Polling Poilievre
I read the essays in “If He Wins” (November) and found them to be informative interpretations of the “winners” and “losers” should Pierre Poilievre be elected and the Conservatives form government: the “winners” being the wealthiest Canadians and conspiracy theorists and the “losers” being climate change advocates and Indigenous community members who want to move forward with reconciliation. I am no fan of Justin Trudeau, but I am even less of a fan of Poilievre. Unlike Brian Mulroney or John Turner, he is unable to respectfully debate policies with political opponents and is without the class required for the nation’s leader. The Conservative Party was aware of these shortcomings last year when they initiated an attempt to soften Poilievre’s image by making warm and fuzzy videos of him with his family, styling him more fashionably and replacing his glasses with contact lenses and cool aviator shades à la Joe Biden. But they can rebrand the package all they want. What does not change is Poilievre’s character. We deserve better: a prime minister who is positive and uplifting and brings us together.
David Sotvedt
Vancouver, BC
I was excited to read the essays in “If He Wins,” as I am very concerned about the rise of Poilievre’s popularity and the extremist views of his party. But my heart sank when I saw the titles of the essays. Where is the coverage of life for low-income seniors under these slasher Conservatives, who I fear will decimate every thread of our social safety net to further their narrow vision of fiscal austerity? What is going to happen to my Old Age Security, the only buffer between me and homelessness? Will the guy in the aviator shades take an axe to my new dental coverage, my only hope of getting major problems with my teeth fixed? Seniors should be a priority in your reporting of the Conservative hordes at the gates led by a rabid political opportunist.
Doreen Marion Gee
Victoria, BC
Pause for Thought
I could relate to much of Susan Glickman’s “Menopause Is a Pretty Damn Fine Stage of Life.” However, her claim that hormone replacement therapy, among other things, can have “worse consequences than the problems they are designed to solve” is sadly reminiscent of the outdated medical advice given to millions of women. There is new information that hormone replacement therapy is not only safe but beneficial far beyond reducing the impact of hot flashes. I urge Glickman to write about her personal experience with menopause but leave the medical guidance to the experts.
Sian Roberts
Toronto, ON
No Ifs, Ands, or Butts
Having read “The Quebec Secession Crisis Is Coming, and Canada Isn’t Ready,” two things stand out. Namely, the writer Gerald Butts’ hostility and condescension toward Western Canada and his unsubstantiated fear of Quebec separation. On these points, I have only one thing to say: few have done more to stoke division and, indeed, regional hostility in this country in the past ten years than Butts and the government that he was part of and still supports.
Alan Duguid
Calgary, AB
