by Byrne Hope Sanders, then the magazine’s editor, to retrieve information about S&H Green Stamps in New York. The S&H librarian was absent the day I photocopied selected documents from the company files.
On his return next morning, the librarian blew his stack and forced me to return the copies. Apparently I had selected too well. On my return empty-handed, Ms. Sanders was greatly amused.
It is nice to remember the flight to LaGuardia Airport and fancy rooms in the Biltmore Hotel, as well as a very different corporate and cultural era.
Larry MacDonald Victoria
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