Have your say

Quebec parallel

I found it illuminating to read Gwynne Dyer's May 24 article, English language rules the world, about the continuing surge of English as a second language and, more significant, of its use as a world language.

It is commonplace throughout Europe and many other places in the world for people to be multilingual, but less so in Canada. My wife and I can speak passably in French and less so in Italian, and my wife can speak some Russian, but we are the exceptions.

This article immediately reminded me of the situation in Quebec, where they seem utterly afraid to join the multilingual crowd (or should I say bilingual). Learning English, which so many of them cannot speak, wouldn't cause them to stop speaking French, would it? Or do they have to do what their politicians tell them?

TONY BROOKES

Winnipeg

Use on-site test

Re: Blind spot in use of photo radar (Editorials, May 25). This whole issue should have been settled, not by "expert witnesses," but by a simple series of on-site, actual drive-thru readings.

Set up the equipment at the site, have a vehicle that has been verified at speeds of 50, 60, 70 kilometres per hour, etc., and take as many reading as necessary to fine-tune the photo radar to reflect the known speed at this particular site.

HAROLD SLABY

Hillside Beach

Minimizing risk

Re: Pesticide bans do backfire (May 19). The Canadian Cancer Society is working across the country to ban the cosmetic use of pesticides. We applaud the Manitoba government's plan to bring its pesticide laws in line with those in other provinces, and I feel compelled to respond to your article questioning the government's move in this direction.

The cancer society's call for a ban is based on our careful review of the scientific evidence and our assessment of the risks and benefits of cosmetic use of pesticides. While the connection between pesticides and cancer isn't conclusive at the moment, we are very concerned about the growing body of evidence suggesting pesticides may increase the risk of several different types of cancers.

We concluded that since cosmetic use of pesticides has no known health benefits and has the potential to cause harm, we would advocate for a ban on the use and sale of pesticides for this purpose. Simply put, we believe the health of Canadians should take precedence over perfect lawns.

It's important to note that registration by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) does not mean a pesticide is safe (as the article states) or without risk.

When the PMRA registers a pesticide, it means that risk to both human health and the environment is minimized -- but not eliminated -- if the product is used for its intended purpose and according to label directions.

In its assessments, the PMRA does not differentiate between cosmetic use and non-cosmetic use. A pesticide may have an acceptable risk for one use, but in the cancer society's view, no risk is acceptable when used for cosmetic purposes.

PAUL LAPIERRE

Canadian Cancer Society

Toronto

Control in action

Re: Education emancipation (May 19). Finally, we are seeing local First Nations control of education in action. The leaders of Waywayseecappo have taken a partnership approach that seeks to provide quality education for their children on their terms based on measurable goals and objectives.

This was the goal of the 1973 policy paper Indian Control of Indian Education. For decades, First Nations children have been attending public schools under the federal government's integration policy. During this time it has paid tuition fees on a per-capita basis without any accountability from the schools or school districts. What this amounts to is writing a blank cheque.

Waywayseecappo has made two significant changes: getting funding parity for their reserve school and requiring accountability for their students in public school. We need to support this direction.

VERNA J. KIRKNESS

Winnipeg

Imprecise and distorted

Bob Russell's May 17 letter interprets two quotations from the Book of Deuteronomy and ends up stating that "the Bible is hardly a source of guidance on abortion or anything else." Unfortunately, the quotations are not precise and his interpretation is absolutely distorted.

For example, God does not threaten to make mothers eat their infants as he claims. The Bible is describing the desperate situation of a mother: "When the enemies besiege her town, she will become so desperate for food that she will secretly eat her newborn child and the afterbirth as well."

Nowhere in this passage does it say, as Russell claims, that God "threatens to make mothers eat -- yes, eat -- their infants and children." If he wishes to put down Scripture, he had better make sure to do so with precise quotations and sound interpretation.

CAMILLE LEGARE

Winnipeg

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Life begins when you draw your first breath. There is reference to the breath of life not only in the Bible but in other ancient religions as well. Anubis blew the breath of life into Osiris.

Another issue that needs to be addressed is who gets to decide. Men seem to think that they can decide this for us, but, believe me, if men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament.

My apologies to the woman who coined this phrase.

FLORENCE WIENS

Winnipeg

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I take issue with those who are against abortion calling themselves "pro-life." All they really are is pro-birth.

They all want the baby to exist but fail to gauge the type of existence it may have. If there were indeed pro-life, wouldn't they work toward effecting policy that enabled better lives for people rather than just fighting for just more lives?

They should change their camp's name to pro-birth, for they are not honestly representing themselves.

TOPAZ SAMSON

Brandon

Pets provide love

Re: Ownership comes with cost (May 18). As a low-income pet owner who recently lost a beloved pet companion, I implore those who would deny the joys of pet companionship to look at the issue from our perspective.

How many of us could afford children or spouses if we had to pay their medical bills? Should people who could ill afford medical bills be denied the right to mother and father children? To have their name carried on? To marry or live together as a couple?

Pets provide love and affection for the poor and lonely. They distract our attention from our meagre circumstances, from our inability to go on a date, take in a show, go shopping in the malls, go out for dinner or out to the nightclubs or bars. Pets provide us with a purpose, something to nurture. Pets are proven healthy for the psyche and therapeutic for the soul.

Please, instead of denigrating and denying us, put yourselves in our old and worn-out shoes. See through our lonely eyes for but a moment and understand our plight. Please.

CLARENCE DAVIS

Winnipeg

Ancient grievance

Re: B.C. Doukhobors seek redress from government (May 22): When Britain was invaded by the Romans in 43 AD, many of my ancestors were forced into slavery to build roads, bridges and fortresses by their conquerors.

My lawyer wants to know when we can expect an apology from the citizens of Rome so that he can begin a lawsuit on my behalf to recover lost wages (with interest of course).

BILL PARKES

Winnipeg

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 28, 2012 A11