In today’s letters to the editor: provincial governments; separation; oil and gas; EVs; airport expansion; the BC Conservative Party; the Vancouver Art Gallery; Pope Leo
Letters to the editor, June 7: ‘Perhaps it’s time for a Canadian referendum on the usefulness of provincial governments’From left, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith meet at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ont.
, last July. I believe they represent an expensive and divisive anachronism for democratic governance. True democracy today should empower municipalities to deal with local issues, while a federal government deals with national and global affairs. Indigenous groups and minorities would only have to deal with one level of government, along with the Supreme Court, to protect their rights, and majorities and minorities alike would experience greater equality from coast to coast to coast.
Combined with proportional representation, which would put an end to polarized politics, local MPs could advocate, say, for lumber in British Columbia, autos in Ontario and oil and gas in Alberta and Newfoundland. Free interprovincial trade and regulatory standardization would become reality, with an immediate impact on GDP.
: It is no surprise to me that pastor Doug Wilson has congregations in Alberta, but it was a surprise to learn he, and presumably others in the United States, are supporting the separatist movement as a way to leave the “wicked nation” of Canada. This line gave me pause: “If the separatists fail, he said, his church stands prepared to intervene more directly on Canadian soil.
” I certainly hope Mr. Wilson and his followers end up on a watch list in Canada.
“The real fight for Canada’s energy future is being fought at a global scale – and the clean side is winning" : Mark Carney may think there is a “complementary role of gas in the short term, a role that is dwarfed in scale in terms of the clean electricity investments that the country will be making,” but has he checked the lead times for large utility-scale gas turbines? Deliveries are now seven to eight years after order placement, and very expensive.
Solar and wind energy and batteries are now cheaper, cleaner and faster to deploy; the input fuel is delivered free of charge to the plant, forever. The opportunity window for natural gas to act as a bridge to a clean electricity grid is closing fast and getting more expensive. : While Ferrari’s first electric model may be lacking in design, its $880,000 price tag is definitely more than shocking.
: We are told there is little to discuss, despite years of previous debate that resulted in a complete rejection of a Billy Bishop Airport extension by Toronto city council. Not happy with this rejection of expansion, our Premier will replace the city with the province in the tripartite agreement with the federal government and Toronto Port Authority. We are talking about a democratic process that will be abruptly ripped apart by the Premier.
The Prime Minister has been speaking across the globe about democratic principles and their importance to governments and citizens. Yet from our Liberal MPs we have, at best, feeble responses to this blatantly undemocratic move. They should insist that the agreement become a quadripartite with Toronto represented by the Mayor or her designate.
Under the terms of the tripartite agreement that governs Billy Bishop, only a single non-STOL commercial plane is approved for use: the De Havilland Dash 8. At the time approval was granted, the only version of the Dash 8 available was a small, relatively lightweight aircraft with a maximum capacity of 39 passengers.
Today’s Q400s, while technically an evolution of the original Dash 8, would have been unrecognizable to the signatories of the agreement: almost 50 per cent longer, a broader wingspan, many more seats and a maximum takeoff weight that’s roughly double. In other words, they’re vastly larger than the authorities intended and only permitted due to an unfortunate loophole in the agreement.
Whether or not the federal Liberals support or oppose the expansion of Billy Bishop Airport is a question that should be asked, particularly of those 23 MPs representing Toronto ridings. However, I believe they would be derelict in their duty if they do not at least support the reinstatement of Toronto as a partner in determining the future of the airport, as set out in the original tripartite agreement.
: Now we know exactly where the BC Conservative Party stands. With Kerry-Lynne Findlay at the helm, we should change the name to the People’s Party of British Columbia and just get on with it. It’s clear to me there’s no room for fiscally conservative, socially progressive folks in this version of the big blue tent. What a gift to the NDP.
: “The VAG building … lacks the space to accommodate both blockbusters and a long suite of galleries devoted to its permanent collection: It needs a new home. ” And it needs a landmark building worthy of its exhibits that attracts tourists, while protecting its art from daylight. The Vancouver Art Gallery happens to occupy arguably the city’s most prominent building.
The VAG courthouse sits above the vast underground Robson Square, now occupied by the University of British Columbia. But unlike the VAG, UBC does not require protection from daylight. Especially given downtown’s low double-digit office vacancy rate, UBC could join Simon Fraser University and the British Columbia Institute of Technology in its own existing downtown office tower, at far lower cost than a new starchitect museum on a less visible site.
: Many years ago, my late dad used to play tennis once a week with the Anglican bishop in Ottawa. What I remember most were the delicious muffins he used to bring home from the bishop. At the time, for some reason, I thought it odd that a man of the cloth would play tennis. Weren’t they supposed to be ministering to their flock 24/7?
Now that I see the Pope is a regular player, I understand. Just because one is a religious leader doesn’t mean one can’t also have a little fun. Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number.
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