**Published Oct 15, 2025 • Last updated 10 minutes ago • 1 minute read**
**Join the conversation: Wednesday letters**
*Photo by Illustration / Toronto Sun*
**GET A BACKBONE, CARNEY**
In John Snobelen’s insightful op-ed, “Carney should be channeling the toughness of Canuck old-timer” (Oct. 11), he critiques Prime Minister Mark Carney’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Snobelen argues, “If Carney wants to avoid being just a smart guy in a suit with good ideas that never materialize, he needs to develop a stronger backbone and a sense of urgency. In other words, he must be tougher.” This characterization of Carney’s approach reminds me of a memorable quote from Harold Ballard, the former owner of the Maple Leafs. Although Leaf forward Inge Hammarstrom wasn’t Canadian, Ballard once said, “Hammarstrom could go into the corner with a dozen eggs in his pocket and not break any of them.”
**David Honigsberg, Toronto**
*(It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what Carney’s “strategy” is. Are his elbows up or down?)*
**PICKING OUR POCKET**
Watching Carney play the role of Ed McMahon to Trump’s Johnny Carson serves as a disheartening reminder of how easily Canadian voters can be misled. Politics is the only profession where one can openly lie about their intentions if elected, as well as about what their opponent will do, and yet the public continues to fall for it time and again. The reality of having our “elbows up” simply makes it easier for the Liberals to reach into our pockets and take our money.
**Ken Rayner, Markham**
*(It was an effective campaign strategy, but impractical in reality.)*
**BUMPY ROAD AHEAD**
If Premier Doug Ford’s proposed speed bumps are installed on our already rough, broken, and pothole-ridden streets as a traffic-calming measure, we can expect an increase in rear-end collisions. Different drivers approach speed bumps in various ways; some will slow down, while others may not reduce their speed at all, raising the likelihood of accidents.
**Don Ruttan, Cobourg**
*(There really are no good solutions.)*
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