U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House on Monday.Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Us vs. them
Re “ ‘Zero chance’ of U.S. invading Canada, Alaskan Governor says” (Sept. 26): The conflict with the United States is not religious, cultural, ethnic, ideological nor territorial. It is economic, and behind the battlefield lies the balance sheet.
Historically, economic conflict is harmful and dangerous and can potentially lead to war. The Prime Minister’s prescient remarks should not be dismissed by Canadians.
Gary William O’Brien Ottawa
Re “Trump has done ‘more than anyone’ to protect Canada, White House says” (Sept. 25): The correct verb should be “to unify Canada.”
Tony Manera Ottawa
Trade secrets
Re “U.S. not rushing to strike deal with Canada, Washington’s trade envoy says” (Sept. 26): U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Donald Trump should reflect on their strategy. Their hostile attitude and threats have sunk in, but the results they hoped for have been elusive.
Rather than bow to every demand, Canada has walked away while working to find new partners for trade such as China and India. Infrastructure is being readied to support these initiatives.
The essential goods Mr. Trump doesn’t need from Canada just get more expensive and harder to source: Oil from Venezuela is years and billions of dollars away; potash from Belarus looks nearly sold out; the United States itself lacks the hydro infrastructure for aluminum production. Mr. Trump has few viable partners other than Canada.
Rather than keep pressing with new sticks, the U.S. should work on sweetening the deal. I am convinced, though, this administration prefers to dance the Hokey Pokey, take their right foot out and shoot it.
Brian Sim Hamilton
Re “Donald Trump and the closing of the American mind” (Report on Business, Sept. 25): In troubled trade talks between Canada and the United States, it is not so much trade that jams things up but rather the top-level U.S. National Security Strategy.
It states: “The United States will reassert and enforce the Monroe Doctrine to restore American pre-eminence in the Western Hemisphere.” This is U.S. policy and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer believes in it.
So he cannot understand why Canadians fuss about the U.S. trying to assert control over Canadian foreign and defence policy and with whom we trade. It is just “sovereignty schtick” to him.
So Mr. Greer is not on the side of the angels here. His worldview, as does Donald Trump’s, has a different foundation than ours.
Canadians should be wary of Mr. Greer and his one-sided appreciation of the importance of sovereignty.
Pete Avis Kingston, Ont.
To what end?
Re “Security experts call for inquiry into Havana Syndrome cases at Canada’s embassy in Cuba” (Sept. 28): While I see no particular problem with the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians looking into Havana Syndrome cases, what would such an inquiry achieve?
Whether or not Canada was engaged in any intelligence collection in Havana may be of interest to some, but it would be essentially irrelevant given that the existence of such an effort does not prove an attack took place. In any case, it seems unlikely Russia or Cuba would have felt the need for such a justification, nor would any intelligence collection change the nature of Canada’s responsibility for its diplomatic staff there.
Given that NSICOP cannot determine whether there was an attack or the nature of such an attack, nor offer any useful opinion on the possible consequences to those who may have been affected, it is hard for me to see what an inquiry would achieve.
W.P.D. Elcock Ottawa
Go with the flow
Re “Economics of West Coast pipeline in focus ahead of Ottawa major project decision” (Report on Business, Sept. 24): A quick glance at a map of Canada shows that the straight-line distance from Fort McMurray, Alta., to Churchill, Man., is shorter than the distance from Fort McMurray to Prince Rupert, B.C, and the route to tidewater at the soon-to-be-upgraded Port of Churchill is a lot flatter.
Just an observation.
Bill Roscoe Toronto
Most Canadians support government efforts to reduce our dependence on the United States by making our economy more resilient and diverse. But increasing Canada’s share of European and Asian markets for bitumen and liquefied natural gas would work against these goals.
The U.S. is determined to dominate the market: It seized control of Venezuelan oil, which in time would replace Canadian bitumen. And fossil energy markets in Asia and Europe are forecast to decline as more efficient renewables are rapidly deployed.
Increasing competition with an undifferentiated product, in a declining market against a dominant player intending economic “conquest,” would be a failing strategy. It would embed Canada deeper with the U.S., reducing our resilience and autonomy. The opportunity cost of forgoing alternative long-term investments seems high.
Anyone who’s raised venture money knows Canadian bankers are famously risk-averse. Not so Mark Carney. This time, that’s not a good thing.
John Kidder Ashcroft, B.C.
Up in the air
Re “Carney’s airport investment plan doesn’t go far enough in privatization” (Report on Business, Sept. 23): As a retired CFO of the Ottawa Airport Authority (1996 to 2015), I know a few things about airports.
Airports do not set ticket prices; airlines do by deciding the routes they will serve based on their own economics. Security fees are the responsibility of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority and not subject to airport control.
Airport improvement fees are to be used solely to fund infrastructure and related debt, and not to cover operating costs. Don’t think that these “punitive” fees would disappear with private ownership. They are more likely to increase to provide for profit.
Regular consultation between airports and airlines helps to keep airport costs under control. It would be naive to think that private for-profit investors will be more transparent and accountable to the travelling public than not-for-profit airport authorities with requirements for public disclosure, publicly available annual reports, annual public meetings and public consultation.
John Weerdenburg CPA, CA; Ottawa
Fan appreciation
Re “The Blue Jays’ failed 2026 season confirms it: The 2025 run was a fluke” (Sports, Sept. 28): “Nostalgic delusion” is given as the explanation for 40,000-plus fans showing their love for the Blue Jays during their final game of the season.
“These fans don’t believe in standings. They believe in feelings.” As if that’s a bad thing?
That’s what being a fan means. Enough with the cutting, cynical commentary on the “failed” season and bleak future. Sunday afternoon was all about feelings and it was awesome.
Jean Mills Guelph, Ont.
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