Letters, Sept. 24

Poor choice

Manitoba’s move to end seasonal time changes appears to be an edict by extrapolation.

A voluntary online questionnaire produced 72,000 self‑selected responses, of which 58 per cent (41,760 people) preferred permanent daylight time. This is not a scientific poll, yet it is being used to set time policy for 1.4 million Manitobans — without legislative debate, committee review, or a vote in the Assembly.

If a one‑hour shift twice a year is considered “harmful,” then by the same logic we should question every activity involving time‑zone changes.

Commercial aviation routinely moves crews and passengers across three to eight time zones. Train crews and long‑haul truckers cross provincial and national boundaries. Families take vacations that move children into different time zones. If one hour is dangerous, these everyday activities should be considered far worse.

Permanent daylight time also risks reducing morning light for those who rely on it to regulate circadian rhythms or who struggle with seasonal affective disorder during dark winter months.

History offers a warning. In 1974, the United States adopted year‑round daylight time. Children went to school in pitch darkness, accidents increased, and Congress abandoned the experiment within months.

Major changes to public timekeeping deserve democratic process, not extrapolation from a non‑representative online survey.

Curt Smith

East St. Paul

Bad behaviour and consequences

Tom Brodbeck’s column Canada-U.S. trade relationship is broken, but the damage can — and will — be fixed, Sept. 18, predicts that after Trump is gone trading will once again normalize between Canada and the U.S.

That may well be, but I sincerely hope that it will be a “new normal.” I am a firm believer in the notion that bad behaviour should have consequences.

If Canada has new trade alliances, then the price that the U.S. pays for Canadian resources should be at the very least competitive with the broader market. In my happy place, the price would be considerably higher. Canada should, to the extent the market allows, sell more finished product to the U.S. and less raw material.

We sold our place in California right after the orange terror took office and we have no intention of going back. If we were considering another vacation home, potential changes initiated by Prime Minister Mark Carney may well make European warm spots a better choice.

I have yet to meet a European who says “We’re going to own Canada,” unlike our former American neighbours in Indian Wells. If U.S. alcohol goes back on the shelves, I won’t buy it.

My mantra will continue to be “Buy Canadian, or if nothing is available buy anything else that isn’t American.” That is my “new normal.”

Tom Pearson

Victoria, B.C.

Finishing the job

When will the construction actually be finished?

I appreciated the news that Abinojii Mikanah will soon be reduced to one lane in each direction between Pembina Highway and St. Mary’s Road.

But I would be much more interested in some news about when the construction on Abinojii Mikanah will actually be finished.

For months now, it seems that there has been little or no construction activity for much of the time. Yet the reduced speed limit remains in place, along with doubled fines for speeding in a construction zone.

If there is no construction happening, why are motorists still being treated as though they are driving through an active construction zone?

And then there is the daily presence of what appears to be a commissionaire sitting in a vehicle, monitoring traffic speeds. If there is little or no construction underway, it certainly gives the appearance of a very expensive, taxpayer-funded speed trap — one that has been in place for months.

Instead of spending money to monitor motorists in a zone where work often appears to be stopped, why not put those resources toward getting the actual project finished?

Abinojii Mikanah is an important and heavily travelled roadway. Reducing it to one lane in each direction makes an already frustrating commute even more difficult, particularly for people travelling to and from work every day.

Perhaps instead of imposing doubled fines in a construction zone, the city should consider penalties for poor project management and lengthy delays.

Winnipeg motorists don’t need another cash grab. They need the construction finished.

Nick Slonosky

Winnipeg

Trading Connor Hellebuyck

In his column on Sept. 18, ‘Hellebuyck’s part of our family until he isn’t part of our family’, Mike McIntyre states that “Connor Hellebuyck and his family were subject to so much post-Olympic vitriol that both the Winnipeg Jets security team and even the police had to get involved.”

Is it any wonder why Hellebuyck has decided to ask for a trade?

As fans, we love to put our sports heroes on pedestals and view them as being somehow different or better than the rest of us.

However, when it comes to matters that affect our families, does it really make a difference that Hellebuyck is an all-star goalie or that he signed a million dollar contract? If his decision to leave Winnipeg is based on what he feels is best for his wife and children, who can honestly blame him?

It is truly unfortunate that Hellebuyck has to leave his teammates and the place he has called home for many years because of the actions of a few ignorant people.

Perhaps the lesson to be learned for all of us is that hockey players, politicians, and any people who are in the public realm are people first. They have the same concerns and feelings as the rest of us. They should be granted the same respect and dignity that we expect for ourselves.

I wish Connor and his family well whatever the future may bring.

Brent Corrigan

Winnipeg

The Jets and Connor Hellebuyck are in a difficult position. Hellebucyk is by far the best regular league goaltender. However, his Stanley Cup playoff record is the exact opposite. In the playoffs he plays like a poor (vs best) goalie and rarely wins.

That’s a major reason for the Jets poor playoff record.

In the Olympics, however, his play was extraordinary and the only reason the U.S.A. won the Olympic gold medal. He deserved the gold.

Perhaps now he thinks he can win under pressure in the NHL playoffs but, based on last season, the Jets’ prospects to make the playoffs are dim.

Another potential issue is that Hellebuyck went to the White House and rightfully was celebrated by President Donald Trump. Many Canadian fans dislike Trump. Hellebucyk is entitled to be an American patriot and supporter of his president.

Perhaps he does not want to play in an area where many dislike his president and, to some extent, the U.S.A.

In any event, a trade will be difficult. Hellebucyk is a major contributor to the Jets success. His lackluster performance in the playoffs will make it less likely the Jets will get a valuable player in return.

I think its likely that the Jets will be waiting a long time to get a good player in trade.

Jim Lawrence

Winnipeg