Letters, Oct. 17

No consideration for businesses

Re: Graham Avenue stretch ‘circling the drain’ (Oct. 15)

This is just so maddening!

These businesses were given absolutely no consideration when our city council approved the rerouting of transit away from Graham Avenue.

A better, long-term vision for our downtown might have included maintaining Graham Avenue as the central transit corridor. Then there would be a reason for new businesses, better landscaping and meeting areas.

But no, now we will have a wasteland or a place for detox facilities.

Marilyn Bird

Winnipeg

Thanks to Lett

Celebrating the journalism that overturns injustice was the subject of Paul Samyn’s Editor’s Note that arrived in my inbox.

This note said that in Toronto, Innocence Canada awarded Dan Lett the Tracey Tyler Award for delivering justice to those who have been wrongfully convicted. In its citation, Innocence Canada said that Dan’s work over his 39 years at the Free Press helped free three men convicted of crimes they did not commit: David Milgaard, James Driskell and Richard McArthur.

Way to go Dan Lett! It was a great day in 1986 when you relocated from Toronto to Winnipeg. Keep up the good work.

Rich North

Winnipeg

Improving immunization system

On Oct. 15, I managed to get both the COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same time, in one location, not too far from downtown where I live.

The appointment was made on Oct. 2 with the provincial vaccine call centre.

A roving pop-up clinic was held at one of the provincial access centres. The nurses were great, but the number of people vaccinated seemed minuscule.

Being “doctor orphaned” thrice in a short time, I no longer have a general physician.

My longtime pharmacy seems ill-equipped to do many vaccinations on top of their regular workload, combined with their very tiny treatment room and lack of seating.

The convention centre had been a convenient, well equipped and well-attended, central location to provide mass immunizations.

A dedicated clinic downtown and in other central locations would inoculate a lot more people much more efficiently.

If mass herd immunity works best, then improvements are needed to access the productive nurses and the amazing preventative vaccines.

Holly Bertram

Winnipeg

Manitoba’s minerals advantage

Manitoba stands at a turning point. Our business and government leaders, both Indigenous and provincial, have put forward exciting and ambitious plans. From upgrading the Port of Churchill, to extracting critical minerals such as high purity silica, developing energy corridors, advancing natural resource development and cleaner, more efficient energy generation — we could be looking at one of the greatest influxes of capital, revenue and jobs the province has ever seen in the coming years. Amplify with opportunities for vertical integration and these projects represent hundreds of billions of dollars in potential investment, and tens of thousands of jobs.

Across every major government plan — whether it’s the critical minerals strategy, the net-zero strategy, the affordable energy plan or the economic growth strategy — the same truth emerges: achieving success requires balancing growth with environmental stewardship. Each strategy acknowledges environmental management. This is precisely where members of the Manitoba Environmental Industries Association, of which I am president and CEO, play a critical role.

Behind every responsibly built mine, corridor or renewable project are MEIA’s members: the scientists, engineers and innovators who make that progress possible.

They are the ones ensuring that new mines, infrastructure projects, land/water use and energy developments meet the highest environmental standards.

Everything we build or produce leaves an impact. But when combined with government oversight, industry innovation, technology, that impact can be reduced and managed. Environmental industries deliver the essential environmental services and technologies that make responsible development possible.

A few examples of their expertise span environmental impact assessments, water and soil remediation, waste management, renewable energy integration and advanced monitoring solutions. These are not peripheral industries; they are at the core of sustainable economic growth.

This integration is especially important as Manitoba strengthens partnerships with Indigenous governments and communities. Reconciliation requires shared participation in economic development, and it must go hand-in-hand with environmental care, cultural respect and lasting community benefit.

MEIA members help bridge that balance by ensuring projects are built in ways that honour environmental, social and cultural values. Will the environment be left untouched? No. But we can manage the risks to ensure there is ecological health and community acceptance.

We can no longer take for granted that our standard of living can be sustained by outsourcing production to countries with less concern for environmental standards.

Manitoba has an unsung, less celebrated side of the business community — a strong, compassionate environmental services and clean-tech sector available to help to protect our “backyard.” Saying “not in our backyard” only shifts impact elsewhere and misses a moment to lead responsibly.

As markets demand critical minerals, cleaner power and transparent sustainability practices, Manitoba has a strategic advantage. Our province can lead by example; demonstrating that responsible development is not a barrier to investment, but a magnet for it.

Investors, governments and the public increasingly look to jurisdictions that can deliver growth and environmental performance.

That is precisely the advantage Manitoba environmental industries bring to the table.

Jack Winram

Winnipeg

Defining Canadian football

Change is inevitable, and professional sport is a business. But Canadian football is also part of our national culture and identity, and in the case of the Grey Cup, an important ritual of national unity.

CFL owners and their new commissioner, Stewart Johnston, must not be allowed to adulterate our game without input from fans, amateur football and the people of Canada who pay to develop our players. Pierre Trudeau came to the aid of the CFL with the Canadian Football Act when John Bassett tried to import the U.S.-style World Football League to Toronto in 1974. But this time the enemy isn’t America — it’s us!

It’s high time Ottawa appointed a parliamentary committee and public hearings to learn what players, coaches and fans think should change or remain untouchable.

The French define what can legally be sold as champagne; Germany does the same for its unique beers. Here in Canada, those of us who love, play and support the game — not just those who own it — must have a say in defining what is Canadian football.

Bruce Dodds

Benito