You said it (far) better than the pundits

Some of the pithiest comments during elections come not from pundits but from so-called ordinary Canadians. Here’s a selection, albeit subjective, from various publications, websites and my own inbox.

The niqab

Donald McWilliams, Montreal: With his rabblerousing, Stephen Harper has at last taken off his veil.

Herb Alexander, Thornhill: Harper insists that his crusade against the niqab is based on what the “vast, vast” majority of Canadians want. About 70 per cent of Canadians do not want Harper as prime minister. So why is he not doing what the “vast, vast” majority of Canadians want — resign right now?

Reuel S. Amdur, Val-des-Monts, Que.: Why would Gilles Duceppe, of all people, be concerned about what anyone wears to a Canadian citizenship ceremony?

Olivia Fung, Toronto: We are witnessing attacks on niqab-wearing women in public. If further violence erupts, Mr. Harper is personally responsible for inciting such crimes.

Hotline for ‘barbaric cultural practices’

Margaret Smith, Toronto: I’d like to report Stephen Harper for the “barbaric practice” of stirring up anti-Muslim sentiment during an election in an attempt to gain political advantage.

Cockeye MacDonald, Midland: Does this mean no more haggis on Robbie Burns Day? No more kissing the cod in Newfoundland? Will this be the last Oktoberfest in Kitchener-Waterloo?

Syrian refugees

Gary MacDonald, Toronto: Harper alluded to the complexity of processing Syrian refugees into Canada. This is the same government that was able to process hundred of thousands of “skilled” temporary and casual workers on demand of big business primarily in Alberta.

Eileen Watson, Toronto: The countries that bombed and destabilized Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya should be forced to take their proportionate share of refugees from those countries. Governments and citizens of various countries might not be so quick to rush to war if there was a requirement to take in the resultant refugees.

Colin Jackson, chair, imagiNation 150, Calgary: 2017 is the 150th birthday of Canada. Many of us (want) it to be a time of cementing our shared values and committing to acts of citizenship framed as “gifts to Canada” on her birthday. There could be no better gift than to welcome 150,000 refugees.

David Lander, Bewdley, Ont.: We apparently don’t want to focus too much on refugees, as we need to focus on root causes. Should we then close food banks till we find the root causes of poverty? And close prisons till we find the root causes of crime?

Tania Watts, Toronto: Mr. Harper’s response underscores the need not for military action but for a change of government.

Wayne Gretzky should take up wearing the niqab. He should be ashamed to show his face in Canada after endorsing Stephen Harper

Stripped citizenship

Wayne Nickoli, London, Ont.: The government’s new powers to strip citizenship from alleged terrorists scares me: no guaranteed right of appeal, no right to see the evidence the government has of your foreign citizenship, no right to even see the evidence the government has of the alleged crime. If an accused can’t appeal and can’t view the evidence against them, what is there to stop a government from accusing and deporting anybody?

Mike Duffy trial

Jim Conchie, Toronto: Given the necessary symbiosis between briber and bribee, inherent in the definition of a bribe, why is Nigel Wright not holding hands with Mike Duffy in the defendants’ dock?

Stephen Harper

Jim Lang, Thornbury, Ont.: If the primary purpose of Mr. Harper’s campaign is to instil fear in the hearts of his 30 per cent base supporters, it is only fair. After all, the remaining 70 per cent is already terrified that he will be re-elected.

John Harris, Merrickville, Ont.: I prefer to call him “The Dictator,” as most kings and queens have some constraints on what they can do.

Conservative tactics

Joy Taylor, Scarborough: I am 92 and have volunteered since 16 for the CCF/NDP. My lawn has an NDP sign. A 40-or-so year-old woman knocked on my door. She was silent as she leaned toward me with flyers from our Conservative candidate. “Oh no,” I said politely, “I’m a long-time member of the NDP.” She screamed that if I voted NDP or Liberal, they were going to form a world government with Shariah law. Before I could answer, she screamed that it meant men could kill women.

Wayne Gretzky

Bill Aird, North York: Wayne Gretzky should take up wearing the niqab. He should be ashamed to show his face in Canada after endorsing Stephen Harper. siddiqui.canada@gmail.com