Don’t overlook Kirk’s views

Re: Shooting tears a new rift in the United States (Editorial, Sept. 12)

Let me be clear. I don’t condone gun or any violence nor gain any pleasure out of anyone killed, any more than I condone the views of Charlie Kirk who was just killed at his own event. We should all be horrified and sympathetic.

However, I don’t think we should disregard the fact that Kirk was strongly against gun reform and even debated it at his events, including this one. Having sympathy for this horrific killing doesn’t eliminate that fact, any more than the fact that he was also known for his incendiary, often racist and sexist, comments at his events.

Correction

The Think Tank article Abandoned buildings and abandoned people (Sept. 9) inaccurately cited a duplex in Glenwood as an example of housing being funded under the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF). The unit was not HAF funded. The HAF program only supports rental apartments in multi-family buildings.

Free ride

Re: Why Winnipeg needs low-fare transit (Think Tank, Sept. 11)

Critical change needed

Re: — ’Enough is enough’: mayor pleads for bail reform (Sept. 5)

Our police budget in Winnipeg has increased dramatically year over year, with most years ending in expenditures that go beyond the proposed budget. Regardless of your stance regarding police budgets as being merely reactive to environments, or as directly contributing to the wealth gap in the city, which begets social issues and crime — it must be admitted that inflating police budgets has not worked.

It is time to try something new. The powers-that-be in Winnipeg have long been devoted to a neoliberal economic model which affords large companies the opportunity to create luxury experiences in an effort to revitalize the inner city. Experiences not intended for those who live there, but for those who don’t. The most recognizable of these projects is Portage Place, but include City Place, Winnipeg Square, the Winnipeg Jets, and Waterfront Drive.

Cost of cuts

After the government tightened restrictions on international students, all post secondary institutions have faced dire straits financially.

The drop in international student registrations has left the University of Winnipeg unable to commit its usual funding to the community radio station CKUW 95.9 FM. The station already fundraises heavily each year.

Since the station is experiencing financial difficulties, it has decided to cut funding to Stylus Magazine. Stylus (est. 1989) is one of the longest-running music and culture publications in Canada and the only one in Winnipeg. It is an essential outlet for our abundant music and arts scene.

In support of critics

Re: Increasing restrictions could silence culture critics (Aug. 29)

I’ve often wondered why the Free Press didn’t cover some concerts. Now thanks to Jen Zoratti’s excellent column I now understand.

Long live the critic.

Opening doors to compassion

Re: Standing up against internet hate (Editorial, Aug. 28)

Kudos to the Free Press for highlighting the rise of hatred as an outcome of the anonymity of social media. Though we tend not to use the word “hatred” in public discourse, it seems that the word “love” is even more rare.

I suspect that if we did a straw poll asking, “What is the opposite of love”, most would respond with “hate.” Yet, spiritually oriented writers tend to see hate as the opposite of fear, as suggested by the editorial’s line, “doubting or fearing your neighbour, rather than loving them.”

Played by Putin

Re: Little hope for end to Ukraine’s plight (Editorial, Aug. 25)

One of the main issues in the world today is that both Russia and China still sit on an UN Security Council. The time has long passed after the invasion of Ukraine that organizations from the Second World War have needed an overhaul. Times have changed.

Secondly, Putin actually fears NATO and kept sabre-rattling to keep America from providing the kind of support it needed to repel Russia in its early stages.

Alternative proposal

Re: Ottawa adds $800K to Naawi-Oodena design (Aug. 22)

With the federal funds offered for designing development of the former Kapyong barracks land, perhaps Treaty One Development Corporation could look beyond building more unneeded retail space for southwest Winnipeg.

A Wisconsin Dells-style indoor/outdoor waterpark resort hotel would attract winter tourism and provide youth recreation and employment opportunities. It could also serve as a pleasant summertime option for housing evacuated families from fire-threatened, northern Manitoba communities.

Solar solutions

Re: China races to build world’s largest solar farm to meet emissions targets (Aug. 22).

We hear about China building solar farms, the latest of which will be the world’s largest, the size of Chicago.

And, China installed more solar capacity in the first six months of the year, than the U.S.’s entire capacity as of the end of 2024. It’s increase this year in green power will outpace its electricity needs. Lastly, their electric-production represents 70 per cent of the global total and their EVs are affordable through subsidies.

Conserving water

Re: Drought preparation vital, experts warn (Aug. 21)

In conversations about wildfires, some people I’ve spoken with discount the relationship between wildfires, drought and climate change.

They say that the fires are human-caused, which may be true in some cases, but the droughts are and were present first. The article points out that extreme drought exists and warns us about the need to prepare for more droughts.

Housing considerations

Re: Social housing improvements a must (Editorial, Aug. 19)

I’m very much in favour of more public housing not only because it is desperately needed, but also because private enterprise has not been filling this need by building low-cost affordable housing.

There’s always better profit margins on a bigger house. They simply don’t fill this area of need unless there is sufficient government funding. Having said that, unless the rules surrounding building more social housing are amended to prevent future, almost exclusively conservative governments, from privatization, the problem will simply resurface.

Renovate to make more housing

Re: Social housing improvements a must (Editorial, Aug. 19)

Thank you for this excellent editorial.

Social housing need not involve new construction. There is a large stock of rundown housing in the inner city that can be renovated for social housing.

What a waste

Re: Trump-Putin takeaways: no agreement, no questions but lots of pomp (Aug. 15)

You are so very accurate in your headline reporting on the Trump-Putin “summit.” What a colossal waste of effort and global attention. Just another Trumpian waste of time that could been handled by an email.

Slava Ukraine!

The point of pasture land

Re: “Drought aid misguided” (Letters, Aug. 14)

Regarding cattle ranching and drought: to the two readers who responded regarding dried-up pasture land, while meat production does include environmental issues, (as does modern society) if there is a lack of rain for pasture, what makes the letter writers think that vegetables will grow in a drought?

Besides, the land given over to cattle is usually substandard for the growth of vegetables, that’s why there are cows on it.

What young people deserve

Five months ago, when Mark Carney was on a mission to woo Canadians in his bid to lead both party and country, he wrote: “Young people deserve more from their government. They deserve to have optimism and confidence in their future. That’s the Canada I want to build.”

Fifty-eight days after being elected and nearly 10 years after his landmark “tragedy of the horizon” speech about acting with foresight to prevent climate harms, Carney’s government rammed through Bill C-5 – legislation that gives cabinet sweeping powers to bypass environmental reviews and protections.

As the second-worst wildfire season in Canadian history forces evacuations from coast to coast to coast and leaders muse about taxpayer-funded fossil fuel expansion, I have to ask: is this the “more” that young people deserve? Or are we seeing the continued sidelining of young peoples’ rights to a climate-safe future, leaving them with no choice but to litigate?