Carney meets Trump

Dear Editor:

Watching the first part of the meeting today on CBC between Mr. Carney and Mr. Trump was the first step toward a new beginning.

Following that, Mr. Carney took questions from reporters from the roof top of the Canadian Embassy where all questions were answered. From the get-go it was clear Mr. Carney was the right person to be dealing with Mr. Trump.  

Listening to the many political analysts, politicians of all stripes, and reporters evaluating this meeting, they all came away with very positive reviews.

It became very clear to me, and I am sure to a majority of Canadians, that Mr. Carney was by far the right person to be at the White House for this very important meeting. It also became abundantly clear that Poilievre would have been way over his head intellectually. Canadians needed an intellectual there and that was Mr. Carney.

— Ian MacLean
Kelowna, BC

A grateful guest

Dear Editor:

Like many Canadians, I am planning to travel within Canada for the foreseeable future rather than go to the US.

It’s been years since I visited Kamloops, and I was in for a delightful surprise. Upon arriving, my host insisted we go out for lunch. Delicious food and live music awaited us.

The next morning, we went to a local farmers’ market, and in addition to more live music, there was fresh coffee BY DONATION. Truly amazing! The fresh flowers and the exquisite baked goods were beyond compare.

We also visited a thrift store and a consignment store, both with beautifully curated stock. We found many treasures.

Everyone was so friendly and welcoming, from wait staff to cab drivers. Even the rain held off during the market. How did you do that?

I plan to return and have another great getaway. My experiences reminded me of my trips to New York and Paris.

— Holly Owen
Calgary

The people want proportional representation

Dear Editor:

The response to a recent poll on Castanet, here in Kelowna, ‘Should Canada implement a system of Proportional Representation for federal elections’, was very encouraging.

 The poll confirms and complements the results of a very comprehensive national survey conducted by federal NDP MP Nathan Cullen some years ago, that established an overwhelming majority of Canadians want some form of a proportional political system.

A proportional ballot separating the party vote from the candidate vote is the only ballot that will completely destroy that incredible lock our party and government leaders have assumed over our current and dysfunctional colonial political system.

Separating those votes is like using two separate ballots, each completely independent of the other. The parties will now be awarded the number of seats they should have according to the popular vote, nothing more – nothing less – and people are free to vote for any of the candidates on those ballots, regardless of party associations.

A vote for a party is no longer a vote for that party’s candidate, and a vote for any of the candidates on that ballot is not a vote for that candidate’s party.

Democracy is all about consensus-based decisions made by the people, not the politicians. An incredible contrast to our current out-of-control wannabe dictators engaged in unrestrained pursuit of their distorted dreams and ambitions.

The President of a very dynamic and democratic European Parliament, representing about 375 million eligible voters, has no more power than any of the other 719 members (MEPs) – one vote.

— Andy Thomsen
Kelowna BC

Ottawa spoke and said ‘No’ to Poilievre

Dear Editor:

Like a broken record, “change” they said. Well, change they got. If you want change you start at the top, and the constituents of Ottawa did that very thing by getting rid of Poilievre. That in itself says a lot about the Conservative leader and what the Ottawa people think of him. They saw a mini-Trump in him and were not about to put a Trump-a-like into the Canadian Government to run.

For two years Poilievre has been fixated on Trudeau and axe the tax. Once those two were taken off the table he had nothing to whine about. He thought hiring an image consultant specializing in helping him create a polished and appropriate look would win people over. Not so.

Why would anyone want someone pretending to be what they are not. His basket was empty. Two years of listening to childish behavior, name calling and insults in Parliament, and out, is quite enough. A true gentleman would be stepping down and respecting the wishes of the people of his Ottawa riding. The trough is empty.

— Ian MacLean
Kelowna, BC