Have your say

Protecting the North

Mia Rabson's April 17 story, Axworthy urges Arctic co-operation, sets out one area in which both former Liberal and current Conservative governments have been weak, if not absent -- in failing to open up our northern territories and establish our resource-sovereignty in the Arctic.

It appears that "ice-strengthened summer patrol boats" are being contemplated over ice breakers. Rather than pouring $30 billion to $40 billion into F-35s that serve only one dismal purpose, let's redirect those funds into multitasking ships that can make a positive contribution to Canada's economy by supporting our own shipbuilding industry and Canadian jobs rather than the U.S. military-industrial complex.

DON HALLIGAN

Winnipeg

Immigration honesty

I agree completely with MP Shelly Glover when she says, "A government is elected to represent the people and to tell the truth." (Immigration spat heats up, April 20.)

Can she report back, honestly, on her government's record of truth-telling on issues such as the cost of F-35 fighter jets, cuts to the CBC, or moving scientific research and service jobs from Winnipeg to Calgary?

On the topic she is so exercised about at the moment, justifying changes to services for immigrants by falsely claiming that the province has made no financial contribution, is hardly an example of telling the truth.

I look forward to a new wave of honesty emanating from the federal Conservative government. Honestly, though, I'm not holding my breath.

DAVE PLUMMER

Winnipeg

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According to Christine Melnick and Greg Selinger, the Immigrant Settlement Program, funded 93 per cent by the federal government and run by Manitoba, is operating efficiently and effectively and should not be taken over by the federal government, which carries $36 million in costs. Overall, Manitoba government agencies, departments and services are a horrendous fiscal shambles. Despite $3.6-billion in federal transfer payments, the province is budgeting a $500-million deficit this year.

The claim that immigrant settlement services somehow escaped our government's endemic incompetence is not credible to Manitobans facing increased taxes and fees at every turn.

JOHN FELDSTED

Winnipeg

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Dan Lett is correct when he says it's disingenuous to say any one level of government deserves credit for increased immigration in Manitoba (MP unleashes partisan barbs, April 20).

But my concern is, once again, Stephen Harper has decided only he knows what's best for Manitoba, that we (who chose an NDP government) can't be trusted to do what's right for our province.

I am buoyed by the fact this could backfire. A large portion of successful immigration has been to ridings that are, traditionally, Conservative. Let's see how Brandon, Morden, Winkler and Steinbach feel about losing a measure of control over the immigration program, because their beloved Conservatives think they're not doing a very good job.

DAVE FERGUSON

Winnipeg

Budget time blues

So Stan Struthers thinks a job is the best way out of poverty (Four key spending decisions, April 18). Then what does he have to say about the fact the child poverty rate, according to the 2009 Low Income Measure, is 16.7 per cent in families that had at least one full-time, full-year worker. This amounts to 50.6 per cent of all children living in poverty.

Why, then, does his budget contain no measures to turn these jobs into good jobs or to improve the incomes of these families?

SID FRANKEL

Winnipeg

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Manitoba 2012 budget -- adding more than two cents per litre gas tax May 1, merging the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission with Manitoba Lotteries, reducing health authorities from 11 to five, increasing Sunday shopping hours.

Why not change our licence plate motto to "Friendly no families left Manitoba"? At least we still have the Winnipeg Jets. What a gong show.

RICHARD HOFLEY

Winnipeg

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Yes, the budget is out and there is nothing you or I can do about it. So quit complaining. It appears Manitobans are notorious for complaining when change comes into effect. The budget is here, so bite the bullet and adjust your lifestyle. No matter who is in power, no budget will ever -- and I mean ever -- please everyone.

DAN HERZOG

Winnipeg

Cub still vulnerable

Re: Cub to be set free in wild (April 14). I would really like to know which "expert" advised James Duncan of the province's wildlife branch. While I agree the rescued cub should be rehabilitated and released in the wild, the time frame he is proposing would be fatal to Makoon.

The cub is still an infant. Would he leave a human child alone to cope for itself after having food and shelter provided to it, expecting it to suddenly learn coping skills?

A bear cub orphaned in June after spending time with its mother learning how to forage and find shelter might stand a chance, but this cub lost all its educational opportunities before it was even weaned.

The zoo is not set up to habilitate a bear cub. What happened to the rehabilitation facility in Ontario, or ones in Manitoba that could provide a safe area with natural foods at least until the cub successfully completes its first hibernation?

ROBERTA SO

Winnipeg

Misguided plans

Regarding Jim Carr's April 16 article, Get a grip, start with health care, if Kaiser Permanente, an American health care organization, has a plan to reduce health costs, it should be used in the U.S. where government spends 60 per cent more of its GDP on health care than Canada does, yet leaves some 40 million Americans uninsured.

One would have thought a lesson was learned when Manitoba health minister Don Orchard paid an American $4 million to give advice on Canadian medicare about which they knew nothing. But it appears that Carr, CEO of the Business Council of Manitoba, has learned nothing and forgotten everything.

HERB SCHULZ

Winnipeg

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Re: Some good ideas don't cost money (April 13). Jim Carr talks about Manitoba becoming an international energy strategy leader. This in a province that has no energy-conservation or energy-efficiency policies. Now that's an imaginative step.

How about we start using existing ways to save energy, such as replacing streetlights with LEDs at a saving of 80-plus per cent and thus freeing up huge amounts of electricity that would cost nothing in dam transmission and environmental costs? How about using the energy that is already delivered to southern Manitoba instead of building the dams or Bipole III line to export new energy for profit?

As much as I admire imagination and ideas, how about first we start to conserve?

SHANE NESTRUCK

Winnipeg

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 21, 2012 A19