July 3: Trading on lies. Plus other letters to the editor

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Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Try to keep letters to fewer than 150 words. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here: letters@globeandmail.com

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Trading on lies

You report that, to Canada’s detriment, false and misleading information about the trade imbalance between Canada and the U.S. regularly circulates on Facebook and Twitter (Trump Supporters Embrace Canadian Tariffs Chart With Fake Numbers – Report on Business, June 28). Why is it that Facebook and Twitter, who have promised to eliminate dissemination of “fake news,” allow this to continue? And why do they not target one of the most egregious perpetrators – Donald Trump? When you deny a bully his voice, he becomes powerless.

Jim Davison, Toronto

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I am confused. I read about how harmful tariffs are and what a good thing NAFTA is, but does Donald Trump have a point? He was certainly right when he said too many nations weren’t paying their share of defence spending and leaving too much of that cost for the U.S. to bear. He was certainly right when he said the same thing about countries not paying their share of the cost of the United Nations.

Just wondering …

Roy Smith, Whitby, Ont.

Security threat? It’s guns

Re U.S. Newspaper Targeted In Deliberate Shooting (June 29): When it comes to America’s national security, Donald Trump should forget about border issues and tariffs.

The White House should look right under its nose to see where the legitimate national security issues reside, and it’s right on America’s home turf: guns and gun culture. If he dealt with that issue, the U.S. wouldn’t need a Mass Shooting Tracker that, with five dead in Maryland, is reporting an unbelievable 195 mass shooting incidents so far this year as I write this. What other country in the world requires such a record-keeping system?

Jim Boyd, West Vancouver

An image of Canada

It does seem like a lose/lose dilemma for Justin Trudeau, where tax revenue paid into the federal government’s equalization program by Alberta can be distributed to the likes of Quebec, a province opposed to Western methods of resource development (Does Justin Trudeau Actually Hate The West? – June 27).

I remember our Grade 6 teacher listing have- and have-not provinces on the slate board. Who knows what childhood moments survive into adulthood? This image from the 1950s remains bright in my mind. She was telling us how, through the federal government, provinces shared tax revenue, with dollars transferred from the privileged to the struggling members of the “Dominion.” I remember feeling very proud that Northern Ontario, despite our family’s penniless situation, was in a position to help. Everyone in the room came from a working class family.

I believe that image survived because that day, we learned something wonderful about Canada. Since then, something has changed.

Hugh McKechnie, Newmarket, Ont.

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Even if you use The Globe and Mail’s reported figure $12-billion in equalizaton payments for Quebec, this still accounts for more than 10 per cent of the province’s budget.

If my neighbours were paying more than 10 per cent of all my expenses, I certainly would treat them well. However, the expression “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you” doesn’t seem to apply in Quebec, which blocked the Energy East pipeline while importing Mideast oil in tankers up the St. Lawrence. Meanwhile Alberta’s budget has a massive deficit.

Hypocrite, thy name is Quebec.

Dan Petryk, Calgary

A vision for Ontario?

As I watched the swearing-in ceremonies for Ontario’s new Premier on Friday, I thought how unexpectedly enlightened of Doug Ford to appoint a good number of cabinet ministers who are smarter and more experienced than he is. Then reality sank in. There’s no diversity in the cabinet, and nary a word from the new Premier beyond saving money. Nothing about a creative, enlightened, inclusive society. Not one nod to nature or culture.

Hamburger and fries on paper plates with plastic cutlery: Is this a vision for Ontario?

David Schatzky, Toronto

Power, control, refugees

Re Proposal To Scrap Refugee-Determination System Raises Alarm (June 27): While he was PM, Stephen Harper seemed determined to centralize power in the hands of government and limit the ability of Canadians to scrutinize government actions. Justin Trudeau was clearly elected as an alternative to this agenda, but the proposal to scrap the independent Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) and opt for a “Refugee Protection Agency” that reports directly to the minister is right out of the Harper playbook.

Despite offering himself as the candidate of change, Mr. Trudeau has also demonstrated an affinity for power and control. He had best reflect and continue to support independent agencies and boards such as the IRB, or he will face the same fate as Mr. Harper.

The folly of partisan politics is that when the party of your choice is in power, one supports a leader taking control, without reflecting that when the political tides shift (and they will shift), the new captain will have the power to silently steer the boat into the waters of her or his choice.

Robert McManus, Dundas, Ont.

Reform at ‘U of Tears’

Re University of Toronto Approves Criticized Student Leave Of Absence Policy (June 27): This policy, which could put students with mental health issues “on a mandatory leave of absence if the school deems it necessary,” has caused understandable alarm for many in the U of T community, including students like me.

However, U of T still has a duty to accommodate its students to the point of undue hardship. This means that the university must continue to provide all possible accommodations for students, and must only invoke this policy as a last resort – not in every case of student illness. This new policy allows students to seek treatment without academic repercussions.

So, while U of T evidently needs to clarify the details of this policy, it’s a positive step toward supporting student mental well-being – an important win for the institution informally nicknamed “U of Tears.”

Erica Rzepecki, Mississauga

Canadian T-shirts ‘R’ Us

Canadians who feel obliged to travel to the United States should ensure we are seen as open and honest in our dealings. To that end, airports and duty free shops should sell T-shirts that proclaim who we are. One shirt could have a Canadian flag, accompanied by the words “Warning: Security Risk.” Another could sport a Maple Leaf Superman logo and the message: “Man of steel, please charge an extra 25 per cent.”

James Dickinson, Calgary