Letters, June 15

Cut Carney environmental slack

Re: Hats off to Steven Guilbeault (Think Tank, June 10)

I, too, agree Steven Guilbeault was a necessary advocate for the environment in the Liberal government. Environmental issues have been stepped on and pushed to the back burner of Liberal priorities with the Carney government.

However, when you’re “up to your derrière in alligators, it’s hard to remember your objective was to drain the swamp.” With respect to Prime Minister Mark Carney, he has alligators in this country, as well as those in Washington, with which to deal so I can cut him some slack for the time being.

Until Carney can find a way (there are several out there) to make an economic argument for the environment, we will have to settle for the status quo.

As for Mr. Guilbeault, wouldn’t he make more of a difference within government than outside?

Allan Jakilazek

Winnipeg

Russian bluster is just that

Re: Russia calls Canada ‘warmonger’ for new deal with Ukraine (June 11)

When empires bluster, they send an unintended message: Caesars (or czars, if one prefers) can have their weaknesses exposed by those they claim to be powerless.

Canada has been standing behind Ukraine since the start of this war. Justin Trudeau and Chrystia Freeland effectively lobbied to ensure Europe’s steadfast support when the world assumed Ukraine would fall quickly and decisively. It is paramount that we ensure our continued support for Ukrainian efforts to reclaim territory, to repatriate those the Russians have kidnapped and to damage Russian wartime infrastructure.

The weakness of the Russian empire can be seen on the maps of Ukraine’s eastern borders, wherever Russia’s ill-gotten gains are reclaimed. Russian weakness is confirmed when authorities there shut down the internet to stem the news of Ukrainian drone attacks within Russia far from the front lines.

And the empire to the south of us has restarted its annexation talk; we would be foolish to think that America’s aspiring Caesar isn’t colluding with the wannabe czar when these events are so perfectly timed. Support for Ukraine also demonstrates the weakness of the other waning Cold War empire.

Kelsey Enns

Winnipeg

Grants aren’t the solution

Re: City mulls grant to give life to vacant buildings (June 10)

I cannot believe that the City of Winnipeg is proposing a financial incentive to developers to redevelop their own vacant properties.

Why reward their poor behaviour with tax dollars?

Grant money is still tax dollars, even though it’s coming from a different column in the budget. Let’s name and shame them and charge exorbitant taxes for the privilege of sitting on these properties.

Holly Poklitar

Winnipeg

AI argument rings hollow

Re: AI data centres and the public benefit (Think Tank, June 10)

David Clement uses golf courses as a whipping boy in defence of AI data centres. I don’t completely disagree that golf courses use a lot of water. But, in Manitoba, they only use that water for, at most, six months of the year. And unlike the AI data centres, water consumption on golf courses is highly regulated and bans are put in place during extreme heat conditions.

I expect the AI data centres would run 24-7, 12 months a year and need even more water during extreme heat conditions, not less.

Also, unlike the “record setting” construction of data centres, there have been zero new 18-hole golf courses built in Manitoba since 2011 and what new construction there was replaced a course that was closed, so no net gain.

I am also not aware of any jurisdiction banning golf for those under 16 due to the damage it is causing them. That damage is, of course, coming from unregulated content emanating from the data centres Clement is attempting to defend.

I think there would be far more public benefit if data was less accessible and people spent four hours walking a golf course and not doom-scrolling.

As a golfer, I assure David that if there was a sudden boom in proposed golf-course construction, I would be there raising the alarm.

Harold Shuster

Winnipeg

CUSMA concern overstated

Re: Carney chairs virtual meeting with the premiers as CUSMA talks loom on horizon (June 10)

For months I have been disgusted by traditional media attempting to ramp up their web hits as they decry that Canada is not ready for the June 30 CUSMA deadline.

As the article states, “The meeting happened just weeks before the mandatory review of the Canada-United States-Mexico agreement on trade begins on July 1.”

July 1 is simply the first opportunity that the parties may say they have “irritants” that they would like to review for possible amendments.

Actually, any party could have given six months notice of withdrawal at any time. But I expect Trump knows that he does not have the authority, as chief executive, to do that. CUSMA is a treaty, ratified and legislated by the legislative branch, Congress. And that is why Carney is ragging the puck while Trump loses control of Congress and becomes increasingly irrelevant.

Canada, don’t sweat CUSMA.

Fred Petrie

Winnipeg

Doctors aren’t monopolists

Re: “Empowering pharmacists” (Letters, June 9)

Kristen Hardy states: “The cause of this miserable state of affairs: doctors lobbying for monopolistic control over health care.”

I worked for Doctors Manitoba for over 20 years. They were never interested in monopolistic control. They cared about the delivery of the best care to all Manitobans.

During that time I found doctors were always supportive of pharmacists, nurses, health-care aides and the thousands of others providing care to Manitobans.

As for the comment that the minister “very publicly breaks bread with physicians’ lobbyists,” the health minister will meet regularly with representatives of all other health-care professions in order to gain their perspective on the myriad of complex health issues facing the government.

Robert Cram

Winnipeg

The height of hubris

Think about it: Julius Caesar and the gladiators in the Colosseum; Donald J. Trump and the fighters of the UFC.

Is there a difference? I think not. This is his way of trying to emulate history on his own behalf.

If we ever become the 51st state, I will be moving to the potential 52nd, wherever that may be.

Brian E. Lecker

Winnipeg

Rename Gordie Howe Bridge

Re: Gordie Howe Bridge ribbon-cutting set to go ahead this week (June 9)

So the U.S. Commander-in-Theft is still threatening to not allow the new Detroit-Windsor bridge to open to traffic, eh?

Well there is a very simple solution — change the name from the Gordie Howe Bridge to the Donny Trump Bridge. That should solve the issue in seconds. And if that isn’t quite enough, paint it gold.

Just make sure all the signage and paint are easily removable so once he’s gone, it can all go back to what it’s supposed to be.

Bob Martin

Winnipeg