Letters: O Canada, the truth hurts sometimes

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When it comes to health care, “equal access” means very little to an individual struggling to access care in Canada. Inability to get into a family clinic, walk-in clinics that book up within minutes of the phone line opening each day, tests and treatments that require months or years of waiting — if my health was on the line and I could pay cash to get care, I’d do it.

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It is unsurprising to me that Canadians are moving to the U.S. for better access to health care. I’d rather lose my house and be alive, than die knowing everyone around me had equally poor access to care.

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Scott Newson, Nanaimo B.C.

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I got a laugh out of the headline on Colin Craig’s op-ed (Carney deserves health-care kudos). Essentially, the op-ed argued that Prime Minister Mark Carney should be lauded for doing nothing — not interfering in Alberta’s health-care reforms. Premier Danielle Smith is doing all of the lifting but the PM is applauded for sitting on his hands and not using the Canada Health Act to bludgeon the province into submission to continue rationing health care for Albertans.

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Well, let’s all celebrate and put another feather in his cap, shall we?

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This is just another item to cite for the separatists in this country. It’s not enough that the provinces have go to Ottawa on hands and knees for permission to actually try to fix things for their citizens. Now, they need to praise Ottawa, too.

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Tim Harkema, Calgary

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Liberals aided by political amnesia

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The political amnesia of voters helps explain why support for the federal Liberals seems stamped on many Canadians’ birth certificates. The Conservatives have not figured this out and until they do, cannot defeat it.

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Mark Carney enthusiasts may grumble at paying a few extra bucks for groceries, or joke that the loonie and their vacation destination are both going south. But all is conveniently forgotten to ensure Liberal victory. The headline to Carson Jerema’s column nails it: “Mark Carney is our Forever PM.”

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Forever is a long time but it’s an enviable combo federal Liberals enjoy: runaway support for the party, and a current leader whose coolness is seen as efficiency.

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But the secret sauce? What I call Carney’s “vintage” or “retro” appeal to voters of a certain age. He reminds them of the mid-century Canadian politician their parents liked and trusted. No flash, a man in a good suit. Dependable, safe. Like the former Canada Savings Bond.

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But as they do in other influential spheres, the post-war generation will have a starring role, this time ensuring Carney or his successor stays at the helm.

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The cause célèbre this time? Retirement. It’s well underway for boomers, many of whom haven’t saved enough or worry they haven’t. Meanwhile inflation, like a termite, eats away at everyone’s retirement income, regardless of political affiliation.

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Ultimately, this demographic will look to one party for help. And their best chance to get it will be the Liberals staying in power.

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Dorothy Lipovenko, Westmount, Que.

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‘Not noticing’ poor excuse for antisemitic message

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I read Sharaf Sharafeldin’s rebuttal of Terry Newman’s column about the Muslim Association of Canada’s (MAC) convention in May with much interest and a healthy dose of skepticism.

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Among some of the more controversial elements to come out of the event was a youth session, where participants were invited to create a word cloud describing the community they wanted to build in Canada. The term “Jew free” appeared and was not addressed by the session facilitator. Mr. Sharafeldin attributed this to the facilitator not noticing.