Too kind to Canada
From Dr Jeremy Stocker Sir: Having also lived and worked in Canada, I cannot let Paul Robinson's eulogy of all things Canadian (Land of the free'. 31 May) go unchallenged. We do agree on one point, at least. A Tim Hortons Boston cream doughnut (custard filling, chocolate topping; sounds disgusting, tastes divine) is a genuine contribution to the sum total of human achievement. As to the rest. . . .
Canada is, indeed, a European country in all but its geographic location. It enjoys a high standard of living, very low levels of defence expenditure and generous socialwelfare provision. All courtesy, however, of the United States.
In terms of population and economic activity, Canada comprises about 10 per cent of North America. The other 90 per cent is the United States. In consequence, Canadian security and prosperity are effectively taken care of by the US, allowing Canada to adopt Continental European patterns of government expenditure, with the added luxury on the side of a propensity to moralise at big brother south of the border.
Canada's history of military effort in both world wars is a far cry from today's small, underfunded and badly equipped armed forces unable to engage in much more than benign peacekeeping. Nor is Canada any better an example of how to run a fishing industry. With more fisheries officers than Iceland has fishermen, the Canadians still managed to extinguish the Grand Banks' stocks, previously on a par with Iceland's cod fisheries.
Like most societies, Canada has much to offer (such as stunning scenery) and many drawbacks (including its stifling bureaucra
cy and political correctness). The ability to free-ride on the US is a particular advantage, but let us not pretend that this endows Canada with any special moral authority. Jeremy Stocker Durham
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