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Vitriolic? Sometimes

Former chief of the defence staff Paul Manson makes a good point that unity of purpose and civilized debate are necessary to ensure Canadian veterans receive the care and services they deserve (Veterans Should Transcend This Battle – Sept. 5). But there is something in his argument that reminds me of the debates surrounding feminism in the 1970s.

Then, women who appeared to be presenting their position too successfully could be easily sidelined by the "strident" epithet.

Usually, solutions should be proffered "politely and forcefully," but there are occasions where political and bureaucratic actions are so egregious, only an "aggressive and vitriolic" response is effective. And if a group of citizens is dissatisfied with the performance of a government, what's wrong with working to replace it?

Martha Musgrove, Ottawa

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It takes 14 to tango

Brian Lee Crowley states clearly the advantages for all Canadians of internal free trade (Ottawa Must Lead Fight Against Internal Protectionism – Report on Business, Sept. 5). While teaching trade law, including our federal/provincial Agreement on Internal Trade, at two Ontario law schools, my message was that the AIT remains a national embarrassment, perhaps even disgrace. So I concur.

Mr. Crowley praised leading proponent of reform, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall (condemning protectionism by Ontario's Kathleen Wynne), and called for federal leadership. But provincial pots can't call only the federal kettle black. Examples: Saskatchewan's robust economy is led by potash exports, utilizing international cartels. These are illegal under Canadian and many other competition laws, but enjoy an exemption for sales to unprotected foreigners. Ontario and Quebec signed their own trade and co-operation pact in 2009, committing that each defend "to the death" its protectionist supply management systems (dairy, poultry, eggs).

Our often inconvenient Constitution requires not two but all provinces, territories and "the Feds" to tango.

Michael Robinson, Toronto

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Not just the bees

Re Beekeepers File Suit Against Pesticide Makers (Report on Business, Sept. 4): You report that European scientists found the use of neonics to be unsustainable and that they become present in all parts of the plant and are 20 times stronger than DDT. "All parts of the plant" includes the soybeans and corn kernels that are so prevalent in all food today. It's not just bees that are at risk.

Robert Halliday, Sarnia, Ont.

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How tweet it isn't

Re Hong Kong Looks To Ottawa For Support (Sept. 5): After the criticism of Canada's deafening silence about the apparent lack of democracy being proposed in Hong Kong, a spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird pointed to a July tweet that "Canada strongly supports democratic development in #Hong Kong, including its commitment to adopt universal suffrage."

Apparently a tweet is now sufficient to cover Canada's stand on an issue dear to the hearts of most Canadians. No doubt the people of Hong Kong who have a Twitter account will feel reassured of Canada's solidarity.

The Conservatives are obviously more concerned about good economic relations with China.

Ann Sullivan, Peterborough, Ont.

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So Monday morning

Re Prominent Canadians Launch Aboriginal Action Group (Sept. 5): I state proudly that in the past I have voted for the parties led by the 16th, 18th and 21st prime ministers of Canada. These men – Joe Clark, Brian Mulroney and Paul Martin – were still young when they left office, with much more to give to the nation. Each had a two-pronged choice: to become the increasingly well-respected international statesman, or to attempt to stir the political pot in Canada by going public as Monday-morning quarterbacks.

Canadians rarely appreciate free political advice from former PMs on domestic affairs. That's the Bill Clinton model. It has been shown up for what it is: a feeble attempt to rewrite one's own blemished legacy and in doing so, only weaken long-term legacies.

G. DeWolf Shaw, Montreal

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Laughter's gender

Your obituary for Joan Rivers chronicled the prejudice and ridicule she faced as she worked to carve out a role for female comics. Meanwhile, elsewhere in Friday's paper, Craig and Marc Kielburger encouraged awareness of implicit gender stereotypes (Struggling Against Gender Stereotypes – Life & Arts).

How ironic, then, that the headline of the Rivers obituary was Comic Genius Or Vicious Loudmouth? Such a headline points to several implicit gender stereotypes: that women who don't conform to expectations of female decorum – who can be mean, rather than nice – are "vicious," that when they are outspoken they are "loudmouths."

Moreover, the headline throws into relief the vastly different esteem that we grant to men and women in the public eye. Would the life of a male entertainment figure, no matter how polarizing, be summarized so dismissively?

Alysia Kolentsis, Waterloo, Ont.

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Jim Prentice Replies

Re Prentice List Raises Privacy Concerns (Sept. 5): At the core of my approach to public life lies a respect for the expenditure of public dollars and the integrity of the offices I have held.

The Globe and Mail intimated the existence of some sort of connection between myself and the Freedom of Information Officer who works for the federal Department of Aboriginal Affairs.

Had I been asked to comment, I would have noted that I do not know Kent Glowinski. Moreover, I left that particular government ministry over seven years ago and have nothing whatsoever to do with their Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy requests.

All expenses I incurred during my time as minister have been proactively disclosed online for the better part of a decade. They have endured scrutiny by the most thorough journalists in the country, have been repeatedly shown to be in compliance with the rules and have not been the subject of any controversy.

Jim Prentice, Calgary

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A sailor's savings

Peter Munk deserves credit for the clean-up of Porto Montenegro. However, providing cheaper fuel to power the super yachts of Russian oligarchs and Saudi royalty reflects questionable judgment (Porto Montenegro: A New Berth For The Super Rich – Report on Business, Aug. 30). Personally, I enjoy cruising in my 60-year-old, cedar Clinker skiff, consuming $40 a year in fuel, taxes included. Plus, I save a fortune on a missile defence system.

Paul Scanlon, Denman Island, B.C.

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