Letters: Canada should unleash harsh U.S. tariffs on Trump

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Jean Chretien’s 91st birthday message published in the Globe and Mail should be required reading for all Canadians.

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He has stated clearly how our politicians, federal and provincial, as well as our businesses should respond to the threats and bluster Donald Trump spews not only to Canada but the rest of the world as well.

If he applies outrageous tariffs, we should respond in kind. And not just the annoying mosquito bites we tried in his first term — orange juice, bourbon, etc.

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Let’s go after things that will count — threaten to replace our military aircraft with planes built in Europe rather than in the USA. Hit his billionaire sycophants where it counts — in the pocketbook. Tax all of Elon Musk’s earnings in Canada as well as those of Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos.

Stop bending the knee to Trump and stroking his ego. Let’s show some pride in our country and reject the ignorance and corruption emanating from Trump and his minions.

Oh, as well, should we really be building massive data and AI centres draining our electricity output. Didn’t Alberta suffer from rolling blackouts in the recent past? Let’s hope Kevin O’Leary and Danielle Smith aren’t blinded by their celebrity status.

Garry Burling, Corman Park

No simple solutions for problems raised

Dale Botting’s public mea culpa, published on Jan. 10, is a rarity for people with a long history of public service — a noble gesture in any case. Finding an answer to the problems he raises is a different matter. Most of our challenges exist also across our nation and beyond.

We are not an island of misery, with the root causes being complex and beyond easy solutions. Common is the increasing visibility of ‘losers’ and the ever more brazen use of power by the ‘winners.’ Undoubtedly, we have gradually slipped into an ever more individualistic and self-serving populace.

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A change in attitude would be a good start toward a better future. Thankfully, the answer is not just blowing in the wind, as Bob Dylan’s famous song suggests; the solution is found in these revised lyrics: ‘the answer, my friend, lies in the heart of men …’ It needs a lot of mea culpas, and changes of hearts.

Thank you, Dale.

Henry Feldkamp, Saskatoon

Friendly French in Paris set example for us

I recently arrived in Paris for a vacation in the City of Light. Fresh from the plane, as I was eating my first restaurant meal in the centre of town, a pleasant-looking family with two boys and a girl (aged five to 14?) arrived at a nearby table.

The father said “Bonjour” to me when they came in, and, when I smiled at them as I left, the whole family said “Au revoir.” I walked out of the restaurant buoyed by the human contact.

Such civility is not part of Canadian customs.  But you can try saying “Hello” to people on the street. Some time you might give someone a lift.

David Edney, Saskatoon

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