Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during a news conference in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.KEVIN LAMARQUE/Reuters
Ottawa a welcome presence in AIIB
Re New Asian development bank needs a Canadian presence (Jan. 6): The Asia-Pacific region has remained the world's economic growth engine, and interconnectivity is one of the major trends of development in the region. While first proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, the Asian Infrastructure Development Bank's (AIIB) primary purpose was to boost Asian economic development, wealth creation and infrastructure interconnectivity through investment in infrastructure.
A prosperous Asia-Pacific region will present huge market opportunities for Canada. And Canada can gain benefits through playing a more active role in AIIB. Canada has developed credibility with Asian partners, and it could be a key player in AIIB. Now it is time for Canada to take a step forward.
Yang Yundong, spokesman, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Canada, Ottawa
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Deregulation slows resource projects
Re Canadian prosperity requires a strong resource industry (Jan. 5): Gwyn Morgan lamented that environmental regulation threatened Canadian prosperity because it slows down natural resource development. However, since 2006, the Conservative government has continuously decreased environmental regulation. The consequence of this environmental deregulation is that grievances, by what Mr. Morgan calls "powerful special interest groups," are no longer dealt with through the regulatory process but are now battled in the courts. Deregulation thus has led to further delays in natural resource projects and increased uncertainty of their implementation.
Michael Drescher, Dundas, Ont.
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Don't put all eggs in extraction basket
Commodities of all kinds are undergoing a slump. This is exactly why Canada should not place all of its economic bets on the extraction industries. But we have because current and previous governments have sold out and offshored our manufacturing capacity. I hope that the current crash in oil prices will result in a balancing of our economy, where our resources can serve as feedstock for our manufacturing sector and not extracted and sold off abroad.
Michael Clark, Hamilton
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Rail transport right track to take
Re The railways' 2015 challenge: More to ship, limited track (Jan. 1): Many studies have shown the efficiency and low carbon footprint of railways to move commodities and people. More co-operation between the three major railway companies would go a long way to improving services and infrastructure. Twin-tracking some lines is long overdue, and the jobs created would be a bonus. Long-term planning seems to be in short supply.
W. Gary Soucey, Medicine Hat
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