{"id":195765,"date":"2026-09-04T08:28:22","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T08:28:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/195765\/"},"modified":"2026-09-04T08:28:22","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T08:28:22","slug":"letters-to-the-editor-sept-4-pete-hegseths-post-about-canadian-cadets-angered-me-more-than-any-other-shameful-words-uttered-or-actions-initiated-by-the-trump-administration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/195765\/","title":{"rendered":"Letters to the editor, Sept. 4: \u2018Pete Hegseth\u2019s post about Canadian cadets angered me more than any other shameful words uttered or actions initiated by the Trump administration\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Open this photo in gallery:<\/a><\/p>\n

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in the Rose Garden of the White House on Wednesday.Alex Brandon\/The Associated Press<\/p>\n

Canadian contribution<\/p>\n

Re \u201cGet it together\u201d<\/a> (Letters, Sept. 2): A letter-writer from Alberta claims her province is the financial breadbasket of Canada. How does Alberta\u2019s roughly 15 per cent of national GDP in any way resemble a breadbasket?<\/p>\n

James McCarney Oakville, Ont.<\/p>\n

I find it rich to read comments from readers out east condemning the stances that Scott Moe and Danielle Smith have taken in the trade war. <\/p>\n

Here in Alberta, we have endured more than a decade of anti-oil legislation and rhetoric from Ottawa and other provinces. Now there is surprise that we don\u2019t want to shut off our markets in the name of national unity. <\/p>\n

If only Ottawa had pushed for access to new markets last decade, maybe we\u2019d be more open to the economic hit of limiting U.S. exports. <\/p>\n

Blair McDermid Calgary<\/p>\n

Limited options<\/p>\n

Re \u201cHow Canada can best respond to threats from the United States\u201d<\/a> (Opinion, Aug. 29): We could put a surcharge on energy exports to the United States. <\/p>\n

But as Danielle Smith points out, the existing east-west pipeline to Ontario goes through the United States. Donald Trump could simply cut off the flow at the U.S. border, starving Ontario of fuel. <\/p>\n

Our Prime Minister should correct this issue as soon as possible, so that our fuel from Alberta is piped to Ontario all on Canadian soil.<\/p>\n

For now, I see only two approaches: Do nothing, or tariff dollar for dollar. Politically, Canadians want retaliation and that is what Mark Carney is offering.<\/p>\n

Ken Stock Port Hope, Ont.<\/p>\n

The U.S. trade war with Canada is symptomatic of a country falling behind in its international dominance politically and economically. <\/p>\n

Instead of addressing this with moves to strengthen ties with allies and supporting international institutions that are cornerstones of world order, the United States is taxing its international economic partners and creating wars aimed at regime change and control of resources, especially critical minerals. We can hope the U.S. will come to see its folly, but no use holding our collective breaths. <\/p>\n

It is more important than ever that we assert our sovereignty. If we do not preserve our independence, perhaps we don\u2019t deserve it.<\/p>\n

Richard Westler Ottawa<\/p>\n

Uncalled for<\/p>\n

Re \u201cPete Hegseth proves himself unworthy of his job again \u2013 this time, at Canada\u2019s expense\u201d<\/a> (Sept. 2): For some reason, Pete Hegseth\u2019s post about Canadian cadets angered me more than any other shameful words uttered or actions initiated by the Trump administration.<\/p>\n

I wish every decent American, if there are any left, could read this scathing account of his cruel, thuggish behaviour.<\/p>\n

How is such behaviour consistent with the Christian values Mr. Hegseth and so many in America profess to embrace?<\/p>\n

John Rankin Burlington, Ont.<\/p>\n

It has been reported that internal briefings by Canadian Forces Health Services reveal that 72 per cent of Canadian Armed Forces personnel are classified as either overweight or obese.<\/p>\n

Make of this what you will; I have.<\/p>\n

Paul White Toronto<\/p>\n

Like many people, I searched online for the Vernon Cadet Training Centre. <\/p>\n

Unlike someone, whose name I choose not to mention, what I saw was young people having a good time and, no doubt, learning lots about teamwork. Thanks to them and to their instructors. <\/p>\n

I have one question: Do they get to keep their bucket hats?<\/p>\n

Peter Bull New Westminster, B.C.<\/p>\n

Recent history<\/p>\n

Re \u201cWhy America \u2013 and Canada \u2013 cannot run from the history of slavery\u201d<\/a> (Opinion, Aug. 29): It was John Quincy Adams who, in 1820, described slavery as the \u201cgreat and foul stain upon the North American union.\u201d That stain is tragically visible to this day. <\/p>\n

This subject is movingly addressed in the poignant 2020 book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson.<\/p>\n

Paul Thiessen Vancouver<\/p>\n

Ways to go<\/p>\n

Re \u201cThe weak link in Canada\u2019s ambitions\u201d<\/a> (Editorial, Sept. 2): The Second Narrows Rail Bridge in Vancouver is owned by Canadian National Railway.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure the federal government would have a role to play in replacing that bridge, but I wonder what incentive the CEO of a major railway has to undertake a multimillion-dollar infrastructure replacement?<\/p>\n

Joe Heyninck Bracebridge, Ont.<\/p>\n

Re \u201cMinor reforms won\u2019t fix Canada\u2019s ports\u201d<\/a> (Editorial, Aug. 28): A critical element of making Canadian ports more attractive, efficient and reliable is the role of Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City. <\/p>\n

CN\u2019s privatization is usually hailed as a success, but it meant the railway was liberated from transport policy issues and free to seek profit maximization. Canada\u2019s ports need highly fluid, rail-based logistics that are high-performing and scalable in capacity, geographical coverage and, consequently, somewhat speculative. This is not the stuff of a derived-demand business model.<\/p>\n

While renationalization is likely not an option, co-investment is. There should be federal policy and a governing body that co-ordinates with shippers and port operations. The United States is well ahead of Canada, as demonstrated by Nutrien\u2019s tentative decision to export potash through Longview, Wash., instead of Vancouver. <\/p>\n

Rail freight in Canada should no longer be a solely private sector matter, but rather one of global competitiveness and sovereignty.<\/p>\n

Kenneth Westcar Woodstock, Ont.<\/p>\n

Like the sound of it<\/p>\n

Re \u201cTwenty years later, Alfonso Cuar\u00f3n\u2019s Children of Men feels more urgent and powerful than ever before\u201d<\/a> (Arts & Books, Aug. 29): In terms of being \u201cinnovative in its cinematic execution\u201d with \u201ctechnical skill underlining every beat,\u201d the expansive soundscape of Children of Men was co-created by Canadian supervising sound editor David Evans along with sound designer Richard Beggs. <\/p>\n

Mr. Evans\u2019s work in film and television spans continents and notably includes David Cronenberg\u2019s breakout film The Fly, as well as big-budget franchises such as the James Bond title Die Another Day, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Batman Begins, among others. <\/p>\n

More importantly, Mr. Evans has inspired, created opportunities for and helped train a generation of Canadian sound editors, of which I am grateful to be one.<\/p>\n

Jane Tattersall Toronto<\/p>\n

Peace and quiet<\/p>\n

Re \u201cMajor redevelopment project at Yonge and St. Clair promises to set a high standard for urbanism\u201d<\/a> (Aug. 29): What\u2019s wrong with a district that \u201cis a sleepy residential neighbourhood?\u201d <\/p>\n

Local residents might suggest that is exactly why we live there.<\/p>\n

Frances Horodelski Toronto<\/p>\n

Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Keep letters to 150 words or fewer. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here: letters@globeandmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Open this photo in gallery: U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in the Rose Garden of the White House…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":195766,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[17,616,484,617],"class_list":["post-195765","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-canada","tag-canada","tag-letters-to-the-editor","tag-noastack","tag-nopolly"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195765","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=195765"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195765\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/195766"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=195765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=195765"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=195765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}