Foreign photo-ops

Re: PM Wins Hostage Stance Support, Matthew Fisher, May 27. If published reports of the discussions held at the Japan G7 meetings are accurate, the only item on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s agenda that could not be addressed by a series of video conference calls was his self- publicized day- off anniversary celebrations.

Trudeau’s insistence that member states not accede to terrorist ransom demands, his plea for member states’ i ncreased i nfrastructure spending, and his resurrected 1960s defence policy that sees Canada as a bluehelmeted ally only came directly from the dog- eared Liberal Party pre- election playbook. It is no wonder that these mildly unpopular political positions were met with the respectful coolness called for by diplomatic nicety.

With nothing more to contribute than progressive anodynes lifted from the NDP, there was little justification for Canadian taxpayers to foot a travel bill so egregiously inflated that the PMO would not disclose the size of the junket’s entourage. But, once again, the photo ops for Canada’s very own fairy tale couple were splendid! Graham R. Mann, Gimli, Man. lot of folks are left behind. Ironically, as many studies have shown, the U. S. has overall benefited from all of the trade agreements it has signed, though it has rarely had policies in place to help workers who have been displaced. The same could be said of Canada.

Nevertheless, trade works when it benefits all i nvolved.

The Japanese need our resources and we need their investment in our auto sector. It could be a deal made in heaven. Andrew van Velzen, Toronto.