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Mr. Trump's diplomacy
Former Canadian ambassador to South and North Korea Marcus Grinius warns that North Korea may be trying to "drive a wedge … between South Korea and its closest ally, the United States" (The Way Forward With North Korea Remains Fraught With Danger – Jan. 12).
Donald Trump created that wedge. He threatened to terminate the "horrible" U.S.-South Korea free-trade agreement. He reportedly instructed U.S. Trade Ambassador Robert Lighthizer to negotiate by telling the South Koreans that Mr. Trump is "so crazy he could pull out any minute."
The President embodies Joey Adams's famous joke: "With friends like that, who needs enemies?"
A. A. Sayeed, Toronto
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Donald Trump's petulance again kills diplomacy: This time he won't open the new U.S. Embassy in London because it is stained by Barack Obama's approval – never mind that it was actually George W. Bush who approved it – and because is in a down-market location.
The President has made himself and his office ridiculous by insulting Haiti, El Salvador and African countries with racist, degrading comments (Trump Vulgarity Roils U.S., World With Offensive Comments On Immigrants, Jan. 12).
Meantime, rumours are still flying around London from his earlier U.K. comments: He might visit if he can use the Embassy of Ecuador, where he hopes to find a confidant; if the Queen will meet him in the gold state coach; if she will let him wear the largest of the state crowns for at least 10 minutes for a news clip; if she will keep those damn dogs well away from him!
Here in Canada we must seriously consider a border wall to keep as much embarrassment as possible to the south of us. And we can only hope that God will continue to save the Queen … from any taint of encountering The Donald close up.
William Emigh, Victoria
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Looking for respect
Re U.S. Making 'Extreme' And Unacceptable NAFTA Demands, Freeland Says (Jan. 11): If Trade Minister François Philippe Champagne thinks he will get "respect" for complaining to the WTO, he's in for a big surprise. Donald Trump is laughing at these "fightin' words."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau committed to updating and modernizing the North American free-trade agreement through constructive renegotiation last July. Whining to the World Trade Organization is not a productive negotiation measure with a President who has successfully prosecuted the war against IS, with the coalition recapturing more than 95 per cent of territory previously held by IS in Iraq and Syria.
But many, including our leaders, don't know about Mr. Trump's many successes because the press doesn't cover them.
It's time leaders like Mr. Champagne opened their eyes to the tidal wave of reality that is about to hit our country. Mr. Trump is reviving Made-in-America by putting America first and it's working, the economy is roaring back to life. Complaining to the WTO is just giving Mr. Trump another reason to invoke NAFTA's withdrawal clause.
Stacey Gaiga, Port Alberni, B.C.
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Bread for thought
Re Loblaw Serves Up Some Baloney (Jan. 12): If safeguarding customers is one of the Competition Bureau's main responsibilities, why did it allow Loblaw executives to get off the hook?
In this country, stealing a loaf of bread is considered a crime – but fleecing hundreds of thousands of Canadians for 14 years seems to be made okay with the offer of a $25 gift card from Loblaw. If someone was caught stealing from a bank, would the courts agree to let the thief go, provided he/she returns a small fraction of the money? I somehow doubt it. It seems shielding Loblaw has taken precedence over safeguarding consumers.
Ali Orang, Richmond Hill, Ont.
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Help us to help
When I appeared before the House Finance Committee, I spoke on behalf of four non-profits – Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation, Ivey Business School, Business for the Arts, and the United Way of Greater Toronto's Major Individual Giving Campaign cabinet. But I believe our request has the wide support of Canadian charities, and that our disappointment at the committee's failure to act on our tax-reform request is widely shared.
We asked the government to remove a tax barrier to charitable giving for owners of private-company shares or real estate who sell their assets to an arm's-length party and donate the cash to a charity. The owner would be exempt from paying capital gains tax on the donated money, as is already the case with listed securities. Extrapolating from the U.S. experience, charities would receive $200-million a year more in donations. The cost to the government of the forgone capital gains tax would be only $50-million to $60-million a year.
This measure would provide funds to charities, which could then use the money in myriad ways to help Canada become more productive and competitive: For example, helping pay for education and training provided by universities and colleges, and helping fund medical rehabilitation of injured workers to get them back on the job.
The Finance Committee's report included 92 recommendations for the 2018 budget, but our proposal was not included. We urge Canadians, and MPs and senators to communicate their support of this measure to Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau before the House returns on Jan. 29. Canada as a whole would benefit, and charities the millions of Canadians they serve would be very grateful.
Donald K. Johnson, Toronto
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Transit. Cheers and shame
Re King Streetcar Sees 'Spectacular' Ridership Rise (Jan. 12): Three cheers for Toronto's successful King Street pilot program.
What an amazing improvement for commuters, myself included, on the street with Toronto's heaviest surface transit demand. Shame, shame, shame on the city for ignoring the businesses along the route.
There is a solution: Keep the driving restrictions along King but modify the complete ban on parking to permit it from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., after 6:30 p.m. and all day Saturday and Sunday.
The extreme measures that are in place now are sucking the vibrancy out of King Street.
Suzanne Graham, Toronto
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Disparity, the sequel
Re Higher Minimum Wage Will Hurt, Not Help, Working Poor (Report on Business, Jan. 12): After reading this column, I look forward to the next logical instalment: Higher Maximum Wage Will Help, Not Hurt, The Working Wealthy.
Frank Steeve, Barrie, Ont.