In a letter published Tuesday, a reader criticizes a previous column by Justin Holmes, arguing that First Nations people are literate in English and French and that using pictograms is outdated. The letter writer, J. Dougherty of Toronto, states: “I’ve known and worked with First Nations people at various times in my life. Every one of them read and wrote English (and/or French).” Dougherty notes that while some societies preserve heritage languages like Ojibway, they use the Greek alphabet, not pictograms, which he says “more or less went out with the stone axe.”
Symbolism and Modern Scripts
Dougherty’s letter responds to “Not right way: Ainslie” (June 4), which apparently supported pictogram use. He emphasizes that Canada’s multicultural mosaic includes many written languages, all in modern scripts. The letter concludes that the idea of using pictograms should be “shelved immediately.”
Free Trade Concerns Under CUSMA
Another letter from Bruce Couchman of Toronto addresses potential U.S. withdrawal from CUSMA. He suggests Canada should offer to revert to the original NAFTA terms, noting both agreements benefited all three countries by increasing imports and exports. Couchman writes: “Donald Trump apparently believes that trade agreements should increase exports without increasing imports. He may not be happy if an agreement benefits American consumers and industries unless it benefits them more than Canadian and Mexican consumers and industries.” Couchman urges Trump to recall his earlier praise for the agreement and warns that while some sectors may suffer from increased imports, that does not mean the entire agreement is flawed. The editorial note adds: “Let’s see what happens — minds can be changed quickly as we have witnessed.”
