Letters: Bilingual greetings shouldn't be shamed by CAQ government
I often travel to Ottawa for work. When I stop in Casselman, a Franco-Ontarian bastion, I am greeted with 'Hello-Bonjour.' It's one thing to say everyone in Quebec is entitled to be greeted and served in French, as previous governments have, and quite another to attempt to shame businesses for also wanting to welcome clients in another language, as the Coalition Avenir Québec is doing. English is not a foreign language in Quebec, as much as some nationalists may like it to be.
Jordan Black, Rosemont
A caring response to an urgent need
Re: ' 'I'm happy': From homeless to housed, tenants grateful for new Lachine facility ' (The Gazette, July 3)
It was a pleasure to read about the Old Brewery Mission's Tenaquip Place. In a world where stories of hardship often dominate the headlines, it is deeply uplifting to see a project focused on compassion, community and hope. This complex is not just a structure — it's a sign we are capable of thoughtful, humane responses to urgent needs.
We are at our best when we look out for one another. To those who made Tenaquip Place a reality, thank you for your vision and humanity.
Elizabeth Bright, Côte-St-Luc
Patriotism is a personal matter
Re: ' Canadian pride isn't a betrayal of being a Quebecer ' (Robert Libman, June 28)
It is infuriating that a nationalist commentator, as reported by Robert Libman, would try to negate what another person believes in by stating 'Canada is an artificial political structure.'
The commentator also claims we can't be Canadian and Québécois at the same time. Perhaps they missed a recent Association for Canadian Studies poll that showed 82 per cent of Quebec respondents — believing a nation's 'members share a common culture, language and history' — felt 'they were part of the Canadian nation.'
To harbour strong patriotic feelings for one's nation is fine, but to dismiss another's pride in a country you don't identify with is wrong-headed.
Goldie Olszynko, Mile End
NATO spending goal needs a rethink
Re: ' Trump hedges on NATO pledge ' (NP Montreal, June 25); ' Ottawa pledges to ramp up NATO defence spending ' (NP Montreal, June 26)
NATO's decision to raise member countries' defence spending to five per cent of GDP will pose serious difficulties for spending on domestic needs.
The chief reasons given are the need to counter the increased threat posed by Russia and other hostile countries, and to match U.S. military expenditure in NATO. Yet according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Russia spent only US$149 billion on the military in 2024, while NATO countries collectively spent US$1,506 billion, with European NATO countries at US$454 billion.
The U.S. spent only 3.38 per cent of GDP on defence in 2024. President Donald Trump has said the five per cent goal shouldn't apply to the U.S., but only to other NATO countries.
For Canada to reach five per cent, it would have to increase its annual defence to $150 billion. This would probably result in significantly increased taxes, debt or severe cuts in domestic spending.
Canada and other NATO countries should seriously reconsider this increase.
Robert Hajaly, Montreal
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