| FEEDBACK ROUND-UP |
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| Letter to the Editor Hamilton Spectator Re: Team Canada drops the ball by heckling protesters (February 15, 2001) Congratulations on getting both the editorial cartoon by Graeme Mackay and Robert Howard's editorial so right. I hope that Chrétien takes advantage of the opportunity of a captive airplane audience to lecture not so much his Chinese hosts but his political and corporate fellow-travellers on the subject of democracy and human rights as they are understood and practised in Canada. Those members of Team Canada who jeered the two protesters showed a dangerous combination of a narrow focus on economics and a condescending arrogance towards those whose knowledge of the total Chinese reality in fact far exceeded theirs. Team Canada seems so mesmerized by the prospect of potential profits to be gained from access to the world's biggest market that they fail to see (or choose to ignore) the irony of the fact that access to that market is controlled by an undemocratic Chinese government fundamentally opposed to a truly free market, let alone a truly free society. Chrétien owes his success as a politician in large part to his careful tailoring of his message and his actions to the expressed wishes of the business community: he should now to reverse the direction of the dialogue for a change. I hope that Chrétien reminds them - as this situation has reminded the rest of us at home - of just how fragile our own rights and democracy can be. Finally, Sheila Copps, as an indefatigable promoter of all the good that Hamilton is and does, could do worse than to greet each returning member of Team Canada with a copy of your editorial and the accompanying cartoon. Danny Shea, Hamilton |
| re. CARTOON 2001-01-10 letter to the editor, Hamilton Spectator Part of an editorial cartoonist's job is to be disrespectful of public figures when warranted, and to employ satire to make a point, but your cartoon of January 10th goes too far, and your cartoonist is obviously in error in his assumptions. The cartoon clearly implies that Beth Phinney, the Member of Parliament for Hamilton Mountain, and John Bryden, the Member for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Aldershot, are unsuited for such jobs as Parliamentary Secretary, or Chair of a Parliamentary Committee. As a constituent of Ms. Phinney, I am familiar with her record, but unfamiliar with that of Mr. Bryden, and accordingly I shall deal only with Ms. Phinney's suitability for such appointments. Prior to the November election, Ms. Phinney served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue, and she continues to hold that position. In that capacity, and as a member of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee, she has championed fairness in handling taxpayers' dollars, and effective cost controls. Ms. Phinney has chaired the House of Commons Health Committee, working to preserve a strong medicare system, and advocating modern rules for natural health care products. She has also been an effective Vice-Chair of the Canadian Heritage Committee, and an active member of the Justice Committee. While in opposition from 1988 to 1993, she was the Liberal Party's spokesperson for Human Rights and Disabled Persons. Perhaps your cartoonist was not aware of these accomplishments, through which Ms. Phinney has amply demonstrated her suitability to serve Canadians in Ottawa as more than a "mere M.P." No doubt this track record, as well her dedicated constituency work, have contributed to her re-election in 1993, 1997 and 2000. C. Campling, Hamilton |
| Cartoon lacked judgment; Wade's win RE: 'Morrow's unexpected loss' (Nov. 14). The picture of Bob Wade holding Bob Morrow's head on a pike is inappropriate. I would also like to note that picturing the heads of Fred Eisenberger and John Munro in barrels is also very rude as is the burning of The Hamilton Spectator that has a headline showing Mayor Morrow leading in the polls. The words "giant killer" on the chain of office do not appeal to young people and are not very kind. Perhaps you should use better judgment next time. -- Taylor Chapman, Stoney Creek |
| Unfortunately, your October 26 editorial cartoon was a gross misrepresentation, stemming from the Spectator's sloppy reporting of this issue, and an insult to all who are willing to pay more than lip-service to a belief in greater government honesty and accountability. Perhaps, in the future, the Spectator will take the time to actually attend the meetings on which you report, or go through the trouble of contacting the parties involved. C.W. Flamborough |