ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½

Tim Heffernan, ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½

Taking the fight to Trump

Carney set to meet with cabinet to weigh response to Trump’s 35% tariff threat, July 15

There are several ways that Canada can take the offensive in trade negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump. We should refuse to negotiate dairy quotas until Trump follows through on his promise to deport undocumented workers, who typically are poorly paid, get no benefits and work long hours, giving American farmers an advantage over our own. As Trump continues to talk about fentanyl from Canada being a problem, we should introduce a border-security tax for Canadians without visas who cross into the United States. This would help put a stop to the phenomenon of cross-border shoppers going to the U.S. and supporting Trump’s economy at the expense of Canada’s. It would also give our border officers more time to focus on the real problem of drugs and guns flooding into Canada from the U.S. and, by hurting the economies of the border states, potentially hurt Trump’s party in the 2026 midterm elections. Finally, we need to normalize trade with China, a country that is no more our enemy than the U.S. or India are. The two existential threats Canada faces are from the U.S. and climate change, not China.

Michael Yaffe, ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½

Let’s show that Canadians have some backbone and retaliate if Trump’s tariff threats come to fruition. The president claims that the U.S. doesn’t need anything we produce, so let’s put the same export tax on all products the U.S. gets from Canada and tariffs on all products Canada imports from the U.S. This would contribute to price inflation, hitting the Americans right in their pocketbooks. What we are dealing with in Trump is a schoolyard bully, and we should give him some of his own medicine.

Carl Irwin, Flesherton, ON

Ontario seniors deserve better

Ford government to bury long-term care inspection reports: What are they hiding? June 10

I am appalled by this move to make it more difficult for the public to obtain information about the performance of long-term care homes. We seniors must be empowered to make informed decisions about our futures. We must be given access to relevant information to know what our options are. When taking care of elderly people becomes a business, we must be ever more mindful of their well-being. Access to records is the most direct way to know how long-term care is being run. Let’s not forget the lessons of the pandemic years or that policies aimed at “red-tape reduction� can be used to cover up important information.

Patricia Varas, ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½

Canada’s Youth Injustice Act?

‘Sense of shock’ after teen charged in attack on eight-year-old, July 9

This is a shocking story. My heart goes out to the family, who must be suffering, and I’m very angry for their eight-year-old for what she went through and will carry with her for the rest of her life. That the child’s attacker is a teenager is mind-boggling. Due to his age, the suspect cannot be identified. The seriousness of this crime is a perfect example of why that law needs to change.

Chris Andrews, Vaughan, ON

Fewer highways, more education

Cuts at Ontario colleges leading to nearly 10,000 job losses, union says, July 9

It would seem that Premier Doug Ford is using the same playbook as Trump when it comes to attacking education. Has Ford never heard that “there is no greater wealth than wisdom, no greater poverty than ignorance”? These job cuts won’t make Ontario a top destination for those looking to leave or avoid the U.S., and what about our young people? Our students deserve a good education to open doors that will give them a bright future. If Ford needs to make cuts, then he should cut one of his useless highways. Education should be paramount.

Jan Sheridan, Milton, ON

Selling cities at discount prices

Corporate naming is taking over. Welcome to ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½, brought to you by Rogers, July 15

I applaud Edward Keenan for his piece about corporate naming rights. Hilarious (and true). What he didn’t mention is the real reason we sell those rights: our cities are cash-strapped. This is one way a city can raise some dough without raising taxes. Shame on us for being such patsies — but what can you expect of the chumps who okayed construction of the SkyDome for $150 million, paid upwards of $570 million on delivery and later sold for a mere $25 million? There’s one born every minute. This seems to be the year of the mark.

Peter Omnet, ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½