Letters, Oct. 30

Embarrassed by turnout

I am ashamed by the poor turnout of voters in the recent municipal election in Winnipeg. Just 38 per cent of eligible voters is a disgrace to the thousands of men and women who gave their lives in past wars, where they were defending democracy and the right to vote.

My grandfather was an infantry soldier in the First World War, and my father-in-law flew in Avro Lancasters in the Second World War. For both I am grateful.

Maybe the 62 per cent that had a flimsy excuse for not voting will keep this mind for the next election. People died for our right to vote.

Mark Gendron

Winnipeg

Election issues

I have two bones to pick with the just-completed municipal elections.

First, in my area, I received three pamphlets for school trustee positions. Zero for any of the three vying for a city council seat. Was that laziness on the candidates’ part? Even lawn signage seemed to be missing.

Second is with those who mark voting locations. In my case, the site was Dakota Collegiate (I hadn’t been in that building since 1966). The sign on the street indicating this was the right place was there. (But there was) zero indication that there was an accessible entrance where there would not be steps. I managed to get up the three steps with my walker and one fellow voter standing by, in case. Inside, I mentioned the problem and was told where the accessible entrance was. After voting, I left by that accessible ramp and I looked carefully. None of the signage indicated the accessible entryway was there.

Those running these sites need to do better. I have to wonder if anyone even considered this? Did any other person with mobility issues not vote because of this?

Linda Ross-Mansfield

Winnipeg

Take action, encourage hope

Re: Frustration grows as community garden becomes pit of despair (Oct. 28)

Is it any wonder that many people in Winnipeg are losing hope for the type of city environment where they can feel safe and enjoy their everyday lives? I feel sorry for the Martens and the honest residents of the West End. Instead of being able to enjoy their retirement, they must dread every morning they wake up, wondering what is going to happen next and why our mayor and the Winnipeg Police Service cannot give them a feeling of security despite the obvious signs of an unacceptable neighbourhood.

Instead of avoiding West End residents documented concerns, why is the police department not casing the suspected drug houses, arresting drug dealers and finding out who owns these drug dens? Why is newly re-elected city councillor Cindy Gilroy not actually doing something (e.g., requesting greater attention from our mayor and the police) instead of just talking about further discussion sometime in the future “between the city and Spence Neighbourhood Association”? Does anyone think this procrastination would be acceptable if this was one of our wealthier city neighbourhoods?

Thank you to our Free Press and reporter Scott Billeck for exposing this travesty. This is why it is so important that we, as citizens of Winnipeg, need to support an independent local newspaper. Often, as the residents of the West End have discovered, it is only when this situation gets the publicity it deserves that action will be taken.

As concerned citizens, we need to give vocal support to the residents of the West End. If residents of safer neighbourhoods ignore this situation, the result is further deterioration that will continue to spread into our own neighbourhoods.

I call upon Scott Gillingham, Gene Bowers and Cindy Gilroy to publicly show us that we have a city where hope is still present.

Gary McGimpsey

Winnipeg

No sympathy for landlords

Re: NDP introduces bill targeting back for rent hikes (Oct. 29)

If following the law is an administrative nightmare for landlords, all that tells renters is that landlords are accustomed to skirting the laws that protect renters.

Landlords can still raise rent but have to wait for approval to hike rents past pre-approved levels. Before, many landlords went the “easier to ask for forgiveness than permission” route; but that route is a nightmare for tenants who suddenly have to add the stress of fighting unjust rent increases to the normal stresses of work, bills (including rent) and groceries.

Renters have a right to expect their landlords to follow laws and regulations. If that is an administrative nightmare, then landlords could seek another profession and divest themselves of their investments so those more capable of handling the administrative load can do the work.

Kelsey Enns

Winnipeg

A bleak future?

Re: AI and the quiet erosion of human judgment (Think Tank, Oct. 28)

Rod Lastra’s article was chilling. Humanity is at the stage where our creations are poised to supersede their creators.

American inventor and technologist Ray Kurzweil, who has been surprisingly accurate in his technology predictions, famously predicted that humanity would merge technologically with the AI cloud, and enjoy the same ability to comprehend by about 2030.

If we do nothing, we will be condemned to be “yes men” for artificial intelligence, as our primate brains were never intended to operate at the speed of even present AIs. (Many scholars) have proposed certain “Great Filters” a civilization must surpass to become an interstellar species. One is to avoid nuclear war. Another might be to reach some common ground with AI. The lack of radio signals from other intelligent creatures does not bode well for our future.

Michael Dowling

Winnipeg

Ease the frustration

Re: Construction disruption frustrates (Editorial, Oct. 27)

As a frequent visitor to Florida and California over the past 20 years, I have found it interesting to observe the road-construction crews at work. Six days a week, and with the benefit of giant floodlights, work continues well after dark. With their warm climates, work is done 12 months a year.

Contrast this with what happens in Winnipeg. Crews work five days a week for the most part and then only during daylight hours. With harsh winters, work is done for six or seven months a year. It’s no wonder business owners confronted by road work close to their enterprises are frustrated by the lengthy time frame needed to complete work.

The question posed to civic leaders should be why can’t we get more work done during the summer road-construction season by simply increasing the number of days and hours worked?

Michael Leipsic

Winnipeg

Careful what you wish for

Re: “Protect free speech” (Letters, Oct. 23)

I agree with Lily Stearns that no matter how offensive we might find the viewpoint, this is a matter of free speech, which almost all Canadians support. I would add that if Leah Gazan’s proposal (Bill C-254, a private member’s bill to amend the Criminal Code) were to be adopted and at some time in the future a government came to power in Manitoba that was extremely conservative on social issues, Gazan herself would likely be silenced.

Carolyn Garlich

Winnipeg