Sales commission and fees plus other letters, March 24: ‘It’s always escaped me why people bother with real estate agents at all’

In other words

Re “We all deserve affordable homes and a stable climate – and that is achievable” (March 15): Did I hear contributor Mark Carney say that he would run for prime minister?

Heinz Senger Surrey, B.C.

Renewed defence

Re “Denial and delay is not a defence policy” (Editorial, March 16): It seems that Canada will never again have a respectable military like we used to have. It feels like Canadians couldn’t care less about the military and only want a strong army when it’s time to help out with floods, ice storms, forest fires and so on.

Canada should stop beating our heads against the wall and throwing money away. We should abolish the Canadian Armed Forces, then greatly expand and fund a better-armed Canadian Coast Guard.

It would be less expensive than the CAF, less bloated by too many armchair generals and more capable of asserting our sovereignty and defending our coasts. More significant defence requirements would only come from overt military action against Canada, but we all know the United States will defend Fortress North America.

Canadians should face reality and rethink our needs and capabilities.

Rick Caverly Ottawa

It should now be clear to all that the Canadian military is understaffed, underequipped and ill-prepared to resist a hostile attack. Failed policy has become an apology.

It seems too late for finger-pointing or endless commissions. Canada needs immediate and constructive solutions.

Given the magnitude and urgency of the situation, as well as the cost, I ask that our government consider leasing surplus hardware from the U.S. military as a temporary solution, much as Britain did during the Second World War with a lending agreement