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The law and terror

The courts are not hindering CSIS's abilities to track terror suspects, nor are the courts promoting an agenda of their own. Court rulings are upholding the law as it stands (Courts Hindering CSIS's Ability To Track Suspects, Agency Says – Oct. 17). If the laws need updating, Parliament is the place to debate that. CSIS spokespeople and "officials" who carry their agendas on matters like this one into a public forum promote the exercise of executive power at the expense of Parliament.

Raymond Lindsay, Sidney, B.C.

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Canada's true role

As Jean Chrétien wrote, Canada will be long remembered for taking in refugees from Hungary, from Uganda, from Vietnam, from Yugoslavia (Canada's True Role In This Conflict – Oct. 17). It is acts like these that gave Canada the reputation that Stephen Harper is trying so hard to destroy.

A thank you to Mr. Chrétien. He stands miles above the hawkish posturing we have representing us in Parliament today.

Armida Spada, Vancouver

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Jean Chrétien is a very credible voice on Canada's role internationally. But I cannot agree with his support of a humanitarian-only contribution in Syria and Iraq. This argument ignores the specific and obvious opportunity to provide direct military support that would create an island of stability in the area: Arm and defend the Kurds in Iraq. We failed them in 1992, we failed them in 2004.

Waiting until they are huddled in refugee camps again to drop food is an unacceptable response.

Grant Longhurst, West Vancouver

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Canada's commitment to combatting the Islamic State is not an either/or proposition. Canada can, and is, making a meaningful contribution to both the military and the humanitarian effort in Iraq.

Our country's "long-standing tradition" is more than simply taking in refugees. It is standing by your friends and allies, and doing your fair share of the heavy lifting, something Jean Chrétien has forgotten and Justin Trudeau has never learned. Mr. Chrétien should enjoy his retirement and avoid making comments that show that he is out of touch and clearly yesterday's man.

Curt Shalapata, Oshawa, Ont.

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As PM, Jean Chrétien made the politically risky but correct decision on Iraq in 2003. Would that our current leaders would have the courage of Mr. Chrétien's insights, and not the cowardice of their knee-jerk convictions.

Robert Assaly, Montreal

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Shiites vs. Sunnis

As Jeffrey Simpson points out, the major conflict in the Muslim world is between the Shiites and the Sunnis (The Clash Within A Civilization – Oct. 17). As they have been unable to settle their differences for more than 13 centuries, how can Western intervention possibly help?

Tim Jeffery, Toronto

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The rise of the Islamic State is profoundly complex. Simplistic solutions can make some feel like something is being done, even though such solutions over the past 30-plus years in the Middle East have only made matters worse. Jeffrey Simpson's analysis should help us better understand what we might most optimally contribute toward Middle East conflicts and human suffering.

Jack P. Blaney, Vancouver

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Massive opposition

Re A Massive Dam – A Massive Legal Test (Oct. 17): The Site C hydroelectric dam on the Peace River would drown or severely impact over 30,000 acres of largely exceptional agricultural land and be the largest single exclusion from B.C.'s Agricultural Land Reserves in its 40-year history.

How B.C. Environment Minister Mary Polak can say that Site C is in the public interest and that the benefits provided by the project outweigh the risks of significant adverse environmental and social effects completely escapes me.

Ken Summers, Abbotsford, B.C.

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It's yes to uranium

Re It's No To Uranium (letters, Oct. 15): Canada's long-standing experience in uranium mining, including the management of tailings, has resulted in stringent regulations and world-leading practices on the protection of the health and safety of the public, workers and environment.

In northern Saskatchewan, where active uranium mining facilities have operated for decades, aboriginal groups and communities are consulted at every step of a facility's life. Traditional knowledge and activities are taken into account so mining impacts are eliminated or minimized. In some cases, trapping has safely continued on (or near) CNSC-licensed properties.

The CNSC's conclusions on the effects of the uranium mining industry are documented in our annual reports on the performance of uranium mine and mill facilities. The reports present the findings of our rigorous compliance and inspection framework, with a focus on worker health and safety, radiation protection and environmental monitoring.

The 2013 report was presented at a meeting where public input was encouraged and discussed. I welcome Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come to participate in the next reporting process. CNSC would never issue a licence unless the proposed activities were safe.

Michael Binder, president, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

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Make it harder to get

Re Your Kids Brain On Pot (Life & Arts, Oct. 17): The point of legalization is to make it much harder for children to obtain pot. Gangsters don't care who buys their product, whether it's pot or heroin. We need to legalize and apply strict regulations, allowing public health officials – not the prison system – to deal with the negative consequences of drug use.

Paula Mallea, author, The War on Drugs; Gore Bay, Ont.

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Teaching's pitfalls

Re Gossip, Justice (letters, Oct. 17): My last 24 years spent teaching were in a preschool, and I have a story. There were 15 young children and we were making silhouettes for Father's Day. One child would shine a flashlight on the head of another as I quickly traced the outline on black paper taped to the wall. We cut out the profiles, glued them on white paper and every father had a lovely silhouette portrait.

Because I needed a small, dark area to do the tracing, I had each child sit on the toilet seat. I thought it went well, but the day after Father's Day, a mother said, "I wondered what you were doing. Christopher [her four-year-old] said, 'Joy made us sit on the toilet seat and she took our picture.' " I was horrified. I know if my child had said that to me, I'd have brought it up immediately with someone – probably with more authority than the teacher!

But this young mother had tremendous faith in me, as she said, "I knew you would be doing something with them and I'd find out when he brought it home."

I'm aware of the harm that can be done to teachers by simple misunderstanding and maliciousness (Cries And Whispers – The Painful Price Of Gossip, Oct. 11). Teaching is a wonderful career, but there can be pitfalls.

Joy Ruttan, Gatineau, Que.

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