Have your say:

Low housing starts

Contrary to Martin Cash's view (Housing market solid, Sept. 1), the statistics actually demonstrate the mediocre nature of Manitoba's housing situation. In evaluating the strength of the market, it is important to consider the relative proportion of Canada's homes being built in Manitoba as well as fluctuating year-to-year changes, as Cash did.

In 2009, for example, Manitoba's 4,174 housing starts represent only 2.8 per cent of Canada's total housing starts of 149,081. This is far below our share of the population, which is about 3.6 per cent, suggesting that housing starts in Manitoba are few relative to our share of the population.

Manitoba would have needed almost 30 per cent more housing starts in 2009 to achieve 3.6 per cent of Canada's total, and the housing gap is even wider in other years. Similar gaps tend to occur in other major areas of the economy (e.g., vehicle purchases).

The short-term, positive trends emphasized by Cash would have to be maintained for many years to bring Manitoba up to the average housing market in Canada. Whether such an optimistic, long-term view is warranted is anybody's guess given our long-standing, below-average performance.

Jim Clark

Winnipeg

Curb vices

We have made great strides in regards to not allowing smoking in certain places. But what are we doing to curb the dangerous substance of alcohol? Not a thing. Advertising liquor on TV and newspapers is allowed, and yet alcohol is more costly to insurance payouts, takes more lives, destroys more property and families, creates many alcoholics and many people lose their jobs because of it. I am sure there are many more negative aspects of alcohol, almost too many to mention. Let's curb the advertising of alcohol.

GEORGE TEICHRIEB

Winnipeg

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The Canadian Medical Association has proposed to ban ultimate fighting because of the chances of participants sustaining serious injury and even death. Most people will surely applaud the doctors and other medical personnel for taking just such a stand. Such a ban would surely protect the participants from being maimed.

Still, we wonder why these doctors took such a stand to protect a very small minority of people when there were much bigger fish to fry in protecting the public. Has the medical association taken a stand against the sale of tobacco products that kill and sicken thousands of people every year in Canada and millions all over the world? There is no concerted effort to condemn governments addicted to tobacco taxes and to take a firm stand about the health and financial problems associated with tobacco. Rather, there was a minor statement from the medical association about banning ultimate fighting that probably fell on deaf ears anyway.

Is it time to have a complete ban on tobacco? I say the sooner the better.

LOU SPAKOWSKI

Winnipeg

Poll the voters

Bill C-391, the legislation to scrap the non-restricted firearms (long-gun) registry is a private members bill, and according to the Conservative Party of Canada, MPs should be free to vote in accordance with the majority view of their constituents. I, therefore, find it extremely disconcerting that Manitoba members of Parliament Rod Bruinooge (Winnipeg South); Steven Fletcher (Charleswood-St. James-Assinoboia); and Shelly Glover (St. Boniface) are all supporting Bill C-391. If you look back at the results of the 1997 and 2001 elections, when the long-gun registry was a hotly contested election issue, all of these ridings went to the Liberal Party of Canada.

As you know, the Liberals brought in the Firearms Act and registry, and supported it during both of these elections. Over the past three elections, the Firearms Act and the long-gun registry have not played a significant role in their outcomes. Maybe a reputable polling firm should conduct a scientific poll of all the ridings in Manitoba, using clear and concise questions, and publish the results. The direction to Manitoba MPs would then be established by the majority of the electorate and put an end to the nonsense that is currently taking place.

Bob Chamberlain

Arnes

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So the Liberals are targeting the seats of New Democrats who support Candice Hoeppner's bill to end the wasteful (take it from the constable on the beat, not the chiefs) long-gun registry. Fair enough, but Toronto Liberal MP Mark Holland says it is a "matter of defining principle." This being the case, the Liberals will play this exactly the same way in Churchill riding, reminding voters that Niki Ashton voted to end the registry and they should, therefore, vote Liberal, as they do in Toronto and Montreal? And that they will be reminding voters in Whitehorse and North Bay that Larry Bagnell (Lib.-Yukon) and Darcy Rota (Lib.-Nipissing-Timiskaming) voted to keep the registry? Right.

Ignatieff has the nerve to say "NDP" stands for "no darn principles?" Take a look in the mirror! This situation is more clear evidence that the Liberal party has one principle: power. Period

BOB CARMICHAEL

Keewatin, Ont.

Cost of bilingualism

I see where we are going to spend another $100 million for French education and programs in Manitoba over the next four-year period. You can only imagine what it will cost for all of Canada. To date, I'm sure we have spent billions of dollars on the French language programs.

What is wrong with politicians and governments? It is obvious that it would be most economic if we operated in a one-language atmosphere. We could save billions -- we could balance the budget, eliminate the deficit, and provide a better living for all Canadians, French speaking included.

One language, one Canada!

MAURICE TRESOOR

Winnipeg

Economical transit

Re: Myrna Donald's letter Accessible transit (Aug. 26). I am pleased that there was someone on the bus who came to her rescue at her time of need. I do have one comment I would like you to pass on to her, though.

In her letter, she makes reference to Handi-Transit and indicates that she does not use the Handi-Transit service because it is "more expensive." My husband is a regular user of Handi-Transit and it is surely a godsend. My husband is unable to walk as far as the bus stop for his ride and cab fare is out of the budget allowance. The cost of a Handi-Transit is the same as regular transit fare.

I admire Donald for her independence and wish her many more pleasant rides with Transit Tom as it was called "way back when." I would give up my seat anytime for her.

Denise Manhard

Winnipeg

Middle East madness

As reported by the news services, the recent comments uttered by Iran's nuclear chief, Ali Akbar Salehi, that an attack by Israel (and the West) on the completed Bushehr reactor facility would be an "international crime" are chilling.

It's bad enough that the Russians are deeply involved in Bushehr's construction and fuel management, but the remarks from Salehi go beyond provocation and into the territory of madness.

And what about Iran's goal of destroying the Jewish state, as in "wiping Israel off the map," as they have stated repeatedly. Is that hardly a crime?

This unbelievable logic defies all explanation and understanding.

DON WARKENTIN

Winnipeg

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 3, 2010 A15