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Letters, June 1

Better options, fewer cars

I read Ray Kohanik’s opinion piece It’s time to make better transportation decisions (May 29) with interest.

His analysis is correct that widening Kenaston Boulevard is a project out of our budget, whether or not cost-sharing comes through this time from other levels of government. (For those keeping score at home, Kenaston has been twice rejected. Third time’s the charm?)

As it stands, by the city’s own analysis, traffic will have returned to Kenaston, and our commute times will be longer than they are now, before we have paid off the bill. The reality is we already have far more roads than we can properly afford to maintain given our tax base. Unless we want to double our property taxes and cut basically all of our services, we need to find a way to use our transportation infrastructure more efficiently if we want to give future generations a fighting chance for financial sustainability.

Letters, May 31

Paying for services

Re: Tax cuts need to be focus of provincial election (May 30)

In clamouring for tax cuts, Gage Haubrich fails to acknowledge that taxes pay for necessary services such as health care, education and infrastructure. All these provincial government responsibilities have suffered from tax-cutting.

Nobody enjoys paying taxes, but we should all support taxation levels that pay for what we all need. Governments have no money of their own. They need ours to pay for services.

Letters, May 30

It’s a wash

Re: Tory campaign co-chair Bergen bemoans ‘brainwashed’ youth (May 25)

Regarding the comments by Candice Bergen that schools and universities brainwash students, would she explain what brainwashing she experienced or at least witnessed while attending university? And what faculty she was enrolled in?

It would provide great amounts of insight for young people (and their parents) as they pursue post-secondary studies.

Letters, May 29

Looking for more Goldeyes info

Re: Goldeyes sneak past Cougars (May 25)

I was happy to see the great article Joshua Frey-Sam wrote on Thursday. The game on the 24th was great! Very exciting.

I had hoped (and this is a suggestion for a future article), that he would have mentioned the new protocols the Goldeyes have instituted regarding the pitch clock and the runner on second base in extra innings.

Letters, May 26

Approach Christian lessons in schools with caution

We need to exercise caution with requests such as those from the Child Evangelism Fellowship to offer Christian lessons as an opt-in within public schools’ weekly daytime schedule.

Faith development belongs with parents, grandparents and religious institutions, not with the public schools.

While public school lessons about diverse world religions are appropriate to help us understand and respect our differences, there is no place in our public schools for organizations that seek to convert children. The very name “Child Evangelism Fellowship” reveals its proselytizing purpose: “to evangelize boys and girls with the Gospel of Christ.” Its mandate is to reach “every child, every nation, every day.”

Letters, May 25

Outpouring of support encouraging

It was heartwarming to wake up this morning to the news that the citizens of Brandon had voted almost unanimously against the idea of banning books based on LGBTTQ+ content to protect the rights of all people in their community.

The message was clear. Ideas that promote hatred and ignorance will not fly here! Thank you for showing the world what all Canadians should stand for.

Gladys Bellamy

Letters, May 24

Keep church, school separate

I have to admit, I was taken somewhat by surprise to learn our public schools are actively involved in the accommodation of religious studies within their respective curriculums.

The larger question at hand here is to what extent these special offerings are made available to those who chose to worship outside the Christian faith or for that matter, choose to not worship at all.

What has become abundantly clear, is the relative failure of our educational system to address the teaching of critical thought and comparative systems of belief, faith and science-based awareness and knowledge.

Letters, May 23

Prom provokes a smile

Re: Dry Cold bringing heartfelt teen love story to stage (May 10)

With the numerous news stories in Manitoba this week about the theft of LGBTTQ+ books from a classroom, bricks with pride flags attached being pried from school walls, and potential queer-inclusive book bannings, I have been feeling particularly down this week.

But do you know what really lifted my spirits? The Prom.

Letters, May 19

The real question on Kenaston

I have been reading commentary regarding the proposed Kenaston Boulevard project with more than a little interest as some appear to suggest that the cost is an all-or-nothing amount. I will suggest that it must be regarded as a project with the following parts: the active transportation component; the bridge work component; the sewer work; and the road work.

I doubt if anyone would argue that, at present, trying to cycle on Kenaston Boulevard could be regarded as suicidal. As to the bridge work, anyone who has met a pothole on one of the bridges would argue that the current bridges are in need of an overhaul that could include improvements in safety for cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists.

This leaves sewers and roadway for discussion. As the area currently has a combined sewer system, sewer work is necessary. Given this, as well as the deteriorating pavement, road work is also necessary. Thus the only question should be what kind of roadway. Should it be a total of four lanes or six lanes, or four lanes for private vehicles and two lanes for rapid transit?

Letters, May 18

Everybody’s somebody

I once met an old man who made his own jewelry. He was incredibly proud of his work and had several pieces to show me. He explained to me what the colours and patterns of the beads signified. He had been making jewelry since he was a child. It was a skill that had been passed on to him from his father.

I once met a young man who was a gifted musician and poet. He did not play a musical instrument, but rather, he used spoken word to create dynamic, emotionally charged verses about the challenges of street life in our city.

I once met a woman who awed me with her fierce determination and strength . She was proud and beautiful. She was not above asking for help when she needed to, but would not compromise her principles for personal gain.

Letters, May 17

Better traffic planning needed

I heard on the radio that the city wants to make downtown more people friendly not car friendly.

Now I’m no engineer but even I grasp the basics that a city with no subway, no light rail and only a poor, understaffed transit system needs to be car friendly. And it needs to make getting around this city by car faster and easier.

People speed because there is no fast way of getting anywhere, in a city this size it should not take an hour or longer to get to the other side. The city made some attempts on Lagimodiere, the Perimeter, Bishop Grandin and Kenaston, but then, instead of overpasses, they littered these routes with stop lights.

Letters, May 16

Ignorance should not be fostered

Re: Move afoot to ban LGBTTQ+ books from Brandon schools (May 11)

It is with great concern that I read reporting on the Brandon School Division meeting, which allowed a presentation towards removal of LGBTTQ+ books in school libraries in the area. Reporting would suggest that at least two members are actively supporting the presentation by one individual and this will come to further discussion on May 23 at yet another meeting.

Unfortunately, these attitudes mirror activity in the United States, which seem to believe that any discussion regarding inclusivity equality or diversity is the type of “woke” agenda which is out to undermine “heteronormative behaviour.”

Letters, May 15

Politically targeting retail employers is misguided

Today almost 17,000 Manitobans work in grocery stores across the province. Those stores are the cornerstones of their communities and a growing, vibrant part of the Manitoba economy.

In recent days, some Manitoba politicians have unfairly called out specific businesses as inappropriately benefiting from a rebate program, where they receive back a small fraction of the millions of dollars they pay annually in provincial tax. This is not how serious economic choices should be made, and the political theatre and name calling does not benefit Manitobans.

Statements criticizing these companies and their ownership are deliberately overlooking the many vital ways they contribute to the province. This includes major commitments they make to help Manitoba’s local growers and producers flourish, the work Manitoba’s construction industry benefits from as profits are reinvested to update and expand access to stores, and the millions contributed to local charities, including the important role they play in supporting the province’s food bank system.

Letters, May 10

Trash trouble

Re: Cleanup shows community pride (May 8)

Tyler Searle’s piece was heartwarming to read and at the same time extremely infuriating, knowing that my neighbourhood of St. Johns (although technically I’m in the riding of Point Douglas) is still a heaping pile of trash.

It’s very tough to walk or cycle through my neighbourhood, makes me embarrassed to live here, an apartment block just up the street I noticed today has multiple used needles lying on the ground, a house with heritage status that is boarded up after a fire last year is now a garbage dump, and a wind screen that catches even more trash.

Letters for May 8

Gordon’s got to go

Audrey Gordon must resign. Or be fired.

It is beyond absurd — but politically expedient perhaps, thinking of Heather Stefanson, former invisible Manitoba health minister, and current gibberish-prone, incompetent health minister, Audrey Gordon — that Lanette Siragusa be appointed Shared Health CEO, while retaining vice-deanship of the University of Manitoba’s Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, albeit in a reduced capacity.

As an experienced university administrator over many decades, I can attest that this type of bizarre appointment is nothing but detrimental to the complexity, challenges and issues with this hastily-announced appointment.

Letters for May 5

Gambling ads poor bet

Re: Want to bet on what happens? (Editorial, May 1)

Thank you Free Press for the excellent editorial in the May 1 edition.

Years ago, tobacco companies had to stop advertising cigarettes because smoking was identified as highly addictive, habit forming and a serious threat to health.

Letters, May 4

Banning books just plain wrong

Re: Book challenge campaign ‘shocking’ (May 2)

A segment of society believes their beliefs should supersede the rest of society. What they call pornographic, I consider to be the facts of life. I’m grateful that the days of babies being delivered by storks and sex education being found only in the schoolyard are over.

Libraries exist for all citizens and if people find certain books offensive, they have the freedom not to read them. Factual information increases knowledge. I have never seen a book in a library that promotes pedophilia. Banning books is simply wrong.

People over cars

Re: Portage and Main has to be people-friendly (Think Tank, May 1)

The reopening of the intersection of Portage and Main to pedestrians is an issue that should be decided by City Council, based on the expertise of city planners and architects such as Brent Bellamy (Think Tank, May 1). As Bellamy states, “Portage and Main will never successfully attract people if it is simultaneously designed to repel them.”

Barricading pedestrians repels both tourists and those who choose to live downtown and experience this area as part of their neighbourhood.

Ready to help PM pack

Re: In New York, Trudeau gets grilled about Canada’s commitment to humanitarian aid (April 27)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was looking for love in New York because he can’t find enough in Canada.

Prancing on the international stage and schmoozing with the super-rich and the globally influential might be part of Justin’s clandestine plot to obtain a job on the top floor of the United Nations building. That’s where his innate talent, i.e., blowing hot air, would be met with smatterings of applause and much head-bobbing. Just think, he would have no need to concern himself with mundane day-to-day issues such as dealing with irate government employees. He would also have unlimited pre-paid travel and holiday opportunities.

Saijan’s time running out

Re: Minister didn’t authorize fake travel docs for Afghans, says he didn’t check email (April 26)

When Canada’s former minister of defence Harjit Saijan admits “I wasn’t reading my email” and testifies before a House of Commons committee that he still hasn’t gone back to check his emails from August and September of 2021, we as Canadians must count ourselves fortunate that hopefully he wasn’t too busy to answer his phone in the event that a matter of national security arose.

This minister has been bounced from acting minister of veterans affairs to minister of national defence to minister of international development. It must be only a matter of time before he realizes that the prime minister can no longer protect him and he resigns to take a high-end position in the business world, if there is one that doesn’t require a leader to read their emails.