Contributed – Dec 19, 2024 / 11:20 am | Story: 523691
Nauseating dispatches continue from the U.S. president-elect Donald Trump.
“The Great State of Canada is stunned as the finance minister resigns, or was fired, from her position by Governor Justin Trudeau,” Trump posted on his social media site, Truth Social.
I’m very disturbed by the present dynamics here on our continent. There seems to be no objection from either side of the U.S.-Canada border, decrying such embarrassing rhetoric.
Our “leader” in Canada (Prime Minister Justin Trudeau) demonstrates no national pride and, most definitely, no courage. The future commander-in-chief of our southern neighbour has no decency, no integrity and no concern for other countries or for any person other than himself and his wealthy friends.
The push for Canada to spend multiple billions annually to support NATO, supposedly to do more as a protection from possible future foreign threats, is a flawed argument for sure. The only real threat to Canada of any kind is being made by our “friend,” the U.S., a threat to impose a 25% tariff.
Perhaps we should withdraw from being a NATO member. Rather, let’s just have a military, along with positive military cooperation with other countries from both the West and the East. Canada’s role in peacekeeping during the latter part of the 20th century led to our reputation as a positive middle power, and we identified our peacekeeping efforts as the country’s top contribution in international affairs. But, by the 21st century, NATO had reallocated our U.N. peacekeeping participation.
We should also be aware of the fact that the East is becoming more dominant in technological and trade-related matters. How about forming closer economic ties with BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) countries. China is not an enemy to fear. It’s a country with whom to cooperate, to share benefits as a trading partner.
Wake up to the fact the U.S., in effect, is now a former democracy. As U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders accurately described in recent interviews, his country is fast becoming an oligarchy (i.e. government by the few, especially with despotic power exercised by a small and privileged group of wealthy individuals for corrupt and/or selfish purposes).
Abraham Lincoln’s, “government of the people, by the people, and for the people” is now government of the billionaires, by the billionaires and for the billionaires (and other extremely wealthy individuals). Interestingly, fascism is defined in a Google search as an ultranationalistic political ideology that embraces several other key traits, including having a centralized autocracy with a dictatorial leader, and being characterized by a strong and controlled regimentation of the economy.
What’s particularly discouraging, and also astounding, is more than half of the American voting population, in the recent election, placed their votes for a political movement openly promoting and demonstrating the above features.
Woe to North America.
Gord Mallett, Kelowna
Contributed – Dec 19, 2024 / 10:52 am | Story: 523685
Re. Poll: Should Canada impose a 25% tariff on American goods in response to a threatened 25% U.S. tariff on Canadian goods? (Castanet, Dec. 17)
I was astounded that nearly 65% of people (who responded) on Castanet agreed retaliatory tariffs should be placed on American products.
Did it not occur to any of those individuals that perhaps we should fix the Canada-U.S. border?
I thought the Quebec premier said it best, “If we fix the border, Canada can avoid these tariffs.” I couldn’t agree more.
I’ve heard the argument that these tariffs are unjustified because Canada doesn’t have a border problem. I’ll take this opportunity to remind readers the Americans intercepted a 1,000-pound shipment of cocaine from Canada two weeks ago, and don’t forget the 350 terror suspects intercepted, the foiled mass causality terror attack or that Canada has become a net exporter of fentanyl.
Tom Hogan, the incoming U.S. border “czar,” stated Canada had the loosest immigration standards in the Western world. For example, Minister Mark Miller, Canada’s “failed” minister of immigration, at committee admitted that immigrants are not required to provide a police certificate from their country of origin.
The federal Liberal government has completely ignored the border for years, and and its mass immigration has created this situation. This is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s fault.
I think the best solution is to strengthen immigration vetting 10-fold and shore up the border. By doing that we will cut down on the drugs heading south, the guns heading north and keep terrorists, criminals and gangs out of the Canada. It’s a win-win-win.
The worst thing we can do is get into a trade war that we cannot win.
A letter writer stated we should impose export tariffs. I’m not sure if this individual realizes that taxing ourselves is not a good idea. If Canada imposes export tariffs, the Americans will simply absorb our production capacity and render us useless.
Another issue is how weak the federal government has become. Parliament has been (gridlocked) for two months because the Liberals refuse to hand over documents regarding the SDTC “slush” fund.
Canada needs an election as soon as possible so the next prime minister has a clear mandate and can negotiate from a position of strength.
Matt Irnie, Kelowna
Contributed – Dec 19, 2024 / 10:35 am | Story: 523676
Re: Prince George gas station robbery leads to crash, three arrests (Castanet, Dec. 18)
Credit where credit is due, apprehending all three robbery suspects within an hour of it taking place is excellent police work.
However, this excellent police work is being undermined by our judicial system.
Certainly, we don’t want to abolish legal rights, such as the presumption of innocence, the ability to post bond and other protective measures to prevent the wrongly accused from suffering unjust consequences.
But when somebody steals a vehicle, drives to another city to commit a violent crime, then proceeds to ram that stolen vehicle into innocent people, maybe judges should not release them with a flimsy promise to appear in court
All that approach does is reinforce the mentality amongst criminals that they can victimize society with impunity.
Even from a compassionate standpoint, this approach makes no sense. Assuming every person has extenuating circumstances and redeemable qualities, why would we allow someone who’s life is on the wrong track to continue snowballing with offences and ultimately dig themselves a deeper hole?
Connon York
Contributed – Dec 19, 2024 / 10:25 am | Story: 523674
Canada Post should stop door to door delivery in urban centres .
We have picked up (our mail) for over 20 years at the end of the street, with at least 50 other neighbours, so to still be (delivering) door to door in 2024 is ridiculous and costly.
If Canada Post does not want to deliver on Saturdays, like the U.S. Postal Service, it should hire staff that do, in order to be competitive and cut their pay to three days a week and the others to three days a week.
Canada Post needs a major overhaul of all staff positions.
In costly remote settings, set delivery to three times a week maximum, not five days a week.
Also, reduce the cost of sending a package so more people will use it because now, even using their own boxes, it is still expensive.
M McNamara
Contributed – Dec 18, 2024 / 10:10 am | Story: 523463
Re: Bill Grigg’s letter Trump POTY no surprise (Castanet, Dec. 13)
There is a reason (U.S president-elect Donald) Trump was elected, the people love him and he loves the people.
No single person in humanity is, or was, perfect (except my Grandma Kae), and we can’t expect Trump to be perfect, but he was obviously the better choice (he won) and I think four years from now, (the writer) will agree that he, and many others were wrong about Trump.
It wasn’t long ago that I too, hated Trump—so much that I had one friend who I wouldn’t even speak to because he was pro-Trump.
It took a few years and I had to start getting my news from other sources, but now I admit I was wrong about him. Like (the writer), I was influenced by the anti-Trump media but I have since learned the truth about him.
Keep an mind open, don’t believe everything you read and dig a little deeper the next time you read something reported with feelings, not facts.
Troy Gangl
Contributed – Dec 18, 2024 / 10:00 am | Story: 523456
Canada Post must become, at the very least, a break-even entity to survive.
Consideration should be given to continue to keep Purolator as a separate parcel delivery company and revitalize Canada Post mail service to deliver three days one week and two days the next to achieve savings.
Half the management team, half the employees and half the operating expenses would make it profitable.
Ron Dust
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Publish date : 2024-12-19 06:51:00
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