What Canada can't do

Re: What Canada can’t get done, Tristin Hopper, Feb. 20

I have no suggestions for a simple way to fix the problems with military procurement or public transportation. But the “crumbling 24 Sussex Drive” problem has an easy fix. Tear it down and build a suitable replacement; presumably for considerably less than $100 million.

The address is meaningful to most Canadians. But the building itself? I doubt one in 10 could pick it out from a lineup of similar stodgy grey mansions. It's not the White House. It's not an integral part of the Canadian identity. It's just a building in which the prime minister resides. Tear it down and build a new one. Then get to work on the procurement, public transportation and world peace.

Deborah Kestenbaum, Toronto

A few more items to add to the list of things that Canada cannot do:

❚ Make a quick decision on a relatively simple extradition request.

❚ Simplify the tax system.

❚ Make people feel that they are rewarded for an honest effort.

❚ Free markets among provinces.

John Wilde, Tweed, Ont.

How about win the Stanley Cup?

Christopher Cottier, West Vancouver

The prime minister's residence at 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa is just an address to most Canadians and can be replaced, says letter writer Deborah Kestenbaum.