Dear Editor:
(The following was sent as an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau).
I had such high hopes when you became PM that things would change. I am a perpetual optimist even though I’m old enough to have seen so many times before the Liberals campaigning with promises of “real change” and then continuing on with the same policies that got the Conservatives voted out.
You lifted people’s spirits when you announced that you would not partake any more in the bombing of Iraq. What happened? Aren’t we still bombing them? What has changed?
But the most disappointing of all is the relationship we have with Saudi Arabia – the one that Harper set up and your government is continuing.
With all the news coming out of Saudi Arabia – beheadings, public lashings, stoning, jail for speaking out – we should not be doing business with them. Canada’s “friendship” has been bought.
I believe you are a good man and would not have such friends in your personal circle. Yet, as our spokesperson, you are opening Canada’s arms to them (in more than one way).
The rulers in Saudi Arabia are petulant, unpredictable and murderous. Not a comfortable enemy to have but by far a worse friend.
I urge you to reconsider this arms sale and all arms sales. We should be focusing on disarming the world, not arming it.
Real change to me would be if Canada were to quit making weapons of war and selling them to whoever pays the highest price. Ultimately we all pay the price.
Donna Stocker
Cawston, B.C.
