Two takes on sunny ways

Re Pacific trade treaty far from a done deal, Feb. 1 For all the feel-good, sunny new beginnings we’ve seen since the Liberals wrestled power away from a tired Conservative party, when the rubber hits the road on economic issues, is there any difference?

The Trans-Pacific Partnership, which will allow unlimited numbers of unqualified foreign workers into Canada, is going to be “signed” but not “ratified”? Surely signing signifies acceptance.

Also recently a couple of foreign takeovers were approved with less scrutiny than under the Harper regime. And while pipeline projects are subject to a more thorough environmental review, is there any doubt they will be approved in the end? What new safeguards will be put in place to prevent breaks/spills of toxic raw bitumen? Both pipelines and trains have poor records to date.

Yes the Liberals are forging ahead on the social issues that the Conservatives ignored, but in the final analysis, economic issues are also social issues. D. Scott Barclay, Georgetown, Ont. Re Guterres sees peace role for Canada, Jan. 30 There are times when a “small” article appears in the Star that simply brightens one’s day. This is just such an article.

We had hoped that Justin Trudeau could re-establish Canada’s place in the world as a “peacekeeper and honest broker” during his first term. Antonio Guterres, former prime minister of Portugal (1995-2002) and UN high commissioner for refugees (20052015), has given Canadians the heartening news that Canada has already reclaimed this honoured world position.

To many of us, the knowledge that Canada can, once more, do valued work to negotiate peace in this world can only be described as the sunniest of ways. Roger Hilderley, Stratford, Ont.