Letters to the Editor, Oct. 23, 2026

Published Oct 23, 2026  •  Last updated 23 minutes ago  •  1 minute read

Friday letters Photo by Illustration /Toronto Sun

UNFAIR SYSTEM

Article content

One of Canada’s lingering problems that alienate provinces is the equalization payments made by the federal government to render essential services relatively equal to all provinces. Revered economist Milton Freeman argued that handouts to the poor removes the incentive to improve and thereby renders the recipient stagnant. Why would a recipient province work harder to eliminate the top-up funding from the federal government? Is there not a better way to achieve the objective of relative equalization? Could it be that an improved Canadian economy might lift all boats through reduced taxes and thereby the reliance on government subsidies? For far, too long, Canada’s search for prosperity has been restrained by excessive government bureaucracy and an unending obsession to consult every possible constituency affected by the search for prosperity.

Article content

Recommended Videos

Article content

Doug Appt
Niagara Falls

(The battle of the have vs have-not provinces has been exasperated by the federal government and Alberta has for too long been on the wrong end of the stick – unfairly)

Article content

EDUCATION MATTERS

Re “New test scores expose Ford government’s failure to improve education” (Michael Zwaagstra, Oct. 10): Education is the most critical challenge to Canada’s competitiveness. Recently, a public-school teacher friend told me PISA scores are falling because the method demands teaching at the lowest level. In Math, the decline was three times larger for the weaker than the stronger students. This suggests a shift towards private sector models that allow student progress at individual capability. We should also study Singapore’s subject-based banding approach. Their PISA scores are consistently high. Paul Calandra’s proposed ‘Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026’ may improve results. He is the first Education Minister attempting change.

Larry Sylvester
Acton, Ont.

(Change is desperately needed and at least the Ford government is attempting to do so)

Article content