Today's letters: Ontario is being simplistic about hospital parking fees
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The reasons Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth have given for her resignation as a trustee from the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board reinforce the growing knowledge that board employees will not be protected from extremist intimidation and threats (depending on who is making the threat and who the target of the threat is), nor from years of administrative abuse of power.
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Kaplan-Myrth's story is another example of a public school system that has run amok due to years of not having to be accountable to its taxpayers. Its financial mismanagement is just the tip of the iceberg.
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We truly need the Ontario government to ensure our children and youth are being properly educated for the 21st century and to demand that the school boards committed and hard-working employees get the support and protection they need in the face of administrative indifference and the multifaceted extremist ideologies that infuse our culture and threaten our children's future.
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I was struck by news coverage of homes destroyed by wildfires and tornadoes and by how vulnerable wooden homes are. That, plus the rise of homelessness and the recent tariffs on Canadian steel, makes me think that now is the time for Canada to develop its own modular, pre-fabricated steel homes.
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This would create a local demand for Canadian steel and aluminum products, while providing easily deployable, strong, durable structures resistant to the natural disasters. They could be transported by truck or rail, then dropped on site as needed to address emergency/temporary and long-term housing needs. The walls themselves could then be reinforced and insulated locally with poured concrete.
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Vancouver Sun
2 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
Transportation Minister Chrystia Freeland 'dismayed' about BC Ferries' contract with Chinese shipyard
VICTORIA — Federal Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland says she is 'dismayed' that BC Ferries has contracted a Chinese state-owned shipyard to build four new vessels in the current geopolitical context that includes 'unjustified' tariffs on Canada. Freeland says in a letter sent to provincial Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth that she expects BC Ferries to inform her about all measures that it plans to take to 'mitigate any security risks,' including cybersecurity problems that might arise from the decision. BC Ferries announced earlier this month that it has contracted China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards to build four new major vessels following a five-year-long procurement process that did not include a Canadian bid. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Freeland adds she is 'surprised' that BC Ferries does not have a mandate for an 'appropriate level' of Canadian content in the procurement given the value of the contract, although the dollar figure hasn't been made public. Farnworth says in a statement that the ministry is reviewing the letter, adding that he has spoken with Freeland about the need to bolster B.C.'s shipbuilding industry. BC Ferries says in a statement that the Chinese bid was 'the strongest bid by a significant margin' and that security is a 'top priority,' adding that all sensitive systems will be sourced separately and independently certified before the vessels enter service. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Chrystia Freeland slams BC Ferries' decision to build ships in China
Minister of Transport and Internal Trade Chrystia Freeland responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, June 12, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Controversy over BC Ferries' decision to award a contract to a Chinese state-owned shipyard to build four new vessels has reached Ottawa. Federal Transportation Minister Chrystia Freeland had some strong words for her B.C. counterpart Mike Farnworth in a letter dated June 16 and obtained by CTV News Friday. Read more: Eby won't stop BC Ferries from building new ships in China, but says it's 'not ideal' 'It is with great consternation and disappointment that I learned of BC Ferries' recent announcement it has selected China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards,' the letter begins. Freeland pointed out China's tariffs on Canadian agriculture products—which include a 100 per cent levy on canola oil, meal and peas and 25 per cent on fish and pork—calling them unjustified. She also highlighted concerns regarding threats to cybersecurity from the country. 'I am dismayed that BC Ferries would select a Chinese state-owned shipyard to build new ferries in the current geopolitical context,' she wrote. Read more: BC Ferries union upset Chinese company was hired to build new vessels She asked to be informed of what measures BC Ferries is taking to address potential security threats. 'I would like your assurance that BC Ferries conducted a robust risk assessment, and I expect them to engage with the relevant provincial and federal security agencies and departments to mitigate any security risk,' the letter reads. When BC Ferries announced the deal on June 10, it said it would have its own team of experts on site during construction 'to provide oversight and quality assurance.' Read more: Business leader says BC Ferries' hiring of Chinese shipyard is 'informed decision' 'We are confident that CMI Weihai will be able to meet our high expectations for safety and quality, while delivering tremendous value for our customers and on-time delivery of the four vessels,' the company said in a statement at the time. Notably, no Canadian companies placed a bid on the project. When BC Ferries opened its call for proposals last September, major B.C. shipbuilder Seaspan said in a statement it would not be able to compete with countries that pay workers less and have lower environmental and safety standards. 'Given the value of the contract and the level of taxpayer funding that has been provided to support BC Ferries' operations, I am surprised that BC Ferries does not appear to have been mandated to require an appropriate level of Canadian content in the procurement or the involvement of the Canadian marine industry,' Freeland wrote. Read more: Minister flags concern over BC Ferries' deal with Chinese state-owned shipyard She listed some of the funding the federal government has given the province and BC Ferries over the years, including $308 million during the COVID-19 pandemic—and asked Farnworth to 'verify and confirm with utmost certainty that no federal funding will be diverted to support the acquisition of these new ferries.' B.C. leaders, namely Farnworth and Premier David Eby, have—using much softer language—expressed disapproval of BC Ferries' decision, but said they won't step in to kill the contract, despite calls from opposition critics and unions to do so.
Global News
2 hours ago
- Global News
Slowing sales raise questions about B.C.'s electric vehicle mandate
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