Editor:
There are very strong and deep cross border relationships between a great many Canadians and Americans in their daily lives. These relationships, many of which are multi-generational, deserve a lot more respect than what they are being given by the Canadian government.
A few days ago John Manley, who as a past Liberal Deputy Prime Minister certainly understands how government works, and has to have the ear of the current government, was deeply offended by a news article about US border people revoking Nexus cards at a much higher rate than were the Canadian border people. Perhaps he should be, but he then mixed in the current border closure as a bargaining chip for how to get an answer for this.
‘Manley, a former Liberal cabinet minister, said the Canadian government should take advantage of current American concerns about the Canadian border being closed to get the U.S. to improve its way it runs both the program and the appeal process.’ CBC News, July 8
Nexus cards have nothing to do with Canadian COVID safety concerns. If the government is truly concerned about safety they should not be losing the focus by mixing any other issues into their COVID plans. Politics should never interfere with Science.
The safety of Canadians is a complex issue, to measure it only in COVID numbers is a simplistic and disingenuous approach. An honest (tough for politicians) explanation of where we are including an admission of mistakes made (impossible for politicians) and what the plans are based on a consistent interpretation of the current science is something that all Canadians deserve.
Peter Sziklai
