Today’s Letters: All party leaders should denounce hateful protests

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Trudeau needs company in taking stand

Re: Hate Marches Must End Now, Apr. 24:

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In her column, Tasha Kheiriddin suggests that Justin Trudeau should have given a strongly worded 20-minute speech to the nation condemning these ongoing protests that are so inimical to the Canadian way. Underlying his totally weak-kneed response was the fear that a strong statement would cost him votes.

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Let’s take politics out of the equation by having the leaders of our three principal political parties appearing together in a televised address to make it clear that these hate-mongering rallies are unacceptable and illegal, and will be met with the full force of the law.

If our political leaders cannot stop playing politics and come together to nip this in the bud, then we are in for some very troubling times.

Gerald Dust, Orléans

Cohen’s column taught valuable lesson

Re: ​Passover a time to seek freedom from folly, fear, Apr. 25:

From his philosophical perch as an academic, historian and as a Jew, Andrew Cohen offers a lesson in generosity of spirit and liberalism of mind.

As an academic, he is able to state opinions in a way that I can’t without sounding arrogant. As an historian, he is able to collate facts garnered from history without pretense. And as a Jew, he is able to state what has to be said on the current plight of Israel in a way that I can’t without sounding antisemitic.

This is a wonderful column, and I hope that Canadians reading it appreciate our own freedoms to say and do what is right in troubling times when certain opposing factions may politicize otherwise honourable intentions.

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Peter Haley, Ottawa

Re-think NCC’s mandate

Re: End the 24 Sussex Drive embarrassment, Apr. 24:

I agree with most of what Eric Hamelin writes except for his suggestion that responsibility for 24 Sussex Drive be taken away from the NCC and returned to the federal government. The last time I looked, the NCC was a federal agency reporting to a federal minister. And therein lies the problem.

If I may be permitted a “blue-sky” moment, perhaps the Commissioner of the NCC should be an Officer of Parliament, thereby relieving the government of responsibility for politically sensitive but not nation-busting decisions.

Its mandate might also restrict it to looking after national monuments, official residences and other properties of national significance, not local beaches. Responsibility for the latter and other NCC properties could be transferred to, say, Canada Lands.

Just a thought.

Ronald Lemieux, Ottawa
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What if EV plants pull up stakes?

Right behind the news that the CEO of Stellantis is the highest paid executive in the auto industry comes the revelation that Canadian taxpayers are subsidizing their Windsor EV plant, along with multi-billions going to Honda.

When these companies pull up stakes and leave in a few short years, I assume that just like Canopy Growth and Target, they won’t return these subsidies. Taxpayers are bracing for yet another huge hit while food banks are closing and shelters are overflowing. Shameful.

Judy Warren, Ottawa

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