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This article was published 14/03/2014 (4234 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

No accountability on potholes

Re: Pothole season could last until June, March 12.

Our city streets border on Third World conditions, riddled with potholes. Those in denial, like our mayor, love to blame the infamous freeze-thaw cycle as the culprit but are unable to explain why the same disaster doesn’t befall communities such as Brandon or Grand Forks, N.D.

The lack of preventive maintenance over the years, and a lack of quality control, result in each year being worse than the one previous.

While our mayor took great pride in not raising taxes for many years, in typical fashion he doesn’t hold himself accountable for the resulting lack of investment in our infrastructure.

The fix proposed by the city is the temporary asphalt repair that lasts two to three years — certainly not long-term. We need leadership that understands “long-term” goes beyond their next term in office.

GARY HOOK

Winnipeg

 

Past NDP mistakes costly

Re: Balance taxing and spending, Letters, March 12.

So Al Mackling didn’t like my letter to the editor (NDP’s ‘plan’ taxing, Letters, March 8)? Too bad.

Mackling was a cabinet member in two previous NDP governments that left us with a $30-billion debt. His words are nothing more than a defence of his political party.

Of course governments tax and spend, but not to the extent the NDP have done in the past and present — including their illegal sales-tax hike.

We continue to pay the price of Mackling’s party’s past mistakes of fiscal irresponsibility — a tradition today’s NDP are quite proud to maintain.

AL YAKIMCHUK

Winnipeg

 

Bipole III decision political

It’s not difficult to grasp that the decision not to permit right-of-way to Bipole III on the east side of Lake Winnipeg was a political decision (Transmission review needed, Letters, March 12).

Political decisions are made for complex reasons, ideally taking into consideration the entire spectrum of societal concerns, but certainly not just economics (of which Hydro’s is but a part).

In light of this, and in the absence of direct evidence to the contrary, it follows the west-side route is Hydro’s route, not the NDP’s — the east-side land is not Hydro property.

PER STOKKE

Winnipeg

 

Toews tough on crime

Vic Toews is being vilified by the media and criticized by Federal Court judges because as Canada’s public safety minister he denied requests by some Canadians, who had been convicted of crimes abroad, to be brought back to Canada to serve their sentences (‘A closed mind’ on the bench?, March 13).

Whatever happened to the old adage “do the crime, do the time?”

I for one am pleased to see a man with Toews’ convictions appointed to the Manitoba bench.

CAL PAUL

Winnipeg

 

Jets mum on jeered Isles fan

Re: Jeered young Islanders fan receives outpouring, March 12.

Good for the young lad who was contacted by the New York Islanders and for the organization for reaching out to him. The Winnipeg Jets organization, meanwhile, has been strangely quiet on this incident.

True North Sports and Entertainment and the Winnipeg Jets should more strictly enforce their “fan code of conduct.” The Jets fan who did this to this child should be identified and barred permanently from any future games and his tickets given to this young hockey fan. This would hopefully prevent future incidents such as this, which are an embarrassment to both the city and the Winnipeg Jets.

GERALD MCIVOR

Winnipeg

 

Mix French and English kids

Parents whose kids attend Hastings School and âcole Marie-Anne-Gaboury should compromise and end their conflicts (School swap considered, March 10).

Superintendent Duane Brothers should put his foot down; if 314 spaces are available at Hastings, set up French-immersion classes at that school and be done with it.

Language has no barrier when it comes to winning. Get along, mix the kids up and you will all be better for it.

PAUL ROY

Emerson

 

Investigate dog’s owner

So the white shepherd-cross dog isn’t chained up outside anymore (Humane society can’t stop all the abuse, March 13). That’s good.

But the dog’s owner kicked it in the head, as witnessed by the neighbour. I realize the Winnipeg Humane Society is busy, but I certainly hope they’ll be investigating further.

JEANINE SAHULKA

Gimli

 

‘Dean of lean’ too late

After some 15 years in office, it seems the NDP has finally seen a need for efficiency in government (The dean of lean, March 7).

What has it been doing all this time?

This government, and its NDP predecessors, have been more concerned with their own political fortunes, as opposed to providing responsible governance. As a consequence, the Selinger government now finds itself in a position where it can lay no claim to responsible fiscal governance.

This ostensible push for efficiency seems like nothing more than a smokescreen.

DON PALMER

Winnipeg

Kids get cigarette satire

Re: Smoking satire lost on kids, Letters, March 11.

My 11-year-old had no difficulty understanding the satirical smoking ad.

I guess she has a better understanding of humour and satire than some adult readers.

HADASS EVIATAR

Winnipeg