The selection of an American pope by the Cardinals is indicative of their wisdom. They have elected a moral American to do good to counter the evil unleashed on the world by another famous American, President Donald Trump.
Charles Campisi, Oakville
Not the first American pope
Pope Leo XIV is not the “first American pope.” The first was Francis, an Argentinian. It’s about time that we reclaimed the word “America.” By assuming that the word means the United States exclusively, the rest of the hemisphere is dismissed as secondary or irrelevant. The inaccuracy becomes more significant in this time of territorial threats from the current President of the United States. The geographical truth is that America extends from Ellesmere Island, Canada, to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. And Leo XIV is the second American Pope.
Barry Stevens, Toronto
An example of closing the barn door after the horse has bolted
Why would anyone want to visit a now-unfriendly country for even one day? Staying for 240 days would be a form of self-inflicted punishment.
Robert Woodcock, North York听
More funding is not the answer. Smarter decisions are
The TDSB claims it needs more funding to meet students’ needs. It is time for board members to check their priorities and how it spends its funding allocation. For example, sending 500 students, ages 9 to 17, with all the associated costs on a single field trip is not a smart use of funds. Nor does it reflect good teaching practices.
As well, TDSB promotes and supports DEI training. The costs involved in this pursuit would be much better used to fund professional development programs that assist teachers in understanding and using evidence-based best teaching practices. To best meet students needs, teachers must fully understand the learning outcomes for each subject that they teach, as outlined by the Ministry of Education. They then must have a thorough knowledge of the best teaching methods to help all students meet these outcomes. They must understand that there are visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learners and plan their lessons accordingly. Mandatory DEI training and the costs associated with it will never replace outstanding classroom teaching. As a former principal, I can attest to this.
More funding is not the answer. Smarter decisions on how to use allocated funds is what is needed.
Phyllis Levin, Toronto, ON
Canada is strengthened by its ties with the Commonwealth of Nations
As our U.S. neighbour cuts ties with its allies, we watch the inevitable decline in respect and position. Canada is strengthened by long-standing ties to 56 sovereign states in international co-operation we call the Commonwealth of Nations. As ceremonial leader, King Charles III symbolizes the free association of these independent member nations. We can remind ourselves of our good fortune to belong, when he delivers the Throne Speech.
Eva Marsh, Lynden, ON听
Who needs another king?
Mark Carney tells Donald Trump Canada is 鈥榥ot for sale鈥 in historic meeting at the White House, May 8
Prime Minister Mark Carney tells U.S. President Donald Trump that Canada is “not for sale” in a historic meeting at the White House.
Spot on! Indeed, shutting down the American ambition makes perfect sense. Who needs another king when we already have an ambiguous relationship with the king we have now?
Cindy听Clarke, Keswick, ON听
Help on the subway restored my faith in humans
I am not completely disabled but I recently acquired a rollator to help my walking. I used it publicly May 7 for the first time. Where there were no elevators, strangers responded many times to help.
In one case in particular, at the Kipling subway station, there is an escalator from the platform, then nine steps and another 19 steps to the south parking lot. The escalator was not working, so I had to fold the rollator and try to navigate the steps. A stranger took the rollator up the steps for me. And then I had to go up the nine steps for the walk through the hallway to the final 19 steps. There was a teenage girl who had seen me in the train. I think she was waiting in the hallway for me. She offered to take the rollator up the remaining 19 steps.听Thank you all who helped me.听It was refreshing to know that many people will help others in need.
Robert听Shepley, Huntsville, ON
Canada should consider ‘drafting’ America’s educated and skilled ‘Dreamers’
Given the verbal disrespect aimed at Canada by the current U.S. Administration, we feel Canada deserves what in the sports world is known as a makeup call 鈥 a correction of a bad call.
The U.S. government has a special protective immigration status for young children brought into the U.S. by their undocumented immigrant parents. The program鈥檚 name is Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). DACA individuals are referred to as 鈥淒reamers鈥 for their desire to become citizens. DACA has the most stringent vetting of any U.S. immigration program. Today, there are roughly 550,000 DACA program participants. Continuation in DACA requires that individuals undergo an annual review. Any conviction for a criminal felony or significant misdemeanour results in removal from the program.
The DACA program allows participants to work in the U.S. These Dreamers are paying U.S. federal and state taxes. The tax contribution from DACA workers is $15 billion (CAN) annually. Dreamers have been waiting decades for America to do the right thing. They have kept current with the renewal process, they have completed their education, learned skills and are productive workers. Meanwhile, the U.S. government has done nothing to provide a pathway to U.S. citizenship.
This U.S. DACA failure is the basis for our pitch for Canada to “draft” these citizens 鈥 your Canadian makeup call.
Here how it works: The Government of Canada听reviews the DACA听citizen听pool, which has many skilled workers including nurses, teachers, engineers and building trade craftspeople.听Canada then makes a citizenship offer to their selections.听We are confident that once 鈥渄rafted,鈥 members of Team DACA will gladly accept your offer and be great members of Team Canada!
Citizens of Canada, seriously discuss this proposal. This is听an opportunity to attract trained and vetted workers to contribute to the success of Canada now and for future generations. Elbows up!
Joe and Mich褠le Quinn, Bloomfield, Connecticut, USA
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation