In the latest batch of letters to the editor published on January 16, 2026, readers of the Toronto Sun have delivered a characteristically pointed and wide-ranging set of opinions. The correspondence touches on political satire, national security concerns, and a deep-seated frustration with the country's economic trajectory under successive governments.
A Nobel Nod for Political Satire
One letter writer, identified as L. Thomas, was moved to action after reading a recent column by John Snobelen. The piece, titled "Trump, America had no choice but to take over country," published on January 10, prompted the reader to nominate Snobelen for the Nobel Prize for Literature. Thomas described reading the article three times, finding it increasingly humorous with each pass. The letter suggests the column is "so funny that those who read it will laugh themselves silly, unless they’re Liberals of course," highlighting the partisan lens through which much political commentary is viewed.
Strategic Concerns: Canada and Greenland
The letters also ventured into international relations and defense. Responding to a January 11 article by Robert Smol comparing Canadian and Danish military capabilities, reader Lori Crank from Oakville proposed a bold stance. Crank argued that Canada should declare its intent to "have Greenland’s back" against potential threats. The rationale provided points to a shifting relationship with the United States, stating that while the U.S. may not be an enemy, it is "certainly not our friend and trusted partner any longer." This sentiment underscores a growing anxiety about North American security dynamics and the strategic importance of the Arctic region, with concerns about Russian and Chinese influence looming in the background.
Another reader, Terry Toll from Campbell’s Bay, Quebec, offered a sardonic take on the same topic, musing that if former U.S. President Donald Trump were to annex Greenland, he might rename it "Orangeland."
Critiquing Decades of Economic Policy
A significant portion of the reader feedback focused on economic grievances. Larry Sylvester of Acton, Ontario, responded to a January 7 editorial, "Paying for Trudeau’s decade of neglect." While assigning much blame to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Sylvester cast a wider net, noting that Liberal governments have been in power for over 40 of the past 60 years. The letter cites a decline in global economic standing, pointing out that while the U.S. ranked first in per capita GDP in 1960 with Canada in third, both nations have since slipped to 11th and 13th place, respectively.
The writer accuses successive governments of squandering Canada's "national treasure of bountiful resources and a well-educated workforce in the interest of Liberal woke policies." The letter concludes with a direct challenge to potential future leader Mark Carney: "Get on it or get out." This reflects a palpable impatience with perceived economic mismanagement and a skepticism that a change in leadership within the same political sphere will yield different results.
The Pulse of Public Discourse
Collectively, these letters published in the Toronto Sun provide a snapshot of a segment of Canadian public opinion in early 2026. The themes are recurrent in national discourse: political polarization, national security in a changing world, and economic anxiety. The tone ranges from humorous to deeply critical, illustrating the forum that newspaper letters pages continue to provide for direct civic engagement and debate. The responses to specific columnists and editorials show a readership that is engaged, opinionated, and holds media and political leaders to account.
